September 23, 2018 – We sailed south and down San Juan Channel crossing over to hug the pretty coastline of Lopez Island. Many harbor seals were hauled out along the way at Shark Reef and Deadman Island. There were many steller sea lions and cormorants on Whale Rocks today.
We sailed out towards Salmon Bank to see members from our Southern Resident Community of orcas in J pod. We saw lots of breaches and cartwheels as they got closer to the Salmon Bank marker before they spread out in loose groups to do some foraging. Beautiful seas with a gorgeous backdrop of the Olympic Mountains. We drifted off Eagle Cove as the orcas foraged. J27 swam by heading north with a ‘rainblow’ effect in his exhale.
As we were heading back home we passed a very large group of Surf Scoters off South Beach and a few loons. It was a great day sailing around San Juan Island.
Route Map 9-23-18
Harbor seals of Dead Mans Island, Lopez
Bald Eagle
Stellers sea Lions on Whale Rocks and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Stellers Sea Lions with a young one, Whale Rocks
Stellers Sea Lions nap with Brandts Cormorants, Whale Rocks
J pod at Salmon Bank, San Juan Island
SRKW Cartwheel
Southern Resident Orcas Breach
J27 Blackberry Rainblow
Surprise visit from J27 Blackberry
Surf Scoters