L12's But no L12 & Minke Whale

(downloadable eCard, click to enlarge)



(Mega L41 Breach Crop)








Today on yet another lovely day, we ventured to southern San Juan Island not far from Salmon Bank to find the few L12 group spread apart. Two of the ladies were kelping in the distance, playfully syphopping, bobbing at the surface and maybe even some rubbing. Some playful tailslaps and then they moved on. I could not see who it was but can only assume it was Mega L41's sister Calypso L94 and Matia L77. Mega L41 was on his own and in the distance gave us a half breach. Being such a big boy, his very rotund body seemed fairly heavy to bring fully out of the water, perhaps he was full :) He is about 30 years of age now and is probably one of the biggest of all the SR boys, just next to Ruffles J1.






After our wonderful view of the orcas we headed towards Hein Bank in search of Minke whales. I was snapping away admiring the Rhinoceros Auklets (a puffin species of bird) when all of a sudden a Minke surfaced quite close to us by surprize. I certainly was not ready for it so the image is blurry however I have included it because it was captured and we did get a look-see of the wonderful being. This animal was busy feeding. We saw the Minke a total of 2 maybe 3 times however because of their unpredictable movements was hard to get a decent photo today. A few fish balls with herds of birds indicated good feeding below the surface.