Today Five Star Charters had a morning and an afternoon trip. We departed the Victoria Harbour in the Supercat at 1000 and headed out into the cloud and drizzle. We started by making our way east across the Victoria waterfront towards San Juan Island in Haro Strait. Once we reached Haro Strait we headed towards the north end of San Juan Island, Washington and continued on to Stuart Island where we heard there was a report of some killer whales (Orcinus orca) coming our way.
We arrived to Stuart Island, also in Washington State, around 1100 and soon spotted the fins and blows of the group of killer whales. Once they reached where we had stopped (in some pretty lumpy water!) I noticed the oldest male member of our Southern Resident killer whales community J1, Ruffles (estimated to be in his late 50s). I could tell it was him because his dorsal fin is twice as tall and straighter than the females in the pod and quite wavey (hence the name Ruffles!). I identifed some other members of J pod, including the J17s, as they travelled quickly, southbound, towards San Juan Island (Center For Whale Research ID pages and Matrilines, Friday Harbour Whale Museum Orca Adoption.
J17, Princess Angeline, is a 32 year old female with two daughters, J28, Polaris (16 years old) and J35, Tahlequah (11 years old). She also had one of the newest calves in J pod, J44, who is about 6 months old. In addition to the J17s we also saw J31, Tsuchi (14 years) who is from the J11 matriline (J11 is deceased since 2008) travelling with J28 who is a couple of years older than her. After a watching J pod for about an hour we left them just off Henry Island at around 1200.
J17, Princess Angeline, a 32 year old female and the mother of one of the the newest calves in J pod (J44, 6 moths old now)
J35, Tahlequah, J17's daughter and the older (11 yr old) sister of the new calf, J44
Above 2 photos: J31, Tsuchi, 14 year old daughter of J11 (deceased, 2008) travelling with J28, Polaris, J17's other daughter (16 years)
J17, Princess Angeline
And from the afternoon trip...
We departed at around 1400 and after hearing that another group of killer whales was coming in from west of Victoria we headed south out of the Victoria Harbour towards Race Rocks Marine Protected Area. Shortly after we arrived at Race Passage we spotted more fins and blows and after getting a better look we saw members of K pod, another one of the Southern Resident Killer Whale pods, travelling east towards Vcitora. During this sighting I was able to identify members of the K13s and K12s.
The K13s include K13, Skagit, a 37 year old female and her offspring including: K20, Spock, her 23 year old daughter; K25, Scoter, her 18 year old son; K27, Deadhead, her 13 year old daughter; and K34, Cali, her 8 year old son. K13s grandson, K38, Comet also travels with this matrilineal family group. The K14s include K14, Lea, a 32 year old female and her offspring K26, Lobo, her 16 year old son; K36, Yoda, who is 6 years old and K42, her calf from last year.
K37, Rainshadow, the 6 year old son of K12, Sequim, a ~37 year old female
K12, Sequim
K14, Lea (32 years) travelling with her offspring K36, Yoda (6 years old) and K26, Lobo (16 years old)
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