San Juan Channel

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October 6, 2009
Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research called with a report of J & K pods off Eagle Pt, W. San Juan Island, heading SE at 11:54 am.
At around 3 pm, the sub pod of L’s that had been reported in Blackfish Sound Oct. 3rd came down San Juan Channel, while J’s were off Salmon Bank.


September 29, 2009
I just returned from Sidney on the ferry and saw T19B and three or four others off Shaw Island west shore heading south at 1340 today. Got a few long-shot pics from the ferry.
Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research


Despite the rain, we did our best to track a group of transient orcas in San Juan Channel at Turn Island. There were 5-6 animals that were identified as the T19s by another boat. Their foraging pattern was very spread out and random, so we spent a lot of time motoring back and forth. There was at least one kill made while we were on scene, but the victim was unidentified as to species. We left the area at 1515 hours as the animals were heading south down the channel.
Tristen Joy, Naturalist, Crew At San Juan Safaris Whale Watch Wildlife Tours


September 10, 2009
After receiving a report of approximately 20 whales in San Juan Channel, Center staff Erin Heydenreich, Astrid van Ginnekin and Stefan Jacobs encountered L’s heading north close to shore off Shaw Island (48° 34.94 N, 123° 01.90 W) at 1:20 p.m. The whales turned and went west through Spieden Channel and then headed south down the west side of San Juan Island. The encounter ended at 4:25 p.m. off Bellevue Point (48° 32.27 N, 123° 10.36 W) with the whales spread out in loose groups. The groups seen were: L26’s, L43’s, L4’s and L21’s. K’s were reported in the area, but none were seen or documented by the Center. J’s were reported off the west side.
Center for Whale Research


While cruising back to Sidney from Friday harbour today we encountered “L pod” in San Juan channel heading north. They were directly East out of Friday Harbour, and were moving quickly up the channel 5-6 knots. We tagged along up the channel but at a respectable distance as the whales were surrounded by 9-10 WW boats and some other recreational boats. We left the area at the east entrance to Spieden channel as the whales slowed to decide which direction to go, along with the boats.
Colin & Diane Tuckey with Sheila Hamlin,


We luckily received a call from Charles Smith while waiting to catch the 11:05 ferry to Friday Harbor. Thanks to this tip, we were on the lookout and found the pod of orcas in San Juan Channel, heading north along the shore of Shaw Island at 11:45 am. The ferry stopped so we could all watch, some spyhops, foraging behavior and a breach or two. We watched until the ferry docked at about 12:30, then we went up the hillside in Friday Harbor and watched as they passed across the harbor from 12:45 – 1 pm, continuing north up San Juan Channel. From our photos & confirmation from the Center for Whale Research who was out with them, these whales were identified as the L37s.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network


Small pod including one male seen from Anacortes-Lopez Island ferry Kaleetan at 1040 am PDT. They were just north of the Spencer Spit State Park northeast of Lopez Island heading to the northwest.
Charles Smith


Today, for the third time this summer, members of the Southern Resident Community (some if not all of L Pod and likely K Pod, to be exact) traveled all the way through San Juan Channel. They then continued through the Speiden Channel. We travelled alongside L’s and K’s and many other boats. We saw a young calf breach numerous times, many animals were cart, spy hopping, and breaching. For the most part, it didn’t appear any fishing behavior was occurring. They traveled in a north/northwesterly direction for the duration of our time with them.
Ashley Naturalist, Crew At San Juan Safaris Whale Watch Wildlife Tours


September 4, 2009
We left Friday Harbor, and within about 15 minutes we met up with a northbound group of L’s in San Juan Channel. There were around 25 in this group I’d say, fairly grouped and synchronized, moving oh so slowly north while hugging the Lopez shoreline. They didn’t appear to be resting, and while there were the few occasional lunges and surface direction changes, they didn’t really appear to be feeding for the most part either. As they began to pass Turn Island, they all instantly made a 90 degree turn to their left, to continue along San Juan Channel. There was a single spyhop, perhaps wondering where they heck they were! They continued north, and eventually made their way right off Friday Harbor. Following behind was another group of K’s and L’s. The first group made a 180, as did the group behind, and they slowly headed south. We putted into the Harbor (still watching the whales) at around 4, and on the 5 o’clock ferry back to Anacortes I was able to still spot 5 fins south of Turn Island. Present were L5, 25, 12, 84, 79, 55, 77, 25, 95, 74, 54, 73, 41, 22, along with K40 and 21, and many more.
Heather Harris, Bellingham


We got to view the [orcas] twice from the Whale Museum (in Friday Harbor)! This is rare, as they don’t often travel in San Juan Channel. The whales were in San Juan Channel, pretty close to the shore of Shaw Island on the first pass by at about 3:10 p.m. We counted between 8-10 whales and they were too far away to id. As soon as we had put away our binoculars and gotten back to work, we got word they had turned around and were coming back! This time they were closer, though still too far for any positive id’s. On the 2nd pass by, they were traveling south and were soon out of sight behind Brown Island.
Connie Domenech, The Whale Museum


It was reported to us as a superpod before they got here but we didn’t see enough whales to look like a superpod and we were too far away to identify anyone. But it was definitely exciting seeing whales from the museum - twice since they turned around and headed back south again!
Cindy Hansen, The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor


It was an amazing sight to see J Pod and a few members of L pod traveling swiftly off shore of San Juan Island between 1.30pm and 2pm. They were all bunched up together coming up from the south and heading north. L 7 and L 72 were clearly seen. They seem to be all on a mission.
Marie O’Shaughnessy. Orca-Magic. Prince Of Whales, Victoria


K and L pods moving up San Juan Channel from the south at 1:00 P.M. Encountered them north of Shark Reef and traveled with them north up the channel until they turned west along Shaw Island. Today they were in two tight groups with one moving more quickly than the other. K40 “Raggedy”, K21 “Cappuccino”, L74 “Saanich”, L84 “Nyssa”, L54 “Ino” were there along with many others.
Tristen Joy, Naturalist, Crew At San Juan Safaris Whale Watch Wildlife Tours


August 1, 2009
All three pods headed north together last night (7/31), but were found taking two different routes south again today. J-Pod, K-Pod, and at least the the L2s and L7s from L- Pod took a “normal” route down Boundary Pass, past Turn Point, and down to the west side of San Juan Island, but the rest of L-Pod came down Presidents Channel and San Juan Channel before heading up to reunite with the other pods. On the Western Explorer this afternoon we met up with the Ls in San Juan Channel. The L12s were in the lead, with another large group of L-Pod whales a little ways behind them. In this larger group I was able to get positive IDs of L5, L73, L84, L74, L100, L26, L90, L92, L82, and L105, so it looks like most of the family groups were probably there. After getting back to port I headed out to Land Bank on the westside of San Juan Island, where at about 5 PM I saw the last groups of Js and Ks heading south. J1 was close to shore with L53, but other than that the whales were spread out across Haro Strait.
Monika Wieland, Western Prince Naturalist, San Juan Island


While crossing down Boundary Pass, [orcas] began passing the boat heading for the Turn Point Lighthouse (1115). As a few whales got close enough to ID, we were happy to find we were viewing J Pod & K Pod. The whales seemed to be very active, with lots of surface percussives – spyhops, tail lobs, headstands, and a few breaches by the calves. But the fireworks really got going when the whales hit the tide rips near Turn Point. They were actively working the line between the strong floodtide and the upwellings, and soon a group consisting of L2 Grace, L78 Gaia (his rakes are healing nicely), L90 Ballena began to breach one after the other. Five breaches in a row, where one whale would breach and before that one was finished, the next whale would breach. We left the whales and began to head home and discovered L Pod traveling down San Juan Channel! They were spread in groups of 7-8, with whales from mid channel all the way to shoreline. For our second trip, we joined up with the L’s still moving down San Juan Channel (1530). By this time, there were only 2-3 boats on scene, all giving the whales 200 yards or more. It was amazing to see these whales working the tide – they would find the back eddies and use them to power against the current. These L’s were probably the most active I’ve seen in quite some time with over 15 breaches, tons of tail lobs, porpoising, and other surface percussives. And for only the 3rd or 4th time in the last few years, I watched residents work the shore along Cape San Juan and Goose Island. Then the whales headed right for the Cattle Point lighthouse, giving the shore watchers a nice viewing as well. We left the whales at 1630, and they were porpoising towards Eagle Point (J’s & K’s by this time were at Lime Kiln, so I imagine they were hearing each other).
John Boyd (JB), SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, Friday Harbor


We were out on a morning tour in Canadian Waters viewing Orcas from J & K pods heading south from the Gulf Islands on their routine swim following salmon through these waters. We could hear the blows (hot moist air) being expelled through the blowhole! A few breaches, tail slaps! We were heading home when to our disbelief L pod was in San Juan Channel!! More Orcas!! Right outside our home port of Friday Harbor. This happens on occasion (once a year?), but it is really unusual and such a treat!! Despite the boats, they sure seemed to be enjoying themselves – breach after breach and tail slaps as they continued south through the channel.
Jaclyn, naturalist, Crew At San Juan Safaris Whale Watch


Candi Emmons reported L pod coming down San Juan Channel this afternoon, then heading through Cattle Pass.


July 2, 2009
We caught up with a very spread out J pod just west of Cattle Point at 1:30. Granny and Speiden were in the lead, along with a male who I wasn’t able to ID. As we arrived on scene there was a private boat motoring along right behind Granny. She quickly responded with 3 consecutive breaches which I interpreted as "Get off my tail!
Heather Harris, San Juan Excursions


June 17, 2009
I was out on a Zodiac today at 1pm and we caught up with the L12s at Cattle Point , San Juan Island. They were foraging with a few tail slaps and one mighty breach from Mega. They were travelling slowly north close to shore.
Marie O’Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic POW.


June 11, 2008
We had an incredible experience today with the L12’s and K20 and K38 off San Juan Island, offshore from Cattle Point!! Lots of playing, multiple breaches by K38, and lots of tail lobbing!
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver