Traci Walter

Sunset breach nestled amongst the San Juan Islands. Photo by Traci Walter, August 10, 2105 (taken with a 600mm lens and cropped)

...was fortunate to be on the Chelan from Friday Harbor last night (7:45pm, August 10) rounding Lopez Island where we saw a large group of very active orcas.
Dan Kilmke

K22 with Harbor porpoise calf. Photo by Jill Hein, August 9, 2015

K22 Sekiu and and son K33 Tika blew our minds aboard the Island Explorer 3 today in Rosario. They would continually breach on top of a harbor porpoise, and then lift the porpoise to the surface. And after this behavior, the porpoise would swim right next to them, seemingly unfazed. Photo by Michael P Colahan, August 9, 2015

Photo by Michael P Colahan, August 9, 2015

11:00 am - This was from the (almost) superpod in Rosario strait just south of Lawrence point this morning. This is K22 and K33 harassing and eventually killed this harbour porpoise calf. They were quite excited breaching many times including this double breach.... Photo by Karl Topping, August 9, 2015

K22  with the harbour porpoise calf in front of her. Photo by Karl Topping, August 9, 2015

K22 and K33 were following or almost being followed by the little critter. Had to send these through. They were on the porpoise almost as soon as we got on scene, and last I saw were still nosing it around just before we left. Photo by Andy Scheffler, August 9, 2015

1:55 pm -  Echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone and adult male orca in view on webcam, northbound then turned back.
Alisa, ON

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Had a wonderful evening encounter tonight with Lolita's suspected Mother, Ocean Sun (L25). She was all off on her own, the closest whale who was a little further away was L41, Mega. Taken 45 years and a day later than when her daughter was stolen from her. Photo by Traci Walter, August 9, 2015 (Want to know more about her daughter Lolita? Click HERE)

We had an awesome late afternoon encounter with L119 Joy and L113 Cousteau babysitting L121 while mom Calypso was off a little ways fishing.  The youngsters were playing at the surface and very active, and then did some fishing themselves before mom rejoined them. This was off the south end of San Juan Island.
Carrie Sapp

A couple of the youngsters from the L11s off the south end of San Juan Island. Photo by Carrie Sapp, August 9, 2015

L85 Mystery throwing a big cartwheel in front of the Center for Whale Research boat. Near Cattle Point on Sunday evening. Photo by James Gresham, August 9, 2015

L121 near Salmon Bank on Sunday evening. Photo by James Gresham, August 9, 2015

4:30 pm - What wonderful whale viewing today from the shore of Galiano Island. L pod ( I think) + ?,  about 30 orcas in all, very actively went east through Active Pass around 4:30 pm. Many spyhops, breaches, tail slaps and cartwheels. Cheers. Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 9, 2015

Southern Resident breaching in Active Pass, off Galiano Island. Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 9, 2015

Off Galiano Island, Active Pass. Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 9, 2015

Orcas in Active Pass Aug 9 2015. An excellent show today of J and L pods shot from Galiano Island. Our guest Kim saw them for the first time today and was very excited as you can hear! (and who wouldn't be seeing them like this for the first time!) Video by Gary Cullen, August 9, 2015

A spectacular encounter with Southern Resident orcas today off Stuart Island Lighthouse... On yet another glorious day of calm seas and blue skies, members of all three pods (J, K and L) were represented as they headed north in their family groups. We witnessed a number of natural behaviors, milling and feeding, breaching, spy-hopping and tail-slapping, against the stunning backdrop of Pacific Northwest mountain and forest scenery. With the whales having been sporadically searching for food in smaller, spread our groups, it was truly rewarding to see so many of them where they belong - together.
Sandra Pollard (Naturalist) (Photo credit Richard Snowberger)

Southern Residents pass northbound at Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island. Photo by Richard Snowberger, August 9, 2015

SRKW double breach! Photo by Richard Snowberger, August 9, 2015

During our evening trip I got photos of the underside of L121 showing that he is a boy!  Confirmed later by the Center for Whale Research. (see photo of the day)  L121, L119, Joy, and L113 Cousteau were all playing around with each other, chasing what looked like pink salmon, and playing with the salmon during our visit.  They had salmon in their mouths, salmon on their rostrums, salmon on their dorsal finds, and salmon sandwiched in between them at times!...It was definitely a day to remember out there!
Bart Rulon, Naturalist, Island Explorer 3.

...L121, L119, Joy, and L113 Cousteau were all playing around with each other, chasing what looked like pink salmon, and playing with the salmon during our visit (see report above photo) Photo by Bart Rulon, August 9, 2015

3:55 pm - L12's at Eagle Cove
Barbara Bender

Today was great! We had members of all three Resident pods (J, K, and L) in the Salish Sea, as well as Transient orcas. The majority of Residents went north to the Fraser River...K12 Sequim erupted in a full breach as she crossed Boundary Pass with the L4's...and some stayed south off the Salmon Bank area, like the L12's.
Heather MacIntyre

Orcas often mingle with other matrilines of their same ecotype. They're incredibly social ... Here we have two matriarchs traveling together with their offspring.  From from to back: L55 Nugget (1977) with her daughter, L118 Jade (2011) traveling with K12 Sequim (est. 1972) with her daughter K43 Saturna (2010). Photo by Heather MacIntyre, August 9, 2015

I've been getting some amazing pictures of this one lately! Here's another one of little four year-old L118 Jade. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, August 9, 2015

12:30 pm - Many Js Ks Ls! Left them northbound off Spieden at 1230. I heard there were still some south of LK too.
Monika Wieland



Lime Kiln must be a magical place where the separation between water and air thins and the orca seem to come in to check us out, as we are watching them. Sunday's morning pass lasted close to 2 hours as somewhere around 65 whales passed the lighthouse. One group of whales made several passes very close to the point where we were watching them.
Connie Bickerton

Deadhead K27 and Suttles J40 kelping Photo by Connie Bickerton, August 9, 2015

Up close and memorable encounters happen from the shore at Lime Kiln Lighthouse. Photo by Connie Bickerton, August 9, 2015

Photo by Connie Bickerton, August 9, 2015

Suttles (J40) was one of several whales that came in close to shore this morning, swimming back and forth in front of the lighthouse seeming to delight in the kelp and company of her kin. She was swimming with Tahlequah (J35) here and as she passed rolled over on her side so we could see her eye. Whether she was watching us, staring up at the sky, or doing something else entirely it was a moment that will stay with me. Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, August 9, 2015

Suttles (J40) yesterday morning at Lime Kiln. This beautiful girl came in to kelp along with several others and spyhopped multiple times. Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, August 9, 2015

Pooka (L106) came by right after his mom and tail slapped just like she did. Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, August 9, 2015

9:00-11:00am - Echolocation and S1, S4 calls then many calls erupted from Js, then Ks and Ls as they passed close to the rocks at Lime Kiln. Stunning visuals on the webcam of close passes, syphops, tail lobs. 10:00am turned on OrcaSound and began hearing faint S2iii calls.
Alisa, ON

Pretty awesome morning. We headed out on the water at 8:00AM and headed west into Juan de Fuca Strait. We were close to Sooke when a report by Dan and Paul Pudwell via a fisherman came in of six orca inbound off Sooke BC. We ended up with a sub group of Lpod Southern resident orca. They were spread out over 3 km moving at an average of 4.5 km/hr and dives lasted from 4.5 to 5.5 minutes in duration. We left them heading East at Beacher Bay
Josh McInnes

L089 eastbound in the Juan de Fuca Strait near Sooke, BC. Photo by Josh McInnes, August 9, 2015

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Tika K33 in Haro Strait Photo by Christie Fierro, August 8, 2015 (ID'd by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

1:30 pm - K12s and K13s passed LK heading south
8:44 am - Ks southbound in Boundary Pass
Monika Wieland

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Great shot of the rake marks on J-50.  It was a rough day on the water, but the Southern Residents were loving the waves off San Juan Island!  It is great to see that her rake marks are all healed up.  They are a reminder of how special her birth was, and how lucky we are that orcas are so smart and caring, that family members assisted in getting her out! Photo by Rachael Merrett, August 3, 2015 Naturalist, Orca Spirit Adventures

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L22, Spirit spyhops of the west side of San Juan Island! Photo by Bart Rulon,  August 2 2015

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We saw the same group of transients today- crazy that they stayed virtually in the same area for a 24 hour period! (Haro Strait) They must have been finding ample marine mammals to prey on. Transients included: T002C's, T034's, T037, and T037B's.
Heather MacIntyre

T034 with T037 traveling north up Haro Strait this evening. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, August 9, 2015

4:55pm - Ts heading north in Haro Strait from Hannah Heights, San Juan Island.
Monika Wieland

4:16 pm - Single orca, small in size, off the bluff below Langley city center, Whidbey Island. Last seen headed north.
Jennifer Hemeon

2:00 pm - Spotted 3 orcas in the Squally Reach part of Finlayson Arm (west of Willis Point/Brentwood, Victoria BC) at about 2pm on Sunday, August 9. One large male, one female, one smaller (juvenile?) They were slowly traveling north, mid-channel, but swimming back and forth with long periods under water (foraging?). Locals said it was very rare to see them here.
Dan Kilmke

1:17pm - pod in a long dive at the moment.
12:53 - Boat pulled right up to them, people in front of boat looking down at the orcas from the bow! Orcas still in same general area (hunting) south of Scatchet head
12:15. Breaching and tail slaps, might be on a kill. Still southeast is Scatchet Head
11:54 am - Pod spotted heading southwesterly maybe a mile or two off east Scatchet Head, spotted from shore north Edmonds
Stu Davidson

9:00-10:57 am - Lone orca off S. Bell's Beach very close to shore. Looks to be a very small juvie. Been here since 9am and haven't seen an adult, he was moving towards the Bells cove towards Fox Spit. Photo by Kathy Carr, August 9, 2015

9:17 am - Stephanie Raymond on Victoria Clipper saw 4-5 orcas just south of Camano Head, moving south toward Everett.

8:25am - They are approximately 1 mile north from the Mabana public boat launch. Still southbound, Camano side.
7:51 am - 3 whales Camano Island moving south near Mabana...2 adults 1 youngster. They seem to be feeding...very close to shore, ambling along playing.
Sally Olin

7:15 am - We saw him (the single orca) this am around 7:15 right off Baby island, he was hanging around here and towards Fox Spit for a couple hrs. Never saw any others!
Stacy D Hansen

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2:15-3:30 pm - Just wanted to share some photos with you of my encounter with the T37A's, we were in Boundary pass and it was 2:15pm when we got on scene with them. The hunting portion of the tour was at the end of our hour with them so it was around 3:30 pm. It started out very relaxed as they traveled along together. As we were about to leave for the day they decided it was time for a snack and Harbour Porpoise was on the menu. This Harbour porpoise looks to be either a neonate or a late term fetus. Just another example of the circle of life in the wild. I also got a shot of one of T37A's calves bellies. I believe the calf is T37A3, which looks to be a boy, with T37A2's dorsal fin in behind. I am fairly certain of the ID but would only hazard to say that I'm 90% sure.
Ashley Keegan

T37As in Boundary Pass Photo by Ashley Keegan, August 8, 2015

Member of the T37As with what looks to be  be either a neonate or a late term fetus Harbor porpoise. Photo by Ashley Keegan, August 8, 2015

Photo by Ashley Keegan, August 8, 2015

1:30-4:30pm - 9 Transients, including the T2cs, 34s and 3 T37s, back and forth in front of Snug Harbor Resort Marina, Haro Strait Photo by James Mead Maya, August 8, 2015

2:00 pm -An hour before the waterside ceremony to honor the orcas stolen from Penn Cove 45 years ago, there was word of orcas in the cove. This pair came quickly porpoising across the cove from west to east, eventually heading all the way out and back south into Saratoga Passage. How special to have whales visit on a day like today! Photo by Rachel Haight, August 8, 2015

Transients went north past Lime Kiln lighthouse at 1200
Monika Wieland


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Members of the T065A's and T049A2 spent the morning in the north end of Saratoga Passage, close to the shores of Whidbey Island. By afternoon in their southbound journey, they turned into and traveled deep into Holmes Harbor. Photo by Janine Harles, August 7, 2015 (ID's by Josh McInnes)

Photo by Janine Harles, August 7, 2015

Dear people, Sending you some pics, of a Grey Whale. It seems she or he has been going back and forth feeding between Gibsons BC, and Sechelt  BC on the Sunshine Coast Canada. It has been two weeks, and so close to the shore, it has been so magical! Thanks.

Johnny Tugboat

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Johnny Tugboat
(Jesse Huggins of Cascadia Research viewed the Twitter video which unfortunately cannot be linked here: "Definitely a Lag (Pacific White-sided dolphin), but I couldn't say with any certainty if it is one of the two loners that have been in the south Sound....would be good if one of them decided to head north though, maybe meet up with other Lags next time they are around the San Juans or something!")