On the morning of 7/5/14, L pod had returned to the area and headed for San Juan Island. As L pod made their way over, Group A of J pod and others were coming down Rosario Strait. Once L pod made it to San Juan, they joined up with K pod. Soon after, I was aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions watching members of Group B of J pod, and K pod near Salmon Bank, just offshore of the South end of San Juan. Many of the orcas were foraging while slowly making their way toward Rosario Strait. Oreo J22, Polaris J28, Rhapsody J32, Doublestuf J34, Star J46, Opus K16, Cappuccino K21, Sekiu K22, Lobo K26, and Sonata K35 were some of the orcas nearby.
Lobo K26, a male born in 1993.
Polaris J28, a female born in 1993.
Soon, all the orcas picked up speed and continued to aim for Rosario Strait, where Group A (including Granny J2) and others had just exited. It was time for a reunion! As we paralleled the orcas, L pod members appeared, as well as more J's, both of which joined our original J and K pod members as they headed for Group A. Suddenly, all the orcas around us began breaching, belly flopping, back diving, and tail slapping. At one point, there was a double breach off of our bow, a breach to our right, and a breach behind us at the same time. To me, it looked like they were quite excited to reunite with Group A. We were witnessing something amazing!
Marina L47 in mid belly flop. She was born in 1974.
Back dive!
Deadhead K27 breaches. She was born in 1994.
It was then that Group A and all of our orcas met up, near Iceberg Point at Lopez Island. What happened next was something I had been wanting to see for a long time; a gretting ceremony. While it was on the smaller scale, it was a greeting ceremony non the less. Group A lined up and so did some of our orcas. They laid at the surface in their lines about forty feet away from each other for a few moments before diving underwater. When they re-surfaced, the orcas were all together. Then, the party began.
Reunited!
Slick J16 breaches! She was born around 1972.
Somebody else breaches!
I caught up with the orcas again later in the evening and they were still partying. Members from the J14, J17, K13, K18, L4, L43, and L47 matrilines were back off the South end of San Juan Island and were pretty spread out in different socializing groups.
Spy hop!
Headstand!
Hy'shqa J37 lands a belly flop. She was born in 2001.
Ti'lem I'nges J49 back dives. He was born in 2012.
Moonlight L83 lifts kelp with her tail fluke.
Tahlequah J35, born in 1998, breaches.
I did not see the L12's, L22's or L54's during these encounters, so they are probably still out in the open ocean. All the other matrilines were in though. What a crazy and unforgettable day!!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
