A Circumnavigation of San Juan Island to View the Orcas

Members of J, K, and L Pod graced us with their presence today. Captain Mike, naturalist Jaclyn, our guests, and I left Friday Harbor heading south. We passed around Cattle Point lighthouse as we told guests the story of the Pig War while passing American Camp. As we reached False Bay, we began to see dorsal fins!

At first, the orcas kept their distance, and we watched them mill about along the shoreline. Members of our Southern Resident Community were certainly in no rush today. They swam back and forth along the shore, they appeared to be socializing rather than travelling on a salmon-driven mission. As our trusty vessel, the Sea Lion, floated on the water, with the engines shut down, we watched as members of J Pod (J16, Slick, her calve J42, and J30, Riptide - to be more exact) snuck up next to us and began surfacing in an almost rhythmic manner. They surfaced close together, creating a tear drop shape, as the moved slowly northward. We left the group as soon as they moved far enough away so we could start the engine and travel safely out of their path. Up near Henry Island we watched J1, Ruffles, pass us to our starboard side and guests had the opportunity to check out the huge size of a mature male orca.

It was a bit more chilly today than it had been over the past few days, but the orcas are back around the islands, and that is reason enough to celebrate! The chilly breeze didn't dampen anyone's spirits, and the mountains, sea, and sky all shined in shades of crystal blue.

Ashley, Naturalist