Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010
J-16 Slick & the Boys June 4, 2010
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: J Pod
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | July 28, 2010
May 2010 Wildlife
Popeye the Friday Harbor Seal, photo taken by Saige Guinn
Tufted Puffins
Transient Killer Whales T-2’s & T-123’s
Transient Killer Whale T-40 “Captain Hook”
An L-Pod Whale Breach!!
Blood Sea Star
Anemone
Harbor Porpoise
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: breaches, harbor porpoise, Intertidal Life, Transients, Tufted Puffins
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | May 13, 2010
Gray Whale in Mediterranean Sea!!!
Click on the link to this article, http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/17453/gray%20whale%20off%20israel%20call/
A rare and amazing sighting!! One of the things I love about Gray Whales; how incredibly adaptable they seem to be!
We have Transient and Resident Killer Whales back in the Salish Sea, along with visiting Gray Whales of our own! Look for my reports soon! I hope you all are getting the wonderful sunny weather we are having here in the San Juan Islands!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: Gray Whale, Orca Whales
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | March 4, 2010
3-3-10 Report and Photos from Laguna San Ignacio
March 3, 2010
Laguna San Ignacio Hola! We enjoyed our warm respite in weather, now back to a more normal wind pattern and a few fronts moving through. The earthquake in Chile did seem to create higher tides, and combined with the full moon effect, we had water across many roads and behind the camp. I have not ever seen that here this time of year. Magnificent Frigate birds come with the higher winds.
We just finished celebrating the 10th anniversary of the victory of stopping Mitsubishi from building a salt plant here at La Laguna, honored to host a NRDC group, including Dick Russell, Homero Aridjis Fuentesou, and Dr. Steven Swartz. You can bet my first question to Dr. Swartz was ‘where are all the moms and calves- what’s going on?’ As I suspected, Dr. Swartz thinks our numbers are down in the lagoon, because of the high number of single whales, and the researchers have seen the males harassing new moms. The new moms won’t be able to mate again until they have weaned the calf and led it north to feeding grounds. The researchers have also seen many mom-calf pairs outside the mouth of the lagoon in the Pacific Ocean, on the other side of the barrier islands, which are not included in the census. The census only includes whales inside the lagoon; a defined area. That explains why we are seeing so few pairs, and even some of the single females seem to stay under or around the pangas to avoid the males.
I am still noticing a higher number than last year of ‘skinny whales’, even a few showing backbones. Adults are swimming in pairs, and a few adults with what appears to be juveniles. Very unusual, normally the singles are very singular! Is space involved in this (with the high number of single whales)? The lagoon is quite shallow, and narrow in width – about 5 miles across, and we often see the whales using deeper channels.
I managed a few photos. All the birds feasting on a baitfish ball, a mother and calf, the mud circle left at the surface by a feeding-snacking whale. Dr. Swartz has an interesting theory about that; we know there is very little food available in the bottom sediment for the gray whales, yet the water is rich in plankton and algae. There is a type of algae that is like cotton in texture. Dr. Swartz thinks it gets stuck on the whales’ baleen, so maybe they are taking mouthfuls of sand and sediment to clean their baleen!
The circular photo is of a ‘bubble print’, like a fluke print or foot print, sometimes the whales blow bubbles under the surface! And sometimes right in your face, as one guest found out! Both whale and guest had a sense of humor about it! It does show the power of their blows, exhalations, flattening the seas.
The next photo is what I got of a mating group. An unusual pattern and tip missing, probably survived an Orca attack. A photo of the back of a juvenile whale and the Tres Virgines, active volcanoes (there is a geothermal plant up there!), in the background. And the splash down of a breach!
As well as the whales, we’ve enjoyed trips into the mangroves to get a closer look at the variety of birds here. I was thrilled to sight the elusive Clapper Rails that hide in the mangroves. ‘Shell beach’ has many layers of sand after all the storms and hurricane last fall (and I didn’t see any signs of that sea lion, so maybe it got away from the coyote?). Bottlenose dolphins, a few sea lions and turtles, round out our sightings and the variety of wildlife
The latest gray whale census at the lagoon, taken 2-27-10, shows 236 singles!! and 20 pairs of moms with calves, for a total of 276. So highest number of singles for any time of the season.
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Posted in San Ignacio Lagoon Mexico
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | February 23, 2010
Report from Laguna San Ignacio 2-19-10
February 19, 2010
Hola! It is definitely an El Nino year here at Laguna San Ignacio; the water temperature is about 65 degrees, the air temperature in the high 70’s for the last 5 days. That’s about 10 degrees warmer than average. I usually don’t go out on the boats in shorts, (always bringing my rain pants), until mid March! The wind has been very light too, until today- a bit more and cooler temperatures. The coyotes were yelping 2 nights ago, a change of weather?
On February 4, the census showed 94 single whales and 15 pairs of moms with calves, for a total of 124 whales. The census from February 17 shows 186 singles with only 8 pair of mom-calves, for a total of 202 whales in the lagoon. The singles about doubled, but where did those 7 pairs of mom-calves go?, it seems too early for them to have headed out. I don’t recall those numbers decreasing ever before. Our pairs should be going up for another week or so. Going over past censuses to 2002, those are some of the lowest mom-calf numbers we’ve seen along with the highest number of singles counted, for any part of the season. Is there a correlation there? Do the low mom-calf numbers have anything to do with the warmer water? I have seen a couple of ‘skinny’ whales. Stay tuned!
We definitely see the difference with adult whales at every turn, swimming the deeper channels of the lagoon, as if strolling the promenade, with mating groups forming. We are only seeing a few of those mom-calf pairs. However, we’ve enjoyed very active whales with spy hopping, breaches, and showing tail flukes. One juvenile was doing ‘headstands’ near our boat, repeatedly, gently, swishing the water with its tail!
On our way back, going near the beach, we could not believe our eyes as we watched a coyote run down and attack a sea lion on the beach. The battle was still going as we left, and the sea lion seemed to be holding its own, reminding us most life is prey and predator.
Quite an unusual and interesting season already!
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Posted in San Ignacio Lagoon Mexico
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | February 7, 2010
Laguna San Ignacio
Let’s see how this works to email-post more than one photo!
For a larger view of a photo, just click on it!
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Posted in San Ignacio Lagoon Mexico
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | February 7, 2010
Gray Whale Interacting With Human
This is a test email post, hopefully it will work for my reports and photos I’ll start sending in a few weeks, from San Ignacio Lagoon, a Gray Whale nursery and mating lagoon, located on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico!
Posted in San Ignacio Lagoon Mexico
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 3, 2009
Cornucopia of San Juan Wildlife
Westside Sunset
September 28, 2009
Bit of a bumpy trip out toward Hein Bank, where orcas from all three pods foraging as they headed southeast across a strong flooding current, from about 1:20pm to 2pm. Multiple breaches, a cartwheel, and a 2 second headstand (flukes held in the air), by some of the youngsters distracted us from the confused seas! Our trip back up San Juan Channel revealed the cornucopia of wildlife with sightings of at least 20 Steller Sea Lions on Whale Rocks, Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, and a Bald Eagle on Turn Island!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: breaches, cartwheel, eagles, foraging, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, headstand, Orcas, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 3, 2009
J-2 Granny Still Breaches!!
Last Night of Summer
September 21, 2009
Today J-2 Granny and K-11 Georgia, lead subgroups of the pods north along Henry Island, from 2:20pm to 3:15pm, keeping a fast pace against a mildly flooding current. Midway up island, the grand matriarchs headed offshore, and as J-2 headed northwest she breached (very impressive at estimated 98 years old)! and did a few percussives. There were no vocalizations. Each near shore subgroup of 3 to 4 whales, including the J-14 and K-14 families, started heading offshore inline with the route J-2 and K-11 had taken. Except J-1 Ruffles, he was already about ½ mile offshore, taking his time, swimming in his distinctive leisurely way, like he knows he’s number one male!
K-26 Lobo & K-42 Kelp
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: breaches, Haro Strait, J Pod, K-pod, percussive behaviors, rare sighting
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 3, 2009
L-79 Skana Mating With J-31 Tsuchi?!!
September 18, 2009
A gorgeous autumn day showed J’s and L’s in Rosario Strait off of Lawrence Point on Orcas Island, from 2:25pm to 3:14pm. The whales spread across the strait in several small and large groups, as they foraged south against a strong flooding current. L-22 Spirit in the lead, passed close to the Orcas shoreline, leaving us wondering where her ‘boys’ were. J-8 Spieden, J-19 Shachi with J-41 Eclipse, passed a little further offshore. That’s when we noticed L-22’s son L-79 Skana, in hot pursuit of J-31 Tsuchi! Hot as in there was rolling, lunging, and splashing going on with L-79 showing his ‘pink floyd’! The encounter went on for about 10 minutes, when L-79 headed east and J-31 continued south. Our impression was J-31 was rebuking L-79’s advances! Maybe 15 to 18 months from now will tell a different ending?!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: foraging, J Pod, L-Pod, mating, rare sighting, Rosario Strait
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | October 3, 2009
L’s and K’s Fishing and Talking
September 14, 2009
L-41 Mega
L-72 Racer & L-41 Mega
Spy Hop!
L-77 Matia
A serene September afternoon, glass water, slack current. San Juan Channel full of Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, Common Murres and loons, 14 enormous Steller Sea Lions sunning on Whale Rocks, a Bald Eagle perched on a sign on Long Island. At about 2:10pm, as we headed into the Strait of Juan de Fuca we could see killer whales swimming fast from San Juan Island toward the southeast. L-41 Mega and sister L-77 Matia slowed down and began sweeping Salmon Bank in a classic foraging pattern. So quiet we heard the buoy bell and orcas breathing. Sister L-94 Calypso worked near shore before joining her siblings. All three turned back northwest and began aggressively fishing, glad to see L-41 with a fish in his mouth! A wondrous stream of L and K vocals and clicks, nonstop for about 20 minutes! (Were L-41 & L-77 putting out the call- there’s fish here?!) More L’s and K’s headed from Eagle Cove and out about a ½ mile, including L-72 Racer with son L-105 Fluke, K-40 Raggedy with brother K-21 Cappuccino, fishing the bank, a few breaches, spy hops, tail lobs, and cartwheels, when we had to head home at 3:34pm.
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: eagles, foraging, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, K-pod, L-Pod, Salmon Bank, Steller Sea Lions, vocalizations
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 13, 2009
Killer Whales Roughing Up Harbor Porpoise, and J-44 Porpoising
September 9, 2009
Some J-Pod whales had a too rough for the Harbor Porpoise interaction… This link http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/kwseptember09.htm graphically shows the encounter.
About half of J-Pod heading north toward Henry Island, with a light flooding tide, from 2:12pm to 3:15pm. J-8 Spieden still makes her distinctive sounding blow; she passed with J-28 Polaris and J-33 Keet. J-1 Ruffles at the end of the groups, slowly making his way north, then he turned and headed back south. All the whales that had made Henry Island turned and followed J-1’s lead back south. J-17 Princess Angeline with J-44 were now the trailers and began porpoising to catch up! Little J-44 kept right up with Mom, leaping to clear the wake they were leaving! Harbor Porpoise, Dall’s Porpoise, Harbor Seals, and a Stellar Sea Loin, all in Haro Strait off of Henry Island, made for a stellar September outing!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: Dall's Porpoise, harbor porpoise, Haro Strait, J Pod, Killer Whales, porpoising, rare sighting
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 8, 2009
Fishing
September 7, 2009
K’s and L’s? spread out in ones and twos, from Edwards Point into Haro Strait, traveling north with the flooding tide from 2:50pm to 3:30pm. Many commercial and private fishing vessels- most I’ve seen in years. The air was filled with the smell of fish! Sighted 4 Dall’s Porpoise heading southeast.
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: Haro Strait, K-pod, L-Pod, Lime Kiln Point
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 8, 2009
Killer Whales Traveling San Juan Channel
Keeping Up with the Big Guys!
Hey-Wait Up!
L-Pod Families
L-73 Flash and Friends
September 4, 2009
About a dozen or more L-Pod whales (L-5, L-73, L-74, L-84, L-25, L-12, L-41, L-77, L-94), came through Cattle Pass into San Juan Channel, where we watched them off of Griffin Bay, at about 1:25pm, as they hugged Lopez Island, slowly heading north with a strong flood tide. They stayed together, pausing many times, as if deciding where to go next! We wondered if they would go into Upright Channel, but no- as a group they instantly, fluidly turned and swam along Shaw Island until Parks Bay, where they turned west, north, then back south retracing their route. Now it is about 3:40pm and we are right outside of Friday Harbor. We heard reports and could see another group of whales- K’s? further south in the channel, who had made it to Reid Rock by this time. They lingered and seemed to be foraging in the tide rips there. Reports were that J’s were with them earlier, but did not go through Cattle Pass. (Despite my mixing up L-73 Flash with J-1 Ruffles- L-73 sure has the same wavy dorsal fin!!) Such a rare occurrence, and a treat, to see these whales in this channel, especially L’s & K’s without the J’s- who spend the most time in these waters. We only saw one spy hop, and a few of the youngsters roll and show their pectoral fins, no other surface behaviors other than traveling and a little foraging. They way they swam so slowly and stopped frequently appeared as if they were hesitant and unfamiliar with this channel. I went to the Cattle Point Lighthouse at 6:10pm, to see the whales, now in 2 groups and the tide is starting to ebb, go south along Goose Island through the pass toward the southwest. There were 2 Bald Eagles on Goose Island and 2 Stellar Sea Loins in the water watching with me! The orcas picked up speed as they rounded Cattle Point, so I went up the road to the South Beach overlook, where they spread out halfway between shore and Hein Bank, heading west at 7:06pm. These unusual sightings are one of the reasons we love September whales!!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: Killer Whales, L-Pod, rare sighting, San Juan Channel
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 8, 2009
Dall’s Porpoise
September 2, 2009
We haven’t seen many Dall’s porpoise this season, so finding 3 groups of porpoise out in Haro Strait off of Spieden Island was a welcome sight. One group of 5 rode our bow and stern wakes from 2:55pm until 3:10pm, when they went back to traveling- foraging. Our passengers were awed by their agility, speed, and grace!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: Dall's Porpoise, Haro Strait
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 7, 2009
Photos 8-31-09
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 7, 2009
Spy Hop Day
August 31, 2009
We found tight groups of some J’s and L’s, the trailers of reported superpod, at Mouat Point, North Pender Island, from 3:20pm to 4:02pm, heading northwest with the flooding tide. The most spy hops we have seen this season! Also a lot of percussive and tactile behaviors. J-27 Blackberry was hanging with L-Pod girls L-72 Racer (and sons L-95 Nigel & L-105 Fluke), L-55 Nugget, L-86 Surprise (with L-112 looking good), and L-83 Moonlight, so some mating? J-28 Polaris in the mix too. Several times, a female or juvenile swam on its back, upside down!
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | September 6, 2009
Land Based Whale Watching
September 5, 2009
Reports were of whales at the Discovery Islands at 12:45pm, so we kept a lookout as we were exploring the tide pools in Deadman Bay. Once the whales decided to head to Lime Kiln Point, across a strong flooding tide, they really put on the speed. At about 1:45pm all of a sudden, it seemed, there they were- breaching multiple times by multiple whales!! A few spy hops, directional changes back and forth in front the lighthouse, and a ?dozen or so L-Pod whales? continued on their way north. There was a second group at Point Edwards that looked like they might head north, but at 3:40pm they headed south.
August 29, 2009
Much to the delight of the folks on the land tour, from about 1:30pm to 3:15pm, we were able to see orcas from South Beach. We followed them by road, as the whales headed toward Eagle Cove and False Bay. Just past False Bay, the whales turned around about the same time as slack flood tide, and headed back to Eagle Cove. Not able to identify any, but they appeared to be spread out and foraging.
(Also, forgot to report we saw orcas on all Saturday Land Based Tours in July and August, between South Beach and Lime Kiln Point. Even if at the end of our tour time and/or using binoculars to see them, everyone was thrilled!)
September 3, 2009
Right as I drove around the corner at Point Edwards at 4:55pm, around slack flood tide, there were orcas traveling near shore from Lime Kiln Point south!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: breaches, Dall's Porpoise, L-Pod, Orcas, San Juan Island
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | August 30, 2009
J-K-L Pods Foraging off South End of San Juan Island
K-21 Cappuccino
J-17 Princess Angeline and Family
Seven Month Old Little Guy J-44!
Lunging for Salmon
Spyhop!
J’s with K’s…
J-26 Mike and Friends
J-1 Ruffles
The Adventuress
The “Humpies” are running! Lots of salmon fishing by humans and wildlife- Salmon Bank is aptly named!!!
K-Pod ‘Strolling’ Salmon Bank
August 28, 2009
K-Pod spread from Eagle Point out over Salmon Bank, slowly foraging individually and in groups of 2 to 4, from about 2:30 to 3:30pm. With slack water after the end of a flood tide the whales seem to be meandering back and forth, first heading northwest, then southeast, as they swept the area on long dives, almost synchronizing their surfacings. We observed K-21 Cappuccino with his older sister K-40 Raggedy not far behind. K-13 Skagit, and family K-25 Scoter, K-27 Deadhead, and K-34 Cali, stuck close together in somewhat of a resting pattern, yet taking those long dives. We were able to listen to intermittent vocalizations. Flat water, overcast skies, and the mellow whales set the tone for a relaxed trip. The rest of K-Pod was heading back toward San Juan Island when we too had to meander home.
J-Pod & K’s Fishing & Mating?
August 26, 2009
Nice to see J-Pod off of False Bay from 2:17pm to 3:25pm. J-2 Granny once again in the lead as she headed offshore toward the southwest, with J-1 Ruffles following. The rest of J-Pod were spread in a line between them and the shoreline, foraging. Not much of an ebbing tide, they seemed to circle back and we realized there were some K-Pod whales with them. Whales rolling over each other and quite a bit of tactile behavior- mating?! The first Northern Phalaropes of the season gathered at the surface too.
Listening to Orcas
August 24, 2009
Dripping wet fog in the Strait of Juan de Fuca echoed the breathing of Orcas working the flooding tide from Hein Bank toward False Bay, long before we saw them! We carefully made our way off of Eagle Point and shut down from about 3:00pm to 3:30pm to listen for and watch some L-Pod whales pass through the thick marine layer that only gave limited visibility. L-72 Racer’s unique saddle patch made for easy identification from a distance, as she swam in and out of the fog. Although we didn’t see them, hearing J-Pod calls through the hydrophone along with the powerful exhalations of all the whales out there, gave us a glimpse into their acoustically oriented world.
L-pod at Hein Bank
August 14, 2009
Another flat calm, slack high tide, hardly any following ebb, sunny summer day out on the (pond like) Strait of Juan de Fuca. From 2:27pm to 3:39pm we watched L-Pod whales actively forage Hein Bank. L-12 Alexis with L-22 Spirit, L-87 Onyx, L-89 Solstice, L-78 Gaia, and the L-5’s! Many directional changes, lunges, and what seemed to be a push up- an Orca came up in a vertical slant out of the water with its pectoral fins spread out and down, while we expected a breach, the whale gracefully slid back under!
Posted in Salish Sea San Juan Islands | Tags: foraging, J Pod, K-pod, L-Pod, Orcas, San Juan Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca, vocalizations
Posted by: onboardtourswhales | August 13, 2009
Catching Up- Transient Killer Whales and Resident Orcas
L-78 Gaia Healing
Transient Killer Whale Headstand
T-19B Hunting Harbor Seals
T-19B (B for Big Boy!) with Mom T-19
Tail Lob
Escort-Rescue Tug with Oil Tanker
Juvenile Breach!
K-26 Lobo
K-21 Cappuccino Breach!
J’s-K’s-L’s in Rosario Strait
J-Pod Breach
And Another J-Pod Breach (Bet they were surprised!!)
J-2 Granny Leading J-1 Ruffles
Fin in the Waves
K-21 Cappuccino
L-79 Skana
Schooners Under Sail
The consensus seems to be that L-78’s marks on his dorsal fin are killer whale/orca teeth marks! The mystery remains as to who bit him!! He seems to be healing well from his encounter.
Thank you for your support and patience while it’s taken me time during my busy season of daily boat and land tours, to catch up on sightings. I will add photos next.
Transient Killer Whales
August 12, 2009
Transient killer whales T-19 and T-19B with another sprouting? male and female hunting for harbor seals around Java Rocks off of Saturna Island, Canada, from 2:37pm to 3:32pm. Slack ebb tide made for pond like conditions. The four whales circled the rocks several times, while the harbor seals on land were on alert with backs arched, some going for higher ground! There were seals in the water looking nervously about. They did make some sudden turns and lunges, underwater kills? At the west end of the rocks, T-19B paused sideways while the other 3 whales rapidly came toward him, a few lunges, one showed it’s flukes, then a few tails lobs, before they headed northwest towards Saturna. T-19B’s dorsal fin looks so big and heavy, growing faster than the rest of him, the weight of it leaning left, and he is only 14 years old- he’s going to be huge at full maturity!!
Orcas in the Mist
August 10, 2009
A misty rainy day didn’t seem to bother the orcas! Reports of all 3 pods heading in from the west; J’s & K’s headed northwest up Haro Strait, while we found L’s between False bay and Eagle Point, some near shore, others spread 1/8 mile off of San Juan Island at 2:12pm. L-41 Mega was actively foraging with the first part of the flooding tide. A number of females and juveniles fished closer to shore, all making directional changes yet working their way east toward Cattle Point, so we enjoyed watching them until 3:45pm. They were actively vocalizing as well, a treat since conditions allowed us to drop our hydrophone and drift for awhile. We don’t often see the blows of killer whales, today they showed against the backdrop of the shore cliffs.
Close Encounter with L-74
August 7, 2009
Off of False Bay, San Juan Island, from 2:32pm to 3:37pm, we watched the L-5’s and L-54’s forage toward the east with the strong flood tide. The mom’s near shore, the males further offshore demonstrating their power and grace with rapid twists and turns. L-74 Saanich was lunging, turning sideways, still showing a little wobble in his dorsal fin, about 1000 feet away when he dove. Since he was making many directional changes, I told our passengers to look out into the water, sometimes you can see the white patches on the orca before the whale surfaces. L-74 surprised us all by slowly appearing about 10? feet underwater right next to the port side of the boat! The unusual thing was he stayed there for about 2 minutes, seem to go under the boat and came right below the surface on the starboard side, where he stayed for another minute or so before sinking down. He finally surfaced well past 2 other whale watch boats to our starboard side. The initial dive through encounter to finally surfacing lasted several minutes. I wonder that a salmon was under our boat (I hope he got it!), as he seemed to be on his side, utilizing his monocular vision? We could only see the white glow of an eye patch and part of his chin when he was on our port side, and passengers on the starboard side said they exchanged eye contact with him!! If that was not magical enough (L-74 made the unpredictable approach- the safest thing for us to do was to shut down), L-73 Flash (whose dorsal fin sure is wavy like J-1 Ruffles…) swam with little L-108 Coho keeping up 50 feet behind him, zigzagging rapidly as they fished, 500 feet away. As they turned east, L-108 breached!
Breaching Orcas
August 3, 2009
J-Pod and K-Pod with some L’s breaching their way south, against a strong flood tide, down Rosario Strait past Burrows Lighthouse, from 2:50pm to 3:50pm. Amazing, countless surface activities brought tears to the eyes of passengers!!
New Calf L-112 Lookin’ Good
July 29, 2009
Went to Canada today, into Boundary Pass to see the L-5’s heading up L-Pod as they crossed from the east to west toward Stuart Island, from 2:30pm to 3:15pm. Visibility was great with the last of slack flood tide. Next came the L-86’s and we were thrilled to see L-112 looking healthy and active, even venturing away from mom- L-86 Surprise, then porpoising to catch back up! The other L’s were spread out to South Pender Island, occasionally breaching and tail lobbing!
J-Pod Breaching
July 27, 2009
Nice to see J-Pod with J-2 Granny and J-1 Ruffles leading 3 groups of J-Pod across Boundary Pass, from Turn Point, Stuart Island, where they breached numerous times! Slack ebb tide made for calm waters. At 3:15pm they headed toward the Pender Islands.
J-Pod Familiar Formation
July 24, 2009
J-Pod traveling against a strong flood tide, at a slow pace, almost a resting pattern, south down Rosario Strait at 2:14pm. Matrilines together in 2 tight groups. J-2 Granny classically leading the pod with J-1 Ruffles right behind her. Delightful to see the big boys- J-26, J-27, and J-30, along with the babies- J-44 & J-45. Two year old J-42 Echo, still seems to have an orangey tint to her white patches, was her birth premature? A few tail lobs as they leisurely made their way toward Lopez Island at about 3:20pm.
J’s-K’s Dancing Westside Waltz
July 23, 2009
All the people on shore today from the south end of San Juan Island up the Westside were treated to J’s and K’s doing the waltz back and forth from 11am to 5pm! We saw J-1 with one of the new calves at the 5pm pass by LimeKiln Point, as they headed back south. I also saw the same kind of backwards, arching breach, with pectoral fins spread out to the sky, like the photo on Orca Network from July 26!
K-Pod with L-87
July 22, 2009
A foggy day gave way to K-Pod with L-87 at Salmon Bank heading northwest toward Eagle Point, from 2:50pm to 3:20pm, strong flooding tide. Lots of lunging, foraging, turns, and a few breaches. Good look at K-11, K-21, and L-87.
K-Pod Power Swimming
July 20, 2009
K-Pod heading north past Henry Island at about 2:25pm when they decided to turn back south and began porpoising against the strong flooding tide until at least 3:20pm!
Super Pod!!!
July 15, 2009
A beautiful sight to see all the Tall Ships sailing in San Juan Channel. Reports of whales led us from about 3pm to 4pm to Rosario Strait, past Thatcher’s Pass, as the fog was lifting to reveal all three Pods form a Super Pod heading south. Slack ebb tide once again made for great visibility! L-79 showed his hunting skills, rapidly lunging and turning, with a female- mom L-22 close by his side. How does one describe seeing whales everywhere, let alone 85 whales exhibiting their full array of surface behaviors?!!
OnBoard Tours Whales 