On the morning of the 28th, Group A of J pod (including the J22's) and all of K pod (minus K16, K21, and K35, who are off with Group B and L pod) were back at San Juan Island after their trip to Campbell River and did their "West side shuffle" all day long. Although Group B (including L87), K16, K21, K35 and some L's returned to San Juan Island on the 27th, I believe they (maybe including L87 again) left that night or sometime the next day. I'm not sure where the J16's fit in to all of this, but they supposedly went North to Campbell River with the others.
It should be noted that two Transient orca matrilines known as the T037A's and T137's were also around San Juan Island on the 28th and were within a few miles or less of the Resident orcas at certain times, but they did not interact of course. The T018's, T034's, T036A's, T065A's, T101's, and T124's have all been seen around the area recently too.
On the morning of the 29th, I could see the Resident orcas heading North past my house. Soon after, the orcas turned around and headed back South. Classic "West side Shuffle" again, which they continued to do into the night. So, aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions on the 29th, we headed for the South end of San Juan island. When we arrived on scene with the orcas, I identified the J14's, J22's, K12's, K13's and K14's. I did not J16's, but they could have been there. I found out later that the J19's were there too but I didn't see them. The orcas were all being quite social and there were many spy hops, back dives, tail slaps, inverted tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, and dorsal fin slaps, along with a few breaches, cartwheels, and flirtations. Adult male Lobo K26 surprised us with a close pass by and so did sprouter male Cookie J38, who blew a raspberry and slapped his pectoral fin twice before swimming past us.
It should be noted that two Transient orca matrilines known as the T037A's and T137's were also around San Juan Island on the 28th and were within a few miles or less of the Resident orcas at certain times, but they did not interact of course. The T018's, T034's, T036A's, T065A's, T101's, and T124's have all been seen around the area recently too.
On the morning of the 29th, I could see the Resident orcas heading North past my house. Soon after, the orcas turned around and headed back South. Classic "West side Shuffle" again, which they continued to do into the night. So, aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions on the 29th, we headed for the South end of San Juan island. When we arrived on scene with the orcas, I identified the J14's, J22's, K12's, K13's and K14's. I did not J16's, but they could have been there. I found out later that the J19's were there too but I didn't see them. The orcas were all being quite social and there were many spy hops, back dives, tail slaps, inverted tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, and dorsal fin slaps, along with a few breaches, cartwheels, and flirtations. Adult male Lobo K26 surprised us with a close pass by and so did sprouter male Cookie J38, who blew a raspberry and slapped his pectoral fin twice before swimming past us.
Adult male Lobo K26 passes the Odyssey. He was born in 1993.
Adult male Scoter K25, born in 1991, tail slaps.
Adult female Spock K20 breaches high into the air. She was born in 1986.
Sprouter male Cookie J38 in mid pectoral fin slap after blowing a raspberry. He was born in 2003.
Saturna K43 spy hops. She was born in 2010.
Oreo J22, born in 1985, spy hops.
As we were heading back to the dock, we were lucky enough to spot a few Dall's porpoise as they surfaced to breathe! I think they were my first Dall's porpoise aboard the Odyssey this season. Here's hoping they eventually return to being plentiful in the area like they once were years ago.
Which orcas will I see next?
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Which orcas will I see next?
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
