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.
 ______________ 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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| June 26, 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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We are grateful to so many who share what they know about particular individuals and/or their pods. Along with location, travel, and general behavioral data, we are privileged to have people sharing in their reports the unique traits of individual orcas and their families.
Js, Ks and part of L pod continued their summer runs up and down the west side of San Juan Island in and other reaches of Haro Strait and north into Active Pass. Part of J pod surprised those on the west side of Whidbey Island on the 23rd as they traveled south and then west in Rosario Strait and sunset time with Js last night. Today brings word of inbound SRKWs from Juan de Fuca Strait today and right this moment vocals and echolocation can be heard on the Lime Kiln hydrophones on the west side of San Juan Island.
Bigg's/Transient orcas are making these hot summer days loads more fun and interesting. Their forays into Puget Sound are becoming a regular occurrence and we find ourselves getting accustomed their fairly regular presence. One to two times a year orcas find themselves in urban area around the city of Vancouver, BC and on Tuesday the 22nd the 'resident' Transient pod T65As paid a visit to Burrard Inlet.
Your place in this community is valued and appreciated, thank you.
Orca Network |
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Photo of the Day
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June 23
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I think whenever I see the Whidbey island bluffs, I will see this little girl playing and breaching on a sunny calm day. What a treat. This is lovely little girl J50...
Photo by Traci Walter, June 23, 2015
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Southern Residents
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8:10 pm - hearing a variety of vocalizations, S4 calls and sounds like some typical Ls calls in there too.
7:48 pm - hearing echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Love the sounds of SRKWs. Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON June 26
9:30 am - A group of at least 10-12 orcas were seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Tail slaps, pec waves, and one breach. Adult males present. Viewed from the Victoria Clipper. Lauren Ryan
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June 25
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| I love that mountain, Mt. Baker, and I love J Pod!
South of Cattle Pass last night aboard the Peregrine.
Photo by Capt. James Maya, Maya's Legacy Whale Watching, June 25, 2015 |
June 25 Being a mom isn't easy, and it must be a little extra tough when you're a first time mom as in the case of J36 "Alki". Her little boy, J52 seems to be quite the curious little guy and lately I've seen him do all sorts of strong willed behaviors and actively watch mom correct or guide him in another way. He also has some rake marks now, not sure when these happened but it's the first I recall seeing them. These are likely marks from play or even mom making a corrective statement to kiddo. There is so much to learn for a new Killer whale calf, and their mothers are essential to that learning process. J52 spyhopped several times to check us out before mom came by and guided him back to where she was fishing. Beautiful encounter with wonderful evening light! Traci Walter June 25 |
| J52 taking a peek
Photo by Traci Walter, June 25, 2015 |
June 25 |
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J50 tail slaps beside her mother, Slick J16. Taken from shore.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, June 25, 2015
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June 25 12:32 pm - Hi all, Calls and echolocation on OrcaSound right nowLori Robinson June 25 Echolocation on LK, starting at 11:22...and again at 12:17.Gayle Swigart June 25 11:15 am - Orcas heading north on SJI west side just past Edwards Point, moving slowlyMary Ann Rice June 25 We continue to have amazing whale encounters almost every day. Even better, the pod associations are constantly changing so we're getting lots of opportunities to make hydrophone recordings of unique groups of whales. (One thing Michael is hoping to look at for his thesis is how call types change with different social associations.) This morning, however, we had one of more most magical encounters yet. We were off the south end of San Juan Island with members of J and K Pods. We were the only boat with the whales in glassy calm waters when they started breaching - 10 breaches in a row by different whales! Photo 300mm zoom and about 100-150 yards, decently cropped here. We were shut down making a hydrophone recording when they started going off breaching. Most whales were about 200-250 yards off but K26 Lobo, the whale shown here, came a bit closer.Monika Wieland June 25 |
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Surface lunge by K26 Lobo in Haro Strait
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 25, 2015
(300mm zoom and cropped)
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June 25 |
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Here's a breach by K14 Lea, Haro Strait
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 25, 2015
(300mm zoom and cropped)
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June 25 |
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Good morning! This is J14 Samish breaching along the shoreline of South Beach on San Juan Island yesterday. It was a truly magical morning with glassy seas and orcas scattered everywhere.
Photo by Katie Jones, June 25, 2015
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******************** June 24 We were the only two boats with the J14s and J16s through Active Pass yesterday, and as usual, they really ramped up the action in there. It seemed the babies needed some help through some of the currents, but the orcas all went nuts playing around in and surfing the wake of ferries and yachts, rolling, breaching, propoising - just having a great time. Andy Scheffler June 24 |
| J pod orca breaching in Active Pass.
Photo by Andy Scheffler, June 24, 2015 |
June 24 |
| | Photo by Andy Scheffler, June 24, 2015 |
June 24 8:00pm - 5 or 6 orca. Spotted the first orca as it breached less than 50 meters away from 10 mile point. Then watched as the remainder of them breached further off shore as the traveled towards Discovery island.Ryan Key June 24 |
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Open Bay to Kelp Reef. With some Ls...
L110 with his old lip injury. His lip folds back and exposes his teeth a little.
Photo by Capt. James Maya, June 24, 2015
(ID description by Melisa Pinnow)
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June 24 I spent the day on San Juan Island and had some fabulous orca sightings. After arriving at Lime Kiln in early afternoon, several Southern Residents traveled by between approximately 2 and 3PM and were spread out. The last group that I saw was the K-7s (K13s) with the fabulous K-44 Ripple (one of my personal favorites). Many people enjoyed the passing from the rocks and also several kayakers watched from the near shore kelp beds. Later in the day I went out with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching and we encountered the L-4s, L-47s and L-95. They were in a resting line heading north on the west side of SJI. When they got to the north end, one of the lead whales spyhopped at which time all in the group promptly did an about face. They stayed nearly stationary for a very long time doing dozens of spy hops, rolling, tail slapping, and playing in the kelp. The spy hops were a little unusual in that the whales were staying above the water for very long looks. They eventually broke up into two groups moving back south down Haro Strait. One group stayed closer to SJI and the other group west in Canada. Several made their way down to Kelp Reef and did more spy hops and tail slaps. We watched this behavior under beautiful skies and soft light while a great blue heron contemplated his evening meal perched on a kelp bed. The waters were calm and the air was still with backlit blows hanging in the air like a spider web on a dewy morning. Both groups joined back up and gave indications they were possibly headed back out to open sea. It was a magical day. Debbie Stewart June 24 |
| L110 with his old lip injury. His lip folds back and exposes his teeth a little.
Photo by Debbie Stewart, June 24, 2015
(ID description by Melisa Pinnow) |
June 24 |
| | Photo by Debbie Stewart, June 24, 2015 |
June 24 5:06 pm - Now calls on Lime Kiln. They can even be heard with the passing of a huge freighter. Kim Merriman June 24 4:20 pm - we began hearing calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone!Susan Berta, Orca Network June 24 |
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Saturna K43 pokes her head out of the water with her mouth open! She continued to swim around like this for about half a minute.
Photo by Melissa Pinnow, June 24, 2015
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June 24 |
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Sequim K12 lifts a small piece of kelp out of the water with her rostrum. Taken from shore.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, June 24, 2015
Read Melisa's latest blog entry HERE
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June 24 11:07 am - They all headed north. 10:14 am - Pod on west side, south of Lime Kiln,, we can see boats but they haven't reached us yet, looks like they are milling around in one spot.Mary Ann Rice June 24 |
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We had a stunning early morning visit with J-Pod Group A, the K14s, and L87 traveling north in Haro Strait today - here's K26 Lobo and K36 Yoda off of Spieden Island
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 24, 2015
You can read Monika's latest encounter reports HERE
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June 24 6:42 am - hearing S4 calls on Lime Kin hydrophone, some near. some distant. Went for about 5 minutes then quiet. Alisa Lemire Brooks ************************ June 23 |
| Se-Yi-Chn (J45) on Tuesday with the Whidbey AFB in the background. They were doing some serious foraging and salmon chasing when we were on scene. I hope they got a belly full!
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
(Taken with a 400mm lens and cropped.) |
June 23 |
| Miss Suttles (J40) near the Whidbey AFB.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, June 23, 2015
(Taken with a 400mm lens and cropped.) |
June 23 Some encounters are so very special, and get ingrained in your memories that even if you pass a certain location over and over again, those memories come back. I think whenever I see the Whidbey island bluffs, I will see this little girl playing and breaching on a sunny calm day. What a treat. This is lovely little girl J50, Mom is Slick J16. I particularly think this female calf holds so much hope. We need more females to continue breeding to help bolster the population. So when I see her, I can't help but he hopeful she will help bring a brighter future for the Southern Resident Killer whales. (See photo of the day)Traci Walter June 23 We just saw a couple orcas at Cliffside campground on NAS Whidbey. They were quite a ways out so we couldn't get any kind of a decent pic, but that might have been the most exciting thing ever! (turned out to be members of J pod)Janna Harmon June 23 2:30 pm - From Biz Point (Rosario Strait, Anacortes) Maybe 6-7 orca including 2 large males and a few smaller ones, with one much smaller than the rest. Guess is they were feeding because of lots of fast circling and "darting" while leisurely heading south. Only about 300 yards from shore. No boats around them! Seagulls where gathering on the water where they were. Cheryl Buchanan June 23 |
| Members of J pod southbound in Rosario Strait
Photo by Cheryl Buchanan, June 23, 2015 |
June 23 |
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Nigel (L95) exhaling little diamonds in the air! .He was heading south on the west side of San Juan Island off shore from Nugget (L55) and her crew.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, June 23, 2015
(Taken with a 400mm lens and cropped.)
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June 23 12:30pm - 1:45pm We were at the roadside lookout approximately 1km south of Lime Kiln. Approx 15 orcas approached from the south spread out in a long line. Probably 30 minutes from the first to the last orca to pass by our view point. Then they eventually turned around (I think near Lime Kiln) and returned south again. All within a 1 1/2 hour span. Randall Collins June 23 10:30 am - 6 Orca sighted off my back deck. I just moved to the NE side of Orcas Island and I don't know the name of the two little islands to the NE of us between us and the mainland but t hey are in between Orcas Island and those 2 islands. (good chance this was J pod who was in Rosario hours later, see above reports/photos-ALB) Stephen Hohman ************************* June 22 5:00 pm - We caught up with K's and L's at Limekiln last night at about 5pm as we were sailing northbound is a stiff southerly breeze. The whales were in tight to shore traveling at less than 5 knots before they stopped for a rest and some play south of Henry Island. We left them before 7pm as they took off north around Kellet Bluff and we had a fantastic sail back across the strait and up to the Vancouver Island side in warm breeze. Back in Cadboro Bay before sunset. What a great place to live and play! Keith Provan June 22 J pod (group A), K pod, L4s and L95: video (below) of the whales passing Lime Kiln on Monday. I set the vidoa camera down for the first part and just let it record, thus the crooked horizon. Jeanne (Hyde) reminded me that it's just another way to show that the whales are going "up island" (Also please excuse the mad dash down the rocks part way through, I just had to get a bit closer!) Sara Hysong-Shimazu June 22 |
| SRKWs northbound passing Lime Kiln.
Video by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
June 22, 2015 |
June 22 |
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Granny (J2) and Shachi (J19) passing Lime Kiln Lighthouse on Monday afternoon.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 22, 2015
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June 22 Man, I just can't get enough of the J16's -- enjoy the photos of them! The orcas made a big circle out on the banks then headed straight back for San Juan Island, trending north up the island. And who did we find at the north end of San Juan? None other than the group that headed north last night that had already come back down south. They must have heard each other in the large acoustical corridor and wanted to join up (which I saw on my evening trip)! It was a blustery day out there, but it was nice to see the orcas socializing. Finger's crossed for higher levels of Chinook moving through these waters! Heather MacIntyre June 22 |
| J36 and J52
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 22, 2015 |
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| Transient/Bigg's orcas |
June 25 - Howe Sound
Saw pod of 5 orcas at 8:25 pm June 25 off of the Langdale ferry terminal in Gibsons, B.C.Dave Norton June 25 - Admiralty Inlet
4:21 pm - I see the orcas now. North of Fort Flagler and south of Port Townsend in ferry lane.Marilyn Armbruster June 25 - Admiralty Inlet
1:45-2:00 pm - they were in Admiralty Inlet heading west at a good clip, Whidbey side, east of Double Bluff.Janine Harles June 25 - Possession Sound into Admiralty
12:35 pm - I saw breaching and tail slapping a bit north of where I first saw them ( about 3-4 miles south of Cultus Bay, I think) No general direction of movement, as I see some swimming to the right and others to the left. 12:05 pm -I see 3 or 4 orcas NW of Edmonds and east of the shipping lanes. Just milling about. Sherman Page June 25 - Possession Sound
Candice Emmons of NOAA NWFSC emailed: My co worker reported 3-4 whales off Mukilteo (no direction) at 10:15.June 25 - Possession Sound
10:00 am - This morning 2 groups of Orcas (3 babies,4 adults in) swam south past the ferry terminal at Mukilteo. They were fantastic to see. The first group was about 2-3 adults and 2 babies, then a little behind them, another adult with a baby swam past. The ferry was close but they were past before it docked. They were traveling, but not at a fast pace, just up and down. Susan King
June 25 - Possession Sound *********************** June 24 - Howe Sound
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| Great day with the T36's (minus the T36A's) and the T99's (minus T99A). Got to see the newest addition to the family, T99D!! Here are a few shots. They were right in our backyard in beautiful Howe Sound traveling along Gambier Island.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 24, 2015
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June 24 - Howe Sound
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| | Photo by Gary Sutton, June 24, 2015 |
June 24 - Possession Sound
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| 7:20 pm - Orca sighting from Columbia Beach (Clinton, Whidbey Island)
Photo by Tim Anderson, June 24, 2015
(ID'd as T34 (left) by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Naturalist)
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June 24 - Possession Sound
They are still hanging out. Just saw them from the 7:00 boat.Penstemon Gayfeather June 24 - Possession Sound
6:17 pm - Just saw them along the Mukilteo ferry route. They were breaching roughly midway along the route.Manfred Barts June 24 - Possession Sound
5:00 pm - They are still in the Clinton area north of the ferry dock south of Gedney Island. Seem to be heading south. Saw them on the 5:00 pm ferry sailing to clinton. Danielle Pennington June 24 - Possession Sound
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| 1500 hours, Clinton, Whidbey Island. Orcas headed northwest.
Photo by Jenn Babs, June 24, 2015
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June 24 - Admiralty Inlet
9:50 am - (on the water) passed a pod heading east north west of Point No Point moving at a good pace. At the time we were rounding Double Bluff when we intersected with the Pod.Stu Davidson ************************ June 23 - Puget Sound
3:12 pm - leaving with them in general area at the south end Useless Bay still northbound, researchers still on scene. 2:45 pm - from Point No Point: they have moved even further out and are heading towards Admiralty but aiming towards Whidbey. They've crossed past mid channel yellow buoy that is between Pt No Pt and Maxwelton/Useless Bay. 2:00 pm - from Eglon boat launch/beach I can see they are still a bit south porpoising along northbound at a good clip. They have moved out from shore and are now approx one mile out. Some surface activity. Research skiff with them since Kingston. 1:05 pm - just pulled in to Kingston on the ferry. The pod is north of the ferry off Apple Cove Point/Kingston. Nice group of folks young and old who had not seen orcas before. Moved up to bluff and watched until they rounded the point out of my sight. They appeared to act like on a kill then move on, they were doing this earlier. Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network June 23
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T37s cruising northbound in Puget Sound.
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks/Orca Network
June 23, 2015
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June 23 - Oak Bay, Victoria
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| T075A toting around a harbour seal by the hind flippers on June 23rd in Oak Bay
Photo by Mark Malleson
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June 23 - Oak Bay, Victoria
1:30 pm - A pod of at least 5 orcas (including one of the largest I've ever seen) passed by Oak Bay (between Oak Bay Marina and Oak Bay Beach Hotel). Barb Floyd June 23 - Oak Bay, Victoria
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| Bigg's/Transients in Oak Bay.
ID notes by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whaler Research: "The bull is T75A and the group looks like it may be the group we had up here recently of T75, T75A, and the T73A's"
Photo by Barb Floyd, June 23, 2015
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June 23 - Puget Sound
1:13 pm - Orca pod spotted near Apple Tree Cove from the Kingston / Edmonds ferry boat. Appeared to be a decent size pod - maybe 8 or so orcas? One obvious male dorsal & several females. Very cool to see them on such a beautiful day! Evelyn Daniels June 23 - Puget Sound
12:50 pm - I was at Richmond Beach and saw 2 from the shore with binoculars heading north.Joni Barnes Pollino June 23 - Puget Sound
11:35 am - from Shoreline see lots of churning water and a lot of gull activity in same general area as earlier report. Thinking they must have found some food.11:15 am - they are making good time. From north Seattle/Carkeek area caught a glimpse...they are west of mid channel out from about Faye Bainbridge.Alisa, Orca Network June 23 - Puget Sound
Captain Ana heard about 6 transient orcas heading North near Colvos Passage, so we took the Chilkat down to Seattle and found those 6 T's! THEN 4-5 more T's come up on the other side of us, and THEN 2-3 more pop up in front of us!! We were the only boat with them for quite some time, killed the engines quite a bit so we could watch and listen, breaches, tail slaps, spy hops and an eagle. We stayed with them to Kingston and then made the long trek back to the Edmonds Marina, LOL. Janine Harles June 23 - Puget Sound
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| T37B (on the right) leads the way as another spyhops.
Photo by Janine Harles, June 23, 2015
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
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June 23 - Puget Sound
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| 11:21 am - Just saw at least 5! Including a calf!
Photo by Marina Halverson, June 23, 2015
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June 23 - Puget Sound
11:59 am - Across from Kayu Kayu and Richmond Beach now. On a kill!11:44 am - Came back together now and looked to be hunting. Heading towards Richmond Beach. Others still closer to Bainbridge side. 10:50 am - Still heading north just south of Shilshole Bay Marina now. One group mid channel and a few closer to Bainbridge side. 10:12 am - Two groups in Elliot Bay heading north closer to Bainbridge side. Right now. Both groups look to have calves or at least a juvenile. No adult males yet. One group has at least 5 and the other has about the same. Renee Beitzel, Naturalist June 23 - Puget Sound
Approx. 7:45 a.m. on June 23rd, a pod of 6 orcas were heading north in Colvos Passage between Vashon Island and Kitsap Peninsula. These orcas were 2 miles south of the Southworth ferry terminal when spotted earlier. We watched until they passed the north tip of Vashon. Sharon Yale Mitchell June 23 - Puget Sound
My sister said there were 20 orcas spotted just north of Gig Harbor where she lives.Nancy Masner-Whiton ************************ June 22
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| T65A's near East Point, Saturna
Photo by James McLarnon, June 22, 2015
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
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June 22
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| I had the day off today...I got a text that whales were in the Vancouver Harbour!
T65A2 looking huge! Thanks to Granville Island boat rentals for the boat!
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 22, 2015
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June 22
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| T65A2 heading towards Point Atkinson, Burrard Inlet
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 22, 2015 |
June 22
BC CTV News coverage of the T65As in Burrard Inlet*********************** June 19
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| T65A2 sporting his new nick and scars while swimming with his family near Sucia Island.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, June 19, 2015
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Coastal orcas
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June 22
1:00 pm - I witnessed orcas drowning a grey whale around 1pm on 6/22/2015. This took place near Westport, around Twin Harbors State Park. I was surf fishing and observed this happening for 10 minutes. They were about 200 yards offshore. I took crude photos and a video with my cell phone. Not sure if they were successful. I think I spotted an orca calf. I also saw two large air releases. Everything ended as quickly as it started. William Burlison June 22 |
| Orcas preying on a Gray whale off the shores of Westport, WA
Photo by William Burlison, June 22, 2015 |
********************** June 20 Observed a very large pod (25 plus)of orca whales between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m. today, June 20th at Point - No - Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island. They were headed south. There were too many to count. It looked to us as if there were a few young ones because of the small fins swimming along side much bigger whales. Watched through binoculars. Not sure if they were transients or residents? They were moving quickly. Not feeding. There were many sizes of whales. No photos, sorry. Patricia Johnston Victoria BC ********************** May 12 Beachconnection.net article on orcas off Depoe Bay, OR on May 12th.
We asked for help with ID's and received these notes by Jared:"I took a look at this article and recognize T050D, T050B and T050As eyepatch"Jared Towers, Pacific Biological Station and MERS
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Minke whales
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June 26
12:11 pm - Minke headed north towards Lime Kiln on SJI west side just now. Mary Ann Rice ******************** June 25 |
| Minke "Johnney Rotten" northbound in Haro Strait on the way to Lime Kiln.
Photo by Janine Harles, June 25, 2015
ID by Jonathan Stern, NE Pacific minke whale project |
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2:30 pm - Minke slowly moving west to east, Flint Beach, south end of Lopez.
Sally Reeve
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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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