I looked outside my window on the morning on 6/1/13 to see members of J pod heading North past my house on San Juan Island. I grabbed my camera and headed for Lime Kiln State Park just a few miles North of me for probably the best encounter I have ever had from shore. It took awhile for J pod to make their way up the island to the park, and I didn't know why until I heard the L12s had come in overnight and were with them. They had been socializing and celebrating their reunion together all morning and were in no rush. I wondered of J pod had been in a hurry the day before to meet the L pod members as they came into the area.
| The L12 matriline is part of L pod but this family often travels on their own and includes: Ocean Sun L25, F (est. 1928) Mega L41, M (1977) Matia L77, F (1987) Calypso L94, F (1995) Cousteau L113, F (2009) L119, F (2012) | Another L pod matriline called the L22s is often seen with the L12s and is made up of: Spirit L22, F (est. 1971) Skana L79, M (1989) Mystery L85, M (1991) Solstice L89, M (1993) |
As the orcas slowly approached Lime Kiln State park's shore, both individual members as well as entire matrilines interacted and mingled with each other. The importance of bodily contact to orcas was illustrated greatly as they were very tactile with each other. It is possible that the L12s and J pod had not seen each other for a few months or more. I had never seen Southern Resident orcas greeting each other right after reuniting before.
 Js and Ls mingling close to shore. |  Js and Ls mingling close to shore. |
These members of J pod head over to interact with the L pod members.
On this day there was also a lot of drift wood, clumps of kelp, bits of eelgrass, and other fun things floating around, so the orcas took this opportunity to play a bit.
Hy'shqa J37, born in 2001, spy hops near some kelp.
Hy'shqa J37 swims into the kelp.
Se-Yi'-Chn J45, born in 2009, with his mother Samish J14, born in 1974.
Hy'shqa J37 with eelgrass draped over her dorsal fin.
Spirit L22, estimated to have been born in 1971, pulling kelp with her dorsal fin.
Ocean Sun L25, estimated to have been born in 1928. Ocean Sun is thought to be Lolita the captive orca's mother. To learn more about Lolita, click on this picture.
 L119, born in 2012, throws rockweed into the air with it's tail fluke. |  L119, born in 2012, throws rockweed into the air with it's tail fluke. |
Spirit L22.
Skana L79, born in 1989. His mother is Spirit L22.
Four orcas came over really close to shore to play in the kelp beds. They were females Oreo J22, Rhapsody J32, Tsuchi J31 and an L pod male named Solstice L89. I think Solstice was even flirting a little bit. Most of the time they were just feet from each other and it appeared they were gazing at things underwater along the rocky shoreline.
Oreo J22, born in 1985, spy hops close to shore.
Tsuchi J31 pulls kelp with her tail fluke extremely close to shore.
 Tsuchi J31 waves her tail fluke in the air. |  Tsuchi J31 waves her tail fluke in the air. |
Around this time I could see who I think was Rhapsody J32, born in 1996, grabbing kelp in her mouth underwater and tugging it around.
Solstice L89, born in 1993, only a few feet away from me.
Tsuchi J31, born in 1995.
Rhapsody J32.
Oreo J22.
Solstice L89 with kelp draped over his dorsal fin.
The orcas continued North past the park with matriarch Granny J2 in the lead and as if my day couldn't get any better, it was time for me to go to "work" on the Odyssey, a San Juan Excursions boat, to teach guests about the orcas and have another amazing encounter. A short time later we were with the Js and Ls at Henry Island, near the North end of San Juan Island. The orcas were still being active and Mike J26 began belly flopping a few minutes after we got on scene.
 |  Mike J26, born in 1991, belly flops. |  |
I was happy to see L119, a female born in 2012, had survived the winter. Since both L119 and J49 survived their first year of life, they will receive names to go with their numbers this summer.
L119 next to her mother Matia L77, born in 1987.
 Tahlequah J35, born in 1998, spy hops. |  Tahlequah J35, born in 1998, spy hops. |
A female does an inverted tail slap.
A female pectoral fin slaps on the left while a calf, probably L119, breaches on the right.
L119 spy hops next to Polaris J28, born in 1993.
J49, born August 6th, 2012 surfaces next to his mother Hy'shqa J37, while Spieden J8, estimated to have been born in 1933, dives ahead of them.
Granny J2 (far left), estimated to have been born in 1911, surfaces in unison with other J pod members.
 Polaris J28 spy hops. |  Polaris J28 spy hops. |
During our encounter, I noticed that all the boys, except for Doublestuf J34 and Blackberry J27, were hanging out together. Mega L41, Skana L79, Solstice L89, Mike J26, Onyx L87, and Mystery L85 all wrestled and played together, displaying their penises quite often.
Left to right: Onyx L87, Mike J26, and Mega L41.
Mega L41 lays on his side, showing his chewed up tail fluke. Mike J26's dorsal fin is next to him.
Mega L41 gets a little excited!
Skana L79 waves goodbye to us as we leave.
What a crazy whale filled day!! One I will remember for a long time!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
