August 1, 2023 – A fun sail south after casting off from Friday Harbor finding some fun wildlife. Around Turn Island we spotted several raccoons foraging on the tide line, a great blue heron grabbing a snack, and many harbor seals hauled out around Pear Point. After passing cormorants and gulls with new chicks on Goose Island we checked out the Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks. Next we headed out to the banks to search for minke whales. We didn’t spot any on Salmon Bank, but saw one in the distance traveling towards Hein Bank. We watched it surface about 8 times, but as we got closer never spotted it again. Another whale watch boat found a minke whale on Salmon Bank so we came about to head that way. It took us a little bit of time to get dialled in, but once we did we got some beautiful views. It’s a minke whale we’ve known for years with the nick on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. The whale was milling about and hardly traveled more than 1/2 mile during our time with it. On our return we came through the maze of islands by Long Island and back in through Cattle Pass.
Mt Baker from south entrance of Friday Harbor
Raccoon on Turn Island
Great blue heron flying to Turn Island
Great blue heron fishing on Turn Island
Great blue heron flying
Great blue heron on Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island near Danger Rock
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island near Danger Rock
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island near Danger Rock
Awesome sail down San Juan Channel
Bald eagle near Goose Island
Harbor seals on Goose Island with Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Cormorants nesting on Goose Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountain Range
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Cattle Point Lighthouse
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with Olympic Mountains
Minke whale on Salmon Bank with San Juan Island behind
Minke whale on Salmon Bank – has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Another minke whale on Salmon Bank ? Looks like different fin shape
Another minke whale on Salmon Bank ?
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale surfacing on Salmon Bank
Minke whale dorsal fin close up
Goose Island and Olympic Mountains
Mt Baker
Route map 8/1/23