Today we left Friday Harbor and headed south down the east side of San Juan Island through Cattle Pass. Cattle Pass is known for torrential currents because both Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan De Fuca converge demanding to be let through. In the midst of Cattle Pass we saw stacked nests of Double Crested Cormorants on Goose Island, Harbor Seals hauled out on Whale Rocks and a Bald Eagle fishing on Long Island.
The snow capped peaks of the Olympic Penninsula were clearly visible as was Victoria, British Columbia, just 9 miles west of the west side of San Juan Island. Rhinoceros Auklets carried fish in their bills, Common Murres swam dramatically by with their iridescent white bodies and black heads, while Bonaparte's Gulls bragged about their beauty. They are the only beautiful gull, but they don't compare to the orca.
The orca is a dolphin rather than a whale. It has perfectly cone shaped teeth as dolphins do and at 25 feet long is considered midsized. Dolphins have been defined as the second most intelligent creature on Earth other than humans. Their physical prowess and heightened perception are what drive us to see them. We consider them to be much more beautiful than even a Bonaparte's Gull because of their aliveness- they are alert and intelligent.
Lauren Sands
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