I'm writing this blog post just after finishing up all the packing for college and am ready to depart for Evergreen State College early in the morning. Today was a day full of goodbyes, including one farewell that I had hoped for, but had not expected. I had wanted to see the Southern Resident orcas one last time before I left on 9/20/13 and it just so happened that all three pods arrived this morning and I was able to see them from shore at Lime Kiln State Park, and from the "Odyssey" of San Juan Excursions.
There are a handful of days each season, where such an incredible encounter takes place that it really sticks in your mind for a long time. Every moment, every detail, every emotion felt, will never be forgotten. Today one of those types of encounters took place. Below are some of my favorite photos I took today as almost all eighty one of the Southern Resident orcas were jumbled up together to play, socialize and mate.
There are a handful of days each season, where such an incredible encounter takes place that it really sticks in your mind for a long time. Every moment, every detail, every emotion felt, will never be forgotten. Today one of those types of encounters took place. Below are some of my favorite photos I took today as almost all eighty one of the Southern Resident orcas were jumbled up together to play, socialize and mate.
Adult male Mike J26, born in 1991, does an aerial scan.
 Juvenile females Alki J36, Echo J42. . . |  . . .and Eclipse J41 porpoise North. |
Adult male Blackberry J27, born in 1991, breaches in front of the Olympic Peninsula.
Females Tsuchi J31, born in 1995, and Skagit K13, born in 1972, taking a stroll.
Later in the day, Tsuchi cartwheeled!
A breach from adult female Shachi J19, born in 1979.
Spirit L22, estimated to have been born in 1971, spy hops!
Adult female Marina L47, born in 1974, spy hops!
Adult male Mega L41, born in 1977, does an inverted tail slap
Spy hopper to the far left with J, K and L pod members.
Joy L119 (the calf I got to name!) pokes her head out of the water near her mother Matia L77, and an adult male named Mystery L85.
I'm so glad I got to say my goodbyes to the orcas! What perfect timing! Now that I'm off to college for marine biology, orca encounters will likely stop until next summer, unless I'm on break back up here on San Juan Island and get to see them. 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!
NOTE: This was the last time I saw Spieden J8. She passed away soon after this encounter at the estimated age of eighty, but she could have been even older.
NOTE: This was the last time I saw Spieden J8. She passed away soon after this encounter at the estimated age of eighty, but she could have been even older.
