Whoo-Hoo! Welcome T-103

This day starts with the report of a lone Orca whale in Canadian waters.  But Who?  What a surprise to find a whale I have never seen before...a male Transient Orca whale that researchers have last seen in Alaska...and a first time for sighting him here!  No wonder T-103 does not show up in any of the local transient Orca guides.

T-103 (Orca male)

Being one of the first boats on scene, it takes a while to find one black fin cruising the coastline of Vancouver Island.  But, there he is!  As we enter a channel, following along he moves past the shoreline very close to reefs and rocks.  What skill!  It's always amazing to see these huge whales moving so easily in and around rocky shores.

Here's a good look at how the dorsal fin on T-103 has some definite character in the shape.  See the curve at the top trailing edge of the massive fin?

Nothing like a little kelp frond decoration to dress us an Orca whale dorsal!  What style!

Trial Island lighthouse 

Eventually we do have to turn around and head for U.S. waters....but not before watching this new visitor glide out toward Trial Island, near Victoria, B.C.

Bull kelp!!  It is an indicator of a rocky bottom.  Each plant has a bulb that holds the long "stem" (can be 80 to 100 ft.) from the root "hold fast" in the rocks,  up to the surface to collect the sunshine and grow, grow, grow.  The plant also has beautiful fronds that can be 25 feet in length!  Perfect for creating an underwater kelp forest for a schooling fish or immature salmon nursery.  Perfect for a Harbor seal haven and hunting ground.  Perfect for  Orca dorsal fin adornment shopping!

Harbor seal "hello!"

Who glides there?

On our way back to San Juan Channel we find a Minke whale, Harbor seals hauled on Whale Rocks, many little seals bobbing in the kelp beds, a beautiful adult Bald eagle on top of the rock, Harbor porpoise and a grand finale of speedy Dall porpoise racing alongside!!  (too speedy to photograph!)

Ballet anyone?

What a fabulous day  on the water!  But truthfully, I just can't keep my mind off our special guest star and his premiere appearance in the Salish Sea!  Whoo-Hoo...Welcome T-103!  (last seen headed west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca....)

Once again, all photos taken with 400mm  lens and cropped. (no we were not this close!)

~Nan

The "Wild" Part of Wildlife!

 The weather contines to be great this week as far as the sunshine and blue sky, but Friday we get wind as part of the picture.  While watching whales in flat water gives folks a chance to relax a little more....watching when the sea stands up a bit is a little more challenging on the photography end!

Look who we find cruising down San Juan Channel with the current!  This little head pops up and we wonder...who's watching who?

 Habor seal people watching

This day there are about 20 Harbor seals swimming with the current.  Occassionally one turns to check us out.

 We find a bald eagle chick peeking over the edge of a nest down by Cape San Juan.  The adult stands guard on the  branch above.  This nest site is pretty far from our viewpoint, but look carefully and you'll see it. (them!)

Adult Bald eagle looking down on nest with chick!

 Soon we're around the corner and into Haro Strait.  In the smooth water of Thursday we spend time slowly moving 200 yards off of L-22, Spirit as she swims south down the west side of San Juan Island. A few tail slaps as she goes!

L-22

The next day we find ourselves crossing Haro Stait and meeting the whales off Discovery Island in Canada.  The wind is up today and we are glad to turn around and "run more with it" as the whales are headed back the way we came!

L-92 Crewser heads toward San Juan Island

J - Pod whales hurrying along

On a mission to cross the strait...or not!

This day there is a mix of J pod whales and L pod whales.  They all seem to be in a big hurry, crossing Haro Strait.  I'm sure of myself as I predict they will swim up the west side of the island and continue on north.  Ha ha!~  Just as we reach the other side and it's time for us to head back, they make a big turn around and head back out into the strait!!  What?!  So much for I think I know....after all...it's all about the "wild" part of wildlife!

Double the Numbers, Double the Fun!

 Starting off a trip with the opportunity to see Dall porpoise right in San Juan Channel is always an awesome omen!  Today there are two groups of four or five speedy porpoise popping up in the tide rips.

Dall porpoise

With reports that more L pod whales were spotted within the last hour we head directly out toward Haro Strait.  Soon L-41, Mega is easy to spot.  His dorsal fin is enormous and he has a tell tale notch in the trailing edge.

Mega is the oldest adult male in the three resident pods.

Today this group of L pod whales appear to be hunting and foraging near Salmon Bank bouy.  Good place to hunt for salmon?

J-28 Polaris (1993), J pod female

Here is J-28 as she passes by our boat.  You can't see little J-46 (2009), Star,  her offspring, but she is following right behind mom.

Spieden J-8 (1933)

Later in the trip J-8 appears off the stern, headed out toward the bouy.  Her estimated birth year is 1933!  This grand elder has a young male with her today from L pod!  

Crewser L-92  (1995)

It's great to see more of L pod and the socializing and foraging that's going on between J pod whales and L pod members!

On our way back we make time for a good look at adult Bald eagles on Long Island and maybe 20 Harbor seals bobbing in the currents.

Adult Bald eagle

Harbor seal cruising the current

Did I mention it was sunny and over 70?!!  My favorite weather for the San Juans!

Oh, an all these photos are shot with a 100-400mm telephoto lens and...yes, cropped!

J Pod is Back!

J pod headed north!

What great news comes in....J pod is headed for the west side of San Juan Island!  This is their second appearance in May and we can't wait to see them....all of them!  Of the 25 whales in this family, one of the most "famous" is J-2, Granny.  With an estimated birth year of 1911, she is the oldest whale in the Southern Resident family.  I want to swim like Granny when I'm 102 years wise!

Three Southern Resident Orca whales cruise up the shore.

Who is that alongside mom?

From the very old to the very young this is a great group.  In August of 2012, J-37 gave birth to J-49.  It's always fun to watch active Orca calves as they race next to adults or figure out how to do cool things, like breach or tail slap.  Once they get the hang of it, there's no stopping them.  Maybe like a kid on a trampoline?

Limekiln lighthouse at Limekiln State Park SJI

The lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island is a favorite with people, and Orca whales.  There is a tempting patch of kelp by the rocky shore and it appears to be an Orca version of a playground.  A game of "Fish Hide and Seek" in the kelp forest?  Maybe!

It's all about "family"....

Game = Drag the Kelp!

Accidental?  Or on purpose?  If you are an Orca..adorning a fin with kelp fronds can be stylish...or goofy...or maybe just a passing fancy.

Adult Bald eagle 

Spotting Bald eagles from a distance can seem like quite a feat.  After all....there is so much greenery...so one eagle head is pretty small in comparison.  I tell folks to "Look high in a tree, for a golf ball, where a golf ball shouldn't be!"  Sure enough!  As we get closer the adult Bald eagle comes into view.

Bald eagle IN the nest!  Look to the left by the branch!

Flipper to flipper....buddies

Snoozing Harbor seals

On the way back to Friday Harbor we find Harbor seals hauled out around the Cactus Islands and....one last Steller sea lion!  He must have missed departure date of May 15th....will he catch up?  Time to head for the breeding colonies!

Steller sea lion

And a quick look at Canada geese on the shore of Spieden Island....there are two chicks...but one is hiding behind mom or dad.

Hungry chick...one of two...what happend to the others?  Uh oh.

Humpback Heaven!

Humpbacks!  What is it with these whales?  Have they listed the San Juan Islands as their new favorite tourist destination?  Good idea!

Dorsal fin appears!

 The dorsal fin on a Humpback whale is very small compared to an Orca.  The whale, however, is very very large....over twice the size with an average length of 49 - 52 feet (Northern Hemisphere whales)!  Oh, an the average weight?  A mere 35 - 50 tons.

Fluke up!  Whale going down!

Each whale has it's own unique pattern on the underside of the fluke.  This pattern can be used to identify individual whales.  It's like your fingerprint!  Hum....who could this be?

Underside of fluke displayed as whale dives

Humpbacks are migratory whales, feeding in the summer months in the rich waters of Alaska, and giving birth and mating in the winter months in Hawaii or Mexico.  This whale is probably has Alaska as it's next port of call.  We are fortunate enough to spend a part of this afternoon watching it as it cruised north up the Strait of Georgia.

On our way back to Friday Harbor we stop off at Spieden Island and find this adult Bald eagle perching proudly on a tree / branch stump.   Eagle eyes search the hillside for prey...and the water's surface as well.  This is a great vantage point.

Adult Bald eagle

Today we get a good look at these Harbor seals hauled out on Boiling Reef.  It always amazes me at how they look most comfy and lazy on such uncomfy surfaces!  I guess that four or more inches of blubber help cushion the rocky shore.  Is it like having your own personal built in thermarest pad?

Harbor seals