June 5, 2019 – As we left Friday Harbor an eagle took off and flew into the distance North up San Juan Channel. A deer watched from her resting spot. We followed wing on wing sailing downwind to Low Island.
Seventeen eagles or more were gathered from Low Island to Nob and Crane Islands and the channel markers in between. They were taking their turns, jousting and tug of war while others watched from afar as they engaged in eating on the low tide seaweed covered rocks of Low Island. Such a spectacle we had to sail around the island a couple of times. There were eagle whistles the whole time along with the calls of Back Oyster catchers who, were working over-time showing their displeasure at eagles near their nesting sites on the beach gravels under the flowers. One eagle was trailing fishing line from right wing – documented and reported.
The winds and current carried us quickly passed Yellow Island where the Camas still shows great splashes of blue-violet color. Spring Pass and Jones Island Harbor seals were gathered, resting and giving warmth back to their bodies, many showing the bellies of pregnancy. And on to Flattop Island where the currents ran like fast flowing rivers. Close to shore there spins back eddies and leaping waves I call ‘the chuck’ and then onto calm flat upwelling circles. Fun and challenging areas of sailing for sure. Four Peregrine Falcon Chicks were in exactly the same positions but a little darker and larger as when we saw them exactly one week earlier. Lots of seals tucked into their protected cove. On to White Rock where the low tide houses a small village of Harbor seals. Sandy point and the long beaches of Waldron Island takes us to Skipjack National Wildlife Refuge.
Coming around Skipjack Island we shoot for East Point, Canada where we meet Divot, ‘BCX1057’ humpback whale, and sailed in parallel as he circled an area spanning to Patos Island.We sailed the edge of a squall but as we turned at Alden Point lighthouse we sailed into torrential heavy rain and increasing winds. Our passengers moved to the comfort of the salon and pilot house as we pushed on to Orca Island. A fun fast sail into Presidents Channel and sunshine lit the forest in so many shades of green. The light of bright sunshine following rain accompanied our sail, south, through the islands to Friday Harbor.
Deer resting spot overlooking Pt Caution
Pair Bald eagles Shirt Tail Reef Channel marker
Bald Eagle flies in to feeding on Low Island
Bald Eagle flies in to feeding on Low Island with ‘no fishing’ sign
Bald eagle lands on Low island
Bald Eagle calling on Low Island
Bald Eagle flies in to feeding on Low Island
Pair immature bald eagles tug of war with carrion, Low Island
Immature Bald Eagle flies off with carrion
Pair Black Oystercatchers very upset on Low Island
Bald Eagle with fishing line entanglement trailing from right wing, Low Island
Harbor Seals Jones island
Bald Eagle nest Flattop Island
Pigeon Guillemots on layered rocks of Flattop Island
Pigeon Guillemots on layered rocks of Flattop Island
Peregrine Falcon Chicks, a little bigger and darker but all in exactly the same spot as exactly one week previous
Peregrine Falcon Chicks, a little bigger and darker but all in exactly the same spot as exactly one week previous
Harbor Seals of White Rock
Abandoned house on the beach of Waldron Island
Harbor Seals Skipjack Island
Humpback Whale Divot ‘BCX1057’ near Boiling Reef, Saturna Island
Humpback Whale Divot ‘BCX1057’ circling toward Patos Island
Humpback Whale Divot ‘BCX1057’ Fluke
Rain Squall approaches up Presidents Channel over the head of Turtle Back Mountain
Alden Point Lighthouse as rain begins
Point Doughty in rain, Orcas island
Harbor Porpoise Point Doughty
Harbro Porpoise and Skipjack Island
Out came the sun and did up all the rain
Lime kiln, Presidents Chann el
Eagle and active nest Presidents Channel
View to the West of San Juan islands
Bald Eagles still at Low Island
Bald Eagles still at Low Island
Dark skies and sunshine over the islands
