A few hours before sunset, I noticed J and L pod members heading North past my house through my window. I grabbed my camera and drove a little bit North of my house to a beach so I could see who was in the lead groups and then let them all pass me. Granny J2 (estimated to have been born in 1911), was in front as usual, with Onyx L87 offshore of her. Next came Blackberry J27, his sister Tsuchi J31, and Shachi J19, with her daughter Eclipse J41. The rest of the orcas were in twos and threes far offshore or in a super large group that was very close to shore.
The large group, which was made up of both J and L pod members, was in a resting line at the beginning of the encounter, but then began to mill about and socialize, seemingly indecisive about what direction to take. Doubelstuf J34, his mother Oreo J22, his cousin Rhapsody J32, and Suttles J40, who is from Granny's matriline, split off from the large group multiple times. During these instances they got very close to me as they logged at the surface in the setting sun and played in the kelp. They would then return to the big group and join them in shuffling up and down the beach. The orcas in twos and threes offshore also changed direction a lot, just when it seemed they had made a decision, they would turn back South or North.
The large group, which was made up of both J and L pod members, was in a resting line at the beginning of the encounter, but then began to mill about and socialize, seemingly indecisive about what direction to take. Doubelstuf J34, his mother Oreo J22, his cousin Rhapsody J32, and Suttles J40, who is from Granny's matriline, split off from the large group multiple times. During these instances they got very close to me as they logged at the surface in the setting sun and played in the kelp. They would then return to the big group and join them in shuffling up and down the beach. The orcas in twos and threes offshore also changed direction a lot, just when it seemed they had made a decision, they would turn back South or North.
Granny J2 in the lead!
Rhapsody J32, born in 1996, pokes her head and pectoral fin above the water.
Suttles J40, born in 2004. She is Granny's great grandaughter.
Oreo J22, born in 1985, drapes kelp over her pectoral fin.
Sprouter male Doublestuf J34, born in 1998, lazily surfaces while pulling kelp with his dorsal fin.
Doublestuf does an inverted tail slap.
 |  Suttles breaches! |  |
Rhapsody plays with kelp draped across her back.
Part of the big group of J's and L's.
Someone tail slaps next to Doublestuf in front of Mt. Rainier.
Ti'lem I'nges J49, born in 2012, spy hops in front of Mt. Rainier.
Mike J26, born in 1991, dives just off the rocks. He was part of the big group.
All together, the big group consisted of at least the J14's, J16's, J17's, J22's, L26's, and L43's. Eventually, instead off all passing me, the large group turned back South, and soon the rest of the orcas did as well. While at the beach, the water was calm, and there was not a breath of wind, which made for an incredibly quiet evening, except for the breathing and splashing coming from the orcas. What a very special and memorable encounter!
