Transient killer whales were the big sea creatures in town today! We filled up the Sea Lion vessel with eager passengers and went out to the Rosario Strait just past Orcas Island in search of ocean life. In the distance, we could see a splash then a white cloud indicative of whale snot (a blow) and then a black fin. After another minute, two more whales surfaced and then a female and a little orca. But wait? Was that another two orcas 400 yards away from the group of five? Why, yes it was! And then, even further, we saw yet another group of four or five transients. It was a party! Generally, transient (mammal-eating) killer whales are found in pods of four or five but today it seemed that multiple pods were gathering in larger numbers. Theories as to why this occurs can include anything from spreading the gene pool to socializing to hunting. At one point, we did also see a harbor seal pup in the menagerie, perhaps trying to escape becoming a killer whale meal. We learned later that T036 and T036B were part of the group we saw.
Further along in our travels, we found a lone bald eagle perched on a navigation marker off Lawrence Point on Orcas Island and a handful of plump (and safe) harbor seals hauled out on rocks off both the Orcas and San Juan Islands.
Serena, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris