February 10, 2020 – Light winds and we drift sailed south. The south harbor entrance to Turn Island Pass we shared with surf scoters, bald eagles, buffleheads, harlequin ducks, common mergansers and common loons. Still reflective waters as we crossed to Cattle Pass. Approaching Goose Island we found higher numbers of diving birds including grebes, ancient murrelets, common murres, pigeon guillemots and cormorants.
Under sail we circled Whale Rocks noticing quite a number of steller sea lions including some young ones playing or nestled in between a couple of the big guys. We circled Long Island with an unusual steller sea lion hauled out all alone on the south side. We tacked our way to Mummy Rocks and caught the flood tide in through Deadman Island. Harbor seals and black oyster catchers barely gave us the time of day as we drifted by.
We hugged the Lopez shoreline spotting two pair of bald eagles bringing our overall eagle count to 12 today. Winds picked up a little which together with the flood gave us a fun ride home.
Route Map 2-10-20
Surf Scoters
Buffleheads
Harlequin Ducks
Common Mergansers
Common Loon
Glassy seas and cloudy reflections
A beautiful day to be on the water
Looking at the bull kelp underwater
Capt David happy to be on the water sailing
Grebe with a bite to eat
Harbor seals resting on Goose Island
Empty cormorant nests on Goose Island accompanied by a Canada Goose
Cormorants on the rock next to Goose Island
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Young sea lions playfully pushing each other off the rock
Notice the two tiny steller sea lions between the two males sitting upright on the left
Steller sea lions and Cattle Point Lighthouse
Bald eagle on Whale Rocks
Common Murres
Juvenile Bald Eagle on Long Island
Black oystercatchers catching some rest
Harbor seal almost about to get washed off his rock
Harbor seals on Deadman Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse in the distance
Bald eagle flying overhead
Pair of bald eagles on Lopez Island
Mt Baker covered in snow
Our happy passengers celebrating a special birthday
Our passenger sailing us back to port in the beautiful sunshine
Returning to the harbor in the golden light