Early in the morning reports came in of J pod up at the Fraser River near the city of Vancouver, Canada. By 1:00 in the afternoon the orcas had already made it to Lime Kiln State Park on the West side of San Juan Island. They had hurried South from Canada all the way down to the island for something, but I wouldn't realize the possible cause until the next day. As they zoomed past the park on the ebbing tide, I could hardly get pictures of them.
In the lead was Slick J16 and her family, followed by Samish J14 and Princess Angeline's families. All of the pod was very spread out, with most of the orcas far offshore.
In the lead was Slick J16 and her family, followed by Samish J14 and Princess Angeline's families. All of the pod was very spread out, with most of the orcas far offshore.
Princess Angeline J17, born in 1977, quickly heads South past Lime Kiln State Park.
 Alki J36, born in 1999, porpoises past Lime Kiln State Park. |  Alki J36, born in 1999, porpoises past Lime Kiln State Park. |
Even little Se-Yi'-Chn J45, born in 2009, zoomed past shore.
Once all of J pod had passed, all I had to do was wait until the tide changed again, because the orcas usually go with the tides. The tide started flooding around 4:20 and by 7:00, J pod was in front of Lime Kiln State Park again heading North, but this time they were moving very slowly as they played and mingled with each other. Granny was in the lead again, followed by her granddaughter Samish J14, great grandchildren Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40 and Se-Yi'-Chn J45 and great great grandson J49.
Granny J2, estimated to have been born in 1911, surfaces off Lime Kiln State Park.
 |  There were a lot of tail slaps coming from Granny's family! |  |
Possibly Se-Yi'-Chn J45 spy hopping.
 Hy'shqa J37 (left), J49 (middle), and Suttles J40 (right). |  Hy'shqa J37 (left), J49 (middle), and Suttles J40 (right). |
Shachi J19, born in1979, and her daughter Eclipse J41, born in 2005.
 Eclipse J41 drapes kelp over her tail flukes. |  Eclipse J41 drapes kelp over her tail flukes. |
 Suttles J40, born in 2004, drapes kelp over her dorsal fin. |  Suttles J40, born in 2004, drapes kelp over her dorsal fin. |
Mike J26, born in 1991, tail slaps.
Only Group A members of J pod were close to shore, with Group B members a few miles offshore of the park. The orcas swam ever so slowly through the flat calm water and into the sunset, their breaths echoing over the water for miles.
