July 20, 2023 – Today was a special day for us because we got to see a new humpback calf born this year traveling with its mother BCX1333 “Ghost”. As the pair traveled up Haro Strait the calf repeatedly cartwheeled, rolled around, waved pectoral fins and played alongside its mom. Before we arrived the calf was having a breach fest. It certainly was so special watching them and it was tough to leave. When it was time for us to move on we left the pair at the bottom of North Pender Island as they headed east in Boundary Pass. During our route we circumnavigated Stuart Island and got a nice look at Lovers Leap and Turn Point Lighthouse. As we came through the pass by Ripple Island we spotted at least 10 bald eagles engaged in prey sharing. Many were scattered around nearby rocks perhaps waiting for their turn. At Flattop Island we could see one of the eaglets in the nest flapping its wings getting ready to fledge the nest. Harbor seals were resting with their newborn pups. We had a fast close-hauled sail from Nob Island back to Friday Harbor.
Bald eagle on San Juan Island
Harbor seals hauled out by Yellow Island
Bald eagle eating something by Yellow Island
Juvenile bald eagle in flight
Bald eagle nest on Spieden Island
Spieden Island
Bald eagle in Garry Oak tree on Spieden Island
Pigeon guillemots near Sentinel Island
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock with black oystercatcher
Harbor seals on Sentinel Rock
Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Belly of humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes of 2023 humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” cartwheeling
Pectoral flippers of 2023 humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Humpback whale heading up Haro Strait
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” cartwheeling
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” waving pec fins
Tail flukes of 2023 humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” cartwheeling
Tail flukes of 2023 humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost” with her new 2023 calf
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes of 2023 humpback whale calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Turn Point Lighthouse and Lovers Leap on Stuart Island
Lovers Leap on Stuart Island
Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island
Mt Baker
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” cartwheeling
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost”
Humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost” with her new 2023 calf
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” cartwheeling
Humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost” with her new 2023 calf
Playful Humpback whale 2023 calf of BCX1333 “Ghost” tail lobbing
Humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost” with her new 2023 calf
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost”
Tail flukes humpback whale BCX1333 “Ghost” next to calf surfacing
Juvenile bald eagle flying over Ripple Island
Bald eagle flying by Ripple Island
Harbor seals in New Channel hauled out
Bald eagle landing on the rocks near Ripple Island
Bald eagle on the rocks near Ripple Island
Bald eagle on the rocks near Ripple Island
Bald eagles on the rocks near Ripple Island
Female harlequin ducks by Ripple Island
Bald eagle in flight with bloody beak from meal it was just eating
Juvenile bald eagle near Ripple Island
Juvenile bald eagle near Ripple Island
Bald eagles on the rocks near Ripple Island
Juvenile bald eagle on the rocks near Ripple Island
Fun sail from New Channel to Flattop Island
Fun sail from New Channel to Flattop Island
Flattop Island
Flattop Island
Juvenile bald eagle on Flattop Island with glacial erratic
Harbor seals on Flattop Island with bald eagle behind
Two bald eagle chicks in nest on Flattop Island
Sailing back to Friday Harbor
Sailing back to Friday Harbor
Sailing vessel “Lady Washington” in Friday Harbor
Route map 7/20/23