July 23, 2017 – It was an exciting day hearing reports of members from L pod on the west side of San Juan Island. But, that wasn’t all… J pod was inbound from the ocean as well and headed towards San Juan Island, too.
We cast off and went south around the bottom end of San Juan Island to meet them. By the time we arrived, so had J pod who was busy socializing with L pod. The whales were doing their usual west side shuffle down island then flipping back up island upon the turning of the tide to a flood. It was magnificent seeing all of these whales together on the west side of the island for the first time this year. We saw all of J pod (24 whales) plus several subgroups of L pod (19 whales) and L87 Onyx who travels with J pod – 44 whales all together. Incredible
We sailed with the whales up island until we reached Kellett Bluff on Henry Island. With the sun setting it was time for us to make our way back to Friday Harbor. The orcas continued to the north socializing in large groups in the sunset as we said our good-byes… for now.
Par of bald eagles outside of Friday Harbor
Harbor seals near Turn Island
Cormorants and gulls nesting on Goose Island
Pair of bald eagles at Eagle Pt
Orcas passing kayakers on the west side of San Juan Island
Members from J pod passing Land Bank Westside Preserve
Orca sea snake
Orcas flipped going up island – blows with rainbows
J’s and L’s socializing
J’s and L’s socializing
Orca back breach in the strong tide
Tight group of Southern Residents going up the west side of San Juan Island
Southern Residents heading up island close to shore
Tight group of Southern Residents going up the west side
Orcas passing close to Land Bank – one of them doing inverted tail lobs
Large group of orcas passes close to kayakers
Orcas passing close to Land Bank
Orcas passing close to Lime Kiln Point State Park
J’s and L’s heading up the west side of San Juan Island
Southern Residents passing the Center for Whale Research
Orca “Kelping”
Tail slap
L92 Crewser
Southern Residents heading north towards the Fraser River
L72 Racer with son L105 Fluke
Orca tail slap
Orca doing inverted tail lob
Pretty reflections near Kellett Bluff
Orcas passing Kellett Bluff
Tight group of Southern Resident Orcas
J17 Princess Angeline and J53 Kiki
J19 Shachi
Tight group of Southern Resident Orcas heading north in Haro Strait
Sailing downwind wing on wing enjoying supper sailing with whales
Tight group of Southern Resident Orcas heading north in Haro Strait
Tight group of Southern Resident Orcas heading north in Haro Strait
L87 Onyx with distant tanker
Bald eagle on Battleship Island
Bald eagle on Spieden Island
Sunset over Spieden Channel
Tip of Mt Baker seen from Wasp Passage
Harbor porpoise playing in ferry wake
Mt Baker in the sunset