September is still proving to be my favorite month for orca encounters. On the 4th, all of J, K and L pod was around San Juan Island but the K13s ended up heading North for the Fraser River by themselves. Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions the next day, we headed up at Turn Point on Stuart Island to see K pod (minus the K16s and Cappuccino K21). The K13s had come back down Boundary Pass and the K12s and K14s had headed up the pass to meet them. Once all three matrilines were together, they headed back South for San Juan Island and past Turn Point.
The orcas were in a very active mood as they traveled together in a loose group with breaches (Scoter K25, Cali K34, Yoda K36, and Comet K38), tail slaps (Skagit K13, Scoter K25, Tika K33, Comet K38, and others), inverted tail slaps (Lobo K26, Comet K38, Kelp K42, and others), cartwheels (Comet K38 and others), pec slaps, dorsal fin slaps (Comet K38 and others), spy hops (Deadhead K27 and Ripple K44), and aerial scans (Scoter K25). Towards the end of the trip, young males Ripple K44, born in 2011, and Kelp K42, born in 2008, fooled around and Kelp K42 showed off his seasnake. On our way back to the dock, we also saw a humpback in Spieden Channel!
The orcas were in a very active mood as they traveled together in a loose group with breaches (Scoter K25, Cali K34, Yoda K36, and Comet K38), tail slaps (Skagit K13, Scoter K25, Tika K33, Comet K38, and others), inverted tail slaps (Lobo K26, Comet K38, Kelp K42, and others), cartwheels (Comet K38 and others), pec slaps, dorsal fin slaps (Comet K38 and others), spy hops (Deadhead K27 and Ripple K44), and aerial scans (Scoter K25). Towards the end of the trip, young males Ripple K44, born in 2011, and Kelp K42, born in 2008, fooled around and Kelp K42 showed off his seasnake. On our way back to the dock, we also saw a humpback in Spieden Channel!
Yoda K36 breaches. She was born in 2003.
Scoter K25 in mid aerial scan. He was born in 1991.
Ripple K44 spy hops while fooling around with Kelp K42, whose tail fluke is poking out of the water to the left.
Humpback in Spieden Channel!
The next day, the Odyssey had Southern Residents again, but this time it was J pod headed down Rosario Strait. K and L pod were exiting the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca while this was happening. When we first got on scene the orcas were all in one group, except for the J16s who were in the lead further South. The orcas were in an active and social mood with breaches (Suttles J40 and others), back dives (Doublestuf J34 and J52), tail slaps (Shachi J19, Oreo J22, Doublestuf J34, Suttles J40, Moby J44, J52, and others), inverted tail slaps (Shachi J19 and others), cartwheels (Polaris J28 and others), pec slaps (Shachi J19, Polaris J28, Suttles J40, and others), dorsal fin slaps, spy hops (Polaris J28, Doublestuf J34, Suttles J40, Moby J44, J52, and others), and aerial scans (Cookie J38). The orcas then started to fan out into different social groups and males Cookie J38, Moby J44, and Onyx L87 got to together for some bro time. Both Cookie J38 and Onyx L87 had their sea snakes parading around at one point.
We also visited some of the J16s for a bit and J52 (born in March of 2015) was practicing some moves near his mother, Alki J36, and uncle Mike J26. J52 tail slapped so many times that I lost count and he also spy hopped multiple times. He even did a sort of lunge/back dive. At the end of the encounter we paralleled a rambunctious social group made up of Samish J14, Oreo J22, Polaris J28, Doublestuf J34, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Y'-Chn J45, Star J46, and Ti'lem I'nges J49. Suttles J40 did at least six half breaches, Polaris J28 cartwheeled and pec slapped, and Doublestuf J34 spy hopped so high (and fast!) that his dorsal fin made it out of the water! What an amazing trip!
We also visited some of the J16s for a bit and J52 (born in March of 2015) was practicing some moves near his mother, Alki J36, and uncle Mike J26. J52 tail slapped so many times that I lost count and he also spy hopped multiple times. He even did a sort of lunge/back dive. At the end of the encounter we paralleled a rambunctious social group made up of Samish J14, Oreo J22, Polaris J28, Doublestuf J34, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Y'-Chn J45, Star J46, and Ti'lem I'nges J49. Suttles J40 did at least six half breaches, Polaris J28 cartwheeled and pec slapped, and Doublestuf J34 spy hopped so high (and fast!) that his dorsal fin made it out of the water! What an amazing trip!
Doublestuf J34 back dives. He was born in 1998.
Suttles J40 in mid half breach. She was born in 2004.
And then, September became even more awesome with the discovery of ANOTHER new little addition to the Southern Resident community. Stay tuned!
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask.
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask.
