Seeing Double?

T49c and T77a

We are off on this fabulous Saturday in April to see what we can see...and we see a lot!  We are not far into our trip this afternoon....just enjoying the massive Steller sea lions up at Green Point, when these two Transient orca whales are found minutes from our position!

Steller sea lions hauled out on the rocks

The sea lions are in a huge debate as to who is "king of the rock" today and we watch them push and shove each other around physically and add emphasis vocally!

The two Transient orcas we find today are identified as T49C and T77A, both males, both with the same size dorsal fin and amazingly, both with double notches out of the trailing edge of the dorsals!?  It's easy to call them "the twins" yet they are not even from the same family.

Hunting together

We are lucky enough to watch them for an hour as they travel through the San Juans, exhibing some hunting behavior, circling around, doubling back, speeding up, slowing down, crossing over, deep dives...and surprise surfacings.

Hello Harbor seals!

Harbor seal...shy guy?  

                There are many Harbor seals hauled out today.  What great camouflage coloration!

Moma or Papa Bald eagle on nest duty!

The eagle count for today stands at 7 by the time we reach home.  We find two active nests with adult eagles tending to nest duties.  We will be watching these nests for the next two months for signs of eaglets.

Along the banks of Cactus Island we come across a River otter scrambling up from the water.  The otter doesn't seem to notice us and spends a lot of time posing on the rocks.

River otter

Lots of sea birds abound today...Harlequin ducks, Comorants, Black oyster catchers and of course Gulls!  As it turns out, our route takes us back to the harbor and right past the Transient orca twins again!  They are still in hunting mode, cruising close to shore.  They even poke right into Friday Harbor!

Transinet male orca in San Juan Channel

This is my first day for the 2014 season and it's a great one!  What a fabulous beginning to what feels like a great summer season ahead!