Minke whale at Salmon Bank and Sea otter eating urchins

September 18, 2024 – After leaving Friday Harbor we headed south today. A great blue heron flew by and a family of raccoons was busy foraging on Turn Island. Again like yesterday the sea otter was hanging out at Turn Rock, and this time it was eating 3 urchins! A bald eagle watched us sail by from the tree tops and harbor seals snoozed on the rocks near Pear Pt. A couple mom/calf pair of harbor porpoise were milling in the channel. There were many Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks today and a large group socializing in the water. At Salmon Bank we found a minke whale (aka “Dent”) who gave us some great views. A male orca, T49C, was southboud from Kelp Reef so we headed west to intercept; however his route was to Discovery Island beyond our range and we doubled back. We saw the same minke whale one more time and then headed to MacArthur Bank where there were many active bait balls. We came around Hall and Long Island before returning via Cattle Pass on the fast flowing flood current.