It was another hot one today! Beautiful for seeing all kinds of wildlife. South of San Juan Island was our destination as we left Friday Harbor. Just outside, we stopped to view some harbor seals and pups hauled out on the rocky reef and a bald eagle in the tree tops. Further south, on whale rocks, there was a massive Steller sea lion sitting up, then five or six others swimming amongst the bull kelp.
Then, at salmon bank we spotted not only some harbor porpoise, but the slender, smooth back of a minke whale! We watched for a while as it surfaced and zig-zagged around the bank. There was also an abundance of sea birds; common murres, cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, and gulls seen in the air, on the water's surface, and flying underwater!
Heading back, we motored around Long Island to check out another bald eagle, plus its huge nest! Finally, we spotted more harbor seals, this time swimming in the water. What a great way to spend a sunny, Sunday afternoon!
~Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris