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!

June 21st / Longest Day / Prince Williams birthday!

3 trips for the Supercat today. The morning found us all the way up north by South Pender Island, by the bluffs, with J's and L12's.
The afternoon saw us in the company of a surprise humpback whale on the north end of Enterprise Channel. The humpback travelled SW, at a good clip of 7 knots. We continued on to see K pod off Stuart Island, and encountered a nursery group of K's, 3 moms and their kids, one being K28 with her brand new baby looking very well.
For the evening trip we knew that all groups of orcas were out of our time/distance range, so we headed SW hoping to catch our humpback. 4-6ft waves out there hindered our search. We swung by Seabird Lighthouse, Lime Kiln Lighthouse, looking for Dalls porpoises. No luck. Everything seemed to be holding its breath as the Supercat passed overhead!

June 19th

Our morning trip found us one of very few boats out today. So we started at Trail, and Chain Islands, where we viewed the harbour seals, cormarants, and an old, raggedy looking, bald eagle. We ventured across to Whale Rocks in the hopes of some south bound Rosario news. No such luck. We heard a rumour on the radio, and that led up up the west side of San Juan, all the way to Turn Point where J's were bucking it down Boundary. We had the priviledge of viewing Slick (J16) with 2 of her kids, J26 and J39. They were leading the race down the west side of San Juan, with a breach from Slick herself! Lucky to see them during our 67 mile trip!!

June 18th

Our 2 trips today found us with J-pod, the first trip being all the way up north at Saturna Island. J's had rounded East Point and were heading south down Boundary Pass headed for Turn Point. Our afternoon trip found them south of Lime Kiln Park heading a bit offshore again in relaxed mode after their exhausting swim south. My cousin Jon Clarke and his girlfriend, Jen came out with us also! All in all we had breaches, spyhops, whales upside down flicking their tails. Great trips!

J Pod comes bounding down Boundary Pass

Little Jumper
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

What a treat! The J's in a frisky mood,
as they made quick time down Boundary Passage. This little Orca was feeling pretty good about it

and so were we! Computer problems force brevity.

I hope you like the photo. Click on it to download the original on my flicker site.

See you on the water ,
Jeff

June 17th

Our day out on the water seemed to get better and better. We had a morning trip at Race Rocks with the tide pulling the water though the rocks thick and fast! Our afternoon trip found us with J-pod off the south end of San Juan Island. Saw Ruffles and Granny heading north, but then there was a turn SW as several individuals headed offshore. The evening trip found us in the company of the Westerdam cruise ship guests, we went to find J's in the same area off San Juan, and left them just north of Lime Kiln Park. Granny and Ruffles were in the lead. J14 was giving J40 a fishing lesson, Ruffles started a series of complex lunges after what must have been a tricky chinook salmon! We were motaring slowly out of the area, and a group of 7 orcas surfing around in the tide rip decided to come and say hi. Awestruck, dumbstruck, wierd squeely noises coming from my mouth. Incredible.. Speechless...

June 16th

A lumpy bumpy afternoon trip out to Race Rocks to see the seals and sealions, and scan west looking for cetacean action on the horizon. Nothing in view. So we decided to head over to Trail and Chain Islands, and round Oak Bay. J's are somewhere off Alden Bank, and K's and L's are thought to have poked their noses out west.

June 15th

Although I was not on board SuperCat in the morning, their morning trip found them all the way west in the Juan de Fuca strait with the orcas by Otter Point. Our afternoon trip found us making a hard decision on whether to head north up Rosario Strait where we knew J's were south bound. We went for it, and as we were heading up San Juan channel, we heard they had turned north bound. We had already committed, so continued on, through Peavine Pass, and up to Lummi Island. A first for us, that far north. A round trip of 77 miles! Our normal is 35 miles. We found J's bunched up nice and tight, Granny and Ruffles at the head, side by side, and 2 breaches from a female. Brief visit for a long long trip

K's & L's

(photos by Chantelle Tucker, top photo edited by Jeff Lorton)








Please read Claires post below for details about the trip.

June 14th

Well, a great day of 3 trips for us aboard SuperCat. The mornings trip found us heading west after some reports of some mystery blows, which didn't materialise. We had a good old look at Race Rocks collection of seals and sealions. The afternoon trip found us at Pile Point with a mixture of K's and the L25's. Was great to see Cappuccino and Raggedy together! The evening trip found us south of Lime Kiln lighthouse with the same groups of whales. Nice to hear the good news that 12 year old K28 has a calf with her! Her first if reports are correct. We had a lovely fly by from Skana, who was happy to say hello to the SuperCat.

The Lighthouse at Race Rocks

Race Rocks Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

5 Star watching Lpod

5 Star watching Lpod
Originally uploaded by orcagirl.

Watching the arrival of Lpod today from the west.

Sunday night Race Rocks Light House & Sea Lions

Race Rocks Light & Sea Lions
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

It was a very short ride from the Transient Orca to Race Rocks MPA.
and since everyone on board agreed to we could return a little late,
we set a course for the light house and drove into the near setting sun. I was really glad to stay out as we were rewarded by a very beautiful visit to the Ecological Reserve. The whole of the islet group was bathed in the late gold light and it was a very quiet and serene
scene with the Sea lions tired and little cranky from a day of fishing in strong lunar currents.

The Strait of Juan De Fuca is becoming more facinating to explore
everyday. Soon we'll see the Humpbacks, I hope!

Come and explore with us.

Jeff

Transient Orca Male Race Rocks

Transient Orca Male Race Rocks
Originally uploaded by Jeff Lorton.

T-103 heads into the low sun and west towards Race Rocks. We came upon 103 & 104 deep in the middle of the Straight of Juan de Fuca. It was an amazing sight.

Kind regards,
Jeff

Props to the Victoria Express for coming across the sibling pair first.