May 22nd, 2019 – Glorious sunshine was welcomed this morning. Winds were forecast to be light however we were able to raise sails and point North to Shirt Tail Reef where harbor seals were hauled out warming in the sunshine. Passed close to shore of Yellow island, McConnell, Jones and Flattop Island. A cluster of purple starfish were tucked under a rocky ledge on Flattop and many harbor seals were hauled out at White Rock.
Crossing Boundary Pass we met Humpback whale BCX1210, ’Slate’, who was with a new calf. We watched as they circled together, the calf showing the tubercles on his/her chin and some playful surface behaviour. We drifted the shoreline of Java Rocks watched by a bald eagle and explored Monarch Head where a Peregrine falcon was a distant grey speck.
Leaving the humpbacks we headed for Skipjack Island and saw many harbor seals hanging out in the kelp beds. Dinner was served while drifting the shoreline of Orcas Island. Presidents Channel forested shoreline was warm with the late afternoon sun and we sailed home to Friday Harbor.
Route map 5/22/19
Harbor seal haul out San Juan islands
Purple Starfish
Harbor Seal haul out White Rock
Humpback Whale BCX1210, ’Slate’, with a new calf.
Humpback blow
Humpback holds chin above water where we can see the tubercles
Humpback whale tail
Humpback Whale BCX1210, ’Slate’, with a new calf begins to fluke and begin a deep dive
Humpback Whale BCX1210, ’Slate’, with a new calf begins to fluke and begin a deep dive
Humpback Whale BCX1210, ’Slate’, with a new calf flukes and begins a deep dive
Fluke shot of humpback Whale BCX1210, ’Slate’
Bald Eagle – Java Rocks
Bald Eagle – Java Rocks
Black Oyster catcher
Grey speck is a Peregrine Falcon
Monarch Head
Harbor Seals at Skipjack Island National Wildlife Refuge
Skipjack Island National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor Seals hauled out Bare Rock
President Channel
River Otter President Channel, Orcas island
River Otter at the Lime Kiln in President Channel, Orcas island
Black Oyster Catcher
Sailing San Juan Islands