Humpbacks, Dalls Porpoise, K pod, Seal with salmon and Sea lion with skate

September 28, 2020 – Leaving Friday Harbor with clear air giving a stunning view of Mount Baker and a fresh wind giving us a fast beam reach south. As we approached Turn Island we received a report of three humpback whales Northbound at Hannah Heights so we spun around and drew the sails in tight to tack our way North in San Juan Channel. Heeled a ways over we came in to the Wasp Islands where harbor seals were warming in the sun. And after we tacked back to San Juan Island we made a course through Spieden Channel passing a Steller sea lion, cormorants on Barren Island and a bald eagle on Battleship Island.

We met the first humpback whale just passed Battleship and this whale travelled with 11 minute dives towards Danger Shoal. Close by we found 25-35 Dall’s porpoise, the first we’ve seen this year. And then two more humpbacks that we were able to sail alongside as they travelled North toward Stuart Island. We were able to identify one of them as MMY0042 “Hydra”. As we approached Turn Point all 3 humpbacks were in the area and we had super views as they passed Lovers Leap and Turn Point Lighthouse.

As we rounded Turn Point we received reports of Southern Resident Orcas clearing Eastpoint heading Southwest. We headed Northeast along the Canadian border to meet them. As we came towards Skipjack Island we found a line of K pod whales traveling as a tight group. There were no vocals on the hydrophone but the blows on the calm waters resounded from the 17 whales with a lot of big males.

After leaving K pod we came down to Ripple Island and the Cactus Islands. New Channel was full of color from the late afternoon sun and we met a harbor seal with a large salmon. Following the forested shoreline of Spieden Island where a few bald eagles were watching the tide roll away. As we neared Pt Caution we found a Steller sea lion tearing his way through a large skate. The sunset light hit the slopes of Mount Baker and an almost full moon rose as we approached the Port of Friday Harbor.