It was the morning of the first day of July and the water was like glass. As I gazed out my window, I spotted L pod members heading past my house. A few minutes later, I was standing along some cliffs near my house looking down at the orcas as they milled about and socialized. It was Group B of J pod and all the matrilines of L pod besides the L12's and L54's (which now includes Nyssa L84 and Wave Walker L88). Group A of J pod was up North near the Fraser River in Canada.
In the lead were the J11, J22, L4 and L43 matrilines. They were lazily headed North but also kept on turning around, socializing, and playing. The matrilines South of them were doing the same. Finally, someone did a tremendous breach, followed by forceful tail slaps from a few others and everyone (including the families to the South) committed to heading North and set off.
In the lead were the J11, J22, L4 and L43 matrilines. They were lazily headed North but also kept on turning around, socializing, and playing. The matrilines South of them were doing the same. Finally, someone did a tremendous breach, followed by forceful tail slaps from a few others and everyone (including the families to the South) committed to heading North and set off.
Racer L72 with her beautiful open saddle patch. She was born in 1986.
Takoda L109, born in 2007, tail slaps.
 Jade L118, born in 2001, scoops kelp up rockweed. . . |  . . .and carries it on the side of her face. |
Jade spy hops!
The breach!
As those four families headed North, the J17's, L26's, and L47's passed by me as they brought up the back. I could see their entire bodies just under the surface. One female swam upside down, while some of the others were shoulder to shoulder, occasionally turning on their sides and gazing up in my direction.
Crewser L92, born in 1995, lays on his back for a moment.
Polaris J28, born in 1993, drapes bull kelp over her pectoral fin.
Polaris carries bull kelp on her back.
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Star J46, born in 2009, surfaces with kelp sticking out of her mouth.
Crewser surfaces near to what appears to be whale poop! The culprit was Polaris.
That's a first!
Marina L47, born in 1974, dives next her tail slapping son, Mystic L115, who was born in 2010.
Princess Angeline J17, born in 1977.
This was on of my best shore-based orca encounters to date, but the next day held a surprise!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask!
