L12s and L22s

L12's
TRIPLE Tail Lobs!
June 17, 2009
Photo by Jim Maya


June 17
We left the L 12s, which I think is a new resident pod, off of False Bay, West Side, San Juan Island, today at 5:00 PM going East down island. I have never captured a triple tail lob before (see photo!). I don't even know if I've ever seen one. A remarkable day! I hope you enjoy these photos.
Update:
Orcas about 9 PM headed N past Hannah Hts, San Juan Island.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters


June 17
I was out on a Zodiac today at 1pm and we caught up with the L 12's at Cattle Point , San Juan Island. They were foraging with a few tail slaps and one mighty breach from Mega - too bad I missed it. Just looked the wrong way at that moment. Happened so fast and he never did it again. They were travelling slowly north close to shore.
Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic POW.

June 17
We had the L22's, L22, L89, L79 and and additional whale L-77, I believe, off the westside yesterday (6/17). Lots of back and forth activity, at one point L-22 was bracketed by both her much bigger sons.
Jeff Hogan, Killer Whale Tales

June 17,
A group of 5 of the L-12, L-22's in a fairly close formation, slowly swimming from the Salmon Bank buoy northwest toward San Juan Island, from 12:55pm to 1:50pm. At first they seemed to be traveling in 2 groups, then all 5 came together, and appeared to be resting in the slack flood tide with little tidal exchange. I could ID L-12, L-89 (Solstice near the Solstice!), and not sure, but think the other male was L-85, along with 2 other females. The sun glinting off their backs and through the spray of their exhalations, the 2 males shoulder to shoulder coming up together, was beautiful, but made it difficult to ID.
Caroline Armon, San Juan Excursions