Posts Tagged ‘j pod’
Monday, August 27th, 2012
The weather was perfect: high around 70 degrees, clear blue sky, and very light breeze. The only thing that could make it better would be a day with the Orcas. Did you order up Orcas?
Yes, a large order, please!
Coming right up.
We ran north – through beautifully calm water, enjoying the spectacular scenery. Mount Baker was a clear and crisp as I’ve ever seen it. Along the way, we saw harbor porpoise, common murre, pigeon guillemot, and harbor seals swimming about.
As we got nearer to our destination, members of J & K Pods showed themselves. Plenty of porpoising, a breach, a spy hop, another breach – lots of activity. We identified K-25 (Scoter), K-27 (Deadhead), J-27 (Blackberry), and a host of other gorgeous Orcas. The boat rang out with ohhhhs and aahhhhhs, as the animals were all around us!
We had to “go the extra mile” today, because that’s where the action was. It’s what we do. 48 47.91N, 122 46.7436W. Lots of happy guests aboard!
Happy Whale Watching to You!
Captain Jim (Captain, Naturalist, all ’round fun guy)
Tags: friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, j pod, K Pod, killer whales, Orcas, salish sea, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Thursday, August 16th, 2012
We spent our afternoon near Victoria (48°25.3N, 123°09.5W) where we saw Southern Resident Killer Whales. At least 15 members of J-Pod were traveling east, separated into 3 groups. In the largest group 8 individuals were porpoising in close proximity with one another. The whales were cruising at a fast clip, around 11 knots. This larger group also performed some surface displays: breaching, lobtailing, and rolling around at the surface. We just love these whales (well, okay actually dolphins but you know what I mean).
Amy, Naturalist, Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: j pod, killer whales, Orcas, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Saturday, August 11th, 2012
We began our Sunset Tour heading south through the San Juan Channel. We stopped at Turn Island to see if anyone was home and sure enough a number of Harbor Seals were resting on the rocky shores of the intertidal zone. After spending a few minutes with the Harbor Seals we continued motoring south and saw 7 Steller Sea Lions relaxing on Whale Rocks. Another 2 Sea Lions were swimming nearby; these two individuals were very curious and kept inching closer to the boat as they surfacing to take long looks at us.
As we cruised along the southern end of San Juan Island we found several members of J-Pod offshore of Eagle Cove. We were first greeted by J37 “Hy’Shqa” and her newborn calf J49, who were traveling with J14 “Samish”, J37’s mother. Three generations of whales traveling in very close proximity with one another. A-MA-ZING! We also saw J34 “Doublestuff” traveling with another 4 individuals. J27 “Blackberry” was also nearby, cruising along by himself. A few of the whales were surface active: lobtailing, spyhopping, and breaching. As we headed back to Friday Harbor we watched the sun set over the islands casting a magnificent glow across the Salish Sea.
Amy, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: friday harbor, Harbor Seals, j pod, killer whales, Orca whale, orca whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Steller Sea Lions
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Thursday, August 9th, 2012
We caught up with at least 12 members of J-Pod today near Boundary Pass (48°43.03N, 123°16.14W). The whales were traveling in small groups headed north along the southern end of South Pender and North Pender Islands. In the first group “Princess Angeline” (J17) was traveling with her daughter “Polaris” (J28) and granddaughter “Star” (J46) along with several other whales. The whales were traveling and surfacing in close proximity with one another. “Blackberry” (J27), a mature male, was also traveling with this group. After spending some time with these whales we had reports of other members of J-Pod further north. In the second group we saw “Mike” (J26), a mature male, traveling with his mother “Slick” (J16) and sister “Echo” (J42) born in 2007. At least four other whales were also seen surfacing near shore. So great to spend time with J-Pod!
Naturalist Amy, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: j pod, Orca whale, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Tuesday, August 7th, 2012
Fantastic wildlife viewing today! Caught up with Southern Resident Killer Whales off East Point, Saturna Island, BC (48°27.25N, 123°02.35W). Viewed a large group of tightly packed members of J Pod, with J-37 (Hy’Shqa) and new baby tucked in between, moving westerly off Saturna Island at a slow pace. Lots of tail slapping, lob tailing, breaching, spy-hopping. Saw Bald Eagles in the trees and sitting on the rocks off Cactus Island. Guests witnessed a breathtaking dive bomb to the water by an eagle, who successfully emerged with a fish, then landed on a rock and started eating. Excellent wildlife viewing, warm weather, and mellow seas made for another amazing day on the Salish Sea.
Shelly, Tara, and Jenny, Naturalist for San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Seals, j pod, killer whales, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, salish sea, san juan islands, Saturna Island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Monday, August 6th, 2012
Exciting day on the water! Leaving the harbor under rainy skies, we traveled north around San Juan Island. Happily, the skies dried and the sun soon came out just as we caught up with members of the Southern Resident Killer Whales in Haro Strait. Traveling along the west side of Stuart Island and milling in the Turn Point area (first sighted at 48°40.67N 123°14.92W) were: Onyx (L87), along with Slick (J-16) and her calf, Echo (J-42), Mike (J-26) and Alki (J-36). Our next sighting include Granny (J-2) along with Tsuchi (J-31), and Mako (J-39). The orcas were active and didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave the area. Plenty of shots of tails waving, pectoral fin slaps and the occasional spy hop. On the way back, we heard a rumor that there might be a new calf in J Pod?
Shelly and Tara, Naturalists for San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cactus Islands, friday harbor, Harbor Seal, Harbor Seals, Haro Strait, j pod, killer whales, L pod, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, San Juan Channel, san juan island, San Juan Safaris, Southern Resident Killer Whales, whale watching near seattle
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Friday, July 27th, 2012
Today we met up with 7-8 members of J-Pod on the southwest side of Mayne Island (Canada) headed north for Active Pass (48°50.93’N, 123°20.55’W). They were resting, traveling in a tight-knit group, surfacing in unison for a few breaths, and then taking deep dives for a few moments. In this group we identified Blackberry (J27), Doublestuf (J34), and Princess Angeline (J17). We left them headed north around 3:30 PM in hopes of finding more whales south for our evening cruise.
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Active Pass, canada, j pod, Mayne Island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Thursday, July 26th, 2012
The bright and glorious sun was out for our wildlife tour this afternoon. In addition to the warm sunshine, we enjoyed sights of Mt. Baker, seen through clouds off in the distance, and calm waters. Right away we spotted harbor seals and two bald eagles on the northeast side of San Juan Island. As we approached Whale Rock, three Northern Sea Lions (also known as Stellar Sea Lions) were observed. Two females were hauled out on the rock and another was swimming around the kelp bed. It is unique to see them this time of year, when so many are up north in Canada and Alaska. We travelled west near Eagle Point (48°26.7577N, 123°00.5170W) when a large dorsal fin appeared belonging to J27 “Blackberry”. Two other males were nearby, J26 “Mike” and J34 “Doublestuff”. These members of J-pod were actively hunting, circling through the water. We saw slapping of pectoral fins and flukes and could hear the splashes. J35 “Tahlequah” and her male calf J47 “Notch” were also foraging for food. It was incredible to see the orcas surface in synchronization and hear their exhalations. As we returned to Friday Harbor, we got another good view of the massive Northern Sea Lions. They looked quite comfortable lounging on the rocks. Many great photos and memories from today!
SJS Naturalist Jenny
Tags: Bald Eagles, Harbor Seal, j pod, Orcas, San Juan Safaris, Steller Sea Lions
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Monday, July 23rd, 2012
Lots of wildlife today! First we saw about a dozen harbor seals just south of Friday Harbor, hauled up on the rocks. Then, at whale rocks we came across some pelagic cormorants, more harbor seals, plus a huge male stellar sea lion, a very rare sight for this time of year!
Continuing around towards the west side of San Juan Island, we came across at least seven killer whales. Both members of J and L pod were around. We identified L-86 “Onyx,” J-16 “Slick,” and L-92 “Crewser.” The whales were milling about, not in a hurry to go one direction or the other. We had amazing views of their white saddle and eye patches, especially when one orca spy hopped, bringing its head out of the water!
We then continued to circumnavigate the island, slowing just outside Roche Harbor where we saw a harbor seal aggressively foraging for food, two bald eagles, a great blue heron, and a turkey vulture! Not a bad way to end an amazing trip.
~Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagles, friday harbor, Harbor Seals, j pod, killer whales, L pod, Orcas, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Steller\'s Sea Lion
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Sunday, July 22nd, 2012
A little “liquid sunshine” (what the locals call drizzle) did not keep us from a great wildlife tour today! First stop was a collection of harbor seals lounging in that liquid sunshine on a rock outcrop near Griffin Bay. We were on the lookout for some new pups, recently born, as this is pupping season! As we headed south out of Cattle Pass, we saw a large collection of birds including rhinoceros auklets and Heermann’s gulls feeding at the surface of the water. Then we saw the spray. Two minke whales were feeding nearby (48°25.432N, 122°57.013W). Minke whales commonly consume small fish and krill. After observing these mammals for a few minutes, we turned west in search of the largest member of the Delphinidae (dolphin) family, the ORCA! Three miles off Eagle Point of San Juan Island (48°24.816N, 123°52.887W), we saw several orcas actively feeding and diving. J26 “Mike” and J28 “Polaris” were out and about. L85 “Mystery” was also hunting for salmon. The residents were showing flukes– cartwheeling and tail slapping. Some spy-hopping was observed. Splashing and rolling too. We observed these endangered creatures for a bit, and then ventured back over to Long Island, just south of Lopez Island. Here we found a breeding pair of bald eagles with a juvenile bald eagle 20 feet away, sitting on the edge of the nest. Incredible! As we came around Whale Rock, a stellar sea lion was lounging in between the pelagic cormorants and gulls. It is unique to see stellar sea lions here in July, as this species of pinniped has traveled north into Canada and Alaska by June. At this point, it was time to return to Friday Harbor, but a great Sunday afternoon on the water.
SJS Naturalist Jenny
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Pass, j pod, minke whale, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Steller Sea Lions
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