Pacific Whale Watch Association

7/27/2009: "There are moments in life that words don't accurately capture a moment or a series of moments. Orcas have also been a creature beyond words for me. Their essence, the emotions they stir in people, and even how the move through their environment. Tonights trip was one of those experiences that words are simply going to fail. It was a day we always dream about: whales close to home and lake calm conditions set in the low light of the evening. We found members of both L & K pod Orcas moving east along the south end of Lopez Island. The first group was Lea (K14), her son Lobo (K26), Yoda (K36) and the youngest member of K pod little K42- who was born last summer. It was on the east side of Colville Island that we had 5 different groups of whales surround the boat in milling behavior. It seemed like each group was involved in their own playtime we had spyhops, taillobs, breaching, pec slaps and even whales enjoying the bull kelp! In the stillness of the moment their exhalations emitted a golden cast set against the black backdrop of the island. The sound carried across the water as the groups moved towards island and then eventually back towards the west. The activity continued as we watched the whales continue to play and travel. Skagit (K13) showed off her youngest Cali (K34), while many of the other whales we enjoyed the company of were unable to identify due to the lighting we presume do to the activities of earlier in the day that we had a mixture of K & L pod whales. The day was breathtaking and the whales true to form were once again beyond words!" - Naturalist Kate Janes