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
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Southern Residents foraging at Bush Point, the narrowest point in Admiralty Inlet. Photo by Sandra Pollard, November 5, 2013.
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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 48:20 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
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J & K Pods Saratoga Passage. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Nov 4, 2013.
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Looking across Saratoga Passage. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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J and K pods in Saratoga Passage. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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A classic spy-hop. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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J34 Doublestuff in Saratoga Passage. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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Looks like a party in Saratoga Passage. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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Heading south in Saratoga Passage. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, November 4, 2013. |
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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
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A Southern Resident orca heading north past Mukilteo. Photo by Cassandra Miller, November 4, 2013.
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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