July 5, 2024 – On today’s sail we went farther than expected to see a couple family of orcas, the T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island. We hoped the orcas would come inbound on the flood tide, but instead they pressed on against it as they headed west. We too tried to push west to catch up to them, but it was really slow going for us against the strong current. However in the end we made it and had some really nice views. On our way back we found a minke whale on Salmon Bank and stopped to see the Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks. Other notable wildlife spotted today included a pair of deer walking along a sand bar, cormorants on Goose Island, a bald eagle by Deadman Island, many harbor seals, and lots of diving birds.
Mt Baker
Black tailed deer
Harbor seals hauled out near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Harbor seals hauled out near Pear Pt, San Juan Island
Cormorants on Goose Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s – Trial Island in distance
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Discovery Island
Discovery Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T36’s and T99’s near Victoria
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Harbor seal swimming by
Brandts cormorants on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions goofing around in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions goofing around in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions goofing around in the water near Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions goofing around in the water near Whale Rocks
Raft of Steller sea lions
Young Steller sea lion pup with an injury on flipper at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lion pup with Mt Rainier
Adolescent bald eagle
Route map 7/5/24