September 7, 2018 – We set sail against the flood passing the kelp forests at Turn Rock and crossing to the Lopez Island shoreline. With strong current at Cattle Pass we took the inside of Deadman Island passing resting Harbor Seals and a couple of Purple Starfish. Out to Whale Rocks where the Stellers Sea Lions were sleeping on each other as the current churned by. Bald Eagles on Long Island and it looks like the Cormorant nests on Hall Island are no longer occupied.
Nearing Iceberg Point we received a report of Resident Orcas of J and L pod at Smith Bank. We met them at McArthur Bank, first J39 Mako and then the J19s travelled by to the West. There was a large group of Js and Ls being social with good vocals on the hydrophone. The layered mountains behind with rain clouds with silver lining set the stage. After a few breaches they all travelled North West to San Juan Island with speed. We were with J17 and J53 at Salmon Bank and a group of young males off Eagle Point.
As we returned we meet the trailers, the J16s, off South Beach. They were spread loosely with J26 Mike and J42 Echo foraging and with J50 swimming a half mile behind. We drifted silently at a respectful distance while she passed quietly by. She looked particularly thin. Later we learned that a capture attempt by Sea World and NOAA was imminent at this time. This was the last time we saw J50. We returned passing Goose Island Cormorant Colony and taking the Pass inside Turn Island
Route Map 9-7-18
Great Blue Heron
Sailing into Cattle Pass, San Juan Island
The current chuck passes Steller sea Lion haul out at Whale rocks
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
South of San Juan Island
South of San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas approach San Juan Island
The last sighting of J50 Scarlet
Our last sighting of J50 Scarlet
Turn Island pass
Sailing San Juan Island
Kelp Forest San Juan Island
