On September 26th, I left home on San Juan Island to head back at Evergreen State College to start my junior year! However, the days that led up to the 26th were full of orcas! On the 17th, I went out on the water aboard the Western Prince to see the L54s, who had been all alone at San Juan Island all morning. As we made our way down San Juan Channel and out into Haro Strait, the rest of the Southern Residents were found out in the Strait of Juan De Fuca! Soon, J, K, and the rest of L pod entered Haro Strait and made their way over to San Juan Island. We saw adult male Crewser L92 first, then Sequim K12 and her sprouter son, Rainshadow K37.
Next was a social group made up Opus K16, Sekiu K22, Tika K33, Sonata K35, Saturna K43, Racer L72, and Fluke L105. Tika K33 tail slapped and did a headstand while his mother Sekiu K22 dorsal fin slapped as they aimed for False Bay and Eagle Point. Trailing behind them was another social group that contained Ino L54, Nugget L55, Kasatka L82, Ballena L90, Lapis L103, Coho L108, Takoda L109, Finn L116, Keta L117, and Jade L118. This group was active with tail slaps (Nugget L55 and Lapis L103), inverted tail slaps (Nugget L55 and others), pec slaps (Nugget L55 and Takoda L109), dorsal fin slaps (Coho L108), spy hops (Takoda L109 and Finn L116), breaches (Nugget L55 and Takoda L109), and back dives (Takoda L109).
Youngsters Finn L116 and Keta L117 then began wrestling around together and as they passed by the boat, Keta L117 rolled over onto his belly and confirmed that he was indeed a male! Young males Coho L108 and Takoda L109 were also goofing off together. Near South Beach, there was another more loosely spread social group and it was made up of Samish J14, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Nyssa L84, Surprise L86, Onyx L87, and Pooka L106. Nyssa did an inverted tail and pec slap while goofing off with other males Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Onyx L87 and Pooka L106 before heading over to flirt with Samish J14. Onyx L87 also did multiple dorsal fin slaps and a pec slap. Offshore of us were many more orcas that make up the rest of the Southern Resident community. Many of the orcas were heading South when we left them.
Next was a social group made up Opus K16, Sekiu K22, Tika K33, Sonata K35, Saturna K43, Racer L72, and Fluke L105. Tika K33 tail slapped and did a headstand while his mother Sekiu K22 dorsal fin slapped as they aimed for False Bay and Eagle Point. Trailing behind them was another social group that contained Ino L54, Nugget L55, Kasatka L82, Ballena L90, Lapis L103, Coho L108, Takoda L109, Finn L116, Keta L117, and Jade L118. This group was active with tail slaps (Nugget L55 and Lapis L103), inverted tail slaps (Nugget L55 and others), pec slaps (Nugget L55 and Takoda L109), dorsal fin slaps (Coho L108), spy hops (Takoda L109 and Finn L116), breaches (Nugget L55 and Takoda L109), and back dives (Takoda L109).
Youngsters Finn L116 and Keta L117 then began wrestling around together and as they passed by the boat, Keta L117 rolled over onto his belly and confirmed that he was indeed a male! Young males Coho L108 and Takoda L109 were also goofing off together. Near South Beach, there was another more loosely spread social group and it was made up of Samish J14, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Nyssa L84, Surprise L86, Onyx L87, and Pooka L106. Nyssa did an inverted tail and pec slap while goofing off with other males Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Onyx L87 and Pooka L106 before heading over to flirt with Samish J14. Onyx L87 also did multiple dorsal fin slaps and a pec slap. Offshore of us were many more orcas that make up the rest of the Southern Resident community. Many of the orcas were heading South when we left them.
Keta L117, born in 2010, is a male!
Takoda L109, born in 2007, spy hops beside his older sister, Lapis L103, who was born in 2003.
On the 18th, aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we joined all of the Southern Residents again as they came back in towards San Juan Island from Discovery Island. They were very spread out and we saw Blackberry J27 and Tsuchi J31 with a few others first before heading over to Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, Nova J51, Tika K33, and Saturna K43 who were all rolling around together. Saturna K43 spy hopped and tail slapped multiple times. Muncher L91 then randomly popped up and passed our bow with her new calf, L122! L122 was born during the first few days of September 2015. Moonlight L83 was also nearby. Shachi J19 then breached twice back behind us, followed by a back dive from Nova J51. We then went over to visit Opus K16 and her sprouter son Sonata K35. Marina L47 and Crewser L92 were also close by. Suttles J40 and Pooka L106 then passed by us as they flirted together. Opus K16 and Sonata K35 soon joined Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, and Nova J51 and Opus K16 belly flopped and dorsal fin slapped, while Shachi J19 cartwheeled. As we were leaving, we saw Mako J39 cartwheel and tail slap repeatedly.
Saturna K43's unique saddle patch. She was born in 2010.
Muncher L91 with her new calf, L122.
On 9/19/15, all of J, K, and L pod exited the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. However, everybody (not sure if that included the L12s or L54s), were on their way back in the next day. Aboard the Odyssey, we caught up with the K13 matriline a little West of Discovery Island as they headed toward San Juan Island. The family of seven was traveling tight together and were in an active mood as Deadhead K27 did inverted tail slaps and a spy hop, Ripple K44 spy hopped, and Skagit K13 spy hopped. Sprouter male Cali K34 then took off and porpoised towards San Juan by himself. It seemed that he was eager to get to the island and his family was just moving too slow for him! Eventually, the rest of the family caught back up with him at San Juan.
Comet K38 and his mother, Spock K20.
Ripple K44 spy hops. He was born in 2011
On 9/21/15, J,K, and L pod (were the L12s and L54s in?), exited the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. On the 22nd, Dave, Erin, Kathy, and I headed out on the Center for Whale Research vessel called "Orca" to have an encounter J, K, and almost all of L pod. J and K pod headed up Haro Strait and into Swanson Channel towards the Fraser River, while the Ls stayed at San Juan Island. We started our encounter with J and K pod and ended it with the Ls and we ended up seeing members from each matriline of all three pods (except for the L12s or L54s). Some of the orcas formed social groups and were in an active mood. We saw breaches from Suttles J40 multiple times, dorsal fin slaps from Notch J47 and Saturna K43, tail slaps from Tsuchi J31, Mako J39, Cappuccino K21, Rainshadow K37, and Nugget L55, pec slaps from Suttles J40 and Notch J47, cartwheels from Nigel L95, a spy hop from Kasatka L82, and Mike J26 played with some kelp.
Suttles J40 breaches. She was born in 2004. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.
Mike J26 lifts kelp into the air with his flukes. He was born in 1991. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.
On 9/23/15, L pod (still minus the L12s and L54s) were around San Juan Island, while J and K pod were still up North in Canada. The next day, the Ls were gone, but J and K pod came back down to San Juan Island and then headed West into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Later that day, some friends and I headed out on the water for my final encounter with the Southern Residents until my next college break hopefully! The orcas were very spread out but we ended up seeing pretty much everyone in J and K pod! We saw breaches from Mako J39, Suttles J40, and Notch J47, dorsal fin slaps from Sonata K35, tail slaps from Tahlequah J35, Suttles J40, Notch J47, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Yoda K36, and Onyx L87, pec slaps from Tika K33, cartwheels from Sonata K35, spy hops from Samish J14, Notch J47, Tika K33, and others, and Tika K33 played with some kelp. We spent the end of our encounter with a beautiful resting line that was made up of the J11, J17, and J22 matrilines. We then said our goodbyes and headed home.
From left to right: Tsuchi J31, Polaris J28, Blackberry J27, Princess Angeline J17, Moby J44, Doublestuf J34, and Cookie J38.
From left to right: Tsuchi J31, Princess Angeline J17, Polaris J28, Star J46, and Blackberry J27.
On 9/25/15, aboard the Odyssey, we caught up with a Transient orca matriline known as the T049As as they made their way through Spieden Channel and into San Juan Channel. The matriline is made up of T049A and her four offspring: T049A1, T049A2, T049A3, and T049A4. T049A2 often travels away from the rest of the family and was not present. T049A, T049A1, T049A3, and T049A4 made at least one kill on a marine mammal while we were with them in Spieden Channel. During their kill, T049A1 and his younger sibling, T049A4, double spy hopped in unison in celebration. After another possible kill between Spieden Island and Jones Island, the four orcas moved slowly down San Juan Channel and T049A1 and T049A3 goofed off together a little.
Sprouter male T049A1, born in 2001.
Now that I'm at college, orca encounters will likely slow down until next summer, but when I'm back up on the island during breaks, I'll hopefully catch up with some Southern Resident or Transient orcas again. You never know, so keep checking for posts here and I will continue updating the San Juan Orcas Twitter page on cetacean news and the "Remembering The Southern Resident Killer Whales Who Have Passed On" Facebook page throughout my time at college. Thanks so much for following my posts here, see you and the orcas next summer!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
