Out on the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions on 8/10/15, we headed over to Rosario Strait to see J, K, and some of L pod as they were coming down the strait. J pod and the K14s ended up turning around and heading back North while the K13s, L4s, L26s, L43s, and L47s continued toward us. The K12s, K16s, and Cappuccino K21 were also North near J pod and the K14s but they eventually turned around and made their way down Rosario later on.
The orcas were very spread out across the strait as they trickled down and we saw the K13s first. While we were watching them, some Ls passed us so we soon caught up with them and they were Crewser L92, Racer L72, and Fluke L105. These three then slowed down a little and Racer L72 milled about momentarily. She then spy hopped and Spock K20 followed with a slow spy hop of her own nearby as the K13s passed us again. Back behind us a little and further across the strait were the L4s, L47s, and Nigel L95. Racer L72 then spy hopped again and all the orcas began angling for Thatcher Pass instead of down the middle of Rosario.
The orcas were very spread out across the strait as they trickled down and we saw the K13s first. While we were watching them, some Ls passed us so we soon caught up with them and they were Crewser L92, Racer L72, and Fluke L105. These three then slowed down a little and Racer L72 milled about momentarily. She then spy hopped and Spock K20 followed with a slow spy hop of her own nearby as the K13s passed us again. Back behind us a little and further across the strait were the L4s, L47s, and Nigel L95. Racer L72 then spy hopped again and all the orcas began angling for Thatcher Pass instead of down the middle of Rosario.
Racer L72 with her awesome saddle patch. She was born in 1986.
Spock K20 spy hops. She was also born in 1986.
The orcas got pretty active as they made their way over to the pass, from tail slaps, inverted tail slaps, and dorsal fin slaps to breaches and backdives. They seemed to be very excited and the closer they got to the pass, the faster they swam. Once at the entrance though, it seemed like they were a little unsure if they wanted to go in. They slowed up and there was some direction changes. I thought they were going to change their minds and keep going down Rosario but suddenly there were already orcas out the other side of Thatcher and headed towards Lopez Island! The rest of the orcas followed close behind, many of them porpoising. At one point, Deadhead K27, Surprise L86, and maybe Muncher L91 did a triple spy hop while still in the pass!
One of the L4s or L47s porpoises through Thatcher Pass.
Once everyone was out the other side of Thatcher, there was some more excited porpoising, splashing, and a few belly flops. Scoter K25 may have also chased a salmon. We left the orcas aiming towards the Lopez Island ferry dock. After we were gone, they turned and went up towards Peavine Pass and Olga at Orcas Island. They then turned back around and went down Upright and San Juan Channel and exited through Cattle Pass between Lopez Island and San Juan Island into Haro Strait. The next day, J pod and the K14s came down Boundary Pass and made it to San Juan Island that evening while the K12s, K13s, K16s, Cappuccino K21, and the Ls were exited the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
On 8/12/15, all of the Southern Resident orcas, except for the L12s and L54s, were back around San Juan Island and I headed out with some friends to see them. We found a tail slapping Granny J2 in the lead as the orcas headed North past Andrews Bay along San Juan Island. Behind Granny was the rest of her family: her granddaughter Samish J14, great grandchildren Hy’shqa J37, Suttles J40, and Se-Yi’-Chn J45, and great great grandson Ti’lem I’nges J49. We let them pass us and then started heading slowly South to find more Northbound orcas. We then spotted Onyx L87 offshore of us. He was pointed North at first like the others had been but he soon turned around and headed slowly South with a tail slap. Inshore, Granny and her family had also turned around and were headed South quickly.
We moved further South and saw Blackberry J27 and Mako J39, with the K14s offshore of them near Hannah Heights. These orcas were also headed South at a good speed but Granny J2, her family, and Onyx L87 soon caught up with them and they all joined sleepy social groups spread out and milling off of Pile Point and False Bay. As we neared the first social group, Scoter K25 spy hopped offshore of us and gave a few tail slaps as he headed inshore. Crewser L92 was right behind him and also joined the social groups. Membership of these social groups often changed as some orcas would split off and new orcas would join.
On 8/12/15, all of the Southern Resident orcas, except for the L12s and L54s, were back around San Juan Island and I headed out with some friends to see them. We found a tail slapping Granny J2 in the lead as the orcas headed North past Andrews Bay along San Juan Island. Behind Granny was the rest of her family: her granddaughter Samish J14, great grandchildren Hy’shqa J37, Suttles J40, and Se-Yi’-Chn J45, and great great grandson Ti’lem I’nges J49. We let them pass us and then started heading slowly South to find more Northbound orcas. We then spotted Onyx L87 offshore of us. He was pointed North at first like the others had been but he soon turned around and headed slowly South with a tail slap. Inshore, Granny and her family had also turned around and were headed South quickly.
We moved further South and saw Blackberry J27 and Mako J39, with the K14s offshore of them near Hannah Heights. These orcas were also headed South at a good speed but Granny J2, her family, and Onyx L87 soon caught up with them and they all joined sleepy social groups spread out and milling off of Pile Point and False Bay. As we neared the first social group, Scoter K25 spy hopped offshore of us and gave a few tail slaps as he headed inshore. Crewser L92 was right behind him and also joined the social groups. Membership of these social groups often changed as some orcas would split off and new orcas would join.
Scoter K25, born in 1991, tail slaps.
The first social group was made up of Sequim K12, Skagit K13, Deadhead K27, Cali K34, Saturna K43, Ripple K44, Kasatka L82, Surprise L86, Nigel L95, and Lapis L103. They would all log at the surface together on and off and between the logging sessions they would roll around and socialize. Kasatka L82 also spy hopped and there were some above water vocalizations at times. Inshore of the group was Marina L47 and her son Mystic L115 and they logged together at the surface. Sonata K35 and Finn L116 were also nearby, showing off their sea snakes to each other. Granny J2 then swam straight through the social group, aiming South. Many of the orcas turned and followed right after her, like Moby J44, Sonata K35, Kasatka L82, Onyx L87, Finn L116, while others turned and paralleled her path of travel inshore, which were members of the big social group, some of the J17s, Tsuchi J31, Samish J14, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Crewser L92. These inshore orcas kept on socializing with each other as they traveled and were very tactile and splashy.
Granny J2 in evening light. She was born around 1911.
Sprouter male Nigel L95, born in 1996.
The last orcas to pass us as they brought up the rear were Shachi J19, Hy'shqa J37, Suttles J40, Eclipse J41, Ti'lem I'nges J49, J51, Cappuccino K21, and Scoter K25. Way inshore, Spock K20 and Lobo K26 were swimming side by side together, and there were a few more individuals way off to the South that we did not get to. We left the orcas as they continued South. There were multiples cartwheels, breaches, spy hops, and other above water behaviors as they traveled.
Since the 12th, and as of this posting on the 21st, at least some of the Resident orcas, if not almost everyone (minus the L12s and of course, the L54s) has been in the area each day. I wonder if and when the L54s will visit San Juan Island? Time will tell.
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask.
Since the 12th, and as of this posting on the 21st, at least some of the Resident orcas, if not almost everyone (minus the L12s and of course, the L54s) has been in the area each day. I wonder if and when the L54s will visit San Juan Island? Time will tell.
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask.
