While volunteering at the Center for Whale Research on June 30th, reports came in of the J16s off the South end of San Juan Island, and later that Group A of J pod and the K14s were headed down Boundary Pass. Then, more orcas besides the J16s were found off of False Bay and Mega L41 was reported, indicating that the L12s (a matriline we don't see too often anymore) could have returned to the island. To confirm, I left the center and drove down to the cliffs near my house. Mega L41 surfaced off the rocks and Ocean Sun L25 popped up offshore. Both were headed North quickly, the flood tide giving them an extra push. Tahlequah J35 and her young son Notch J47 (members of Group B of J pod) were offshore too, fighting the flood tide as they aimed South.
With the L12s back in town, I met the Center for Whale Research's Dave Ellifrit at Snug Harbor and we headed out on the water under permit to see them. We headed down Haro Strait and arrived on scene with Spirit L22 and her adult son Solstice L89 just a little North of Pile Point. The two were pointed South but were also milling about in their search for Chinook/King salmon. We could see a few more orcas to the South of us so we headed on down and identified them as Notch J47 and Tahlequah J35. Even further South was Mega L41, Ocean Sun L25, and inshore of them, Cousteau L113. Ocean Sun L25 then shot South towards Eagle Point where we came upon Calypso L94 and her new calf L121 (born in February of 2015) who were also headed South. L121’s older sister, Cousteau L113 soon joined them and Ocean Sun L25 and Mega L41 continued South past them. There was some occasional porpoising from Cousteau L113 and L121 as they traveled and L121 practiced a tail slap.
Then, Echo J42 and her new younger sister J50 (born in December of 2014!) joined Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121 just a little North of Eagle Point and the five of them played/socialized together for a bit. Echo J42 and Cousteau L113 surfaced side by side in unison a few times and the two calves darted around together. Cousteau L113 also tail slapped a few times and so did J50. Echo J42 then began pushing and lifting J50 out of the water, which caused J50 to make an excited little squeak!
We then headed offshore into rougher water and found adult males Blackberry J27 and Mystery L85, as well as Matia L77 and her young daughter Joy L119 (who I named!) as they headed South. Mike J26 was also nearby but he moved inshore and inverted tail slapped at one point. Blackberry J27 and Mystery L85 interacted and surfaced together a few times and Joy L119 was super playful as per usual with multiple tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, dorsal fin slaps, a spy hop, a cartwheel, and a big aerial scan!
We then headed inshore for a bit and found Polaris J28 and her young daughter Star J46 Northbound off of South Beach. Echo J42 and J50 then reappeared near us with Slick J16 and the three were soon joined by Alki J36, her new son J52 (born in March of 2015!), Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121. They all then turned and aimed North. We now had a social group that contained three out of the four new Southern Resident orca calves and it was crazy! Again, J50 was pushed around at the surface, but this time it was by her mother, Slick J16. Cousteau L113 tail slapped again, someone did an inverted tail slap, and Slick J16 did a big spy hop.
With the L12s back in town, I met the Center for Whale Research's Dave Ellifrit at Snug Harbor and we headed out on the water under permit to see them. We headed down Haro Strait and arrived on scene with Spirit L22 and her adult son Solstice L89 just a little North of Pile Point. The two were pointed South but were also milling about in their search for Chinook/King salmon. We could see a few more orcas to the South of us so we headed on down and identified them as Notch J47 and Tahlequah J35. Even further South was Mega L41, Ocean Sun L25, and inshore of them, Cousteau L113. Ocean Sun L25 then shot South towards Eagle Point where we came upon Calypso L94 and her new calf L121 (born in February of 2015) who were also headed South. L121’s older sister, Cousteau L113 soon joined them and Ocean Sun L25 and Mega L41 continued South past them. There was some occasional porpoising from Cousteau L113 and L121 as they traveled and L121 practiced a tail slap.
Then, Echo J42 and her new younger sister J50 (born in December of 2014!) joined Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121 just a little North of Eagle Point and the five of them played/socialized together for a bit. Echo J42 and Cousteau L113 surfaced side by side in unison a few times and the two calves darted around together. Cousteau L113 also tail slapped a few times and so did J50. Echo J42 then began pushing and lifting J50 out of the water, which caused J50 to make an excited little squeak!
We then headed offshore into rougher water and found adult males Blackberry J27 and Mystery L85, as well as Matia L77 and her young daughter Joy L119 (who I named!) as they headed South. Mike J26 was also nearby but he moved inshore and inverted tail slapped at one point. Blackberry J27 and Mystery L85 interacted and surfaced together a few times and Joy L119 was super playful as per usual with multiple tail slaps, pectoral fin slaps, dorsal fin slaps, a spy hop, a cartwheel, and a big aerial scan!
We then headed inshore for a bit and found Polaris J28 and her young daughter Star J46 Northbound off of South Beach. Echo J42 and J50 then reappeared near us with Slick J16 and the three were soon joined by Alki J36, her new son J52 (born in March of 2015!), Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121. They all then turned and aimed North. We now had a social group that contained three out of the four new Southern Resident orca calves and it was crazy! Again, J50 was pushed around at the surface, but this time it was by her mother, Slick J16. Cousteau L113 tail slapped again, someone did an inverted tail slap, and Slick J16 did a big spy hop.
J50 getting lifted/pushed around by her mother, Slick J16. If you look closely, J50's eye is open! Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.
Back offshore of Eagle Point, we found Spirit L22 and her son Solstice L89 again. The two were zigzagging around, usually pointing offshore or North. Spirit L22 did a half breach, a cartwheel, a spy hop, and multiple tail slaps during our time with them. Blackberry J27 then reappeared with his sister Tsuchi J31 and the two of them headed North after Blackberry J27 milled about with Solstice L89 a little. Way offshore of us we could see more orcas who were probably the rest of Group B of J pod (minus the J22s). Mega L41 and Ocean Sun L25 also passed us again as they headed North. Calypso L94 and L121 showed up soon after and L121 traveled North in Spirit L22's slip stream while Calypso L94 went off on her own temporarily. L121 then reunited with Calypso L94 and the two dropped back behind Spirit L22 and Solstice L89.
Adult male Solstice L89, born in 1993. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.
As we traveled with Solstice L89 and Spirit L22, Solstice L89 picked up the speed, ditched his mother, and aimed North with purpose. Most of the orcas we had been with were now headed North quickly as well. Group A of J pod and the K14s had arrived on the West side of the island and were headed South for the Group B and the L12s, who could probably hear them now. We soon saw Group A of J pod and the K14s spread out off of Hannah Heights.
When Solstice L89 reached the leaders of Group A and the K14s, he greeted Samish J14 and her young son Se-Yi'-Chn J45 as they headed South past him before he continued North. Calypso L94, L121, and Spirit L22 soon arrived after porpoising up from the South and inshore, we could see Lobo K26 and a few others Southbound. Mystery L85 made a reappearance from the North but soon passed us and headed for False Bay. Samish J14 and Se-Yi'-Chn J45 then turned around and joined up with Hy'shqa J37, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121 to roll around and socialize briefly. Se-Yi'-Chn J45 showed curiosity in L121 and followed the calf around and one point, Calypso L94 logged at the surface, repeatedly making L pod calls above the water! While Calypso L94 was above water vocalizing, L121 stayed next to her and even did a little spy peep! Then, Samish J14, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem Inges J49 left Calypso L94 and her kids to head South. Ti'lem I'nges J49 gave a breach and a tail slap as they separated.
When Solstice L89 reached the leaders of Group A and the K14s, he greeted Samish J14 and her young son Se-Yi'-Chn J45 as they headed South past him before he continued North. Calypso L94, L121, and Spirit L22 soon arrived after porpoising up from the South and inshore, we could see Lobo K26 and a few others Southbound. Mystery L85 made a reappearance from the North but soon passed us and headed for False Bay. Samish J14 and Se-Yi'-Chn J45 then turned around and joined up with Hy'shqa J37, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Calypso L94, Cousteau L113, and L121 to roll around and socialize briefly. Se-Yi'-Chn J45 showed curiosity in L121 and followed the calf around and one point, Calypso L94 logged at the surface, repeatedly making L pod calls above the water! While Calypso L94 was above water vocalizing, L121 stayed next to her and even did a little spy peep! Then, Samish J14, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem Inges J49 left Calypso L94 and her kids to head South. Ti'lem I'nges J49 gave a breach and a tail slap as they separated.
L121 spy peeps next to its mother, Calypso L94, as she above water vocalizes. Photo taken under NMFS Permit 15569/ DFO SARA 272. Do not use without permission.
Then, Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, and her new calf J51 (born in February of 2015!) appeared with Solstice L89 in tow as they all headed South. Mega L41 was trailing them and Spirit L22 was inshore. We left the orcas as they all continued South near Kanaka Bay. Dave and I ended up seeing all four of the new Southern Resident calves in one encounter! How cool is that!? To read more details of our encounter, see the Center's version here.
Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.
Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.
