May 27, 2024 – Today we saw so much wildlife including three types of whales… ‘A Whale Trifecta’ – minke whales, orcas, and humpback whales! Other wildlife included groups of porpoises, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, various sea birds, and even 7 raccoons. We had an opportunity to view Southern Resident killer whales from all three pods (J pod, K pod and L pod) who arrived today along the westside of San Juan Island. From our colleagues at Orca Behaviour Institute they reckon it’s been 8 years since K pod has shown up here in May and 12 years since all three pods were here in May!
Near False Bay K pod was in a tight group and we watched as most of J pod also in a tight group came together. There were no vocalisations audible on our hydrophone at that time, but a little while later calls began. After bunches of tail slaps and a few breaches, J’s continued North and K’s followed. We heard members from the L12 subgroup were by Eagle Pt and we saw several members going north as we sailed south to look for more wildlife. It looks like we got a photo of L25 “Ocean Sun” born approximate 1928 – the oldest living Southern Resident orca. Additionally, the L4 subgroup was in as well, but westbound out to sea.
Upon reaching Salmon Bank we spotted a minke whale, possibly the same one we found earlier prior to seeing the Southern Resident orcas. We left the minke to sail with a pair of humpback whales from Salmon Bank in through Cattle Pass. One we identified as BCZ0298 “Split Fin” the 2006 male calf of legendary “Big Mama” BCY0324. We submitted photos of the other to Happy Whale to get assistance on figuring out who it was as it never showed its tail flukes.
Viewing of Southern Resident Orcas has to be beyond one half mile. We cropped photos taken with a 800mm equivalent lens following all Federal and State Regulations. These photos are for educational/historical purposes, not for promotional purposes.
Route map 5/27/24
Raccoon on Turn Island (we spotted 7 in all)
Raccoon on Turn Island State Park
Raccoon on Turn Island State Park
Harbor seals in the pass by Turn Island State Park
Harbor porpoise, San Juan Channel – there were lots!
Harbor seals hauled out on Shark Reef near Lopez Island
Pregnant harbor seal on Shark Reef
Another pregnant harbor seal on Shark Reef
Bald eagle in the trees on Lopez Island
Black oystercatcher on Deadman Island
Barnacles and ochre sea star falling off
Steller sea lions at Whale Rocks, south of San Juan Island
Branded Steller sea lion “347Y” on Whale Rocks
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, South of San Juan Island
Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, South of San Juan Island
Southern Resident orcas approaching San Juan Island in tight group
Southern Resident orcas from K pod – including K14’s and K20
Newest K pod calf, K45 born 2022 surfacing next to her mom, K20
Southern Resident K pod orcas
Male Southern Resident Orca near False Bay
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Southern Resident J pod orcas in a tight group approaching K pod
Let the tail slaps begin!
Southern Resident J pod orcas turn North along San Juan Island west side
Southern Resident K pod orcas milling near False Bay before going North
We saw several orca breaches
Lots of orca pec slaps
Lots of orca pec slaps
Looks like J38 and maybe J39 (?)
J38 waving pec fin in the air ready to slap the water with it
Our young passenger taking the helm
This looks like oldest Southern Resident orca L25 “Ocean Sun” born approx 1928
Orca spy hop/peep
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Minke whale on Salmon Bank
Humpback whale left side dorsal fin of BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Unidentified humpback whale
Pair of humpback whales on Salmon Bank
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Taking a family photo and a humpback surfaces out of nowhere to photobomb!
Humpback whale right side dorsal fin of BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Humpback whale tail
Cattle Pt Lighthouse, San Juan Island
Mt Rainier
Humpback whales racing through Cattle Pass with 6 knots of current
Humpback whales racing through Cattle Pass with 6 knots of current
Humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin” moving quickly north from Cattle Pass
Humpback whale exhale
Humpback whale northbound San Juan Channel
Pair of humpback whales northbound San Juan Channel
Pair of humpback whales northbound San Juan Channel
Tail flukes of male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Tail flukes of male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Tail flukes of male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Unidentified humpback whale
Tail flukes of male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Tail flukes of male humpback whale BCZ0298 “Split Fin”
Harbor porpoise, San Juan Channel with Mt Baker
Harbor porpoise, San Juan Channel with Ferry
Ferry with Mt Baker