– N. Pezel
– N. Pezel
– N. Pezel
– N. Pezel
– W. Ferrier
– W. Ferrier
– N. Pezel
– W. Ferrier
– W. Ferrier
– W. Ferrier
– W. Ferrier
– N. Pezel
– W. Ferrier
Mitlenatch Island trip
by Winnie Ferrier, 2 June 2018.
On Saturday twelve of us carpooled to Lund to begin an awesome adventure. We were greeted by Skipper Mike Moore, and then shuttled by zodiac to the Misty Isles, already moored in Finn Bay.
There we were welcomed aboard by Jonas who is skipper-in-training, and Karie, their crew member. We set off towards Mitlenach under cloudy skies and a cool temperature but Mike pointed out to us that there was a patch of blue sky over our destination and was confident that we would have sunshine. While we were underway Mike gave us both a geographical and historical lesson of the islands that we were cruising past.
While we were anchoring we witnessed an exciting display of several California sea lions porpoising out of the water in succession. There were exclamations of excitement and cameras were quickly pulled out.
We were divided into two groups, with six participants being taken ashore with Karie for a walkabout on the island and six of us going with Mike and Jonas in the zodiac to circle the island by water. As it was mating season there was an abundance of harbor seals, and both California and Stellar sea lions for us to view. We saw large groups basking on the rocks and as we continued around a corner we were witness to about 50 juvenile male California sea lions tussling with each other, pushing their competitors off of the bluffs and into the water. Our trip continued with Mike pointing out marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemots, black oystercatchers, bald eagles and a passing belted kingfisher. We saw rookeries of pelagic cormorants on cliff faces and the larger double-crested cormorants nesting on the tops of the cliffs.
Our turn ashore started with Mike picking up from the shallow water a beautiful moon snail with its body, including its siphon, exposed for us to see. We had a pleasant stroll with Karie along the assigned island paths, looking at numerous wildflowers along the way. Amongst them were purple brodiaea, blossoms of wild onions and a gorgeous yellow bloom of a prickly pear cactus. The most prevalent was the wild tiger lily which was scattered amongst the high grasses and along the edges of our pathways. The sunshine, which Mike had promised, exemplified their beautiful colours. We had the opportunity to climb up to a bird blind and watch mating glaucous winged seagulls. Nature in action! After a short visit to the cabin of the volunteering stewards of the island we returned to the shore where we were all again deposited back on Misty Isles.
On the return trip to Lund Mike had more stories and history to share and we were all treated to chai tea and Mike’s wife, Samantha’s delicious home made cookies.
