August 3, 2023 – After casting off from Friday Harbor we headed south taking the channel behind Turn Island. The raccoons were out foraging on the waters edge for goodies to eat while many harbor seals were resting on the nearby rocks. As we got closer to Cattle Pass we spotted several groups of playful harbor porpoise. Cormorants and gulls were making a racket at Goose Island. We pushed offshore to Salmon Bank. At first we spotted a single minke whale foraging near the bottom of the bank. It was one we often see with the nick on the leading edge of the dorsal fin. As we moved further north up the bank there was a fair size congregation of birds. Here we found a minke whale we’ve been concerned about for couple months who surfaces in a shallow manner. She was foraging and showing her dorsal fin upon surfacing whereas previous times the fin barely made it above water. To us the whale appeared skinny in our photos with the spinal ridge and scapulas visible. We passed along our photos to Stranding Network and a researcher with the Northeast Pacific Minke Whale Project. We were informed that it is not uncommon to see minke whales with the spinal bones protruding in this way, and that this can vary year to year. Maybe there isn’t anything to worry about after all(?). We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her in the future. In any event it was great to see her feeding. There were two other minkes who joined in feeding with her including the first minke whale we saw today. Seeing three minke whales foraging close together was one of our favorite encounters this year.
With news of two humpback whales headed east from Middle Bank we put the idea out there to our passengers to extend the sail to see them and they said “yes”. On our way we spotted a fourth minke whale closer to South Beach so we stopped to watch it for awhile while waiting for the humpbacks to get closer. About a couple miles offshore of Eagle Point we encountered the two humpbacks known as BCX1773 “Valiant” and BCX1640 “Bond”. When they reached the shoreline of San Juan Island they turned south and eventually went on towards Salmon Bank. After some beautiful views we headed over to see the sea lions at Whale Rocks. There were still a few brown pelicans hanging out there.
Mt Baker
Sailing around Turn Island
Sailing around Turn Island and seeing Mt Baker
Raccoons on Turn Island State Park
Raccoons on Turn Island State Park
Raccoon foraging on Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals hauled out south of Turn Island
Big Rock on Lopez Island
Close-hauled sail down San Juan Channel to Cattle Pass
Harbor porpoise
Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse
Cormorants on Goose Island
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale lunge feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale lunge feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale lunge feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale feeding on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank. It has nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Minke whale with potential health concern (?). Had shallow surfacings a couple months back
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – scapula showing
Minke whale foraging
Minke whale foraging
Minke whale foraging
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – scapulas visible
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin foraging
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin foraging
Minke whale foraging
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale foraging
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – scapula showing
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – scapula showing
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – scapula showing
Minke whale with potential health concern (?)
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – spine protruding
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – spine protruding
Minke whale with potential health concern (?) – spine protruding
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale with nick on leading edge of dorsal fin
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Cattle Point Lighthouse with Mt Baker
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Minke whale hanging out near South Beach, San Juan Island
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond”
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond”
Humpback whales BCX1640 “Bond” and BCX1773 “Valiant”
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond”
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant”
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant”
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant”
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 “Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond”
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1640 “Bond” tail flukes
Brown Pelican at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Mt Rainier
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountains
Capt/Crew member Barbara with daughter Skye
Pair of bald eagles by Deadman Island
Harbor seals hauled out
Route map 8/3/23