June 11, 2023 – Today after leaving the dock we decided it would be fun to head south to look for minke whales. Sailing around Turn Island we found harlequin ducks, harbor seals and Canada geese out as well as a couple of eagles who appeared to be in an inflight confrontation. A whale watching boat had spotted a gray whale (ID# CRC2506) near Cattle Pass so we picked up the pace to try to see the whale, too. It happened to be the same gray whale we’d seen the day before milling between Lopez and Blakely Islands and one which had been in the area by Bellingham Bay recently. Passing the Cormorant rookery on Goose Island and crossing Salmon Bank we met the gray whale and sailed peacefully alongside as it swam towards Middle Bank. After leaving the Gray we came back to Salmon Bank and met two and a very distant third minke whales. One of the minkes was lunge feeding and nearby a Stellers sea lion thrashed around with a skate, which happened twice. Whale Rocks was busy with young and old Stellers sea lions on the South Rock. Wing on wing sail much of the return with a Racoon on the rocks of Turn Island.
Bald eagle flying by outside Friday Harbor
Pair of bald eagles outside Friday Harbor
Harlequin ducks near Turn Island
Harbor seal swimming near Turn Island
Canada Geese swimming near Turn Island
Harbor seal hauled out on the rocks opposite Turn Island
Canada Geese with growing goslings
Sailing wing on wing in San Juan Channel
Nesting cormorants on Goose Island
Nesting cormorants on Goose Island
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Gray whale CRC2506 with Olympic Mountain range
Gray whale CRC2506
Gray whale CRC2506 traveling towards Middle Bank
Gray whale CRC2506 traveling towards Middle Bank
Gray whale CRC2506 traveling towards Middle Bank
Gray whale CRC2506 with Olympic Mountains
Gray whale CRC2506 with Olympic Mountains
Gray whale CRC2506 exhale
Gray whale CRC2506
Gray whale CRC2506 dorsal and spinal ridge aka knuckles
Gray whale CRC2506 tail flukes
Gray whale CRC2506 tail flukes
Gray whale CRC2506 with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lion eating a skate
Steller sea lion eating a skate
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Another Steller sea lion eating a skate
Steller sea lion eating a skate in the San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion eating a skate
Steller sea lion eating a skate in the San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion eating a skate on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lion eating a skate on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lion eating a skate on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lion eating a skate on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank – has nick on the leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank lunging in bait ball on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Rhinoceros auklets
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Bald eagle on Whale Rocks
Steller seal lions on Whale Rocks
Steller seal lions on Whale Rocks
Big bull sea lion surrounded by smaller sea lions
Steller Sea Lions with Cattle Pt Lighthouse in the distance
Purple ochre sea star
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Shark Reef
Raccoon on Turn Island State Park
Route map 6/11/23