...not only did we hear whales..we saw them...not only did we see them...we saw a NEW BABY!
Polaris J-28 has a new one of her own
here's what went on...
I was listening to the Lime Kiln Hps today when I got a call from a friend that calls were on the Orca Sound Hps...I quickly flipped over...yes!...I bolted out the door and headed for County Park guessing the whales were coming south...after scanning a while and coming up empty I went home to listen to the HPs...
...when I walked in the door K Pod calls were coming over the Hps, and loud distinct J Pod calls too..Oh my! but where are they?...grab food...other binos...warmer clothes...out the door and back to County Park...
...this time it was only a few minutes before I saw a dorsal fin to the north, coming south along Henry Island...I waited...and watched...
..I kept thinking about the report the prior week of whales up north who were swimming in circles...all I could think of was a new baby...but I didn't really know...
...as the whales got a bit closer I headed to Lime Kiln...they were far offshore and there were a few who looked like they might be a bit closer...
...as the whales approached Lime Kiln, I had my binos up and saw a calf straight up out of the water and sort of like falling forward...I noticed how orange the calf looked, but I didn't want to start any rumors - I SHOULD HAVE!!!...they weren't in close but I was able to get some pictures...a group of about 4 with one really SMALL one...too small to be J-44 or J-45...but...ooohh...and then I saw this tiny calf surface with a female in front...it was Polaris J-28 and it looked like she had a baby...
...confirmed later that day by the Center for Whale Research and designated as J-46. I met some folks at Lime Kiln...I had brought out the speakers so they could hear any vocalizations or echolocation clicks..the whales were not too vocal..no worries...I made up for that with all the excitement of a new calf...the woman said it was her daughter's birthday and she wanted to see whales for her birthday - Wish Granted!!...and then some...
...a couple days later, out with Capt. Jim of Maya's Westside Charters we met up with the J17 family group and got a nice look at the fetal folds on the newest member of J pod.
