Sunday, June 14th
After two days without seeing whales, we finally hit the jackpot! (In the baleen whale world). We didn’t see Orcas, but we did see two minke whales and two gray whales (one pictured below). After spending some time at Hein Bank with two minkes, we then went to Smith Island. At right is the eagles nest that we saw on a sand spit. The nest was on the ground and the size of a large desk, and the pair of eagles were standing watch on the tower. This nest is in a very precarious place, and the eagles must have to do a lot of rebuilding in the spring after the winter storms. Eagles will reuse their nests year after year. Our other wildlife sightings today included a Stellar sea lion swimming by the boat, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, a tufted puffin, (such a treat for the birders), rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, cormorants, common murres, numerous gulls and too many eagles to count! They were all on the main part of Smith Island, which has two more eagle nests. Not too bad of a count for San Juan Island wildlife. Another beautiful day out in the San Juans.
Gray Whale
Eagle's Nest