May 31, 2022 – Half day sail south. Our sail included a wide variety of wildlife including black oystercatchers, raccoons, bald eagles, vultures, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, cormorants, loons and a variety of diving birds, and best of all, our Southern Resident orcas from J Pod with a backdrop of the Olympic Mountain range.
Awesome views of bald eagles as they were busy fighting over a meal on the shore of Lopez Island. We also had some distant, yet beautiful, views of Southern Resent J Pod orcas. Current regulations require commercial vessels to view over 1/2 mile away. All photos are heavily cropped for our website. As we returned via Cattle Pass we passed close by Cattle Point Lighthouse on the southern tip of San Juan Island.
Sailing in paradise
Ferry with unnamed(?) island
Sailing in the pass by Turn Island
Raccoons foraging on Turn Island
Raccoons foraging on Turn Island
Goose Island and Cattle Point
Bald eagles fighting over a meal
Vultures wait their turn to eat after eagles finish
Bald eagle flying in fast
Bald eagle landing on the beach
Harbor seals on Shark Reef
Harbor seals on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks including branded sea lion
Southern Resident J pod orca with Olympic Mountains
Orcas socializing at the surface
Southern Resident J pod orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J pod orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J pod orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J pod orca with Olympic Mountains
Orca tail in the air
Orca breach
Cattle Pt Lighthouse with the foot of Mt Baker
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Route map 5-31-22 am