Residents Return!

Summer has returned with the Resident Orcas! We encountered J pod off of Henry Island northbound crossing to Stuart Island this afternoon. Last night we heard a report the Residents were sighted inbound, from their 3 day stint out in the open Pacific Ocean. Nice to see these whales back! J pod was spread out moving at a steady pace, with J2 Granny and J1 Ruffles leading the group when we first met up with them. They were spread out in their subpods, or family lines....a little playful action with some breaching and tailslaps. Ruffles did a belly roll too! As they passed Turn Point, Stuart Island there were lots of spyhops as if to check on each other and make sure they were all going the right way!

Just off of Turn Point we also saw some Dall's Porpoise slicing through the water. Returned to Friday Harbor through John's Pass where the teepees of Camp Norwester are bare, just the frames...a sure sign the summer is winding down...although with today's great weather you'd never guess it to be fall! A great view of a mature Bald Eagle in a treetop on Speiden, whereas most of the other eagles have left to feast on dying salmon at the Skagit River. And lots of Sika Deer and Mouflan Sheep out grazing on the northeast end of Speiden Island! Just another beautiful day complete with sunshine and wildlife!

-Jaclyn Van Bourgondien, naturalist