July 23, 2024 – Super low tide and we went south on the tail end of the ebb. Sailed through Turn Island Pass passing harbor seals resting on the rocks. Tacked our way through Cattle Pass passing cormorants on Goose Island and Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks. Drifted inside the calm waters inside Long Island out to Iceberg Point. We met a humpback whale whose tail flukes had been amputated probably after entanglement by derelict fishing gear. In the photographs we also noticed the whale is looking rather skinny and malnourished. We heard that this whale had been seen recently by Campbell River on July 10th (about 160 miles away). He/she is being named “Catalyst” by MERS as far as we’ve heard. We watched as he/she swam towards Colville passing Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s inside Swirl Rock. Leaving the humpback we watched the orcas, a nineteen year old mother of 4 all under the age of 10, socializing with lots of breaches probably after hunting harbor seals. It was a great encounter with a fast sail home on the flood current.
Turn Island State Park at low tide
Turn Island State Park at low tide
Mt Baker viewed from Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals and Olympic Mountains
Cormorants on Goose Island
Gulsl with chicks on Goose Island
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks with Olympic Mountains
Humpback whale missing tail flukes referred to as “Catalyst” by MERS; note orcas in distance
Humpback whale with severed tail flukes; referred to as “Catalyst” by MERS
Humpback whale with missing tail flukes surfacing (referred to as “Catalyst” by MERS)
Humpback whale with missing tail flukes surfacing; this whale looks skinny
Humpback whale with severed tail flukes after likely entanglement from derelict fishing gear
Humpback whale with missing tail flukes surfacing; severed after likely entanglement
Humpback whale with missing tail flukes swimming towards Colville Island
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s peeping above the surface
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s peeping above the surface in the kelp bed
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by Swirl Rocks
Group of black oystercatchers flying by
Orca tail slap
Orca tail slapping
Orca spy hop
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s very surface active by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s very surface active by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s very surface active by Swirl Rocks
Biggs/Transient orcas T109A2’s very surface active by Swirl Rocks
Double orca tail flukes visible
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca back flip – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s in the bull kelp forest
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s in the bull kelp forest
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s in the bull kelp forest
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s in the bull kelp forest
Biggs/Transient Orca tail flukes – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca slapping pectoral flipper – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca headstand – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca tail slap – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca belly flop – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orcas T109A2’s very surface active
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca breach – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca headstand – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca headstand – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca headstand – T109A2’s
Biggs/Transient Orca headstand – T109A2’s
Currents in Cattle Pass
Route map 7/23/24