October 18
1 pm - Simon Pidcock tells us there are lots of residents off Beaumont Shoals (in Haro Strait, east of Victoria) headed westbound toward the ocean. More KW at Constance Bank (in Strait of Juan de Fuca, south of Victoria) inbound. Earlier he reported that
all three pods were heard on Port Townsend hydrophones, ending at 4:50 am.
October 17
Orcas were mid channel
between Mukilteo and Clinton at about 21:30 hours. I had the pleasure of watching them play off the stern of the ferry. Amazing sight with the lights of Mukilteo behind them.
Scott Weaver
October 17
6:34 - in waning light lead males committed to
northbound up Possession Sound, east side of Whidbey with at least 12-15 that we can see behind heading north as well. Hard to see if any headed up Admiralty...all still so spread out. Some of the more westerly groups may have peeled up northwest into Admiralty (or not) but definitely very large group stayed this side of Whidbey.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
October 17
Some
whales in front of Woodway and Point Edwards (Edmonds).Cheryl Lynne Langesater
October 17
5:45 - I'm at
Richmond beach, just watched
several orcas pass through, mid channel.
Dori Dace
October 17
5:50 - Alisa Lemire Brooks is still seeing whales spread out
from the Edmonds marina to Point Wells, and some of them started exhibiting feeding behavior (turning, lunging, etc) just before they reached Pt. Wells, but they are continuing their travel north.
October 17
4:24 - I can see them from the green staircase at
Carkeek. Not too far out but pretty difficult to see because of the fog. Steadily heading north.
Sara Troyer
October 17
4pm - great (but wet) viewing right now from
Bainbridge side - Valley Rd at Manitou Beach Dr.
Lynn Batson
October 17
4:40 - from
Carkeek see them between us and
Port Madison in small groups spread out across mid channel. Visibility mostly poor but comes and goes with the rain.
3:55 - what looks to be leaders, 2 big boys and female or young guy, mid channel due
west of Shilshole marina. Traveling at a steady pace still northbound. Visibility getting worse with this rain.
3:35 - yay! Seeing them porpoising northbound at and north of green buoy
off West Point lighthouse! Argosy boat on scene along with NOaa still and couple other small boats.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
October 17
3:30 - Orcas seen from the ferry. Most of them have past north through the
Bainbridge-Seattle ferry lane. Another great sighting!
Lila Pharis
October 17
Brad Hanson of the NW Fisheries Science Center was with
J pod, K pod and some of L pod today from
Three Tree Point (south Burien) back north to West Point (north of Seattle). He didn't see any foraging behavior. The whales spread out into groups separated by 1/2 to 3/4 mile by the time they reached the north end of Vashon Island. They may not have found enough chum salmon to continue south as they normally do and and return northward up Colvos Passage. Instead they turned around near Point Robinson.
October 17
3:10 - I watched a group of 3-5(?), through binoculars, closer to
Bainbridge-side, from Seattle on the bridge near the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Kaarina Makowski
October 17
Viewed a group of
orcas in the center of Elliott Bay from the
3 pm ferry departing Bainbridge. Ferry captain announced it was the best show they'd had all year. Absolutely lovely creatures. I'm always in awe.
Kari Wright
October 17
2:50 - I saw a few of them from
Alki Beach and got a couple pictures with my camera. One was pretty close to Alki. Others were
closer to Blake Island.
Monica Zaborac
October 17
2:51 - leaders appear to be with NOAA approaching
West Point Lighthouse. Trailers are still moving past west Seattle.
2:41 - Watching the orcas pass
Elliot bay - very spread out with whales between Elliot bay and south to the yellow buoy.
Connie Bickerton
October 17
John Rogstad of WA State Ferries called at
2:30pm to relay reports of many
orcas between Alki Pt. and the Tango buoy, seen from the Hyak ferry on the
Bremerton-Seattle run. He said the ferries are slowing down and the ferry passengers are enjoying watching the whales from the deck!
October 17
2:22 - Near Alki lighthouse. Close to shore. Heading north
Cara Sorensen
October 17
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2 pm - Point Robinson, Vashon Island - K21 waving hello! He and J27 were showing off their pecs (pectoral fins).
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan
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October 17
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Not the same photo as above. This is J27 showing off his pec fin too. Seems to be the pose of the day.
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan |
October 17
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K21 Capuccino.
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan
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October 17
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A tight group heads north past Point Robinson.
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan
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October 17
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Southern Resident orcas splashing their way past Point Robinson.
Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan
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October 17
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Photo by Kelly Burns Keenan
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October 17
1:50 - Assuming they haven't turned back, leaders were
nearly to Alki, with a straggler popping up all the way behind the
Fauntleroy - Vashon ferry we were on.
1:46 - Still moving steadily north.
Rachel Haight
October 17
1:40 - Whales visible from
W Seattle now,
close to Vashon Island, west of Lincoln Park. Looks like NOAA following them, Argosy boat stopped ahead of them.
Stephanie Raymond?
October 17
1:37 - on the
Vashon Ferry with Sally now; they're right ahead, mid-channel. Sweet. They are Really spread out now.
Steve Wharton
October 17
1:26 - In front of
Fauntleroy ferry terminal.
Cathy Nelson Winjum
October 17
1:22 - Orcas! At about
Fauntleroy dock, heading north, NOAA with them.
Trileigh Tucker
October 17
1:14 - just spotted distant blows and NOAA
south of Vashon Ferry as we crossed (heading north still)
Katie Schmelzer
October 17
1 pm - 6-12 orcas spotted in East Passage. Orca Pod heading north through the East Passage. Spotted from home in
Shorewood, Burien. Looks like a small research boat following.
Mark Denniston Jr
October 17
12:58 - Whales are all grouped up and just
S of the Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry crossing. Moving steadily N. Definitely on the
West Seattle side!
Jeff Hogan, Killer Whale Tales
October 17
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Saw at least 50 orcas close by Three Tree Point. I am one happy orcaholic!
Photo by Rachel Haight |
October 17
10:26 - Heading north again just south of
Redondo.
Kim Rouse Baumgartner
October 17
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This group included Ophelia (L27), Spock (K20), Comet (K38), Muncher (L91), and others - at Three Tree Point.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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October 17
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Marina (L47) (Mystic (L115) was close behind) on the left, Crewser (L92) on the right.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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October 17
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Muncher (L91) surfacing with Spock (K20) on her side behind her.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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October 17
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Cappuccino (K21) - heading south at Three Tree Point.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu |
October 17
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These pictures were taken from above Three Tree Point in Burien, WA looking across Puget Sound at Vashon Island. The Orcas were traveling north and seemed closer to the west side. There was what the Burien Blog described as a NOAA boat following them.
Photo by Elston Hill |
October 17
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| Photo by Elston Hill |
October 17
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| Photo by Elston Hill |
October 17
9:45 - I just saw them from n
orth Tacoma near the end of N 45th St. with good binoculars.
Peter Woodward
October 17
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From Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Rick Oppegaard |
October 17
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The Southern Resident Killer Whales visited Vashon Island today! Here are a couple of them (mother J22, born in 1985, and her son J34, born in 1998) swimming within yards of Point Robinson, with Mount Rainier towering in the distance behind Des Moines.
Photo by Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography |
October 17 |
A classic "ID shot" of J26 Mike, showing his tall, straight dorsal fin and open saddle patch. J26 was born in 1991, and as he matured into adulthood, his dorsal fin "sprouted" from a short curve into this magnificent shape. At the same time (not shown here) his pectoral fins grew larger and more powerful, and the tips of his tail flukes curled downward. These changes make killer whales one of the most sexually dimorphic species.
Photo by Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography
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October 17
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J38 Cookie, born in 2003, is just starting to sprout his dorsal fin. It will continue to grow taller and straighter in the years to come, helping to identify Cookie and his family.
Photo by Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography
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K13 Skagit strutted her stuff with a big cartwheel at Point Robinson this morning!
10 am - They turned north again, closer to east side.
Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography |
October 17
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Here are some at play off Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Nooshwander Bill |
October 17
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| Photo by Nooshwander Bill |
October 17
9:17 - Whale soup here at Pt. Robinson! Still heading south.
More than 30.
Jessica Pagan
October 17
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A friendly wave from Pt. Robinson this morning!!
Photo by Jessica Pagan |
October 17
12:11 - Just nearing
3 tree point. Seattle side and noaa now with them.
10:29 - I'm Going to say it again. Wow. Now all
northbound again at Point Robinson.
10 am - Headed
north again at point Robinson.
9:35 - Point Robinson. .. the last group just passed but they are milling some.
9:26 - Oodles of whales. This is amazing
8:57 - Leaders nearing Point Robinson.
Amy Carey
October 17
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Fins rising in Puget Sound today. We're at the beach to say hello!
Photo by Amy Carey, Sound Action |
October 17
8:58 AM - One is now in
between the Des Moines pier and Point Robinson. They are closer to the Des Moines side they are spread out all heading south.
8:40 AM - I see them just north of the Des Moines Marina spreadout midchannel heading south.
Tanya Jackson Esparza
October 17
8:45 AM - Leaders nearing
Point Robinson.Robin Mann
October 17
7:30 - Still in
Dilworth spread out across channel. Lots of tail slaps.
7:15 am - They are here!!! 10-12 headed slowly south along the east side of Vashon Island, near Dilworth!!Aimee Demarest
October 16
7:09 - once the light dimmed and we could no longer see them, we stood on the shore
listening to the sound of their blows...it's the greatest sound for us Orcaholics. So peaceful and humbling.
Elyse Margaret
October 16
6:20 - They've slowed down, spread out
from possession sound back to Useless Bay.
6:10 - group of
maybe twenty porpoising south, almost to the end of the point -mid channel.
6:05 - Watching a group heading east
along the cliff east of Double Bluff. Lots of breaching and tail slaps.
Connie Bickerton
October 16
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We watched MANY dozens of Southern Resident orcas head down Admiralty Inlet, past Whidbey Island on their way into Puget Sound.
Photo by Susan Berta, Orca Network |
October 16
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| Photo by Susan Berta, Orca Network |
October 16
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| Photo by Susan Berta, Orca Network |
October 16
What a privilege to watch this
grand entrance of SRKW today! I watched from the deck and saw
some of the breaches & resting line. The orcas came by close enough
I could hear the blows & breaches. Gave me chills even in the warm sunshine!
Wendy Berta Sines
October 16
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5:31 pm - A resting line about a mile north of Hansville, heading SE toward Point No Point.
Photo by Howard Garrett |
October 16
Just spotted
3 or more Orcas passing Mutiny Bay about 5:10 and heading toward Double Bluff. They were about 2 miles out from Whidbey.
Robert Armbruster
October 10
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An Orca shows off its hunting skills and catch at the surface. With J-Pod off the western side of San Juan Island actively hunting salmon.
Photo by Puget Exposure Photography
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