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I got to see my favourite group of T's today in Trincomali Channel. The T137's were super mellow heading west up the channel in a beautiful little resting group in flat calm conditions. We got to spend 45 minutes with them with no other boats in sight. It was good to see those familiar fins again. It was something special!
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

The T137s in Trincomali Channel. Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver.

The T137s in Trincomali Channel. Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver.

The T137s in Trincomali Channel. Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver.

9:55 am - John Rogstad reports the captain of the ferry Hyak saw 5 orcas, 4 females and a juvenile, in Thatcher Pass (west side of Rosario Strait, due west of Anacortes). No direction of travel given.

9:52 - Orcas on the ferry 10 minutes outside Friday Harbor!!
Rachel Haight

At least 25 transients at sunset (at the western end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca).  This photo will give you a taste of our magical encounter. Photo by Ivan Reiff.

11:15 pm - Awesome vocals on lime kiln hydrophone! Orcasound.net.
Traci Walter

11:15pm - Getting some clearer calls on Lime Kiln.
Vickie Doyle
11:15pm - I'm hearing some calls at Lime Kiln right now! It's the first time I've heard anything, so I'm not 100% sure who I'm hearing... but I'm hearing them!!
Rachel Sylvia Winder

22:00 - I missed them earlier but hear them now, faint call and echo...LK
Alisa Lemire Brooks

9:58pm - Orca calls on Lime Kiln still.
Vickie Doyle

T069s and T060s were reported heading west of Otter Point BC...near Sooke.
Josh McInnes

12:30 - Just got a call from Brandi at Windjammer Gallery in Coupeville, she had received this photo from Tim Jones at Penn Cove Shellfish - looks like the Transient pod is STILL in Penn Cove! They were off the San de Fuca dock at around 11:30 this morning.  Photo by Tim Jones.

Had to zoom in since they were pretty far out but this was in Oak Harbor today before they went back into Penn Cove. Photo by Mary Janowiecki.

7:05pm - Orcas back in Penn Cove.
Josh Haight

7:05pm - Orcas in Penn Cove between Monroe and Coupeville by the orange bouy.
Aubree Mae Renfro

6:22pm - It looks like the Orcas might be heading into Penn Cove. We just watched them turn that way from Oak Harbor.
Amanda Fox

I came across the T069's socializing with the T059's and T060's off of Sheringham lighthouse traveling west back out the Vancouver Island shoreline.
Mark Malleson

Orcas in Penn Cove. Photo by MaryJoe Adams.

Orcas in Penn Cove. Photo by MaryJoe Adams.

Orcas in Penn Cove. Photo by MaryJoe Adams.

Orcas in Penn Cove. Photo by MaryJoe Adams.

They are back in Penn cove right now....near mussel platforms.....could be viewed from Madrona Ave. I was out kayaking this AM as they came into the cove....was within 20 feet......could that have been dangerous? I quickly paddled to shore but one was in front and others behind me....they were intent on going into cove, but still felt like a very close encounter....and at eye level....they are HUGE!
Lindy Kortus

4:30 pm - 4 Orcas sighted in Penn Cove - Hard to tell, but looks like 1 baby, 1 adult female and 2 smaller. No photos possible, since we were on other side of cove near Capt. Whidbey Inn. looking through telescope. They were moving back and forth (hunting?) in area between Fossil Rd and Monroe Landing for about 45 minutes. Haven't seen whales in this area for many years.
Morgan Bell

2.00pm - saw two Orca off monroe landing in penn cove heading east out of the cove (Whidbey Island, between Coupeville & Oak Harbor).
Kit Rhodes

Sighted this morning in Penn Cove (Coupeville)! At least 4 orca in Penn cove, still there (10 am - 10:15am).
Lindy kortus

5:05pm - This morning's encounter with the T65A's near Onamac Point, Camano Island in Saratoga Passage, onboard the Victoria Clipper III. Pictured are T65A and two of her four offspring; T65A5 and T65A4. Photo by Justine Buckmaster, Victoria Clipper.

I came across the T069's at Carmanah on the morning of September 7th. They traveled east along the shoreline of the West Coast Trail. I left them mid day offshore of Port Renfrew.
On September 10th I came across them socializing with the T059's and T060's off of Sheringham lighthouse traveling west back out the Vancouver Island shoreline.
Mark Malleson

T069C at Carmanah on September 7th. Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales Whale Watch.

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.