bannernewblack    

Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's/Transient orcas
Fin whale
Humpback whales
Minke whales
Unidentified whale
Orca Salmon Alliance
SPONSORED EVENT 
~
Intertwined Fates: The Orca-Salmon Connection in the Pacific Northwest


Seattle Aquarium
October 7th, 2015 6:30pm

TICKETS 

~~~~~~~~~

Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER

Corner of 2nd & Anthes, Langley,
Whidbey Island

~~~
Open Thurs - Sun 11 - 5
Displays, videos, gift shop, lending library
~~~

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

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

September 12, 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.
One day you look out at the end of summer and you see the Salish Sea teeming with whales. It is impossible not to admire the beauty of this magnificent place and appreciate the beings who swim the waters under the rocks you sit, past the ships you sail, and below your wings...
While humpbacks inhabit what seems to be every corner of the Salish sea, the southern residents continue their circuitous routes through the islands in search of and foraging for salmon. Lets hope new calf L122 amongst them will have plenty as she/he grows up. Days-old little one L122 and family traveled Active Pass on the 9th and the next morning members of all three pods sojourned south down Rosario Strait , exiting to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Amazing footage of the pods from the  skies above in this King 5 News RAW video.
And on this summery morning a small group of Js moved along the west side of San Juan Island.


The Center for Whale Research has posted their September 7 Encounter 75 Report from the day the new calf L122 was documented by staff. 

Brad Hanson, NOAA, NWFSC, has this announcement on their current research project:
"On Thursday September 10th the NWFSC will begin a 3 week project to assess the health status of southern resident killer whales. We will be working cooperatively with John Durban of SWFSC.   They will be using their hexacopter to collect images of whales for health assessment and we will be collecting fecal samples and breath samples (using a long pole) from the whales, as well as predation samples.  This is similar to the work we did in 2013.
As in previous years we will be working from our research vessel, Phocoena II, a 22' Zodiac.
We thank everyone in advance for providing us with space to work. Additional questions can be sent to brad.hanson@noaa.gov Thanks, Brad Hanson"

Also, an update on tagged Bigg's/Transient T100C; encounters with the often seen T65As; many reports of the Fin whale who first appeared on the 2nd and is still foraging and feasting in the waters south of Lopez and San Juan Island. And everyday stories of big beautiful humpbacks.

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 
Photo of the Day
September 8 
New calf L122 and mom L91 this afternoon off Sooke, B.C.
1:30 pm - traveling east with J, K, & L pod.

Photo by Paul Pudwell, September 8th, 2015  
Southern Residents         

September 12 
A few orcas were milling off Land Bank between 12-1:00 p.m.. They never made it north of Deadman Bay so I never got positive IDs from Lime Kiln before they turned back south.
Monika Wieland

September 12 
Onboard Glacier Spirit, just left J17s near False Bay. They were heading north, we had to head south for lunch in Friday Harbor. Saw some foraging but a couple breaches right as we arrived on scene around 10:45 this morning. I'd never seen a breach before and I captured this shot of the first breach. Today is definitely one of the best days of my life, such a privilege to see these beautiful beings in their home.
Amy K Fowler

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

September 10 
2:30 p.m. - We were with  L54s, L88 and L84 as they approached East Point, Saturna heading towards Strait of Georgia.
Barbara Bender

September 10 
From today's encounter with a small group of Lpod. This is L84, "Nyssa" traveling off Turn Point on Stuart Island. He lost all of his immediate family members, and hangs out with the L54's primarily.
Photo by Traci Walter, September 10, 2015 

September 10 
So many whales... Members of all three Southern Resident pods (J, K and L) were present in Rosario Strait today. Passengers on the Washington State ferry 'Kitsap' enjoyed a rare treat as the orcas meandered along against the backdrop of freshly snow-capped Mt Baker, before passing under the watchful eye of Ken Balcomb (Center for Whale Research). Perfection comes in many forms - we saw it all today.
Sandra Pollard, Naturalist

September 10 
Southern Residents-
this group a little closer to shore for a while.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, September 10, 2015 

September 10 
Rosario Strait - a wonderful sight to behold - Southern Resident orcas traveling in their family groups today.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, September 10, 2015
 

September 10 
12:19 p.m. - John Rogstad of WA State Ferries relayed a report from the ferry Kitsap of 45 or more orcas in Thatcher Pass, Rosario Strait, heading southward.

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

September 9 
8:10 p.m. - Lovely sunset as always at Lime Kiln tonight- was greeted by 4-5 orcas passing by the lighthouse. It was so quiet there tonight - very few people - I loved the fact that I knew the whales were close by because I could hear them "blowing".
Photo by Cindy Jackson, September 9, 2015  

September 9 
Another image of the new calf, L122 and mom, L91. Haro Strait aboard the Peregrine, Maya's Legacy Whale Watching out of Snug Harbor Resort and Marina...
One of my happiest images ever!

Photo by James Maya, September 9, 2015 

September 9 
Got to meet little L122 ! We saw it's first trip through Active Pass!
Photo by Gary Sutton, September 9, 2015 

September 9th 
10:15 a.m. - still near the rocks....hearing echolocation and faint calls still.
9:30 a.m  - Listening to Js and Ks on and off for the past hour on Lime Kiln hp.
Alisa, ON

September 9 
I had Js and Ks going by between 830 and 930. Dense fog, mostly heard only, but a few were right on the rocks! Still passing when I left but had to get to work.
Monika Wieland

September 9 
J27 Blackberry passes right off the rocks at Lime Kiln in the dense fog on the morning of September 9th, 2015
Photo by Monika Wieland 

September 9 
8:15 a.m. - More whales on LK - getting closer!
8:05 a.m. - think I just heard k pod on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Barbara Bender

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

September 4 
Resident pods were heading northeast towards Fraser River.
Taken from vicinity of East Point, Saturna on Sept. 4 and 5. 
Photo by James McLarnon, September 4, 2015   
 
September 5 
Resident pods were heading northeast towards Fraser River.
Taken from vicinity of East Point, Saturna on Sept. 4 and 5. 
Photo by James McLarnon, September 5, 2015  

September 5 
Photo by James McLarnon, September 5, 2015  
 
September 5 
Photo by James McLarnon, September 4, 2015  
Bigg's/Transient orcas        

September 12 
11:40 a.m. - 3 orcas heading east about mid channel between Port Angeles and Victoria. One with huge dorsal and white patch with 2 smaller ones with gray patches. Beautiful!
Photo by Dino Martini, September 12, 2015 

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

September 10 
The T065A's are a small group of transient killer whales. They eat marine mammals, not fish. This group was on a mission! They were chasing prey that was never seen, but later it was evident that they had been successful at making the kill. Lots of surface activity during the hunt, convergence then silence, followed by long dives and a change in direction when all was said and done.
Renee Beitzel

September 10 
T065A2 tail lobbing.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 10, 2015
(All photos taken with zoom lens and cropped) 

September 10 
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 10, 2015 

September 10 
T65A and calf T65A5
Photo by Renee Beitzel, September 10, 2015
 

September 10 
We left them at noon south of Flagler crossing the channel. Looked like they were heading northeast-ish. Mid channel when we left, heading closer to Whidbey side. Possibly T065As. (confirmed)
Renee Beitzel

September 10 
10:26 a.m. - They're very close to Kitsap shore southbound. They're just a bit north of Fort Flagler.
Rachel Haight

September 10 
9:15 a.m. - Group of about 5 orcas spotted by Clipper 4--- 2.6 miles north of Point Wilson heading south into Admiralty Inlet.
Jason Mihok


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

September 9 
My 6th encounter with this family (T65As) this year, and as Sara said, it was a charm.
This family group is so much fun to hang out with. Today they were wandering south along Lummi Island before heading over to do some serious hunting along the shores of Orcas Island. This family of whales is very curious of boats and people, and they came in to check us out several times.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 9, 2015 

September 9 
A breaching moment by a member of the T65As.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 9, 2015  

September 9 
EPIC. That was the day we had on the water with the T65As today. We found them up near Lummi Island and they were in a playful mood the whole time we were with them----well, playful and hungry! It sure wasn't a great day to be a harbor seal.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

September 9 
Family portrait. Left to right, T65A, T65A5, T65A4, T65A2, and T65A3 just about to surface.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, September 9, 2015
(All photos taken with a 400mm lens and cropped) 

September 9 
T65A4 catching some air.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, September 9, 2015 

September 9 
T65A4 and T65A5 rolling on top of her. Sibling play time.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, September 9, 2015  
 
September 9 
Today was a pretty epic day with the T065As. They came close to the boat by THEIR choice. They breached, jumped, and tail lobbed. We watched as they caught an unfortunate seal who became their meal. When they were swimming in the shallows, you could even see their jet black bodies underneath the surface and it was breathtaking. They are definitely one of my favorite family groups by far, and they like to have fun and are such a delight to watch. Such a beautiful amazing day on the water spent with friends, couldn't have asked for better.
Rachel Haight

September 9 
A member of the T65As lunges out of the water...
Photo by Rachel Haight, September 9, 2015 

September 9 


September 9 
Hi Susan  & Howie.  Just a quick update on the Satellite Tagging Research on Alaska Killer Whales : The sat tag we placed on T100C is still working and providing valuable information.  The T100s spent a considerable amount of time in lower Puget Sound - as far south as Olympia.  As they headed north they spent some time around Whidbey Island and then north through Admiralty Inlet.  They headed north along the east side of Vancouver Island  - transiting into the Strait of Georgia.    Best regards. 
Marilyn (Dahlheim) Research Biologist, National Marine Mammal Laboratory
Alaska Fisheries Science Center/NOAA

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

September 8 
We caught up to the T65As today and found an extra whale traveling with them. Big thanks to Gary for figuring out who the extra fin belonged to! Here's a photo of that tagalong, T49A2, and T65A3 cruising along the Moresby Island shoreline.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, September 8, 2015 

September 8 
We got to spend time today with the T65A's up in Canada. We found them near Mandarte Island, and followed them to just northwest of Moresby Island. I've seen this family group at least 5 times this year, 3 times from boats, and twice from shore in Puget Sound. They have definitely become favorites because of their close family bonds.
Connie Bickerton

September 8 
T65A and son T65A2
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 8, 2015

September 8 
T49A2 and T65A3
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 8, 2015 

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

September 3 
Pod of 4 Transients passing close in at Camano Island State Park.
Photo by Krista Paulino, September 3, 2015
(original report in September 8th Sighting Report) 

September 3 
Spy hop - from one member of the pod of 4.
Camano Island State Park, WA
Photo by Krista Paulino, September 3, 2015
(original report in September 8th Sighting Report)
 

September 3 
4:30 p.m. - My school (Overlake) saw a pod of orcas from Camano Island State Park (on the/a beach). There was 1 mother a calf 1 male and 1 young male/female. The orcas got fairly close to the shore but I couldn't really catch their saddle patches. First they where traveling, then the stopped to play then they left.
Midori Leibovitz 
Fin whale         
September 11 
Fin whale at McArthur Bank, notice the scarring on the fin whale's back.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 11, 2015 

September 11
Saw the second largest mammal on earth again today, the fin whale,
just North of Smith Island.

Photo by Janine Harles, September 11, 2015 
 
September 11 
Fin whale, near Smith Island.
Photo by Janine Harles, September 11, 2015

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

September 9 
Fin whale cruising along the edge of McArthur Bank this evening.
Photo by Mark Malleson, September 9, 2015 

September 9 
Fin Whale surfaces, scaring gulls at Salmon Bank off south end of San Juan Island.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, September 9, 2015 
Humpback whales        
September 12 - north Puget Sound 
6:55 p.m. - Humpback now at Point No Point, Hanseville appears to be foraging close to shore this evening, no distinct direction of travel.
Elyse Margaret

September 12 - south Puget Sound 
3:30 p.m. - Humpback sighting - Gig Harbor. the whale came over from Pt. Defiance and appeared to be tracking along the shore, going North on the Gig Harbor side. Many boats were observing but at proper distance.
Amy Bliss-Miller

September 12 - south Puget Sound 
1:22 p.m. - Humpback whale just passed Point Richmond Beach, heading South in Colvos Passage at No. 6 Marker.
Christy Robinson 

September 12 - Juan de Fuca Strait
...mid channel between Port Angeles and Victoria..but we just spotted a humpback now 12:17 p.m.!
Dino Martini

September 12 - Juan de Fuca Strait  
Noon - Two humpbacks surfaced off the beam of my boat at noon, west of Smith Island.
Kimberly Lynn Wickens

September 12 - south Puget Sound 
Humpback whale in Colvos Passage near the southern end of Vashon around noon today. . Whole family delighted. Boaters were all very appropriate with the whale.
Jennifer Mounsey-Abderhalden
Photo taken by my 12yo aspiring marine biologist--Haley, September 12, 2015 

September 12 - north Puget Sound 
11:06 am - Humpback whale has been hanging out at Possession Bar, south Whidbey Island with all the derby boats for the last couple of hours.
Photo by Lisa Poulin Coale, September 12, 2015
(Taken with zoom lens and stayed over 100 yards away) 

September 12 - north Puget Sound 
Humpback off Possession Point, Whidbey Island
Photo by Lisa Poulin Coale, September 12, 2015
(Taken with zoom lens and stayed over 100 yards away)

**********************
 
September 11 -  San Juan Islands 
8:15 p.m. - Sunset humpback blows back and forth in Spieden Channel this evening. Two of them...They were hugging the south shoreline so I didn't see much but could hear them and see the plumes
Peggy Mauro

September 11 - south Puget Sound 
Humpback this evening off Southwest point of Vashon Island
Photo by Wendy Pacheco Stuart, September 11, 2015 

September 11 -  south Puget Sound 
7:35 p.m. - We have been sitting between Point Defiance and Vashon watching what I think is the humpback whale we saw two weeks ago in front of Chambers Bay. It circled our boat for over an hour and a half. It was incredible. I only have cell phone shots. So incredible.
Cindy Faker

September 11 -  south Puget Sound 
5:50 p.m. - Humpback currently breaching off the south point of Vashon Island. Son is watching as I write, jealous!
Kelly Sedgwick

September 11 -San Juan Islands 
Spent a lovely day with this humpbacks (and the fin whale) off McArthur Bank.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 11, 2015 

September 11 - north Puget Sound 
I saw it one more time at about 2:40-- same location, right before I left.
2:10 p.m. - Saw the humpback at about 1:00 and again just now off the north shore at Point No Point. Fairly far out.
Aviva Weiss Grele

September 11 -  north Puget Sound 
9:30 a.m - My parents are fishing off of Point no Point this morning and saw a blow and a fluke, then it disappeared. Looks like the humpback is still around. The sighting was around 9:30.
Heather Polverino

September 11 -  south Puget Sound 
10:13 a.m. - Slowing moving north and south, feeding, has been closest to Gig Harbor side. There are a few boaters watching from and appropriate distance.
9:13 a.m. - It's here! It is close to shore heading up to Sunrise Beach, Gig Harbor.
Michele Riley Campbell

September 11 -  south Puget Sound 
7:20 a.m. - Possible humpback off Gig Harbor heading south at 720 this morning.
Peter Woodward

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

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
7:45 p.m. - Humpback hugging shoreline headed from Norwegian Point around
Point No Point and then headed SE into the Sound towards Seattle.

Photo by Donna Green Van Renselaar, September 10, 2015  

September 10 -  San Juan Islands 
4:50 p.m. - We were with a Humpback at north end of Green Point right between Spieden and Flattop Islands going back and forth trending north.
Barbara Bender

September 10 -  south Puget Sound 
4:00 pm - Just found blows at 4pm. I am on Vashon at the ferry and the whale is generally just a bit north of the Gig Harbor entrance and just south of Sunrise Beach. Close to Gig Harbor side. No dolphins yet but will keep looking.
Amy Carey

September 10 -  south Puget Sound 
Talked to a few if the fishermen at Point Defiance boathouse who have been watching the whale the last couple mornings. Hear it has been going back and forth near gig harbor near shore.
Brian Owen

September 10 - south Puget Sound 
2:00 pm - Saw the humpback again today...itwas swimming on the west side of Vashon Island then crossed into the center of the channel and headed toward us. It continued down toward the Narrows and then turned around to head back north. Would it be feeding on the schools of small fish we've been seeing? (yes)
Photo by Amy Bliss-Miller, September 10, 2015 

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
4:00 p.m. - He's south of the point right now, last seen headed southeast into the sound
3:40 p.m. - He just cruised the shoreline north then south. I think the water was too shallow for him to show his fluke.
3:05 p.m. Humpback is here ( Point No Point) and was close in.
Connie Bickerton

September 10 - north Puget Sound 
Humpback (right side) Point No Point, Hanseville, WA.
The whale was less than 50 feet from shore as it fed, passing first heading west, and then turning and heading east until it got to the end of the point, where it headed southeast into the sound. This uncropped picture was taken at 400mm while sitting on a log on the beach.

Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 10, 2015 

September 10 - north Puget Sound 
Humpback (left side)
Point No Point, Hanseville, WA 
Photo by Connie Bickerton, September 10, 2015 

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
2:45-4:00 p.m. - Watched humpback very close to shore.
Point No Point, Hanseville,  Kitsap County.

Photo by Susan Marie Andersson, September 10, 2015 

September 10 -  south Puget Sound 
10:41 a.m. - The humpback and dolphins are off Sunrise Beach in Gig Harbor again. It's been there since about 9:15 I just left & it was still there. Trending north a bit.
Photo by Heidi Powers Armstrong, September 10, 2015 

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
10:26 a.m. - Humpback feasting just west of Possession Point, Whidbey. 
Renee Beitzel, Chilkat

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
9:45 a.m. - We started our day 5 minutes from the dock watching a humpback whale off Possession Point, south Whidbey Island.
Photo by Janine Harles, September 10, 2015 

September 10 - north Puget Sound 
Humpback whale going for a dive off Possession Point, south Whidbey Island.
Photo by Janine Harles, September 10, 2015  

September 10 - north Puget Sound 
Humpback blow holes.
Photo by Janine Harles, September 10, 2015  

September 10  -  San Juan Islands 
9:10 a.m. - A lone humpback has been in Spieden channel across from Lonesome cove resort for the past hour. The owners indicate they see them frequently.
Dave Ackelson

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
10:00 a.m. - humpback deep diving east of Point No Point south of Scatchet head...amongst lots of fishing boats and Whale watching boat Chilkat
8:35 a.m. -  Blows seen east of Point No Point. Might be a humpback. Seemed to be slowly foraging northerly. Watching long distance from north Edmonds.
Stu Davidson

September 10 -  north Puget Sound 
6:37 a.m. - There's an orca spouting fairly close in at Point No Point. Heading southeast. (came in as single orca ID not confirmed...humpback seen at this location night before and shore time after this report-ALB)
Christy Delch Mackey

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

September 9 -  San Juan Islands 
6:45 p.m. - We had a whale report  from Brian M, who was on the ferry from Sidney when he saw a very tall, straight blow at 6:45 pm today. He said it was almost as tall as a sailboat mast, off Spieden Island, between Green Point and Limestone Point. He didn't see the whale however. (several humpbacks have been frequenting this general area this week-ALB)

September 9 -  San Juan Islands 
6:40 p.m. - Watching humpback at Limestone Point.
Barbara Bender

September 9 -  south Puget Sound 
4:10 p.m. - Was just on the water with the humpback at the mouth of Gig Harbor. Looks like a young whale. He was hugging the shore to the North of the harbor and continued south toward the Narrows. Sorry about the terrible picture but it was the best I could do with my phone at the appropriate distance. The sailboat wasn't playing nice and used it's motor to position itself in the whale's path.
Amy Bliss-Miller

September 9 -  south Puget Sound 
Humpback whale surfaces off Gig Harbor, Pierce County, WA
Photo by Amy Bliss-Miller, September 9, 2015
 

September 9 -  north Puget Sound 
11:45 a.m. - Saw a humpback or humpbacks breaching completely out of the water at Apple Tree Cove Point. (Kingston, Kitsap County)
David Luxton

September 9 -  south Puget Sound 
11:23 a.m. - Humpbacks and dolphins(?) slowly heading southward now, seemingly toward Narrows.
10:52 a.m. - A little more between sunrise and north sunrise at this time. Several respectful boats that were here before my first sighting in the area.
10:28 a.m. -  Humpback off Sunrise Beach, Gig Harbor.
Courtney A Turk

September 9 -  San Juan Islands 
6:45 a.m. - I heard the humpback in Spieden Channel. It was way out there but we saw a few blows, no fluke, and a beautiful sunrise with the crescent moon. It was heading west then turned back, now heading east.
Peggy Mauro

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

September 8 - San Juan Islands 
From 5:30-6:30 PM this evening we had two humpback whales near Spieden Island. We encountered the first one milling off the north side of the Island. The second one was in the middle of Spieden Channel north of Pearl Island. By the time we left, both animals were visible west of Battleship.
Monika Wieland

September 8 - San Juan Islands 
Humpback whale "rainblow" late this afternoon off the north side of Spieden Island.
Photo by Monika Wieland, September 8, 2015 

September 8 - south Puget Sound 
My son and his friend saw this humpback whale fluking off Point Defiance, Tacoma the morning of September 8, 2015.
Report and photo provided by Kelly Sedgwick 


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

September 7 
9:00 a.m. - south of Sunrise Beach, near Gig Harbor Bay. The whale was very close to shore (but plenty deep). Did not see any of the dolphins that day, but there was a herd (4-5) of sea lions not to far away.
Photo by John Holmaas, September 7, 2015 
 
*************************

September 6 
 
Humpback Encounter near Spieden Island, WA September, 6 2015
Video by Steve Smith 
 
Minke whales        
September 12  
2:00 p.m. -  Minke whale spotted mid-channel about 3-4 miles south of Cattle Point, San Juan Island surfacing and diving, no distinct direction off travel. Water is so smooth, made for easy viewing. Pics to come!
Jennifer Greiner Clark

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

September 10 
Hello Howard and Susan! Wanted to let you both know my husband and his brother were walking the Henry Island Isthmus today, early evening around 4:30 pm and witnessed a single Minke breach 5 separate times. After the fifth reach they did not see the Minke again. This was on the side of the Isthmus that faces Open Bay.
Christine Langland 
Unidentified whales          
September 9 
Mary Pacher of Greenbank called on a report of two whales in Saratoga Passage just north of Hidden Beach at 9:20 am. They were fairly close to shore - first she thought they were orcas then thought they might be grays as they were so close to shore. 
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.