September 23, 2021 – What a fun adventure it was circumnavigating San Juan Island. An exciting sea lion close encounter, followed by a great minke whale encounter, and then seeing Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T18’s. This day we had the best sea lion encounter ever! One particular sea lion would swim up to the surface right behind our stern and hang out there staring at Barbara and Skye. Then it would dive underwater and the water was so clear we could see him swimming back and forth, deep down and back up. Then it would pop up again and sit right beside us looking at us as we talked (and Skye squealed) at him. So much fun!
Turn Island State Park
Raccoon family on Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals on the beach
Black oystercatchers
Harbor seals on the rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Sea lions with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Sleepy sea lion with Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Steller sea lion swimming next to our boat for quite awhile
Curious sea lion really interested in Miss Skye
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale coming towards us
Minke whale underwater
Minke whale surfacing beside us
Minke whale surfacing beside us
Minke whale surfacing beside us
Minke whale diving
Minke whale surfacing beside us
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Orca exhale
T19C with Mt Baker
Sailing whale watching
T18’s with Mt Baker
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s heading up the west side of San Juan Island
T19C passing Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Orcas charge through a bait ball
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s heading up the west side of San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T18’s heading up the west side of San Juan Island
Biggs/Transient orca T19B heading up the west side of San Juan Island
Bald eagle on Battleship Island
Battleship Island
Route map 9-23-21 part 1
Route map 9-23-21 part 2