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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Southern Residents
Transients/Bigg's whales
Coastal orcas
Humpback whales
Minke whales
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Orca Network recommends:
Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting, by
Sandra Pollard
This important volume recounts the people whose determined efforts ultimately succeeded in ending the captures.

_______________

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!

_________________

 

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The bestseller about orcas in captivity

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May 31, 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.
After a four day absence, J Pod came down from the north the morning of the 28th reaching the west side of San Juan Island by mid morning.  NOAA-NWFSC's latest, and what turns out to be the last, update brings the news that L84's satellite tag fell off on May 23rd, outlasting K25's 2013 tag by 3 days. 96 days of data was recorded before the tag fell off read.  NOAA's update is included below and Chris Dunagan's latest article about the tagging can be read HERE.

Just as we put the finishing touches on today's issue, Traci Walter posted an exciting report and photos of a rare encounter with the T125s (as ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research) who apparently have not been seen in these waters for a very long time. Other Bigg's adventures include wake surfing by T077A and T124C.

Encounters with humpback regulars Big Mama and Windy showing off their beauty and some especially gorgeous, not so common, photos of them lunge feeding.

June is Orca Awareness Month!
For upcoming events please see the Upcoming Events section to the left, our Orca Network website  and/or our Facebook page for events and happenings that celebrate and bring awareness to the orcas of the Salish Sea and those around the world, both wild and captive.

Correction to May 26th report: a photo by Connie Bickerton incorrectly identified J50 as J51

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
May  26 
Beautiful image from his encounter with Bigg's/Transient males T77A and T124C
Photo by James Mead Maya, May 26, 2015 
 
Southern Residents  
May 29
1:00 am - J pod calls on Lime Kiln now
Traci Walter

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

May 28
We encountered low fog by Rosario Strait - and with news that J-pod was back in the area - we headed between the San Juan Islands, and by the time we reached the west side of San Juan Island, the fog was gone - and there was J-pod! They were spread out in several groups, and the first group we encountered were the J-16s with their TWO new babies. What a thrill for us all. They were heading west, so we turned towards home and found some of the J17s, also heading west. Amazing day! We rounded out the day with Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, harbor seals, bald eagles, oyster catchers, and many other seabirds. Another great day aboard Mystic Sea!
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

May 28
Some of J-pod family portrait - 2 calves here - saw two of the three J-pod babies...
J50 and J52!
Photo by Jill Hein, May 28, 2015

May 28
J-26
Photo by Jill Hein, May 28, 2015

May 28
J-16 and J-50
Photo by Jill Hein, May 28, 2015

May 28
Photo by Jill Hein, May 28, 2015

May 28
J27 (Blackberry) showing his moves today near Beaumont Shoal
Photo by Gary Sutton, May 28, 2015

May 28
Surprise! After being MIA for the last four days, J-Pod showed up in Haro Strait again this morning. While they were pretty spread out, I did see members of every matriline. Here's J37 Hy'shqa, the whale that came closest to shore at Lime Kiln.
Monika Wieland

May 28
J37 (Hy'shqa) passing Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Photo by Monika Wieland, May 28, 2015

May 28
11:35 am -  In case anyone hasn't mentioned it, there was chatter on orcasound about 5 minutes ago. May still be some faint calls.
Jill Clogston

May 28
10:45 am - Center for Whale Research reports J pod is coming down Haro Strait by San Juan Is. Please if you are in a boat remember you are in their home and they need to find fish and coordinate as they forage, so avoid approaching within 200 yards or any fast moves or turns.

May 28
Saw J-pod this morning in Boundary Pass at 9:30ish, heading west towards Turn Point on Stuart Island... 2 humpbacks in the same area shortly before that heading east (~8:30am) and again at ~10:00am heading west.
Madison Duffin

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

May 21
Orca watchers, below is your final update on L84's movements, whose satellite tag detached by May 23. The 96-day deployment exceeded the K25 deployment in 2013 by 3 days and was much later in the year, providing the first satellite-linked tag data for Southern residents for the entire month of April and much of May. With the deployment of the tag on J27 in late December 2014 and the tag deployed on L84 in February, we were able to monitor the movements of some of the Southern Resident killer pods for nearly four and half continuous months this winter and spring.
NOAA-NWFSC

May 21
21 May - Final update - On our previous update of L84's movements (11 May) he (and likely at least a few other whales) were off the entrance to Clayoquot Sound. They continued south and on the evening of the 12th had reached the offshore area of the Juan de Fuca Canyon. By the morning of the 13th they were off Cape Alava and our colleagues from Cascadia Research Collective attempted to intercept the whales but were unsuccessful due to rain and sea state. They whales continued south - by the morning of the 15th they were off Cape Elizabeth, off the Columbia River the morning of the 17th, and off Tillimook Head on the morning of the 19th. The whales headed back north such that they were just south of the Columbia River on the morning of the 21st. Our colleagues from Cascadia Research Collective were able to intercept the whales late that day and document L84 in the presence of at least a few other members of L pod. They also observed that the tag was just about to detach from L84 and by 23 May, the next scheduled transmission day,
no signals were received.
Map and updates courtesy of Brad Hanson, NOAA-NWFSC
Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2015 Southern Resident Killer Whale Satellite Tagging

Transients/Bigg's Whales
May 31
Some of the most amazing and rare Bigg's Killer whales were around the San Juan Islands today! We later learned after Dave Ellifrit from the Center for Whale Research identified these as the T125's. (T125, T125A, T127, T128) These orcas haven't been seen in here for a very very long time! Was a very special thing to see them. They were with one of our regular groups, the T65As.
Traci Walter

May 31
From left to right T125A, T128, T125
Photo by Traci Walter, May 31, 2015
(ID's by Dave Ellifrit of Center for Whale Research) 

May 31
T127
Photo by Traci Walter, May 31, 2015
(ID's by Dave Ellifrit of Center for Whale Research)

May 31
Photo by Traci Walter, May 31, 2015

May 31
1:15 pm - Just saw T's in past hour off South Lopez Island moving southwesterly...and 2-3 humpbacks South of that, aboard Puget Sound Express
Janine Harles

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

May 30
We were watching a busy group of transients (near Bamfield BC) and then we noticed the humpback.  The HB kept a low profile and the Bigg's whales passed on by, but there was certainly lots of spy hoping and breaching by the Bigg's. Certainly lucky to get  both in the same shot.
Sandra Pollard & Richard Snowberger

May 30
Spyhopping Transient orca (left), surfacing Humpback (bottom right)
Photo by Sandra Pollard & Richard Snowberger, May 30, 2015

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

May 29
At least two transients (I saw two bulls for sure, though there may have been a third cow) did a close swim-by of Ogden Point here in Victoria today around noon! I managed to catch up with them just off of Oak Bay Marina around 1:45pm before they carried on towards the San Juans from Chatham Island. Not the greatest photos but it was certainly a thrill to see them!
Michelle Rachel

May 29
Transients passing Ogden Point, Victoria BC
Photo by Michelle Rachel, May 29, 2015

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

May 27
I got the pleasure of spending my evening with mammal-hunting orcas, known as Transients (T077A and T124C) in Deep Cove, BC. I love traveling north into the Canadian Gulf Islands, especially in the evening. Nothing beats the lighting on those beautiful islands that are characterized by a folded and faulted succession of metamorphic, plutonic, and sedimentary rocks. Those same island/rocks record nearly 400+ million years of earths history. It's pretty humbling when you think about it!
Heather MacIntyre

May 27
T077A and T124C
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, May 27, 2015

May 27
T124C surfacing before his companion, T077A.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, May 27, 2015

May 27
9:45 am - Just saw the backs of two Orcas about 50 yards off Robinson Beach in Mutiny Bay, Whidbey Island
Raymond Bigelow

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

May 26
Transients with calf sighted May 26, 15:30 in Ucluelet Inlet. (Including T074 per Melisa Pinnow)
Shana Richmond

May 26
Transients, including male T074
Photo by Shana Richmond, May 26, 2015
 (ID by Melisa Pinnow)

May 26
T074 is the male
Photo by Shana Richmond, May 26, 2015
 (ID by Melisa Pinnow)

May 26
It was a wonderful encounter today (May 26, 2014) with T77A and T124C! Two Bigg's Killer whales (transients). They were being very social together and then a big cargo ship wake came by which they SURFED! I haven't seen that in a while. Then they did lots of tail slaps to celebrate the surfing!
Traci Walter

May 26
T77A and T124C
Photo by Traci Walter, May 26, 2015

May 26
T77A and T124C wake surfing!
Photo by Traci Walter, May 26, 2015

May 26
Celebrating the surf?
Photo by Traci Walter, May 26, 2015

May 26
Yesterday (May 26) was another T77A and 124C kind of a day. We left Snug Harbor at 10:00 yesterday morning. We found them near Java Rocks, BC. It is special when you are the first boat to find Orcas in the morning. We left them in the afternoon headed up Swanson Channel.
James Mead Maya

May 26
T77A and T124C
Photo by James Mead Maya, May 26, 2015

May 26
T124C
Photo by James Mead Maya, May 26, 2015

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

May 23
Here is T101A and T124C traveling together on May 23 in the upper Gulf of Georgia...
And T077A and 102 traveling together same day as they headed South... It's amazing to me to see how far they are traveling during their time in our waters. Then we have gangs like the 002C's who spent over 2 weeks up in our area recently never seeming to move more then 40 miles a day. Take care enjoy the pics!
Nick Templeman

May 23
Photo by Nick Templeman, May 23, 2015

May 23
Photo by Nick Templeman, May 23, 2015

Coastal orcas
May 27
Mid afternoon, we spotted a large pod (about a dozen) from Cape Flattery lookout point. They were heading west from the mouth of the strait, then disappeared from our view behind Tatoosh Island. Fabulous!!
Carol Turner
Humpbacks
May 31
1:15 pm - Just saw T's in past hour off South Lopez Island moving southwesterly...and 2-3 humpbacks South of that, aboard Puget Sound Express
Janine Harles

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

May 30
We were watching a busy group of transients (near Bamfield BC) and then we noticed the humpback (see photo Bigg's/Transient section).  The HB kept a low profile and the Bigg's whales passed on by, but there was certainly lots of spy hoping and breaching by the Bigg's. Certainly lucky to get  both in the same shot.
Sandra Pollard & Richard Snowberger

May 30
No orcas yesterday on our trip out of Anacortes on Mystic Sea but we did catch up with three humpbacks somewhere near South Pender Island including we believe Big Mama and Windy.
Bob Mepham

May 30
Humpback near South Pender Island
Photo by Bob Mepham, May 30, 2015

May 30
Humpback BCY0324, Big Mama
Photo by Bob Mepham, May 30, 2015

May 30
Photo by Bob Mepham, May 30, 2015

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

May 29
Today, we went up north towards Saturna Island to catch up with the humpback known as Big Mama. She gave us several good looks at her head as she was lunge feeding. Two small boats came flying up to where we were all watching her, and our WW boat put itself in the path of one of them to reprimand them. Just a few minutes later she threw her massive tail in the air in a beautiful cartwheel fashion. On our way home, we came across two more humpbacks. We did not got exact IDs of these two, but the one is very unique as it has a notched fin and a raked up back. We weren't for sure if it was Splitfin, but if you recognize this whale, let me know! I really wanted my husband to get lucky and see orcas, but no luck. It was a beautiful day nonetheless, and I saw humpbacks I've never seen before, as well as behaviors I've never seen.
Rachel Haight

May 29
Humpback BCY0324, Big Mama
Photo by Rachel Haight, May 29, 2015

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

May 28
Windy lunge feeding everywhere. SplitFin breaching. Humpback heaven in the Gulf!
Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 27, 2015

May 28
...2 humpbacks in the same area shortly before that heading east (~8:30am) and again at ~10:00am heading west.
Madison Duffin

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

May 27
BCZ0298 breaching!
Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 27, 2015

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

May 26
5:45 PM -Possible [humpback] whale near Vashon Island.
Spotted repeated spouts separated by more than a minute from the ferry between Vashon Island and Southworth dock. Could occasionally see back of whale with very small dorsal fin break the surface after spouting. After a private motor launch passed its location heading south towards Colvos Passage, the whale began what I think is called lobtailing. The tail and flukes would come completely out of the water, wiggle/wave about, then slap back into the water. It continued doing this at about 1 minute intervals until we moved out of sight.
Patrick Poor
Pacific White-sided dolphin
May 27 
10:30 am - I know it's not an orca but saw a dolphin at Solo Point (south Puget Sound) this morning about 10:30 this morning. I'm a but excited since it was my first time seeing one since we moved here. (possibly the lone Pacific White-sided dolphin seen in South Puget Sound since 2014-ALB)
Kim Burton

May 27 
Dolphin, Solo Point, Puget Sound
Photo by Kim Burton, May 27, 2015 
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.