Today was my first kayak trip of the season, and what a great trip it was! Derrick and Rachel braved the gray skies and we paddled out to the West Side. The birds were fantastic-- we sighted five bald eagles, countless Harlequin ducks, mergansers, buffleheads, auklets, guillemots, oystercatchers, kingfishers, cormorants, herons and more!
I was pleasantly surprised to see dozens of seals lounging and swimming, but the real treat of the day came later. We were paddling north along Henry, about to head home, when Derrick noticed a seal close behind us-- I looked back and saw the huge head of a Steller Sea Lion surfacing just feet away! It was an unexpected and fantastic wildlife sighting. We continued watching him as he surfaced repeatedly by Battleship Island, before finally disappearing.
I can't wait to see what this weekend will bring-- this whole summer for that matter!