T Party : Twenty Transient Orcas North from San Juan Island

All Aboard Sailing Vessel Peniel – whale watching sailing

T Party. One of the most amazing days ever. Over 3,000 photographs today and a few hours of audio recording. Today could be a photo book today on its own, (let us know if you’d like one). And a story. Once upon a time we sailed North from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. We approached Jones Island and at the same time there was great gathering of Orca whales. The families of T65A’s and B’s, & the T123’s, slowly met with others from the north, the T93, T97, T36A’s, and T99’s. Perhaps the groups from the north had arrived late as the T65’s and 123’s had already come through Spieden Channel twice that morning. After a cup of tea, party games began before everyone dived into a potluck brunch . It was one hell of a day with families socializing, playing, cavorting and chatting together as they slowly meandered North into Canada.

T36A, a 26 yr old female and mother of 3 offspring. She showed up last April with her 3rd calf.

Porpoising in Unison – a high speed chase that happened out of nowhere

I think it’s T36A is on left, then T65B is in definitely the one in the center, and I think T65A on the right (this photo is heavily cropped)

Transient Orcas Porpoising in Unison – a high speed chase that happened out of nowhere

T93 breaches – a large male of approximately 53 years old

This is T99, a 32 yr old female (born approx 1984), and a mother of 4 offspring

T65A2 Tail Lob

Calf breaches near 12 yr old T65A2, Spieden Channel

T65A2 Tail Lob

Biggs Orca T123A

T123A – notice the eye patch underwater

The T123s pass us in Spieden Channel. T123, a 31 yr old female (born in 1985) and mother of 2 surviving offspring: T123A, and T123C. Her second calf, T123B, born in 2009 disappeared and is presumed deceased.