Thursday, June 30, 2005

lpod breach collage


lpod breach collage
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.

a little surprize collage of the multiple breaches we saw today :D

L, K Pod / Stuart Island

hugo? breach
lpod
breach + cartwheel
lpod + kayakers
lpod
lpod
lpod
lpod
lpod
(making up for lost posts :D)

What can I say except that today was incredible. I overheard a woman onboard say "this is the best moment of my life" and well I can't say I blame her. Multiple breaches, cartwheels, tail slapping, milling, resting lines, speed porpoising. All of Lpod and Kpod were present. When we left them they were turning around and heading south. It's been 2.5 weeks since my last voyage and what a way to return.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Super Cat

5 star & china shipping

Taken today, around 4:40 pm from the Ross Bay shoreline

Sunday, June 12, 2005

K Pod

leah adjust
lobo
lobo2
lobo_tailtip
tail_enlarge
lobo_enlarge

Today 5 Star's morning trip headed north to Port Refrew area (Sooke) to see Lpod. Apparently they saw some great hunting action going on out there (I was not on the morning trip). During the afternoon trip, we headed over towards Lopez & San Juan Island as J's and K's were in the area. When we arrived, the animals were spread out into small groups. We had a wonderful eyefull as some of K pod swam past our bow. In that group we saw Leah (K14) and a calf (?) with Lobo (K26) - who rolled over on his left side and extended his pec befor splashing down and continuing on his way. Just further on he threw a few tail lobs and then he was gone. On the way home, we stopped in to look at a bald eagle who was perched on a log on Trial Island. So glad to be back out on the water. Has been about a week for me (due to cold).

Monday, June 06, 2005

Jpod / San Juan Island south

jpod breach
jpod
jpod
jpod
jpod
We found part of J pod traveling in small tight groups south of san juan island. caught some tail slaps, breaches and speed porpoising. Also saw that the Cascadia team is out collecting fish samples from the orcas to learn more about their diets.
ruffles & cascadia researchers
On the way home we got word of 1 and more humpbacks not far off of the breakwater in Victoria so stopped in for a few minutes to check them out.
captain jeff and researcher ron
5 star  guests
humpback knotch

Saturday, June 04, 2005

L 12's San Juan

Mega (L12's) breach
L 12's spyhop
L 12's

Today we saw the L sub pod - L12's. Several breaches, spyhops, milling, a few flukes out of the water. A tight group swam close to the San Juan shoreline showing us a few spyhops along the way.

L 12's
L 12's
L 12's

On the way home we were pleasantly surprized to find a lone orca milling and swam right under our bow! It was awewsome to see the L's home!

J K L pods together again

It's official! All 3 pods are home! I'd missed the first superpod yesterday as it was quite rough out. Should get some snapshots soon though of this grand spectacle I've been waiting 3 years for!