On the morning of 11/28/13, I heard a report that lots of orcas had been seen off the West side of San Juan Island, usually an indicator for one or more Southern Resident orca pods. I looked out my window to see a few orcas milling offshore, acting more like a small group of Transient orcas, who instead of eating only salmon like the Residents, prey specifically on marine mammals. The orcas began moving North so I drove that direction as well and once I was at a higher vantage point, I could see many, many more orcas and it was obvious that I was looking at Residents. I headed to Lime Kiln State Park and got there just in time as J, K and L pod, minus two matrilines called the L12's and L22's, passed by shore, some just a few feet away. They were very active!
A large adult female known as Spock K20, born in 1986, breaches right in the sun!
Double breach!
This was the second time, I missed the first, which included a simultaneous cartwheel from a third orca!
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Adult female Surprise L86, born in 1991.
Adult male Cappuccino K21, born in 1986.
A female named Opus K16, born in 1985, does a big cartwheel super close to shore.
A double spy hop from two juveniles, the one of the left possibly being Mystic L115, born in 2010.
Adult male Onyx L87, born in 1992, cartwheels.
Ballena L90, born in 1993, still looks funky when she surfaces. It's possible she has a spinal deformity.
Midnight L110, born in 2007, rests his pectoral fin on his mother's back. Mom was born in 1990 and is named Moonlight L83.
Adult male Nyssa L84, born in 1990, with younger male Coho L108, who was born in 2007. Nyssa was adopted by Coho's mother, Ino L54, who was born in 1977, after he became the last living member of his family.
Granny J2! This old matriarch is estimated to have been born in 1911!
Close up on Granny's dorsal fin and saddle patch.
 Adult female Princess Angeline J17, born in 1977, surfaces with kelp draped over her back. . . |  . . .as her son Moby J44, born in 2009, pops up next to her. |
Best Thanksgiving EVER!!
