June 26, 2019 – Today was a great day with lots of wildlife. More than a dozen bald eagles on Low Island, black oystercatchers defending their nests from the eagles, two transient orca families including the T36A’s and T65B’s traveling with single male orca, T77A, a close look at a river otter and so much more.
The scenery included: crossing into Canada to S Pender Island, Turn Pt Lighthouse and Lovers Leap, calm placid waters of New Channel, drifting through the Cactus Island kelp forests, and admiring the many layers of Flattop Island. Winds ranged from flat calm to moderate sailing conditions giving us a nice close hauled fast sail back to the harbor.
Route Map 6/26/19
Juvenile bald eagle coming in for a landing
Bald eagles on Low Island gathering for a meal
Juvenile bald eagle soaring
Adult bald eagle soaring
Black oystercatcher dive bombing the juvenile bald eagle
Bald eagles on Low Island gathering for a meal
Bald eagle calling to the group
Bald eagle flying above black oystercatchers
Black oystercatchers calling about the eagles gathered on their island
Harbor seal with new pup
Harbor seals resting along the shoreline of Spieden Island
Group of Biggs/Transient killer whales T36A’s, T65B’s and T77A
T77A with Mt Baker
Group of Biggs/Transient killer whales T36A’s and T65B’s
T77A with rhinoceros auklets
Orcas with Mt Baker
Group of Biggs/Transient killer whales T36A’s and T65B’s
Group of Biggs/Transient killer whales T36A’s and T65B’s
Group of Biggs/Transient killer whales T36A’s and T65B’s
T77A with Lovers Leap and Turn Pt Lighthouse
Orca calf popping up
Sailing whale watching
Gorgeous reflections
T77A with puffy clouds
Pod of orcas with awesome skyscape
Flowers on Lovers Leap
Turn Pt Light and Lovers Leap
Harbor seals on Stuart Island
Harbor seals with honeycomb sandstone backdrop
Cute house
Bald eagle in Pacific Madrone Tree
River otter eating dinner
River otter eating dinner
Pair of bald eagles
Harbor porpoise
Harbor seals resting
Sailing towards Flattop Island
Black oystercatcher on Flattop Island
Pretty sky behind us as we sail home