June 30th Evening

After spending some time with L pod off Lime Kiln this afternoon (see Chantelle's blog), our evening trip found us with some of L pod at False Bay. The group of maybe 10-12 animals consisted of females with some young calves and juveniles. Captain Trev had the notion that the rest of L's were further up ahead of the SW bound group. Rolling 3-4ft seas made our minds up about heading to find the rest of L's ... we decided to stay with the group we already had. A beautiful misty sunset made for some beautiful landscapes on the way back to the dock.

Lpod June30/06

We watched a family including Mega L41 travel very quickly in a tight group about a mile off the san Juan Island shoreline not far from Lime Kiln park. Caught a glimpse of Skana L79 as well. We also saw Flash L73 (i think) with a family group of about 10 or more animals. Some awesome high speed traveling, tail lobs a belly roll and a double breach (sorry I was looking the other way at the time).


Get this video and more at MySpace.com






The last photo is of skana L79.

June 29th

Wow what a great day!! Morning trip found the SuperCat out by Lime Kiln, San Juan Island, with all of L pod!! K pod were further north, and J's were off Cypress Island, in Rosario. We watched L's gently roll around in the swells of current off the park, not really going anywhere, but having a good social get together. I had family friends (Chris, Isobel, Jill and Angela) out with us, and they had a great time.
The afternoon trip had us south of Pile Point and Salmon Bank, offshore, with L pod once again. Gaia (L78) spent some time with us, and we had lots of actively foraging groups of L's all over the place! Non directional, just enjoying the good food down there! Word on the radio of a sea otter off Trial Island, so that was pretty exciting news to hear.
Our evening trip was spectacular! Somehow, J's, K's and L's all got together, in the picturesque setting off Griffin Bay, between San Juan and Lopez Island. It was magnificent. A small number of whale watching boats, a sail boat, and a small skiff, enjoying the show. Fabulous vocalisations. All the animals were very boisterous, socialising, breaching, tail slapping, pec slapping, spyhopping, lunging, with one of the mature boys coming towards us upside down showing his manhood!! We all wanted to drop anchor, and stay overnight, it was that pretty!

June 28th evening

Oh the evening trip. How we love the evening trips. We had a very Fast Cat zip by us off the waterfront ... 5* Whale Watching's new vessel ... FastCat. Great to see her on the water. We headed off to see J-pod accompanied by L57, Faith. They were just off Battleship Island, and heading towards Turn Point at a very leisurely place. Ruffles was at the head of the group, nursery groups behind, and L57's ladies at the rear. We saw lots of breaches from all ages, and a lovely pass by of L57's group at the end of the trip with some 'raspberry blowing' sounds coming from one animals blowhole. As we were pointed towards Victoria, and going home we heard that K's and L's are inbound from Race Rocks, so we kept out eyes peeled, but a misty horizon made for difficult viewing. Satisfying day on the water.

June 28th day trips

Well, a wonderful day full of lots of J-pod encounters. Our morning trip found J's a few miles north of Smith Island, in U.S waters. Our visit was short but sweet, with the animals quite spread out, rostrums pointed towards San Juan. My highlight of the morning trip was the presence of a sea otter, yes a sea otter, several times off the side of our boat. I dismissed the first few glances as a seal ... then a dead head log .... then .... oh it IS a sea otter!
Our afternoon trip found us with J's once again, in undecisive mode as to whether go north or south along the west side of San Juan. It made for some great whale watching, as many individuals kept looping back and forth. Polaris was south of the group, quite offshore, and heading south.

Exhaling

100_0301
Originally uploaded by Jacklyn Barrs.

Together

100b0340
Originally uploaded by Jacklyn Barrs.

100_0300

100_0300
Originally uploaded by Jacklyn Barrs.

J's with L57

The morning trip started with a wonderful encounter with J1 (Ruffles) and J2 (Granny) near False Bay along the West side of San Juan Island. The rest of the J's were spread out along the coastline of San Juan Island to Pile point; foraging, socializing, and travelling in smaller groups. The trailing group of J's had L57 (Faith), a male from the L pod, intermingling with J28 (Polaris)a female. Two mature bald eagles were viewed in Oak Bay sitting on top of a navigational light.

The afternoon trip had us viewing a small group of L's travelling with the J's heading North past Turn point on Stuart Island. The whales were travelling tightly next to one another in small little groupings. Here are some photos from the afternoon trip. Beautiful day in Haro Strait!

J's & L's

Well, you probaby don't want to hear this but my CF card is corrupt and today's photos are GONE! And what was captured on that card you ask? Hopefully one of the other naturalists can fill in some of their photos in absence of mine. Here is what we saw this morning. We arrived at San Juan Island, Lime Kiln park and found J pod traveling quickly northbound with some of the L's trailing. Granny J1 and Ruffles J2 lead the group. Caught a lovely glimpse of J1 fishing with a partial lunge after some underwater high persuit fishing. Highlight was most definately Faith L57 courting Polaris J28. Yes, I had some interesting photos of what appeared to be one animal on top of another, and at one point the other was semi rolled over on her side. We can only assume what was going on under the surface :)

J's & L's

What can you say, today was perfect. Flat, hot, sunny and no cloud in sight. We got word that J's and L's were northbound off Pender Island traveling towards the Georgia Strait. We arrived to find the animals very close to shore. Many many breaches from one of the jouveniles, spyhops close to shore, tail slaps, belly rolls and even one of the large males we think might be L57 / Faith was showing signs of very frisky behavior at the surface. The animals gave the Pender Island shoreline viewers an incredible spyhop while passing very close to the rocks. At the end of our stay, the animals lined up perfectly spaced apart and began to speed porpoise onwards. An incredible lasting visual.

June 25th

Fantastic! What a day. Sunshine all round. We had a day of Transient Killer Whales, those that choose mammals over fish! We had the T100's SE of Race Rocks, and managed to watch the 7 animals as they ventured at a casual relaxed pace towards Victoria. We headed over to Race Rocks to view the elephant seals and harbour seals. We stole another 15 minutes with the transients as we ventured closer to Victoria harbour and back to the dock. Our afternoon trip found us with the newly arrived T10's, T10 herself, another small animal and T10B, her mature son! We watched this group carry out at least 2 kills, as we puttered around D'arcy Island, and the south end of Sidney Island. The T100's were close by, travelling north up the west side of Haro Strait. Exciting to know that J pod were also coming round the corner at Turn Point, but we were happy to just enjoy the company of the T's.

The L Pod whales make themselves at home in Haro Strait.

lime kiln L-41
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

Groups of LPod whales first went up the side of San Juan island around 3 PM saturday afternoon. ReachingTurn Point on northwest Stewart Island around the tide change at 5 PM. The whales changed directon with the tide and came south down Haro. They were very spread out across the Strait, from Kelp Reef all the way down to False Bay when we first encountered L-71 (Hugo) near Beaumont Shoals (around 8 PM).

L-41 (Mega) and a companion are pictured here with Lime Kiln Lighthouse and San Juan Island in the background. It was sublime to say the least and everyone onboard the SuperCat were deeply moved by the beauty and thrill of seeing this large family of facinating animals.

Kind regards,
Jeff

Documenting the moment.

man and dalls porpoise
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

June 24th

Wow, what a scorcher of a hot day. Sssss'mokin! We on board the SuperCat missed out on our orca friends today. The morning trip revealed that J's were at Alden Bank/Lummi Island, so quite far away from our reach. Saw approx. 100 harbour seals on Whale Rocks. We did a wonderful circumnavigation of San Juan Island, passing by Friday Harbour, and through Speiden Channel, and back home. Our afternoon trip found us headed to Green Point, just east of Port Angeles, where we hunted in the bays for some reported Gray whales. No luck. We rolled across the strait to visit the elephant seals at Race, who still have the main rock all to themselves. No pesky sealions!

June 23rd

The afternoon trip for SuperCat found us in the north end of Haro Strait, by Turn Point, where L's were crossing Boundary, headed for Active Pass. A few active Dall's porpoises off Turn Point as well, but we had to depart and head back to Victoria. Our evening trip, with the crowd fresh off the Oosterdam cruise ship, found us venturing SW in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Captain Trev spotted a harbour seal in the water, 2 miles SW of Race Rocks, with a fresh red piece of salmon in its mouth. Pretty exciting. Once we were upon Race Rocks, we spotted a pair of Bald eagles on the south rock, lots of harbour seals, and 2 big elephant seals frolicking in the water beside the rocks (see photo close up). Active for elephant seals!

June 22nd

Our afternoon trip found us all the way up north by Mayne Island, where we had a wonderful collection of J's, K's and L's, with L57 at the rear as the 'Superpod' travelled towards and through Active Pass, much to the delight of BC ferries passengers en route. We were treated to multiple breaches, spyhops and tail lobs. Long trip appreciated by all on board!