On the 27th, I left home on San Juan Island to head back at Evergreen State College to start my sophomore year! The few days that led up to the 27th were full of goodbyes, both to humans and orcas, and I was lucky enough to encounter the orcas from shore at Lime Kiln State Park, from a friend's boat, and from the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions before I left. Those final days were full of many surprise cetacean appearances too!
On 9/19/14, all of J pod and K pod (minus the K16's?) were in the area, shuffling up and down the shoreline of San Juan Island. Out on the Odyssey, we saw the J17's and J22's in slow resting mode as they made their way north. Blackberry J27 was also moving slow, maybe resting by himself, while his younger brother, Mako J39, was foraging nearby. Also close by were the J16's (Slick J16, Mike J26, Alki J36, and Echo J42) and NOAA, who was trying to D-Tag someone in the family. The four orcas would split up, re-group and split up again, and when the boat would get within tagging distance, Slick , Alki or Echo would throw agitated tail slaps or spy hop high next to the boat. In the evening, all the orcas turned back South and proceeded back down the shoreline of San Juan Island.
During the night, L pod (minus the L54's?) arrived to the area. The next day, J and K pod headed North for the Fraser River while L pod stayed at San Juan Island. Out on the Odyssey, the first orca we identified was Mega L41, who was off foraging for salmon. We left him to it and headed over to a group off in the distance, which turned out to be Pooka L106, Surprise L86, and her new calf L120. Surprise was also foraging a bit and L120 would remain at the surface alone while mom was on deep dives.
While mom was down foraging, the calf worked on its first tail slaps and spy hops and also seemed to be figuring out how to move and surface. However, even when Surprise was up at the surface, the calf was acting rather independent, as it surfaced off by itself a few times instead of with mom. L120's older brother Pooka L106 was nearby but he did not interact with the calf. L120's aunt Ophelia L27 eventually made her way over to the other three and together all four headed North. As we headed back for the dock, we saw Mega again, who had joined up with Ocean Sun L25 while we were away. Solstice L89 and Spirit L22 were also close by.
On 9/19/14, all of J pod and K pod (minus the K16's?) were in the area, shuffling up and down the shoreline of San Juan Island. Out on the Odyssey, we saw the J17's and J22's in slow resting mode as they made their way north. Blackberry J27 was also moving slow, maybe resting by himself, while his younger brother, Mako J39, was foraging nearby. Also close by were the J16's (Slick J16, Mike J26, Alki J36, and Echo J42) and NOAA, who was trying to D-Tag someone in the family. The four orcas would split up, re-group and split up again, and when the boat would get within tagging distance, Slick , Alki or Echo would throw agitated tail slaps or spy hop high next to the boat. In the evening, all the orcas turned back South and proceeded back down the shoreline of San Juan Island.
During the night, L pod (minus the L54's?) arrived to the area. The next day, J and K pod headed North for the Fraser River while L pod stayed at San Juan Island. Out on the Odyssey, the first orca we identified was Mega L41, who was off foraging for salmon. We left him to it and headed over to a group off in the distance, which turned out to be Pooka L106, Surprise L86, and her new calf L120. Surprise was also foraging a bit and L120 would remain at the surface alone while mom was on deep dives.
While mom was down foraging, the calf worked on its first tail slaps and spy hops and also seemed to be figuring out how to move and surface. However, even when Surprise was up at the surface, the calf was acting rather independent, as it surfaced off by itself a few times instead of with mom. L120's older brother Pooka L106 was nearby but he did not interact with the calf. L120's aunt Ophelia L27 eventually made her way over to the other three and together all four headed North. As we headed back for the dock, we saw Mega again, who had joined up with Ocean Sun L25 while we were away. Solstice L89 and Spirit L22 were also close by.
L120 spy hops! He/she was born during the last few days of August or the the first few days of September 2014.
L120 has an awesome left saddle patch!
Surprise L86, born in 1991, and new her son/daughter L120.
Out on the Odyssey the next day, we spotted a minke whale in San Juan Channel before we headed out to see the orcas. Once we got on scene, we could see that the orcas were very spread out for miles. Since all of J pod had gone North the day before, I was expecting to just see L pod members, but there was the J17 matriline, socializing, foraging, and traveling with the L43 matriline. Group B of J pod must have turned around while Group A and K pod continued towards the Fraser River.
As we watched the J17's and L43's mingle, Racer L72 spy hopped, either Polaris J28 or Fluke L105 spy hopped, and Star J46 got very active with multiple breaches, cartwheels, tail slaps, and belly flops. I thought that they might have been excited to see Group A (minus the J16's who were alone up in Georgia Strait) and K pod, who had just arrived back at San Juan Island from their trip to the North and were not to far away. That evening, J, K, and L pod did end up all meeting offshore of the West side of San Juan Island.
At the end of our encounter, all four orcas unexpectedly popped up next to us and circled around for a bit, possibly looking for salmon. At one point, Fluke arched his back for a deep dive and lifted his tail high into the air, much like a humpback whale. This behavior, called fluking, is one I have rarely seen the orcas do! Usually when the orcas dive they just arch their backs and disappear beneath the surface.
As we watched the J17's and L43's mingle, Racer L72 spy hopped, either Polaris J28 or Fluke L105 spy hopped, and Star J46 got very active with multiple breaches, cartwheels, tail slaps, and belly flops. I thought that they might have been excited to see Group A (minus the J16's who were alone up in Georgia Strait) and K pod, who had just arrived back at San Juan Island from their trip to the North and were not to far away. That evening, J, K, and L pod did end up all meeting offshore of the West side of San Juan Island.
At the end of our encounter, all four orcas unexpectedly popped up next to us and circled around for a bit, possibly looking for salmon. At one point, Fluke arched his back for a deep dive and lifted his tail high into the air, much like a humpback whale. This behavior, called fluking, is one I have rarely seen the orcas do! Usually when the orcas dive they just arch their backs and disappear beneath the surface.
Star J46 tail slap! She was born in 2009.
Racer L72 with her super unique saddle patch. She was born in 1986.
Star J46 in mid cartwheel. Her mother, Polaris J28, begins to surface to Star's right.
Fluke L105, born in 2004, flukes!
Just as we were nearing the harbor at the end of our trip, we got another surprise; Pacific white sided dolphins!! Hundreds of them!!! Many of them came over to ride on our stern and bow wake, while others chased fish, and many more played with other boats. Encountering these dolphins, especially this many, is a pretty uncommon sight in the area, but times could be changing!
Two dolphins ride our stern wake.
With its mouth open, a dolphin gets ready to catch a airborn fish!
My all time favorite shot of a Pacific white sided dolphin!
A fish leaps into the air to escape a dolphin, which can be seen just beneath the surface.
On the 22nd, J pod headed North for the Fraser River, while L pod and almost all of K pod left the area. The three independent K16's stayed at San Juan Island, shuffling up and down the Southwest and West side of the island. Two humpbacks, one called Yogi BCY0409, and the other being an unidentified individual who was seen in Rosario Strait were also hanging out in Spieden Channel. The next day, J pod started their journey back down from the Fraser, while the K16's were down South at Salmon and Hein Bank. The Rosario Strait humpback whale was also still around, doing the "West side shuffle" along San Juan Island, and the huge pod of Pacific white sided dolphins was found out West near Victoria.
On the 24th, I headed out with some friends to see if we could find orcas for one of my last encounters before I headed back to college. On my way out to the dock, I spotted a North bound humpback whale known as Split Fin BCZ0298 from shore at Lime Kiln State Park. Another humpback, probably Yogi BCY0409, was up in Spieden Channel too. Once on the boat, we aimed for the South end of San Juan Island, pausing to watch Split Fin for a few minutes. He/she had turned South after I left the park, but was now headed back North again. Soon we were with all of J pod and the K16's offshore of South Beach as they headed North. Granny J2 was in the lead along with Shachi J19, Eclipse J41 and Blackberry J27. Onyx L87 was there too but far off inshore by himself. Next came the J17's, then the J14's, Opus K16 and Sonata K35, Cappuccino K21 and Mike J26, and the J22's. We saw a a spy hop from Granny, a breach from Doublestuf J34, a cartwheel and lots of inverted tail slaps from Cappuccino K21, and lots of tail slaps from Sonata K35.
On the 24th, I headed out with some friends to see if we could find orcas for one of my last encounters before I headed back to college. On my way out to the dock, I spotted a North bound humpback whale known as Split Fin BCZ0298 from shore at Lime Kiln State Park. Another humpback, probably Yogi BCY0409, was up in Spieden Channel too. Once on the boat, we aimed for the South end of San Juan Island, pausing to watch Split Fin for a few minutes. He/she had turned South after I left the park, but was now headed back North again. Soon we were with all of J pod and the K16's offshore of South Beach as they headed North. Granny J2 was in the lead along with Shachi J19, Eclipse J41 and Blackberry J27. Onyx L87 was there too but far off inshore by himself. Next came the J17's, then the J14's, Opus K16 and Sonata K35, Cappuccino K21 and Mike J26, and the J22's. We saw a a spy hop from Granny, a breach from Doublestuf J34, a cartwheel and lots of inverted tail slaps from Cappuccino K21, and lots of tail slaps from Sonata K35.
Granny J2, born around 1911, spy hops in front of American Camp on San Juan Island.
From left to right: Doublestuf J34, Oreo J22, and Cookie J38.
Cappuccino K21 does an inverted tail slap. He was born in 1986.
We then headed back to the front of the line to see how far Granny had made it to and if J pod was splitting into Group A and B. Granny J2, Shachi J19, and Blackberry J27 were now North of Lime Kiln State Park. Surfacing in the middle of the orcas was Split Fin the humpback, who was now heading back South. Cappuccino K21 and Mike J26 had made it to the front and Onyx L87 had pulled offshore but was still near the leading individuals. We were seeing evidence that both Group A and B were heading North, not just Group A.
Near Open Bay, the other orcas slowed down, while Granny J2 continued North. Before long she was a few miles ahead of everyone else, leading the way for the Fraser River. This is a common occurrence, but it makes you realize that she spends a good part of her time alone while in the lead at times. We joined her for a bit before we headed back for the dock. Along the way, we passed all of J pod again and they began to catch up with Granny J2. Just outside Snug Harbor, Split Fin the humpback appeared again, obviously having turned around and headed North from Lime Kiln where we last saw him/her. Split Fin did lots of feeding before turning back South.
Near Open Bay, the other orcas slowed down, while Granny J2 continued North. Before long she was a few miles ahead of everyone else, leading the way for the Fraser River. This is a common occurrence, but it makes you realize that she spends a good part of her time alone while in the lead at times. We joined her for a bit before we headed back for the dock. Along the way, we passed all of J pod again and they began to catch up with Granny J2. Just outside Snug Harbor, Split Fin the humpback appeared again, obviously having turned around and headed North from Lime Kiln where we last saw him/her. Split Fin did lots of feeding before turning back South.
Cappuccino K21 surfaces.
Granny heads for the Fraser River.
Siblings Tsuchi J31 and Blackberry J27. The other sibling, Mako J39, was off socializing with other J pod members.
Echo J42, born in 2007, flukes while diving.
The humpback whale named Split Fin BCZ0298, born in 2006.
In the end, we saw each member of J pod, as well as the three K16's. The next day, while J pod and the three K's were making their way down from the North, we got to see Yogi BCY0409 in Spieden Channel on the Odyssey. Towards the end of our encounter, Yogi did something I had never seen from the Odyssey or ever manged to photograph anywhere. He/she breached clear out of the water twice!! Amazing!! Split Fin was still around too, shuffling up and down the Southwest and West side of San Juan Island.
Yogi is one large humpback!!
My last orca encounter took place on the 26th, while sitting on the rocky coastline at Lime Kiln State Park during sunset. All was quiet and calm, and a rainbow even appeared nearby. Offshore of me, I could see Granny J2, Shachi J19, Eclipse J41 and Onyx L87 as they headed South together. J pod and the three K's had been shuffling up and down San Juan Island all day. Further South, Blackberry J27, Polaris J28, Star J46, Tahlequah J35, and Notch J47 foraged for salmon. On this day, both Yogi and Split Fin were still in the area (amazing!). Yogi stayed at San Juan Island while Split Fin hung out up at Stuart Island. What an extraordinary end to the season!
Eclipse J41 in the sunset. She was born in 2005.
Now that I'm at college, orca encounters will likely slow down until next summer, but when I'm back up on the island during breaks, I'll hopefully catch up with some Southern Resident or Transient orcas again. You never know, so keep checking for posts here and I will continue updating the San Juan Orcas Twitter page on cetacean news and the "Remembering The Southern Resident Killer Whales Who Have Passed On" Facebook page throughout my time at college. Thanks so much for following my posts here, see you and the orcas next summer!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
