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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents.
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales
Coastal orcas
Humpbacks
Gray whales
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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?

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The bestseller about orcas in captivity.

Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby 

DeathatSeaWorld


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July 2, 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.
There were very few reports until early afternoon when the announcement was made: Superpod! All three pods appeared for the first time this year. About the same time a transmission cable was severed in Friday Harbor, cutting off internet and phone service to the island for many hours. So reports have been slow coming in, but two sightings tell us all three pods went up Haro Strait this afternoon, at least some of them well into Boundary Pass and Swanson Channel. We don't yet know if they split up or if so, in what groupings, but the Center for Whale Research was out surveying them and will report the encounter when the photos and data have been analyzed.

Thank you to everyone who is sending in reports and photos. They help remind us that these amazing and mysterious orcas live here too.
Photo of the Day

Members of all 3 pods seen today, we left them around 3 pm as they were heading north from Henry Island .... what a TREAT!
Photo by Jill Hein, July 2, 2014.
Southern Residents
July 2
Surprise, surprise - Southern Residents seen from the Anacortes/Sidney ferry! Excited passengers headed for the outer decks as the ferry slowed down around 4:20 pm in north Haro Strait/east of Sidney Island, where Southern Residents frolicked, porpoised and spy-hopped among the white-caps. What an unexpected treat for everyone on yet another beautiful summer's day.
Sandra Pollard 

July 2
J pod went north we heard with some of K and/or L. Some members of K and L were headed south along SJI. We left them north of False Bay about 7:15. Very spread out with lots of foraging. And yes, choppy seas!
Rachel Haight

July 2
4:00 PM - 14-16 traveling E to W in choppy seas. SW side of North Pender Island. First group of 3-4 was approximately 200 yards out, second group (8-10) was parallel to our shore line about 50 yards out. Lost sight of the final group (3-4), 300 yds east of our location but they popped up in the kelp beds 10 yards from our deck. Moving quickly with long dives and only short breaks to fish and play.They popped up within 10 yards of our shoreline in the kelp beds
Ken Plato

July 2 
2 pm - Resident orca Superpod reported! All 3 pods per Simon Pidcock!
James Gresham

July 2
7:55 am. Whales on Lime Kiln hydro.
James Gresham

July 1
I sat out and watched from Land Bank tonight as the orcas went South past Land Bank...  Spread out up and down, as well as way far out to the middle of the straight. Center for Whale Research was out, and upon looking at my photos, Ken was onboard! So they were much closer then I, so I bet they know who was who having a little Hanky Panky....  Lots of rolling around...  upside down... pectorals in the air... waving tails...  I do believe I was blushing...  should not have been watching!  :-)
Cher Renke
Ken Balcomb and crew from the Center for Whale Research assessing traveling orcas.
Photo by Cher Renke, July 1, 2014.

Who's watching who? A curious youngster this afternoon off Lime Kiln as Js and Ls made their way slowly north.
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 1, 2014.

I love this shot from Lime Kiln. These two girls were so excited to be seeing the whales. This really captures the essence of what it's like to be out there.
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 1, 2014.

July 1
4:15 to 4:45 pm today: a large dispersed pod of orcas traveling east-to-west past Flint Beach, at the south end of Lopez Island.
Tom Reeve

J2 "Granny" and her great GREAT grandson J49.
Photo by Tasli Shaw, June 30, 2014.

Granny and Onyx.
Photo by Tasli Shaw, June 30, 2014.

J49 and mom J37.
Photo by Tasli Shaw, June 30, 2014.

J pod heads into Georgia Strait.
Photo by Tasli Shaw, June 30, 2014.

It was like whale popcorn out there today. It seemed like everywhere I looked there was a whale breaching. This is Marina (L47) showing off her awesome belly flop skills.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, June 30, 2014.

Monday Morning Spyhop off Land Bank - June 30, 2014
Photo by Chris Teren, June 30, 2014.

The whales were busy on the west side of San Juan today.
Photo by Spencer Domico, June 30, 2014.

It was that kind of a day...Parts of J and L Pods, Salmon Bank and the West Side, San Juan Island, WA.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, June 30, 2014.

Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, June 30, 2014.

June 30
8:30 - Southern Resident's vocalizing on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Loud calls again now at 8:42 (with ship noise). A tanker coming from the south, enjoyed the quiet ever so briefly. Must be spread out....was quiet all morn then sudden burst of loud calls and echo, been faint to moderate since initial calls. Getting louder now so is that ship.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

June 29
5:05 - Whales on Lime Kiln.
James Gresham

June 29
6:30 PM - Large pod possibly L pod in Boundary pass just off Pender Island, traveling. We encountered a large pod, could not count how many so thinking that it might be the largest, L pod?
Natalie Fallis

June 29
As we picked up J and L pods on the Canadian side of Haro Strait yesterday they were spread out and most were in resting pattern. Taking a little break as they crossed Haro Strait towards the southern side of San Juan Island. As they approached the island they became more active and appeared to begin hunting salmon. Watching them at rest in tight groups, surfacing and breathing in unison is always wonderful. It was amazing to watch. They gathered in the False Bay area with a couple groups of L's further south. One of the females out in front if False Bay started slapping her tail and the whales to the south made a beeline to join up with the others. L92 was with the southernmost whales.
James Gresham

Butterball Rhapsody (J32) doing what she does best.
Photo by Val Shore, June 28, 2014.
A close up (uncropped) shot of L47 Marina as she passed off the rocks at Lime Kiln yesterday afternoon.
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 28, 2014.

J27 and his pretty big looking fin.
Photo by Tasli Shaw, June 28, 2014.

June 28
Yesterday we were out with the Residents, some of Jpod and some of Lpod, towards the southern end of San Juan Island. Boy did we see some interesting things. We saw J35 and J47 'playing' with a harbour porpoise! We also saw foraging and breaching. We had L118 surprise us with three breaches in a row and L95 seeming to come out of nowhere, coming to check us out. Great day out on the water!
Ashley Keegan, Wild Whales Vancouver
Orcas playing with harbor porpoise.
Photo by Ashley Keegan, June 28, 2014.

Orcas playing with harbor porpoise.
Photo by Ashley Keegan, June 28, 2014.
Blackberry's unmistakeable dorsal fin casting a long reflection on the glassy water.
Photo by James Gresham, June 28, 2014.

June 28
Incredible day  Very curious group of whales. Today was amazing too with more action from J's and L's off the west side near False Bay. Tons of foraging and goofing around. I've attached two pictures of L118 "Jade" breaching
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver
L118 "Jade" breaching.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 28, 2014.

L118 "Jade" breaching.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 28, 2014.

June 28
10:08 - Whales on Lime Kiln hydro.
James Gresham

June 28
J Pod is headed back in from Trial Island. Enroute now.
James Gresham
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales
June 30
A group of very lively Orcas passed Point Roberts between 5 and 5:25 pm. One large male with four females. Breaching, spy hopping, and lots of tail lobbing. Heading north and travelling close together.
Sandra Scott

June 29
We were out with the Transient Gangs 101's and 102, as well as the 002C's. We came on scene as the T's were coming together out of Hoskyns Channel (far north end of Georgia Strait), west side of Reid Island. We stayed with them as they rounded Viner Point and headed North up the Reid Isl shoreline. Mostly just swimming, resting, some lazy tail lobs and such. we left them @ 1700hrs Northbound up Reid Isl. Of note to us were some new rake marks for 102 here, and the fact that 002C2 Tumbo was lagging behind the family a bit again. Today he was with 101B alot of the time......looked almost like escorting or staying with him anyways. It was interesting to watch anyways.
Nick Templeman
T102 showing some new rake marks in his right side.
Photo by Nick Templeman, June 29, 2014.

Such a tight little family...my favorite Transient "Biggs" killer whales. The T002C's Here is 002C Tasu with 002C1 Rocky and the little guy 002C3 in the middle showing his tail.
Photo by Nick Templeman, June 29, 2014.

T102.
Photo by Nick Templeman, June 29, 2014.

June 29
T137's in Boundary Pass. They were SUPER mellow just cruising east through the pass in a very close intimate family group. I love seeing them so relaxed....don't get me wrong, breaches are great but it's just so different and calming to see them like this.
Gary Sutton
T137D's newish nick.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 29, 2014.

T137A, T137B close.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 29, 2014.

T137, 137A, 137D.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 29, 2014.

June 29
Maybe transients --
7:00 PM - 6-8 whales moving westward just east of Thieves Bay Marina, North Pender Island. We are waiting in anticipation for additional whales. May be a transient pod.
Ken Plato

Transients off Sooke.
Photo by Sooke Coastal Expeditions, June 28, 2014.

June 28
Transient Orcas (TO75 & TO75A near Becher Bay).
Andrew Lees

June 28
4:45 PM - West side of Whidbey, between Lagoon and Bush Pts. One male and three females, heading generally south, but circling back for about 10-15 minutes, possibly feeding, birds circling overhead. One spy-hopped.
Deborah Heg

T124A's off of Galiano Island in the Strait of Georgia.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 27, 2014.

T124A5 beside mom!
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 27, 2014.

Coastal orcas
June 30
8:30 PM - Pod of 5-8 killers sighted off Depoe Bay Oregon area heading South to North. Seemed to be accompanied by a few common dolphins. Saw dorsal fins, some breaching, dolphins leaping
Barbara Bechmann

June 26
5 killer whales were reported by an anonymous caller who said the whales were at 46.48 x 124.08, which is just south of Gray's Harbor WA, maybe 2-300 yards off the beach, at about 2 pm.
Humpbacks
July 1
Two humpbacks were reported in Saanich Inlet (15 miles north of Victoria) Tuesday evening about 7 pm, heading south into the inlet.

June 28
Humpbacks off Sooke (15 miles west of Victoria).
Photo by Sooke Coastal Expeditions, June 28, 2014.

Humpbacks off Sooke.
Photo by Sooke Coastal Expeditions, June 28, 2014.

Humpbacks off Sooke.
Photo by Sooke Coastal Expeditions, June 28, 2014.

June 28
Thought you might like to see these pictures of a 2 Humpback Whales, Big Mama & her Calf, we encountered off Victoria (south of Race Rocks) yesterday morning! There was actually 9 Humpback Whales reported in the area (including "Split Fin" right off Albert Head) as well as Transient Orcas (TO75 & TO75A near Becher Bay) plus Resident Orcas were first picked up south of Trial Island heading east. We do not usually get this amount of Humpback Whales in our local waters until much later in the season, so this is very exciting.
Andrew Lees Manager & Head Naturalist Five Star Whale Watching
Big Mama's calf comes to visit.
Photo by Andrew Lees, June 28, 2014.

Big Mama and her calf.
Photo by Andrew Lees, June 28, 2014.

Gray whales
June 29
Last night around 5pm I saw 2 whales passing my beach so I kayaked out and followed them from Davis Head to the Richardson dock (going counterclockwise around Lopez) off the south end of Lopez Island.  I'm fairly certain they were gray whales and had barnacles or other white growth on them.
Thomas (Dylan) Cline

June 29
Whale sighting in Discovery Bay by Adelma Beach. Possible Gray Whale. Very close to the beach at low tide around 11 AM or so.
Aki Valdehuesa Avelino
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.