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

7/18/2014

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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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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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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Blackberry J27 On 6/30/14

7/1/2014

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This day was full of blue skies, calm seas, and orcas! Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions we headed South and wasn't too long before we were on scene with members from J and L pod near Lime Kiln State Park on the West side of San Juan Island as they headed North. Close into shore I could see the J22 matriline, but there were orcas up in front and farther offshore of us. The orcas ahead of us turned out to be some L4 matriline members, including Ophelia L27 (born around 1965), as well as J11 matriline members known as Tsuchi J31 and Blackberry J27. As Ophelia pulled ahead and Tsuchi with a few others started turning back South, we spent much of our time with Blackberry.

Blackberry J27, born in 1991, surfaces close to a sail boat.

Blackberry's unique dorsal fin and saddle patch shape. Taken with my long lens and cropped.

The J11 matriline is quite small. At the moment, it is just three siblings; Blackberry, Tsuchi (born in 1995), and Mako (born in 2003). Their mother, Blossom J11, passed away in 2008 at about thirty six years old, which is pretty young. Shachi J19 is probably their aunt, meaning Eclipse J41 is their probable cousin, but the three don't seem to travel with them very often.

One thing I noticed on this day is that there were many people in their own personal sail, speed, and fishing boats watching the whales. I am glad that these people were interested in the orcas, but I must add a few friendly reminders. Please remember to stay at least 200 yards away from the orcas while paralleling them, and at least 400 yards out of their path. If the orcas are close to or approaching your boat, try to slowly move out of their way or if need be, turn off your motor and let them pass. If they are close to shore, do not travel inshore of them. Lastly, please do not park in their path or speed near/over/through them. I saw many instances of bad behavior from the private boaters on this day and hope that next time these people are on the water, they view the orcas from the correct distances. To learn more about how to watch the orcas respectfully, click here.

Later on in the evening, after the sun had set and I was back at the house, I began hearing orcas breathing outside my open windows. It was 10:08 PM, but there was still just barely enough light for me to see some J and L pod members head South past the house. I saw a belly flop and a tail slap from a young one and I could hear more slaps and splashes to the North of me. I wonder where they will be tomorrow?

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

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J And L Pod On 6/29/14

6/30/2014

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On the night of the 28th, I had wondered if J and/or L pod would leave during the night, or stick around. Luckily, they stuck around! Upon seeing Southern Resident orcas heading North outside my window in the afternoon, I tagged along with Captain Spencer of Legacy Charters to see who all was around. Soon we were on scene with different J and L pod matrilines, who were spread along much of the West side of San Juan Island. During our encounter we saw members from the J4, J14, J16, J22, L4, L43, and L47 matrilines as they traveled, foraged, and socialized together. In particular, a young male named Takoda L109 was incredibly active, breaching over and over again.

Alki J36 back dives! She was born in 1999.

Nugget L55, Jade L118, Kasatka L82, Surprise L86, and others surface together.

Takoda L109 breaches! He was born in 2007.

Takoda breaches again!

Takoda breaches once more!

Slick J16, born around 1972.

Mike J26, born in 1991.

It has been so amazing to have J's and L's around for so long. Hopefully it means they are finally finding enough salmon and that their bellies are full! Special thanks to Captain Spencer for letting me tag along!

Please don;t use my photos without permission. Just ask :)

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J's And L's On 6/28/14

6/28/2014

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During the night of 27th, J and almost all of L pod began to exit the area, but on the morning of 28th, they were headed back in again. Soon, the orcas were crossing Haro Strait from Discovery Island and headed for False Bay on San Juan Island. They milled around outside of the bay for awhile before traveling North up the West side of the island. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions, we caught up with families from both pods and saw multiple breaches, back dives, cartwheels, spy hops, tail slaps, and pectoral fin slaps, as well as tactile and mating behavior. I identified members from the J11, J14, J16, J17, J22, L4, L26, L43, and L47 matrilines.

Tsuchi J31, born in 1995, spy hops.

Kasatka L82, born in 1990, surfaces in front of the Lime Kiln light house, where I do much of my land-based whale watching.

Rhapsody J32, born in 1996, spy hops.

Surprise L86, born in 1991, tail slaps.

As the sun set, I started to hear J and L pod vocalizations on the live streaming hydrophones along the West side of the island. It sounded like members from both pods were headed back South. Would they try to leave again during the night, or stick around?

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

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An Evening With J And L Pod On 6/24/14

6/26/2014

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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.

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!

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L Pod All Day Long On 6/22/14

6/25/2014

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L pod decided to travel up and down the West side of San Juan Island all day on the 22nd, giving me multiple opportunities have close encounters with them from shore. In the morning, they quickly headed North past Lime Kiln State Park. After a little while, they turned around and swam right past again but this time they were in resting lines. Later on, I caught up with them one more time as they foraged and played together just a little South of the park. Nearly all of L pod has been around since the morning of the 19th, when everyone but the L54's (which includes Wave Walker L88 and Nyssa L84) came in. By the next day, the L12's and L22's had left, but the remaining matrilines (the L4's, L26's, L43's, and L47's) have continued to stick around.

Moonlight L83 breaches offshore of Lime Kiln State Park. She was born in 1990.

Marina L47, born in 1974, plays with kelp draped over her dorsal fin.

L pod members line up as they make their way past Lime Kiln State Park for the second time.

Crewser L92, born in 1995, and his sister Ballena L90, born in 1993.

Fluke L105, born in 2004, rolls on his side to slap his pectoral fin on the water.

Marina L47, Mystic L115, Surprise L86, Kasatka L82, Nugget L55, Jade L118, and Lapis L103 surface together.

Moonlight breaches again.

Moonlight tail slaps during my third encounter.

A young male named Takoda L109 spy hops while playing with two other youngsters; Midnight L110 and Jade L118.

Lapis L103, born in 2003, tail slaps.

I'm so happy that J and L pod have been around so much this summer! It has been the complete opposite of last year, which is when the presence of the Southern Resident orcas in the inland waters hit an all time low. They had literally never been so scarce in the area. At the moment, the orcas do seem to be finding salmon and they look pretty plump too! Hopefully their presence will continue through the rest of the season and K pod will come in soon to join the party!

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

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

Amazing Superpod Encounters On 7/5/14

K Pod Returns On 7/2/14

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

Blackberry J27 On 6/30/14

J And L Pod On 6/29/14

J's And L's On 6/28/14

An Evening With J And L Pod On 6/24/14

L Pod All Day Long On 6/22/14

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