Orca Network recommends:
The Lost Whale, by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisolm
An intensely personal story...but this person is a young orca.
To learn more about orcas:
Orcas in Our Midst,
Vol. 3: Residents and Transients, How Did That Happen?
Click here
to order YOUR copy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bestseller about orcas in captivity.
Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby
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Click here
to learn about L pod
orca Lolita/Tokitae,
captured in Penn Cove,
Whidbey Island, WA
in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.
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| September 11, 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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Multiple excitements have been in the air the past few days, with the return today of J, K, and L pod including little newborn L120, plus a family of Transients/Bigg's whales in Penn Cove for at least three days until they ventured into San Juan Channel today. A gathering of many Ts was found all the way out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and some great photos of humpbacks in Speiden Channel, and a pair of Pacific white-sided dolphins is still in our midst.
We're thankful for the many stunning photos and stories sent in to learn from and enjoy. Especially on this infamous date of such weighty historical meaning it's heartwarming and energizing to share the excitement and wonder of not just one, but two types of orcas at home in their vast native habitat, along with humpbacks, gray whales, minke whales, dolphins and porpoises. Our human battles seem like distractions from the magnificent mysteries beneath our gaze, as cohesive cultural clans of orcas cross our, and each others', paths every day. The wonders of whales never cease.
"War of the Whales" event and book signing, will start Friday at 6 pm at The Whale Museum for a Meet 'n Greet, then next door to the Grange for talks and Q&A with Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research and Joel Reynolds from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), the two main protagonists in the book, to talk about their efforts to protect whales and dolphins from naval training exercises.
Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network
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Photo of the Day
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September 11
 | Auntie L27, newborn L120, and mom L86, on Salmon Bank, south of San Juan Island.
Photo by Heather McIntyre.
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Southern Residents
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September 11
Guess who saw little L120 today?!? Eekk!!! Salmon bank- pics in the am!! All whales were headed west when we left them, even J2 and L87. It's a brand new week old orca calf!! The southern residents haven't had a calf in two and a half years that's lived!!
Heather MacIntyre
September 11
 | L120 and L86 Surprise!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre. |
September 11
 | L120 and L86 Surprise!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre. |
September 11
 | Another from tonight amazing encounter. Here's K33 Tika with the Olympics in the background.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre.
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September 11
We on the Peregrine were able to spend a bit of time on both our trips today with L120. So exciting to see L86 and the calf. Here are a few images of the day, and a bit of Mt. Baker. Haro Strait off of Eagle Pt., San Juan Islands, WA.
Capt. Jim Maya
September 11
 | L86 and the calf and a bit of Mt. Baker from Haro Strait off of Eagle Pt., San Juan Islands, WA.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya. |
September 11
 | Auntie L27, newborn L120, and mom L86.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya. |
September 11
 | Right-side saddle of newborn L120.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya. |
September 11
 | Little L120 and family under Mt. Baker.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya.
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September 11
 | I was very excited to meet little L120 for the first time today! He/she was born to L86 Surprise sometime in the last two weeks. The lighting wasn't the best, but it was still amazing to see such a tiny killer whale!
Photo by Monika Wieland. |
September 11
5:05 - Got to see members of all three pods and most importantly, new baby L120!!! Was able to snap some pics of his/her tiny dorsal! Beautiful day on the water full of orcas.
Rachel Haight
September 11
1:01pm - Orcas on the Lime Kiln hydrophone!
Jen Chesnut
September 10
In the evening near Race Rocks I observed L22 take chase and harass a neonate harbour porpoise. She left it for L94 and L113 who continued to play with it for over an hour before L113 finally drowned it.
Mark Malleson
September 10
 | L22 with harbour porpoise near Race Rocks.
Photo by Mark Malleson taken under permit #MM001. |
September 6
 | Great shot of the new L Pod member taken from the M/V Sea Lion!
Photo by Sarah McCullagh, San Juan Safaris.
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Transients/Bigg's Whales
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September 11
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 September 11
 | The T137s in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver.
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September 11
 | The T137s in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver. |
September 11
 | The T137s in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver. |
September 11
10:55 - Brad Hanson reports these are the T065As, now in San Juan Channel, which are the same ones seen in Penn Cove for the past few days .
September 11 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. September 11
9:52 - Orcas on the ferry 10 minutes outside Friday Harbor!! Rachel Haight September 10
 | 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. |
September 10
11:15 pm - Awesome vocals on lime kiln hydrophone! Orcasound.net. Traci Walter September 10
11:15pm - Getting some clearer calls on Lime Kiln.Vickie Doyle
September 10
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 September 10
22:00 - I missed them earlier but hear them now, faint call and echo...LK Alisa Lemire Brooks September 10
9:58pm - Orca calls on Lime Kiln still. Vickie Doyle September 10
T069s and T060s were reported heading west of Otter Point BC...near Sooke. Josh McInnes September 10
 | 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. |
September 10
 | 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. |
September 10
7:05pm - Orcas back in Penn Cove.Josh Haight September 10
7:05pm - Orcas in Penn Cove between Monroe and Coupeville by the orange bouy. Aubree Mae Renfro September 10
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 September 10
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 September 9
 | Orcas in Penn Cove.
Photo by MaryJoe Adams. |
September 9
 | Orcas in Penn Cove.
Photo by MaryJoe Adams. |
September 9
 | Orcas in Penn Cove.
Photo by MaryJoe Adams. |
September 9
 | Orcas in Penn Cove.
Photo by MaryJoe Adams. |
September 9
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 September 9
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 September 9
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 September 9
Sighted this morning in Penn Cove (Coupeville)! At least 4 orca in Penn cove, still there ( 10 am - 10:15am). Lindy kortus September 8
 | 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. |
September 7
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 September 7
 | T069C at Carmanah on September 7th.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales Whale Watch. |
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Humpback whales
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September 10
 | Love watching this charismatic Humpback whale known as "Splitfin". It was amazing to watch the Humpbacks in Hawaii but to see them with this scenery and water is unbeatable!
Photo by Gary Sutton. |
September 9
 | Humpback Whales around again today! The same two from yesterday. "Split fin" and "Split Fluke" go on a long dive in front of Flattop Island NWR and Waldron Island.
Photo by Traci Walter. |
September 9
Karl Bruder reports two humpbacks in Spieden Channel.
September 8
 | | Photo by Traci Walter. |
September 8
 | Photo by Traci Walter.
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Pacific White-sided Dolphin
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September 8
 | Today's trip on the Western Prince II. Humpback Whales and Pacific White-sided Dolphins! Absolutely beautiful weather on the water too! (all images taken with a 300mm lens and cropped).
Photo by Traci Walter. |
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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.
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