AUGUST 9, 2009 AFTERNOON J, K and L pod whales in Haro Strait

Departure time: 1355

Vessel: Five Star Charter's Fastcat

Sighting #1: 'Resident' fish eating killer whales (Orcinus orca)
Time: 1450 - 1520 (leave whales to check Hein Bank for minke whales - none), 1550 - 1615
Start location: 2.5 miles south of Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait

End location: 1 mile west of False Bay

Pods and Individuals identified:
J - J1, J2, J26
K - K21, K12, K22, K37

L - L72, L105, L7, L53, L83, L110, L95, L74

Cool killer whale fact: Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family, or delphinidae

Links

Center for Whale Research killer whale fact page, photo ID and matrilines

Orca Adoption Program at Friday Harbour Whale Museum

Orcasound online hydrophone network

Orca Sightings Network

American Cetacean Society fact sheet

L83, Moonlight, a 19 year old female and her 2 year old son L110, Midnight, travelling with J1, Ruffles a male estimated to have been born in 1951

L72, Racer, a 23 year old female probably being followed by her 5 year old son L105, Fluke

L83 and L53, Lulu, a 32 year old female

L95, Nigel, a 13 year old 'sprouting' (maturing) male killer whale

J26, Mike, an 18 year old male travelling with L74, Saanich a 23 year old male

L74, Saanich