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The T075As And T073As On 6/23/15

6/29/2015

On the morning of 6/23/15, following a report of marine mammal eating Transient orcas (two of them being T075 and T075A) heading North in Andrew's Bay at San Juan Island, the Center for Whale Research's Dave Ellifrit and I headed out on the water under permit to see who the rest of them were. We left Snug Harbor and headed North up Haro Strait to Gooch Island. Once on scene, we saw T075, her adult son T075A, and the T073A matriline (T73A1, T73A2, and T73A3). We were happy to see T073A with a new calf, T73A3, who was likely born sometime in late 2014 or early 2015.

T073A with her new calf, T073A3. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

Adult male T075A, born in 1991. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

The orcas were headed back South in a tight group. They swam down the shoreline of Sidney Island and aimed right for D'Arcy Island. Once they reached a reef off the North end of D'Arcy, there were a few lunges and splashes. We then smelled blubber oil in the air, which indicated the orcas had made a kill (likely a harbor seal). There were a few celebratory tail slaps and after milling about/feeding for a bit, the orcas picked up speed and traveled quickly Southwest towards Zero Rock. We ended our encounter with them off the South end of D'Arcy as they headed South. What a great way to start the morning! To read more details of our encounter, see the Center's version here.

Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.

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Amazing Lime Kiln Encounter With Js, Ks, And Ls On 6/22/15

6/27/2015

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While driving past Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island on my way to my house, I could see some Southern Resident orcas headed for the park so I quickly turned around and ran down to the shoreline. It was Group A of J pod, K pod (minus Cappuccino K21 and the K16s), and the fifteen Ls who I had seen swim South past the Center for Whale Research earlier in the day after they had headed North into Canada (probably to check out the Fraser River for Chinook salmon) the previous day. Now the orcas were heading back North past Lime Kiln and eventually past the center again.

The first to arrive at the park's shoreline was Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, J51, Lea K14, and Yoda K36. Seemingly waiting for the rest of the orcas to catch up, the five of them socialized and moved back and forth along the coast. Eclipse J41 rolled over and did a few inverted tail slaps, then righted herself for a few tail slaps, Shachi J19 did one big breach, and Lea K14 tail slapped. Interestingly, J51 surfaced in Yoda K36's slip stream a few times instead of Eclipse J41's (his mother). The five of them then moved a bit North then moved back South and Yoda K36 began tail slapping repeatedly when her brother Lobo K26 and other orcas finally made their approach to the park. Lobo K26 then joined in with a few tail slaps of his own. Shachi J19 tail slapped too for good measure and someone did a inverted tail slap and pectoral fin slap. All the orcas then merged and headed back North together.

New calf J51 surfaces. He was born in February of 2015.

Eclipse J41, born in 2005, and her mother Shachi J19, born in 1979.

Lobo K26, born in 1993, and his younger sister, Yoda K36, tail slap in unison. Yoda K36 was born in 2003.

There were more tail slaps as the orcas passed by, some of them by Shachi J19, Comet K38, Eclipse J41, and Samish J14. There were pec slaps too. It was a big group to pass by all at once but while I was frantically taking shots in the choas of orcas surfacing all over the place just a few feet from shore, I could see representatives from the J14, J16, J19 (Group A of J pod), K12, K13, K14, L47 and L4 matrilines. I'm sure Nigel L95 was there too. Some of the orcas surfaced so close to play in the kelp that it might have been the closest I have ever seen them in to the shore. The type of close were you try to zoom out with your camera but can't manage fit a whole orca in your photo! Just like the day prior, Onyx L87 popped up with kelp wrapped around his dorsal fin again.

Big boy Lobo K26 surfaces close to shore.

Someone drags kelp with their dorsal fin just feet from shore.

Adult female Nugget L55, born in 1977.

Samish J14, born in 1974, tail slaps beside her daughter Suttles J40, born in 2004.

Then, just like that all the orcas had passed the park and were well on their way into Canada again. What an extraordinary encounter!! It sure had my heart pounding!

Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)

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J Pod, K Pod, And The Fifteen Ls On 6/21/15

6/26/2015

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After J, K, and some of L pod returned the previous day, I woke up early on the morning of 6/21/15 and was eager to see which orcas had stuck around, if any. Soon, I was standing along some cliffs just a little North of my house and I could see lots of orcas spread out to the North of me and few to the South, with the Northern orcas slowly heading South towards me. A little North of me and a bit offshore, Onyx L87 (who travels with J pod instead of L pod) was socializing/rolling around with Marina L47 and Midnight L110. Onyx L87 spy hopped and tail slapped a few times and Midnight L110 was full of pec slaps, tail slaps, and inverted tail slaps.

There were more orcas further offshore, some of them being the Nigel L95, the J14, and the J19 matrilines. Inshore, Moonlight L83 slowly made her way past me and tail slapped a few times. She was followed by Ophelia L27, Surprise L86 (who also tail slapped), and Pooka L106. Then, the J14s and J19s began breaching and tail slapping and everyone turned around and headed back North. The K14s soon joined the rest of the Northbound orcas from the South.

I then drove North to Lime Kiln State Park to have another encounter from shore. The first orcas to pass me a little offshore off the park were Takoda L109 (who breached twice), Lapis L103, Nugget L55, and Jade L118. Sprouter male Tika K33 and his mother Sekiu K22 were not far behind them, and Sequim K12, Saturna K43, and Granny J2 were next. Further offshore was Kasatka L82 and her young son Finn L116. Then, closer in, the J14s, Pooka L106, and Surprise L86 went past. Rainshadow K37 surfaced nearby and Ophelia L27 was a little offshore of him. In the J14s, Suttles J40 tail slapped twice and Se-Yi'-Chn J45 tail slapped once. Then the J19s and K14s then passed by, and Onyx L87 surfaced super close to shore, playing with kelp along the way.

Adult male Onyx L87 with kelp wrapped around his dorsal fin. He was born in 1992.

Muncher L91 and Nigel L95 were next to pass by and both were very close to shore with kelp wrapped around their dorsal fins too. The L47s then made their way past and were followed by the K13s.

Muncher L91, born in 1995, surfaces close to shore at Lime Kiln.

Sprouter male Nigel L95 plays with some kelp. He was born in 1996.

Next in the procession were the J11s, J16s, J17s, J22s, and Sonata K35 in a big group very close to shore. Both Oreo J22 and Tahlequah J35 spy hopped as they went by. Polaris J28 and Tahlequah J35 took time to play with some kelp too. Offshore, Opus K16 and Cappuccino K21 surfaced.

New calf J52 surfaces next to his mother, Alki J36. J52 was born in late March of 2015.

Adult male Mike J26, born in 1991, surfaces close to shore at Lime Kiln State Park.

Tahlequah J35 plays with some kelp by lifting it with her tail fluke. She was born in 1998.

Tahlequah J35 spy hops right off the shoreline at Lime Kiln.

All the orcas continued past Lime Kiln but near the North end of San Juan Island, they split up and J pod broke into their Group A and B. Group A, almost all of K pod, and the fifteen Ls continued North, while Group B, the K16s, and Cappuccino K21 headed back South. The J16s then decided they wanted to be independent for a bit and dropped back miles behind the rest of the Northbound orcas but slowly aimed North. Where would everyone be the next day? Stay tuned!

Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask!

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The Residents Return On 6/20/15

6/24/2015

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On 6/20/14, whale watching boats found members from all three salmon eating Southern Resident orca pods (J,K, and L pod) inbound in the Strait of Juan De Fuca and heading toward San Juan Island. J pod, K pod, and the fifteen Ls (L4s, L47s, and L95) had left the area through Juan De Fuca back on the June 17th. Once the orcas crossed Haro Strait and hit the shoreline of San Juan Island, I went out and stood along some cliffs just a little North of my house to see who all had come in. Where there new whales who had not been to the island yet this season? K pod members began swimming past me from the North and to the South of me I could see many more orcas, including Polaris J28 and Blackberry J27. All of the orcas were in an active mood to say the least! The K13 matriline (Skagit K13, Spock K20, Scoter K25, Deadhead K27, Cali K34, Comet K38, and Ripple K44) was the first of the K pod members to swim past me and Spock K20 was full of breaches and backdives!

Spock K20 breaches. She was born in 1986.

The K12s (Sequim K12, Sekiu K22, Rainshadow K37, Saturna K43, and Tika K33) were the next and final orcas in the procession past me and this family was very active too. Saturna K43 belly flopped right on past me and when her mother, Sequim K12 leapt into the air for one of her full breaches during the evening, she was not far behind and made it a double breach! Saturna K43 was also tail slapping, pectoral fin slapping, and inverted tail slapping. Sekiu K22 joined in with a half breach, and her sprouter son Tika K33 also did multiple half breaches and pec slaps. To the South of me, I lost count of all the breaches and big splashes that were happening all over the place by the rest of J and K pod and some Ls.

Saturna K43 belly flops. She was born in 2010.

Sequim K12, born around 1972, breaches. . .

. . .and is followed immediately by her daughter Saturna K43!

What a great way to end an evening! Welcome back guys!

Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)

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Part Of L Pod On 6/13/15

6/19/2015

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On June 11th, K pod was back at San Juan Island for the first time this season. J pod was also with them and the two pods headed up the West side of the island together, through Active Pass in Canada, and beyond. While K pod had arrived, the fifteen Ls (the L4s, L47s, and Nigel L95) had left and I wonder if they crossed paths in the Strait of Juan De Fuca during the night/early morning as K pod came in from the open ocean and Ls went back out. On June 13th, whale watching boats found the Ls inbound in the Strait of Juan De Fuca but this time the L12 matriline was with the fifteen Ls. That evening, I headed out on the water with some friends to see them.

We arrived on scene off of Discovery Island in Canada. Biologists from the Center for Whale Research were also on scene, documenting the presence and health of each individual. The orcas were slowly traveling Northeast towards San Juan Island in two groups. The group in the lead was made up of all the L47s (Marina L47, Moonlight L83, Muncher L91, Mystic L115, and Midnight L110), and most of the L4s (Ophelia L27, Surprise L86, Pooka L106, Nugget L55, Lapis L103, Takoda L109, and Jade L118). The trailing group had Kasatka L82 and Finn L116 from the L4 matriline, Nigel L95 from the L43 matriline, and the L12s (Ocean Sun L25, Mega L41, Matia L77, Joy L119, Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, L121, Mystery L85, Spirit L22, and Solstice L89). We spent time with the leading group first for a bit before heading over to the trailing group.

Nugget L55, born in 1977, and her son Takoda L109, born in 2007, in the leading group. Remember that all photos on this blog were taken with a zoom lens and cropped to show detail.

As we headed over to the trailing group, I spotted L121 surfacing next to its mother, Calypso L94. This was my first time seeing L121 since its birth in February. Its skin is majorly sloughing off, but this is normal and occurs during the first few months of a calf's life. At one point, Cousteau L113 (L121's older sister) spy hopped. As the two groups crossed Haro strait and got closer to San Juan Island, the leading group pulled further ahead and spread out a little.

L121 (born in February, 2015) pops up next to its uncle, Mega L41 (born in 1977). Mega is the oldest and largest male in the Southern Resident community. Look at the size difference!

L121 surfaces beside its mother, Calypso L94 (born in 1995). L121's skin is sloughing off, which is normal for a calf.

Cousteau L113 (born in 2009) spy hops.

We soon caught back up with some of the orcas that were part of leading group but had since spread way out. There were some tail slaps and inverted tail slaps to the North of us and nearby Midnight L110 did a couple of backdives and tail slaps. Marina L47, Mystic L115, and Moonlight L83 were also close by. Eventually all the orcas had reached San Juan Island and everyone fanned out along the shoreline and slowly heading North in search of salmon, Chinook/King salmon being their absolute favorite.

Midnight L110 (born in 2007) backdives.

We slowly made our way North along the island too and spotted more orcas. It was Muncher L91, then Nigel L95 and Mega L41, who were sticking close together for the most part. We then headed back down the island momentarily to see who was furthest South and it seemed that Spirit L22 and her son Solstice L89 were the ones bringing up the rear. We left them foraging off of Eagle Point and continued North again where we saw Calypso L94 and her offspring Cousteau L113 and L121 again. L121 was practicing lots of tail slaps and was pretty good at them! We left them off of False Bay just as Cousteau L113 began babysitting L121 while Calypso L94 went off to forage. Off of the Land Bank/Lime Kiln State Park area we saw Marina L47, Mystic L115, Moonlight L83, and Midnight L110 again. Inshore of them, Mystery L85 and Nigel L95 hugged the shoreline. Mega L41 and Ocean Sun L25 were further offshore.

Mega L41 with Vancouver Island in the background.

At Andrew's Bay, we found the L4s again and off of Smuggler's Cove, we watched as they all changed direction and slowly headed back South which is where we said our goodbyes and returned to the dock. That night, I could hear some of the Ls back outside my house at False Bay, their exhales piercing the otherwise silent night. However, the Ls did not spend the night, as they were seen exiting the area for the open ocean through the Strait of Juan De Fuca the next day.

As the Ls left, J and K pod came down from East Point in Canada and eventually made it back down to San Juan Island. The next day (the 15th), J and K pod were out in the Strait of Juan De Fuca like they were going to leave the area as well, but they turned around and came back to San Juan. J pod then did their Group A and B split and Group A headed North for Canada, while Group B and K pod stayed at the island. The next day, Group A made their way down towards San Juan from East Point, while Group B, K pod, and (surprise!) the L4s, L47s, and Nigel L95 formed resting lines off the West side of San Juan. The Ls must have come back into the area the previous night. J, K, and the fifteen Ls were all leaving the area the next day though. I wonder when they will return?

Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask! :)

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Resident And Transient Orcas On 6/9/15

6/15/2015

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On the evening of June 8th, I arrived back home on San Juan Island for the summer. On my way to volunteer at the Center for Whale Research the next day, I watched two matrilines from L pod (part of the salmon eating Southern Resident orca population) known as the L4s, and L47s, plus a male named Nigel L95 as they rocketed North past Land Bank on the West side of the island.

Once at the center, I was surprised to see J pod heading South (towards the Ls) and was finally able to see J52 for the first time since his birth in late March. Shachi J19 breached once as she went by but soon there were many more breaches and splashes from other J pod members as they closed the gap between them and the Ls. J pod and the fifteen L pod members all met up after passing the center and it was possibly the first time the two pods had seen each other for quite some time.

Later on, reports came in that a group of marine mammal eating Transient orcas had been spotted by whale watching boats heading North near Partridge Bank. Once they were in Roasrio Strait, Dave Ellifrit and I headed out on the water under permit to see who they were. We motored down San Juan Channel, through Wasp Pass, Harney Channel, and Thatcher Pass, and down Rosario Strait to the West side of Burrows Island. Once on scene, we identified the orcas as the T046s and T137s. The T046 matriline is made up of the matriarch, T046, and her four offspring: T122, T046D, T046E (sprouter male), and T046F. The T137 matriline is made of the matriarch, T137, and her three offspring: T137A (sprouter male), T137B, and T137D.

T046D and T137A soon broke off from the rest of group to fool around and off Fidalgo Head they acted like they had made a kill. Up ahead of them, the rest of orcas also acted like they had made a kill, possibly a harbor seal. After some tail slaps, splashing, and multiple reverse surfacings (by T137), the main group continued on their way and by time they were off of Shannon Point, T046D and T137A had caught back up with them. From there, the orcas headed past the Anacortes ferry dock and into Bellingham Channel. Off of Deepwater Bay at Cypress Island, they spread out and killed at least one harbor seal, if not more. For about the next hour, the orcas milled about the bay, feeding and celebrating. There were lots of spy hops (by at least T046E, T122, T137, and T137B), too many tail slaps to count (mainly from T046F, some from T046D), pec slaps (T046F), a dorsal fin slap (T046D), a headstand (T046D), a half breach (T046F), an inverted tail slap (T137A), and lots of backwards swimming from T137 again. T046D and T137A went back to fooling around and T137A even rolled over at the surface to show off his seasnake.

Sprouter males T046E (foreground) and T137A surface together near the Anacortes ferry dock. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

T137 spy hops. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.

The orcas then continued on their way and off the north end of Guemes Island, they all started porpoising for a short amount of time. This is when we saw the most amazing behavior! Three whales (we think T137, T137B, and T122) shot high out of the water, side by side, in perfect unison, similar to what is called a "bow" at marine parks. All the orcas then slowed way down again and aimed North toward the South end of Lummi Island. We then said our goodbyes and started the long journey back to San Juan Island. What a great day filled with orcas!

Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.

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The T075As And T073As On 6/23/15

Amazing Lime Kiln Encounter With Js, Ks, And Ls On 6/22/15

J Pod, K Pod, And The Fifteen Ls On 6/21/15

The Residents Return On 6/20/15

Part Of L Pod On 6/13/15

Resident And Transient Orcas On 6/9/15

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