June 14, 2021 – A sail to the north with dramatic skies. The bald eagle was sitting in his/her nest on Flattop Island caring for it’s chick. We circled Ripple Island spotting at least 8 eagles queuing for lunch time. Mouflon sheep were halfway down the sheer cliff face on Spieden Bluff.
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Ferry leaving Friday Harbor
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Bald eagle outside Friday Harbor
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Turtleback Mountain, Orcas Island
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Harbor seals hauled out
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Harbor seals hauled out near Shirttail Reef
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Inter-island ferry coming out of Wasp Passage
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Looking west over the east end of Yellow Island
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Intense clouds
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Looking west from top of Jones Island
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Bald eagle in the nest on Flattop Island
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Harbor seals hauled out in New Channel
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Strange coloration on harbor seal’s face
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Harbor seal with tongue sticking out
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Harbor seal with glacial erratic
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Flattop Island with reflections
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Amazing geology of Flattop Island
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Glacial erratic on Ripple Island
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Bald eagles fighting over a meal on Ripple Island
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Juvenile and mature bald eagles
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Bald eagles staging for a chance at the meal tucked in the rocks
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Ripple Island
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Juvenile bald eagles? – one noticeably bigger
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Many harbor seals hauled out
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Cute seal resting on a rock
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Geology of the Cactus Islands
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Barbara playing with Skye
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Mouflon sheep scaling the cliff on Spieden Island
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Mouflon sheep on Spieden Island
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Turkey vulture
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Fallow Deer on Spieden Island
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Mouflon rams and Gary oak tree on Spieden Island
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Mouflon rams and glacial erratics on Spieden Island
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Fast close hauled sailing
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Darkening skies over Orcas Island
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Route Map 6-14-21