June 19
It was quite the day, 19th of June out west off Vancouver Island. What with the wind, the waves, the flood tide and meeting up with the L 12's once again. Sure made for a memorable day, even if I missed three breaches. We saw a total of 8 whales on my first Zodiac trip at noon. Initially we found five off by themselves including three big boys and two females at Constance Bank, then later encountered Mega L 41, and his sisters L 77 and L 94, closer to shore. The 3.30pm Ocean Magic encountered Mega, L 41 and Alexis L 12, heading out west, past Metchosin, Vancouver Island between 4-5pm. Other whales were seen in the distance but too far to ID.The wind and the waves were even more boisterous at this point, so looking for whales was a challenge. Still, we had sunshine and no rain despite the threat from above.
Marie, Orca-Magic Prince Of Whales

L12s together with J pod and K 20& K38

June 18
Jim Maya of Maya's Westside Charters called to report J pod, the L12s and K20 & K38 looking happy in Race Passage at approx. 7:10 pm. They had been spotted earlier in the day off Jordon River, S. Vancouver Island, heading east.

June 18
Yesterday (6/18) we saw members of J Pod, members of the L-12s subgroup, and we saw Spock K-20 and Comet K-38. Since the L-12s and J Pod have gone separate ways today - 6-19-09 - I am interested in knowing if anyone spotted K-20 and K-38 and if so who were they with - J Pod or the L-12s? Would be interested in finding out. More on my blog post.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island

L12s

L94
San Juan Island
June 17, 2009
Photo by Ken Balcomb,
Center for Whale Research

June 17
Ken Balcomb encountered the L12's spread out a few miles off False Bay on the west side of San Juan Island at 10:45 a.m. The whales were very spread out and the conditions were poor. Only L89 and L94 (see above photo) were documented, but reports confirm that all of the L12's were in the area.
Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island

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

L pod heading in

June 16
Orca Network received a message from Sandy Buckley of San Juan Island that the L12's had been sighted 5 miles west of Race Rocks, heading in, at around 4 pm.
We had another indirect report they were off Secretary Island, off Victoria around 6 pm, should have more info. on this sighting later -

L12s

June 16
On the afternoon trip, we headed out to see the humpbacks again, only to hear that no one knew where they were. Just as I informed my passengers that we no longer knew where the Humpbacks were came news of the L 12 inbound. We were off and saw them both on our afternoon and evening trips, the only US boat to see Orcas this afternoon. They were West of Victoria. One other US boat got to them this evening.
And an update:
The L 12s right now are off False Bay, San Juan Island headed toward Eagle Pt. 8:45 PM
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island

June 12
Hi Susan - Just to let you know that the L12's, K20 and K38 went west early yesterday morning (6/12). So the (orca) sightings in Puget Sound must have been transients. Mark Malleson found the L12's, K20 and K38 at aprox 11:30 am yesterday (6/12) off Jordan River, B.C going west. Warmest Regards,
Simon Pidcock, Ocean Ecoventures