J Pod Showed up Inland Today!

July 14, 2025

It started out as a confusing day when a humpback whale was seen and visitors thought it was an orca...well it was a whale just not an orca.  Shortly after it had passed by - thank you to everyone who showed me their pictures, proving it was confirmed a humpback.

At almost the same time word came in that SRKWs (Southern Resident Killer Whales) were in Haro Strait and heading up island.  

Okay, total confusion for a while...and then J Pod started to make an appearance coming up island and passing the lighthouse...How exciting it was to see them again...it has been almost 2 months since they have been seen in these waters...and many people had their first experience of seeing a pod of orcas - J Pod. Some people have watched these whales for many years and were so glad to see them here again.  Those who had not ever seen them before were thrilled - of course!

My photos did not turn out well but here are a few from the day...

Above image is of a male...looked like he was chasing a salmon. It's Mike (J-26) you can see his open saddle patch, though barely.

Another family member of the J16s is Alki (J-36). Over the years she has often been seen traveling near her big brother Mike (J-26).

Looked like Alki (J-36) was after salmon too!  Let's hope!!

The whales were spread out, some very close to shore.

...and then these two, Suttles (J-40) and her calf J-63 - who I had not previously gotten a good image of - yay!!  This family group belongs to the Samish (J-14) family.

Below is Shachi (J-19), her only offspring is Eclipse (J-41) who now has three offspring, keeping 'grandma' busy!

I thought I got an image of Eclipse's youngest but my camera told me I didn't.  oops....I'll try for the next time!

It was a great day seeing J Pod for the first time in about 2 months.

What a great day and of course the whales knew it was time to be present to do their part in encouraging the humans to care for the ocean health. 

Just their presence helped people understand they can do their part to help them recover.  Each one teach one and think of how you can help these magnificent orcas.

6-11-2025 Orcas passing Lime Kiln

A few days ago was very busy seeing Harbor Porpoise then Transients and some people also saw a couple humpbacks. Yesterday was about a Zero day for seeing anything.  Then TODAY there were many people at Lime Kiln and someone spotted an orca far offshore.

A big Thank You to the person who first spotted an orca and then many others did too. A big THANK YOU to all of you and for letting me know because I was inside the lighthouse and there are 'more walls than windows' making it challenging. And thanks to all the people who got excited and who got my attention. It was challenging too because those whales were far offshore and there was a haze adding to the challenge of seeing them.  So, with that, here are the few images I got. 

The first image is to show that visibility was a challenge...

Then 3 surfaced at the same time.

One whale or two?? The sun reflection makes it confusing!

The image below looks like it could be a calf but the 2 images above looks like not a calf.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring...can't wait to find out!

Transients and Harbor Seals

Mom harbor seal 
Mom and pup

above - white mark is sun glare

two imaegs - mom and very youngg pup

Mom is still paying attention to what???
 

ah-ha! she was paying attention to those Transient orcas.              Whew!  Safe for today...

This was NOT today but just imagine what that little seal might tell that gull about today's encounter!

Day 1 of the Study and 2 HBs show up!

The Study? Since 1990 a wonderful fella began a study regarding the Southern Resident orcas - J, K and L pods. He has retired now but the study continues.  It begins each year on May 20th and today whales showed up! It wasn't J, K or L pods but it was a mom and calf humpback!

At least the first day of the study there was something to put on the sightings board!  yay! There have been several humpbacks returning to the Salish sea in recent weeks and there will likely be more coming in. They don't come in large groups but instead sometimes there is just one humpback that passes by and other times there is a mom and calf.

Here are a few images of the mom and calf who passed by Lime Kiln lighthouse today and today they were much closer to the San Juan shore than the previous HBs!  More will likely be coming.

It is hoped that the Southern Residents return soon but it's still a bit early and they need to be where their food source is.

May 17th - Can you find the whales

Word of orcas in Haro Strait earlier today - yay!

However, they were far from shore...estimated to be 5-plus miles. 

Oh, that will be a challenge...

Can you see them? (note: most images are out of focus...not easy to get a far-from-shore moving whale in focus! )

What was their location? 

                                 The background is your clue...