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T100C near Flat-Top Island, heading east. Photo by Jill Hein, June 1, 2014.

5:40 - Stephanie Raymond called from the Victoria Clipper with four Transients off Partridge Point (west side of north-central Whidbey Island). She saw one adult male and three females or juveniles heading roughly NW.

There were over 20 Bigg's Killer Whales and 16 Resident Killer Whales in our waters today. We decided to spend our time with the the northern groups of Bigg's with just a couple of other boats just south of Nanaimo. The whole time we were with them they alternated between eating Pacific Harbour Seals and socializing. The youngsters were packing seal carcasses with them and clearly very happy about it.
Simon Pidcock

Bigg's whales just south of Nanaimo. Photo by Simon Pidcock, June 1, 2014.

The four stages of breach (collage). Photos by Simon Pidcock, June 1, 2014.

The first breach caught us all by surprise since T124A2 nearly hopped in the boat with us. Photo by Andy Scheffler, June 1, 2014.

More whales up north today!! It's been an incredible season so far around the Nanaimo area for Biggs. We had a group today I have never seen before, the T77's around neck point heading west. The were just slowly cruising for the encounter but it's just amazing to see them, especially new ones for me.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

T77B. Photo by Gary Sutton, May 30, 2014.

T77B (note the eye looking at you). Photo by Gary Sutton, May 30, 2014.

T77B. Photo by Gary Sutton, May 30, 2014.

Encounter #17
Enc Start time:05:20 PM - Enc End Time:07:30 PM
Vessel: Orca
Observers: Dave Ellifrit
Pods or ecotype: T49As,T65As
List individuals present (Orca ID's):  T49A,T49A1,T49A3,T49A4,T65A,T65A2,
T65A3,T65A4, and T65A5
Location: Boundary Pass
Encounter Summary:
Dave Ellifrit was on the mainland running errands when Ken Balcomb called him from Sooke to report that Ivan Reiff had spotted transients from Cattle Point that morning and that they were now headed up the west side of San Juan Island. Dave got back on SJI around 1600 and soon got updates on the whales from Jeanne Hyde who were now in Boundary Pass. Dave jumped in Orca and, with the help of Jeff LaMarsh on Goldwing, got on scene in Boundary Pass at 1720 about two miles north of John's Pass. The T49As and T65As were pointed east with the T65As being a couple of hundred yards in front of the T49As. The two groups joined back up around 1742 and continued traveling, sometimes changing directions from east to north but generally heading toward the northwest side of Waldron Island. Around 1805, T49A, T49A3, and T49A4 split off from the others and slinked off to forage in the middle of Boundary Pass while T49A1 stuck with the T65As and continued toward the Waldron shoreline. Around 1830, Orca left the larger group to go look for the break away three only to miss T49A1 and the T65As kill a seal ( observed by the people on the boat Loki ) just on the inside of Fishery Point on Waldron Island. While the kill was happening, T49A, T49A3, and T49A4 quit their foraging and came hurrying back to join the others feeding on the kill. There was some post kill celebration as the whales fed-mainly from T65A4 who breached and spy hopped several times. The whales soon began heading north again, past Skipjack Island. T49A1 and T65A2 moved off together about a quarter mile east of the others and Orca ended the encounter at 1930 with the whales still heading north about three quarters of a mile north of Skipjack Island.

(Previously reported as a humpback until looking at the photos) So exciting, about 7:30 - 8:30 Chito Beach Resort (just east of Shipwreck Point, about 15 miles east of Neah Bay) got our first sighting of a [gray whale]. Stayed right in front of the resort for about an hour. Rolling around, tail up flukes up, bubbles rising.
Amy Cramer

A gray whale off Chito Beach. Photo by Amy Cramer, May 26, 2014.

A gray whale off Chito Beach. Photo by Amy Cramer, May 26, 2014.

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.