April 13, 2014: San Juan Sunshine Breach!

365 Project, Day 169

Here is my day 169 submission to my 365Project:

Breach!

I feel so lucky that my 'backup' job while in Victoria consists of me going out for boat rides on the waters of the Salish Sea looking for the amazing wildlife that inhabits the area. We had another wonderful afternoon on Great Pacific Adventures' vessel the King Salmon and today's tour was a special charter for some forestry students from India. I was so happy that we were able to show our international visitors the beauty and amazing wildlife of the area and, lucky for them, we had a rare spring visit by K pod! 

K pod, one of our 'Resident' fish-eating killer whale (Orcinus orca) pods came into the Salish Sea this morning traveling through the Strait of Juan De Fuca, south of Victoria, this morning and by the time we reached them this afternoon they were spread out off the south end of San Juan Island, Washington! 

K26 Lobo, 21 year old male

K26 Lobo, 21 year old male

K22, 27 years old and her son K33, a 13 year old 'sprouting' (maturing) male

K33, a 13 year old 'sprouting' (maturing) male

K12, est. to 42 years old and her 4 year old daughter K43

K14, a 36 year old female 

K14, a 36 year old female

K36, an 11 year old female and her brother K26, a 21 year old male

K37, an 11 year old male

K14, a 36 year old female and her son, K26, a 21 year old male

Belly flop!

Probably K12, a 42 year old female with her daughter, 4 year old K43, doing a tail slap and K26, a 21 year old male

Spyhop!

Cruising down Haro Strait with Mount Baker in the background

Off Cattle Point, south end of San Juan Island

Steller sea lions (Eumatopias jubatus) at Whale Rock