July 25, 2017 – Our evening sail with J pod was much different than our afternoon trip. We heard on the radio that J pod had been playing with a harbor porpoise for about an hour. When we arrived they were in a tight group circling with occasional spy hops while pushing around the porpoise on their rostrums. 25 whales in all engaging in this activity. At some point the whales briefly changed to a straight course followed by several breaches, including L87 a full grown male repeatedly half breaching. Their behavior changed again by slowly circling/milling with relaxed breaths. It was as if we were watching transient orcas. We heard only a few orca vocalizations on the hydrophone.
Bull kelp – Turn Rock
Bull kelp – Turn Rock
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Bald eagle
J Pod with Cypress Island and Mt Baker
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
Lots of spy hops
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
Lots of spy hops
Pushing porpoise on rostrum
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
Pushing porpoise on rostrum
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
J pod with L87 playing with a porpoise
L87 half breach
Orca cartwheel
J Pod in Rosario Strait
J Pod in Rosario Strait
Orca blow
Sailing with J pod and L87
Sailing with J pod and L87
Sailing with J pod and L87
J pod heading down Rosario Strait in a tight group
Sunset over San Juan Channel
Sunset over San Juan Channel
Sunset over San Juan Channel
Mt Baker in the sunset