Posted by: onboardtourswhales | June 18, 2011

Week of Whales- Residents

Tuesday June 14, 2011

Today reminded me of Sunday, with J-Pod heading from Whidbey Island toward the south end of Lopez, about 1:15pm. Amazing to watch them swim fast and like the dolphins they are, with the full moon strong flooding tide. (Remember the terms whale, dolphin, porpoise, are common names. Even the names like Killer Whale, Right Whale, etc. are common names. Orca is part of the scientific name. Ask, do they have teeth or baleen? There are the real differences. All porpoise and dolphins have teeth, so think of them as toothed whales!) We watched J-Pod with L-53 Lulu and L-87 Onyx, spread out in 4 groups, with J-2 Granny in the lead again! Looked like newest calf J-47 in the next group. Interesting that J-26 Mike and J-27 Blackberry were in the last group again, with L-53, and the NOAA vessel following, trying to deploy the suction attached short term D-tags. Again, this last group of Orcas dipped into Cattle Pass slowed down, showing how strong they are against the huge currents, with tail fluke slaps, a few breaches, and spy hops. A male also showed “pink floyd”, so mating with L-53 going on? As we headed up Cattle Pass at about 3pm, the whales increased their speed around Goose Island and Cattle Point to catch up with the rest of the clan off South Beach.

Monday June 13, 2011

Off of Deadman Bay, in Haro Strait, a school group of kids, (and all the grown ups!) were thrilled to see J-Pod Orcas. Another strong flooding tide and the whales spread out in 4 active groups, with J-2 Granny in the lead. From about 1:45 to 3 pm, as they headed north, the Orcas also breached, spy hoped, tail fluke slapped the surface, and some made direction changes as though fishing. J-27 Blackberry and J-26 Mike were together. They are now the eldest males in J-Pod, at 20 years old.

Spy Hop!

Sunday June 12, 2011

While hiking on a beautiful sunny day, around Cattle Point Lighthouse around 1 pm, surprise! Three tight groups of Orcas are heading past Lopez toward South Beach. The first 2 groups swam past pretty fast, but the 3rdgroup dipped into Cattle Pass. The NOAA research vessel, trying to deploy D-tags was right with them. We were able to identify J-27 Blackberry, J-34 DoubleStuf, J-16 Slick with youngster J-42 Echo. I thought they would probably head up Haro Strait with the flooding tide, and sure enough we saw them on the west side and traveling north past Lime Kiln Point State Park! Two hours of great views from San Juan Island!

J’s in Cattle Pass with NOAA Vessel

 

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | June 11, 2011

Young Orcas Breaching Day!!!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Reports of L-Pod orcas south of San Juan Island, and J-Pod orcas heading north with the small flood tide in Haro Strait, led us through Spieden Channel where we started to see whales! Now it was slack water, the whales where swimming leisurely in tight groups, I wonder if they were resting a bit. As they approached the south end of Stuart Island they began to spread out, become more active. A young killer whale spy hopped, then the youngsters started breaching about 8 times, with 2 of the whales coming out of the water at the same time, leaving twin splashes!! They did this twice! A few tail fluke slaps as they swam closer to shore. Then J-27 Blackberry and a female starting circling, making several direction changes, hunting for salmon! At Turn Point, the orcas decided to go right, into Boundary Pass, we left them heading northeast. Able to ID J-17 Princess Angeline, J-22 Oreo with her 8 year old son J-38 Cookie & J-32 Rhapsody, J-27 Blackberry, J-34 DoubleStuf (J-22 Oreo’s 13 year old son), J-28 Polaris, J-14 Samish, and J-26 Mike. A passenger said the highest compliment; the trip, information and sightings were better than Sea World!

South of Turn Point, on Stuart Island, a huge cliff named Lovers Leap, has many bird nests right in the slightest hole. The water is 400 feet deep very close to the cliff, so we were able to see a Peregrine Falcon sitting on the edge of a deeper granite slant, which seemed full of twigs. Were there young falcons back there? Best sighting I’ve had of the fastest creature on the planet- they can fly about 200 miles an hour!

 

 

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | June 9, 2011

Happy Birthday Granny

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

According to photos from 1911, showing J-2 Granny nearshore San Juan Island and the buildings of the time, she is estimated to be 100 years old this year!! Today, as we headed north, we saw a Bald eagle couple tend a nest, are there fledglings? Then an Osprey flies right over! We are very delighted to find J-Pod orcas heading west, with the small ebbing tide in Boundary Pass, closer to Saturna Island, Canada. They were spread out from shore to about halfway out in the pass. J-2 Granny in the lead, all by herself. Happy 100th Birthday Granny! Poignant seeing her without her estimated 60 year old son J-1 Ruffles, who is missing, last seen November 2010. Following J-2 Granny, I think J-8 Spieden was in the next group of 2 to 3 killer whales with J-26 Mike. The wonderful sunshine reflected off of their backs, making it hard to see saddle patches behind their dorsal fin- they are unique to each whale, like fingerprints and how we identify individuals. There were 2 more males with groups out in the pass, then J-30 Riptide with a calf and 2 females swam near shore and looked like they may be hunting salmon in the reef-rock rips as they circled a bit and the youngster did a tail fluke slap. Time to head back, when the calf spy hops and breaches, like a goodbye!

Monday, June 6, 2011

We went south to Salmon Bank and really enjoyed watching 2 to 4 Minke Whales, in calm, slack water. Steller Sea Lions, California Sea Lions, and Harbor Seals sun-warming on Whale Rocks. Harbor Porpoise in San Juan Channel, and a variety of marine birds and Bald Eagles on Long Island and Whale Rocks! I say 2 to 4 Minkes; as they were ‘slinky’, diving and surfacing in their typical, unpredictable pattern, so not sure if we saw the same whale!

These photos are from a Superpod; all 87 Southern Resident Killer Whales were together on August 15, 2008. I usually saw J-1 Ruffles off by himself, J-2 Granny gave him a little independence, so these pictures are bittersweet seeing J-1 Ruffles tight in the middle of these family groups with his mother- J-2 Granny.

 

 

 

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | May 22, 2011

J-Pod is Home!

May 20 & 21, 2011

J-Pod has been in the Salish Sea for over a week! They headed north out of Puget Sound on Friday with a strong flooding tide, into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, spread out on long dives, seeming intent on hunting salmon.

Saturday, J-Pod families came down Haro Strait into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the end of an ebbing tide, heading to Salmon Bank. We had a few glances of a Minke Whale, then we saw the Orcas, who seemed relaxed in the calm, slack water. A few females logging-resting at the surface, then some of the Orcas started tail- fluke slapping the water, spy hopping, breaching, and rolling around on their backs and each other!. It was neat to see all the vessels were US and Canadian wildlife tours following the guidelines and laws. Along with Soundwatch, Straitwatch, and Gato Verde, monitoring the boats and researching the whales.

J-Pod decided to swim through Cattle Pass into San Juan Channel! We don’t often see whales going through this narrow pass into this smaller channel, very exciting! Many of the whales joined up and it was great to see a group of calves, females, or the males together. Able to identify J-2 Granny with L-87 Onyx! L-87’s dorsal fin is wavy like J-1 Ruffles, his dad? And Granny’s grandson?! Also ID’d J-8 Spieden and the ‘boys’ J-26, J-27, J-30.

The harbor seals and Steller sea lions on and around Whale Rocks seemed aware of the resident Killler Whales, but not panicked as they would be with the transient Killer Whales. We also saw a few harbor porpoise, Bald Eagles, gulls, cormorants, common murres, rhinoceros auklets, and pigeon guillemots! So most of the wildlife and all of the stars of the Salish Sea!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | May 17, 2011

San Juan Wildlife

May 16, 2021

Wildlife is part of our everyday life here in the San Juan Islands and Salish Sea. Today a Bald Eagle flew right over as we were preparing to board. Anemones, jellies, shrimp, and crabs are often visible right in the marina.

The delight of visitors seeing this ecosystem and wildlife, many for the first time, is inspiring! We headed out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, toward the south end of Lopez Island, Many Harbor Seals and male Steller Sea Lions were hauled on Whale Rocks.

There were reports of Orcas heading south down Rosario Channel, against a strong, 10+ foot, flooding tide. J-Pod families were very spread out and many turned back north.

The whales were swimming hundreds of feet from each other, on long dives, coming up to breath. Was it energy saving to stay under the surface while they were swimming against that strong current? As fellow Naturalist Heather said; were they staying under longer to communicate about the hunt for salmon, over that long distance the pod was spread apart? We were happy to watch J-26, J-31, and J-39. (Didn’t see a calf with them, so my guess on J-31 being a new mom is withdrawn)!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | May 10, 2011

Awesome J-Pod!!!

May 10, 2011

Starting out north on a nice, calm, sunny afternoon, no whale reports. Then, then! a rumor of Orcas in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, heading in east! So we turned around, headed south and west, and started seeing killer whale fins off of False Bay and San Juan Island, swimming against an ebbing tide.

We noticed a female staying in the same place at the surface for about a half hour, and the 5 family groups spread out. They started to move and gather closer together, actively spy hopping, turning on their backs, tail fluke and pectoral fin slapping the water surface, and a juvenile breached! They slowed down their swimming, made circles and direction changes. We put a hydrophone in the water and heard non stop vocalizations!

As we watched all the active behavior, we noticed a very small calf and wonder if a birth had taken place recently? My guess for the mom is J-31 Tsuchi. We also ID’d J-2 Granny, the big boys- J-27 Blackberry, J-26 Mike, J-30 Riptide, and J-28 Polaris and their families. J-Pod seemed relaxed and hopefully found salmon!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | April 28, 2011

Maui Wildlife!!

April 28, 2011

I spent most of February and March in Maui Hawaii, finally went through the photos to post. AMAZING Humpback Whale encounters!! I started ‘talking’ to the whales and a young juvenile, female, I think, chose to swim around and under our boat for about 45 minutes! I am convinced the marine mammals are sometimes as curious about humans as we are about them!

There was a huge number, thousands, of Humpbacks in the Hawaii waters, for their seasonal birthing and mating. The sightings were as visible from shore as out in boats. The Whale Trust hosted a great whale research conference. Check them out by the link posted to the left under blogroll.

We also represented the Lolita rally- bring her home to her L-Pod of Orcas in the Salish Sea, with Orca Network folks, educating visitors and locals.

Whale festivals, education, and celebrations every weekend! Beaches, hills, volcanoes, towns, wonderful people, exotic plants and birds!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | April 15, 2011

Transient Killer Whales in the Salish Sea!!

April 15, 2011

We saw at least 6 Orcas by Lopez Island, coming up San Juan Channel with the flooding tide, starting at about 12:20pm. They were in 2 groups appearing to be feeding as many gulls were with them for leftovers. It looked like 2 families, 2 adult females with their offspring. Able to indentify T-049B with her 5 year old calf T049B1, and it looked like she had a new calf- we could see the yellow tint of the little calf’s’ white eye patches and chin!

They all joined up and swam toward Shaw Island, stopping, lunging and circling as if hunting, then spy hopping at Thatcher Pass, as if deciding which channel to take. They continued up San Juan Channel, crossing over toward San Juan Island and began to hunt again with circling, direction changes, and tails hanging above the water.

We went to see Yellow Island and Stellar Sea Lions on Spieden Island and as we headed back to Friday Harbor, going between Orcas and Jones Island at about 3pm, there the Killer Whales were again!, families hunting and traveling. We also saw Harbor Seals on the rocks, Bald Eagles, Rhinoceros Auklets, Murres, and Cormorants. A delightful trip!

Just click on the photos for a full view of  them.

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 14, 2010

Nature Heals

This has been quite a year of life changes; death, cancer, addiction, health challenges, job changes and financial worries have touched me, my family and friends, along with great love and new life, hope and possibilities. I am expanding my horizons, focusing on working in Hawaii this winter, yet sad to let go of Baja. No wonder anxiety has been interrupting my sleep!

Yesterday, after another sleepless night, I forced myself to get some computer work done (Hawaii is not knocking on my door- go figure!), and do yoga (keeps me sane), despite the sunny, crisp, beautiful autumn day calling to me, bargaining that I’d go out for the sunset. I drove to my favorite overlook on the south end of the island, feeling a bit melancholy that my time on these waters was probably over until next spring, when I felt the urge to go to the west side, I had a feeling whales might be there, even though my mind said no.

I chased the sunset to the west side, and as I came out of the tree line there were Orcas! spread 1/8 of a mile off Land Bank property out into Haro Strait. I resisted the urge to jump out of my car right in the middle of the road, parking safely at the first pull out.

I was totally absorbed and awed watching a dozen? or more groups of killer whales swimming south with the ebbing tide, backlit by a salmon colored waning sunset reflecting in the low clouds and on the still water. I tried to take a few pictures, couldn’t seem to get focus, put the camera down to just enjoy the experience. For about a half hour pectoral slaps, tail lobs, and breaches sounded off the water. I could identify J-26 Mike (my favorite teenage whale!), and J-1 Ruffles, when they slowed to forage a bit in a reef off of Hannah Heights. The amount of whales suggested some K’s and/or L-Pod whales too, but I couldn’t get any ID’s.

Meanwhile, I noticed a friend that I’d lost touch with, hadn’t seen in months, sitting right there on a log, enjoying the magical evening too. She said she had just mentioned me to her friend, wondering about a whale behavior. They’d seen a couple of the whales speed swimming- ‘porpoising’ to catch up with the others. We hugged and agreed how ironic the evening was, and we were the only people (that we could see) witnessing this spectacular encounter!

My friends headed home, I stayed listening to the whales breathing, echoing long after the dark closed in and I couldn’t see them, comforted by just knowing they were there, that they existed at all. That hour took me out of my head, quieted the many voices in my mind! I was focused outward and truly present in the moment, feeling connected to the web of life. I think that’s why we all seek out wildlife and wild places; a primal remembrance, longing to connect…

One of my favorite writings, (whatever God may or may not mean to you);

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be.”  Anne Frank, “Diary of a Young Girl”

And by Wendell Berry:

The Peace Of Wild Things

“When despair for the world grows in me,

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake rests

in his beauty on the water,

and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief,

I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light.

For a time, I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

Today, all around the world, people are celebrating the fantastic survival and rescue of the Chilean miners. The effort shows the best of humanity.

Today people are also protesting and mourning the capture and slaughter of dolphins and killer whales. Check these sites out: http://www.savelolita.com/

http://www.orcanetwork.org/captivity/dolphinslaughter.html

and I urge you to watch “The Cove’’ and sign this petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724/210/624/

I think we need them more than they need us…

P.S.  Just found out through the Orca Network that L-82 Kasatka was sighted with a new calf- L-116, October 13, 2010, by The Center for Whale Research!! I like to think they were out there on that awesome evening!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 8, 2010

Summer Musings

Nature and wildlife are ever changing, so every trip out on the water is an opportunity to see something new, yet patterns emerge, yielding a little more understanding.

One of our trips took us to Canada, North Pender Island, where we found some J-Pod orcas, cruising right along the shore at Moat Point. There was a strong flooding tide they were using toward Active Pass. They showed how well their echolocation works to maneuver ships, ferries, boats, and docks, through some narrow areas!

And to find fish, as killer whales from J and K Pods having been spending the last few days back and forth, sweeping the west side of San Juan Island. We have seen the salmon jumping too! Awed to see 19 year old J-27 Blackberry with 1 &1/2 year old cousin? J-45? very active breaching and flopping on his back, as though trying out a new move or view of his world!

On another foggy day, K-21 Cappuccino and friends, seemed to rise from the mist right off of South Beach, for a few mystical moments going southeast then turning northwest, before being wrapped once more in the marine layer.

The ‘westside waltz’ is familiar, but one is never sure; are they going to keep heading north, or turn back one more time, keeping us guessing as to the best route to see them! Today we enjoyed not only a warm sunny summer afternoon, also going all the way around San Juan Island, a circumnavigation, where many marine mammals showed themselves! Harbor Porpoise, Harbour Seals, Dall’s Porpoise, and a Minke Whale off of the northeast end of the Island, zigging and zagging its way northwest! Orcas; J’s and K’s foraging off of False Bay, headlining our tour! We think we saw J-14 with J-45. J-17 Princess Angeline and family with the 3 mom’s and 3 babies all close together, making rapid twists and turns, really looked regal! Were they teaching the calves how to hunt? J-30 Riptide is one big 15 year old- he’s already huge and still growing. K-21 Cappuccino and friends are back hanging out with the J’s. Many marine birds on the water too;  Heermann’s Gulls migrating through, (not so common anymore?) Common Murres, and a Kingfisher perched atop a western hemlock. We probably missed an Eagle sighting with our attention on the rest of the Salish Sea wildlife!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

Time is Running Out for Lolita

July 27, 2010 

Warm, sunny, clear days with calm, glass seas here! We hope the orcas are eating lots of Chinook Salmon and enjoying the summer too! Except for Lolita is probably not enjoying her life. She’s an L-Pod whale who’s about 21 feet long living in a tank that’s only 20 feet deep… at the Miami Seaquarium, where her water will soon be contaminated by the Gulf oil environmental crime of epic proportions! PLEASE go to http://www.orcanetwork.org/captivity/captivity.html and www.savelolita.com and help to bring Lolita home to her family, community, and home waters- the Salish Sea. 

J-26 Mike

L-86 Surprise

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

Sometimes Magic Happens

July 12, 2010 

I have a corny motto:  Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, have few if any expectations, show up with a positive attitude, and sometimes magic happens! A recent day tested this when we prepared for high winds, lumpy bumpy seas, along with the strongest currents of the month. We had reports of orcas on the south side, but weren’t sure they would come our way as we headed north in more comfortable waters, sighting bald eagles, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, and marine birds along the way. As we rounded to the west, J-Pod families, with J-2 Granny, classically in the lead, displayed many of the behaviors we had been talking about, as if on cue! Our guests were delighted, and our timing spot on, for the smoothest conditions and seeing the whales! We also had quite a few children on board and since these killer whales are listed as endangered I asked a group if they knew what ‘endangered’ meant. One little girl thought for a moment and said “that means they need something”. What a great response.Yes, these whales need Chinook salmon, clean water, and our care and respect! Little J-45 Se-Yi’-Chn, capped off our trip with four consecutive breaches! The day was filled with hope and magic. 

J-1 Ruffles

Spyhop!

Pectoral Fin Wave!

J-Pod Families

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

Granny Still Breaches!

July 5, 2010

Granny, J-2, stills breaches at 99 years old!! She showed us her power and place as the grand matriarch of J-Pod (and the whole Southern Resident Community of Killer Whales) today, as she led the pod south from Turn Point. I wonder that she was communicating to the families to hurry up- catch up! Since the rest of the pod was spread out a mile or more, then they sped swam at about 15 miles an hour, porpoising, leaving wakes, until they reached Henry Island. All the families came closer together and slowed their pace as they went near shore right along the cliffs, probably hunting for salmon. Both of the newest calves kept up with the fast pace. Nothing cuter than watching orca babies leaping up right next to their moms and relatives!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

Salish Sea Diversity

June 28, 2010 

What a surprise to experience the vast array of wildlife here in the Salish Sea, starting right at the walk down the dock, where we see sea anemones, shrimp, and nudibranchs right on the pilings! An opportunity for the naturalists to weave the story of all these animals, they are here in this unique inland sea for a reason and have made adaptations to survive. Today was just such a day, filled with sightings of marine birds, several bald eagles, harbor seals, and killer whales. By the time we rounded the north end of San Juan Island, our guests had learned about the connections between the nutrient rich waters, fish, marine mammals, and humans. There we saw J-1 & J-2, slowly leading several groups of J’s along with some L’s and K’s, north along the west side of San Juan Island. At Mosquito Pass many of the younger whales breached several times! The orcas showed us a bit of their culture and lifelong family ties. 

Research vessel with Tucker the whale poop sniffing dog

J-1 Ruffles

Spyhop-Breach!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

Transients at Friday Harbor

June 21, 2010

WOW! The wonder of the wildlife in the Salish Sea is ever changing on any given day! Today transient killer whales hunted right outside Friday Harbor by Brown Island. So we didn’t have to go far to start seeing whales. The family of transients showed behaviors such as lunging and direction changes that indicated they had gotten prey. There is a large population of harbor seals and harbor porpoise that those mammal eating orcas may have dined on. We traveled with the whales as they headed north up San Juan Channel, they seemed to rest for a bit, then sprung into action toward the north end of San Juan Island. The first hunting strategy will be to drown their prey and although we didn’t see the actual kill, several gulls flew in for  leftovers. We did see a harbor porpoise heading south with a few more harbor seals that escaped being lunch today! A bald eagle sitting regally on its nest rounded out some of the diversity of wildlife in the San Juan Islands, another stellar day!

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

SuperPod !!!

June 19, 2010 
Read More…

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

“Tweeny” Minke Makes Friends

June 18, 2010

While watching K-21 Cappuccino with some J’s and L’s? sweeping Salmon Bank, foraging for salmon, we were pleasantly shocked to have a juvenile Minke whale come right to the side of our boat!! This young whale, maybe 15 feet long (adult Minkes can get up to 30 feet), stayed by our side, rolling as if to look at us, then went under to the other side of our vessel, before swimming off to the next nearest boat. We could smell the fishy exhalation, hence the nickname for Minkes;  ‘stinky Minkes’. The baleen whale swam amongst the orcas, and visited the other boats in the area. We were still watching this curious little whale when we received another visit right alongside! Perhaps this was the first year on its own, and it wasn’t sure about the killer whales, so was coming to the boats for security? I imagine it was thinking;  “Now what did mom say, are these the kind that may eat me? Should I swim away fast?? Oh good, they’re eating fish, like I do!”  I’ve decided to call this little one “Tweeny Minke”, as it’s not a calf, and not an adult- that between stage! I wonder what the orcas thought about the minke? A double delight trip for sure!

K-21 Cappuccino

Juvenile Minke Whale-"Tweeny"

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

L-22’s and L-12

June 16, 2010

We are enjoying our summer afternoons here in the San Juan Islands! Today reports were of J, K, and part of L- Pod spread out several miles from the north to south end of San Juan Island. The family of L-22 Spirit, with teenage males L-85 Mystery, L-87 Onyx, L-89 Solstice, and L-79 Skana, along with L-12 Alexis seemed to be hunting for salmon until they reached the end of Salmon Bank and turned back toward the northwest. Fascinating to watch these whales utilize the end of the ebbing tide and slack water where the currents calm down for awhile, until the ocean starts flooding back in. The orcas forage in this area and don’t often go past the bank, one gets the sense of the search for food going on below. L-12 Alexis doesn’t travel with this family regularly, but her grandchildren and great grandchildren have been seen with J-Pod lately, so perhaps the estimated 77 year old matriarch was enjoying a respite?! The pods have been mixing it up, challenging us to identify who is spending time with who! 

L-12 Alexis

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

J-2 Matriline = Five Generations!!

June 14, 2010

The San Juan Islands have been living up to their sunny reputation lately! Today we experienced some of the lowest tides of the year, along with strong currents, which we used to our advantage, like the Killer Whales do! We had a nice trip north and west around San Juan Island to find orcas from J-Pod  near shore off of Lime Kiln Point State Park. Amazing to watch five generations of an orca family; J-2 Granny, estimated to be 99 years old, along with her son J-1 Ruffles estimated at 59 years old, and constant traveling companion J-8 Spieden estimated 77 years old! However it looked like little 9 year old J-37 Hy’Shqa was ahead of the adults, spending some time with great grandma J-2! They seemed to be foraging, looking for salmon. The rest of J-Pod was spread out behind them in Haro Strait, and reports were that K-Pod had headed toward the south end.

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Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010

J’s and K’s Mating

June 6, 2010 

The mist gave way to partially clear skies and calm seas as we headed around San Juan Island to find family groups of J-Pod and reports of K-Pod by Kellet Bluff! The whales had been swimming at a fast pace with the flooding- incoming tide. J-16 Slick and family slowed down and we were awed by a variety of behaviors;  breaches, cartwheels, headstands, and tail lobs! Nineteen year old J-26 Mike and fifteen year old J-30 Ridptide were showing off their male parts! We also got a glimpse of one of the new calves of either J-28 or sister J-35. The calves white parts will look yellow or orange for the first year or more, it’s thought it’s like jaundice in human babies. As the whales headed north they picked up speed again, porpoising- leaving a wake, showing the dolphins that they are. We continued around, circumnavigating San Juan Island, enjoying views of marine birds, harbor seals, and a nesting pair of eagles tending to this years’ young. A delightful and memorable trip!  

 

J-26 Mike

 

 

Yep! That's What You Think It Is

 

"Pink Floyd"

 

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