L72 Racer and other L Pod Orcas

L72 Racer is one member of L Pod I recognized right away. Anyone can recognize her with the black “racing stripe” that cuts through her saddle patch.

The weather was cold, and the water was calm. When the sun was getting through, the cloud layer is quite comfortable, but when it was hidden, we felt the chill, at least when we were flying through the straits in our boat.

We started off seeing Harbor Seals, and Bald Eagles, then we motored over to see the Stellar Sea Lions that are magnificent to behold. Big bear looking creatures with their shimmering copper and chocolate fur coats. These beasts are the largest sea lions in the world at 2500 pounds.

Some of L pod had been spotted in Haro Strait, but not all. I took our tour south into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, searching a wide arc looking for other killer whales. On the horizon, I saw some glints on the water that could have been a rip current wave or porpoise or who knows what. I headed that direction far enough and long enough to know it was not whales.

Then we made our way to the three or four matrilines of L pod orcas. They were pretty sleepy to start with their behavior. They made a few direction changes and a few spy hops but no breaching to be seen today. I got a few pics of one with some lip damage but not sure if this is well known or newer injury-related. I will send the pics to Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research.

We viewed these orcas for quite a while and then started north to see a Humpback Whale that had been spotted. On the way, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife vessel let us know of a pod of Dall’s Porpoise that was in a really playful mood. They are very hard to get a pic of when they are playing around because they are so quick. In the days of film photography, I would take about a dozen rolls of film with me to sea, and a couple of months later, when I de-crewed, I would take them in for developing. I got to be an expert at capturing splashes. Even here, you can see I got more splash than a porpoise.

We left the porpoise and headed for the humpback. We viewed the humpback for 3 or 4 surface times until I could get a decent fluke shot then we headed home for some hot coffee and cocoa.

A gorgeous day on the water with great people. Not a better way to spend the day.