July 11 morning, 2018 – Sailed out on a strong new moon ebb for a half day sail. Super low tides at Turn Rock and Reef Point where harbor seals were hauled out with new pups. Beam reach to the Lopez shoreline and from Sharks Reef cut across the ebb to Goose Island. Goose Island was a busy metropolis with cormorants at their nesting sites, gulls and harbor seals. We also saw rhinoceros auklets and the occasional common murre. Moving passed Cattle Point Lighthouse and following the east side of Salmon Bank we met a minke whale. Very surface active feeding on bait balls amongst gulls and diving birds with a backdrop of Mt Rainer visible over 100 miles to the south. We left the minke whale to sail inside of Long Island and onto Whale Rocks. We found an eagles nest with chicks still inside the nest.
All Aboard Sailing wing on wing out of Friday Harbor with WA site ferry
Friday Harbor with Hurricane Ridge
Harbor Seals at Low tide
Harbor seals with Hurricane Ridge Olympic Mountains in background
Cattle Point Lighthouse with Harbor seals
All Aboard Sailing
Harbor seals warm in sunshine
Harbor seals warm in sunshine
Cattle Point Lighthouse
Goose island Cormorant rookery
Minke Whale surfaces at bait ball and birds take off, Salmon Bank, San Juan Island
Minke Whale surfaces at bait ball and birds take off, Salmon Bank, San Juan Island
Minke Whale Minke Whale, Salmon Bank, San Juan Island
Minke Whale Minke Whale, Salmon Bank, San Juan Island
Rhinoceros Auklet
Egg Yolk Jellyfish
Comon Murre
Sailing through Cattle Pass
Eagle nest with chick
Harbor Sals of Whale Rocks, San Juan island
Harbor Sals of Whale Rocks, San Juan island
Bald Eagle, Dead Mans Island
Spike Africa beyond rapids of Cattle Pass
Harbor Seal and reflections in strong Current of Cattle pass