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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents.
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales
Humpback whales
Pacific white-sided dolphins
Minke whale
Right whale
Sea otters
Mystery cetacean
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?

Click here  

to order YOUR copy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bestseller about orcas in captivity.

Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby 

   DeathatSeaWorld


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October 7, 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.
Orca activity hasn't been noted in the Salish Sea since Sunday when members of all three Resident pods were spread out in lower Haro Strait for the afternoon. Transients/Bigg's whales haven't been reported since Friday, October 3. Humpbacks have been seen and photographed, continuing their long streak of appearances this summer and fall, but have been mostly hidden by fog for the past few days. White-sided dolphins have been amongst the Residents, and minkes have also been seen occasionally (but are no doubt underreported).

Two exotic species (to the Salish Sea) have shown up lately: an extremely rare and highly endangered right whale was seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and two sea otters showed up in Puget Sound. Sea otters were once nearly wiped out for their fur, used in fancy hats beginning around 1740, but in 1969 and 1970, 59 sea otters were translocated from Amchitka Island AK to the outer coast of Washington, where they have thrived and are now beginning to repopulate inland waters.

Resident orcas are expected to start munching on chum salmon in Puget Sound any day now, and for those wanting to see them as they forage their way to the lower Sound, Orca Network's new map of Puget Sound Land-Based Whale Sighting View Points shows over 100  locations from Deception Pass to Olympia to help you find a great viewing spot.

A new website has emerged from Wild Orca, the folks who produced the benefit concert for the Center for Whale Research in August. On that site is a highly informative article written by Monika Wieland, illustrated with helpful graphics and beautiful photos, called Orcas and Salmon - Making the Connection.

For those in the Olympia area on Saturday, October 11 at 3:00 pm - you can 'Meet the Author', Sandra Pollard, for discussion and book-signing of 'Puget Sound Whales for Sale' at Orca Books, Olympia.  
  

Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network
Photo of the Day
October 3
Big MAMA in Georgia Strait.
Photo by Stephen Ellwood
Southern Residents
October 5
Saw members of all three Pods today on west side..not sure exactly where but beautiful day! Lots of whales, some "frisky" activity going on so hopefully new babies next year!! I met a young lady from Romania whose dream was to see Orcas! She was blessed today with a awesome encounter!! Also saw Tucker the Orca poop sniffing research assistant doggie
Melissa Kaday

October 5
West of Hein bank (3-4 miles south of San Juan Island). It was a crazy mix of Js and Ks with a few Ls scattered in. We had amazing groups just logging at the surface, it almost looked like they were all rubbing melons and we could hear vocals above the surface!! One of the most special days out there this season
Gary Sutton

October 5
Love the mixed group. This was K13, J37, J14, J49, K27, K37 and more!
Photo by Gary Sutton

October 5

Photo by Gary Sutton

October 5
Photo by Gary Sutton

October 5
Photo by Gary Sutton

October 5
Photo by Gary Sutton

October 5
Js and Ks socializing.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre

October 5
J19 breaching (as always).
Photo by Heather MacIntyre

October 5
I had absolutely NO clue he was even close to us!! This is super out of his character. He's usually a no-nonsense, don't stop to see the humans kinda guy. We were floating in the water, watching the whales on the other side of the boat when all of a sudden, "Koof", there's Mega. L41 the one and only.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre

October 5
K16 Opus having a little fun!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre

October 5
SRKWs west bound in the Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

October 5
After a long dive, J26 "Mike" popped up near the boat with a beautiful salmon in his mouth! Taken on the Western Prince II.
Photo by Traci Walter

October 5
We found 2 Minke whales... And all three southern resident killer whale pods... And 12 Pacific white-sided dolphins... And two humpbacks...ALL IN THE SAME PLACE! The dolphins were traveling right alongside, and often intermixed with the killer whales, and the Minkes and humpbacks kept popping up right in the thick of things as well. Chaos!
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

October 4
5:24 pm - J Pod is in and went north. K Pod inbound in Juan de Fuca. We were with J Pod group B (J11's, 22's and17's) plus the J16's, with J26 Mike chasing a salmon around in circles at close range.
James Gresham

October 4
J34 Doublestuf approaching and then passing under the boat.
Photo by James Gresham

October 4
Photo by James Gresham

October 4
Males J34 Doublestuf and J26 Mike put on quite the display (I am learning to avoid using the word "show". They are not performing for us).
Photo by James Gresham

October 4
J16's. 42 yr old, J16 Slick and her offspring 7 yr old, J42 Echo and 23 yr old, J26 Mike.
Photo by James Gresham

October 4
5:00 PM - Orca off Pender. Watched between 15 and 40 orca heading nw off west Pender south of Thieves Bay. Three plus groups. First group about 5 pm about 1 km off shore. Second group closer (est about half a km and appeared to be feeding or playing. Third grouping was within 100 metres of shore. At least two groups appeared to have young individuals with them. All appeared to be heading in the same direction. Continued to watch another 5 to 10 individuals singly, or in pairs or triplets follow the other groups. Appeared to be at least 3 males. They appeared to be traveling in a large spread out group. At least one group appeared to be feeding as they doubled back more than once
Don Knox

October 4
L85 Mystery.
Photo by josh McInnes

October 4
K26 Lobo.
Photo by josh McInnes

October 4
K20 Spock and K38 Comet.
Photo by josh McInnes

October 4
K26 Lobo off Race Rocks Pacific Ecological Reserve.
Photo by Josh McInnes

October 4
11:29 am - Just saw a pod of about 10 orcas past lime kiln lighthouse..no vocals and pointy fins..looks like they were after a small pod of porpoises.
Katie Snyder

October 4
9:40am - Residents vocalizing right now on Lime kiln Hydrophone.
Tristan Max'inux

October 2
J and K pod headed west late in the day or night.
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales
Transients/Bigg's Whales
October 3
Late afternoon I came across the T049A's and T049B's westbound off of Otter Point.  They led us to a large group of California T's (CA's), including CA166, CA172, and CA173. They were mixed with T038A and other known T's who were eastbound near Sheringham Point lighthouse. The T049A's and T049B's turned around within a few metres of them and then led the entire group back to the east where we left them offshore of Sooke at 1700 hrs.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

October 3
5:30 pm - We just received a report of a large group of transient killer whales traveling East at Otter Point (Canada) in Juan de Fuca Strait. Within this group were the California transients CA166 and assumed companions CA172, CA173 and "unknown offspring." T065As were also ID'd. We have been told 20+ animals in two groups split by 400m. Report
Posted by Josh McInnes
Humpback whales
October 5
4:16: Saw two humpbacks just south of Possession Point (south end of Whidbey Island), playing. Too many tail slaps to count. A couple of breaches too. Incredible!!!
Cassandra Miller

October 5
4:04 - A breach and now a couple dozen tail slaps and counting. Possession buoy.
Rob Miller

October 5
11:24 - From Kingston ferry just saw them south of ferry and heading east from shore.
9:47am - 2 or 3 humpbacks off Edmonds, north of ferry, just off Sunset! I saw 3 fluke up dives, the last looked like headed at Sunset. I'm on ferry and first saw them before we left Edmonds, then again after we left. They were pretty close to shore.
Michelle Goll

October 4-5
We were in a fishing boat and followed the humpback this morning. Actually only looked like one but was moving quickly off from north of Sunset and then toward Edmonds Ferry lanes going South. Saw him yesterday breaching and tail slapping in that same area and then around Whidbey (Skachet Head) about 10am to 11am.
Cathy Treiber

October 5
10:51am - Just saw a beautiful Humpback heading toward Apple Cove just south of Kingston! About a mile from shore... heading south west. He just did a beautiful dive right under our boat. What a treat!!
Amy Rutherford

October 5
Humpback Whales out front of Sooke - at Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Sooke Coastal Explorations

October 5
Humpback Whales at Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Sooke Coastal Explorations

October 4
5:47pm - We just saw 1 humpback heading south about 2 miles south of Mukilteo near the shipwreck.
Photo by Anne DeMelle

October 4
1:00 PM - Humpback whale sighting. We watched a Humpback whale off Possession Point. It came across the bar in fairly shallow water and then headed North up the East side of Whidbey Island. It disappeared about half way to Clinton.
David Staeheli

October 4
12:15 - Just crossed paths with a pair of humpbacks 2 miles south of Possession Point.
Michael Naiman

October 4
12:27pm - Two Humpbacks 3 miles off the south end of Whidbey island. Headed east.
Joey LaMarche

October 3
Big MAMA and her calf in Georgia Strait.
Photo by Stephen Ellwood

October 3
Photo by Stephen Ellwood

October 3
A humpback was traveling slowly, just south of Victoria. The whale, I believe identified as BCY0769.
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales
Pacific white-sided dolphins
October 4
11:23am - Nice way to start the day- just watched a nice group of about 15 pacific white sided dolphins head down the west side--- their synchronicity never ceases to amaze me. Gorgeousness.
Sandy Buckley

October 4
An even bigger surprise off Lime Kiln - Lags (Pacific white-sided dolphins)! Two small groups went by not far from the orcas. I absolutely love that these guys are hanging around more and more this year!
Photo by Monika Wieland

October 4
More amazing Lags...Pacific White-sided Dolphins...south of Victoria, BC, playing with our boat.
Photo by James Mead Maya

October 4
I've seen more Lags this year than all the my other years and thousands of hours on the waters of the Salish Sea, 1986-2013! And then on the way home, Dalls Porpoise came to play!
Photo by James Mead Maya

October 4
4:33 pm - COOL! Just watched a few Pacific white-sided dolphins swim by Eagle Cove... that's a first!!
Erin Corra

October 3
Fun times on the water today! Absolutely flat calm seas and every shade of blue imaginable.
Photo by Traci Walter

October 3
Towards the opening of Becher bay, were about 20 animals in the water, moving so fast that their wake was more visible than the animals themselves. Pacific white-sided dolphins!
Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales
Minke whale
October 5
9:15  am - Minke whale traveling east to west along the NW tip of Quimper Peninsula 1 mile NE of Cape George (NW of Port Townsend). Surfaced 3 times twice about 4 minutes apart. Small dorsal. No head shown when porpoising. Clear skies. Water surface flat calm. No wind. Some feeding sea birds but no dense concentrations.
Tony Petrillo

 October 4 

Photo by Josh McInnes 
Right whale
October 5
A right whale was reported heading west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at milepost 8, which is 8 miles east of the Makah reservation at Neah Bay. Jerry George, nature writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, saw the right whale from his window at 5 pm, about 1/4 mile from shore by a kelp bed. It had a 3' gash in the blubber layer along its upper left side about midway between the blow hole and peduncle. He saw the white collosities on the rostrum and there was no dorsal fin. He was not able to take any photos.
According to Wikipedia: "The Northeast Pacific subpopulation, which summers in the southeastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, may have no more than 50 animals... According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the North Pacific right whale is the most endangered whale on Earth."
Sea otters
October 5
While returning from south sound October 5th, passing through Carr Inlet, south Puget Sound, 6 of us, in 3 different sailboats, saw 2 sea otters floating by! My husband and I have seen many sea otters in Clayoquot Sound, and they have been reported around Pt Townsend, but not down into Puget Sound.  Such a delightful discovery!
Katie Bunnell
Kim Merriman reports: We have had at least one sea otter in Eld Inlet each of the past several (3-4) years. I have him/her on film and on video. The sightings have been reported each time to the proper agencies. And it is very cool to see them.
Mystery cetacean
October 3, 4, 5 
Mystery cetacean in south Puget Sound.
Photo taken October 4 by Kim Merriman 

October 5  We saw these same creatures today & couldn't tell if they were harbor porpoises, small orcas, etc. we were on the beach at the end of the Sequalitchew Creek Trail in DuPont. There were 3-4 between Anderson & Keaton islands.
Wendy Keith Bayer

October 4  10:25 am - a small, single whale out front. Don't know what species. Looks like a smallish orca. It is NOT a minke, grey, humpback. Went south down Eld Inlet at 9:30 to Flap Jack Point and then turned around at 10:00 and has now headed out north to Squaxin Island area. Flat calm. Could hear the blows, see the dorsal fin, and then the lingering footprint on the water. 
Kim Merriman

October 3 
11:50 am
- received a call from Colter Mott, who  saw 2 cetaceans surface north of Delano Pt (Kim Merriman: Delano Camp and roads are in Lakebay, Wa. South of Penrose Point State Park and across from Carr Inlet, north of McNeil Island.) in south Puget Sound - larger and slower than porpoise, with dorsal fins not quite as large as orcas. He only saw them once and they did not resurface for him to get a better look.
 
Robin Baird: My guess from this photo is a Pacific white-sided dolphin.  
Alisa Lemire Brooks: A possibility is that it is the Lag (Pacific White-Sided Dolphin) reported at the end of August south Vashon/Pt Defiance/Tacoma area that was said to be seen for a couple of months.
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 [email protected], 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.