June 22, 2024 – As we were sailing north up San Juan Channel we spotted a blow of a humpback whale. As luck would have it there were two humpback whales southbound and they were identified as BCZ0298 ” Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant”. Winds were moderately strong and it got chilly pointing into it, but we caught up to the whales as they came in towards the San Juan Island coastline. The whales passed closely to the entrance of a very busy Friday Harbor. At Turn Island we left the whales to see what other wildlife we could find. Southern Resident orcas from J pod were on the westside of the island and we got a quick view and watched as several passed by. As we approached Salmon Bank a minke whale surfaced three times, but the only one to see it was First Mate, Barbara. It was a slinky minke with tricky viewing. We passed by the Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks as the flood tide was really running with 3-4 footers near the rock. The humpbacks we saw earlier had been in Cattle Pass getting pushed back by the tide for several hours like whales on treadmills making no headway, so we got one more quick look before sailing back to the harbor. A whale trifecta kind of day!
Route map 6/22/24
Orca sea plane
Mt Baker
Orca sea plane in Friday Harbor with Whale Museum
Sailing – San Juan Islands
Sailing – San Juan Islands
Humpback whale, San Juan Channel
Humpback whale, San Juan Channel
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” near Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” near Pt Caution, San Juan Island
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” southbound along San Juan shoreline
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” southbound along San Juan shoreline
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” southbound towards Friday Harbor
Humpback whales BCZ0298 “Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant”
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” tail flukes
Ferry with Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Friday Harbor and Whale Museum
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” passing Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” passing Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Friday Harbor
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing party on San Juan Island house
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” near San Juan Island shoreline
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Turn Island State Park
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” near Turn Island State Park
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” dorsal fin left side
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” tail flukes
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” and BCZ0298 “Split Fin” passing Turn Island State Park
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” and BCZ0298 “Split Fin” passing Turn Island State Park
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” passing Turn Island State Park
Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Bald eagle, San Juan Island
Harbor seals near Goose Island, San Juan Islands
Harbor seals with Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Islands
Double-crested cormorants, Goose Island
Double-crested cormorants on Goose Island
Brandts cormorants on Goose Island
Goose Island and Cattle Pt Lighthouse behind
Southern Resident Orcas, J16’s westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas, J16’s westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas, J16’s westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orcas, J16’s westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident Orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident Orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident Orcas from J Pod
Southern Resident Orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident Orca from J Pod
Cattle Pt Lighthouse and Mt Baker
Shades of blue
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with big seas
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with big seas
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with big seas
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with big seas
Sleeping juvenile Steller sea lion at Whale Rocks
Sea lion resting flipper on another’s back
Juvenile Steller sea lion at Whale Rocks, San Juan Islands
Steller sea lion Peek a boo
Goose Island and Olympic Mountains
Humpback whales BCZ0298 “Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant” in Cattle Pass
Humpback whales BCZ0298 “Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant” in Cattle Pass
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” with Cattle Point Lighthouse
Humpback whales BCZ0298 “Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant” in Cattle Pass
Humpback whales BCZ0298 “Split Fin” and BCX1773 ”Valiant” in Cattle Pass
Humpback whale BCX1773 ”Valiant” tail flukes with Olympic Mountains
Sailing San Juan Islands
Sea plane taking off in Friday Harbor