Today we got spoiled: we had a choice between two transient killer whale pods! The first group was called in as located off Sidney Island on the Canadian side of the Haro straight. We left the harbor with these whales in mind but then we got another call; a second pod was seen between Saturna and South Pender Islands.
Once we caught up with this second group, we found that there were three animals in the pod: one male, one female and one calf. Even with lots of helpful eyes on the water, references to our transient catalog and chats with other vessels, we were not able to positively identify this pod. They showed some splashing and direction changes and then began heading west along South Pender Island.
On our venture back to US waters and Friday Harbor, we saw a few perched bald eagles and many plump harbor seals at John's Pass. Watch out, seals, the transients are near and roughly two-thirds of their diet is YOU!
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Islands