May 28, 2017 – Much excitement as J pod, last seen 15 days ago, were sighted early morning inbound from Sooke. A photograph of L55 revealed L pod may have been there with them. Lost in fog they disappeared for the rest of the day. With anticipation that they could show up we took a Northerly route through the islands. We were lucky: J pod calls were heard on Lime Kiln hydrophone. We met them as a very tight resting group traveling at little more than the speed of the flood tide. L87 was with them alongside J22. Oreo and Cookie together, and once again we question the loss of J34 Doublestuf. (More info here: https://www.whaleresearch.com/j34). Together they headed off into the sunset.
Bald eagle with fish
Harbor Seals
Layers of Flattop Island
Cormorant rookery on Gull Rock
Peregrine Falcon – the fastest animal on the planet. They can reach speeds in excess of 200mph when diving down (stoop) to prey upon medium sized birds
Whale talks en route to meet J pod at Kellett Bluff
J Pod passing Kellett Bluff
J26 Mike passing Kellett Bluff
J Pod and Henry Island forest reflections
J Pod and Henry Island forest reflections
Some of J pod as they travel in a tight resting group
J pod traveling in a tight resting group up Haro Strait
Extended orca families
Members from J Pod – all members were present according to the Center for Whale Research
J27 Blackberry passing close by our boat
Layers
J pod resting together as they head north to the Fraser River
J Pod in the sunset
Sunset whales
L87 Onyx heading off into the sunset
Members from J Pod in the sunset
A tight resting line of orcas
All of J pod heading off into the sunset
Here we are sailing with orcas – Photography by Monika Wieland Shields
Here we are sailing with J Pod – Photography by Monika Wieland Shields
Watching the sun go down behind us as we head back to port