These days I hail from Maui, Hawaii and it's rare for me to say it's hot in Washington. But today, it was hot! In town. And quite comfortable on the water as well. We traveled out to be next to the Olympic Peninsula and the snow covered mountains; and it was a day of epic weather, water and visibility.
We started our trip headed south from the harbor to some harbor seals lounging on their rocky haul-out. At Cattle Pass, we found their cousins, the stellar or northern sea lions hauled out on their rocky post only these animals were a little grumpy. Several pairs and trios were growling at one another and encouraging each other off the rock and out of the way. There's something about a ten foot 2,200 pound growling animal that you just don't want to mess with.
Just north of False Bay on the west side of San Juan Island, we caught up with some zig-zagging orcas! L-pod was cruising around and we were able to identify L-85 "Mystery" with his shorter but wide dorsal fin and comet-shaped saddle patch of white. At one point, we were surrounded by whales on all sides and we just shut down, dropped our hydrophone into the sea and listened to them. We heard lots of orca sounds, from high-pitched squeaks and squawks to whistles and clicks. We discovered that animals from J and K-pods were headed south towards our spot and we eventually saw K-21 "Cappuccino," a 25-year old mature male. For an endangered species like these southern resident killer whales, it's always a hopeful feeling to see some of the "big guys," the mature males, still around doing well, perhaps crusin' for ladies (as the kids say these days)!
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris