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| April 17, 2014
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.
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K pod left Admiralty Inlet Tuesday evening and seems to have gone out to the wide Pacific, just a few hours ahead of a group of Transients who departed right behind them, but were seen yesterday off Victoria. Through it all, another group, known as "the twins" - two adult males (from different matrilines) with almost identical double nicks on the trailing edges of their dorsal fins - were seen around south Puget Sound, and are still there - today they were in Eld Inlet. The other group exited Admiralty Inlet yesterday. Those reports were coming in at about the same times Tuesday and Wednesday, so the Transient reports below are marked with their respective ID numbers to distinguish them (to the best of our ability). Yet a different group, this one with no adult males, was seen early today off Port Townsend and was later seen heading toward Ebey's Landing, Whidbey Island. A serious downpour has drenched most observation posts from the San Juans to Olympia, so there probably won't be any further sightings today (we'll see...).
Welcome the Whales Day including a parade, beachside celebration and indoor presentation with Mike Bursk, one of the original gray whale researchers in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja Mexico, is coming up Saturday, April 19th in Langley. The Orca and Salmon Recovery Workshop is sponsored by the Puget Sound Partnership, Orca Network, the Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists and The Whale Museum. The workshop is April 29th from 12:00 to 5:30 at the Seattle Convention Center, the day before the start of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Seattle. Registration begins at 11:30. Lunch is not provided so please eat lunch before you arrive! Seating is limited - to register, sign up here.
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Photo of the Day
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 | K25 northbound off Bush Point in Admiralty Inlet Tuesday afternoon, while NOAA researchers look for fecal matter to scoop up and analyze to assess diet, hormones and other data.
Photo by Mark Malleson, April 15, 2014.
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Southern Residents (K pod)
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April 15
We saw at least 3 orcas heading into the Straight off of the Pt Wilson light house (North end of Admiralty Inlet) at approximately 5:30 PM. They were heading northwest at a pretty good clip. Could not see any markings.
Thomas Barnhart
April 15
5:30 PM - Pod of Orcas, maybe 10, Point Wilson from Ft. Worden, Adults and young's breaching and fin/ fluke slapping. traveling slowly north.
K O'Tyler
April 15
5:30 - Orcas off of Fort Worden now seen from ferry, lots of spy hopping and splashing.
Christy Korrow
April 15
505pm - 5 or so orcas sighted off Point Hudson, Port Townsend headed north. Pretty far off but on the west side of the shipping lanes. At least one adult male.
Sarah Felder
April 15
4:22 - They're just about to pass ft Flagler.
Jill Hein
April 15
3:50 pm - Sandra Pollard is looking from Lagoon Point over to the other side of Admiralty Inlet at K pod moving northward.
April 15
3 pm - the leading group is nearing Bush Pt, the last half is further south, NOAA and one Prince of Whales WW boat with the last group, all are closer to the Jefferson County side.
Susan Berta
April 15
3 pm - the leading group is nearing Bush Pt, the last half is further south, NOAA and one Prince of Whales WW boat with the last group, all are closer to the Jefferson County side.
2:23 - they are just NW of Hansville, some are at the buoy between Hansville and Foulweather Bluff - way out there, but can see fins and spouts and the NOAA boat with them. Thanks to Rachel for finding them!
Susan Berta
April 15
Reports of K pod south of Bush Pt from Rachel Haight at 2:15 pm, heading out to the bluff to try to find them, hope we didn't miss them!
April 1511:53 - K pod leaders approaching Kingston ferry dock.
Christopher Hanke April 15
10:24 - Whee, lots more! Between Restoration pt and Blakely, heading maybe south? Lots of breaching. Trileigh Tucker April 15
10:21 - I see them from Rockaway (Bainbridge Is). Heading north. Not close enough for IDs with the glare yet but I'll keep you posted. Sara Hysong-Shimazu April 15
9:45 - A pod of about 10 ORCA's passed very close to Blake Island on the east side of the island. They were moving at a pretty good pace north at 09:45. Paul Rupert April 15
9:40 - WA State Ferries just reported 6-7 orcas headed north off the Southworth ferry dock. April 15
9:22 - About 10 orcas northbound Colvos passage near Southworth ferry. Pod of harbor porpoise trailing close to shore also northbound about 1 mile behind the orcas. Tim Ferris April 15
8:06 am - a report came in of 15 orcas, including 3 males, in south Puget Sound off Spring Beach heading north in Colvos Passage.  | |
The K's as they traveled down Colvos Passage on Monday. Taken from a dock in Olalla.
Photo by Katie Schmelzer, April 14, 2014. |
 | Kpod heading down Colvos Passage, Vashon Island. I would not have believed it if I did not see them for myself.
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan, April 14, 2014. |
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Transients/Bigg's killer whales
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April 17
7:15 - The twins are heading north again....through Dana Passage like they did earlier.
6:29 pm - The twins are in Budd Inlet - at the mouth during a torrential downpour. Kim Merriman
April 17
3:47 - Chrissy says they've headed over toward Ebey's Landing on Whidbey Island.
3:35 - Chrissy McLean of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center just watched the Ts go north around Point Wilson and out of Admiralty Inlet, while a group of seals and sea lions crowded together along the beach. She counted two females, two juveniles, and two orangey babies, but no adult males.
April 17
12:18 - We saw three Orcas from the ferry to Port Townsend. Coming into Port Townsend right before docking. We had binoculars and could see three whales directly in front of the boat. It was on the right side of the ferry.
Rhonda Wallis Deal
April 173:08 - Brian McLaughlin called to say the orcas have turned back north and are heading out past Port Townsend in Admiralty Inlet, toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
12:12 - Brian McLaughlin of WDFW called from Port Townsend with a sighting of about 7 orcas just 1/3 to 1/4 mile off Point Hudson, milling, with a lot of gulls around, trending into Port Townsend Bay. A cabin cruiser is following them way too close.
April 17 T49C and T77A - 10:30 - Gayle Swigart is watching those two from Frye Cove County Park, Olympia. She sees them a little north of the park mid channel, breaching and tail lobbing! No direction of travel yet.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
April 17 T49C and T77A - 9:15 - they turned south and are heading way down into Eld Inlet. They just passed in front of my house and by Cooper Point. The both have "nicks" in their fins at almost the exact same place.
8:30 a.m. - TWO male orcas in Eld Inlet. Traveling west at the southern edge of Harstene and Squaxin islands - toward Hope Island passage.
Kim Merriman
 | T49C and T77A cruising in Eld Inlet.
Photo by Kim Merriman, April 17, 2014. |
 | 4:52 PM - sighting off of Fox Island. Saw at least one Orca traveling past Fox Island. I noticed at least one seal that kept popping up in front of the house by the beach. I happened to look up and see the whale come up three times before it disappeared. So amazing! I've never actually seen one in person! Appeared to be traveling. I also saw seals in the area, they were closer to the beach and staying away from the whales.
Photo by Hannah Gilman, April 16, 2014. |
April 16 We were lucky today. We left Pedder Bay at 11:30AM and as we were passing Race Rocks Pacific Ecological Reserve when we bumped into a large group of transients. The transients were moving west in three different groups: T011s (T011 and T011A), T065As (T065A, T065A2, T065A3, T065A4 and new calf T065A5) and T137s (T137, T137A, T137B and T137D). We followed the transients for 2.5 hours and left them at Sooke BC. They foraged on one harbor seal off Church rock, but majority of the behavior exhibited was socializing.
Josh McInnes
 | T011A (Rainy). My favorite transient belonging to the west coast community. - at Race Rocks, BC.
Photo by Josh McInnes, April 16, 2014. |
 | My favorite west coast transient T011A swimming beside female T137. T011A is probably one of the largest and oldest transients on the coast. - at Race Rocks, BC.
Photo by Josh McInnes, April 16, 2014. |
 | The new calf T065A5 and mother T065A
Photo by Josh McInnes, April 16, 2014. |
April 16 I came across the T11's, T036A's, T065A's, and the T137's west bound in Race Passage on the morning of April 16th. I left them at 1420 in Becher Bay tracking west along the shoreline.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
 | T065A's and T137's in Becher Bay.
Photo by Mark Malleson, April 16, 2014. |
April 16 I'm with the Transient Killer Whale Project. Myself and Josh McInnes were just out with the T137s, T11s, and T65As off of Race Rocks. We followed them for 2 and a half hours to Sooke. Excellent day out on the water, lots of socializing behavior observed.
Kelsey Cullen
 | This shot was almost at dark 1950 hrs from ferry heading to Port Townsend. T137's exiting Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Ken Balcomb, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As hunting in picturesque Presidents Channel (NW side of Orcas Island, between Orcas and Waldron Islands).
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As in Presidents Channel.
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As in Presidents Channel.
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As in Presidents Channel.
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As in Presidents Channel.
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
 | T65As in Presidents Channel.
Photo by David Howitt, April 15, 2014. |
April 15 T137s & T11s - 7:37 pm - Moving very quickly to the north. Nearing the Coupeville ferry lane. Mid channel.
7:17 - At Ft Casey. Seeing blows mid channel just south of here.
Rachel Haight
April 15 T137s & T11s - Orcas just north of Bush Pt, 6 - 8 orcas, at least one, maybe 2 males, at 6:30 pm, headed nw toward Lagoon Pt, Whidbey Island.
Susan Berta
April 15 T137s & T11s - A bit late and a little out of the loop here, but still wanted to share my journey of a whale tail story kinda of day... I spotted a pod of Orcas, one LARGE BIG ONE, his fin was HUGE!!, along w/ another adult and a couple of smaller ones @ 5-6 total swimming/breaching as they were passing by Fay Bainbridge Park @ 12:30, until they rounded Presidents Point @ 1:15 where I lost em'. Spotted them again at Kingston ferry terminal, near yellow buoy @2:00 and watch them milling around/ breaching heading northward along the east side of Edmonds/Kingston ferry route. At one point they look to come head on w/ a shipping frieghter mid-channel. I watch them for hours until they finally rounded the Point (Apple Lane) Kitsap side when I lost sight of them @ 4:30, still moving Northwest. Arrived at Point-NO-Point beach @ 5:00, with no such luck of spotting them again hung out until @ 6:00. Tomorrow is another day, for I'm feeling blessed & humble, DEEPLY touch by these AMAZING spirited "ORCAS"
Kathe Bradley
April 15 T49C and T77A - 5:15 - 2 orcas heading west between McNeil and Anderson Island, then turning south heading between Devil's head and Amsterdam Bay.
Walter
April 15 T49C and T77A - 4:25 PM - Orcas, I only could see two in front of McNeil island towards narrows bridge. Traveling.
Tuija Hajnal
April 15 T49C and T77A - 3:38 - We just saw two Orcas swim under the Tacoma Narrows bridge, so exciting!
Julie Gonsalves
 | Here is one of the Orca's we saw this afternoon at about 3:15 heading south from the Narrows Bridge. We saw 2 adults for sure there could have been another smaller whale too, not positive. I was taking pictures of my kiddos and have the camera settings for that, not taking a picture of Orcas Sorry it is not better, I was so excited to see them that I didn't even think about changing the settings on my camera!!
Photo by Julie Gonsalves, April 15, 2014. |
April 15 T137s & T11s - Graham DeWitt of WA State Ferries, reports a pod of orcas off Apple Cove Pt. at 3:15 pm, looked like the same group they reported in the same area last weekend. No direction of travel, milling behavior.
April 15 T49C and T77A - Just saw some around 3:15 in the Narrows heading south.
Sherrie Duncan
April 15 T137s & T11s - 1:12 - Whales heading north in front of Presidents Point (Bainbridge Island) now with NOAA following them.
Sue Surowiec Larkin
April 15 T137s & T11s - 1:10 - Stopped briefly at center of Port Madison. Now moving north with NOAA boat.
Alan Alabastro
April 15 T137s & T11s - 1:03 - turned around again and heading back north.
12:56 - Correction seems they've turned toward Hidden Cove!!
At Fay Bainbridge park.., got an awesome look at a group of 5-6 with a large male and looked like two babies!! Kingston they are headed your way!!
Cindy Russell
April 15 T49C and T77A - Noon - Two orcas between south tip of Fox Island and Chambers Bay, Traveling north through narrows.
Steve Clair
April 15 T137s & T11s - 11:55 - Brad Hanson, NOAA researcher, is with 6 Transients (T137s and T11s) off Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, close to shore, heading north.
April 15 T137s & T11s - 11:48 - And after that long dive they came up in the same spot and are heading north again. Closer to Kitsap side, north of Eagle Harbor.
11:42 - the Ts popped up after a long down time right north of Eagle Harbor heading south closer to Kitsap side. Currently down on another long dive but might be angling out towards mid channel again.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
April 15 T137s & T11s - 11:25 - finally just spotted a group just outside Eagle Harbor. NOAA on scene now.
10:55 - from atop SW Queen Anne hill, have seen group with adult male northbound approaching yellow mid channel buoy that is between Alki and Restoration points.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
April 15 T49C and T77A - 10:50 am - Mark Hallan reporting a sighting of two orca whales. One larger dorsal fin then the other. Spotted just North of Ketron Island (Ketron Island is in south Puget Sound, just SW of Steilacoom, so. of Tacoma). Wonder if this is the two male T's from yesterday?
April 15 T137s & T11s - 10:25 - Also some near Alki. SE of yellow buoy.
Amy Carey
April 15 T137s & T11s - 9:36 - I counted 4. North of Vashon now. In front of Lincoln park area.
Erin McDermott
April 15 T137s & T11s - 9:15 am - To start off a new day of sightings, Brad Hanson just relayed a report of "more than two" orcas headed north along the east side of Vashon Island, approaching Dilworth.
April 15 T49C and T77A - 8:29 - We live right down from the Tolmie State park in the South Puget Sound and this morning I saw 2 Orca Whales jumping around. They circled around for a little while and started to head north.
Amanda Dehnart
April 15 T137s & T11s - 7:40 AM - Orcas sighted in Puget Sound. I was traveling from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge on the ferry when the orcas popped up on the starboard side of the boat. Whales swimming in a circular fashion, popping up for breath and immediately submerging again. 3 minimum. 2 males and 1 female (dorsal fins) Near the Seattle to Bainbridge ferry crossing in the middle of the route (~60-100 ft from ferry). Looked like feeding. The first 2 I saw were headed south (both male). Then 2 more popped up (one female one male) headed north and they continued in this manner with 1 or 2 popping up at a time and swimming circularly. There were also sea gulls at the surface of the water where the orcas were surfacing.
Shawnte Greenway
 | Visiting the T11's and T137's near Everett this week aboard the Island Explorer 3.
Photo by Michael P Colahan, April 14. |
 | T036A's and T065A's northbound past Keystone ferry terminal.
Photo by Mark Malleson, April 14, 2014. |
 | Transients (T065as) at Ft. Casey in the morning.
Photo by Monty McCormick, April 14, 2014. |
April 14 Magical day on "Mystic Sea" with gray whales and the unexpected bonus of five transient orca at 11:30 am including Big Daddy (not official designation!) and a calf. Big Daddy with his ruffled dorsal fin (so like our much loved resident orca Ruffles) paired up with another male heading towards Hat Island while passing a gray whale closer inshore and stopping the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry to give thrilled passengers a rare treat. All five whales grouped up and circled for a kill, although there was no evidence on the surface other than wheeling gulls. Another perfect day in the wonderful Pacific Northwest. Sandra Pollard, Naturalist on "Mystic Sea."
Sandy Pollard
 | | Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 14, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 14, 2014. |
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Coastal Orcas
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April 16
Kathy Perry of the Depoe Bay Oregon Whale Watching Center relayed a report from a visitor of 2 pods of four orcas in each, heading north within a half mile of shore just off Otter Creek, at 1:15 pm.
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Gray whales
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April 17
Mystic Sea Charters reports 2 Gray whales (#49, Patch, and #53) feeding off the south end of Hat Island, and a third unidentified Gray whale heading toward Sandy Pt, south of Langley, from Hat Island, at 11:30 am. A good gray day!
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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.
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*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.
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