June 28, 2024 – As we were sailing south through Cattle Pass we came across Southern Resident orcas from J pod who had come down Rosario Strait and were approaching the west side of San Juan Island. We watched them pass from a distance with porpoising and breaching as the spread out groups headed towards False Bay. We left them near Eagle Point and headed to Salmon Bank passing J27 foraging offshore. We found a minke whale circling an area of Salmon Bank but quickly lost sight of it. Lots of Steller sea lions were up to their antics on Whale Rocks and harbor seals were resting on nearby rocks north of Long Island.
Note: all photos taken with 200-800mm equivalent lens and further cropped to show detail.
Sailing around Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals hauled out near Turn Island
Harbor seals hauled out near Turn Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas porpoising with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas porpoising with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas porpoising with Olympic Mountains
Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas northbound westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas northbound westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas northbound westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas northbound westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orcas northbound westside San Juan Island
Southern Resident J Pod Orca breach
Southern Resident J Pod Orca breach
Southern Resident J Pod Orca breach
Southern Resident J Pod Orca breach
Southern Resident J Pod Orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orca with Olympic Mountains
Southern Resident J Pod Orca breach
Southern Resident J Pod Orca J27 “Blackberry”
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Orca seaplane
Mt Rainier
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Long Island, Washington
Bald eagle nest, Long Island, Washington
Old mossy tree
Pair of bald eagles, Long Island, Washington
Long Island, Washington
Harbor seals by Mummy Rocks
Harbor seals by Mummy Rocks
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
Black oystercatcher, Lopez Island
Black oystercatcher, Lopez Island
Harbor seals by Deadman Island
WA State Ferry with Mt Baker
Route map 6/28/24