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 29, 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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Our photo of the day is a celebration of the frolicking streams of Pacific white-sided dolphins (known as "Lags") thrilling whale watchers for at least three days in the past week. Lags always seem to be highly energized about something, and their excitement easily spreads to the humans watching them. As Monika Wieland describes them in her blog Orcawatcher, "Lags have two speeds: fast, and faster." In late August and for months earlier this year there were many reports of one or two Lags in Puget Sound as far south as Point Defiance, and in mid-July at least 3 adult male orcas were harassed relentlessly by one or two Lags over several days. They've been here before of course. Back in late March a big group of Lags visited the west side of San Juan Island for a day, and in November 2013 a large group of Lags made a brief appearance there.
Resident orcas have been seen every day for the past week, and so have Transients, including a rare encounter that included California Transients and Northwest Ts. And some familiar humpbacks are still moving around the San Juans lately, along with one or two humpbacks seen off Point No Point this afternoon.
If past years are any guide, in less than a week members of J, K, and/or L pod are expected to begin exploring Puget Sound, usually rounding the south end of Vashon Island, in search of chum and possibly coho salmon. If you are hoping to see them on their unannounced visitations, you'll want to check out our new Puget Sound Land-Based Whale Sighting View Points! This map shows all the best places to see whales from shore between north Whidbey Island to south of Tacoma on both sides of Admiralty Inlet, Saratoga Passage, Possession Sound and Puget Sound. A star at each location leads to directions and descriptions of each viewpoint. This monumental achievement is the result of our historical sightings records and the experience of veteran whale watchers, all researched, designed and built by new volunteer Thorsten Lisker. It's extremely useful already but will be enhanced and added to in weeks to come, so please make good use of it and enjoy watching the whales as they forage in Puget Sound.
Speaking of foraging orcas, Orca Network and the Everett Public Library will present a conversation about Southern Resident orcas - foraging nomads of the Salish Sea on Saturday, October 4, at 2 PM at the Everett Public Library.
Enjoy the incredible photos and engaging stories below.
Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network
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Photo of the Day
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September 28 | |
There were literally hundreds. They gave me a lot of practice to catch some out of the water.
Photo by Cathy Miller Scott
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Southern Residents
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September 28 | Shot West of San Juan in the Fog, a big Thanks the Orcas Express.
Photo by Daniel Acosta |
September 28
 | Photo by Monika Wieland
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September 28
8:05 - sweet sounds of resident orcas on Lime Kiln.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
September 27
I just LOVE fall on the water out here. There is just so much awesome wildlife to see ... It was gorgeous out there today. I got to see something I've never seen before today! We had a very close encounter with J35 Tahlequah. She came up to us (after we'd been sitting in the same spot for about twenty minuets), and just when I thought she was going to swim by, she turned around at the stern of the boat and circled us very slowly. She looked up at us the entire time. I'll tell you- killer whales do something to our soul. When a creature as intelligent as us, and even more magnificent, makes intentional contact with you it penetrates deep within. When you have encounters like that with killer whales, you can't help but be forever changed. Killer whales bring out the good in every human.
Heather MacIntyre
September 27
 | J35 Tahlequah incoming.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre
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September 27
 | J44 Moby bring a salmon to the surface and use gravity to help him swallow it!!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre
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September 27
 | J35 Tahlequah and her little one, four year old J47 Notch. Notch acquired his notch (in the dorsal fin) before he was a year old, and we're all anxious to see what shape the nick will take when he's full grown! It's going to stretch as he get's older, and his dorsal grows. It could look pretty cool!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre
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September 27
 | The season is winding down Here are a few photos from Saturday 27th, taken near San Juan Island. BUT now we look for the resident fish-eating whales to come into Puget Sound.
Photo by Jill Hein |
September 27
 | Near San Juan Island.
Photo by Jill Hein. |
September 27
 | Near San Juan Island.
Photo by Jill Hein. |
September 27
 | Near San Juan Island.
Photo by Jill Hein. |
September 27
 | Near San Juan Island.
Photo by Jill Hein. |
September 27
 | Near San Juan Island.
Photo by Jill Hein. |
September 27
This was really cool to watch. Just to the right was a yacht I have never seen before. The whale is, I believe, J31 Tsuchi (?). Tsuchi swam up to the yacht, stopped and very slowly bobbed up and down vertically 5 times. Obviously checking it out. Then apparently satisfied, slowly rolled over once and continued on her way. I'm saying Tsuchi because of the zig zag jaw line. If it isn't Tsuchi pls let me know.
James Gresham
September 27
 | J31 Tsuchi (?)
Photo by James Gresham
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September 27
 | | Photo by James Gresham |
September 27
 | | Photo by James Gresham |
September 27
 | 2 favorites. J27 Blackberry and J34 Doublestuf.
Photo by James Gresham
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September 27
 | J34 Doublestuf having some fun with his buddy, K35 Sonata.
Photo by James Gresham
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September 27
 | 1 pm -- orcas from the shore of Galiano Island.
Photo by Karoline and Gary Cullen
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September 27
 | From Galiano Island.
Photo by Karoline and Gary Cullen. |
September 27
 | From Galiano Island.
Photo by Karoline and Gary Cullen. |
September 27
 | From Galiano Island.
Photo by Karoline and Gary Cullen. |
September 27
We travelled out to San Juan Island to spot some members of J-pod and L-pod. The whales were everywhere! We were "surrounded by whales!"
Alanna Brennan, Prince of Whales Whale Watch
September 26
10:10 am - J Pod orcas are loud and clear on the LK hydros. Gosh, I love September.
Katie Jones
September 26
 | It doesn't always have to be close to be magical ~ off the west side of San Juan Island.
Photo by Monika Wieland |
September 26
2:13 - Lots of Orcas here in Eagle Cove.
Judy Chovan
September 26
 | The lovely Miss Polaris, J-28.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz
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September 26
 | The always handsome Mr. Blackberry, J-27.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz
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September 25
 | K21 and Blackberry J27, the two most recognizable (I would argue) whales in the population. And hence they are pretty popular.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J32's eye.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J32 spyhopping ... AGAIN.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J32 and J28.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | K35 "Sonata" tail lob.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | The J17s were traveling in a close group with the three "rouge" K pod whales K16, K35, and K21.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J35, K16, J46, J28, J44 ...
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | Blackberry J27 and K21 "Cappuccino" flanking J46 "Star."
Photo by Tasli Shaw |
September 25
 | Brothers J34 and J38.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J17 and Blackberry J27.
Photo by Tasli Shaw
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September 25
 | J27 Blackberry crosses the horizon.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya
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September 25
 | A member of J pod breaches near Pt. Roberts.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya |
September 25
 | Descendents of J10, known as "the cookies" includes J34 Doublestuf.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya |
September 24
Shortly after 3 PM orcas (Js and the three Ks) were heading north off Lime Kiln while a humpback whale (Split Fin) was heading south. They easily passed within a couple hundred yards of each other, which is always cool to see! I could only capture a distant picture, but it's my first time photographing the two species up at the same time. While watching the humpback, who reportedly was doing the westside shuffle all day, we also saw Dall's porpoise and harbor seals, making for four marine mammal species in the span of a few minutes!
Monika Wieland, San Juan Island
September 24
 | Split Fin and an Orca.
Photo by Monika Wieland
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September 24
We encountered J-pod at the south end of San Juan Island. All the usual suspects were there including Granny J2 and Blackberry J27. These guys were traveling steadily north in tight family groups of 3 to 6. These dense collections of a few whales are ideal for viewing and provide valuable insight into how these whales organize themselves socially.
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales Whale Watch
September 24
7:31 - Just heard some breaching or tail slapping on Lime Kiln hydrophones - no calls yet though for me!
Monika Wieland
September 24
7:14 AM - SRKWs vocalizing on Lime Kiln. First heard a super faint call then waited to post until I heard a second (vocals continued for maybe a minute) and sounded possibly like Js but seriously was holding my laptop up to my ear. I have not heard any since and now the ship.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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Transients/Bigg's Whales
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September 29
Maia from Washington State Ferries Ops called to relay a report from 7:49 am, San Juan Island Inter-Island ferry run: 5 female and 2 juvenile orcas northbound in Wasp Passage between Crane and Bell Islands (NW of Shaw Island).
September 29 10:30 am - Saw one Orca male and a little farther south a pod of several others in San Juan Channel NE of San Juan Is.
Ted Treadwell
September 27
I came across a group of California transients including CA172 and CA173 in the Juan de Fuca Strait. The T035A's, T036A's and T038A were amongst one group. T011 and T011A showed up from the American side of the Strait early evening and shadowed them as they continued west south of Jordan River. Mark Malleson September 27 |
California transients in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Mark Malleson, taken under permit #MML-001
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September 27  | T011A west bound in the Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Mark Malleson
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September 27
Ove r 18 Transients were found yesterday in the Juan de Fuca. With at least 8 CA transients traveling with some of our regular transients. Simon Pidcock September 26
 | T038A traveling with the T035A's and T036A's north of Dungeness Spit in the afternoon. They were originally found 2 miles south of Race Rocks in the morning tracking south east.
Photo by Mark Malleson |
September 26
 | T038A and companion.
Photo by Josh McInnes
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September 26
 | Transients T038s, T034s East of Race Rocks.
Photo by Josh McInnes
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September 26
 | T034s "What are you looking at."
Photo by Josh McInnes |
September 23-24
8:29 AM - Transient Female Sighting. Have repeatedly seen a large transient female hunting the patch between Speiden, Johns, and Stuart Islands on 9/23 and 9/24. She was driving all the seals onto shore, and hunting the area between Gull Reef and Johns Island. For the past two days we have seen her on four separate occasions, circling around the area. Andrew Clark
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Humpback whales
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September 29
2:55 2nd humpback or same one? Southeast of Point No Point headed south close to Kitsap side.
2:17 - I just spotted a humpback whale going on a deep dive north of Point No Point. It was pointed east.
Connie Bickerton
September 28
 | An acrobatic breaching humpback in Spieden Channel at 1:30 pm! This active tail/pectoral fin slapping visitor took passengers on Mystic Sea by surprise with a sudden full breach, a magnificent and breath-taking sight, before hitting the glassy water with a huge, resounding splash. What an unexpected treat for everyone as the long, hot summer draws to a close.
Photo by Sandra Pollard (SSAMN)
Tasli Shaw: BCY0409 "Yogi" in case you were curious. |
September 27
2:28pm - A whale (probably a humpback) came up along side our sailboat and dove under it. Saw fluke two times as well as it headed south. We saw the whale just south of Possession Pt on Whidbey Island.
Joanne Donohue
September 26
4:00 PM - Humpback San Juan Channel. We saw single Humpback feeding for an hour or more San Juan Channel/ Presidents Channel & Limestone Point area.
Deb Batchelder
September 26
Just spotted a humpback south of whidbey island near point no point, maybe headed south....
-Samuel HIlbert
September 25
We saw what appeared to be a humpback whale this morning blowing and diving numerous times at 8:45 am off Point No Point in Hansville, WA. Beautiful sight!!
Michelle LeMieux Hall
September 25
A humpback whale down just off San Juan Island this morning and again in the afternoon, this time to the southwest of Victoria!
Prince of Whale Whale Watch
September 24
My boyfriend and I live on John's Island and just saw a humpback whale pass between John's island and Flattop at 6:35 pm this evening.
Marita Holdaway, John's island
September 24
We saw our good buddy Split Fin, the humpback whale, chilling around Lime Kiln Lighthouse. He was most likely feeding because he was popping up all over the place and refused to pick a direction of travel.
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales Whale Watch
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Pacific White-sided Dolphin
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September 26
A special treat today- a few pacific white sided dolphins (LAGS) heading up the west side. A minke earlier, humpbacks yesterday and now LAGS. Sort of LOVE September.
Sandy Buckley
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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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