This morning Five Star Charter's Supercat departed Fishermans Wharf in the Victoria Harbour just after 1000 and headed out into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. There was a report of killer whales at Hein Bank so we headed southeast in the strait towards the south end of the San Juan Islands, Washington. We arrived at Hein Bank at 1100 and saw that the whales were travelling slowly in a tight group indicating they were in a resting mode. This group of whales was the L12 subpod of Southern Resident killer whales and they were making their way slowly towards the south end of San Juan Island.
During this sighting I was able to identify many of the individuals of this group of whales including:
During this sighting I was able to identify many of the individuals of this group of whales including:
L41, Mega, a 32 year old male
L12, Alexis, a female believed to be at least in her 70s
L77, Matia, Mega's younger sister who is 22
L94, Calypso, also Mega's younger sister who is 14
L85, Mystery, an 18 year old male
L22, Spirit, estimated to be about 38
L79, Skana, a 20 year old male and Spirit's son
L89, Solstice, a 16 year old male and Skana's brother
Fastcat arriving at Hein and Salmon Banks
L41, Mega, a 32 year old male
L89, Solstice, a 16 year old sprouting (maturing) male
You can see the long thin nick at the top back of L89, Sostice's fin
Above 3 photos: L12, Alexis, a female believed to be in her 70s
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