On the afternoon of 7/20/14, we headed to Point Roberts at the limits of our range on the Odyssey of San Juan Excursions to see two matrilines of transient orcas known as the T036B's and T099's. It was well worth it! They had killed a harbor porpoise and were carrying it around with them as they fed and celebrated. Tails slaps, aerial scans, rolling, some major kelping, and a breach ensued. At the same, L pod was exiting the area through the Strait of Juan De Fuca. J and K pod escorted them out for a while before turning around and inching their way back towards San Juan Island, arriving by nightfall.
T099 carries the body of a harbor porpoise, the head and pectoral fin visible. T099 was born around 1984.
One of the young ones tail slaps. T036B (born in 1998) is to the left while T099 and T036 (born around 1970) are to the right.
T099B, born in 2007, does an aerial scan.
On the 21st, an interesting split occurred between J and K pod. Group A of J pod (including the J16's) and the K14's were up near Fraser River in Canada, while Group B of J pod, the K12's, K13's, Opus K16, Cappuccino K21, and Sonata K35 were spread out along the shores of San Juan Island. But here was the real surprise; Onyx L87 was with the San Juan Island group instead of the Fraser River group. Since September of 2013, Onyx has been traveling closely with Granny J2, a Group A member. Granny is Onyx's fourth substitute mother figure he has had since his mother died in 2005. But here he was, traveling away from her. Interesting!
On the 22nd, Group B, the K's and Onyx L87 were no where to be seen and had probably exited the area like L pod the day prior. However, Group A and the K14's made their way back down to San Juan and foraged off of the South end. It was so weird to not see Onyx near Granny. I wonder if his visit with Group B and the K's will be temporary, or permanent?
On the 22nd, Group B, the K's and Onyx L87 were no where to be seen and had probably exited the area like L pod the day prior. However, Group A and the K14's made their way back down to San Juan and foraged off of the South end. It was so weird to not see Onyx near Granny. I wonder if his visit with Group B and the K's will be temporary, or permanent?
Granny J2, born around 1911. She was offshore of everyone as they headed for the South end of San Juan.
Lea K14, born in 1977, spy hops!
Kelp K42, son to Lea. He was born in 2008.
Lea K14.
On the night of the 22nd, the J16's split off from Group A and exited the area, while Group A and the K14's stayed and headed North towards the Fraser River again. On the morning of the 23rd, Group A and the K14's returned to San Juan Island from the North. However, the twelve of them were headed North again later in the day. They made it up to Turn Point at Stuart Island with Granny still pressing North offshore of the point, before the other eleven turned back South again for San Juan. At one point, Granny was over four miles North of everybody else. But, she had obviously turned around because as I watched Group A and the K14's from shore at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan, Granny was back in the lead as they quickly swam South. During the night, the group of twelve left for the open ocean through the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Samish J14 swims past Lime Kiln. She was born in 1974 is probably Granny's granddaughter.
Lobo K26, born in 1993.
I wonder when they will be back?
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
