Cydnie Simons

11:20 am - calls on OS again. Some of north group turned? Sounds like Ks
Alisa, ON

10:15 am - J2s (includes J14s), K13s, K14s still northbound off Spieden Channel. It's been a while since the conditions have been right for us to get on the water for an early morning with whales - but today the stars aligned! We had our 31st (!!) research encounter with the Southern Residents as we met up with some Js and Ks a little before 7:30 AM this morning. While we got some of our best hydrophone recordings of the season, I think the moment that astounded us the most was actually hearing whale vocalizations through the hull of our boat! We had heard this was possible, but none of us had experienced it until today - it was pretty unreal!
Monika Wieland, Orca Behavior Institute

J or K pod member taking a look around this morning. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 19, 2015

Members of Js and/or Ks northbound in the morning glassy calm waters of Haro Strait. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 19, 2015

8:24 am -  vocals faint, echolocation near
8:08 am - K pod calls-OS
8:02 am - S4 calls-OS
7:48 am - S2iii calls on OS
7:35 am -Echolocation on OrcaSound now.
Alisa, ON

7:30 am - leaders approaching Open Bay.
Monika Wieland

7:00 am - Echolocation and sounds like K calls still on Lime Kiln
6:29 am - Sounds like J pod on Lime Kiln
Alisa, ON

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

9:30 pm - We watched the evening run off the West coast of San Juan Island, this evening. 3-5 orcas (including one of the baby's) traveling and playing. Photo by Josh Fuller, July 18, 2015

We had a whale-filled afternoon and evening, collecting data from J- and K-Pod whales on shore at Lime Kiln as they passed by four different times. It's not often you get to watch whales after sunset, but tonight was one of those nights! Photo by Monika Wieland, July 18, 2015

9:15 pm - faint calls/clicks starting to be heard on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Cydnie Simons

8:51 pm......and here they come again! Good ol' Lime Kiln!
James Taylor

8:45 pm  - the J16s just came back south. J26 Mike did a beauteous breach. Others now coming by.
7:20 pm - Black and whites headed north past Center for Whale Research right now.
Howard, ON

...(July 17th) We watched L87 Onyx travel south, and when the rest of this companions turned around and headed north, he missed the switch...The J2's, J19's, and K14's headed all the way north, through Active Pass, and L87 Onyx was left by himself off the west side of San Juan Island. Since I've been watching these whales for the last three years, I've never seen him alone like that. At sunset he was seen traveling up the west side alone, and on the hydrophones you could hear his calls. Orcas have specific dialects, and vocalistic traditions unique to their pod and matriline. He called out off the west side of San Juan Island into the early morning.
J2 Granny had lead her pod all the way back down south of the west side of San Juan Island by the morning (the 18th). Then she turned around and porpoised north at a fast pace.
Finally L87 Onyx was spotted heading to San Juan Island from the west with a small group of K Pod whales. J2 Granny had also turned back around and was heading south. Orcas can hear extremely well, and probably heard one another once they entered into the same acoustical corridor. J2 Granny was there to meet L87 Onyx...
We saw the J2's, J16's, J19's, J22's, K13's, and K14's today. Found the J16's and J22's foraging right outside of our harbor around 7:30 right before we headed in for the night.

After an overnight of separation, J2 Granny and L87 Onyx travel north together.

L87 Onyx inbound from the west after a night away from J2 Granny. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 18, 2015

J34 Doublestuf outside of Snug Harbor. His rake marks are healing, but it looks like he's still has some tissue showing. Orcas have very thin skin ... 3/4 inch thick. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 18, 2015

6:40 pm - Vocals again on Lime Kiln hydrophone on the west side of San Juan Island. Hearing S1 calls and echolocation. Looking forward to learning who has come in from the west and/or back south. Beautiful evening listening to Southern Residents.
Alisa, ON

Around 2 PM J2s, J19s, and K14s went north. At 4:30 that same group went back south. At 5:30 we could see some whales coming across Haro (Jeanne confirmed she saw Onyx with the K13s in this inbound group - he was not with the J2s as usual). At 6:30 the J16s and J22s went north and we could see many boats to the south with more whales that never came up. At 9:15 the J16s and J22s went back south.
Monika Wieland

One of the highlights of my whale-filled Saturday was this close surfacing by K26 Lobo, right off the rocks at Lime Kiln this afternoon. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 18, 2015

3:00-5:00 pm - We were at Lime Kiln today from about 3 until 5pm. We were lucky enough to catch a few of the orcas swimming southbound at a fast pace...
We walked on the ferry and used San Juan Transit just for a day trip from Seattle with hopes our visiting niece would get to see them. I've tried for over ten years to see them from Lime Kiln. Today was the day!
Kathleen Love

Shore based viewing at it's best! Looks like Lobo (K26) Photo by Harry Love, July 18, 2015 (ID notes by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

Not 100% sure but, looks like it's J49 "T'ilem I'nges" and his mom J37 "Hy'shqa" Photo by Hary Love, July 18, 2015 (ID notes by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

3:21 pm - We were just there (Lime Kiln) capturing lots of pictures of around 9 orcas including a youngster! Won't be able to send pics for a couple of days but it was wonderful!!
Kathy Stevens Hitzemann

Watched the orcas for quite a while south of Lime Kiln- the baby was jumping and everyone was feeding. A minke came by about 3:30, so it was a great day!
Denise Joines

Anne Hazen

Beautiful day with Js, Eagle Pt to Hannah Heights. J-41 Eclipse and J51. Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 18, 2015

J-19 Shachi - at Eagle Point, San Juan Islands. Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 18, 2015

1:15  pm - About 10 whales just went past Eagle Point to False Bay moving quickly, some lunging close to shore. One  large male and one tiny dude.  69 boats! mix of fishing boats and whale watch boats...
Jenny Stands Wilson

We received reports of two groups of orcas this morning, one southbound in Rosario Strait and large pod inbound Straight of Juan de Fuca.

Midnight - Hearing him  (L87 Onyx ) on Orca Sound.
Connie Bickerton

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

11:57 pm - Sounds like he's back down to LK. Back 'n forth, back 'n forth. Strange.
Cydnie Simons

10:15 pm - Has anyone heard any various vocals, or just the one call? The call I'm hearing now the OS hydrophones is S2iii, the L12 sub-group call, so I'm thinking it's likely we're hearing L87...I'm assuming it's L87 by himself.
Monika Wieland

9:30 pm - just starting to hear calls on the Orca Sound hydrophone.
Susan, ON

9:07 pm - Evening orca activity now at Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Cydnie Simons

We are vacationing at a wonderful cottage atop the cliffs at Eagle Point with a great view. We saw 4-5 Or as around dinnertime not too far from shore.
Kathy Hitzemann

5:40 pm - Orca activity at Lime Kiln again
2:00 pm - They seem to be hanging around the area today. Still hearing and seeing them at Lime Kiln. (via hydrophone and webcam)
Cydnie Simons

Today, we first came across a pair of synchronized minkes not far from the south end of San Juan Island (SJI). We continued north following the K13s heading north along the west side of SJI. Near Hannah Heights, they suddenly turned south swimming hard against the current. There were several breaches from K44 Ripple as he swam alongside his mom K27 Deadhead. Then, K20 Spock followed by son K38 Comet turned and made a close pass by the boat. As we were getting ready to head home, L87 Onyx suddenly appeared not far from the boat quickly moving south. It was a lovely afternoon spent with whale friends followed by a stunning sunset...
Rachel Haight

K27 Deadhead left, K44 Ripple breaches on right Photo by Rachel Haight

K20 Spock in Haro Strait Photo by Rachel Haight, July 17, 2015

K20's son K38 Comet (born 2004) Photo by Rachel Haight, July 17, 2015

He, L87, was with Granny headed north (in Haro Strait). They came up on J19s + K26 + others headed south in resting mode. The large group did a long dive and came up headed north. Onyx and Granny continued together for a while, but at the south end of Land Bank Onyx came out close to the boat. He almost passed under the bow and headed out alone towards the middle of Haro.
Connie Bickerton

Beautiful Onyx L87 Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 17, 2015

L87 Onyx and J2 Granny-Onyx took off on his own towards the middle of Haro shortly after this. He came in really close to our boat and practically crossed under the bow. Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 17, 2015

Brothers in tandem, two dorsals here. Adult male is Lobo K26 born in 1996 with his little brother Kelp K42 born in 2008. Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 17, 2015

Families traveling close together.  Granny J2 and Onyx L87 in the back. Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 17, 2015

J2s (includes J14s), J19s, K13s, and K14s went north past Lime Kiln from 1245-1345, then flipped and went back south by 1415.
Monika Wieland

It was very neat to see a tribal canoe out there with the whales today, drumming and singing as some Js and Ks went by. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 17, 2015

1:09 pm - Calls on Lime Kiln.
Kim Merriman

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

L54 off Sooke July 15 2015 Photo by Paul Pudwell

L84 off Sooke July 15th 2015 Photo by Paul Pudwell