On July 1st, J pod and the K14s were headed back into the area in the Strait of Juan De Fuca after seemingly escorting the L12s out (see previous encounter). Once the orcas crossed Haro Strait and reached San Juan Island, Group A of J pod (minus the J16s) and the K14s headed North while the rest of J pod remained South. The Next day, the J16s and J22s were outbound in the Strait of Juan De Fuca while the rest of J pod and the K14s did the "West side shuffle" at San Juan Island.
That evening, I headed to Lime Kiln State Park to watch the orcas from shore as they were headed North. The orcas were very spread out, with Granny J2, Lea K14, Lobo K26, and Onyx L87 being some of the first orcas to pass by offshore. More were coming up from the South but it took them a little longer to the reach the park as they stalled out in front of Deadman's Bay and appeared to be either intensely socializing or herding/chasing salmon. There were lots of direction changes, lunges, porpoising in unison every which way, a few spy hops, and lots of splashes. The rambunctious orcas turned out to be Samish J14, Shachi J19, Tsuchi J31, Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40, Eclipse J41, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Ti'lem I'nges J49, and J51 once they passed the park. Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem I'nges J49 were a little spread out closer to shore while Samish J14, Shachi J19, Tsuchi J31, Eclipse J41, and J51 traveled tightly together slightly offshore. Then, Suttles J40 decided she wanted to travel with the tight slightly offshore group so she paused, turned, and headed out to join them.
That evening, I headed to Lime Kiln State Park to watch the orcas from shore as they were headed North. The orcas were very spread out, with Granny J2, Lea K14, Lobo K26, and Onyx L87 being some of the first orcas to pass by offshore. More were coming up from the South but it took them a little longer to the reach the park as they stalled out in front of Deadman's Bay and appeared to be either intensely socializing or herding/chasing salmon. There were lots of direction changes, lunges, porpoising in unison every which way, a few spy hops, and lots of splashes. The rambunctious orcas turned out to be Samish J14, Shachi J19, Tsuchi J31, Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40, Eclipse J41, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Ti'lem I'nges J49, and J51 once they passed the park. Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem I'nges J49 were a little spread out closer to shore while Samish J14, Shachi J19, Tsuchi J31, Eclipse J41, and J51 traveled tightly together slightly offshore. Then, Suttles J40 decided she wanted to travel with the tight slightly offshore group so she paused, turned, and headed out to join them.
Ti'lem I'nges J49, born in August of 2012, surfaces next to his mother, Hy'shqa J37, born in 2001.
Bringing up the rear were the J17s, in order of Tahlequah J35 and Notch J47, followed by Polaris J28 and Star J46, and lastly, Princess Angeline J17 and Moby J44. Soon everyone, except for Princess Angeline J17 and Moby J44, were North of the park and out of view. Then, Moby J44 and Princess Angeline J17 both breached repeatedly, and Moby J44 did an inverted tail slap. The two of them then turned around and headed back for the park, followed by everybody else.
Moby J44, born in 2009, breaches North of Lime Kiln State Park.
During this second pass by, most of the orcas were very close to shore and traveling closely together. Tsuchi J31 (who cartwheeled a few times) passed by first, followed by Polaris J28, Star J46, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, Samish J14, and Suttles J40. Next to pass by was Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, J51, Hy'shqa J37, Ti'lem I'nges J49, Lea K14, Yoda K36, Lobo K26, Kelp K42, Tahlequah J35, Notch J47, and Princess Angeline J17. On one of Lobo K26's surfacings, he had kelp dangling from his tall dorsal fin. Granny J2, Blackberry J27, Mako J39, and Moby J44 were also somewhere in the chaos and Onyx L87 brought up the rear very far offshore.
Samish J14, born around 1974, surfaces super close to shore, her unique closed saddle patch visible.
Lea K14, born in 1977, and her son Lobo K26, born in 1993, surface together right off the rocks at the park.
Hy'shqa J37, Yoda K36, Lea K14, and Kelp K42 surface close to shore.
The next two days (July 3rd and 4th) were a little confusing in terms of which matrilines from J pod were where, but they, as well as the K14s, were in the area. However, July 5th brought a big surprise with the return of the rest of K pod and all of L pod (minus the L54s) to the island! Stay tuned!
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)
