Killer whales, ahoy! | Submitted photos

isitors to Lime Kiln State Park enjoyed a special thrill Wednesday as members of J-pod, one of the three closely related clans that together comprise the Southern resident killer whales, surface close to shore off the coveted west side of San Juan Island.

June 15, 2011 5:48 pm
Visitors at San Juan Island's Lime Kiln State Park look on as a member of the J-pod ventures close to shore Wednesday.
Visitors at San Juan Island's Lime Kiln State Park look on as a member of the J-pod ventures close to shore Wednesday.

Too close for comfort? Not a chance.

Visitors to Lime Kiln State Park enjoyed a special thrill Wednesday as members of J-pod, one of the three closely related clans that together comprise the Southern resident killer whales, surface close to shore off the coveted west side of San Juan Island.

SanJuanJournal.com reader Monika Wieland snapped this photo to capture the occasion.

Go to www.orcawatcher.zenfolio.com to see more of Wieland’s photo; www.orcawatcher.com to read her blog post about Wednesday’s killer whale encounter.