September 8, 2023 – With a morning report of four orca eastbound from Roche Harbor we wondered if we would see the T137A, T137D, T37A3 and T37A4 group passing Friday Harbor for the fourth or fifth time as they had been doing over the last week. We sailed slowly to Point Caution scanning to the north and seeing nothing, and we also knew of a humpback whale who had been hanging down south, so we decided to take our chances going south.
We cut through the fog in Griffin Bay scanning for orcas and finding porpoises and harbor seals hauled out on the rocks. Passing Goose Island the fog was heavy and we decided to give it some time to burn off by visiting Whale Rocks and the Steller sea lions. The humpback had been seen traveling south from South Beach but was lost by Salmon Bank. Continuing around the Lopez coastline to Iceberg Pt and beyond, the coastline was barely visible, though magical, looming through the mist.
After rounding Castle Island we came back to MacArthur Bank and shut down to listen in the fog. As luck would have it we found a minke whale, and heard a distant exhale which could’ve been the humpback. The minke whale appeared to be one we’ve been monitoring this summer who was surfacing shallowly barely showing a dorsal fin. However, on our last encounter she was looking better while foraging, but still appeared skinny to us. Her spinal ridge is quite noticeable still. We came back by way of Deadman Island and after Kings Pt the fog spectacularly cleared giving way to blue skies and sunshine.
Fog rolling in through the islands
Fog rolling in through the islands
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Great blue heron on Turn Island State Park
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals resting south of Turn Island
Harbor seals sleeping south of Turn Island
Harbor seals resting south of Turn Island
Bald eagle near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Fog at southern end of San Juan Island and calm seas
Fog rolling in around San Juan Island
Fog rolling in around San Juan Island
Harbor seals at Goose Island
Cormorants in the fog at Goose Island
Steller Sea Lions in the fog, San Juan Islands
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks in the fog
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks in the fog
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks in the fog
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks in the fog
Steller Sea Lion in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lion in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks in the fog
Fog over Long Island
Harbor seal snoozing in the fog
Foggy south Lopez Island coastline
Foggy south Lopez Island coastline
Foggy south Lopez Island coastline
Foggy south Lopez Island coastline
Black tailed buck on Lopez Island
Foggy dramatic south Lopez Island coastline
Harbor seal mom and pup in the fog
Foggy South Lopez Island coastline
Harbor seals in the fog on Lopez Island By Castle Rock
Harbor seal in the fog by Blind Island
Foggy rainbow arc
Minke whale in the fog
Minke whale between Salmon Bank and MacArthur Bank
Minke whale between Salmon Bank and MacArthur Bank
Minke whale between Salmon Bank and MacArthur Bank
Minke whale between Salmon Bank and MacArthur Bank
Minke whale between Salmon Bank and MacArthur Bank
Sailing in the fog south of Salmon Bank
Harbor seals in the fog by Deadman Island
Harbor seals in the fog by Deadman Island
Harbor seals in the fog by Deadman Island
Harbor seals in the fog by Deadman Island
Foggy Lopez Island by Deadman Island
Great blue heron flying by
Harbor seals at Shark Reef
Cormorants at Shark Reef
Layer of fog around the southern end of San Juan Island
Layer of fog around the southern end of San Juan Island
Layer of fog around near San Juan Island with Olympic Mountains behind
Layer of fog in Griffin Bay, San Juan Island
Harbor seals on the rocks south of Turn Island
Route map 9/8/23