December 3I saw a post from 8:30 this morning on Tweeters birding list that Orca were spotted in Edmonds this morning. I emailed the person that posted asking about direction of travel.
from Jeremy at Tweeters: "For anyone interested, there are three or four Orcas just off the pier. It's been entertaining swiveling between Snowy Owl and whale views. They were heading north from Edmonds up towards Mukilteo. I lost sight of them as they were passing east of Possession Point (Whidbey Island)."
-Connie Bickerton
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December 2About 4:15 pm there was a small trailing group that appeared to be foraging south of Bush Pt, across from Foulweather bluff closer to the Whidbey Side. We watched from about 3 pm to 3:45 pm from Bush Pt. as they traveled spread out, heading south. A submarine passed by, one trailing group remained closer to the Whidbey side, the whales that had passed earlier headed over toward Foulweather Bluff and the Kitsap side. Difficult in windy conditions with lots of whitecaps, but great to see them coming back in on this sunny day!
-Susan Berta
December 2
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K20 Spock heading south past Bush Point, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Susan Berta
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December 24:20 - spread out from Mutiny Bay between Foulweather Bluff and Double Bluff, approaching Point No Point. Some foraging and tail lobbing. K20 below demonstrates the wind at her tail blowing her breath ahead of her.
2:10 - seeing the orcas heading south, passing Lagoon Pt (west Whidbey Isl) heading toward Bush Pt, closer to the Whidbey side.
-Howard Garrett
December 2
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K20 in stormy seas off Bush Point.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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December 2
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A backlit tail-lob off Bush Point.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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December 2
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K26 Lobo, heading south past Bush Point.
Photo by Jill Hein
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December 2
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A southern Resident orca meets up with a submarine off Bush Point.
Photo by Jill Hein
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December 2
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K20 Spock.
Phogo by Jill Hein
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December 2
2:55 - I'm just north of Bush Point and they are going by. Most nose to the ground but some lingering.
3:20 - There are several that we assume are hunting hanging in the upwelling just north of Bush Point but some have already made it to Bush Point proper.
-Rachel Gaydosh
December 2
3:19 pm - Jan Bell at Bush Pt reported orcas heading south past Bush Pt.
December 22:51 - Seeing from Bush Pt now. Waves making it difficult to see.
2:14 - Definitely southbound! Close in front of Lagoon Pt now
1:55 pm - from Orca Network volunteer Rachel Haight: Saw my first blow. Due north of Bush Pt, between me at Ft Casey and Bush Pt. At least two blows well south of here close to Whidbey side. I'm assuming southbound and relocating to Lagoon Pt now.
-Rachel Haight
December 2
1 pm - Connie Bickerton reports hearing orcas on the Port Townsend hydrophone, sounded like K pod to her. ************************
December 1Ken Balcomb relayed reports that all three pods were seen heading west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the afternoon.
November 30
4:40 - I leave...the pod was more spread out they passed Kingston getting harder to see in waning light. Met many people along the way to share binos and orca/salmon discussions. Was especially fun to end the day meeting Isabel who finally caught up with and was so happy to see their blows across the water! Always feels so magical, sundown with orcas and blazing orange and red Olympic Mtns.
4:20 sundown...approaching Apple Tree Cove/Kingston see 3 adult males...1 in lead two towards back. Pod not as tightly grouped but still tucked close together. Dives not as long. Steady northbound with occasional tail lob.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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November 30
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K12 Sequim in Puget Sound.
Photo by Steve Smith
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November 30 |
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Another glorious winter day int the Pacific Northwest with friends, orcas (KPod?) and the snow covered cascade mountains behind. Shot from Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island.
Susan Marie Andersson
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November 304:21 - see from Edmonds marina beach, they're on the Kitsap side near the cell tower south from the ferry terminal. We can only see blows.
Michelle Goll
November 30
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Seeing orcas go by from Edmonds.
Photo by Janine Harles
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November 30
4:05 - at Edmonds beach park. Blows spotted south of Prez point (just south of Kingston). Far west side of channel.
Jack Nolan
November 30
3:12 - can just barely see them looking south from President Point.
Joanne Graves
November 30
2:56 - they are still headed north at Golden Gardens tightly grouped mid channel possibly a little west of mid channel.
Jamie Grundhauser
November 30
2:40 - seeing them grouped up south of Richmond beach backlit but I think going north.
Whitney Neugebauer
November 30
2:08 - at Discovery Point light house west mid channel trending NE.
Jill M Rotset
November 30
3:40 - pod is still in resting formation steadily northbound, west of mid channel about even with the middle Port Madison approaching Jefferson Head. Small boat accompanying them to the rear. And if hasn't been noted there are at least 20 orcas.
3pm - Near or just south of Faye Bainbridge about now.
2:40 - from Sunset Ave/Shilshole still in resting line trending now north westerly. 2-3 minute dives...2 minute surfaces all together! Due west from my location right now.
1:55 - getting close to Discovery Point lighthouse.
1:46 - Gorgeous! Watching a line of illuminated blows still south of West Pt/Discovery from Sunset Ave above Shilshole.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
November 301:22 - tightly grouped heading north towards Discovery Lighthouse, mid channel. Viewing from Creosote, orca are in front of freighter by the marina.
Connie Bickerton
November 30
12:46 - I am now just south of Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge. The 8-10 are heading north into ferry lanes... Just south of Rockaway Beach.
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn
November 30
12:00 - tight group of 6 or 7 orcas just turned and are heading north, mid-channel off north east side of Blake Island. Two big males in the group.
11:35 - watching from Restoration Point--Bremerton ferry captain just announced the whales. Orcas are moving south rapidly with the current. Just east of Blake island, Kitsap side. Two or three males with the group.Susan Marie Andersson November 3010:47 - directly out from Discovery park light house about 6-8 heading south. Hugging Bainbridge Island.
Jill M Rotset
November 30
10:20 am - Two more whales behind the first group, southbound mid channel.
10:11 am - Just spotted two southbound, mid channel from Fay Bainbridge..large male. Yeah!
Sue Surowiec Larkin
November 30
10:02 - group of 5-6 heading south in shipping lane between north end of Golden Gardens (east) and Port Madison (west)
Jennifer Greiner Clark
November 30
10:01 - Now between Meadow Point and Suquamish Dock in the southbound shipping lanes. It never ceases to amaze me how fast these dudes can travel. Spread out over a mile, at least five.
9:47 - at least five headed south quickly, mid-channel on the line between Meadow Point and Kingston.
Ben Blankenship
November 30
9:44 - two more just south of channel marker east of President Point. staying down a long time. were going south, but now milling in all directions.
9:41 - saw three more moving slowly south just south of channel marker east of President Point (south of Kingston). staying down a long time.
9:22 - just saw one going south off President pt going south.
Joanne Graves
November 309:35 - whales mid to west of channel spread out. Some now south of Jefferson Head others still north of mid yellow channel buoy. With a little elevation viewing conditions are better. Gorgeous out here. Mountains amazing.
9:25 - from Richmond Beach have seen at least 2 bulls and female. Mid channel south of Kingston just north of yellow mid channel buoy. Steady southbound.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
November 308:15 - 4 miles north of Kingston a group widely spread, heading south. Closer to Kitsap side but some as far as 2 miles out.
Rebecca French Gerke
November 301:52am - orcas on Port Townsend Hydro.
Connie Bickerton
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November 29
The orca that was found dead today at Bates Beach near Comox, BC, was Rhapsody J32.... I saw her just a few days ago during my encounter with J and K pod on November 29th, 2014....here is a shot of her from that encounter (See Photo of the Day), she is the farthest right. Also pictured is the rest of her small family, her aunt J22, and her two cousins J34 and J38. This may very well be the last photo of Rhapsody while she was alive.
The Southern Resident orcas are now down to 77 members...Melisa Pinnow
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K21 Cappuccino (born 1986) today!! I can't tell you how happy I was to see these guys again I should mention that it was COLD!!!
Photo by Heather McIntyre
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November 29 |
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K21 and K33 in Speiden Channel.
Photo by Heather McIntyre
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November 29 |
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K pod lined up in a resting formation.
Photo by Heather McIntyre
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November 29 |
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K pod in Speiden Channel.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya
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November 29 |
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Checking out the sunset colors?
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya
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November 29 |
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5:10 - Unexpected whales are the best kind of whales.....off Henry Island late this afternoon with K-Pod!
Photo by Monika Wieland
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November 294:40pm - J Pod about 1/2 mile off shore near Sunset Point (San Juan Island)!!!
-John Boyd
November 292:56 - With J and K pod right now!! Spread between Stuart Island and the north end of San Juan! Not sure if they will head down or up Haro Strait.
-Melisa Pinnow
November 29
2:45 - Three or four whales were sighted in Spieden Channel this afternoon heading west. Traveling fast.
-Roy Clauson
November 291345 - off Reuben Tarte County Park (NW side of San Juan Island) 5-8 orcas heading quickly north in San Juan Channel in rough seas. Included at least one male, maybe two.
-Monika Wieland
November 29I saw a small group of orcas going eat to west down Harney channel between Shaw and Orcas island early this morning. One larger male, one female and one smaller one. Not sure if they were residents or transients.
-Mariann Carrasco
November 2910:55am - Two orcas passed headed south, guessing Edmonds waterfront prob right in front of ferry.
8:15am - orcas seen appx 2 miles north of Edmonds ferry, heading north.
-AnaLisa Gerbig
November 299:45 - my friend/neighbor texted me he saw the orcas. Near Picnic Pt, N of Edmonds We both saw groups of 4 or 5 milling about but mostly heading N toward Mukilteo.
9:30 - Picnic Pt close to shore headed north.
9:15am - off Picnic Pt slowly heading n into Possession Sound.
-John Carroll
November 29We spotted a single orca at 8:15 this morning. It was spotted about 1.5 miles north of the Edmonds Ferry, heading north between Possession Point and Mukilteo.
-Jeff Johnson
November 298:15am - two or three pods, 3 in each, spotted from Room #1 Orcas Hotel, Ferry Dock on Orcas Island took shots w/iphone.
-Christopher James
November 29 |
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9:56 AM - Saturday morning of Thanksgiving weekend... very windy and cold, but the sight of 3 Orcas traveling west between Crane and Shaw Islands (north of San Juan Island) drew us outside. A short time later, we sighted 7 or 8 more, again going west through Wasp Passage. We didn't see the first group soon enough to get a good photo, but a photo of the second group is attached. Based on the photo, there were 2 males in the second group.
Photo by Cynthia Hertlein
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November 28My wife - Lynn - & her sis were on the 3:30 o'klok ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo - and they saw a pod of 15-20 orcas heading east ( toward Saratoga Passage ? )
Later ... at 4:30'ish... I saw - near Baby Island - appeared to be a group of whales (?) ... with a HUGE raft of birds covering the water in that area...
Wayne Flaaten
This report indicates a group of orcas was up by Baby Island while another group was near the Kingston/Edmonds ferry lane.
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November 27I saw a small group of orcas (5-7) off my bluff (about half way between Clinton and Langley) It was around 11:30 and they were heading south. Very fun to see them on Thanksgiving Day!
Frances Wood
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November 26Thanks for the recent Orca Network report. I noticed the date is wrong for the day Ken and I got photos of all 78 whales (it's listed under the 25th). That was November 26th when the whales were heading southeast from Discovery Island toward Hein Bank. It was a very good encounter for late November!
Dave Ellifrit
