Sea otter, Sea lions, Harbor seals, Bald eagles and more

August 25, 2023 – The smoky haze was partially cleared by earlier light rain as we headed out taking a southern route on the ebbing current. After taking the narrow pass inside Turn Island a bald eagle landed near resting harbor seals. Another pair of bald eagles met on the rocks of Reef Point. From Pear Point we headed out into the channel to catch the current to Cattle Pass. Current carried us passed the harbor seals on Deadman Island and a roosting bald eagle and out to Whale Rocks. Many more Steller sea lions are hauled out here now as sea lions return from their summer in the Queen Charlotte Islands. We also found a solitary sea otter who’s been spending this summer in our area and perhaps marks a welcome slow return of the species. We sailed from Long Island out to Salmon Bank passing groups of gulls with many common murres and rhinoceros auklets, but we did not find a minke whale here today. We drifted by the cormorant colony of Goose Island and homeward bound. Lighting was quite special through sunset with a nice view of an eagle against the setting sun.