August 11, 2021 – What a sail we had today! We were mugged by a minke whale who circled us roughly 10 times! We returned via the South Lopez coastline, and we were surprised by another minke whale who went traveling by us around the bottom end of Lopez. We also saw many harbor seals, Steller sea lions, harbor porpoise, bald eagles, and a whole variety of birds.
Mt Baker and WA State Ferry
Harbor seals resting the rocks
Sailing towards Deadman Island
Bull kelp, harbor seals and a cormorant
Steller sea lions
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
S/V Spike Africa with Mt Baker
Heading out to Salmon Bank to look for minkes
Minke whale with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale coming our direction
Minke whale surfacing near our boat
Minke whale surfacing near our boat – see the white pec flippers?
Minke whale swimming beside us
Minke whale swimming beside us – left dorsal fin
Watching the minke swimming underwater
Minke whale chin breaking the surface
Minke whale coming up to the surface
Surfacing sequence
Surfacing sequence
Minke coming back again diving beside us
Minke coming back again diving beside us
Minke chin up with water ripples
Minke with water ripples
Minke face with white pectoral flippers
Minke whale with Mt Baker
Minke whale circling us
Here comes the minke again!
Here comes the minke again
Minke whale beside us underwater-surfacing sequence
Minke whale beside us underwater-surfacing sequence (2)
Minke whale beside us -surfacing sequence (3)
Minke whale beside us -surfacing sequence (4)
Minke whale beside us -surfacing sequence (5)
Minke whale beside us -surfacing sequence (6)
Minke whale underwater
Minke surfacing
Minke right dorsal fin
Minke with Olympic Mountains
Harbors seals and Colville Island
Bald eagle on channel marker with Mt Baker
Bald eagle on channel marker
Castle Island
Belted kingfisher flying by
Views of South Lopez
Looking back at Castle Island
Harbor seal with pup
Abandoned bald eagle nest
Bald eagle
Pair of bald eagles
Toothpick rocks
Great blue heron
Common murres
Fall colors a bit early
Huge bald eagles nest on Long Island
Old man’s beard
Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Route map 8-11-21