NEW POW WEB BANNERS 07!

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From India to Edmonton to ORCAS!

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Looking almost like astronauts, here is a group who came out for our zodiac trip today. They have come on a journey and ended up here in beautiful Victoria no doubt to get a magical look at our sacred killer whales!



Also take a look at our cool photo wall next time your in the office!

LPod!

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Today during our noon Ocean Magic trip we headed to San Juan Island where both J and L Pods were spending their day. Got word that Jpod was northbound but found that Lpod was partly going southbound (at False Bay - Eagle Point) so we caught up with them. Saw several calfs traveling together near the shoreline and based on the small size and color of one, recognized it as the new Lpod calf L109 who's mother is Nugget / L55 who I did not see at the time. L109 was traveling with another youngster, and there were other individuals traveling close to shore. Noticed some speed porpoising and tail slaps by the calfs. A small group of 3 animals passed who turned out to be Racer / L72 & calf / Fluke 105 and Domino / L104. Obviously Racer / L72 was babysitting Domino / L104 and I assume the mother was off hunting nearby. It was a pleasure to see so many of the Lpod calfs today, what a treat. It's a first time for me to see the new calf who was born in March of 07.

Cool cross-shot

photo taken by me of guest S. Groenewold

photo of me taken by guest S. Groenewold i took photo of above

If you have a cool shot from a trip of an animal, staff or other please feel free to send it to us and we will put it up on our blog!

Jpod, seal, sun halo

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As we departed the Victoria inner harbour today, noticed a harbour seal chomping away on something that looked a bit like an octopus. Also saw an amazing sun halo above. Important not to look directly at the sun.

Today on our noon trip we found Jpod south Lopez Island traveling westbound to their usual feeding grounds of San Juan Island. Along the way we caught J1 traveling on his own, sprouter male Mike / J26 and saw J14 with calf Suttles / J40 (f). The animals past Colville Island as our trip came to an end. Along the way we saw some high speed feeding behavior near the shoreline including lunges and tail and cartwheeling. Some breaches occured as well.


(complimentary eCard of J16 & J42, click to download)



(Ruffles / J1)


(Slick / J16)

(J16 & calf J42)

(J16 & calf J42)

(Mako / J39)

(Blackberry / J27)

(Double Stuff / J34)

On our evening trip, Jpod was spread very wide apart hunting. Got a beautiful pass of Ruffles / J1 in warm sun and flat blue waters. Keet / J33 was fishing near Blackberry / J27 and J16 was fishing nearby as well. Caught Mako / J39 speed porpoising alone (calf 2003). Slick / J16 gave us a stunning look at her and her new calf J42. The animals remained in very spread out fashion when we left them with some of the group northbound speed porpoising and breaching along the way.

Jpod

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(Ruffles / J1)

(Granny / J2 & Blackberry J27)

(Ruffles / J1)


(Sachi / J19 & calf J41)

(Ruffles / J1)

(Mike / J26)



Jpod was hanging around their usual stomping grounds today; San Juan Island. We arrived this afternoon to find the animals traveling southbound, then northbound and then no bound. They were feeding close along the shoreline as well as a few miles out. Our good friend J1 Ruffles was on his own traveling north and south. Some lunge feeding attempts by J1 as well as sprouter male Mike / J26. Noticed that Mike / J26 was traveling with Granny / J2 and Samish / J14. Mike's fin is quite distinctive as it is quite floppy and big. Always know when Mike is approaching by his wobbly dorsal. Kinda like a big puppy with floppy ears and feet :) To our delight, we were given a beautiful spectacle as one of the females breached for us a few times. Today's behavior involved tail slapping, breaching, and a few spyhops close to the shoreline. On our way home we stopped briefly to see a lone eagle who was perched on the Oak Bay marker. Thanks to Jpod for making todays trip memorable.








This evenings trip Jpod was traveling northbound towards their typical Active Pass to Vancouver, Fraser River journey. They were steadily moving north in groups and singularly. Someone rolled over on their side sorta spy hopping kinda but not quite sure. We saw a few breaches. One of those occured near the end of our trip, unfortunately my track record is not 100% yet however please see the breaches from this afternoons trip instead. Oreo / J22 was traveling with calf born in 03 Cookie / J38. Mike / J26 was seen traveling with the group also. We left the group at Turn Point.