Jpod / San Juan Island

Yeseterday was a record breaking hot day and was perfect for being out on the water. The breeze made it slightly cool and refreshing. When we arrived on scene (just offshore of San Juan Island) jpod was spread into various groups speed porpoising, tail lobbing and spy hopping. Another glorious day!

Jpod San Juan Island

Yesterday morning we found jpod traveling from the south and were traveling steadily heading north up the west side of San Juan island. They were spread out miles apart all morning. In the afternoon, there was lots of speed porpoising, breaching, milling about and groupings however the group was still pretty much spread out. When we left them, the group was starting to head north.

Lpod / Sooke

Today we ran out the west side of Vancouver Island past Otter Point (Sooke) to look for Lpod who was steadily traveling west. When we found them, we saw multiple breaches, tail lobbing, some milling about, and porpoising. The group was spread out a bit however was quite active. On our way home we stopped in at Race Rocks where we saw Stellar Sea Lions resting on the rocks. What an incredible journey today was. I'd asked researcher Ron Bates if all of Lpod had returned and he had said yes along with a new calf!

Jpod & Transient

Today we encountered some big weather heading over to the San Juan Island side (Steward Island) to catch up with part of Jpod who was traveling north. At one point, we noticed some of the pod that had traveled ahead of the others, returned and grouped up with the others before taking off on their journey north. We got word that a large group of orca were spotted coming in from the west (Otter Point) and that part of Lpod was passing through Race passage around 4pm. This is really exciting news! Not sure of their location now however we are waiting to find out who is all there. On the way back, we discovered a lone Transient male traveling very close to the shoreline around the Cadboro Point area. We await confirmation on who that is (either T14 or T61).

J Pod

Our morning trip was nice. We saw a huge raft of Harbour Seals near whale rock, probably containing 100-200 animals. We also saw four bald eagles in this area as well. Later in the trip we found several Dall's Porpoise off the west side of San Juan Island

In the afternoon we saw J Pod as they were heading south in Rosario Strait. There were traveling mostly, but we did see a few breaches and other aerial activity.

Porpoises, Grey whale, Eagle

Today Jpod was not in range so we set out to see what we could find. While heading east we got word that there was "something" near Clover Point. We found another whale watching boat had discovered a dead Harbour Porpoise. A marine biologist arrived on scene to take care of the carcass. Within the area we saw a group of Harbour Porpoise milling about.




Soon after, we came across a very shy Grey whale just off of Trial Island. This whale was traveling east steadily and we stayed with it for about 40 mins traveling past Oak Bay.




Then we headed over to San Juan Island to see some Dalls Porpoise and toured the San Juan Island shorline viewing Lime Kiln park (where the orcas are often found foraging). On the way home we stopped in to visit Discovery and Chatham Islands were we saw a bald eagle perched up in a tree.

Jpod, Eagle, Sea Lions

Today was absolutely beautiful. We headed towards Race Rocks not knowing where Jpod was, but soon got a call that Jpod was heading down the west side heading eastbound - our direction. We stopped at Otter Point and watched as many of the 22 orcas passed us. Incredible as always.





On our way home, we stopped in at Race Rocks ecological reserve where we saw a jouvenile bald eagle and then stellar sea lions and elephant seals. Today was my first day out on the blackfin - open cruiser and a great day for that it was.

Victor T61 in Oak Bay

Today we departed in light rain. We had set out to find Jpod. On the way over to San Juan Island we found many Harbour Porpoise milling about. We pressed on however did not find Jpod but got word that there was a transient killer whale making a kill (harbour seal) in Oak Bay, so around we turned. When we arrived, we found Victor - T61 milling about. He seemed rather relaxed. He showed us his pectoral fins and tail flukes a few times before milling around the Chain Islands. When we left him, he seemed to be travelling out into the Juan De Fuca Strait, just infront of Trial Island. It was an exciting trip to say the least. It's not very often we get to see individuals like T61, and this was my first time.


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Open Bay, Henry Island

Open Bay, Henry Island
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

Kellet Bluff, Henry Island

Kellet Bluff, Henry Island
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

Kellet Bluff, Henry Island

Kellet Bluff, Henry Island
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

Yesterday, Jpod was hanging around Henry Island and I thought that some of you might be interested in seeing these aerial images. These photos and many, many more are available for viewing @

http://apps.ecy.wa.gov/shorephotos/index.html

The Washington State Department of Ecology conducted the coastal aerial survey and I have found it a valuable site.

Yesterday the Js were making longish dives again and were at one point spread from Lime Kiln Pt. to
Kellet Bluff. Towards 1600 in the afternoon some of the whales started breaching and playing around with pectoral fin slaps and tail lobbing.

The Supercat was loaded down with 36 travellers from the UK. They were facinated by the whales and eagles. The British are always good sports when we tell them they used to own much of the
San Juans but lost them over a pig!

Learn more about that here @ http://www.outwestnewspaper.com/pigwars.html