J Pod with Rough Seas Getting There -Pinnipeds Seabirds

Today I had a last-minute tour thanks to my friend Sara at Maya’s. We left the dock about 1 pm and headed south. It seemed there was enough coverage up north, and I wanted to search in a new area.

We first stopped to view harbor seals that I refer to as Orca Sausages. Then we saw a pair of Bald Eagles and a Kingfisher flying by, no pic, but then also saw a couple of Black Oystercatchers. Later on to Whale Rocks where we observed Stellar Sea Lions on the rocks and in the water.

From there, I headed south several miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, scanning for blows and fins. I was about mid strait when I got word of Orca way up north in Canadian waters. I turned north, and we made our way there. On the way, once we entered Haro Strait, the water conditions became rough, but I kept plowing on.

We eventually caught up seeing J Pod with Rough Seas Getting There. The lighting was a bit dark, so I did my best to get the shots I did. I had glimpses of J31 Tsuchi and her calf J56 Tofino. I did not get a great shot of them, though. I did get a nice shot of J22 Oreo and her son J38 Cookie. He is getting so big, wondering how large he will become.

Several others, including J26 Mike and J27 Blackberry, among others.

It was a very rough day on the water, but the result seeing J Pod makes it all worth the pain I am feeling now.
Hoping these guys hang around awhile. At the eastern edge of Active Pass, they came onto a school of salmon and started darting all directions chasing their prey. A beautiful thing to see when their prey is so scarce these past few years.