Saturday, June 1, 2013

6-1-13 Today J Pod Had Some Company

Saturday, June 1st
...it all began today with a 'wake up call' from the whales...that is, on the hydrophones...
...it was only about 5:00 a.m....off running to the park...
...I made it there just in time, by now it was about 5:30...
...spread out and moving at a steady pace...
...after they passed the lighthouse with the Olympic Mountains in the distance...baby J-49 and mom, Hy'Shqa J-37...

...it wasn't long before they came back up island and little did we know that this time they had company!
...there was a rumor that some L pod whales were here...we'd have to wait until someone could positively ID them...
...that didn't take long!...one of the passengers on Capt. Jim's morning trip commented she had seen whales at South Beach at 8:00 a.m...did she have any pictures???...yes!...the hero of the morning!!...she had a picture of Mega L-41!...confirmed-and we hadn't even seen him yet...that meant the L12s were here...wow! wow! and double wow!...the last time I saw them in these waters was Sept. 23, 2012...I know they had been spotted a time or two in other areas, like the outer coast, but here along the west side of San Juan Island it's been 8 months...
...it wasn't a long wait...the whales were heading up island...and the back lighting was...well, just look...
...Mystery L-85 and DoubleStuf J-34...
...Mega L-41 and Mako J-39...
...there was lots of socializing and 'hanging out together'...
...all that was before the whales made it past the lighthouse...

...they continued moving up island, passing the Center for Whale Research...
...past Open Bay...seems to be a great place to 'kid around'...
...up Henry Island...

...and on up they continued...I love the depth of this image...
...will I get any sleep tonight or have to go running in the early morning hours again?...I'll be ready!

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