When editing the photos for this blog, I almost always crop them down to show detail. This is because at San Juan Excursions we try our best to stay 200 yards away from the orcas, as all boaters and paddlers should do when they are watching them, since it is the law. However, on this day, the orcas had different plans and no matter how hard we tried to keep the distance between us and them, we had close encounters when Eclipse J41 surfaced beside us and caught a salmon, and when members of the J17 matriline decided to dive under the Odyssey. It was great to see all of J pod back together since they have been so split up lately and we saw most of the members during our time with them at Salmon Bank off of San Juan Island.
Eclipse J41, born in 2005.
Eclipse pokes her head above the water as she puts on the brakes while chasing a salmon.
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She got it!
Granny J2, estimated to have been born in 1911.
Tahlequah J35, born in 1998, and her son Notch J47, who was born in 2010.
 Notch pokes his head out of the water. . . |  . . .and starts vocalizing! |
His eye was open!!
Moby J44, born in 2009, with his mother Princess Angeline J17, who was born in 1977.
Tahlequah coming to the surface to breathe.
Notch and Tahlequah.
Moby belly flops beside his mother.
Sprouter male Doublestuf J34, born in 1998.
J pod slowly traveled and foraged up the the West side of the island into the evening. From shore, I saw them line up to rest while swimming against the strong flood tide near Lime Kiln State Park. Just before sunset, they woke up and began to point offshore and it seemed like they were planning to exit the area during the night. However, they were still around the next day and spent their time up at the Fraser River. The next morning (the 19th) held a big surprise!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask!
