A sail along Lopez Island to Castle Rock

May 30, 2021 – Today was overcast with a bit of a chill in the air. We headed south on an adventure to one of our favorite places, Castle Rock. As we were rounded Turn Island a black tailed deer was swimming from Turn Island to San Juan Island – presumably one of the two we saw swimming there yesterday.

There were many harbor porpoise in San Juan Channel enroute to Cattle Pass. Steller sea lions and harbor seals were gathered on Whale Rocks accompanied by three bald eagles. We were hoping to see a group of Biggs orcas reported at Middle Bank headed towards Salmon Bank, but unfortunately the maximum ebbing current may have had something to do with them turning west back into Canada. Instead we decided on a coastal trip along Lopez Island to Castle Rock.

All of the mountains were visible today… Mt Baker, Mt Rainier and the Olympic Mountain Range. The scenery was stunning with layers of islands during the trip. Harbor seals were hauled out resting on the rocks. Pigeon guillemots were nesting near Castle Rock. On our return we did a sweep passed MacArthur Bank scanning for minke whales but no luck finding one today. We passed Whale Rocks one more time and the pinnipeds were still busy socializing and the pair of bald eagles was still hanging out on the rocks.