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As the sun set Oct. 28 we thought J and K pods were headed up and out of Admiralty Inlet and probably out to sea, but they showed up the next morning right about they were the night before, between Edmonds and the Kitsap Peninsula. From there they went on to Seattle, generating some media attention on a bright clear day with lots of folks lining the shores to see them. At one point they surrounded a ferry bearing Suquamish tribal artifacts being repatriated to a new museum exhibit called "Ancient Shores, Changing Tides." Wednesday they were still in Puget Sound between Whidbey and Vashon Island. According to some reports the Hood Canal chum salmon run is setting records this year, and those chum tend to overshoot Hood Canal and head into Possession Sound and Puget Sound before moving back north into Hood Canal after a good rain. Southern Residents are known to feast on chum salmon in these fall months, so that must have been the main attraction for them. Thursday J and K pods appeared along the west side of San Juan Island and out to sea in the afternoon, and haven't been seen since.

Many amazing photos to behold below, with a special look at hundreds of Pacific white-sided dolphins excitedly bursting through the surf near Active Pass.

The loss of J8 Speiden was duly noted in the past few days. We'll miss her wheeze and her rounded dorsal fin.

Howard Garrett

Today J Pod off SJI Land Bank West Side Preserve heading north very slowly in amazing groups at about noon, heading south, J16's and J17's just off the rocks at 12:30 pm. Many very close in at Hannah Heights at 1pm. At 4pm offshore of Pile Point about a mile. My pics showed that K's were with the J's off San Juan Island. The K13's were very tight to shore off Hannah Heights.
Sharon Grace

I walked inside the house and had an email waiting for me. Whales headed toward the island! Called the friends, they came running and soon we were with J and K Pod off of Pile Pt. They were foraging. We watched for a while as they started to head west at 4:30. On the way home, 20 or so Dall's followed us for a while. Great impromptu-ish day! Here are a few scenes from the day...
Capt. Jim Maya

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

J and K pods off Pile Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 31, 2013.

4:19 - KOMO4 following them off Alki.
Maythewild Rise

4 pm - Brad Hanson says they turned back north about 3:15 and there's a big group off West Point, north side of Elliot Bay, right now.

2:45 pm - Watching orcas from the end of the pier at the Seattle Aquarium!!!
Jenn Whitsett

2:35 - here atop Queen Anne with two co-workers seeing orcas with NOAA, sailboat, and a sightseeing boat still mid channel sloshing look to be trending south tho one looks like he is headed south east
Alisa Lemire Brooks

2:19 - My dad's on the Seattle/BI ferry now and says he sees them north of the ferry lanes.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

New orca lovers! Mimi and Sadie saw them from the ferry today... SO COOL!!!Views from Bainbridge Island watching J pod today. Photo by Susan Marie Andersson, October 30, 2013.

2:05 - Great show from Seattle-Bainbridge ferry boats!!! 20+ orcas!!!
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn

1:30 - My daughter (Josephine, 4) and nanny saw 3-4 orcas while playing at the beach in Discovery Park (Seattle). We aren't experts on identification, so can only report that they were there. Wish we had a picture!
Matt

Boarded the 1:10 boat from BI and watched them mill off the lighthouse the entire time. Hoping they will continue south!
Susan Marie Andersson

Spent an hour watching them from Magnolia Bluff/Blvd (about 12:40 - 1:40). Only one other person there watching where I was. Saw a full breach, some tail slaps, and some (mom with baby, don't know enough to ID) came fairly close to Magnolia shoreline. What a thrill!
Pacific Northwest Seasons

Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries called to report they are with the whales (they are the little zodiac boat, and have a research permit) -

Brad Hansen of NOAA Fisheries just called in an update at 12:15 - the orcas are heading INTO Elliott Bay! They were between Shilshole and Port Madison around noon (interesting that they are STILL hanging around the site where the Suquamish artifacts were returned to the tribe yesterday - very cool).

12:12 - Seeing Orcas in Seattle from shore at Golden Gardens! First time out of the San Juans! Awesome!
Melissa Kaday

11:10 - I leave seeing orca mid channel out from Port Madison with their families still coming. Much foraging, breaching, and tail lobbing out from KAYU kayu earlier.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

J & K pods Puget Sound October 29 & 30, 2013. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks.

11:08 - For folks from Seattle, at Carkeek part and seeing activity just slightly north from here, but much closer to the west shore. Bring good binocs.
Laura Bestor Riedel

Around 11:00 am sighted 3 or 4 Orcas hunting off Bainbridge Island. East side between Yomalt Point and Wing Point. There was at least one large male. Watched them for about 30 minutes. There may have been more they were swimming around and back and forth off my bank.
Sally Sieber

11:00am - Lots of animals, spread out all over, individuals and small groups, still headed south, between President's Point and Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. Seeing some tail slaps on the Kitsap side.
10:33am - I have eyes on a group of dorsal fins, headed steadily south. They're positioned south of the Kingston-Edmonds ferry lane, traveling mid-channel between Kitsap peninsula and Point Wells (south of Edmonds, north of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park).
Dave Haas

10:30 - have seen one big boy traveling w/adult female and young one off Kayu Kayu park north Richmond Beach, and another big male across just passing in front of Kingston ferry (sighhtline) still southbound.
10:37 - at least a dozen, spread out mid channel and both sides...slowed to forage, they foraged in this same spot last night!
Alisa Lemire Brooks

9:54 - Wsf ferry Spokane report pod of approx 12 orca headed southbound in kingston/ Edmonds ferry lane...approx 950am...
Wayne McFarland

Today was one of the best Orca watching days of the 25 years living in the Great Pacific Northwest! During four hours from our little neighborhood park we watched the J & K pods spread out over a 1/2 mile. Probably over 40 Orcas feeding and breaching in the warm sunshine!!!! A very sweet and happy bunch! The Orcas filled everyone's heart with joy!
And even closer we watched 30 passing porpoises and a few seals and 100's of sea birds and also several salmon jumping out of the water. All with the Olympic Mountain range in full view! People were lined up at our spotting scope. Many were excited Orca virgins. . Always the best!! YAY! - at Carkeek Park.
Kenny Hamm

8:00 - Hearing them on Lime Kiln.
Valorie Clausen

7:45 - Calls on Orcasound now.
Pam Ren

6:37 - Hearing great vocals on LK hydrophone. Sounds like residents!
Brittany Bowles

6:33 - hearing some Orcas on Lk hydrophone.
Selena Rhodes Scofield

SRKW's at Hannah Heights about 6:30pm. Not going anywhere. Calls now on Limekiln.
Sharon Grace

6:15 - I leave under the watchful eye of the Olympic mountains...last group of two big boys and a few females and youngins nearing Kingston.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

Saw about 5 or 6 on the Kingston side. Very far from us over here on the Edmonds side but I still am happy to have seen them thanks to a few others with binoculars who pointed them out.
Kellie Sagen

From north Richmond Beach late this afternoon into evening I watched J & K pod travel northward very spread out and in small groups. Saw a few breaches and tail lobs as they continued their steady journey northward mostly west of mid channel. A few whales (including one of the big boys) swam mid way between me and mid channel, stalled and foraged for 10 minutes. A boat packed with burly fishermen motoring south erupted in celebration and cut their engine once aware of the orcas in their presence. A big boy surfaced and another spy-hopped near their boat eliciting more cheers, all of us happy to be absorbing these creatures swimming beside them. The orcas and the setting sun behind my beloved Olympic mountains fills my being. Days like these....
Alisa Lemire Brooks

5:54 - Saw a couple breaches, some fins and lots of spouts just south Edmonds Beach/Dog Park vantage point. Looks like they're headed west.
Tammie Burks

My dream of seeing orcas in the wild came true today and I am so thankful!!! Photo by Misty Eberspecher, October 29. 2013.

5:45 pm - 10 or more are straight across from Kingston ferry. One breach! Mid channel right now.
Kim Funchess

5:35 - Alisa Brooks posted that the lead orcas in Puget Sound were nearing Kingston, still heading north. Time to look from Pt No Point and South Whidbey to see which way they go!

I watched them forage from mid- Bainbridge Island east side toward Richmond Beach for about 2 hour last night, when I went home at 5:30. Good eats, I suppose!
Susan Vennerholm

5:15 PM......several of them heading north more on the west side between President Point, Kingston and Kingston proper. One even did a nice breach!
Chris Beamer Otterson

Taken from the 5:00 sailing of the ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo. Photo by Vicki Frerichs, October 29, 2013.

3:47 - About 6-7 just off Fay Bainbridge. Still heading north. They are glistening in the sun! Yeah!
Sue Surowiec Larkin

A beautiful day to be watching for orcas on the sound. Around 4pm, a great breach off of Fay Bainbridge, with the NOAA boat in the distance. Photo by Sue Larkin, October 29, 2013.

3 pm - I see them! Directly across from shillshole marina on the BI side!
Courtney Flynn

2:47 - We can see them from magnolia headed north closer to bainbridge. NOAA boat is with them.
Jennifer Thorn Scanlon

2:43 - Just left Rockaway Beach, south Bainbridge... they were north of Space Needle. Several hanging out by NOAA boat. Pretty spread out... seem to be mid channel. Beautiful breaching, spy hops, tail slaps. Great day!!!
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn

2:30 - Just left them as they passed Wing Point, Bainbridge side. Lots of breeching!!
Susan Marie Andersson

1:35 - Willie Wilson, 2nd mate on the ferry Tacoma, called to report a large pod of at least 20 orcas about .5 - 1 mile off Restoration Point, heading north. The males were on the perimeter of the group, females and younger orcas inside the group. A lot of breaching going on, and a lot of happy passengers on the ferries that are slowing and stopping to watch the whales go by!

This was taken from the ferry Tacoma (which came to an "all stop" to let the whales pass) at 1:30pm today. The whales were spread out at one point from west of Restoration Point on Bainbridge Island to just off of 4 Mile Rock at the base of Magnolia Bluff. Photo by Paul Mooselips Dudley, October 29, 2013.

Playing around outside Elliott Bay. Photo by Candice Emmons, NW Fisheries Science Center, October 29, 2013.

What a perfect West Seattle day! We got to watch the orcas swim south to about the south end of Blake Island before they turned back north. Lots of tail slapping and breaches. Here are a couple of photos - my favorite is the first, of an orca just finishing a backflip - a moment later all you could see was a huge splash!
Trileigh Tucker

Photo by Trilegh Tucker, October 29, 2013.

11:54 - Been watching a pod of orca from alki/beach drive junction. moving from north blake island to north vashon - out in middle of channel. a big california sea lion swimming around 30 yards off the shore - he's been here 30 min...
M James Sullivan

This morning I counted approx 16 Orca traveling south at speed. They were led by two large males, followed at varying speeds by the rest. Last to pass was a female and a smaller possible calf. I live on high bank waterfront on the East Side of Bainbridge Island, between Yomalt Point and Wing Point/ Murden Cove, and the entrance to Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island. East Side of the Island directly facing Seattle downtown.
Sally Sieber

11:40 - Whales are Southbound now, leaders passing Blake Island marina.
11:24 - Orcas milling off south end of Bainbridge Island right now, visible from West Seattle with binoculars.
Stephanie Raymond

10:35 - Maia of WSF reports a group of about 8 orcas near the bouy off Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Is., headed south.

10:30 - Orcas confirmed from seattle Bainbridge ferry this morning.
Dana Barrett

10:00 - orcas at yeomalt point Bainbridge island southbound. Several Males and spread out.
Chris Slye

9:30 - Orcas just off point Wilson (closer to to the point than mid channel) appear to be heading south into Admiralty Inlet! Not sure how many or who but looked to be Approximately 10 or so. No IDs. Too far away and only saw blows with dorsals.
Renee Ramirez, Victoria Clipper

 9:24...i am atop bluff north end of Richmond Beach Park, can see what I believe is activity south of Faye Bainbridge Park, sightline midway between that and Eagle Harbor (Bainbridge ferry)..if you transect they're out there somewhere in middle. Please keep in mind that's with a healthy dose of long distance viewing.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

9 am - Whales reported heading south from Richmond Beach, Edmonds.
Jeff Hogan

8:30 - Heads up to everyone on the Bainbridge/Seattle ferrries. A large pod moving south in the middle of the sound just off President Point in Kingston. Can see the spouts with my naked eye but best viewed thru binoculars.
Chris Beamer Otterson

Looks like the SRKWs might be back in Puget Sound this morning. My neighbor Larry walked up and rang my doorbell to tell me he was seeing some dorsal fins out there. Sure enough I grabbed my binoculars and am seeing a number of dorsal fins of Richmond Beach / Shoreline, spread out between south of the mid-channel buoy down to 1-2 miles off Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. Hopefully you can get the word out so central and south Sound folks can be ready!
Dave Haas

Faint SRKW calls (J pod) began several minutes ago on the Port Townsend hydrophone, but I had to wait until the ferry left to confirm what I was hearing.
Meg McDonald

Watching orcas from Baby Island to the Clinton Ferry terminal, followed them for around 13 miles...beautiful day and wonderful people I met along the way. Best show was when the orcas were near the ferry terminal and hugging Columbia Beach. Lots of excited folks...and ferry personnel too happy day for all. The 4 and 4:30 boat runs had the most excitement. You could hear people screaming from ferry and land!
Marilyn Armbruster

Orcas heading south in Saratoga Passage, with Everett and the Cascade Mountains in the background. Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 28, 2013.

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 28, 2013.

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 28, 2013.

Spotted a small female orca with playful calf, flipping it's tail half out of water repeatedly. Seemed solo which struck me as odd. . I believe there was a feeding event before we came on the scene as the animals were located because of a flock of sea gulls not unlike a shark attack or sea lion feeding event, we slowed the boat and went neutral for a moment maintaining our distance, animals were headed south. Lat 38,50, 30ftms between Saunders reef and Anchor Bay Nor Cal. I am a commercial urchin diver, on my boat with thousands of hrs time in this area, first sighting here although I've had several off Pt Arena, always pods though.
Erik Owen

An urchin fisherman spotted 3 killer whales, including a calf yesterday at ~2:30PM, 1 mile NW of Haven's Anchorage, Gualala, CA. Coordinates were 38 48.304N, 123 36.771W. Animals were possibly harassing seals and were non-directional. No photos were submitted.
Naked Whale Research

ABOUT ORCA NETWORK  
Orca Network is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats.
Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network involves citizens in helping researchers track the movement of whales, and encourages people to observe whales from their homes, businesses, ferries, and beaches.
Whale reports are sent in to our Sighting Network and emailed out to researchers, agencies, and citizens on our network, and posted on our website (MAP of sightings also on website). Whale reports and observations are sent in by a variety of sources, and Orca Network does not guarantee the accuracy of any report or whale identification.

 

TO REPORT WHALES, CALL: 1-866-ORCANET (1-866-672-2638), email info@orcanetwork.org, or post sightings on our Orca Network Facebook page.

 

*BE WHALE WISE! BOATERS - NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS OF MAY 16, 2011:

 "The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect May 16 and apply to all types of boats, including motor boats, sail boats and kayaks, in Washington"

 

For more information on the new Federal Regulations, visit the NOAA Fisheries website. 

 

 
To report harassment of whales in US waters, call NOAA Enforcement: 1-800-853-1964;

In Canadian waters, call DFO's Observe Record and Report (ORR) Violations Hotline: 1-800- 465-4336

Report the boat name &/or a description of the boat, & get photos if at all possible.