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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in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.
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| November 17, 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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It takes a far-flung network of observers reporting whale sightings to combine into these summaries. When woven into chronological order the many encounters add up to a dynamic portrayal of orca travel patterns that give us a glimpse into how the orcas spend their days as they move across dozens of nautical miles in their chosen habitat.
On Friday morning a small group of 4 to 6 orcas was seen off Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island. The whales moved generally northward and two were photographed in mid-leap off Possession Point, showing a saddle patch that appears to be K20 Spock. At about that time another group of orcas was seen milling in the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Sooke, but they were never identified. The orcas in Possession Sound continued up the east side of Whidbey Island to just south of the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane, where they milled around for over two hours while the sun set.
Meanwhile, starting around 1 pm, another group of orcas passed Pt. Wilson heading south into Admiralty Inlet. These whales spread out for miles and were hard to count, but there seemed to be dozens of them. They behaved like salmon foragers, so we knew we had Southern Residents in Puget Sound. J27 Blackberry was tentatively identified among them.
Hopes were high Saturday around Puget Sound that orcas would reappear under sunny skies, and appear they did, heading north off Point No Point shortly after 9 am. It's unknown where they were all night, but they remained spread out for miles across Admiralty Inlet as they foraged their way into the Strait of Juan de Fuca at sunset, fanning out even wider up Haro Strait. They didn't seem to be in a hurry, as their conversations were heard off San Juan Island past midnight. The only report Sunday had orcas heading north in Active Pass into Georgia Strait.
Monday morning Southern Residents reappeared meandering south in Haro Strait, then west into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, toward the ocean.
Transients/Bigg's whales were photographed off Race Rocks Monday morning, and humpbacks have maintain their occupation of waters between Victoria and the Olympic Peninsula and in various other locations around the Salish Sea.
For global orca awareness this edition, we have two interesting reports of unidentified orcas in Mexico.
Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network
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| Photo of the Day | November 17
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Out of nowhere, this orca pops up and I quickly see that it was Granny!! (J2!) I love seeing her and knowing she's ok.
Photo by Traci Walter
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Southern Residents
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November 17I saw K pod off the west side of SJI this morning!!! Although, all three pods are here. Huge thank you to everyone who helped keep me informed!!
Heather MacIntyre
November 17
Today was pretty amazing. I had been staying on Stuart Island for the past couple days and I knew the Southern Residents had gone north. Hoping for a return trip down past San Juan Island, we took a chance and went out at 8:30am. We scanned north and turned to Turn Point to look down and we came around the corner and there they were! I'm not sure if all members from all 3 pods were there as they were super spread and doing longer dives, but it was amazing. We were the only boat out for a long period of time. We followed along until Kellet Bluff where we got to see some good fishing action! The Center for Whale Research also was out today, so I'm hoping they could confirm everyone was there.
Beautiful day on the water!
Traci Walter
November 17
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Traci and I had a nice little visit with Granny (J2) this morning off Kellett Bluff!
Photo by Chris Teren |
November 17
11:46 - What a morning! After looking for orcas yesterday and not finding any, this morning early I felt like we should get out there again. I gave Chris the puppy dog/ "I really need a whale fix" look, and he caved. Coffee made, warm the boat and we were off the dock at 8:30. Looped up and around Turn Point, looking up Boundary Pass and Swanson Channel. We came around Turn Point and I said "got em'!" More and more fins.. Everywhere across the Strait! Got to hang with Granny too! Foraging behavior at Kellet, but they continued south. Today was one of my top days. I got to drive the boat both days AND find whales! Thanks to Chris for teaching, patience and putting up with this dorca. Lovely. Photos to come. Did see Granny. Some foraging at Kellet bluff! Headed south.
Traci Walter
November 17
10:26 - Such amazing calls! I thought I had left my sound tutor on for a minute there.
Susan Marie Andersson
November 17
10:05 - On LK too now.
Rachel Haight
November 17
9:37 - lots of call activity - and getting louder!
Kim Merriman
November 17
8:45 am - Southern Residents vocalizing on OrcaSound hydrophone.
Gayle Swigart
November 16
Unidentified orcas were seen heading north through Active Pass this morning. There are chum hatcheries in Georgia Strait that may have produced fish that are returning down Johnstone Strait about now, so hopefully they're finding enough up there for a few days, but we expect a return trip to Puget Sound soon.
November 15
So. Resident calls were heard on Lime Kiln hydrophones all evening until past midnight.
November 15
6:15 pm - Very faint orca vocalizations coming threw on the lk hydro, started to hear them at 6:15 p.m. under the annoying rhythmic ticking sound.
Selena Rhodes Scofield November 15
While visiting Ft. Ebey State Park on Whidbey Island today my partner and I observed a group of Orca Whales from the bluffs just south of Pt. Partridge. There were a minimum of 9, and possibly as many as 20 Orcas traveling north, spread out from 400 yards to 1 1/2 miles offshore. The time was between 3:50 and 4:15 p.m. The whales appeared to be traveling with purpose. There were at least 3 large males (very tall central fin) and numerous medium sized and a few smaller individuals.
We were not close enough to observe any unusual markings or scars and took no photos. It was difficult to tell the exact number. We were able to observe 9 individuals either surfaced or spouting at one time. Clearly, there were numerous others as they appeared shortly after at other locations amidst the pod. Lighting was perfect with low angle sun backlighting the spouts. There were a couple of groups of 2 or 3 traveling close together with the rest of the individuals spaced more widely apart. One large male was closest to shore and the audible sound of his spouting was what initially drew our attention. During their passage a tug with barge in cable tow passed going the opposite direction. Several of the whales passed very closely by the vessels (within 2-300 yards) without appearing to alter their course.
Dave SchmalzSqueaks, calls and whistles on the Port Townsend hydrophone!
Susan Berta November 15
A whale-a-palooza of an afternoon at Ft. Casey! 30+ orcas, along with a nice group of harbor porpoises and big old Steller Sea Lions...lovely to see my orca friends, with their backlit blows as they headed north past Pt. Townsend....makes my heart happy! Bonnie Gretz November 15
 | Taking a look around Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Richard Snowberger
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November 15
Whales everywhere, too many to count... Blows first seen across Admiralty Inlet from Mutiny Sands, Whidbey Island, at 10:30 am on a crisp, bright morning turned into an unforgettable day on the water with the Southern Residents as they headed north out of Admiralty Inlet. Ken Balcomb, CWR was on scene as was Brad Hanson, NOAA, while we had our own expert, Howard Garrett, on board to photograph and ID foraging, porpoising, spy-hopping, breaching, tail-slapping, raspberry blowing (yes, really!) orcas in our midst. For the second day running we watched their blows disappear into the sunset, some turning west and others north, to meet up again who knows when, and where? Sandra Pollard (Author of Puget Sound Whales for Sale) November 15
 | Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, with Southern Residents near Bush Point, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Sandra Pollard
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November 15
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K27 powers past Bush Point.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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November 15
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L92 off Port Townsend, heading north.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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November 15
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A bit of frolic, perhaps.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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November 15
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A sideways, inverted, taillob.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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November 15
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Ken Balcomb conducting a census of whales present.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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November 15
What a spectacular, cold but amazing day out on the water with whales seemingly in every direction. Although there were multiple breaches which I was lucky enough to see, I didn't capture any of them on camera -- but there was plenty of foraging, porpoising, spyhopping, tail lobs, fluke waving, and other wild activity!
Steve Smith
November 15
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Looking around off Bush Point.
Photo by Steve Smith (more photos HERE)
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November 15
About 2:00 we saw spouting near Marrowstone Island - eastern side. We boated over and turned off the engine. Several orcas had already passed us by, but looking south there was pod after pod all headed north. I say pods - but I don't know. groups of 5-10. 2 jumped and turned belly upward. One group of 6 was diving and emerging all together over and over. Some seemed to swim by themselves. The sound of their breath all around was amazing. One came right at the boat and turned and passed us just a few feet from port side. We sat about 30 min, and when we left they were still coming in groups but now were more in the center of the channel.
Sally Gecas November 15
Visiting with my daughter from Gig Harbor and we just got to Marrowstone Point in time to see some breaching way out in the distance. Would love to see more, but I live in Fort Worth,Texas and can only visit up here.Joeanne Carter November 15
2:46 - Just watched the last of them
1:57 - Have orcas spread from lagoon point to south of bush point (Whidbey) as viewed from Ft Flagler.1:26 - some orca north of Bush Point lighthouse, look to be close in, more still south and further out from shore.1:20 - Finally seeing orca from Ft Flagler (Marrowstone Island). They are south east of the bluff were I am sitting (south of Marrowstone Point) Appear to be near Mutiny Bay and on east side of channel south of Bush Point, maybe near Mutiny Bay. Orcas are still northbound.Connie BickertonNovember 15
1:15 pm - We are sitting on cliffs at Fort Casey looking across admiralty - both have seen a few big breach splashes over mid channel by Indian island in past 15- 20 mins. Nadja Baker
November 15
1:05 - trailers are now just off south end of Marrowstone Island. Some breaching but still headed NW out of Admiralty.
Susan Berta
November 15
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Watching the orcas from our neighborhood bluff, south of Bush Pt, Whidbey Island, WA, as Southern Resident orcas foraged and traveled NW out Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Susan Berta
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November 15
12:50 - there are several males, they are quite spread out, now just south of Bush Point.
12:42 - Whales off Adams Rd., Freeland, quite spread out, several males, can't id through my binoculars.
Christina Baldwin
November 15
12:45 - Orcas off of Windmill Heights (1 mile south of Bush Point) heading north.
November 15
12:05 - 1 male now off Foulweather Bluff
12:02 - Update on Admiralty Inlet orcas - Leaders have not quite reached Foulweather Bluff/Hood Canal entrance at noon. Spread out down to N Hansville not moving fast and some changes in direction but still trending NW. Definite foraging going on - - lots of tail lobs - happy to see that!
11:35 - leaders are south of Bush Pt and off Foulweather Bluff, Kitsap. Some direction changes and foraging, but still trending NW.
Susan Berta
November 15 11:22 - watching from Shore Meadows on Whidbey and see many on Kitsap side, north of channel marker approaching Foul weather bluff.Michelle Goll
November 15
Viewing from Shore Meadows.
11:49 - 2 orcas still in between channel marker and Foulweather Bluff.
11:20 - Ok they are near Foulweather Bluff and channel marker.
Marilyn Armbruster
November 15
11 am - Saw them in Hansville at Skunk Bay this morning. I definitely saw 4. This our first sighting. What a thrill!Andrea Matulich Rowe November 15
11 am - seeing at least a dozen orcas east of the buoy between Pt. No Pt. and Double Bluff, likely heading NW, but also seeing spouts closer to the Kitsap side, so possibly moving south? Will keep watching!
Susan Berta
November 15
10:50 am - Sandra Pollard reports seeing the orcas from Shore Meadow Road, Mutiny Bay, Whidbey Isl, heading north, closer to the Kitsap side.
November 15
10:30 - Marilyn reports the orcas are spread out from Hansville to Double Bluff, still trending north
November 15 10:10 am - Patty Michak reported the whales passing Point No Point, heading NW, spread out in a long line between Kitsap and Whidbey, has seen at least 8 orcas go by.
November 15
10:08 - They are north of PNP now. 9:55 - Large group spread out at Point No Point.Some are close to Point No Point some are midchannel, lots of spouts, trending north. Elyse Margaret November 15
9:19 - A call from Marilyn at Point No Point of many orcas heading north. Many ooooohs and aaaaahs while speaking. She said they were at Eglon 1/2 hour ago.
November 14
Possession Sound: Orca between Mukilteo and Clinton. I'm a deckhand with WSF, yesterday (Friday night 11/14) I was working on Kitsap and Kittitas. From 2:30p until dark, there was a group of orca in the area between Mukilteo and Clinton, staying generally south of the ferries routes. South of Clinton were a group of maybe 6 females and young ones? Close to the Mukilteo lighthouse were maybe 4 or 5 larger males. The captain informed Ops and the other ferry of their location and we stayed clear. Passengers were very excited, as was I!
Chris Stevens
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: We got tired of waiting for the whales to come to us, so got to Bush Pt. at about 4:55 pm and saw them just after they had passed, heading south! Ran back home, and at about 5:10 was pretty sure I saw and heard spouts in the near dark, right at the north end of Mutiny Bay and on the Whidbey side, still heading south.
Susan Berta
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 4:47 - Sandra Pollard called to report the orcas had passed Bush Point, still heading south, and she was pretty sure she saw J27 Blackberry.
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 4:15 pm - from Sandra Pollard - the last of the pod is passing Lagoon Pt and continue south, she has ID'd one of the trailers as Blackberry from J pod. Another 15+ orcas have headed south and should be near Bush Pt - we're looking for them!
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 4:00 pm - Group from Port Townsend should be near Mutiny Bay about now. Watched from Fort Flagler for about 45 min. Foraging with a few breaches.
Susan Marie Andersson
November 14
Possession Sound: 3:45 pm - Danielle called to report seeing some orcas from the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry, the orcas were in between the ferry lanes and HEADING EAST toward Mukilteo. Sounds like they are continuing foraging in Possession Sound, possibly spread out since some were reported heading up the east side of Langley 20 minutes ago!
November 14
Possession Sound: 3:25 pm - I'm seeing two orcas heading north up the east side of Whidbey. Moving slowly, lots of splashing!
Cassandra Miller
November 14
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Looking west from Bush Point, suddenly a breach!
Photo by Richard Snowberger
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November 14
Admiralty Inlet: A welcome return by more than a dozen members of J Pod today, including Blackberry (J27), foraging and porpoising near Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island, at 3:40 pm. We watched several breaches and a couple of spy-hops, plus a continuous round of tail-slaps by one determined Southern Resident intent on finding dinner. The whales continued steadily south passing Bush Point around 4:15 pm with one final farewell breach (see above) as the sun set behind the Olympics on yet another breathtakingly beautiful day. 3:20 pm - passing Lagoon Pt. where they slowed to do some splashing/porpoising and foraging, but are now on the move again headed south toward Bush Pt. Sandra Pollard.
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: Jill Hein reported at 2:50 pm: At least 12 orcas at Marrowstone point, heading south towards Fort Flagler.
November 14
Possession Sound: 2:44 - John Rogstad of WA State Ferries relayed a report from the ferry Kitsap of a large pod of orcas north of the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane, toward Hat Island. He said they were milling around and not showing any direction of travel.
November 14
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Orcas near Possession Pt. on Friday (note the open saddle patch, indicating a So. Resident orca, possibly K20 Spock).
Photo by Toby Black
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November 14
 | One more headed towards Glendale (whidbey island), Possession Sound.
Photo by Toby Black |
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 2:25 - They're heading to Marrowstone from Port Townsend, on the PT side. Difficult to see as we're looking straight into the sun (from Fort Casey). Spread out - at least a dozen, heading slowly south.
Jill Hein
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 2:08pm - Very very talkative dolphins - Port Townsend hydrophones.
Else Jean Jensen
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 1:48 - We have audible orcas on the Port Townsend hydrophones.
Orca Network
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 1:45 - Beautiful calls on PT hydrophones - j's and k's?
Susan Marie Andersson
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 1:36 - Erika Winner at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center just called with a report of about 13 orcas heading south past Pt. Wilson, at the top of Admiralty Inlet. No IDs yet, but this sounds like residents.
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 1:30 pm - I saw a large pod as I was taking the ferry to Port Townsend yesterday. They were about a mile N mid crossing. Large pod and breaching.
Jen Chapin
November 14
Admiralty Inlet: 1:00 PM - 16 orcas spotted off the coast of North Beach, Port Townsend.
Sally Chapin
November 14
Juan de Fuca: 10 am - Ken Balcomb reports "possibly" J pod milling undirectionally, off Sooke (~25 miles SW of Victoria).
November 14
Possession Sound: 1:25 - Relocated to Stamm Overlook on north Edmonds for much better views. 3 Orcas still heading north. Nearing Possession pt.
1:11 - I just had a fun time north of Edmonds. Way out. Two whales at least. Headed north. They'll come up the east side of Whidbey at this trajectory.
Josh Adams
November 14
Possession Sound: 10:45 - Two orcas just north of kingston ferry heading north. Ferry appeared to try to avoid them. Viewing from north beach at kingston ferry terminal.
Dianne Dee Iverson
November 14
Possession Sound: 10:25 - Tom Harris called in a sighting of at least 4 orcas heading north off President Point (about a mile south of Kingston).
November 14
Possession Sound: 9:43 - I saw at least three, still moving north towards Kingston.
9:21 - two off President Pt, way out there. Closer to the Seattle side, beyond the channel marker, moving north.
Joanne Graves
November 14
Possession Sound: 10:00 - taking a bite out of President Point.
9:44 - Heading north, closer to Jefferson Beach/mid-channel. Something between four and a million.
9:41 - dang! Good thing I watched Sesame Street this morning: Make that four. Four magNIFicent whales!
9:39 - stalled kind of near the ONLY BOAT off Jeff Head.
9:31 - I'd like to amend that to three. Three little orcas. Pretty close to a UW research Boston Whaler (ahem) with two orange colored men who are seemingly oblivious to their surroundings and are instead messing with some science buoy. But I digress.
9:20 - Now the big male is between Meadow Point and the old degaussing station on Jefferson Beach, the second orca bringing up the rear closer to Jefferson Head (from my perspective on Meadow Point at 70' elevation) heading NE.
9:10 - Psyche! He's heading NE Again. Smaller (female?) in tow.
9:07 - And... one big male just turned around as soon as I posted that. He probably is following these posts on his iPod.
9:02 - The two heading steadily north are mid-channel between Meadow Point and Jefferson Head, now stalling and pointing more NE.
Ben Blankenship
November 14
Possession Sound: 9:13 - What a nice way to start the day! Just looked quick from my perch on the bluff above Golden Gardens and spotted 2 of this group... heading north, mid-channel, NW of GG beach.
Jennifer Greiner Clark
November 14
Possession Sound: 10:30 - I leave watching adult male just passed Kingston ferry nearing Apple Tree Pt moving steadily northbound west of mid channel
10:05 - from North Richmond. Beach two females sightline mid channel PT. wells and Kingston milling/Foraging? Large male south andvwest of them. still NB.
8:55 - at least 6 spread out mid channel between Port Madison/Carkeek...still trending northbound.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
November 14
Possession Sound: 0835 ... spotted spouts East by Northeast from the north end of Fay Bainbridge Park. Heading north. Didn't get a good count ... lots of water chop and they are swimming north roughly in the southbound shipping lane. There is a boat trailing along behind them but not interfering. Will post pics later.
0810 ... looking south from Fay Bainbridge Park ... I saw 2 spouts and dorsal fins ... appear to be heading north on the west side of the southbound shipping lane. Tim Cuddy November 14
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Spouts from Fay Bainbridge Park.
Photo by Tim Cuddy
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November 14
Possession Sound: 8:39 - Still seeing dorsal fins across the sound, north of Shilshole, heading north and east.
8:18 - Heading north, now mid channel and heading east toward Seattle side.
8:06am - Orcas still due east of Fay Bainbridge, foraging, changing directions.
7:59 - 3-4 orcas just passing Fay Bainbridge heading north.
Sue Surowiec Larkin
November 14
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Seen from Fay Bainbridge Park.
Photo by Sue Surowiec Larkin
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November 14
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From Fay Bainbridge Park.
Photo by Sue Surowiec Larkin
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November 14
Possession Sound: 7:48 - Sandy Soloman called from Log Rd. at Rolling Bay on Bainbridge while seeing and hearing at least two orcas.
November 14
Possession Sound: 7:35am - just spotted a second female. They stayed down for a rather long period of time, before coming up to surface 3-4 times in a row again. Still heading slowly North Rollingbay on Bainbridge. Maybe T's?
November 14
Possession Sound: 7:20 am - just spotted a male and a female orca swimming north on the Bainbridge side viewing from the south end of Rolling Bay - looking for more but nothing yet...
Lynn Batson
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| Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales |
November 17
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T123 and T123A west bound past Trial Island. T038A, T035A's and the T123's passed south through Oak Bay on the morning of November 17th.
Photo by Mark Malleson
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| Coastal orcas |
November 9
Andrea Foster, naturalist interpreter at the Heceta Head lighthouse, Oregon, called with a report of at least two and possibly one or two more orcas, milling with no clear direction of travel, about 1/4 mile off shore. She said many sea lions were looking very nervous.
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| Mexico Coastal orcas | November 11
Rare killer whale sighting off Tijuana
12 Orcas sighted at US border with Mexico - very rare. About a dozen Orcas appeared November 11, 2014 at the beach in the small surfing town of Playas, right at the Mexican border with US, about 10 miles south of San Diego. This has "never happened before" - nobody ever saw an Orca here. There were two groups of 4 to 7 Orcas each which played separately about 50 yards/meters apart from each other, just outside the first surf break, within 100 yards from the beach itself. A surfer and some others reported that they "ate a dolphin" and described them holding it in their mouth and "throwing it about", which sounds typical behavior. I didn't see it, but the gulls and scavenger birds were swarming to feed on some leftovers of something, and there are or were plenty of dolphins here. The Orcas fed and played and trained their babies for about an hour then headed due west. This is out of your main geographic area of interest, but it was a fantastic show, and might mean some "change" in behavior. Air and water temp were both 69 degrees F, so 20.5 Centigrade, weather was overcast, tide about mid-tide, wave-face about 4 feet, with shallow sloping sandy beach. A surfer in black wetsuit was in the water, and 3 large Orcas approached him in a semicircle to about 30 yards/meters and each in turn did a "spyhop" maneuver, wherein they surface in a high vertical posture and hover high up for a few seconds - perhaps threatening? or perhaps just to look, or to announce their presence or claim territory, it was quite beautiful, and he got out quickly.
Their colouring was less bright and high-contrast black&white colorful than Shamu, more camouflaged, not so instantly recognizable, with dark top, pale creamy grey accents, and pale tan saddle, very pale belly, and the unique big tail-flukes of an Orca, which gave them away from a distance. They were up to 15-20 feet long (5-6.5 meters) and sleeker more streamlined than Shamu, and had tiny babies. They made a wonderful show.
12 (approx) in two groups - 1 group of 6 or 7, and 1 group of at least 4. At least two had the high proud triangle of the adult male dorsal fin.
Feeding, playing, teaching babies. Babies were very small like 1/4 to 1/3 the size of their mommy that they swam alongside. Each group, or at least 4 in each group swam in very very tight/very close formation.
Alan Williams
From early November until May, yearly
Orcas of Baja California Sur, Mexico
I am hoping that there is an Orca expert in your midst that can enlighten us in Baja California Sur as to the northern point of origination and migratory route that brings our winter pod of Orcas to Baja and specifically, the East Cape Area in the Sea of Cortez. They are very frequent between Cabo Pulmo and La Paz and are in proximity from early November until May, yearly. Large groups of 6-10 Orcas. Please share insight.
Minimum of 1 large male and several juvenile males. Sometimes trailing fishing boats, hanging out with kite boarders, playing around SUPs close to shore, playing with Mobula rays. Occasionally catching and eating rays, or following Humbolt squid migrations. They have no fear of groups of sea goers in the water kayaking, motors on fishing boats, larger pangas, and come within feet of shore. Lots of UTube Videos but no one at Scripps or UCSB has any idea about them.
Tori Wickland
Email*: tahoartist@yahoo.com
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Humpback whales
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November 16
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Fun (cold) day on the water today with six different humpbacks.
Three pairs. Two south of Race Rocks, two between Race Rocks and Victoria, and two just offshore from Victoria.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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November 16
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November 16
10:33pm - My family and I saw what looked like just one orca not far off the shore in Tacoma off Titlow beach. Heard it blowing and saw the tail come out of the water. It was around 330pm. Amazing!
Jennifer Curry Hahn
Possibly a humpback?
November 15
Capt. Spencer and I found two humpbacks traveling north yesterday in Haro Strait. It's amazing that they're still around so late in the year. One of the whales was MMY0028, but I'm not sure who the other one was.
North Pacific Humpback Whales leave the waters around Alaska during the fall, swimming for nearly 6 to 8 weeks before reaching the breeding grounds off Hawaii. Their annual migration of about 6,000 miles is one of the longest of any mammal. I don't think these whales got the memo!
Heather MacIntyre
November 15
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Humpback fluke. The underside of these flukes are like fingerprints- no two are the same, and are wonderful identification tools.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre
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November 15 On ferry from Friday Harbor to Anacortes, spotted a humpback off Frost island, northeast side of Lopez. Spouted several times, dove for about 5 minutes, spouted a few more times and dove again showing dorsal fin. About 2:30pm. Such a treat! Rebecca Sherwood
November 14  | |
5 pm - five humpbacks off Race Rocks.
Photo by Josh McInnes
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November 14
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November 14 8:26 am- Kyra Laughlin called in this bright sunny morning while watching a small humpback swim past the Mukilteo lighthouse about 50 feet offshore, heading north. November 12
Ken Balcomb reports two humpbacks went south down the west side of San Juan Island this morning, and were approximately at Lime Kiln about 9:15 am.
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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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