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Upcoming Events:
JUNE
Orca Awareness
Month~  FRAGILE WATERS
Screening
June 20, 2015
Grand Illusion
Seattle
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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.
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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! _________________ David Kirby The bestseller about orcas in captivity
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Click here
to learn about L pod
orca Lolita/Tokitae,
captured in Penn Cove,
Whidbey Island, WA
in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.
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Sign up for our
Whale Sighting
or Free Lolita
Email Lists
Click Here to Join |
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| June 14, 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.
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Two adult male Transients, T125A and T128, went north up Admiralty Inlet early today, possibly departing south Puget Sound for the first time since at least June 4, but there may still be others down there. Transients were seen all over south Puget Sound and in Haro Strait and elsewhere Saturday. Transients were seen off Harstine Island, Dana Passage and elsewhere in south Puget Sound, and in Haro Strait and elsewhere Saturday.
About 15 members of L pod, including L94 Calypso and her 4-month old L121, headed out toward the Pacific Ocean today, at least as far as Sheringham on Vancouver Island, while J pod and K pod were seen north of San Juan Island.
A couple of humpbacks, including Big Mama, were found in their usual range south of Victoria.
It's rewarding to know so many people are hearing these great reports and seeing such amazing photos, and see that we share these waters with whole communities and populations of whales and dolphins who have been here far longer than we have. Thanks to all.
Orca Network |
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Photo of the Day
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June 14
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| Will this unusual skin coloration on 4-month old calf L121 will fade over the next few weeks or months, or become permanent?
Photo by Connie Bickerton |
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Southern Residents
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June 14
10:27pm - Squeals are back on Lime Kiln! Just started, pretty faint.
Danielle Vance
June 14
9:16 -Orcas at Land Bank.
Orca Network
June 14
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Today was awesome! I saw a Harbor seal munching on a very large octopus and one bald eagle knocked another into the water! Luckily the other eagle was able to get airborne again, but 2 things I've never seen on the water here! Here's one image from today! We saw Js, Ks, and one of our passengers spotted some transient Killer whales on the way home!
Photo by Traci Walter
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June 14
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| L85 Mystery.
Headed west and encountered L12s, L85, and L25. Whales were very spread out heading west, and we spent time with the trailers.
Photo by Connie Bickerton |
June 14
June 14
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June 13
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| The L12 Matriline. From left to right: L41, L086, L077, L25*, L94.
*L25 Ocean Sun is the presumed mother of Tokitae (also known as Lolita) who was captured in 1970 and now resides at the Miami Seaquarium.
Photo by Michelle Rachel
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June 13
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| L89 Solstice.
Photo by Michelle Rachel |
June 13
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| A close-up on L-121's interesting markings.
Photo by Michelle Rachel
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June 13
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| L121 was tail lobbing like crazy this evening. What a spunky little whale!
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu |
June 13
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| Matia (L77) and Joy (L119).
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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June 13
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| L121's unusual color patterns. It's unknown if this will fade with time.
Photo by Rachel Haight
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June 13
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| Baby L121 takes a look around.
Photo by Rachel Haight
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June 13
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| L121 with mom L94.
Photo by Rachel Haight
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June 13
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| L121 taillob.
Photo by Rachel Haight |
June 13
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| L85 after he passed by us.
Photo by Rachel Haight
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June 13
8:06 pm - started hearing resident orca vocals on the Lime Kiln hydrophones - word is it's the L12 sub-group.
Monica Wieland
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Bigg's/Transient orcas
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June 14
T125A and T128 were the two adult males in Admiralty Inlet.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
June 14
6:00pm - quick stop at Lagoon Point on way to ferry. Spotted their dorsals and blows Kitsap side mid channel just going in circles...sightline northside Lagoon Pt and south end Fort Flagler.
Was 5:00 before Ed finally saw them again...still out from Lagoon, Kitsap side of mid channel. And now we must leave. Beautiful day on bluffs above Admiralty.
2:50 pm - Ed and I came to Fort Casey for much needed day out...orcas are just hanging out north of Lagoon Point probably fighting the tide says Naturalist Jill Hein aboard Mystic Sea confirms T125s.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
June 14
10:45 - Two adult male Transients heading north in Admiralty Inlet just south of Bush Point, on the Whidbey island side, in the northbound traffic lane.
Howard Garrett
June 14
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| T128.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 14
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| T125A.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 14
10:26 - Small group of transients in Admiralty Inlet, trending north south of Bush Point.
Renee Beitzel
June 14
I saw them at 10:20 am in Mutiny Bay, south of Bush Point and Lagoon Point, heading north at a fast lick with no sign of stalling. The tide was then on the turn.
Sandy Pollard
June 14
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We saw the T124A's today. The whales were pushing straight into a vicious flood tide off Eastpoint where Boundary Pass meets the Strait of Georgia. At one point the whales turned directly into several whale watching boats requiring a quick stop to give them room.
Photo by James Gresham |
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June 13
9:45 pm - Saturday, 2 Orcas just swam by Salmon Beach (between Pt Defiance and the Narrows bridge) heading north, on the east side...simply stunning!
Asher Beckett
June 13
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| Near Sidney Island, BC...T065 and T123 transients made a kill directly in front of the boat!
Photo by Bonnie Gretz
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June 13
June 13
June 13
June 13 - South Sound
Orca in Dana Pasage off Brisco Point, Harstine Island. A group of 4 led by the male Orca. They were not rushing too fast and seemed to be enjoying a calm, north-eastern trip heading toward Key Peninsula. We are enjoying May/June sightings almost every other day going both South & North. So exciting!
PJ Yocum
June 13 - South Sound
4:20 PM - Just saw between 3 and 4 Orca traveling north through Dana Passage heading towards Johnson's Point, consisting of 2-3 Adults and one juvenile.
Erik Anderson
June 13 - South Sound
3 pm - In the past hour I have sighted an orca whale breaching close to shore in Budd inlet near Cooper point.
Grace Brewer
June 13 - South Sound
2:48 - The Orcas have been in Dana Passage just north of the Boston Harbor Marina for the past couple of hours. I am dismayed to report boats following along side of them with feet not yards and many boats just speeding toward and around them. I think there needs to be some support in the South Sound area for the whales safety and perhaps more awareness outreach.
Greg Bell
June 13 - South Sound
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| Saw three of these guys off of Pt. Wilson, Harstine Island. This photo was taken at 10:35 AM. They stuck around for about 15 minutes before continuing south!
Photo by Katie Steinhoff |
June 13 - South Sound
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| I was lucky enough to see what I think were three different pods last weekend off Pickering Rd., across from Harstine Island. Here is one of them.
Video by Maria N Chet Nelson
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June 13 - South Sound
12:50 - Now heading north. Slowly. Along the eastern shore. At least 3 males, including T127. Two smaller ones.
12:22 - 4-5 whales currently heading s. past Boston Harbor Marina toward Budd Inlet. Moving very slowly. At least two large males. I was hoping they had headed out and way north of this zoo area.
Kim Merriman
June 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca
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| 8:21 AM - 1 male and at least 2 female Orcas traveling westbound near Ediz Spit (still east of the spit, the Black Ball Ferry was moving towards Victoria. The pod of whales would have been approximately 1/2 mile east of her starboard side.) Winds were CALM in the area of the sighting. The photo was taken from at least 1 mile distance.
Photo by Tony Little |
June 13 - Haro Strait
12:25 PM - 3 Orcas mid-channel between San Juan & Vancouver Island. Mid-channel, west of Smugglers Cove on SJI. Some rolling but most traveling. Three whale watch boats maintaining a respectful distance. One moved well within 100 yard limit.
Debra Westwood
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June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
A glorious day with Ts in Admiralty Inlet from the north end of Marrowstone Island to Pt. Wilson at the north end of Admiralty. Several probable predations were followed by exuberant breaches at all angles and tail slaps right side up and up side down and other contortions followed by directional swimming, followed by a disappearing act, rinse and repeat.
Howard Garrett
June 12
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| A big spyhop off Fort Casey.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 12
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One of many breaches, this one with the Fort Casey Lighthouse in the background.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 12
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| Sometimes the lighting highlights areas to show body contours in new ways.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 12
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| Ken Balcomb practices his trade - photo-documenting the presence of Resident and Transient orcas - in Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Howard Garrett
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June 12
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| Old Man House State Park, across Agate Pass from the north tip of Bainbridge Island.
ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research as the T65A's.
Photo by Connie Bickerton
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June 12
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| At Old Man House State Park.
Photo by Connie Bickerton |
June 12
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| At Old Man House State Park.
Photo by Connie Bickerton |
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
4 pm - Passing Evergreen Park (entrance to Dyes Inlet), headed into Sinclair Inlet.
11:14 am - They are splashing in the middle of Dyes Inlet. Bunch of folks watching and photographing from Tracyton boat launch. No boats anywhere nearby.
Patrick Kerber
June 12 - McNeil Island
Sailing south around the southern tip of McNeil Island (ten miles south of Tacoma) yesterday I sighted two Orcas swimming south alongside our sail boat.
Grace Brewer
June 12 - Juan de fuca Strait|
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Thanks to Karl and crew of the Island Explorer out of Port Angeles we were able to see U039 patrolling on the inside of the Juan de fuca Strait.
Photo by Mark Malleson
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June 12 - Dyes Inlet
I was in my son's small boat in Dyes Inlet today when the Orcas passed us. There were 5, one of them was a baby. It was so cool. Then about 5pm they went past my sister's house between Illahee and Bainbridge Island going toward Brownsville.
Debbie Hinds
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
An amazing day in the NW. We were awoken as the ferry went by the house and we heard the captain announce on the PA that there was a pod of orcas approaching. That's all I needed to fire up my spirit. I spent the day in bliss following 3 adults and 2 juveniles as they toured the area.
Larry Sagan
June 12
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
3:07 - Have them now directly across from the park.
2:30 - I have them near Tracyton shore from Chico Way.
Elyse Margaret
June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
3 pm - Scott called to say the Ts have passed Bush Point heading north at a rapid clip.
June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
2:45 - Five transients seen circling a kill in Mutiny Bay, southwest of Whidbey Island.
Morgan Kalani Dipo
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
2 p - Just left Dyes Inlet about 15 min ago maybe more. Boat on their trail too far for identification.
Maria Teresa Gonzalez
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
2:52 pm - They are still in Dyes Inlet. They have been moving around all afternoon and are alternating patterns of being very active and then not so active. They are closer to Erlands Point. Binoculars are necessary. They are closer to two paddle boarders.
2:32 pm - they are in the middle of Dyes Inlet now - between two paddle boarders and a jet ski and two smaller boats.
2:02 pm - at least five orcas off Tracyton in Dyes Inlet, Silverdale. The water is very calm and you should be able to see them quite well from Silverdale Waterfront Park.
1:43 pm - in the middle of Dyes Inlet heading towards Waterfront Park - no boats around!
1:34 pm - still heading towards Chico. Heading away from the shore and more towards Silverdale Waterfront Park.
1:26 pm - heading back towards Chico in Dyes Inlet.
12:25 - They are in the middle of Dyes Inlet!
Diane Russell
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
1:15 - I just saw about 6 orcas from my office window. Dyes Inlet Silverdale /Bremerton.
Maria Teresa Gonzalez
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
12:57 - Across from Tracyton boat ramp on Chico side.
Rachel Caitlin
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
12:20 - They are mid channel in dyes inlet.
Spencer Biggs
June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
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| 11:25am - There are at least 9+ in this group, we just left Redhead on scene with them northwest of Point No Point, one baby, two males.
Photo by Janine Harles |
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
11 am - Orcas in Kitsap! Saw them in Bremerton moving fast heading toward Silverdale. 4 or 5.
Lori Miska Burt
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
10:35am - We just heard that the orcas have been spotted heading toward Dyes Inlet.
Kitsap Sun
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
At 10:30 a.m. today, saw a pod of four Orcas in Bremerton, traveling north under the Manette bridge. I was standing almost under the bridge on the Manette side.
Barb Horn Hartman
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
10:20 am - Directly in front of the Bremerton Ferry terminal right now!!!
Sara Lyn
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
10:00 AM - 4 orcas seen by foot ferry in Bremerton. Swam toward Port Orchard then turned around and went up Port Washington Narrows. Looked like maybe 4 Orcas about an hour ago.
Ann Lieseke
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
Per Port Orchard FB page, around 10AM a mama and baby were seen outside slaughter county in Port Orchard. Comments on post say they headed under the manette bridge at 10:30AM.
Brittany Gordon
June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
8:53 - T46s and T137s.
Justine Buckmaster
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
This morning in Port Orchard Bay between Bainbridge Island and Illahee State Park in East Bremerton from 8 to 8:30 AM: four Orcas, appeared to be 2 adults and two juveniles, maybe even one of the new babies. Orange spots on lower jaw of baby.........nick in dorsal of adult. Can these be identified?
Bob Jayne
ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research as the T65A's.
June 12 - Dyes Inlet
A pod of 5-7 Orcas were sighted at approx 8:30 a.m. in Port Orchard Bay and were last seen moving toward Silverdale via Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet.
Glen Davis
June 12 - Admiralty Inlet
8:38am - at least two large and three small orcas slowly heading north toward Kingston Edmonds area. Victoria clipper still following.
8:26 - at least two orca off President point heading north toward Kingston north of channel marker. Victoria Clipper following.
Joanne Graves
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June 11
There were orcas off the 4:40 ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge. I wasn't able to discern if they were residents or transients and have seen no reports.
Mary Nieman Meier
June 11
4:25 pm - Saw 5 to 6 orcas traveling north close to shore in Colvos Passage just South of Point Richmond.
Randy Hill
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Humpbacks
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June 14
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| First Humpback about 30 min out of Port Angeles.
Photo by Connie Bickerton
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June 14
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Found Big Mama on our way home, about an hour west of Port Angeles.
Photo by Connie Bickerton |
June 13
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7 pm - A first for us -- seeing a humpback travel eastward through Active Pass.
Photo by Karoline Cullen |
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Gray whales
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June 9
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| 7pm - Gray whale in Sinclair Inlet. Sighted this approx. 35ft gray whale in Sinclair Inlet off Kitsap Marina and Elandan Gardens near Gorst, WA.
Photo by Ronald Miller |
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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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