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In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Photo of the Day
Northern Resident orcas
Southern Resident orcas
Transients (Bigg's Whales)
Unknown Orcas
Humpbacks
White-sided dolphins
Find a wide range of books related to orcas at the Orca Network Amazon store.
Orca Network recommends:
The Lost Whale, by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisolm  
An intensely personal story...but this person is a young orca.  

Lost Whale book...ver scaled  

 To learn more about orcas: 

Orcas in Our Midst, volume 3, by Howard Garrett

Orcas in Our Midst,

Vol. 3: Residents and Transients, How Did That Happen?

Click here  

to order YOUR copy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bestseller about orcas in captivity.

Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby 

   DeathatSeaWorld


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November 9, 2013

We are watching and visiting the whales in their home~

Please observe, love and respect them from a distance.

Having trouble viewing this Sightings Report? Archived Reports can be found HERE.
It's been an unusual week. It started out great on November 4th as J and K pods cruised up and down Saratoga Passage, followed on the 5th with a three-hour feast off Bush Point in Admiralty Inlet as the incoming tide washed salmon into the mouths of waiting orcas. (Of course we were at the World Cetacean Alliance meeting in Gloucester, Mass. and missed this rare sight unfolding virtually at our doorstep.) The action then shifted to the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, including everything except So. Residents. The big surprise was a group of Northern Resident orcas who came in past Race Rocks, southwest of Victoria. They were from G clan, which has been found often off the southwest side of Vancouver Island on Swiftsure Bank, a shallow spot west of the Strait of Juan de Fuca where four types of orcas (Southern Residents, Northern Residents, Bigg's/Transients, and Offshores) are known to separately forage for their respective prey, without interacting.

Not to be outdone, humpbacks have been around, mostly south of Victoria, in record numbers lately, and Pacific white-sided dolphins were seen with the Northern Residents and heard over the Lime Kiln hydrophones, at one point accompanied by humpbacks.

Harkening back to the spectacular dolphin convention just north of Active Pass on October 31, please enjoy Dolphin 'Super Pod' Amazes B.C. Ferry Passengers (VIDEO) .

This has not been a good year for Southern Residents, with four losses over the past 12 months. For a nicely written retrospective on the Southern Residents missing and presumed deceased from the past year Monika Weiland offers: Day of the Dead ~ 4th Annual Tribute.

Howard Garrett
Susan Berta
Orca Network
Photo of the Day
Northern Residents make rare visit south, near Sooke, BC.
Photo by Sandi Murdock, November 8, 2013.

Northern Resident orcas
November 8
I came across the G2 and G27 matrilines foraging east of Race Rocks on the morning of November 8th.  There was a group of Pacific White-Sided dolphins accompanying them. I last saw them off of Sooke west bound passing through a group of humpback whales.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
Northern resident killer whale G2 and Pacific White-Sided dolphin off of East Sooke park in the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Photo by Mark Malleson, November 8th, 2013.
Southern Resident orcas
November 5
Amazing encounter with the southern residents off Bush Point, Whidbey Island, late this afternoon (thanks to Marilyn Armbruster posting on FB). We arrived just in time to see 7/8 whales grouped together close inshore, and watched as they interacted socially, played, foraged, changed direction from north to south and back again before drifting in leisurely fashion north in the twilight. The water was flat calm, like glass, as we listened to their powerful blows resounding across Admiralty Inlet, before driving to Lagoon Point to share final moments before darkness fell and the whales picked up the pace as they headed northwards to the open sea.
Sandy Pollard
Southern Residents foraging at Bush Point, the narrowest point in Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, November 5, 2013.
November 5
There were mid channel ones and some coming in close too, they came in near the lighthouse around 4:30 ( 5-6 of them) and a few stragglers across at mid channel and near the Marrowstone side still at around 5ish. we saw many breaches too along with spy hops,tail lobbing, milling, circling back and forth. it was great......
Marilyn Armbruster

November 5
I watched off Bush Point for about 3 hours!! My first ever Orca sighting and I've lived here my whole life!! It was awesome!!! Got some great pics, just have to get them off my camera!!
Kari Habeck

November 5
3:41 - Just ran down to South Whidbey state park. Seeing them straight out in front of me.
Rachel Haight

November 5
More whales off Bush point--way out toward the Kitsap side, but visible in binocs: 2 males scouting far in front, if you see them, to clumps of females following. about 8 in each fishing cluster (?) spy hops, tail lobbing, milling, and moving generally north. Watched for 25 minutes 3-3:25 they are too far out now to track.
Christina Baldwin

November 5
3:30 - she is still watching about 10 of them tail lobs, breaches...
3:15 - still trending northward. Couple of adult males came in around the lighthouse close to shore, more still coming from the south.
3:00pm - Bush Point (Whidbey Island) Orca sightings: Marilyn Armbruster (and others) are still seeing orcas 3 right now at yellow channel marker, some moving northbound and others a bit south of the point milling, could be tailenders.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

November 5
2:27 - Just finished watching approximately eight orcas off Bush Point, mid-channel, heading north.
Dawn Ritter

November 5
They were pretty spread out but mostly mid channel and some over near Marrowstone Island and some closer to the Whidbey side. watched from 2:15 until 5 pm. can't wait for Kari's photos. loved it when they breached way out and landing on their backs belly up! I just think they were chum happy.
Marilyn Armbruster

November 5
1:30 - orcas, small group, end of Adams road, just south of Bush Point. Still there-- seems a really spread out line... young and females so far.
1:26 PM - small pod of orcas milling and heading north, off the end of Adams Road, just south of Bush Point, Whidbey side of the sound.
Christina Baldwin

November 4
4:46 - We just saw them in Langley on the Camano island side of Saratoga Passage, heading southeast.
Debra Campbell

November 4
4:30 - They are swimming vigorously past LANGLEY downtown now, heading east toward Clinton. I counted five from my 1st St deck, but coulda been more. Small white boat following a good distance behind.
Sharen Heath

November 4
4:25 - We got to watch the orcas from Whale Bell park again, and ring the bell! They went past at about 4:25 PM, headed SE rather quickly, in many small, tight groups. Good to see so many folks out enjoying the whales' visit today!
Susan Berta

November 4
4:15 - Southbound on Whidbey side coming up on Langley.
Rob Miller

November 4
4:15pm - watching about 8-10 Orcas heading south past Langley in Saratoga Passage!  
Candace Jordan

November 4
Whales off Whidbey again - members of K pod kept us on our toes going north up Saratoga Passage then turning south. After passing Langley at a fast clip late afternoon, their dorsal fins and blows were silhouetted against the snowy slopes of Mt Pilchuck in the fast fading light. A beautiful sight to behold on a cold, clear November day.
Sandy Pollard

November 4
3:40 pm - 4 orcas moving south in Saratoga Passage at Bells Beach Whidbey Island headed toward Langley.
Angela Johnson Zink

November 4
Wow! how blessed I am..numerous Orca just swam north through the Saratoga Passage past Bells Beach just after 2pm. They were spread out across the water & were joined by a skiff from NOAA with a crew of 3. Love to have their job.
Kristin Carlson

November 4
1:00 pm - We are in the 3900 block of Saratoga Passage. 48 degrees 3.340N x 122 degrees 26.610 W. Saw at least 2 large male orcas spread out. One group closer to Whidbey for a change. A few farther out in middle of channel. Seemed to be under a lot but staying in same area, though heading north. Guesstimate..5 or 6.  
Melissa Lebo

November 4
12:20 - Passing through Langley.
Lydia Farrell

November 4
1200 noon & 1500 - Saw pod of about 12 Orcas heading North in Saratoga Passage between Camano Head and Langley about noon.
Same pod heading South around 1500 hrs same day.
Perry Lovelace

November 4
1200p - 7-10 Orcas off Sandy Pt in Saratoga Passage, headed north.
Teri Butorac Ferren

November 4
11:35 - 3 orcas reported playing RIGHT off the Clinton, S. Whidbey ferry dock by Mac Lamay, who was on the 11:30 ferry. More orcas were milling at the south end of Hat/Gedney Island, further to the north.

November 4
11:30 AM - We saw a pod of Orcas off the west side of Gedney (aka Hat) Island.
Larry Bender

November 4
8:20 am - reports had members of J & K pods southbound in the Edmonds/Kingston ferry lanes. With no whales in sight I head north as confirmed sighting started coming in from happy ferry boat passengers on the Mukilteo/Clinton runs. At Mukilteo I sight whales in Possession Sound heading northbound, traveling in small groups, & spread out by a couple of miles.  Continuing w/the pods as far north as Baby Island, I could see whales spread out across the Passage and north to Greenbank & Cama park.
11:15 - from Mukilteo I see a group in the middle of Hat/Clinton/Camano Head, milling.
11:20 - at least 6 more northbound approaching Clinton. Includes big male. woo hoo! Just saw another adult male just past Clinton ferry...they are streaming northbound mid to west of mid channel. More whoo hoos!
When the tail-enders rounded Fox Spit all foraging and other activities ceased, Js & Ks quickly turned and began porpoising south gathering in larger and tighter groups. I watched until the last whales rounded Sandy Point into Saratoga Passage then boarded a ferry to Whidbey, luckily catching the tail end group from the shores of Langley. On the southbound journey, a stop atop Bells Beach invoked much awe upon hearing their blows, thunderous tail & pec slaps, and seeing spyhops & breaches. By 4:30 pm the pods had reached Langley, one bunch numbering 15-20...passing human families, shopkeepers, townspeople, and visitors who had gathered on and above the shores. I asked some elated seeing-orcas-in-the-wild first timers to ring the Whale Bell, eliciting an eruption of cheers from shopkeepers, townspeople, and visitors. At the hands of Susan and Howie, the Whale Bell rang once more.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

J & K Pods Saratoga Passage Nov 4, 2013
J & K Pods Saratoga Passage.
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Nov 4, 2013.

Looking across Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

J and K pods in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

A classic spy-hop.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

J34 Doublestuff in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

Looks like a party in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

Heading south in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

J and K pods heading south past Langley in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013.

November 4
11:18 - Lynn Malecki at Columbia Beach, just north of the Clinton ferry dock, sees "lots of orcas spread out" heading north.

November 4
11:05 - Maia of WSF called to say a pod of orcas was headed south in the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane.

November 4
Just saw them on the 1030 ferry.
Courtney Wilson

November 4
Was also on that ferry watching the Orcas foraging, breaching while slowly heading North. It was either a very large Pod, or multiple Pods...many of them spread out. Our ferry made a very wide berth around them & went very slowly. I've been riding the ferry for years and never encountered such excitement. It was awesome!
Patti J Colahan

November 4
10:14 AM - Orcas near Possession Pt. I saw quite a few orcas (12 or so, possibly more or less) traveling north from Possession Point toward Mukelteo. One large one and many smaller Most were too far away for pics but I have several pics and one video. Here is a link to the video.
ken cross

November 4
Marilyn Armbruster saw at least 6 orcas from the 10 am ferry crossing from Clinton to Mukilteo, along Columbia Beach ( south of Clinton ferry) northbound. She hasn't resighted them from Mukilteo lighthouse beach.

November 4
9:08 am - orcas moving north from the Mukilteo shipwreck up the east side of Whidbey nearer to the east shore. Not sure if this is the same or a different group than reported off Edmonds/Kingston heading south at 8:20; and the latest report is of orcas heading north past Clinton (the S. Whidbey ferry dock) at 10:20 am. Lots of whales going in different directions! -Cassandra Miller
A Southern Resident orca heading north past Mukilteo.
Photo by Cassandra Miller, November 4, 2013.

November 4
Kurt Schmidt Saw them near Picnic Point headed north around 9:00.

November 4

8:20 - Saw quite a few orcas heading south just now. Viewed them from the MV Walla Walla between Kingston and Edmonds. Shipmate said they were spread from mid channel to closer to edmonds. At 8:20 when I originally saw them they were right in ferry lanes.
Ben Abrahamsen

October 28
I saw a large pod of Orcas on the east side of Whidbey Island. I have a home near the point of Fox Spit. At 9:30am, I saw a large Orca completely breach just off the point. Then watched about 30-40 more parade up Saratoga Passage, heading north, for about an hour. Adults and young whales - a couple of the young ones playfully breached as they went along. Amazing to see.
Troy Carlson
Transients (Bigg's Whales)
California Transient CA166 west bound in the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, November 9
, 2013.

California Transient killer whales feeding in the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of WhalesNovember 9, 2013.
November 9 
Epic fall encounters this year.  A record year for humpback whales and close to a record for the number of transient encounters. I am looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow!
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
T035A and T035A2 near Race Rocks.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, November 5, 2013. 
 
Unknown Orcas
November 9
1:40 pm - 4 orcas including 1 male, reported in Admiralty Inlet, in the shipping lanes between Lagoon Point and Keystone, headed toward Marrowstone Island, reported by Christine Marshall.

November 3

I have some pictures of what appears to be 3 Orca surfacings near Blake island about 1:45pm. I was far away and zoomed all the way in with a very good camera and lens. Gonna have to wait til I see them on my computer later. Still out here looking now.
Peace Corey

November 3
A friend of mine lives by Manchester dock and watched them this morning around 9 AM she left after about 30 mins so I don't know which way they went.
Brianna Robinson

November 3
8:30 - Orcas in Puget Sound. A call just in from Mark Redelowski of a large pod of orcas between Blake Island and Manchester docks, non-directional, just milling, with others a quarter mile closer to the dock.
Humpbacks

Humpback whale BCX0470 breaching in the Juan de Fuca. 
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, November 7, 2013.
Mother and calf humpback in the Juan de Fuca Strait near Race Rocks.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, November 7, 2013.

November 4
5:55 a.m. - a humpback whale heard on the Lime Kiln hydrophones for about 4 minutes.
6:25 p.m. - a humpback whale heard singing on the Lime Kiln hydrophones, drifting over to the Orca Sound hydrophones.
8:00 p.m. - Pacific White Sided dolphins heard on the Orca Sound hydrophones with lots of ship noise. The humpback whale was heard at the same time as the PWS dolphins.
By midnight the PWS dolphins were quite loud on the Orca Sound hydrophones and the humpback whale made another sound or two.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
White-sided dolphins
November 9
8:14 AM - I just saw a huge (100?) pod of white-sided dolphins between Russell Island and the west side of Fulford Harbour (Salt Spring Island). They were moving south when they left 10 minutes ago.
Susan MacLeod
Pacific White-Side dolphin west of Race Rocks following the Northern Resident killer whales out west.
Photo by Mark Malleson, November 8,2013.

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 [email protected], 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.