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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's/Transient orcas
Unidentified orcas
Coastal orcas
Fin whale
Humpback whales
Gray whale
Pacific white-sided dolphins
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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

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Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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October 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.
Ks & Ls were encountered in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Sooke, BC yesterday (11th) heading east, aimed at San Juan Island by sunset time. Any day, at least some of the residents will aim themselves a bit more south and continue the journey into Puget Sound in search of Chum salmon.  When they do, we will surely welcome them with happy hearts, minds, and wide-open eyes!

Reports of Bigg's through out the Salish Sea. An unidentified pod of at least 3 was seen for a brief time this morning in the Tacoma Narrows. Also nearby in the Tacoma/Gig Harbor area foraged a humpback. (along with he 2 Pacific white-sided dolphins who have been living in south Puget Sound this past year)

We are pleased to finally have an ID on one of the many humpbacks who have been foraging in Puget Sound this summer/fall, and just as thrilled to know this whale was documented on several occasions through out the summer in the San Juans.  On October 9th humpback BCX1210 was photographed near Point No Point, Kitsap, she/he was also photographed by the same naturalist on September 25th in Haro Strait off the west side of San Juan Island

Langley Whale Center Update: This past weekend a large crew of volunteers helped move LWC to our larger space right next door. We still have some final arranging of our displays and educational pieces, but our doors will open this Thursday at 11:00 a.m. We would like to thank everyone who made this move possible through donation of their time, muscle, and/or financially. If you would like to become a member and/or donate towards our critical funds campaign please see our Go Fund Me Campaign. We look forwarding to seeing you at our new address 115 Anthes, Langley, Whidbey Island. Open Thursday thru Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm.

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
October 11 
Sunset with incoming Ks and Ls.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 11, 2015
(taken under permit and shared w/permission from the Center for Whale Research)  
Southern Residents             
October 11 
6:30 p.m. - Echolocation on Lime Kiln hydros right now!
Renee Beitzel

October 11 
What a great day full of orcas ... first I got to see the T034s and T037s while I was working, then I went out again to see T049C and T077A (aka the "twins"), as well as K and L pod. Watching the resident orcas come into the Salish Sea in a large line, surfacing in respiratory synchronisty was definitely the highlight of my day! There's nothing that compares.
Both photos were taken under permit and shared with permission from the Center for Whale Research.
Heather MacIntyre

October 11 
L95 Nigel at sunset.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 11, 2015
(taken under permit and share with permission from the Center for Whale Research)  

October 11 
What a day! The Peregrine with First Mate, Melissa Sehgal, left the dock at Noon not knowing the location of any orcas. By the end of the day we got to see the T034s and T037s up near Pt. Roberts, thanks to a tip from someone on the BC Ferry, and the boat Explorithor. While coming back to our dock at Snug Harbor Resort and Marina, we got word of Resident Orcas coming in! While heading out to see the Residents on our second trip, we discovered the Transients known as The Twins, T049C and T077A. They are amazing! Very big! They travel together most of the time. Not brothers, just buds. We then went out to watch many of the Ks and Ls, heading toward San Juan Island.
James Maya, Mayas Legacy Whale Watching

October 11 
Today was a sweet day to be on the water with Sooke Coastal Explorations.  We were lucky enough to spend time with some of the SRKW's in front of Sooke. We caught up to them by Otter Point and they were very wide spread heading East. After enjoying them we went to Race Rocks and met up with the residents again on our way back to the dock. They were very active and quite enjoyable to watch!
Deanne Brett

October 11 
Spyhop and little one.
Photo by Deanna Brett, October 11, 2015 

October 11 
Crewser L92
Photo by Deanna Brett, October 11, 2015  

October 11 
WOW! We left with a full boat on a 12:00pm departure today in Search of 3 or 4 humpbacks whales off Sooke... In minutes from our dock at Salty Towers we find L & K pod coming in from the West right in front of Sooke! Very social and active today...Always great to sea!
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations

October 11 
 L105 Fluke
Photo by Paul Pudwell, October 11, 2015 

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

October 7 
2:40 p.m. - Five Star's vessel Supercat found the Resident Orcas coming in from the west at Race Rocks this afternoon at about 2.40pm. Many Orcas in amongst the rain, possibly all 3 pods heading east.
Andrew Lees
Bigg's/Transient orcas             
October 12 
8:50 p.m. - hearing faint Transient calls on Lime Kiln.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

October 12 
8:40 p.m. - Transients calling on the Lime Kiln hydro right now!
Justine Buckmaster

October 12 
About 10:15 a.m. -  they (orcas) were by a boat by Owens Beach (Point Defiance, Tacoma). A big flock of gulls was there too.
Bryan Owens

October 12 
9:30 a.m. - Appears to be at least 3 orcas under Tacoma Narrows bridge now- traveling north.
Julie Merriam

October 12  
9:30 a.m. - Looks like transients on a kill near the Narrows Bridge, at least 3 adults and a red slick on the water trending north.
Peter Woodward

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

October 11 
T034s and T037s today traveling south through the Strait of Georgia today.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 11, 2015 

October 11 
What a day! The Peregrine with First Mate, Melissa Sehgal, left the dock at Noon not knowing the location of any orcas. By the end of the day we got to see the T034s and T037s up near Pt. Roberts, thanks to a tip from someone on the BC Ferry, and the boat Explorithor. While coming back to our dock at Snug Harbor Resort and Marina, we got word of Resident Orcas coming in! While heading out to see the Residents on our second trip, we discovered the Transients known as The Twins, T049C and T077A. They are amazing! Very big! They travel together most of the time. Not brothers, just buds. We then went out to watch many of the Ks and Ls, heading toward San Juan Island.
Capt. Jim Maya, Mayas Legacy Whale Watching

October 11 
The Twins, T049C and T077A -
Not brothers, just buds.
Photo by Jim Maya, October 11, 2015 


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

October 7 
9:30 am - John Rogstad from WA State Ferries relayed a report of a male orca in San Juan Channel heading west. Not sure where in San Juan Channel but probably near Friday Harbor, headed toward Spieden Channel.

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

October 6 
T060C getting ready to swim through some kelp-
T060's and possibly a few others as they hunted from Battleship Island, through Spieden Channel and then down into San Juan Channel.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 6, 2015 

October 6  
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 6, 2015  

October 6 
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 6, 2015  

October 6 
1:05 p.m. - Wehad a report from WSF of orcas in San Juan Channel at 1:05 pm heading south, about 1/2 mile south of North Pass.

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

October 5 
Kevin Lungren and I followed the T100, T101, T124, and T124A pods as they swam northward through Saratoga Passage on October 5, through Deception Pass, and northward into Rosario Strait.  We watched members of the superpod make two kills well before they swam under the Deception Pass Bridge.  Shortly after going through the pass they all appeared to go into sleep mode, swimming in three tight groups as they traveled northward into Rosario Strait.
Bart Rulon

October 5 
T124E surfaces in front of Burrow's Island Lighthouse.
Photo by Bart Rulon, October 5, 2015  

October 5 
T100B, T124D, T124A1 with one other young killer whale surface in front of Mount Baker.
Photo by Bart Rulon, October 5, 2015 

October 5 
A spyhop after making a kill in Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Bart Rulon, October 5, 2015 
Unidentified orcas             
October 12 
10:15 a.m. - 4 or 5 orcas heading northwest passed Tilly Point on south Pender.
Madison Duffin
   
Coastal orcas             
October 5
6:54 p.m. - Richard Bliss called to report seeing to adult male orcas in the Columbia River, seen from the Hiway 101 bridge, swimming upstream toward Astoria.   
Fin whale            
October 8 
Fin Whale  moving in on a bait ball at McCarthur Bank on October 8th  
Photo by Mark Malleson 
 
************************

October 7 
Finally got to see this fin whale. First near Hein Bank about 1:00 p.m.. Then again about 4:00 p.m. near McArthur Bank in the vicinity of some huge bait balls.
Photos by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 7, 2015 
  
October 7 
Photos by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 7, 2015  
 
Humpback whales             
October 12 - north Puget Sound 
North Sound - 9:30 am, one humpback 3 miles south of Scatchet Head and another a couple of miles SE of Point No Point.
Sherman Page

October 12 - south Puget Sound 
Gig Harbor - 9:04 a.m. - 1 Humpback and 2 dolphins still in Dalco Passage very close to Gig Harbor side.
Michele Riley Campbell

October 12 - north Puget Sound 
0820 - One humpback seen playing/feeding? at 47 deg 53.0' N x 122 deg 27.4' W (eastern edge of Northbound traffic lane, approx 2.5 nm SSW of Scatchet Head, Whidbey Island) Many tail lobs, a few full breaches, sounding & circling. Suspect feeding-- many birds also in area. Underside of tail almost 100% white.
Capt. Andrew Reay-Ellers, r/v JACK ROBERTSON, Applied Physics Lab, UW

October 12 - Gulf Islands, BC 
8:00 a.m. - Humpback near Brooks Point, south Pender Island. Heading east.
Madison Duffin

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

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
4:30 p.m. - Humpbacks near Point No Point, Kitsap today!
Photo by Steve Smith, October 11, 2015 

October 11  - north Puget Sound
Photo by Steve Smith, October 11, 2015
   
 
October 11  - north Puget Sound 
3:45 p.m. - Humpback just NE of PNP...not very close to shore. As viewed from lighthouse.
Rebecca Rambal

October 11  - north Puget Sound
Today while we were salmon fishing off Point No Point, Kitsap.
Photo by Julie Finnell, October 11, 2015
Report by Jim Finnell 

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
Photo by Julie Finnell, October 11, 2015

October 11 - north Puget Sound 
We saw a humpback off point no point! It cruised up and down the channel for a while, gave us a few tail flukes.
Photo by Elisabeth Ellis, October 11, 2015 

October 11  - north Puget Sound
2:00 p.m. - 3 humpbacks still just south of PNP. One cow/calf pair. Chilkat.
Renee Beitzel, chilkat

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
1:44 p.m. - I see whale blows directly in line of Point No Point lighthouse as seen from north Edmonds.. Looks close to pt no pt east side beach
Stu Davidson

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
1:25 p.m. - They are near Eglon. I can see them from Scatchet Head.
Tiffany Reynolds

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
9:35 - Just caught sight of a beautiful fluke just south of Double Bluff closer to Kitsap side.  Elyse Margaret

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
9:40 a.m. - Now moving south past PNP now, closer to Kitsap side. There appear to be three. Two adults and a juvenile.
9:12 a.m. - At Point No Point (PNP) watch two humpbacks mid channel. No definite directional travel. Lots of surfacing and deep dives.
Martha Carlstead

October 11  - north Puget Sound 
One of the at least 2 humpback whales were off Point No Point this morning.
Photo by Carolyn Barry, October 11, 2015 

October 11 - south Puget Sound 
8:30 a.m.  - Donna called with a sighting of three humpbacks, including one small one who breached multiple times, just off Gig Harbor.

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

October 10 - San Juans 
Humpback in Spieden Channel this afternoon!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 10, 2015 

October 10 - San Juans 
Today, wind, sun, rain and a humpback. Spieden Channel, San Juan Islands, WA.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, October 10, 2015 

October 10 - north Puget Sound 
6:50 p.m. - Was just out at Scatchet head. At least one whale was heading south/southwest at a good pace, from the green buoy.
Tiffany Reynolds

October 10 - south Puget Sound 
2:10 p.m. - Humpback across from Salmon Beach just breached about 5 times.
Zeno Martin

October 10 - north Puget Sound 
1:10 p.m. -  blows and deep dives (nice fluke!)  - This humpback is south east of green buoy south of Scatchet head. Appears moving southerly- as seen from shore north Edmonds.
Stu Davidson

October 10 -south Puget Sound 
12:33 p.m. - The humpback is off the mouth of Gig Harbor at this very moment! Right between Point Defiance and the Harbor - just going back-and-forth at the moment. Definitely has some dolphins with it. Came from Colvos passage, made it's way over towards point defiance, then back up Colvos a few minutes ago.
Photo by Heidi Powers Armstrong, October 10, 2015 

October 10 - north Puget Sound 
10:15 a.m. - Two Humpbacks swimming between Norwegian Point and PNP for the last two hours.
Elyse Sollitto

October 10 - north Puget Sound 
8:20 a.m. -  two humpbacks east of Point No Point, as viewed from Edmonds.
Sherman Page

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


October 9 - north Puget Sound 
4:51 p.m. - many distinct separate blows east of Pt no pt as seen from north Edmonds.. Three to four humpbacks?!! Also, blows south of Pt no Pt towards Eglon along the shipping lane. Lots of whales in the area!!
Stu Davidson

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
There were three humpback whales up on Possession Pt. this afternoon.  I was salmon fishing on the west side and they were on the flats area mostly on the west side. The locals think they are cruising the bottom for food.
Jim Finnell

October 9 - south Puget Sound 
2:20 p.m. - Saw 2 blows just south of mouth of Gig Harbor.
Allison Heaton

October 9 - south Puget Sound 
2:07 p.m. - Just spotted South of the entrance of Quartermaster harbor.
Steve Olson

October 9 - south Puget Sound 
2:02 Humpback off Salmon Beach, mid channel, trending south.
1:54 South of Gig Harbor and the actual Point at Pt. Defiance, mid channel now. Still trending south.
1:27 p.m. - just South of the mouth of Gig Harbor now by the 1st group of beach houses, still close to shore trending south.
1:17 p.m. -  They are just North of the Mouth of Gig Harbor, close to shore, two boats with them, heading towards the Harbor at the moment.
Melissa Burks

October 9 - south Puget Sound 
Humpback exhalation in still water.
Photo taken all the way across the channel, from Gig Harbor viewpoint at Pt. Defiance.
Photo by Melissa Burks, October 9, 2015 

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
12:30 p.m. - Another humpback took a deep dive at Point No Point, some tail shots, so exciting.
Ashley & Gary Arciniega-Luu

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
12:19 p.m. - humpback is mid channel between Point No Point and Scatchet head. (south Whidbey)
Stu Davidson

October 9 - south Puget Sound 
10:03 a.m. - Humpback and 2 dolphins back in South Sound! Between Vashon Island, Point Defiance and Gig Harbor. Looks like the same three, and same behavior we saw for several weeks in September.
Michele Riley Campbell

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
9:47 a.m. - whale blow east of Point No Point maybe half to 3/4 miles offshore. Looks to be a humpback. Direction is back-n-forth but slight southerly.
Stu Davidson

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
9:45 a.m. - 3-4 humpbacks (One is a calf/yearling), spread out across the channel south weserly of Possession Point, mid channel.
Renee Beitzel

October 9 - north Puget Sound 
ID'd as BCX1210 in the DFO catalog- One of 3 humpbacks we saw in Puget Sound today. This was the only one close enough to get fairly good shots of it's dive sequence. It is all the same whale.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 9, 2015
(This humpback was photographed by Renee off the west side of San Juan Island on September 25, 2015 and had been seen on several occassion around the San Juan Islands. ) 

October 9 
BCX1210 - Point No Point, Kitsap
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 9, 2015


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

October 8 - south Puget Sound 
6:05 p.m. - My husband and I saw a humpback and a porpoise (Pacific white-sided dolphin-ALB) off of the Gig Harbor viewing area, then we followed it to Sunrise Beach in Gig Harbor. It is 6:05 and he is still hanging out in the Vashon/Gig Harbor/Point Defiance area!
Sarah Share

October 8 - north Puget Sound 
10:30 a.m. - Joe Bell reports that while he was fishing off Pilot Point between Eglon and Point No Point, a large whale, probably a humpback surfaced about 400 yards from the beach.

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

October 7 
5:40 p.m. - There is at least 4, as I cannot see SE of Scatchet Head from my home, so my 3 plus at least 1 of Stu's.
5:10 p.m. -  saw three humpbacks NW of Edmonds. One is just a couple of miles north of the ferry and the other two 3-4 miles away. Binocs will be needed. From Sunset Ave N, line of sight is Double Bluff for one of the farther ones and scan partway to the left for the other two.
Sherman Page

October 7 
5:36 p.m. - My guess is that there is overlap. The two I was watching traveled from southeast Point No Point to closer to south Whidbey and now one heading east towards Possession Point last I saw it.
5:15 p.m. -  did spot a humpback south east of Scatchet head heading more towards Possession Point.
4:12-4:16 p.m.-  huge breaching just south east of Point No Point and then closer to Kitsap - two humpbacks - at least a half dozen breaches!
Stu Davidson

October 7 
4:00 p.m. - south tip of Whidbey, closer to Edmonds side, I am seeing humpback spouting with what I think are a group of orcas breaching and lots of tail slapping around the humpback. Not sure if I am interpreting this right. (no one else reported seeing orcas to confirm type of cetaceans-ALB) Lots of unusual looking activity. I have only seen humpbacks since then. The smaller cetaceans disappeared pretty quickly. Right now there are a couple humpbacks swimming off of Eglon, south of the boat ramp.
Rebecca French Gerke

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

October 6 
5:50 p.m. - Sighted at Port Townsend Bay October 6, traveling west to east out of the bay near the ferry terminal.
Kyle Porter

October 6 
5:39 p.m. -  back and forth, more north again, I'd say north of Eglon.
5:29 p.m. -  two humpback blows/dives a mile south of Point No Point near Kitsap side...moved just slightly south and more to shoreline.
Stu Davidson

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

October 4 
Possibly mother and calf Humpbacks off Point No Point, Hansville between 3-4:00 p.m.
Photo by Anita Marie, October 4, 2015 

October 4 
Humpbacks off Point No Point, Hansville between 3-4:00 p.m.
Photo by Anita Marie, October 4, 2015 

October 4 
Photo by Anita Marie, October 4, 2015 
.  
Gray whale              
October 6 
3:00 p.m. - Hiked the Ebey's Landing loop trail on Whidbey Island. While on the shoreline, saw a Gray Whale heading south. Witnessed various surface behavior, including a full body breach. It was amazing...I remember seeing knuckles (through my binoculars) when the whale was just breaking the surface of the water while cruising. They were on the back end of the body, near the tail. Plus, this whale leapt vertically out of the water. At one point, it's entire body was perpendicular to the horizon.
Carmelo Quetell
 
Pacific white-sided dolphin            
October 12 
9:04 am. - 1 Humpback and 2 dolphins still in Dalco very close to GH side.
Michele Riley Campbell

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

October 10 
12:33 p.m. - The humpback is off the mouth of Gig Harbor at this very moment! Right between point defiance and the Harbor - just going back-and-forth at the moment. Definitely has some dolphins with it. Came from Colvos passage, made it's way over towards point defiance, then back up Colvos a few minutes ago
Heidi Powers Armstrong

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

 October 9 
Coming into Gig Harbor, getting the bow line ready, looked down to see this guy watching me!
Photo by Steve Olson, October 9, 2015  

October 9 
10:03 a.m. - Humpback and 2 dolphins back in South Sound! Between Vashon Island, Point defiance and Gig Harbor. Looks like the same three, and same behavior we saw for several weeks in September.
Michele Riley Campbell

*********************
October 8 
6:05 p.m. - My husband and I saw a humpback and a porpoise (Pacifc white-sided dolphin) off of the Gig Harbor viewing area, then we followed it to Sunrise Beach in gig harbor...still  hanging out in the Vashon/Gig Harbor/Point Defiance area!
Sarah Share 
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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.

 

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*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.