July 2, 2023 – After sailing through the Wasp Islands we continued northwest around the top of San Juan Island. At Henry Island we enjoyed sailing along the beautiful Kellett Bluff. Earlier members of the Southern Resident L12 subgroup had been northbound along the west side of San Juan Island and a group of Biggs/Transient orcas (T109A’s) were also northbound in Haro. However, the transient orcas made a course change to head west back towards Vancouver Island. As we sailed near Henry Island we spotted a few of the L12’s milling before they flipped southbound. The flooding current was so strong that we couldn’t sail and keep up with the orcas so after a quick glimpse we changed course to use the flood in our advantage.
We sailed to Mandarte Island to check out the birds nesting there including cormorants and pigeon guillemots. Had a nice sail across Haro to explore New Channel and continued to Flattop Island. We spotted one of the eaglets peering out of the nest and wondered if the other was still alive and in there, too. Also, we spotted two newborn harbor seal pups, our first of the season. There was an amazing sunset and awesome full moon rise as we returned back to port.
Harbor seal hauled out
Black oystercatcher
Bald eagle nest on Henry Island
Kellett Bluff, Henry Island
Bald eagle nest on Henry Island
Southern Resident orcas
Southern Resident orcas
Layers of Canadian islands in Haro Strait
Cormorants and gulls by Mandarte Island
Pelagic Cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island
Brandts Cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island
Cormorant flying with nesting materials
Pelagic Cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island
Double-Crested Cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island
Double-Crested Cormorants nesting on Mandarte Island
Mandarte Island
Mandarte Island
Mandarte Island
Spieden Island forest reflections in New Channel
Belted kingfisher
Pair of bald eagles on Spieden Island
Pigeon guillemot with bite to eat
Flattop Island with reflections
Bald eagle on Flattop Island
Pigeon guillemots at Flattop Island
Flattop Island with reflections
Harbor seals at Flattop Island
Harbor seals at Flattop Island
Bald eagle with chick in nest on Flattop Island
Harbor seal with newborn pup at Flattop Island
Sunset colors
Little McConnell Island in the sunset light
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Sun going down behind Yellow Island
Sunset sail in the San Juan Islands
Washington State Ferry with Mt Baker
Washington State Ferry with full moon rising
Full moon rising
Sunset colors north of Friday Harbor
Full moon rising
Route map 7/2/23 pm