Orcas

[Garyak]

I saw these while out in PWS last week. They followed me around for 1/2 an hour. Also saw several humpbacks, a gang of about 8 sea lions cruising and 2 black bears. Didn't see a single otter....where do they go? I caught an octopus but am such a pathetic fisher/shrimper that it ended up as dinner instead of bait. Winds leaving Whittier were 25 kts but it was very nice after I left Passage canal. Glad I went...nice 2 day trip.

[tlingitwarrior]

Very cool.

For Otters, look at around rocks in the entrance of the larger bays. Eaglek and Unakwik hold a ton.

I know because that's where I hunt them!! :topjob:

[Garyak]

Very cool.

For Otters, look at around rocks in the entrance of the larger bays. Eaglek and Unakwik hold a ton.

I know because that's where I hunt them!! :topjob:

I was in an area where I saw a zillion of them last year...odd not to see a single one. Just curious if they might seasonally migrate to other areas in the sound.

[ChrisJ]

Nice... Great images. Yet another reason why Alaska is a great place :-)

[Rob B]

We caw those three a few weeks ago out north east. Was really cool to see and are the first for us in PWS.

[Garyak]

I'd never seen them in the wild before and they motored right up to the boat...way cool!! Do you know if PWS is the end of the migration for some of the humpbacks? Seems like a heck of a side trip from Montague if they were going to continue north...but I guess in the perspective of their total migration its more like a couple laps around the block.

[Rob B]

No idea about the Orcas route, but we do see humpbacks out there all the time. Seems like they hang out in Passage canal quite often too.

[Ronster]

We had islands of floating otters on the Valdez side this weekend. Probably saw 200-300 of them in a matter of an hour. Also saw more porpoise than I have ever seen in the past, probably 300-400 just on the way back into the Valdez Narrows.

[Brian M]

I'd never seen them in the wild before and they motored right up to the boat...way cool!! Do you know if PWS is the end of the migration for some of the humpbacks? Seems like a heck of a side trip from Montague if they were going to continue north...but I guess in the perspective of their total migration its more like a couple laps around the block.

Yep, plenty of humpbacks call the Sound home in the summer. It's the grays that just pass by the entrance to the Sound on their way much further north.

[iofthetaiga]

My understanding is that the PWS Orca pod are permanent residents. Also that since the oil spill they haven't been reproducing; their numbers continue to decline.

[Garyak]

My understanding is that the PWS Orca pod are permanent residents. Also that since the oil spill they haven't been reproducing; their numbers continue to decline.

I won't argue the point about them being in decline...but maybe this photo shares some good news. As close as they were, they were hard for me to catch with the camera. They would surface briefly on either side of the boat, in front of it and directly behind then vanish for what seemed like several minutes. As best as I could figure there were 7 Orcas and this poorly framed picture is the only one I got that shows all of them. The 2nd,3rd and 5th from the right appear to be quite young...note the small dorsal fins...and at least size wise, much smaller by at least 1/2 or more than the other four. Maybe they're getting a grip again.

[iofthetaiga]

I think it was the AT1 pod I had read about and was thinking of...

http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/index.cfm?FA=status.orca

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov...oil-spill.html

Very cool images! Hope springs eternal!

[Brian M]

I've lost more than a few sablefish to those orcas right there. Amazing animals, indeed.

[Cap'n Ron]

I've seen the PWS orcas many times over the last 18 years, always in somewhat different places. What I haven't seen in 4-5 years are the sea lions over on the east end of the sound. While too many of those does not bode well for spawning salmon runs, a reasonable number could be a sign of a healthy marine ecosystem. Wondering if Ronster saw any in his trip along the east side last weekend? I've seen seals way up the Yukon near Childs Glacier, and was told they go up there to have and rear pups to keep away from the sea lions which can't tolerate the fresh water like the seals can...was quite a surprise to me to see a momma and pup seal pop their heads up near the "million dollar bridge"! that was 10 years ago...

Back to topic, GARYAK, that last picture of the 7 orcas is priceless! The calm waters last week was a boon to the great photos you and Ronster (otters) took, thanks for sharing those, and the good news on the orca youth

[BrownBear]

I saw these {Orcas} while out in PWS last week.

Didn't see a single otter....where do they go?

You got your answer right there.

We kind of build up otters for a few weeks out in front of our house, then a pod of Orcas comes through. Every otter for miles is looking for a tree to climb. Gets pretty bloody for the otters stuck out in open water. The others move right up onto the shore, even climbing out on reefs, as well as waaay back into kelp beds. They also get real still and quiet.

Takes about a week for them to start venturing out into open water again. The Orcas may be gone for another month of so, but the otters can't get their minds past a sneak attack, I think.