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