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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Southern Residents
Transients/Bigg's Whales
Coastal Orcas
Grays
Minkes
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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orca Lolita/Tokitae,

captured in Penn Cove,

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in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.

Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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April 4, 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.
J pod ventured down from the north early April 3rd and by late morning could be heard vocalizing on both OrcaSound and Lime Kiln hydrophones.  Seas were choppy and the pod was spread out, with most of them on the Canadian side of Haro Strait. Center for Whale Research staff were out in two different boats to try to find J52 but never did, but J36 was  not seen by CWR either so those two may have been off together. Dave Ellifrit did see J16 and J50, and Ken Balcomb saw J41 and J51. J pod continued west into the Strait of Juan de Fuca towards the Pacific.

You can read the accounts of the day J52 was first discovered and see more photos of her/him in Jeanne Hyde's blog 3-30-15 A Whale of a Surprise! .   And more around the maternity of the calves in her April 1st entry 4-1-15 We Know Who Our Moms Are!

Many matrilines of Bigg's/Transient whales roamed in various places  around the Salish Sea. Phenomenal photos and encounters with a close pass-by at Lime Kiln Lighthouse as chronicled in Monika Wieland's report below.

Our Saturday April 18th Welcome the Whales Festival and Parade is fast approaching. We welcome you all to bring your friends and families. Come as your favorite whale or marine mammal and/or join us in the fun and educational events of the day. Details here. 

We still have seats available for our Whale Watch Fundraising Cruise on Sunday, April 19th, from 3 - 5 pm on board the Mystic Sea. Tickets are $75/person and include appetizers and wine. Purchase Sunday April 19th benefit cruise.

There is an earlier fundraiser on Sunday, April 12th from 3 - 5 PM hosted by Langley Main Street Assoc. to benefit Orca Network and Langley Whale Center. Tickets are  $100/person which includes the cruise, hors d'oeuvres & local wines donated by local restaurants. For more info email: mainstreet@whidbey.com.  Purchase Sunday April 12 benefit cruise.

We always appreciate seeing and interacting with you at these events and along the many shores. Connecting, communicating and learning about these marine mammals in the end is one of the many ways we can all helps raise awareness about the orcas, whales and all marine life and the things we can do to ensure their survival.

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
March 30
Newest J pod calf  J52 with that little open saddle patch
Photo by Jeanne Hyde 
Southern Residents
April 3
J41 and J51 near Beaumont Shoals
Photo by Mark Malleson

April 3
L87 near Kelp Reef
Photo by Mark Malleson

April 3
We found J pod heading west off Discovery Island (BC)
All pictures taken with a 400mm lens and cropped.
Photo by Connie Bickerton

April 3
J44 Moby
Photo by Connie Bickerton

April 3
J34 Doublestuf checking us out
Photo by Connie Bickerton

April 3
J28 Polaris
Photo by Connie Bickerton

April 3
J22 Oreo and J17 Princess Angeline
Photo by Connie Bickerton

April 3
12:50pm - Hi! On our first visit to San Juan Island, and were lucky enough to be able to watch a pod of orcas swimming north- south off the coast alongside West Side Road. Only saw two at any one time, but I suspect it was a bigger group than that. Traveling and some playing
Ros McNamara

April 3
J17 Princess Angeline foraging off Lime Kiln on the west side of San Juan Island this afternoon (April 3rd). J-Pod was super spread out as they made their way south through Haro Strait, with most of the whales being on the Canadian side.
Seas were rough and dive times were long, so I don't think all whales were documented.
That means the mystery of who J52's mother  will continue!
Photo by Monika Wieland

April 3
12:34pm - start hearing vocals on Lime Kiln, echolocation at 12:40.
11:29 am -  Started hearing loud J pod calls on Orca Sound hydrophone.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

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March 30
11:45 am - My wife Karoline got this shot (see photo below) of one of the baby J's  in Active Pass from our place on Galiano Island.
Gary Cullen

March 30
J41 and J51
Photo by Karoline Cullen
(ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of Center for Whale Research)

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March 24
J16 and J50
Photo by Dave Ellifrit of Center for Whale Research
Full CWR March 24 Encounter #13 report and photos

Transients/Bigg's whales
April 4
This afternoon around 2 PM I saw the T65As head north past Lime Kiln. They were fairly close to shore doing lots of milling; they may have made a kill right before I got there as they were tightly circling and tail slapping a lot. When they started traveling again, they cruised right past the rocks in front of the lighthouse, taking a moment to harass a Steller sea lion on their way by (see photo below)! From our boat we met up with them off Snug Harbor at 3 PM, where they went into Open Bay and then continued north along the shoreline of Henry Island. Finally, at 4:30 PM, I saw them once more from shore at Reuben Tarte County Park - they were just rounding Green Point after having gone through Spieden Channel and disappeared behind Spieden from my vantage point.
Monika Wieland, San Juan Island

April 4
T65As in front of Lime Kiln Lighthouse, taking a moment to harass a Steller sea lion.
Photo by Monika Wieland

April 4
A cute look at one year-old T65A5
Photo by Monika Wieland
See more of Monika's photos and report from today's whale encounter    

April 4

We had a great trip today that was full of excitement! After a long period away, my favorite group of Transient Orcas, the T065A's have returned to the Salish Sea.

When we met up with the T065A's for the second time they were traveling through Spieden Channel where they proceeded to actively forage going down on long dives, and being very sporadic with their movement. We watched as they made a slow pass by Green Point where there were about 50 sea lions in the area. For a mammal that needs to consume about 400-500 lbs a day, a (roughly) 2,000 sea lion would have been a good meal! No one knew what would happen, and we wondered if the one pass we saw would be it. Maybe they decided it wasn't worth the effort to attack?

But, that one pass-bye wasn't it! The whales ended up circling back around and made an attempt at the sea lions; unfortunately, it was a failed attempt. What happened after the orcas attempted to separate a sea lion was very interesting- all of the sea lions appeared to ban together and chase the orcas off! They were noticeably agitated (as you can imagine), growing loudly, and continued to follow the orcas a short distance seemingly warding them off. I guess there's truth when they say there's power in numbers!!

Heather McIntyre, Naturalist, Legacy Charters

April 4
T065As
Photo by Heather McIntyre

April 4
T065A and T065A2
Photo by Heather McIntyre 

April 3
07:45 AM - 4 orcas sighted. 1 male, 2 females and a calf, between Brooks Point, Pender Island, and Turn Point, Stuart Island, in Boundary Pass. They were traveling, then turning around and possibly feeding. There were 3 spy hops. At first we thought they were transients, but now not sure. A large ship came by (reason for spy hops?) then the orcas continued on west. Closer to the Canadian side.
Monica Petrie

April 3
Transients of Port Townsend
Photo by Alexis Surmacz

April 3
Transients of Port Townsend
Photo by Alexis Surmacz

April 3
7:01pm - Liberty Elias Miller on the M/V Kennewick says she just saw one of Puget Sound's newest orca babies from the Port Townsend ferry.
Liberty Elias Miller

April 3
6:50 PM - Orcas off port TOWNSEND. Orcas sighted from port TOWNSEND - Coupeville ferry off of port TOWNSEND in front of the boat house!
Stephanie Cattano

April 3
Maia of Washington State Ferries called at 5:05 pm to report a pod of 5 orcas, including a young one, heading north off Lagoon Pt (West Whidbey Island, Greenbank area).

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

April 2
After work I followed up a report of killer whales spotted south of Discovery by a colleague out fishing.  I went out searching and came across T065, T063, and T049C west bound south of Constance Bank.  I left them south of Race still tracking west.  On my way home I came across  the T065A's west of Constance Bank also tracking west.
Mark Malleson

April 2
T063 south west of Constance Bank heading out the Juan de Fuca
Photo by Mark Malleson
taken under permit #MML-001

April 2nd
T065A with T065A5 west bound south of Victoria
Photo by Mark Malleson
taken under permit #MML-001

April 2
 T049C and T063 south of Victoria
Photo by Mark Malleson
taken under permit #MML-001

April 2
9:30am - Saw 3 Orcas, 1 was a calf, off of Libby Beach (due west of Coupeville, near Partridge Pt. and Partridge Bank) took some photos of them and was wondering what pod they were from. (Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research looked through many photos and ID'd the pod as the T36As and T49Bs)
Linda Noack

April 2
Transients off Libby Beach, Whidbey Island
Photo by Linda Noack

April 2
Photo by Linda Noack

April 2
8:30am - from Chatham Lane, just south of Hastie Lake Rd. (NW Whidbey - between Coupeville & Oak Harbor) Patty and I saw a female Orca and young one heading south about 200 yards from shore at a steady pace.
David Cohick

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March 28
T011A near Fisgard Lighthouse on March 28th
Photo by Mark Malleson

Coastal Orcas
March 25
12:00pm - Cook's Casin, s. of Cape Perpetua (Cook's Chasm-Northern Oregon Coast-ALB)
While watching grays as a volunteer, "whale watch spoken here" I spotted 7 orcas about 1/2 mile from shore. There were 2 males in the group and 1 calf with mom. At first they appeared to be tracking a grey and her calf, but then they were in an apparent feeding (maybe fish) we watched them from 12:00 noon to about 20 after. They were moving north and then west out of our view.
Wayne Starr

Grays
April 4
5:30 pm - Maxine Kostelyk called with a sighting of a gray whale off Camano Island, near Sunny Shores in Port Susan, headed toward Tilikum.

April 4
4:35pm - Marilyn Armbruster is at Mutiny Bay watching blows of probable Gray whale between green buoy at Double Bluff and Hanseville moving south east in Admiralty Inlet.

April 4
4:12pm -  Eric from Mystic Sea reporting gray whale #44, Knuckles seen 4 miles north of Baby Island. #22 and #53 near Elger Bay, Camano Island

1:10 pm - #22 and 56 southbound Mabana (Camano Island) from Island Explorer3
Michael Colahan

April 4
11:00am - We just spotted a gray traveling south at possession point. East side of point.
Dianne Dee Iverson

April 4
7:37am - spotted gray whale near Bells Beach.
Mandi Proue

April 4
6:48am - They are currently headed south to Bells Beach. Still feeding.
6:20am - Two Gray whales feeding right off the beach at Fox Spit
Ann Brockenbrough

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April 3
6:14pm - Nancy Zaretzki saw two gray whales feeding in the mudflats just north of Hidden Beach, in Greenbank, Whidbey Island.

April 3
2:50pm -  it is well north of Camano Island state park. Two whales very close to shore (Cama beach?). Looks like they are feeding
2:35pm - Have seen several whale spouts just south of Camano Island State Park very close to shore. One gray I think, headed north.
Ann Brockenbrough

April 3
2:52pm - Now coming back to mid channel-Two whales
2:42pm - Right now almost in front of Cama Beach State Park
2:28pm - Heading north and towards Camano Island State Park
2:19pm - Gray Whale out from Fox Spit mid channel
Marilyn Armbruster

April 3
1:38 pm - Marie Lincoln from Chocolate Flower Farm & the Garden Shed in Langley reports 1 Gray whale in front of downtown Langley right now - hope someone is ringing the whale bell!!

April 3
12:31pm - Watching a gray whale in the middle of Saratoga Passage between Langley and Fox Spit. Looks to be heading north.
Becky Wilson

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April 2
Trip report - Sunny skies and calm seas, we headed south from Langley and before long one of our passengers spotted the first "blow".... we found two whales, to the west of Hat Island. #21 and #22 traveling together towards Hat Island in a feeding pattern - several surfaces and then a dive - giving us some good looks at #22's fluke. We continued around the north of Hat Island, and found #53, known as Little Patch. He appeared to be by himself, taking long dives. #22 was the active whale for us today, she and #21 mugged the boat at one point, giving us an exceptional view of these magnificent whales. Another super day aboard the Mystic Sea.
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

April 2
Mugged by these two, #21 in rear, #22 in front.
Photo by Jill Hein

April 2
Gray whale #22
Photo by Jill Hein

April 2
Top of #22's fluke
Photo by Jill Hein

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April 1
6:48pm - Gray whale Mabana Beach Camano Island near shore. Moving south.
Sally Olin

April 1
6:24pm - Three whales. Heading west. Just saw one do a spy hop. Not sure if that is the correct terminology for grey whales.
6:00pm -  Blows off the south end of Gedney Island. I am assuming it's a grey whale based on the length between blows. Pretty stationary.
Danielle Pennington

April 1
Amazing encounter with whales 22, 383, 56, and 49 at Camano Head aboard the Island Explorer 3. A feeding frenzy in shallow waters that we will forever remember!
Michael Colahan

April 1
This is #22. One of the best feeding displays of multiple animals I have seen here in years!
Photo by Michael Colahan

April 1
#49 Patch and #22 Camano Head
Photo by Michael Colahan


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

March 31
6:00pm - gray whale very close to beach southbound at Camano island state park. I think he rounded bend to Elger Bay. I'm walking down that way now..
Krista Paulino

March 31
4:45pm - I saw two grey whales feeding off of Mabana beach,
Camano Island while kayaking today.
Andrew Dillon

Minke (or dolphins)
(Reported as a pair of Minke whales the possibley dolphins but never positively identified-ALB)

April 4
They were in the ferry line for Bainbridge so it could be minke or Dolphins based on the dorsal fin shape. Wasn't a lot of breaching but definitely feeding was going on...way to small (to be Humpback). Probably a small group of minkes or Dolphins
Jayce Lemmer

April 4
4:15pm - Minkes feeding off of pier 63 in downtown Seattle. Definitely 2. The shorter dorsal fin made me think minke.
Caroline Henry

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.