J Pod Gets Active On 6/13/14

I am finally back home on San Juan Island in Washington State and just had my first encounter with orcas this season while aboard the "Odyssey" of San Juan Excursions today. Since May 31st, J pod has been hanging around the island. When J pod was seen leaving the area on June 6th, they were back on the next day, and have been around ever since. I was very happy to hear that J pod had stuck around for another day this morning and was soon on scene with the orcas. They had been in a resting pattern offshore of Eagle Point, but just before we arrived, they began to wake up, get very active, and head inshore to Pile Point.

We saw almost every behavior during our encounter as members of J pod breached, back dived, cartwheeled, tail slapped, inverted tail slapped, pec slapped, dorsal fin slapped, and spy hopped multiple times. Once the pod was closer to shore, they began foraging for salmon, especially Doubelstuf J34 and Tsuchi J31, who looked to be in hot pursuit of some fish. I saw all members of the J11, J16, J19, and J22 matrilines, and most of the J14's (including Onyx L87). I did not see any members from the J17 matriline, which means they are probably still out in the open ocean.

Adult male Blackberry J27, born in 1991, breaches on 6/13/14.

Blackberry breaches again!

Cookie J38 with a cartwheeler and the splash from Blackberry's third breach in the background. Cookie was born in 2003.

Tail slap!

Sprouter male Doublestuf J34, who was born in 1998, is getting big!

I wonder when the J17 matriline will return, as well as K and L pod? Time will tell!


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