July 27, 2020 – The flood current ran a little longer today but we decided to sail South and came through Turn Island Pass. We took our time as we passed the harbor seals with their pups and then moved quickly to cross Griffin Bay. A Minke whale was spotted by a passenger half way across the bay and we were able to watch as the whale circled the area surfacing around us.
After picking a bunch of mylar balloons out of the ocean we continued South and tacked across Cattle Pass to visit Deadman Island. Quietly passing harbor seals with new pups and roosting bald eagles we continued to Long Island where 2 eagles were stationed near their nest. Circling Long Island we came to Whale Rocks where there are a noticeable number of more steller sea lions than the previous day as new arrivals return from their Queen Charlotte breeding grounds.
Our return route was against the now ebbing tide so we stayed close to the Lopez shoreline before sailing across to Turn Island for our return too Friday Harbor.
Harbor seals south of Turn Island
Harbor seals with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale in Griffin Bay – left side
Minke whale in Griffin Bay – left side
Minke whale in Griffin Bay – right side
Minke whale in Griffin Bay – right side
Minke whale face
Minke whale milling in Griffin Bay
Sailing whale watching
Minke whale with high arched back before deep dive
Sailing whale watching
Minke whale with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale with high arch
Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Harbor seals on Deadman Island
Harbor seal with tiny pup
Harbor seals on Deadman Island
Harbor seals on Deadman Island
The black matte harbor seal without pelage on Deadman Island
Bald eagle overlooking Deadman Island
Great blue heron standing on the kelp
Whale Rocks and Olympic Mountains
Bald eagle on Long Island
Bald eagle nest on Long Island
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Harbor seals on Whale Rocks
Black oystercatcher on Deadman Island
Cormorants and gulls on Shark Reef
Route Map 7-27-20
