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Orca/Humpback triple header

4/29/2016

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A pod of orcas was observed near Mountain Point very close to shore.  They were moving north and eventually crossed out into Nichols Passage closer to Annette Island.  The pod appeared to be split up into at least two groups of maybe three or four whales per group.  They were 20 minutes or more apart from each other, but they appeared to be travelling in the same general direction.  It looked as though they may have circled back and started moving south near the mouth of Annette Bay.  As we were watching the orcas, a humpback surfaced near the shores of Annette Island.   We watched it move north toward the pod of orcas.  The humpback appeared to dive, displaying its flukes, in the same area that the orcas were milling about.  Approximately 30 seconds after we saw the flukes of the humpback, we saw what we thought was another humpback dive and display its flukes.  We were perhaps half a mile away so it was difficult to see.  We were only able to get a picture of one set of flukes, so we cannot be sure that we actually saw two humpbacks.  We were able to get pictures of the orcas; however, the water was rough so it was like taking pictures while sitting on top of an electric bull.  Needless to say, many of the pictures are blurry.  

These orcas have been identified as the I15s.  They are resident (fish eaters) orcas.  One whale was positively identified, along with one probable identification.  Many thanks to Northern Resident Orca Population (see their Facebook page under the "Links" tab) for identifying these whales.       

After getting home, a humpback was observed swimming south very close to shore.  There may have been a calf with this one.  I noticed a large spout and then several seconds later a smaller spout seemed to appear out of nowhere.  None of my pictures show two whales, but the dorsal fin in one picture looks different from the rest.           
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