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Intertwined Fates: The Orca-Salmon Connection in the Pacific Northwest
Seattle Aquarium
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Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER
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Corner of 2nd & Anthes, Langley,
Whidbey Island
~~~
Open Thurs - Sun 11 - 5
Displays, videos, gift shop, lending library ~~~ |
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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| September 8, 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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The Salish Sea is an exceptionally magical place this week. There's another new Southern Resident calf, L122 born to L91! First announced yesterday by the Center for Whale Research, today's update from the Center brings new insights and photos: "The calf was first photographed by Brad Buckmaster on September 5th off Land Bank on the west side of San Juan Island. The calf was first documented yesterday (September 7th) by the Center for Whale Research. We determined that the new calf is only a few days old, likely born on the 3rd or 4th of September." You can read CWR's entire press release HERE.
A Fin whale showed up in the inland waters on the 2nd which is a very rare occurrence in current times. We are uncertain if she/he is the pioneering re-colonizer or if this whale is not well. She/he has been documented nearly every day since. We do have this bit of history to offer: "Fin whales used to be seen regularly in the Salish Sea until hunting reduced their numbers in the north Pacific in general and Washington state specifically" - Jon Stern, Baleen whale expert, SFSU - Dept. of Biology
Bigg's/Transient T00s came back down into Puget Sound into Admiralty Inlet. And an update to our last report, we received ID confirmations for Kim Merriman's photos from August 28th: "Yes, these are the T100's and T101's. T100C is the sprouter with a lean to his fin and a small nick a little over halfway up and he is in several of the photos." - Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
Beautiful humpbacks are showing up in so many places. It has been incredible to receive regular reports from the many places they have been staying on, foraging and feasting. Shows some promise and hope for their future.
Many more reports for you to take in, enjoy and learn from. And please take a moment to make note of this important upcoming event:
October 7th, 2015 event: Intertwined Fates: The Orca-Salmon Connection in the Pacific Northwest. Attendees will hear keynote speaker Dr. Carl Safina, acclaimed scientist and award-winning author, and other experts discuss and explore the critical connections between Columbia Basin salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whales and, most importantly, learn ways to recover these important species. Purchase Tickets Here
Orca Network |
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Photo of the Day
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September 7
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| Today there was another new baby in L pod! L91 and her new calf L122.
Photo by Center for Whale Research, September 7, 2015 |
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Southern Residents
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September 7
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| New September 2015 calf, L122, offspring of L91.
Photo by Center for Whale Research, September 7, 2015 |
September 7 |
| "Aerial photographs of L91 and the new calf, courtesy of our colleagues at NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center (John Durban, Holly Fearnbach, Lance Barrett-Lennard). Photographs taken for health assessment using an unmanned hexacopter at an altitude of >100ft above the whales, authorized by NMFS permit #16163 and flight authorization under an MOU between NOAA and the FAA
(Class G MOU # 2015-ESA-4-NOAA)."
Center for Whale Research, September 7, 2015 |
September 7 |
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New calf L122, L 91 is the mom! The Peregrine was the first U.S. boat there with Jeanne Hyde and myself on board. First seen near Victoria, BC.
Photo by James Maya, September 7, 2015
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September 7 New Orca Calf Underscores Importance of Salmon Recovery
Five births coincide with Southern Residents being identified as one of the eight species at greatest risk of extinction
Friday Harbor, Washington - September 7, 2015 As K- and L-Pods made their way into Haro Strait on Labor Day, researchers and whale-watchers spotted a new addition to the community: L122, identified by the Center for Whale Research as the first-born calf of 20 year-old L91, also known as Muncher. This new baby is the fifth one born to the endangered Southern Residents in the last nine months, following a period of over two years without a successful birth. While the whale community is understandably excited about the births, their arrival also means there are more mouths to feed...
(Read the full content of OBI's statement HERE)
Monika Wieland, Orca Behavior Institute
September 7 |
| L91 and her new calf L122
Haro Strait
Photo by Monika Wieland, September 7, 2015 |
September 7 3:25 p.m. - Orcas traveling east between County park and Lime Kiln. 3 individuals (maybe more, including adult male ) seen with binocs from my house.
Michelline Halliday
September 7 3:08 p.m. - turned Orca Sound back on hearing SRKW calls. Ls and Ks sounds like.
1:48 p.m. - switched to Orca Sound, start hearing few faint calls, S19 calls I think.
12:45-1:40 p.m. - hearing SRKW vocals on Lime Kiln
Alisa, ON
September 7 1:15 - Still periodic calls on LK hydrophones as well as periodic fins at Lime Kiln Lighthouse!
Kim Merriman
September 7 Calls on Lime Kiln ~~ 12:35
Anne Hazen
September 7 12:29 p.m. - Ls on LK now!
Barbara Bender
September 7 12:05 p.m. - Seven orcas southwest off Lime Kiln spotted from a Kenmore air flight, they were heading ENE!
Melissa L
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September 6 |
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The light out there this evening was amazing...Granny, J2, and Murres. Lopez Island.
Photo by James Maya, September 6, 2015
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September 6 6:00 p.m. - Pod of orcas rounded Watmough Head around 6pm, Lopez Island headed west.
Joe Penrod
September 6 4:09 p.m. - Seeing Js from Washington Park, Anacortes southbound in Rosario Strait. Pretty spread. Lots of breaches, spyhops, tail slaps. Over more towards the islands. Pretty far from this side. Lots of active whales not going anywhere in a hurry, leaders to Bird Rocks by 4:25 p.m. They may just be tiny specs but it's a nice afternoon.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
September 6 |
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J14 Samish
Special day on the water- not only did we see J pod, a humpback whale, minke whale, and sea life, but we also got to see the second largest mammal in the world: the fin whale!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, September 6, 2015
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September 5 On Saturday, the 5th, my dad Brad Buckmaster took these photos from Land bank at 3:09pm. Could this be L-122? There were no boats in the immediate area and the whales were very spread out. This cow and calf pair milled in the same spot about a half mile from shore for at least an hour. I assumed it was L-94 and L-121 but now I'm not so sure because I can't see the finger of L-94's saddle patch and the calf looks quite small to be L-121. Can anyone help with IDs? (Confirmed by the Center for Whale Research to be new calf L122 with mom L91)
Justine Buckmaster
September 5 |
| New, day(s)-old calf L122 with mom L91.
Taken from Land Bank, San Juan Island
Photo by Brad Buckmaster, September 5, 2015
(Submitted by Justine Buckmaster and ID confirmed by the Center for Whale Research) |
September 5 |
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5:30 p.m. Watched Ks pass Lime Kiln southbound.
K33 Tika (aka The Shapeshifter) off Lime Kiln this evening. He looks so different from different angles, that I think I've mistaken him for almost every other male in the population at some point during the last two years. This is his K25 Scoter look.
Photo by Monika Wieland, September 5, 2015
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September 5 We saw K12's K13's and K14's from Boundary south to Battleship.
Barbara Bender
September 5 9-10 a.m. - They were mostly milling just south of LK - most turned back south. K12s and prob a few others did go north but still seemed to be in foraging mode rather than committed to traveling up.
Monika Wieland
September 5 I heard Ks and Ls on Lime Kiln.
Barbara Bender
September 5 10:16 a.m. - start hearing faint calls on OrcaSound
9:45 a.m. - still hearing calls, sounds like Ls. Heard Ks earlier too.
8:47 a.m. echolocation and calls on Lime Kiln!
Alisa, ON
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September 4 |
| | 2:20 p.m. - Haro Strait near Hein Bank-
L41 Mega
Photo by Vickie Doyle, September 4, 2015
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September 4 |
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L25 Ocean Sun
Photo by Vickie Doyle, September 4, 2015
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September 4 |
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Haro Strait. L84 Nyssa, If you look closely you can see the marks on his dorsal from his SAT tag. His travels, combined with Scoter's (K25) tagging showed just how dependent the SRKW's are on Columbia River Salmon. You can see his travels HERE
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 4, 2015
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September 4 |
| | Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 4, 2015 |
September 4 North of Cattle Point, I finally got to see "my" little Cousteau, L-113, plus a bunch of the handsome young guys from all 3 pods!
Bonnie Gretz
September 4 |
| L77 Matia
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2015 |
September 4 |
| Lots of tail slapping going on...
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2015 |
September 4 |
| ...and rolling around, love that big pec fin!
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2015 |
September 4 We left the K13s and K14s milling at Kellett at 1430.
Monika Wieland
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September 3 L's yesterday and J's and K's today! Strait of Georgia...Group A and Ks near point Roberts and group B offshore of them by a couple miles.
Gary Sutton
September 3 10:55 p.m. - Loud calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone
9:54 p.m. - Calls on OrcaSound
Jack Collins
September 3 Sounds like Ls, listened until 10:40, they were still audible.
Alisa, ON
September 3
10:27 p.m. SRKWs on Lime Kiln
Connie Bickerton
September 3 10:15 am. Chatter on Lime Kiln now!
Ann Hazen
September 3 9:39 p.m. - I hear vocals on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Lore Borras
September 3 7:00 p.m. - Orca Super Pod Off South Pender Island...traveling and playing.
Jennifer Emery
September 3 6:45 p.m. - About 30 orcas off south Pender near Tilly Point heading west in Boundary Pass around 6:45 pm. Some were headed towards Turn Point on Stuart island, some headed north!
Kayla Doucette
September 3 |
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Amazing photo of amazing L41 Mega
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 3, 2015
(Photo taken with zoom)
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September 3 A wonderful day on the water including a rare sighting of a Fin Whale! The day started off with a report of Transient orcas near Whidbey but they were sneaky T's and we never found them. A few minutes later we found a whale, it looked quite beat up with a weird fin, no fluke, turns out we may have been one of two boats that saw it today, sounds like it may be a young Fin Whale!!...next we found L41 Mega, he was supposedly with a few other L's but was by himself when we found him. We spent some quality time with Mega then found a Minke whale on our way to Protection Island. Lots of wildlife to see today, with Captain Anna hitting the trifecta!
Janine Harles
September 3 |
| L 41 Mega
Photo by Janine Harles, September 3, 2015
(photo zoomed and cropped) |
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September 2 Whales at any time of the year are a gift, September whales especially so as sightings become a little less regular. Magnificent Mega (L41), Matia (L77) and other L pod members milled and foraged near Salmon Bank off the west side of San Juan Island today. Although initially fairly well spread out, the whales appeared to be grouping up as Mystic Sea left. Our visiting Steller sea-lions, always an impressive sight, were hauled out on Whale Rocks enjoying the afternoon sunshine before the rain.
Sandra Pollard, Naturalist
September 2 |
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Members of L pod at Salmon Bank off the south end of San Juan Island.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, September 2, 2015
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September 2 |
| | Photo by Sandra Pollard, September 2, 2015 |
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August 29 11:18 a.m. - 2 heading west past Lime Kiln
11:11 a.m. - At Lime Kiln the last 15 mins, heading east now. Moving fast
Michelline Halliday
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Bigg's/Transient orcas
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September 7
4:10 p.m. - With T18's T19's by White Rock headed in direction towards Spring Pass (Jones).
Barbara Bender
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September 6 Definitely Ts! They were hunting when we arrived. We shut down and the sea lion took refuge between our hull, later ending up on our hydrofoil. The Ts swam away and the sea lion eventually took off. We were with them for almost an hour because we couldn't move. ...It was crazy!...heading north in Admiralty Inlet...there were at least two females, a sprouter, two juveniles and a calf. May have been one more female. Will go back and look at photos tonight. (Later ID'd by Renee as the T100s)
Renee Beitzel
September 6 |
| T100s sticking close to the boat hoping to wait out the Stellers sea lion took refuge on the hydrofoil between the boats hulls.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 6, 2015 |
September 6
September 6 |
| Matriarch, T100, born 1978
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 6, 2015 |
September 6 |
| T100C (right side), born 2002
A "sprouter" male who has not yet to reach maturity. Until he reaches his early/mid 20's his dorsal fin will continue to grow taller and more straight.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 6, 2015 |
September 6 11:38 a.m. - Orcas, mid channel Mutiny Bay, 2 miles S of Bush Point, heading North. I'm not sure how many. Followed by Whale Watching boats.
Mike Meyer
September 6 8:30 a.m. - Stephanie from Victoria Clipper lll relayed a report from the Victoria Clipper IV of a pod of orcas off Bush Pt, SW Whidbey Island at 8:30 am, no direction of travel. They weren't sure if they were Residents or Transients, there was one calf present and Stephanie said from the description one of the whales could possibly have been K25, but she had not seen them or photos of the sighting. (Not SRKWs later ID'd as Bigg's pod T100's-ALB)
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September 5 9:30 a.m. - At least part of the orca pod has turned and at least 3 are heading north in Saratoga Passage in travel mode. By 9:30 AM, they were at Mabana.
8:45 a.m. - Saturday. Small group of Orca actively feeding off the dropoff in front of my house. One male, several females, and possibly one young. At least 2 full
breaches. To far away for any ID. Group heading slowly south...In over 15 years, this is the first
time I've had a chance to see Orca this close in front of the house.
Barbara Brock
Mabana, Camano Island
September 5 9:00 am- Orca whales spotted in Saratoga Passage off S Camano! 300 yards offshore. Breaching and playful!
Jennifer Feldman Spanton
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September 4 At about 7:30 pm on Friday, Sept 4th my wife and I watched 4 Orca in Saratoga Pass from our home off North Bluff Rd in Greenbank. They were more than a mile offshore so too far for pics but with binoculars we could clearly see 4 whales, 1 larger male and 3 smaller females/juveniles (?). They were very active with numerous breaches, tail slaps, barrel rolls, and even one somersault. We watched for nearly an hour before they moved closer to Baby Island (a seal snack perhaps?) and it got too dark to see. Great fun!
Steve Liedle
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September 3 6:44 p.m. - Picked them up again in front of woodland beach, closer to Camano side, heading north.
Krista Paulino
September 3 5:40 p.m. - We received a call from a woman on Camano Island reporting 3 orcas off Camano Island State Park heading towards Whidbey Island.
September 3 3:42 p.m. - This group slowly moving north, mid-channel just north of Camano state park boat launch. Appearing to be milling now..a few tail lobs and one spy hop.
3:19 p.m. - Oh gosh! I looked to my left and huge dorsals outside Elger bay. 4 at least.
3:05 p.m. - At Camano Island State Park and seeing blows over in Greenbank area heading south possibly into the harbor. Maybe someone on Whidbey side can report. I can't see much from my position.
Krista Paulino
September 3 1:55 p.m. - Two off of Langley right now (between Langley and Bells Beach, Whidbey Island, Saratoga Passage). Were moving north but may have slowed or turned.
Dan Gulden
September 3 |
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12:40 p.m. - At Columbia Beach, Whidbey Island, see a couple whales heading north toward Clinton ferry, Possession Sound.
Photo by Tim Andersen, September 3, 2015 |
September 3 12:35 p.m. - Marie Waterman at WSF relayed a report of 3 orcas, one very big, northbound off Clinton ferry dock.
September 3 8:10 a.m. - orcas at north end of Mutiny Bay, Admiralty Inlet heading south (toward Point No Point).
Karen & Dave Anderson
September 3 ~ San Juans
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Orca's were having fun today just out of Mosquito pass moving north towards Stuart island.
Photo by Noelle Morris, September 3, 2015
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September 3 ~ San Juans Saw two fins in Spieden Channel...got to see a couple breaches and spyhops. Looks like 2 big males, a wee fin and probably a female heading west out of the channel. They were closer to the Spieden Island shore so I couldn't see a lot.
Peggy Mauro
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August 30 We received a call reporting 5-8 orcas plus a calf in front of Rosario Resort in Eastsound from 5:00-7:30 p.m. "It was quite amazing and unusual to see them in Eastsound".
August 30 |
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These orcas were viewed from our deck just south of Rosario Resort in the
Eastsound on August 30th 2015, at around 5:00 pm.
Photo by Larry & Janet Munson
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August 29 |
| Hammersly Inlet, Mason County, WA
Photo by Pamela Burger, August 29, 2015 |
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Fin whale
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September 7
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| Lucky enough to hang out with the fin whale south of Lopez Island this afternoon!
Photo by Katie Jones, September 7, 2015 |
September 7 3:00-4:00 p.m. - Not life bird, a life whale. Fin whale at MacArthur bank at the south end of Lopez. I'm just thrilled I saw it. Saw orca, humpbacks, minke, fin, harbor porpoise, and about 90% I saw a dalls.
Connie Bickerton
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September 6
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| Fin whale on September 6th near McCarthur Bank.
Photo by Mark Malleson
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September 6
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| ...a very special day on the water- not only did we see J pod, a humpback whale, minke whale, and sea life, but we also got to see the second largest mammal in the world:
the fin whale!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, September 6, 2015
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September 3
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| Fin whale at Hein Bank, Washington, USA. Very rare in this area .
Taken from Island Explorer 3/Island Adventures.
Photo by Brian Goldberg, September 3, 2015
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September 3
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| Fin whale.
Photo by Brian Goldberg, September 3, 2015 |
September 3
The day started off with a report of Transient orcas near Whidbey but they were sneaky T's and we never found them. A few minutes later we found a whale, it looked quite beat up with a weird fin, no fluke, turns out we may have been one of two boats that saw it today, sounds like it may be a young Fin Whale!!...next we found L41 Mega, he was supposedly with a few other L's but was by himself when we found him. We spent some quality time with Mega then found a Minke whale on our way to Protection Island. Lots of wildlife to see today, with Captain Anna hitting the trifecta!:) All photos are zoomed and cropped
Janine Harles September 3
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| Fin whale.
Photo by Janine Harles, September 3, 2015
(Photo zoomed and cropped)
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September 3
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| Photo by Janine Harles, September 3, 2015
(Photo zoomed and cropped)
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*********************** September 2
I spotted what is likely an old and sickly fin whale at north Hein Bank. It was seen and photographed again on September 3rd near McCarthur Bank by Island Explorer III of Island Adventure Cruises.
Mark Malleson
September 2
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| Fin whale at north Hein Bank.
Photo by Mark Malleson, September 2, 2015
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Humpback whales
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September 8 ~ Puget Sound
A humpback whale was observed swimming off of Point Richmond (near Gig Harbor) at about 10AM this morning. The whale was accompanied by 2-3 porpoise?? (probably a couple of Pacific white-sided dolphins seen in the area for over a year-ALB). The porpoise were playful, jumping out of the water swimming around buoys, all the time staying near the humpback whale. The whale came with 40' feet of shore at one point surfacing inside one of the boats moored on a buoy. Sorry couldn't catch the porpoise on camera, must have been camera shy!
Joyce Winge
September 8 |
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Humpback in Puget Sound off of Point Richmond, near Gig Harbor.
Photo by Joyce Winge, September 8, 2015
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September 8 |
| Humpack dorsal fin. Near Gig Harbor, Puget Sound.
Photo by Joyce Winge, September 8, 2015 |
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September 7 ~ Puget Sound
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4:00 p.m. - 1 large humpback playing around in the Tacoma Narrows. Tail splashes and just rolling slow across channel. Looks to have headed north around Pt Defiance.
Photo by Asher Beckett, September 7, 2015
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September 7 2 humpbacks in the Sannich Inlet/Pat Bay, B.C. all day today. This is the 5th day these guys have been in here. Karen Gray
September 7 4:20 pm. - Headed into President Channel now. Humpback along Flattop Island...There was a humpback at Jones Island too.
Barbara Bender
September 7 1:00 p.m. - Saw the humpback near Flattop Island, San Juan Islands.
Peggy Mauro
September 7 Reported as Minke, probably humpback: whale and a porpoise seen roaming around the Gig Harbor shoreline 9/7 around 11am, same area as salmon fishing boats. (I asked if could be a humpback-ALB) "Possibly, not an expert at this very dark (looked black), haven't seen many but was curious to see the little one swimming & jumping right along side for 1/2 hour (when they surfaced).
Mark Strother
(We've had several reports of humpback in this same area, and on the 8th report came in of "porpoise" interacting with a humpback, probably Lags, see the 8th-ALB)
September 7 8:30 a.m. - Pat reports 2 or 3 humpbacks about 200 yards off John's Island in the San Juans. They were on the north side of the island heading east.
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September 6
7:00 p.m. - Not sure if it was a gray whale or humpback just outside Gig Harbor entrance cruising down the Narrows at 7pm then back up past the entrance at 7:45.
Peachy Smalling
September 6 7:00 p.m. - This evening a small whale, possibly a grey whale, was feeding at the mouth of Gig Harbor. About 20 feet long, was alone. (Quite probable it's a humpback that has been frequenting the area and was photographed on the 5th, 7th, and 8th-ALB)
Jay Smalling
September 6 We saw it (humpback) on the way to Friday Harbor at 9:45 closer to Lopez island. Then we saw several in the east end of Speiden channel sometime around 2:30pm, and then as we continued north we saw another humpy in boundary pass, north of Flattop island. We were watching them blow off in front of us and behind us! A few tail flukes too. So huge!
Kimberly Lynn Wickens
September 6 South end of Spieden just off Green Point this afternoon, two humpbacks.
Carrie Selting
September 6 11:15 a.m. - Washington State Ferries reports a humpback whale observed by the Samish Ferry off Turn Rock near Friday Harbor San Juan Island.
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September 5 ~ Puget Sound |
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6:29 p.m. - Watched a (90% sure) humpback surface several times in the drizzle Maury Island Aquatic Reserve. One lovely tail fin display too.
Reported by Claire Tonry
Photo from ~5pm, 9/5/2015. Credit Scott Eichelberg
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September 5 5:30 p.m. - Another humpback right outside Roche Harbor 5:30pm. Milling around no direction of travel. Lots of whale watching and other boats but all seem to be keeping respectful distance.
Jennifer Greiner Clark
September 5 4:00 p.m. - northeast side of San Juan Island near Wasp Islands saw one humpback whale. Surfacing between deep dives of a several minutes at a time. Trending generally south slowly. So cool!!
Jennifer Greiner Clark
September 5 ~ Puget Sound Orca Network received a report by Patty Sheehan of an unidentified whale, 20-30' long, with a dorsal fin, well inside Quartermaster Harbor at 4 pm (and also seen by Wynne Mentink).
(Confirmed as humpback-ALB)
September 5 2:00 p.m. - Humpback is headed up Specimen channel. West to east, breached in front of Stuart island.
Joanne Langkow
September 5 7:35 a.m. - One, maybe two, humpbacks hanging out in Sannich Inlet. Splashing around and syphopping. Karen Gray
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September 4 |
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Humpback near Flat Top Island, San Juan Islands, WA at sunset.
Photo by James Maya, September 4, 2015
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September 4 |
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Humpback near Flat Top Island, San Juan Islands, WA at sunset.
Photo by James Maya, September 4, 2015
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September 4 |
| 11:25 a.m. - Humpback n the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Approximately 7nm north of Green Point, Port Angeles, WA
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 4, 2015 |
September 4 10:00 a.m. - Still there and milling just west of Possession Point.
Renee Beitzel, Naturalist, Puget Sound Express
September 4 8:45 a.m. - Victoria Clipper III just stopped to watch a humpback in Puget Sound! It was about 1 mile off of Possession Point, milling but trending toward Point No Point .
Justine Buckmaster
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Gray whales
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September 4
Washington State Ferries reports 3 gray whales at Danger Shoals, Haro Strait. |
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Minke whales
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September 6
2:25 p.m. - Fin or minke about 2.4 miles east of the current station on Smith Island. Was likely 30-40 feet, we figured either a juvenile fin or minke... (Confirmed minke by Jonathan Stern: " it is a minke whale! very cool..there is no visible blow and in the 4th photo in the sequence that you sent, you can see the bow hole and tip of the dorsal fin at the same time...that is a very minke whale kind of thing....you do not see both on a fin whale" )
Samuel Hilbert September 6
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| Minke whale near Smith Island.
Photo by Samuel Hilbert, September 6, 2015
(see Jon Stern notes about this photo above)
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September 6
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| | Photo by Samuel Hilbert, September 6, 2015 |
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September 4
While searching for THE Fin whale today, we spotted it once and waited for it to resurface. In the meantime, we happened upon a pretty active bird pile/bait ball. A bait ball is a tight ball of fish (herring, capelin, sand-lance) that have come together at the surface due to being driven there by a predator from below. These can be seals, sea lions, porpoise, birds or more likely, minke whales! We found this one surface lunging through the bait ball and a few birds (Ok several) that were taking advantage of the fish that were stunned as they were left in the path of a feeding minke.
Renee Beitzel September 4
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| Minke whale surface lunge feeding on bait ball.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 4, 2015
(Photo zoomed and heavily cropped for detail)
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September 4
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| Minke whale and gulls feeding on a bait ball. Gull has a mouthful.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 4, 2015
(Photo zoomed and heavily cropped for detail)
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Unidentified whale
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September 4
I talked to reporting party, Robin Waterman, She is reporting seeing a whale from her cabin at Quilcene. She said the animal is large (maybe 30 feet), dark in color with a blowhole. No dorsal fin seen. She didn't notice any blotchiness in the coloration.
The animal surfaced near the shore in an area that drops off to deep water fairly quickly. She hopped into a kayak and tried to paddle out to get a closer look but the animal showed what she thinks was a large pec flipper and dove from sight. The sighting occurred around 0915 to 0930 and she hasn't see the animal resurface in the area as of 0945.
Brent Norberg, NOAA
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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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