After all three Southern Resident pods entered the area on 7/8/13, all of J pod and K pod, and a few L pod members were still around on 7/11/13. Aboard San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife Tours we caught up with a mix of J's, K's and L's as they foraged on the West Side of San Juan Island. The first orca I identified was a sprouter male named Lobo K26, who I hadn't seen since 7/6/11, though he had been around many times since then.
Lobo K26, born in 1993.
Skana L79, born in 1989.
Nearby I could see Lobo's mother Lea K14 with her offspring Yoda K36, and Kelp K42. Yoda took off after a salmon at one point, and as she swam top speed close to the surface of the water with her dorsal fin exposed, she created a rooster tail and a big wake!
Cookie J38, born in 2003, chases after a salmon too!
Lea K14, born in 1977.
Ti'lem I'nges J49, born in 2012 and his mother Hy'shqa J37, born in 2001, surface off the West side of San Juan Island.
Later in the day, I tagged along with the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions and was able to see other J, and K pod members. There was lots of cartwheeling from Opus K16, Sonata K35, Yoda K36, and other orcas, as well as a few spy hops and a breach from Sonata, who is starting to sprout!!
Yoda K36, born in 2003, cartwheels.
Opus K16, born in 1985.
It was so great to see J and K pod after their long absence.
