Trifecta! Humpbacks, Minke whales, and Resident Orcas

July 14, 2020 – We sailed South with news of J pod members of the Southern Residents back in False Bay after returning by way of Rosario Strait yesterday. It’s now 11 days straight that they’ve been in the Salish Sea.

A gaggle of Canada Geese were at the South exit from Friday Harbor and a clear view of Mount Baker. Once again we saw the black matte colored harbor seal this time near Turn Island – lacking pelage we’ve been told after submitting photographs to a NOAA scientist. We first saw this seal on Flattop July 2017 and again on Skipjack July 2019.

Onwards to Cattle Pass seeing the blows of a pair of humpback whales who had come down San Juan Channel passing Friday Harbor earlier in the morning. They were ID’d as BCX1068 ‘Split Fluke’ and BCY0057 ‘Niagara’ . We sailed parallel as they exited the channel and headed South towards Hein Bank. We left them to sail to Salmon Bank where we met two minkes with a third nearby. Tricky spotting as they weren’t feeding amongst birds but we had great views as we drifted.

With news that the Resident Orcas were Southbound we met them at South Beach. We saw J31 with daughter J56, J37 with son J49. J56 breached airborne at least 8 times. We watched J49 actively chasing a fish. After they all made a synchronized turn up island we left to return by way of Cattle Point Lighthouse. Catching a counter-current close to the forested shoreline off Lopez and a beautiful peaceful sail across to Turn Island, through the pass and back to Friday Harbor.