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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Southern Residents.
Transients/Bigg's Whales
Grays
Humpbacks
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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March 7, 2015

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.
We have a very full report with some stunning photos!
Today brings the first 2015 sighting of one of the "Saratoga" Gray whales! #723 was seen this morning traveling south along Whidbey Island, rounding Possession Point.  A welcome time of year when those dozen or more returning gray whales  come to Whidbey Island to feast on shrimp in the mudflats  around Possession Sound, Saratoga Passage and sometimes off the south and west sides of Whidbey.

J pod was seen and photographed in Porlier Pass having turned in from traveling northbound in the Strait of Georgia. As seen in the photos below they were reported to be quite surface active: breaching and playing for over an hour. No confirmation on J50 or J51 but the fishermen who sent the report did see two calves which brings some hope the two J calves are still well.

NOAA-NWFSC researchers and their partners recently returned from 21 days aboard the NOAA ship Bell M. Shimada. Included is the last update on the travels of tagged whale  L84 and other updates on sample collections and movements of K and L pods as well as the Link to their Cruise report: Southern Resident killer whale and ecosystem survey.

A group of Bigg's Transients were heard the hydrophones and found in Haro Strait near Kellet Bluff.
Another gathering of the T137s, T037As (plus T037), T036, T036B's-Possible T099 is in there too, (as ID'd by Melisa Pinnow & Josh McInnes) was happening near Point No Point in Puget Sound where they stayed a full 9+ hours feeding and milling in the same general location. At least some of them showed up again the next day further south.

We also received a report of a sighting of 3 unidentified orcas off the Sunshine Coast.

The humpback sightings around Edmonds and Lynnwood areas the past 30+ days continues. These regular ongoing sightings are very encouraging.

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
March 5
Orcas near Point No Point, Puget Sound.
This was Incredible! After a huge freighter went by, several of the orcas  
lined up and surfed the huge wake.
Photo by Stu Davidson 

Southern Residents
March 3


March 3
Latest update from Dr. Brad Hanson aboard the orca cruise and satellite map showing location of tagged whale L84 (note: ignore erroneous data point in Argos that shows them in the N Atlantic). No additional news on calf L121.
3 March Update - Since our 25 February update we have continued to follow L and K pods onboard the Bell M. Shimada. During that time the whales movements have been confined to the coastal waters and northern Oregon. They were offshore of Westport on the 25th and by the 26th had moved to the nearshore waters off Westport. From there they turned south and by the morning of the 27th had traveled as far south as Tillimook Head in northern Oregon. From there they headed back north and by the 28th were offshore of Westport again. On the morning of 1 March we followed them north to near LaPush. Over the course of the 2nd they moved south and were just north of Ocean Shores this morning. One interesting aspect of their behavior over the past several days was that the whales have been extremely spread out - over several miles - both north and south and east and west. Thus, while we were able to launch the Zodiac and find a few whales and collect additional prey and fecal samples, we did not see all the whales on a given day. Consequently, we didn't run into L94 so we don't have any additional reports on L121. Because we had to be back in Newport by 3 March, the last day of our 21 day cruise, and given that northern Washington is over a day's run from Newport, we headed south on the evening of 1 March and spent the daylight hours of the 2nd transiting along the shelf break in Washington where we observed Pacific white-sided dolphins, northern right whale dolphins, Risso's dolphins, as well as sperm whales, numerous fin whales, numerous black-footed albatrosses, and a couple of Laysans's albatrosses.

********************

March 2
Some very active whales in Porlier Pass...12 or more in total with at least 2 calves, .this was at 4:30pm. They were traveling north in the Georgia Straight and stopped at Porlier Pass to play for an hour or so then continued north. Rick Clark gets the credit for taking the pictures. We were on our way home from fishing.
Robert Alcock
(Confirmed as J pod by Dave Ellifrit from the Center for Whale Research)

March 2
J pod stopped at Porlier Pass to play for an hour or so then continued north.
Photo by Rick Clark
Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research
  identfied J2 and J38 as present in this photo.

March 2
Another nice picture of a J-Pod breach with the North Shore Mountains
 as a gorgeous backdrop.
Photo by Rick Clark

March 2
 J-Pod breach
Photo by Rick Clark

March 2
J pod spyhop
photo by Rick Clark
Transients/Bigg's Whales
March 6
6:10pm -  we are leaving. The orcas, at least a dozen, have made a bit more northerly progress and still feeding not really going anywhere...mid channel about even with Jefferson Head.
5:30pm - they have been feeding the past 90 minutes, now making some northward progress but generally still eating with north and south movement. Stiill sightline South of Jefferson Head/Richmond Beach Saltwater park.
Alisa Lemire Brooks/Ed Brooks

March 6
5 pm - They are still feeding east of mid-channel. Just south of yellow buoy off Richmond Beach/Kingston. I'm in Kingston but can see breaching and lots of gulls gathering. They have been in the same spot for at least 45 min.
4:30pm - I'm at Kingston Ferry terminal. Saw them stall out about 15 min ago as well. Have lost them though.
Susan Marie Andersson

March 6
4:15pm -  they've stalled just east of mid out from Richmond Beach Saltwater park. Look to be on a kill.
3:57pm -  from Pt Wells/ north Richmond Beach...have spotted blows mid channel south of Jefferson Head to the west and Richmond Beach Saltwater park to the east...seeing three groups spread out, two a bit north.
Alisa Lemire Brooks/Ed Brooks

March 6
3:15pm - Definitely moving north, spotted them just south of Richmond beach buoy.
Sue Surowiec Larkin

March 6
3:00pm -  Definitely northbound lost them as they moved northeast. At least 7. Last spotted line of sight north of Richmond Beach.
2:48pm - Now moving northeast
2:42pm - Trending north, west side of channel
2:35pm - Orca just south of Fay Bainbridge, 4-5 milling. No clear travel direction.
Connie Bickerton

March 6
Orca just south of Fay Bainbridge, 4-5 milling. No clear travel direction.
Photo by Connie Bickerton

March 6
T099 with a piece of whatever they were consuming just south of Bainbridge Island.
Photo by Connie Bickerton
Sara Hysong-Shimazu Identified this group as the T099s

March 6
1:20pm - Orcas visible northbound from BI (Bainbridge Island) ferry. North of ferry lane, mid channel
Amy Fowler

March 6
10am - Ann Strandberg of Vashon Island reported seeing orcas off Gold Beach.  Small group, 1 male, 2 females and a calf, heading south, probably hunting seals in the area.

March 6
At 6AM this morning 4 Orca passed by Gold Beach on Maury Island...the south end of Vashon Island. They were heading south in commencement bay. There was one male, two smaller whales, most likely females, and one calf. Shortly after their passing, a large number of seals were swimming very close to shore in shallow water.....I can understand why!!
Lars Strandberg

*********************

March 5
T19, T19B, and T19C in Haro Strait this afternoon (March 5th). We were with them from 12:45 til 1:30 and they were milling around Kelp Reef. T18 was also nearby but off on her own. I heard that later they met up with the T60s and T2B.
Monika Wieland 

March 5
T19, T19B, and T19C in Haro Strait this afternoon (March 5th).
Photo by Monika Wieland

March 5
5:42pm - Just saw two orcas right off of Madrona Beach Camano Island (Saratoga Passage). They look like they were after something went under a few minutes ago and haven't seen them come back up yet. They're heading south I'm guessing since I haven't seen them come back up.
Wendy Nelson

March 5
Orcas near Point No Point - Puget Sound - Washington State
Photo by Stu Davidson

March 5
Photo by Stu Davidson

March 5
Photo Album of orcas near Point No Point- by Stu Davidson
Melisa Pinnow & Josh McInnes ID's include: T137s, T037As (plus T037), T036, T036B's (Possible T099 is in there too)

March 5
Until 6pm they were still milling back and forth same general area a bit SE of Pt No Pt! Then left for a few minutes, returned just at dark and they had made their way up much closer to the point. Connie Bickerton and I watched them surfing and porpoising in a tanker's wake! Total of 9 hours they stayed near Point No Point, 7 of which in a 1/4 mile area SE of the point, feeding and milling. 
Alisa Lemire Brooks

March 5
Got to see the pod from Pt No Pt this afternoon! Thanks so much to Alisa for helping to point me and my binoculars in the right direction. They were far off but very active. What a beautiful sight!
Stacey Dufrene Slatton

March 5
2:55pm -  Just saw the orcas heading NE south of Point no Point. Again out in the middle . Maybe heading north but, hard to tell which way they are heading!
Peter Sergeeff

March 5
2:45pm - I traveled over to Pt No Pt and can see blows, dorsals, lunging, cartwheeling, breaching bodies still east of the point in southbound shipping lanes.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

March 5
1:35 pm - Watching lots of breaching activity east of Pt No Pt, closer to the east side.
Sue Surowiec Larkin
 
March 5
1:30pm - There! Again at 1:30...
Sounds like Ts on OrcaSound in the midst of tanker noise, starting at 1:20 pm.
Gayle Swigart

March 5
12:08pm -  still watching from possession. Milling, breaching, lots of activity now trending north
11:21pm -  from Whidbey at Possession head, looking west. 6 or more orcas, southbound on Kitsap peninsula side south of pt no pt, north of Edmomds ferry, 1 breach
Sandra Pollard & Dick Snowberger

March 5
12:00pm -  Past 30 minutes the pod huddled up became less surface active while still circling. Same general area but drifting a bit north.
11:30pm -  At least 7, including adult male. Circling in 3 groups...lunging w/still occasional breach. Too far for definite ID. Ts on a kill? I am currently at Stamm overlook in Edmonds if anyone is near and wants to join.
11:18pm -  spotted them from Edmonds...they are between Pt No Pt and Eglon breaching, west of mid channel in southbound shipping lanes.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

March 5
9:50am - Orcas starting to head south!
8:58am - Orcas spotted next to Point no Point out in the shipping lanes just frolicking around with there newborns....No real direction doing circles, estimated number at least 5 or more with newborns.
Peter Sergeeff

*******************

February 28
We received a report from Kerry Jess of 2-3 unidentified orcas traveling southbound 1 mile out from shore, seen from shore just north of Roberts Creek in the Sunshine Coast BC.

Grays
March 7
Happy to share that our first 2015 "Saratoga" Gray whale has returned! #723 was seen today traveling south along Whidbey Island, rounding Possession Point. Let's hope he turns around and heads back towards Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Jill Hein aboard 'Mystic Sea'.

March 7
Gray Whale #723
Photo by Jill Hein

March 7
Gray Whale #723
Photo by Jill Hein

March 7
2:30pm -  saw the grey again blow, stay on surface, then dive...south west of Possession...Due south of Scatchet head about 3 miles off shore.
Stu Davidson

March 7
12:30pm -  ID'd as 723. Possession Point.
James Gresham

March 7
Saratoga Passage gray whale 723 creating a fluke waterfall
as he heads down on a deep dive. At Possession Point.
Photo by James Gresham

March 7
Saratoga Passage gray whale 723 raising his flukes as he heads down.
Photo by James Gresham

March 7
12:14pm - Right in front of us at possession beach park.
Rachel Haight

March 7
Sandra Pollard called: 11:45 am, Saturday March 7: Yay! Gray whale off Glendale, Whidbey Island, close to shore south-bound as reported by my hubbie.
Dick Snowberger, on board 'Mystic Sea'.

March 7
11:45 am - First gray whale of the season! Seen just north of Glendale, Whidbey Island, very close to shore. Trying to get ID.
Jill Hein (Mystic Sea)
Humpbacks
March 6
11:21pm -  directly between Kayu kayu and Kingston. One blow heading south. I saw one blow from Kayu Kayu then nothing.
Karen Knight

March 6
 Humpback whale off of Edmonds Marina Beach
Photo by Janine Harles

March 6
11:05am - Breaching! Halfway between kayu and marina beach Edmonds
10:44am - Humpback whale off of Edmonds Marina Beach by the piling!!! .A little further out but still in front of dog beach...Heading slowly south east of mid channel
Janine Harles

********************

March 5
I took this picture yesterday evening (March 5) from Picnic Point
looking south towards Haines Wharf.
Clif Bradford

March 5
5:10pm - I just spotted the humpback again from the train, just south of shipwreck point in mukilteo, quite close to the mukilteo side.
Caleb Thompson

March 5
5:01 pm - Humpback at shipwreck traveling southbound, 200 yards offshore at 5 pm.
Rob Miller

*********************

March 3
3:40pm -  The whale  (humpback) was just north of Shipwreck and close to shore -- last time I spotted it it was heading south towards shipwreck when it did a deep dive... I watched for another half hour before we cruised back to Edmonds Marina. The whale was very elusive...north then south quick surface and longer dives
Stu Davidson

March 3
3:40pm - humpback was blowing and fluking about every two minutes as it turned south out of sight close to shore.
3:23pm -  from Mukilteo lighthouse beach finally see blows and lunge and peck slap to the south 1 mile or more.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

March 3
3:04pm - Spotted just off shore north of Shipwreck heading north at about 3 knots. There was a bald eagle playing in the whale's wake. What a sight!
Kristen Hardwick

March 3
3:30pm - A friend of mine sent me this report from today. "This afternoon while walking in Ft. Ward, (Bainbridge Island) I saw a whale spout and then saw it's back. Looked like a gray whale maybe. Only one whale as far as I could see. It was about 3:30 and it was towards Rich Passage, just past the fish farm, heading in the Bremerton direction.
Susan Marie Andersson for Marcy Lagerloef

March 3
2:50pm - Still northbound and now out of our sight. Mukilteo lighthouse may be a good spot in a little bit...t was staying close to shore heading north about a mile south of Mukilteo lighthouse.
2:07pm - Now northbound at shipwreck, about 300 yds offshore
Rob Miller

March 3
1:33pm - Humpback whale off picnic point again! Fairly close to shore headed south slow. When it passed us I'd say 1/4 mile off shore, looked as if it turned towards the southwest off Norma beach?
Toby Black

**********************

March 2
4:09pm - turned now heading north closer to shore... North Edmonds
Hard To see in the chop!!
3:30pm -  whale blows close to shore north Edmonds.. Likely humpback.. Hard to tell yet but moving slow south
Stu Davidson

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.