bannernewblack    

Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Southern Residents
Transient/Bigg's orcas
Minke whales
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!

_________________

 

  David Kirby  

The bestseller about orcas in captivity

DeathatSeaWorld


Quick Links

Orca Network Facebook Page

 

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.

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

Sign up for our 

Whale Sighting  

or Free Lolita

Email Lists


Click Here to Join
June 22, 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.
The Salish Sea is swimming with orcas! J, K and some Ls came in from the west on the 20th after having been out for a few. The morning of the 21st vocals and echolocation could be heard on the hydrophones as members of all three pods traveled north along the rocky shores of the west side of San Juan Island in Haro Strait. Some  pods continued north into Boundary Pass and beyond while others turned at the top of the island and headed back south. And today, members of all three pods came powering down island in the late morning/early afternoon.

Several families of Bigg's/Transient orcas have been encountered daily all over the inland waters. After 2-1/2 weeks inland, and at the time of our last report, the T125s were seen finally heading west in Juan de Fuca Strait on the 17th but, they didn't stay away for long. They showed again in Haro Strait on the 20th. The 65As and T77s have been seen traveling together up around Sucia and other places around the San Juans for several days together.

On the 20th many Bigg's/Transients were encountered north of Smith Island and at least some headed into Admiralty Inlet. Looking over many photos Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research sent these IDs: "I finally saw a link to those whales from the Smith Island (June 20) ...they were the T36A's, T75B's (I'm including T75C as part of the T75B's until she takes off-it's just easier to say...), and the T69's.  I had the same group yesterday (June 21) near Kelp Reef.  11 whales total.  T69D was not present."

And after gathering up reports turns out quit a few different groupings of Ts had been roaming around Puget Sound on the 21st.

Whew! A lot of mouths to feed! Bigg's/Transient seem to be finding plenty. We really need to keep working hard to ensure there are enough healthy Chinook Salmon for the Residents!

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
June 21 
 L87 Onyx "kelping" while swimming close to rocks at Lime Kiln State Park, San Juan Island
Shore-based viewing at it's most beautiful!
Photo by Gayle Swigart, June 21, 2015 
   
Southern Residents  
June 22 
12:22 pm - Members of all three pods went south.
Connie Bickerton

June 22 
Black n whites off Eagle Point... such cute lil babies!!! Presumed super pod that just passed lighthouse [about noon]... cruisin'!
Erin Corra

June 22
11:48 - GREAT calls on Lime Kiln.
HG, Orca Network

June 22
10:45 am - Kitty cats (indicates K pod calls). Lime Kiln Hydrophone.
James Gresham

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

June 21
The orca sightings in the Salish Sea have been unreal lately- I can't believe the diversity we're seeing! We still haven't seen much of L Pod, but are seeing masses of Transients. The Southern Resident Orcas still need our support in protecting their primary food source, Chinook/King Salmon. Photos taken from yesterday's tour. We watched Group A of J Pod and members of K Pod head north to the Fraser River.
Heather MacIntyre

June 21
From left to right- K26 Lobo, J37 Hy'Shqa, L87 Onyx
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 21, 2015

June 21
L87 Onyx porpoising!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 21, 2015

June 21
5:00 pm - Just observed 30+ orca moving up from Lighthouse Point Roberts Point to west to get around Tsawassen Ferry Terminal. Many were close to shore, some breaching and front grouping included a calf. Great sight.
John Gates

June 21
2:30 pm - About 7 or 8 have just headed south again at a leisurely pace. (West side of San Juan)
2:18 pm - I have been watching from the shore just south of Lime Kiln and have seen several "passes" The first was J pod (reliably identified!) and there seemed to be a lot of whales. Since then they have passed in smaller groups heading in both directions. Does anyone know whether it is just the Js or are K and/or L there too? (probably just some Js and Ks)
Linda Horton

June 21
12:26 PM - WA State Ferries, 6 orcas northbound near South Cod Reef (north Haro Strait)

June 21
We got on scene with the Residents just north of Lime Kiln State Park just after 11:30am heading northbound. Film (video link below) begins with K35 surfacing and J34 just after him out from County Park. There's a nice sequence with the Center for Whale Research in the background midway through. We continued northbound with them left as they were approaching the entrance to Mitchell Bay about 12:30pm. Also ID'd were the J17s, J22s, J19s, J11s, L87 and possibly the J14s who L87 was traveling with earlier. Possibly more K too since members of all three pods were around San Juan Island earlier in the morning and shuffled up then down the island.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

June 21
J & K pod members northbound Haro Strait (details in report above)
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, June 21, 2015

June 21
Six-month-old calf J50 breach.
 11:30-12:30 Out with Puget Sound Express watching Js and Ks traveling northbound
in Haro Strait.
Photo by Janine Harles, June 21, 2015

June 21
An adult breaches along the shores of San Juan Island
Photo by Janine Harles, June 21, 2015

June 21
Another little on breaches.
Photo by Janine Harles, June 21, 2015

June 21
...After spending the night off the south end of the island, I heard them on the Lime Kiln hydrophones at 7:30 AM. When we got on the water, we encountered our first whales - L82 and L116 - heading south just north of Pile Point at 8:45. Shortly thereafter all the whales turned north again and we followed the lead group (J2s/J14s, J19s, K12s, K13s, K14s, L4s, L47s, and L95) all the way up Haro Strait to Spieden Channel where we left them at 11:30. They were active and very vocal the whole way. This group continued north, while I heard that J-Pod Group B along with the K16s and K21 went back south. The J16s went rogue and I heard from a friend they were milling off Spieden Channel well after all the others had gone north/south respectively.
Monika Wieland

June 21
Just another day in Paradise - this morning off Henry Island with Js, Ks, and some Ls
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 21, 2015

June 21
10:11 Orcas on the orca sound microphone now.
Dani Marie

June 21
10:09 am - On San Juan hydrophone (Orca Sound) now - along with a ship. Lots of squeals.
Kim Merriman

June 21
9:59 am - They headed south and have turned around and now back at Lime Kiln. Breathtaking!
Linda Horon

June 21
J52 (Left) and J50 (right) in the early morning passing very close to the rocks
at Lime Kiln State Park.
Photo by Gayle Swigart, June 21, 2015

June 21
J52 (Left) and J50 (right) saddle patches.
Photo by Gayle Swigart, June 21, 2015

June 21
9:30 - 11:00 a.m.! The beauty of sitting on the rocks at Lime Kiln at the most perfect time!
Photo by Gayle Swigart, June 21, 2015

June 21
9:44 am - They are on Lime Kiln right now...clear as all get out!
Vickie Doyle

June 21
8:46 am - J Pod on the West side of San Juan Island, headed north towards Lime Kiln then turned around and went back the other way.
Linda Horton

June 21
7:30 am -  hearing J pod vocals and echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone
Alisa Lemire Brooks

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

June 20
On the evening of June 20th J-Pod, K-Pod, and the L4s, L47s, and L95 made their way in to Haro Strait... (see June 21 report)
Monika Wieland

June 20
3:00pm  - I got to spend some time with Jpod as they came past Sooke! Thanks to Sooke Coastl Explorations I was able to snag this sweet shot!
Photo by Deanna Brett, June 20, 2015

June 20
I also got to see this beauty while out in Strait of Juan de Fuca at Sooke, BC
Photo by Deanna Brett, June 20, 2015
Transient/Bigg's orcas
June 22
Hey Orca Network! We just left a group of about 5 transient orcas just north of Point No Point (Kitsap) at 6:14 pm. One group of 3 was close to shore on the Kitsap side, and a mother and calf were mid channel...They were heading south.
Justine Buckmaster

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

June 21-Puget Sound
7:27 pm - We just landed at Southworth via Fauntleroy on the ferry. The Orcas literally went in between the dock and the ferry. Capt slowed down...
Ann Cordova Wilson

June 21 - Puget Sound 
7:25 pm - 4 orcas in front of Southworth ferry dock moving fast ..northbound 5 min ago
Wayne McFarland, Washington State Ferries

June 21- Saanich Inlet, BC 
5:05 pm - Just watched 6-7 orcas in the Saanich Inlet for the last hour. They are heading towards Cowichan Bay or Samson Narrows.
Photo by Karen Gray, June 21, 2015 

June 21 -Sidney Island, BC 
The T69s and 36Bs were on a seal rampage near Sidney Island, BC.
Photo by Clint Rivers, Eagle Wing Tours, June 21, 2015 

June 21 - Puget Sound 
5:00 pm - About 8-10 orca off point Richmond in Gig Harbor . A few breaches. Appeared to be females and a possible juvenile. Heading north.
Kelsi Burkhart

June 21 - Puget Sound 
3:40 pm - spotted 3 adults and baby near Boeing Creek, south of the Richmond Beach
(city of Shoreline) and north of Shilshole Marina heading south.
Photo by Kristen Hardwick, June 21, 2015
(Image taken with a telephoto lens and cropped) 

June 21 
2:36 am - 7-8 orcas headed south off Pioneer Pt, Maury Island (Vashon area)
Name not provided

June 21 
2:30pm - 5 female orca seen Sunday, June 21 off Gold Beach on the east side of Maury Island. Stayed in one area for about 45 minutes, circling and diving. They then proceeded south.  A jet ski, then a boat sped toward milling whales, then stopped 50 to 100 yards away and watched them. I was observing from the hillside of Maury Island Natural Area and was not able to ask them to stay at least 200 yards away.
Burt Miller

June 21 
10:58 am - April Martin from Mukilteo called, reported 3 or more orcas, and possible calf between Mukilteo and Clinton. 

June 21 
8:15 am - Victoria Clipper 3 just left two southbound transient orcas off Shilshole Marina, just east of the shipping lanes. Stephanie Raymond 
******************

June 20
On the evening of June 20th I was on the west side of San Juan Island looking for the incoming resident orcas when I spotted some blows on the west side of Haro Strait near Discovery Island. With no sign of the residents yet, I hopped in the boat with some friends and we headed out to investigate. We met up with the T125s, T46Cs, and T49C just north of Kelp Reef at 7:15 PM. They were clearly in travel mode, moving quickly as we followed them around the west side of D'Arcy Island. When we left them at 7:45 they were heading north between James and Sidney Islands.
Monika Wieland

June 20
T127, newly nicknamed Hacksaw. This family group of Ts was last seen here in the early 90s before hanging out for the last few weeks. I love meeting new "life whales", especially when they've got this much character!
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 20, 2015 

June 20   
On Saturday passengers about the Legacy got spoiled on our evening trip because on our way to see the inbound Resident orcas we actually ended up finding some of the most iconic exotic orcas that have been documented here- the T125's!! As soon as I saw T127 I knew exactly who those whales were can't mistake him! They were traveling with the T046C's, who I've also never seen before.
We followed the T125's and T046C's north up Haro Strait, and if you can believe it, actually found T049C milling on his own as well. Not surprisingly, he continued to travel on his own as the larger group of Transients went north.
Heather MacIntyre

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
8:30 pm - from Ebey's Landing, 8-10 orcas seen feeding and traveling. 
Bob Kruger

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
7:41 pm - We estimate there were 10-12 Orcas swimming by Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. We believe there were two extremely small individuals in this pod as well as at least one enormous individual. We know for a fact that there was at least one very small whale, but again, we think there were two. The large whale breached clear of the water on at least two occasions and there was also tail slapping and head bobbing behavior. We believe a cruise ship altered it's north bound course to better view these whales. The whales were close to shore and headed north. Lots of other people saw them. 
Robert Gray

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
9:07 pm - They're back! Mid channel headed south quickly off Lagoon Pt. (Whidbey Island) 
6:15 pm - Northbound from Lagoon Pt now. 
Ted Webber

June 20 - San Juans 
T65A4 with a group of five orcas in San Juan Channel, evening of June 20.
Photo by Robert Dash
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research 

June 20 - San Juans 
6:38 pm - T65As and T77's in San Juan Channel. West bound. East of Friday Harbor.
James Gresham

June 20 - San Juans 
T077B inshore along Shaw Island
Photo by James Gresham, June 20, 2015 

June 20 - San Juans 
The majesty of backlit blows! Surfacing along Shaw Island
Photo by James Gresham, June 20, 2015

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
5:20 pm - Pod of at least 5 orcas (including large male) are southbound in Admiralty Inlet. Last seen mid channel out from Lagoon Point (Whidbey Island).
Patricia Prochaska.

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
We saw 2 orcas today near Port Townsend, feeding in the late afternoon. It looked like they were headed to Puget Sound. Beautiful sighting.
Joanne McCoy

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
4:25 pm - Victoria Clipper just spotted them at Admiralty Head.
Stephanie Raymond

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
3:45-4:30  Marilyn and I saw them 5? plus a large male, from the Ft. Casey Lighthouse
going south, then right around the ferry lane, they headed toward Ft. Flagler
and disappeared from our sight.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 20, 2015 

June 20 - Admiralty Inlet 
4:15 pm - Now just south Fort Casey and just north of ferry and ferry taking big wide turn toward mid channel now.
4:00 pm - They are just now passing lighthouse heading south.
Marilyn Armbruster

Solstice Eve Day Orcas at Fort Casey and Admiralty Lighthouse
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, June 20, 2015 

June 20-Rosario Strait 
1:30 pm - T65A's and T77''s northbound off Burrows Island (Rosario Strait)
James Gresham

June 20-Shoal Channel, BC 
12:33 PM - 3 to 5 Orcas Including a large male traveling in Shoal Channel,
In-between Gibsons and Keats Landing
Photo by Jane Ashworth, June 20, 2015 

June 20 - Shoal Channel, BC 
Photo by Jane Ashworth, June 20, 2015  

June 20 -eastern Juan de Fuca Strait   
T069C west of Smith Island. These whales are typically seen in the ocean west of Victoria Island. It was my first time seeing them. This 20 yr old is truly massive.
Photo by James Gresham, June 20 2015 

June 20 - eastern Juan de Fuca Strait
T036A and little T036A3 west of Smith Island yesterday.
The T036A's and T069's were traveling together.
Photo by James Gresham, June 20, 2015 

June 20 - eastern Juan de Fuca Strait  
Went out with Puget Sound Express, found the T069's (as they have been ID'd so far) near Smith Island. The male with the group was huge! There were also 2 little ones. I have a few shots with 6 in the shot, notsu re if there were more. We left them heading SE into Admiralty Inlet.
Janine Harles

June 20 
Bigg's/Transients near Smith Island
Photo by Janine Harles, June 20, 2015 

June 20 - eastern Juan de Fuca Strait  
11:54 am - Large group of Ts, possibly 069s's, one large male, several females a juvenile and a calf. North of Smith Island, heading towards Admiralty Inlet right now.
Renee Beitzel

June 20- eastern Juan de Fuca Strait 
10:15 am - Large group of transients on north Smith Island.
Robe Sandreson

June 20 
We even saw transients! Earlier in the day. Here's "Chainsaw" T063
Photo by Deanna Brett, June 20, 2015 

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

June 19 
With beautiful T065s and T077s just north of Sucia Island.
Lots of breaching, tail slapping, baby activity (the calf (ves?) was small but not tiny.
Never never get tired of seeing these beautiful orcas!
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 19, 2015

June 19 
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 19, 2015

June 19 
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 19, 2015 

June 19 
A beautiful evening with the T65As and T77s near Sucia and Mt. Baker in the background.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, June 19, 2015 

June 19 
On Friday we saw the T065A's who were still traveling with the T077's down Rosario Strait. They were being very sporadic, zig-zagging as they hunted for marine mammals cooperatively in the straits. The T065A's are the "social butterflies" of the Transient orca community. It's so interesting to see who they've team up with day to day! It was also nice to see the T077's since I haven't seen them much!
Heather MacIntyre

June 19 
The beloved T065A's traveling through Rosario Strait.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 18, 2015  

June 19 
Another fantastic encounter with the T65As this afternoon. This fun little family group rarely disappoints. They are always up to some kind of antics. When we first arrived on scene with them, they were heavily harassing a harbor seal with the help of another family group, the T77s. They could have easily eaten the seal at any moment, but instead decided to play with their food - not unlike a cat with a mouse. It may seem cruel and it can be hard to watch these sorts of interactions, but it is necessary for the younger whales to learn hunting skills and techniques. After they were finished with the seal, all kinds of other above-surface antics commenced.

June 19
Photo by Katie Jones, June 19, 2015 


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

June 18 
Quintessential Pacific Northwestern days. Maya's Legacy Whale Watching got the pleasure of being the only boats on scene from San Juan Island to watch the T065A's and the T077's near Maple Bay, BC. It was uncharted waters for Captain Spencer and I, but it sure was worth the extra time. Just the scenery alone would have been worth it for me! The rock formations that were shaped by the British Columbian continental ice shelf, and the thickly lined Douglas fir forests that shadowed us the entire way north were beautiful!
When we got on scene the mammal-hunting Transients had already made a kill and were working on prey sharing the kill. Then they continued south and made another kill, engaging in lot's of social activity!
As if that wasn't enough adventure for us, we also went back out on a second trip in the rain and mist to watch a lone Transient, T049C traveling north just south of Sidney, BC.
Heather MacIntyre

June 18 
T065A's and T077's off of northwestern Salt Spring Island.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 18, 2015 

June 18 
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 18, 2015  
 


June 18 
A couple of beautiful days with the T65A's and T77's. We had them around Crofton today and they were moving very slowly and taking down seals every chance they got. It was pretty incredible.
Gary Sutton

June 18 
The matriarchs! T65A and T77
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 18, 2015 

June 18 
Breaching on top of T77B
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 18, 2015  

June 18 
Today, a cool, rainy day, near Maple Bay, BC...T77B. It was that kind of a day.
Aboard the Peregrine
Photo by James Mead Maya, , Maya's Legacy Whale Watch, June 18, 2015 

June 18 
Photo by James Mead Maya, June 18, 2015  


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

June 17 
T127 heading west out the Juan de Fuca Strait on June 17th
Photo by Mark Malleson

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

June 16 
Around 8 PM on June 16 we watched a group of transients head north in San Juan Channel from Reuben Tarte county park. It turned out to be the T65As and the T77s. They turned into Spieden Channel and from a friend's house we watched them milling around right off the rocks for almost an hour. They nailed one, probably two, harbor seals in that time. Just as it was getting dark around 10 PM they finally decided to move on, heading northeast out of Spieden Channel. Since it was too dark for photos, I took video instead, and I'm glad I did, because I think it captured the essence of the encounter even better! As if orcas close to shore aren't enough, the background landscape and sunset were the icing on the cake. Video of the encounter here (look for the seal from the 2:55-3:15 mark)
Monika Wieland (Same video was included in out last sightings report, including again now that we have report to go with this amazing video)

June 16

T65As and T77s in Spieden Channel off the north end of San Juan Island, WA at sunset.
(Warning: Prey event, not graphic)
Video by Monika Wieland, June 16, 2015

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

June 15 
9:45am - saw a pod off shore while walking in the Chinese Graveyard (Victoria). About 8 dorsal fins in total (maybe more). They were pretty far out towards Trial Island. At least 2 whale watching boats stopped. It looked like they were circling and feeding.

Minke whales
June 19 
8:53 am - Two minke whales just swam super close by Eagle Cove... YAY!!! What a gorgeous day already!
Erin Corra 
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.