Aboard the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions on the 27th, we departed Friday Harbor, headed up San Juan Channel, and up into President's Channel to see some marine mammal eating Transient orcas that had been reported by other whale watching boats. When we arrived on scene near Waldron Island, the orcas were traveling slowly down the middle of the channel and may have made a kill before we arrived as there were some tail slaps, splashes, and an aerial scan. However, they soon settled back down. Off in the distance towards the shoreline of Orcas Island, a loner male known as T077A very loosely associated with the other orcas and paralleled them. Then, the group we were with, which we had been keeping a respectful distance away from, suddenly "mugged us" right off the bow, and their close pass revealed that they were the T075Bs and (after later ID confirmation at home) the T036As.
The T075B matriline is made up of T075B, her two offspring, T075B1 and T075B2 (born in April of 2015!), and her younger sister, T075C. The T036As are made up of T036A and her three offspring: T036A1, T036A2, and T036A3 (born sometime in early 2015!). It was so cool that these two families, both with new calves, were hanging out together!
The T075B matriline is made up of T075B, her two offspring, T075B1 and T075B2 (born in April of 2015!), and her younger sister, T075C. The T036As are made up of T036A and her three offspring: T036A1, T036A2, and T036A3 (born sometime in early 2015!). It was so cool that these two families, both with new calves, were hanging out together!
T075C, born in 1998, shows her unique freckled eye patch while surfacing off the bow.
The T036As and T075Bs then picked up the speed and made their way over to Jones Island in search of their marine mammal prey. Their next stop was Yellow Island and for a moment T077A popped back up again near them but then continued on his way, angling across San Juan channel towards the San Juan Island side. The T036As and T075Bs also headed down San Juan Channel (crossing the path of a Washington State Ferry at one point) but stuck to the Shaw Island side.
Sprouter male T077A, born in 1996. He often travels by himself or with other matrilines besides his own.
T036A3, born sometime in early 2015, surfaces next to its mother, T036A.
T075B2, born in April of 2015, surfaces next to its mother, T075B.
We then said our goodbyes and headed for the dock in Friday Harbor, which the orcas had pretty much escorted us right back to! This was such an awesome encounter as it is not every day we get to see Transient orca calves that are just a few months old!! Stay tuned!
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)
Please do not use my photos without my permission. Just ask :)
