Sailing with dolphins and Southern Resident orcas from K and L pods

September 20, 2018 – An incredible sail with so much wildlife. Orcas from K pod and L pod, Pacific white sided dolphins, seals, sea lions, loons, bald eagles, diving birds, great blue herons…

We started our sail on a cloudy day with threatening rain; but only had a tiny bit of spiddle so we were happy. As we sailed around Turn Island we passed the sleepy seals quietly so as not to disturb them. Further down San Juan Channel and on to Goose Island we passed many nesting cormorants with a few chicks peeking out behind their parents and more resting harbor seals.

As we rounded Cattle Point we were hearing reports of Pacific white-sided dolphins in the area near the orcas. We headed up the west side and found them and they appeared to be playfully racing around with each other. What a rare treat to have dolphins in our area!

We sailed along and found K20 (Spock) and her son, K38 (Comet), while her younger brother K25 (Scoter) was offshore. The orcas were doing their usual thing of foraging, spread inshore and offshore of San Juan doing the west side shuffle. Further to the south we encountered K21 (Cappuccino), a 32 yr old male born in 1986. He changed course to head inshore while others off in the distance were doing the same.

We had a really nice group including the L55’s and the K14’s. The orcas were engaged in lots of fishing off Eagle Pt as well as some kiddie cuddle puddles with lots of tactile behavior. Oh and lets not leave out the incredible vocals! They worked together circling in a large group as they hunted the salmon. As the whales moved offshore we were treated to a nice pass as the whales played and rolled around us. K26 (Lobo) circled our boat and truly showed how big he is.

As we departed the whales and found several loons off South Beach before checking out the sea lions on Whale Rocks. Passing Deadman Island there were more sleepy seals getting ready for bed and a great blue heron resting on a bull kelp bed. As we rounded Turn Island a bald eagle watched us sail on by.