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Superpod From 7/26/14 To 7/29/14

7/29/2014

A few hours before sunset on the 26th, reports came in of many orcas headed for San Juan Island, so myself and some researchers headed out on their boat to see who was around. We identified the K12's first, then the three independents (Opus K16, Sonata K35, and Cappuccino K21), the K13's, and lastly the K14's, before heading back to the dock at sunset. We found out later that K pod was just leading the way, and that they were followed by L pod and finally J pod. By nightfall a superpod had formed on the West side of San Juan.

Cappuccino, born in 1986.

Sekiu K22, born in 1987. She is part of the K12 matriline.

Scoter K25, born in 1991. He is part of the K13 matriline.

The next morning, I woke up to Group B of J pod, the L4's and the L43's (minus Lulu L53, who I have not seen this entire summer) outside my window, so I headed to some cliffs near my house for a close encounter of the orca kind from shore. The orcas were spread out, intent on foraging and socializing, but were slowly headed North. Two young males called Finn L116 (born in 2010) and Moby J44 (born in 2009) were being very tactile with each other, and Finn even showed off his sea snake at one point. Nearby was Moby's mother, Princess Angeline J17, who was born in 1977. Next came Racer L72, her son Fluke L105, Polaris J28, her daughter Star J46, and Rhapsody J32, followed by Nigel L95, Oreo J22, and her two sons; Doublestuf J34 and Cookie J38.

Moby rolls onto his back while Finn surfaces after showing off his sea snake.

Finn tail slaps.

Star, born in 2009, surfaces quickly while trying to catch up to her mom.

That evening, myself and some researchers headed out on their boat again to see who all was around. We were in for a few big surprises! We found Racer and Fluke alone near Battleship Island at the North end of San Juan Island. They had a dead harbor porpoise calf with them and were slowly carrying/pushing the body around. They had probably played the calf to death, which Racer has been documented doing before, as well as other Southern Resident orcas.

When we first got on scene, I could see the two orcas logging at the surface together, and soon noticed that they were supporting the dead harbor porpoise calf between them. They swam around in slow tight circles carrying the body in this manner for a few minutes before they dropped the body and dove deep to retrieve it. Once they resurfaced, they gently pushed the body around for a few more moments. Then, Fluke took the calf and slowly swam along the surface with it balanced on his rostrum, while Racer headed off to forage. Fluke seemed to drop it a few more times as he carried it and had to do deep dives every time to recover it.

Racer pushes the harbor porpoise in front of her.

Racer and Fluke support the calf between them.

Flukes supports the body on his rostrum.

We decided to leave Racer and Fluke and move on. Towards sunset, and with some help from a very kind family on their boat, we located more orcas at North Pender Island in Canada. To my surprise, they were the "exotics" or the L54's. They had finally made it all the way into area for the first time this season. The L54 matriline is made up of six individuals: Ino L54, her three offspring Indigo L110, Coho L108, and Keta L117, as well as two unrelated adult males named Wave Walker L88 and Nyssa L84, who are the last members of their own two matrilines and have found a mother figure in Ino.

We encountered Ino, Coho, Keta and Nyssa as they foraged along the shoreline. Wave Walker had been sighted earlier in the day traveling, socializing and catching up with members from all three pods. We almost got a gender shot from Keta when it breached twice, but both times the belly was aimed away from the camera.

Coho, born in 2006.

Nyssa, born in 1990.

Ino, born in 1977.

Keta breaches, but the gender is still unknown.

By the 29th, J,K , and L pod (minus the L12's) were all still in the area, foraging, resting, and socializing around San Juan Island. I spent the morning watching the K12's and L4's from shore near my house and in the afternoon headed out the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions. We met up with Group A of J pod (including Onyx L87) and the K14's as they headed North to the Fraser River at Stuart Island. Lea K14 spy hopped twice as the orcas traveled along the shoreline. The matriarch, Granny J2 was a few miles in front of everybody, leading the way.

Nugget L55, born in 1977. Sekiu K22's tail fluke pokes out of the water in the background.

Lobo K26 in front of the Turn Point light house on Stuart Island. He was born in 1993.

It's so great to have all of these orcas back in the area. Welcome home L54's!

Please don't use my photos without permission, just ask :)

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Transients And Residents From 7/20/14 To 7/23/14

7/23/2014

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On the afternoon of 7/20/14, we headed to Point Roberts at the limits of our range on the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions to see two matrilines of transient orcas known as the T036B's and T099's. It was well worth it! They had killed a harbor porpoise and were carrying it around with them as they fed and celebrated. Tails slaps, aerial scans, rolling, some major kelping, and a breach ensued. At the same, L pod was exiting the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. J and K pod escorted them out for a while before turning around and inching their way back towards San Juan Island, arriving by nightfall.

T099 carries the body of a harbor porpoise, the head and pectoral fin visible. T099 was born around 1984.

One of the young ones tail slaps. T036B (born in 1998) is to the left while T099 and T036 (born around 1970) are to the right.

T099B, born in 2007, does an aerial scan.

On the 21st, an interesting split occurred between J and K pod. Group A of J pod (including the J16's) and the K14's were up near Fraser River in Canada, while Group B of J pod, the K12's, K13's, Opus K16, Cappuccino K21, and Sonata K35 were spread out along the shores of San Juan Island. But here was the real surprise; Onyx L87 was with the San Juan Island group instead of the Fraser River group. Since September of 2013, Onyx has been traveling closely with Granny J2, a Group A member. Granny is Onyx's fourth substitute mother figure he has had since his mother died in 2005. But here he was, traveling away from her. Interesting!

On the 22nd, Group B, the K's and Onyx L87 were no where to be seen and had probably exited the area like L pod the day prior. However, Group A and the K14's made their way back down to San Juan and foraged off of the South end. It was so weird to not see Onyx near Granny. I wonder if his visit with Group B and the K's will be temporary, or permanent?

Granny J2, born around 1911. She was offshore of everyone as they headed for the South end of San Juan.

Lea K14, born in 1977, spy hops!

Kelp K42, son to Lea. He was born in 2008.

Lea K14.

On the night of the 22nd, the J16's split off from Group A and exited the area, while Group A and the K14's stayed and headed North towards the Fraser River again. On the morning of the 23rd, Group A and the K14's returned to San Juan Island from the North. However, the twelve of them were headed North again later in the day. They made it up to Turn Point at Stuart Island with Granny still pressing North offshore of the point, before the other eleven turned back South again for San Juan. At one point, Granny was over four miles North of everybody else. But, she had obviously turned around because as I watched Group A and the K14's from shore at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan, Granny was back in the lead as they quickly swam South. During the night, the group of twelve left for the open ocean through the Strait of Juan De Fuca.

Samish J14 swims past Lime Kiln. She was born in 1974 is probably Granny's granddaughter.

Lobo K26, born in 1993.

I wonder when they will be back?

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)

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J's, K's, And L's On 7/18/14

7/18/2014

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On the morning of the 18th, reports of the Resident orcas came in from everywhere. Some where at False Bay at San Juan Island, others were coming down from Saturna Island, and more were coming down Rosario Strait. By the afternoon, everyone was at San Juan Island except the Rosario Strait group. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we caught up with the Rosario group, which was the J17's, J22's, Opus K16, Cappuccino K21, and Sonata K35, who had made it to Iceberg Point, off of Lopez Island. A J17 member named Star J46 (born in 2009) was incredibly active during our encounter as she back dived, tails slapped, and spy hopped multiple times while traveling with her mother Polaris J28 (born in 1993), and a J22 member named Rhapsody J32 (born in 1996). It wasn't long before our orcas met up with the other J's, K's, and L's at San Juan Island. We watched the L4's and L47's for a bit as they rested and foraged before we made our way back to the dock.

Star J46 back dives!

Star peeks above the surface in an aerial scan!

Star tail slaps!

Polaris J28 peeks above the surface next to Rhapsody J32.

Cappuccino K21, born in 1986.

Sonata K35, born in 2002. He has already started sprouting!

The water and weather conditions were perfect during our time with the orcas and it has been so great to see J, K, and L pod nearly every day recently! Hopefully there is enough Chinook salmon around for them to keep doing what they're doing!

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)

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Resident Orcas And Other Cetaceans From 7/12/14 To 7/17/14

7/17/2014

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The Resident orcas have been crazy this week and constantly around, which leaves me with no time for blogging. However, I now have some free time and can catch all of you up on what has been happening.

On the morning of 7/12/14, I had a great encounter with J and K pod from shore at Lime Kiln State Park on the West side of San Juan Island. Granny J2 (estimated to have been born in 1911) was in the lead, followed by the J14's, J16's, K12's, K13's, Onyx L87, and the K14's. There was still no sign of Group B J pod members, two Group A members called Shachi J19 and Eclipse J41 or Opus 16, Cappuccino K21, and Sonata K35, who of often split off from K pod and do their own thing.

Granny J2, the oldest known orca at the moment!

Onyx L87, born in 1992. He travels with Granny instead of L pod.

Scoter K25, born in 1991. The barb(s) from his satellite tag he had during the winter of 2012. . .

. . .are still embedded in his dorsal fin.

Spock K20, Scoter's older sister. She was born in 1986.

Ripple K44, born in 2011.

On the 13th, I headed out with some researchers a couple of hours before sunset to see if any of the absent J's or K's had returned. While on our way to the orcas, we spotted a minke whale in front of us and stopped the boat. He or she took a few more breaths before disappearing on a deep dive. Once with the orcas, we identified the K14's, K13's, and K12's as they foraged off of False Bay at San Juan Island. At one point Yoda K36 and Kelp K42 were in pursuit of a salmon. Once they caught it, Yoda carried it around on top her head for awhile. As we were heading back home, we came across the K14's again and stopped to watch them. Suddenly, a HUMPBACK whale unexpectedly surfaced off our stern. Where did that whale come from!? It had not been sighted by any of the whale watching boats that day and was suddenly right behind us! The humpback swam closer and closer, until it arched its back and dove right under us, just a few feet away!

Minke whale!

Yoda K36 carries a salmon on her head. She was born in 2003.

Humpback!

On the morning of the 14th, Group B of J pod, the two Group A members (Shachi J19 and Eclipse J41), the three independent K's (Opus K16, Cappuccino K21, and Sonata K35), and nearly all of L pod (minus the L54's) returned to San Juan Island and formed a superpod with the the rest of Group A and K pod along the West side of the island. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we caught up with members of all three pods as they socialized and foraged. At the beginning of our encounter, we spent time with Onyx L87, who was slowly swimming off by himself. Suddenly, Onyx did two big breaches and a dorsal fin slap. He then aimed offshore and sped up, right for Granny J2. They reunited soon after.

Onyx L87 breaches!

Onyx breaches again!

Dorsal fin slap!

On the 15th, while on the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we were able to hang out with two humpback whales, which turned out to be a mom and calf! We watched as the two played in some bundles of bull kelp together, turning on their sides, and lifting their pectoral fins and tail flukes into the air. The two even poked their heads out of the water a few times. A short distance away were the Resident orcas, which only eat salmon, and I'm sure the humpbacks were aware of this. After watching the playful pair, we headed off to check out the orcas and identified the L4's, L43's, and L47's.

Humpback calf pectoral fin!

Ophelia L27 tail slaps. She is part of the L4 matriline and was born around 1965.

As the sun set on the 16th, J, K, and L pod gathered offshore of Lime Kiln State Park. I believe that the L12's exited the area earlier that day but all of J and K, as well as the rest of L pod remained. While the L54's have not made it back to San Juan Island yet, they came close on this day, and were seen entering the area through the strait of Juan De Fuca, but they decided to turn around and head back out. At Lime Kiln, the orcas were split into a few different large to medium sized groups fighting the flooding tide, while also socializing with each other, resting, and foraging. At one point, four orcas were out of the water at the same time in a quadruple spy hop, not far from where I sat on the shoreline.

Quadruple spy hop/cuddle puddle! There is another orca behind these three!

On the 17th, San Juan Excursions caught up with L pod, specifically the L4 and L47 matrilines off of False Bay again. The orcas were in travel/forage mode and zoomed past us as they headed South. All three pods had been heading North during the morning, but while J and K pod pressed on for the Fraser River, L pod turned around. While we didn't see them, there were all two different groups of Pacific white sided dolphins harassing the orcas throughout the day. The larger group was following the J's and K's, while the smaller group (about 6) was with L pod.

Pooka L106, born in 2005. He is getting big!

Jade L118, born in 2011. She and Pooka are part of the L4 matriline.

Moonlight L83, part of the L47 matriline. She was born in 1990.

What will happen next??

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

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J's And K's On 7/11/14

7/13/2014

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On the 8th, J, K, and L pod exited the area, but on the 9th, Group A of J pod and K pod (minus K16, K21, and K35) had returned and have continued to stick around since then. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions on the 11th, we caught up with matrilines from both pods but spent most of our time with the J16's (Slick J16, Mike J26, Alki J36, and Echo J42) and Cali K34.

For an extended period of time, Alki was on what looked like a date with Cali (from the K13's). The two would surface together, with Cali occasionally arching his belly out of the water beside her, showing off his sea snake. Alki back dived and spy hopped multiple times and at one point, she also arched her belly out of the water beside him. Their date took place a short distance away from the rest of Alki's family, who joined them for a few minutes at one point before the Cali and Alki headed off together again. While those two were off flirting, Slick, Mike, and Echo rested and socialized together. Echo found lots of bull kelp to play with as well during our encounter. She draped the kelp over her rostrum, and even spy hopped twice with a strand hanging from her mouth.

Mike (born in 1991) tail slaps next to his mother, Slick (born around 1972).

Alki (born in 1999) spy hops during her date.

Echo (born in 2007) spy hops with kelp in her mouth.

Alki spy hops again.

Mike does an inverted tail slap while Echo joins in with a few pectoral fin slaps beside him.

Cali surfaces to breathe during the date with Alki. He was born in 2001.

Later that evening, I caught up with J and K pod from shore at Lime Kiln State Park. Cali was back with his family and Alki was back with hers. Echo still found time to play with more bull kelp as she swam past.

Sequim K12 (born around 1972) surfaces close to shore.

Echo picks up kelp with her tail.

Mike and Alki.

What amazing encounters! More to come!

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

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The K13's On 7/7/14

7/9/2014

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On the morning of 7/7/14, I could see orcas outside the window at my house near False Bay on San Juan Island. They were too far out to tell which resident orcas they were but not to worry, once I was on the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions later on in the day, I identified the orcas as the K13 matriline, who were still milling about and socializing outside my house. The K13 matriline is made up of the matriarch Skagit K13, her four offspring named Spock K20, Scoter K25, Deadhead K27, and Cali K34, and her two grandsons; Comet K38 and Ripple K44.

Ripple K44 in mid belly flop! He was born in 2011.

Ripple jumps again near his mother, Deadhead K27, who was born in 1994.

Skagit K13's left saddle patch. . .

. . . and her right saddle patch. She was born around 1972.

Spock K20, born in 1986. She is quite a large female.

Ripple breaches!

Deadhead in mid pectoral fin slap.

It was so great to see the K13's as they hung out in front of my house. Come back soon guys!

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask!

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Amazing Superpod Encounters On 7/5/14

7/8/2014

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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 :)

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J And K Pod On 7/4/14

7/7/2014

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On July 3rd, L pod exited the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca, while J and K pod stuck around. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions the next day, we hung out with the J17, K12, and K13 matrilines on the West side of San Juan Island as they foraged and socialized. At one point, Tahlequah J35, her son Notch J47, Saturna K43, and another unidentified K pod member came together. The four of them rolled around, touched, cuddled, peeked above the surface and tail slapped in unison, and even made some above water vocalizations!

Polaris J28, born in 1993.

Tahlequah J35 spy hops. She was born in 1998.

Saturna K43, Notch J47, and Tahlequah J35 poke their heads out of the water during their cuddle session.

Double. . .

. . .tail slap!

Cuddles!

I have not seen the orcas so tactile in a long time! It was a very special moment for us all. The next day would be my most amazing superpod encounter to date.

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)

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K Pod Returns On 7/2/14

7/4/2014

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On the night of 7/1/14 or early in the morning of 7/2/14, K pod returned to San Juan Island, joined J and L pod and formed the first superpod gathering of the season! Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we departed from Friday Harbor and headed North to see the family reunion. We met up with the J, K, and L pod as they headed past Stuart Island, aimed for the Fraser River. J and K pod were in the lead while L pod (minus the L12's, L22's and L54's) brought up the rear. Towards the end of the encounter, L pod turned around and headed back down towards San Juan while J and K pod continued on.

Ti'lem I'nges J49. He was born on August 6th, 2012.

Rhapsody J32 (born in 1996) swims past the Turn Point light house on Stuart Island.

Males Cappuccino K21 (born in 1986) and Doublestuf J34 (born in 1998) travel together.

The L4's, L26's, L43's, and L47's surface together.

Time to turn around!

I saw members from each of K pod's matrilines and am so happy they are back!! Hopefully they find enough to stick around for awhile!

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)

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Amazing Shore Encounter With J And L Pod On 7/1/14

7/3/2014

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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.

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.

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!

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