– H. Harbord
Mitlenatch Island
By Heather Harbord, 2 June 2012.
Ten members boarded the Misty Isles at Lund at 10 am and motored to Mitlenatch over calm seas as the wind did not warrant raising the sails. Half the group went ashore while the other half circumnavigated the island by zodiac. Although we saw both California and Steller’s sea lions there were very few of them and only one California was hauled out. There were lots of seals and pigeon guillemots sporting their bright red legs and mouths.
Unlike other years, there were no eagles on the island and very few crows and ravens so the double-crested and pelagic cormorants were nesting in peace without having to defend their eggs from predators. On shore the glaucous-winged gulls were courting and beginning to nest. Pink Hooker’s onion, white death camas, blue-eyed grass and orange tiger lilies were on show along with some healthy clumps of cacti. We arrived back at Lund having not seen a single porpoise, dolphin or orca which is unusual for this trip.
