June 16, 2019 – It was a beautiful day to go sailing in the San Juans. As we left Friday Harbor we cut behind Turn Island State Park where we found a raccoon foraging on the beach and many harbor seals in the area.
The ebb tide carried us down the channel towards Deadman Island. Harbor seals rested on the rocks, black oystercatchers were busy flying to and fro, and purple starfish were exposed on the rocks during the low tide as we drifted by. A bald eagle stood tall in the trees as an osprey flew by quickly overhead.
Various diving birds gathered near Whale Rocks where the steller sea lions moaned and groaned at each other. We made a wide swoop towards Salmon Bank as we scanned for whales before returning back towards Cattle Pass by way of Cattle Pt Lighthouse. The current changed to a flood and the waves were exciting as we zoomed in the Pass and quickly up the channel back to Friday Harbor.
Route Map 6/16/19
Raccoon foraging at low tide on Turn Island
Harbor seal swimming by
Harbor seals near Turn Island with Olympic Mountains
Harbor porpoise
Osprey fly by
Bald eagle in Pacific Madrone tree
Black oystercatcher
Relaxing family sail taking in all the wildlife and sights
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Rhinoceros Auklets
Mt Baker
Common Murres
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Strong tide in Cattle Pass
S/V “Spike Africa” with Mt Baker
WA State Ferry and Sea Plane leaving Friday Harbor