J16 Subpod Steal the Show All Day!!
Stay tuned to the whale report as Naturalist Kate Janes reports from on board the Island Explorer 3 as they enjoy Orcas under blue skies! "Rosario Strait lead us southward around Lopez Island and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca where we would later find a portion of J pod!! We first saw and visited with young Mike (J26) with his rapidly growing dorsal fin he is really hard to miss! Nearby his mother Slick (J16) was closely being followed by little J42, who is the youngest member of J pod being just over one year old! Slick's other offspring, Keet & Alki, remained in the vicinity milling about. All five whales showed off their ability to not only to hold their breath for long periods of time but also their capability to change direction quickly. We watched as they zigged and zagged coming off island only to cut back towards shore minutes later. After a great visit with this very active subpod we made our way towards Anacortes stopping by Swirl Rocks, Blind Island, and Castle Rock at the south end of Lopez Island. It was there we found Harbor Seals nursing their pups, Pigeon Guillemots, a Bald Eagle perched on the rocks and a Turkey Vulture soaring above us! When we returned to the Straits of Juan de Fuca for our evening trip the whales were almost exactly where we left them!! We met back up with Slick and her family. We found J42 quite some distance from mom exploring waters away from her subpod and then quickly porpoising back to her mothers & older brother Keets side!! We watched with excitement as she rolled about and then triumphantly breached!! Mike was farther south with sibling Alki and we watched as they turned and headed north for a period to meet back up with Slick, Keet & J42. Once all together the family continued southward. They swam in a close proximity to one another and then after one long respiration Mike, Alki and J42 reappeared nearby as if they were interested in a little people watching of their own!! After a great visit with Slick's family we caught up with Samish, Riptide, Hy'shqua & Suttles and our guests got to enjoy yet another family of J pod Orcas! We ended a beautiful day at the south end of Lopez Island enjoying one of the most spectacular passes the San Juan Islands has to offer!" - Naturalist Kate Janes
posted by Island Adventures Whale Report @ 10:38 PM
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