Orcas in the Channel

Got home from work a couple of weeks back and was looking off the deck. Saw an odd set of wakes that I knew wasn't from a boat or water turned-up by rafts of Surf Scoters migrating through...

The photos aren't that great; however, you can make out the wakes just above the roof of the neighboring condos:

Instincts were right (and was damned glad I snagged the camera!) that it was a small pod of orcas, most likely residents, passing through:

As usual, they were passing through too fast to really get a good close-up. The one time I'd ever really got up close and personal, I didn't have a camera with me; having been returning from a saltwater rearing site in a work skiff. If you really want to appreciate one of these animals, try having one of the 20-plus foot long critter slapping its tail on the water just a short distance from your 18-foot skiff!

Nothing like a good afternoon of Alaskan entertainment.