L pod decided to travel up and down the West side of San Juan Island all day on the 22nd, giving me multiple opportunities have close encounters with them from shore. In the morning, they quickly headed North past Lime Kiln State Park. After a little while, they turned around and swam right past again but this time they were in resting lines. Later on, I caught up with them one more time as they foraged and played together just a little South of the park. Nearly all of L pod has been around since the morning of the 19th, when everyone but the L54's (which includes Wave Walker L88 and Nyssa L84) came in. By the next day, the L12's and L22's had left, but the remaining matrilines (the L4's, L26's, L43's, and L47's) have continued to stick around.
Moonlight L83 breaches offshore of Lime Kiln State Park. She was born in 1990.
Marina L47, born in 1974, plays with kelp draped over her dorsal fin.
L pod members line up as they make their way past Lime Kiln State Park for the second time.
Crewser L92, born in 1995, and his sister Ballena L90, born in 1993.
Fluke L105, born in 2004, rolls on his side to slap his pectoral fin on the water.
Marina L47, Mystic L115, Surprise L86, Kasatka L82, Nugget L55, Jade L118, and Lapis L103 surface together.
Moonlight breaches again.
Moonlight tail slaps during my third encounter.
A young male named Takoda L109 spy hops while playing with two other youngsters; Midnight L110 and Jade L118.
Lapis L103, born in 2003, tail slaps.
I'm so happy that J and L pod have been around so much this summer! It has been the complete opposite of last year, which is when the presence of the Southern Resident orcas in the inland waters hit an all time low. They had literally never been so scarce in the area. At the moment, the orcas do seem to be finding salmon and they look pretty plump too! Hopefully their presence will continue through the rest of the season and K pod will come in soon to join the party!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask.
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask.
