Posts Tagged ‘L pod’
Saturday, July 14th, 2012
What a difference a day makes; we had blue skies and the glorious warm sun to greet us as we cruised out of Friday Harbor. First wildlife sighting was just north of Griffin Bay with several harbor seals getting a suntan. Next we viewed a bald eagle’s nest and admired the massive construction. It is incredible to think that they can be six feet in diameter. As we rounded Cattle Point, we were on the lookout for orcas! Sure enough we saw L87 “Onyx” foraging outside of False Bay (48°28.37N, 123°05.92W). Then, we observed two females, one that we could identify as J14 “Samish”. We believe her calf born in 2009, J45 “Se-Yi’-Chn” was traveling with her. Many long, deep dives in search of salmon! Grateful for calm waters and whales today!
SJS Naturalist Jenny
Tags: Bald Eagle, Cattle Point, friday harbor, j pod, L pod, Orca whale, Salmon, san juan island
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Monday, July 9th, 2012
We saw at least 5 members of J and L Pod along the southern end of San Juan Island offshore of False Bay (48°27.7265N, 123°05.3859W). J26 “Mike” was frolicking with whales from L pod including L72 “Racer” a 26 year old female. L72 was also traveling with her son L105 “Fluke” who was born in 2004.
The whales were initially traveling in close proximity with each other before they began surfacing quickly and changing direction, usually a behavior associated with foraging. However, the whales then appeared to be circling over the top of each other and rolling about at the surface, providing excellent views. J26 seemed to be feeling particularly amorous towards the females. The whales then began to disperse traveling towards San Juan Island where they met up with several whales.
A spectacular day in the San Juan Islands!
Amy, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: j pod, killer whales, L pod, Orca whale, orca whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Saturday, July 7th, 2012
It’s been a while since the last time we had to travel far north out of Friday Harbor, but this afternoon that’s just what we did to spot some killer whales. The ride up was beautiful! The water was like glass, the sun was shining, and the breeze was warmer than it has been all season. Plus, harbor porpoise were in no shortage as the surfaced in every direction from our boat as we motored north of East Point.
We saw our first, large Orca dorsal fin slice through the water at 48º52.88’N 122º56.61’W. It was L-87 “Onyx.” We thought he might be alone, but there were two females, J-2 “Granny” swimming along with J-8 “Spieden” not too far behind him. Everyone was super excited not only to see the 101 year old matriarch of the southern resident killer whales, but also to see the difference between the tall, triangular dorsal fin of the adult male killer whale compared to the smaller, lunate shaped dorsal fins of the females. And while all this was going on, Mt. Baker was the backdrop, giving the opportunity for amazing pictures.
~Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris
Tags: East Point, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, j pod, L pod, Mount Baker, Orcas, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2012
The 4th of July proved to be a WHALE of a day!
Members of J- and L-pods were observed traveling north along the west side of San Juan Island near Lime Kiln Point State Park (48°30.3261N, 123°10.8999W). L87 “Onyx” was exhibiting foraging behavior, surfacing quickly and changing direction frequently. We also saw J28 “Polaris” traveling with a younger whale. While watching the Southern Resident Killer Whales a Humpback Whale surfaced near Small Pox Bay also traveling north. The Humpback Whale would take a few breaths of air before diving for several minutes. We last saw the Humpback Whale perform a fluke-up dive just south of Mitchell Bay (48°34.0625N, 123°11.0407W).
What a special day out in the Salish Sea!
Amy, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: Humpback Whale, j pod, killer whales, L pod, orca whales, salish sea, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012
Southern Resident Killer Whales today!
Caught up with about 7 slowly foraging members of J-Pod, including Granny (J-2), Blackberry (J-27) along with Onyx (L-87) on the west side of San Juan Island at 48.27.388N 123.03.597W. We stayed with them until peeling away at the light house at Lime Kiln to complete a circumnavigation of San Juan Island. Caught a quick sighting of 2 Dall’s Porpoises close to Kelp Reef too.
On the way out, San Juan Channel was busy with Harbor Porpoises (at least 10) and a large group of Harbor Seals (about 15) heads up and bobbing in the tide rip before Goose Island. Counted about 12 Canada Geese pecking on the grassy top of the rock offshore from Cape San Juan, while a lone Bald Eagle kept sentry on top of a snaggy fir on shore.
Our return trip took us along Speiden Island where a large flock of Mouflon Sheep grazed with several rams keeping watch on the perimeter. Also, sighted one albino Fallow Deer tucked in the exposed roots of a tree just above the water and 4 Sika Deer outlined on the ridge line. On our last glance back at Spieden Is., a nice showing of 3 Bald Eagles that overhead from Sentinel Island towards us.
Naturalists Shelly, Tara and Jenny; San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles, Cattle Pass, Dall\'s Porpoise, Fallow Deer, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, Harbor Seals, j pod, killer whales, L pod, Mouflon Sheep, Orca whale, orca whales, Orcas, San Juan Channel, san juan island, Sika Deer, Southern Resident Killer Whales, Spieden Island, whale watching near seattle
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Sunday, July 1st, 2012
A great day to be on the water; we had blue skies, wispy white clouds, and plenty of wildlife to observe. First we headed out to Spieden Channel and came upon a group of harbor seals hauled-out on an exposed rock. They were snoozing and enjoying the sunshine. We continued northwest towards Stuart Island and encountered “Onyx”, L-87, slowly traveling the same direction, just south of Turn Point (48°39.931N, 123°14.114W). As we continued into Boundary Pass, we encountered members of J-pod, including “Granny”, J-2. Four females were traveling close together as they hugged the south side of South Pender Island (48°42.999N, 123°14.294). After observing these fascinating mammals, we returned south and cut between Stuart Island and Johns Island. We were on alert for bald eagles and their massive nests. Many great photo opportunities today. As we returned to Friday Harbor, guests commented on how grateful they were to visit the San Juan Islands and see orcas swimming in the wild!
Jenny, Naturalist San Juan Safaris
Tags: Bald Eagle, friday harbor, Harbor Seal, j pod, L pod, san juan island, Spieden Island, Stuart Island
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Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
I experienced something new and beautiful today. We had a service at sea during the first part of a charter trip this morning. Not much to say except that we were honored to be a part of it. After which we headed north, first slowing by Spieden Island looking for muflon sheep and deer, but seeing a few harbor seals resting on the rocky shore and a group of harbor porpoises surfacing in front of our boat!
We then went around the top of San Juan Island and saw our first killer whale just off Henry Island, traveling north west (48 35.480′N 123 12.887′W). There were two of them and they seemed to be proposing out of the water and traveling fast. We then noticed we could see dorsal fins off in every direction. We spotted two large males, one of which was L-92 “Crewser,” and also around was L-41 “Mega” and L-26 “Baba.” After watching them for some time, and cruising across the US border into Canadian waters, we took the scenic route back to Friday Harbor, going between Stuart and Johns Island and the eastern side of Spieden. Truly a beautiful day all around.
Second trip out today and more orcas! About 8 members of J-Pod, including J-26, J-27, and the J-16′s were tightly grouped and slowly moving north at 48.45.9N and 123.19.2W, just above Moat Point, Pender Island, BC. We were also treated to at least 6 sightings of Bald Eagles, adults and juveniles, flying low over the bow, perched in snags, on the rocks (with a Turkey Vulture) in various spots along Stuart Island.
Kristen, Tara, Shelly; Naturalists, San Juan Safaris
Tags: friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, L pod, Mouflon Sheep, Orca whale, Spieden Island, Stuart Island
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Monday, June 25th, 2012
Members of J-Pod were seen off of South Pender Island today. The whales were spread out and moving in an easterly direction. Several individuals were very surface active: spy hopping, lob tailing, rolling over, and even breaching! There were also a number of mature males including J26, “Mike.” After spending some time with J-Pod, Captain Jim heard reports of L-Pod off Turn Point on Stuart Island (48°42.140 N, 123°15.687 W). Again the whales were spread out and traveling in an easterly direction. Among members of L-Pod, was L41 “Mega” a 35-year-old male! So, not only did we see whales from one pod today, we ended up seeing two different pods of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population! What a special day!
Naturalist Amy, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours
Tags: j pod, killer whales, L pod, orca whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2012
The weather we had in the San Juan Islands today is what Washington residents live for during the dark winters. Crystal blue skies, a scattering of puffy white clouds, calm waters, no wind, and mild temperatures made for an excellent boat cruise. It also made our guests from Texas very happy. We left Friday Harbor and headed down the eastern side of San Juan Island past Griffin Bay. Several harbor seals were hauled out on an exposed rock, keeping warm in the sunshine. As it is almost pupping season, we are looking forward to some new additions! We also noticed three harbor porpoises swimming north. They were very active and you had to be quick with the camera. As we came out upon Salmon Bank (48°25.45 N, 122°58.54 W), we found some members of J-pod including Granny! L87, Onyx, was also in the crowd. M/V Sea Lion then turned east towards Iceberg Point. There were at least four more members of J-pod swimming through. Looking at photos of the dorsal fin and saddle patch, we believe we saw J32, Rhapsody, but we would need a view of her right side to confirm. Many sights of tail-slapping and splashing. Upon our return, we did view a bald eagle standing guard just west of Iceberg Point. Very regal that eagle! Overall, you could not ask for a better trip on the water!
SJS Naturalist Jenny
Tags: Bald Eagle, friday harbor, Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seal, j pod, L pod, Lopez Island, Orca whale
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Monday, June 18th, 2012
Everywhere we looked around!!!!
J’s and L’s were enjoying themselves today, intermingling just off the west side of San Juan Island, Haro Strait (48°32.60N, 123°10.58). There were approximately three different groups spread out and one of the groups had two large males intimately chasing after a set of females. We decided to give them a little privacy and let nature takes its course, so we went on to catch up with “Moonlight” (L83) and her son “Midnight” (L110).
The two were cruising pretty fast, porpoising out of the water to keep their speed, allowing us to see the full extent of their black and white bodies. They changed direction on us a few times giving us a little play, both on the starboard side and off the stern.
Son was stickin’ close to mama, demonstrating the true matriline connection that forms amongst the southern residents. Gotta love them mama’s boys! We left them headed north at approximately 3:15PM.
Whether it was family love, or a little more-than-friendly love, it was all around today and man could you feel it!
Naturalist Tara, San Juan Safaris
Tags: Haro Strait, j pod, L pod, porpoising, san juan island, Southern Resident Killer Whales
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