A Crazy Morning With The J17s On 9/12/15

On September 11th, the J17s came down Boundary Pass and made it San Juan Island in the evening. The L54s were also in Boundary Pass, but possibly went down Presidents Channel. The rest of J pod, all of K pod, and the rest of L pod spent their day exiting the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca towards the open ocean. The next morning, I spotted Northbound orcas in front of my house at False Bay and headed to some nearby cliffs to see who they were. It was the J17 matriline all by themselves and they were in a very active mood for a short time!

Princess Angeline J17 and her son, Moby J44, were a little offshore while the rest of the family, Polaris J28, Tahlequah J35 (daughters to J17), Star 46, and Notch J47 (grandchildren to J17) were inshore. Polaris J28 cartwheeled and pectoral fin slapped, Tahleqauh J35 breached twice, Star J46 tail slapped, cartwheeled, pectoral fin slapped, and inverted tail slapped, and Notch J47 tail slapped, breached, and played with kelp. This flurry of activity happened very fast and was brief. The family then milled about a little to the North of me and seemed to be foraging for salmon.

Tahlequah J35 breaches. She was born in 1998.

Star J46 cartwheels. She was born in 2009.

Star J46 does an inverted tail slap.

Later that day, the L54s met up with the J17s and they socialized together around the same area. The next day (the 13th), J and K pod came in from Hein Bank to San Juan Island with the L54s. On the 14th, J and K pod as well as the L54s were still at the island. On the 15th, J and K pod (were the L54s still with them?) headed offshore of San Juan Island and out toward the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Were they going to leave the area? They indeed were as the next day (the 16th), Js and Ks were seen outbound in the Strait of Juan De Fuca. I wonder when they will be back?

Please do not us my photos without my permission. Just ask.