A Mix Of J, K, And L Pod On 8/24/15

On August 24th, the Center for Whale Researcher’s Dave Ellifrit and I headed out on the water under permit to have an encounter with members of J, K, and L pod. We found the K12s, K13s, Opus K16, and Sonata K35 first as they headed North off of North Kellet Bluff in a tight group. Opus K16 and Sonata K35 then dropped back behind the other orcas and we lost track of them. We stayed with the K12s and K13s for a bit until they were about a mile away from Stuart Island before we moved back South and found Cappuccino K21 by himself as he headed North off of Battleship Island.

We then headed down the shoreline of San Juan Island and passed by Doublestuf J34, Crewser L92, Fluke L105, and a few other orcas near Hannah Heights in our search for the L12s and L54s that were reported further South. Soon, we spotted Wave Walker L88 foraging for and chasing salmon off of Pile Point as he made his way South. We found Spirit L22, Solstice L89, Calypso L94, and L121 heading South off of False Bay next and L121 traveled in Spirit L22's slip stream for a short time before heading back to his mother. At one point, as Calypso L94 and L121 dove near the bow, we heard a clear L pod vocalization through the hull of the boat! Joy L119 then appeared and so did Tahlequah J35, Notch J47, Matia L77, Nyssa L84, Wave Walker L88, and Coho L108 soon after.

The water then started to get a bit choppy with 2-3 foot seas but we continued on and found Mystery L85 and Ballena L90 flirting with each other North of Eagle Cove. Mystery L85 belly flopped three times, half breached once, and pectoral fin slapped, while Ballena L90 tailed slapped twice and belly flopped once. We then found Ino L54, Nyssa L84, Crewser L92, and Keta L117 nearby. Ino L54 cartwheeled once and breached three times, while Keta L117 tail slapped and belly flopped a few times.

Ino L54 breaches. She was born in 1977. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

Further offshore in the sloppy seas we spotted a few small social groups. These groups contained Oreo J22, Doublestuf J34, Tahelquah J35, Notch J47, Spirit L22, Ocean Sun L25, Mega L41, Matia L77, Wave Walker L88, Calypso L94, Fluke L105, Coho L108, Cousteau L113, and Joy L119 and they would frequently split up, change members, and mill about. They were very tactile with lots of pushing and carrying, as well as rolling around, splashing, aerial scans, tail slaps, and there were even some above water vocalizations!

Coho L108, Matia L77, and Spirit L22 being social. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

After hanging out with the social groups for a bit, we aimed back inshore and found Ino L54, Nyssa L84, Wave Walker L88, and Keta L117 again as they slowly moved back inshore towards False Bay in a tight group. Then, on the way back to the dock, we briefly encountered the J16s off the South end of Kellett Bluff as they headed South. Mike J26 was foraging by himself offshore while the rest of the family (Slick J16, Alki J36, Echo J42, J50, and J52) moved in towards Open Bay.

I am pleasantly surprised that the L54s stuck around another day and happy that they can be spending some time with J, K, and the rest of L pod. What will happen next?

Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.