Reports came in of marine mammal eating Transient orcas a few miles South of Iceberg Point, Lopez Island, on the morning of 7/22/13. When the "Odyssey", the San Juan Excursions whale watching boat I work on, departed from Friday Harbor, the orcas were nearing San Juan Channel. We met up with the four whales right as they were entering the channel, which runs between San Juan Island and Lopez Island.
It was the T077 matriline, made up of matriarch T077, born around 1981, with her sprouter son T077B, born in 2000, and her two other offspring T077C, and T077D, who were born in 2006, and 2009. They rode the flooding tide up the channel before stopping at Shark Reef were they ate at least one harbor seal.
It was the T077 matriline, made up of matriarch T077, born around 1981, with her sprouter son T077B, born in 2000, and her two other offspring T077C, and T077D, who were born in 2006, and 2009. They rode the flooding tide up the channel before stopping at Shark Reef were they ate at least one harbor seal.
The family mills around and splashes as they work together to catch a seal.
T077 tail slaps while celebrating a successful kill.
T077D does an aerial scan.
Blood from a harbor seal can be seen in the water as one of the juveniles rolls on its side, exposing the underside of its tail flukes.
Sprouter male T077B tugs along a string of harbor seal flesh with his dorsal fin.
After finishing their lunch, the family continued up San Juan Channel.
Family portrait.
T077 and her sprouter son T077B exhale, the mist from their blow illuminated in the sunlight.
They ended up escorting us right back to Friday Harbor where our dock is, and milled around the area for a bit like they might have found another seal, but then continued on, and out of view from our dock. It's very rare to watch orcas while docked in the harbor so this was a very special experience!
Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
