Our streak of amazing mornings on the water continued on June 27th when we met up with the K12s and K13s just north of False Bay. While I love watching whales from shore, one of the interesting things about watching them from a boat is that you can stay with the same animals for extended lengths of time. On shore, by contrast, you're stationary while all the animals go past you - so you see everyone, but just briefly. On this morning in particular, we got to spend a lot of time with K37 Rainshadow and his younger sister K43 Saturna. At first they were quickly traveling north.
 |
| K43 Saturna |
Then suddenly they stopped to forage, and while we dropped the hydrophone and recorded their echolocation clicks they circled our boat in the early morning light.
 |
| K37 Rainshadow arches his back at the surface |
 |
| A close look at K43 Saturna |
Then, as they continued north again at a slower pace, it was apparently play time for a little bit - at least K37 Rainshadow did a series of breaches!
 |
| Breach from K37 Rainshadow |
Up near Lime Kiln it was decision time - to continue north, or turn back south? They milled around for a while before deciding to continue north, towards J-Pod Group A and the K14s.
 |
| A different perspective on watching whales at Lime Kiln |
In the afternoon, the Js and Ks had all met up and were making their way back down Haro Strait. I saw them from Lime Kiln.
 |
| A big spyhop from K33 Tika |
 |
| K27 Deadhead and K44 Ripple |
J-Pod Group A and the K12s, K13s, and K14s would spend the night off the south end of San Juan Island.....a perfect set up for another morning encounter on June 28th!
No comments:
Post a Comment