L110 and Lpod!! Aug 22nd 2007

L41 Surfacing.

L94

Two Lpod Orcas at play.

Pelagic Cormorant.

Seal Pup, so cute:)

Rhinoceros Auklet with a mouth full of Sand Lance.

The 4 pictures above are of the new Lpod calf L110.

Another picture of L41.

Above and below L41 "Mega" a Bull male born in 1977.


Tailwave.

Cartwheel.

Partial Breach Captured on film.

L25 "Ocean Sun"

L77 "Matia"

L94 "Calypso"


Today we headed out towards the San Juan Islands during our 10 am tour in search of our Southern Resident Orcas, after receiving news they had been sighted heading East from the Pacific Ocean overnight. We caught up with Lpod just off the West Coast of the San Juan Islands and saw several members including the brand new Calf L110 and Mother L83 "Moonlight". Whilst on scene we observed a number of breaches, some foraging, tailslaps and porpoising. The new Calf L110 was seen swimming close by Mother L83 and it was a huge thrill for our passengers to see the new calf up close.


As we arrived on scene we noticed one of the Zodiacs had a Pelagic Cormorant perched on its bow and the Cormorant seemed reluctant to fly away, and sat happily on the bow for a good 30 to 40 minutes. Pelagic Cormorants are usually very shy birds and normally fly away when approached. Three species of Cormorants can be found in the local waters around Victoria, Pelagic, Double-Crested and Brandt's. We also had a tiny Harbor Seal Pup pop up right in front of the bow of our boat and was lucky this was the Resident Orcas and not the Transient Orcas we had been watching yesterday!


In the afternoon Lpod was spread out over a considerable distance with Orcas sighted right by the shore line all the way out to Hein Bank. Once again we saw the new calf L110 with its Mother L83, which delighted one passenger in particular who had been hoping to see the newest member of the Southern Resident Orca Pods. We also had a close pass by L41 "Mega", the large Bull Male of Lpod, and his sisters L77 "Matia" and L94 "Calypso", as well as their Aunt L25 "Ocean Sun".


Whilst we were on scene we saw a couple more breaches as well as a Cartwheel very close by. Several TailSlaps were also observed as well as some kelping (were an Orca plays with some Bull kelp on its body) and tailwaves. We also saw a Rhinoceros Auklet pop up near our boat with a mouth full of Sand Lance.


With the sun making an appearance once again, it was a fantastic day to be on the water.