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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern (and Northern) Residents
Bigg's/Transient orcas
Humpback whales
Fin whale
Minke whales
Pacific white-sided dolphins
Dall's porpoise
Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER (LWC)
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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

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 

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October 22, 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.
At a time when humans in Puget Sound are expecting the Southern Residents to be following chum runs down here, many of them have been on a journey following chum salmon far to the north! Yesterday, this community of orca loving humans received word that K and L pod's travels continued well into Johnstone Strait and eventually Blackfish Sound, deep in the home range of the Northern Residents. At one point they found themselves trailing by less than 2 miles of the NRs as they passed Hanson Island and those at Orca Lab.  A special once in a lifetime experience for the many people who have been observing these killer whale clans for several decades. We appreciate them sharing the encounter with us all.  

We received word the dead orca recently found near Petersburg, Alaska was a female of the "Offshore" ecotype. A necropsy was performed Monday but no cause of death was apparent or confirmed as of yet. More information may come after samples are tested - we'll let you know of any further details we get. Thanks to Dr. Joe Gaydos for sharing this information with us, and thanks to Joe and Dr. Stephen Raverty for developing protocols for Killer Whale necropsy in the Pacific NW. Though it is always sad to lose an orca or whale of any kind, it is always good to have a fresh specimen be discovered in time to perform a necropsy and collect samples, so that the whale's death at least can inform us and help us help other whales ~
You can read more on the preliminary necropsy report at NOAA Fisheries NEWS RELEASE.
 
Other reports and photos of Biggs/Transients including the "Twins" (T49C and T77A), an abundance of  humpbacks, the fin, minkes, and other cetaceans.

Thank you all for your sharing your encounter reports,  stories and observations! 
Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
October 21 
Needless to say it was an epic afternoon and evening. K and L pod Southern Resident killer whales in Blackfish Sound after an afternoon of foraging on chum salmon.
Photo by Jared Towers of DFOs Cetacean Research Program
October 21, 2015  
 
Southern (and Northern) Residents              
October 21 
I42, I108, I33, I45 and I62 Northern Resident killer whales in front of Orcalab on Hanson Island. When this photo was taken K and L pod Southern Resident killer whales were less than two miles behind them.
Photo by Jared Towers of DFOs Cetacean Research Program
October 21, 2015 

October 21 
Both Southern (K and L pods) and Northern (I35, I68, I13, A34 and A36 matrilines) Residents were in Blackfish Sound off northern Vancouver Island this evening! More details on the encounter are provided HERE  (and copied in this report below)
Photos by Jared Towers of DFOs Cetacean Research Program
BC Killer Whales

(copy of the report by Helena and Paul, Orca Lab, as provided at the link above)
Multiple pod calls audbile.
I have to use a little of our scarce bandwidth (we are still basically down but have the use of a Telus "stick") to tell this story! Last night Barbara and David heard and identified southern resident orcas in Johnstone Strait. They had been seen earlier in the afternoon near Ripple Point making their way north. Then this afternoon Jared called to say the southern residents were off Donegal Head. Very soon after we heard calls! But the calls were northern G clan calls, specifically I31/I11 type calls!!! What the??? We told Jared. He said "seriously?" because he was looking at southern residents clustered together behind a tug heading into Blackfish Sound. We could hear the southerns but the G clan calls sounded closer. Jared then reported that there was a group close to Flower Island. Was this the G clan group? They then came into view. Jared followed this group in and identified them as a mix of I31s and I11s. (northern G clan orcas) As he followed this group he watch the southern residents move close to Burnt Point on the Hanson Island side and soon they were in our view. There were a lot of southern residents!!!! The northerns chose to stay on the far shore almost parallel to the southerns who moved to mid channel. The vocals dropped off. The groups progressed through the Pass and out of view. Whew! So beautiful! So unusual, once in a lifetime! But it was not all yet over. We had seen another group over on the far shore and eventually this group made their way into Blackney well after the others. It turned out to be the A34s with A46!. There was just enough light to see them and Jared came back to do a quick confirmation before heading home. Southern and northern residents are not known to mix and this was a close. So amazing, we are all blown away and thankful too.
Helena & Paul


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

October 20 
Wow 2 days in a October with over 50 Southern Resident orcas is very cool! When we first arrived with them at 1230 they were leaping and spy hopping, tail lobbing and barrel rolling.....very happy full belly Orca me thinks! We left approximately 50 Southern residents at Ripple Point heading north in Johnstone Strait at 1600hrs.
Nick Templeman

October 20 
K35 Sonata (left, male born 2002) with his niece and nephew K36 Yoda (middle, born 2003) and K26 Lobo (right, born 1993).
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015 

October 20 
 L90 (left of calf, center of photo) , September calf L122 and his mom L91 (right, eypatch).
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015
(ID help Melisa Pinnow and Heather MacIntyre) 

October 20 
Big beautiful spyhopping resident!
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015 

October 20 
 - K44 Ripple (male - born 2011) -  
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015
(ID by Heather MacIntyre)  

October 20 
K16 Opus (female - born 1985)
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015 

October 20 
K21 Cappucino (born 1986)
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 20, 2015  

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

October 18 
...We found members of J, K and L pods in bound/foraging south of Cape Mudge lighthouse by approximately 2 miles. Once on scene, we started scanning and as far as 4 miles away we were seeing dorsal fins!  In 20 years of operating I have never witnessed all 3 pods together, nor have I ever seen them come up this way ALL together, usually its smaller sub pods. There were many chum salmon showing on the surface, lots of surface foraging behavior from the orcas. We left the pods foraging together on Chum salmon not 2 miles south of Cape Mudge @ 1800hrs! Janeen Templeman and I had a once in a lifetime encounter!
Nick Templeman

October 18 
Southern Residents
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 18, 2015 

October 18 
 - L115 and L47 -
There was about 15 animals that shot off and surfed towards the cape at 15 knots or more.
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 18, 2015
(ID by Melisa Pinnow) 

October 18 
L72 Racer and K 14 Lea
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 18, 2015

October 18 
 L91 in the foreground, L83 to her left, and and breacher unknown. This series of breaches was just one of 10 breaches we saw during the encounter. More fishing less playtime!
Photo by Nick Templeman, October 18, 2015
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 
 
***********************

October 17 
15:23 - SRKW Orca heading North between Cape Lazo and Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. There are dozens of them spread out across the strait.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive (via Whales & Dolphins BC Sightings)

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

October 16 
12:19 - 39 SRKW Orca heading North off Bowen Island headed for Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ◦K-pod, and 20 from L-pod
Simon Pidcock, Cowichan (via Whales & Dolphins BC Sightings)

October 16 
1:45 p.m. - Thought someone might be interested in these new rake marks on K35s left dorsal. These were taken Oct 16 between the North Arm of the Fraser River and Sandheads at 13:45. He was with K13s, K21, L90 and L92 but more that I could not ID were about.  Pretty sure L122 and his family were about too. Mostly travel pretty spread out but they came together and headed East at the North Arm. There were some half breaches and tail slaps going on.
Cheers, Kathryn Taylor

October 16 
Thirteen-year-old male K35 Sonata
Photo by Kathryn Taylor, October 16, 2015  

October 16 
K35
Photo by Kathryn Taylor, October 16, 2015  
 
Bigg's/Transient orcas              
October 21 
U039 in the Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Mark Malleson, October 21, 2015 

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

October 20 
 - T049C during a harbour seal kill near Victoria -
Photo by Mark Malleson, October 20, 2015  

October 20 
 - T049C in Parry Bay -
Photo by Mark Malleson, October 20, 2015 

October20 
 - T077A  tormenting a harbour seal in Parry Bay -
Photo by Mark Malleson, October 20, 2015 

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

October 17 
T049C seemed like he was checking us out and its actually one of the few photos I've gotten where you can clearly "see" the eye. Orcas have visual acuity very similar to humans above the surface and in clear conditions underwater, they can see up to 100 feet in front of them!
Photo by Rene Beitzel, October 17, 2015 

October 17 
T077A
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 17, 2015 

October 17 
T077A near Port Townsend today.
Photo by James Gresham, October 17, 2015 

October 17 
One of "The Twins", TO49C or T077A, spyhopping near Port Townsend.
Photo by James Gresham, October 17, 2015 
Humpback whales             
October 22 -central Puget Sound 
4:00 p.m. -  spotted humpback south of Blake, north of Vashon, just off Southworth dock.
Kristen

October 22 - central Puget Sound 
3:00 p.m. - Looks like a humpback, west side of Blake close to Southworth terminal, heading north at quick pace. Have some grainy pics with fluke splash will post later. On Tullikum
Wayne McFarland

October 22 - central Puget Sound 
12:07 p.m. - It's not an orca. I just can't tell if maybe humpback or gray? I don't have a good enough camera to get it from where I am. I am at the Harper Pier. (confirmed humpback)
Ashley Yorba

October 22 - Strait of Georgia 
11:50 a.m. - I first spotted it (humpback) from the window at my house, then jumped in the car and saw it at a viewpoint from shore (which is where I took this photo) We live in North Nanaimo. The picture was taken from a location called Rocky Point #2. It is the 12th whale I've seen from home in the last year. But all of the other whales were Orcas so seeing a new one was extra exciting!
Adrienne Lacroix

October 22 
 Saw this beauty of a whale today - Rocky Point 2 Park, Nanaimo.
Photo by Adrienne Lacroix, October 22, 2015  

October 22 - central Puget Sound 
11:01 a.m. - The whale was back for over an hour going back and forth by Blake Island, but hard to tell what kind it is from the Harper Pier. Hope the whale comes back.
Molly Rainey

October 22 - central Puget Sound 
This was posted this morning on one of our local community pages:
Looks like our "guest" whale is still here... sited near the southwest part of Blake Island this morning about 9:10 am today (Thursday)!
Ronda Barrow Hempler

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

October 21 - central Puget Sound 
This evening I was paddle boarding near Blake Island when an Orca came fishing nearby. The whale stayed in the harbor for nearly an hour. It was magical. I also heard that there was a grey whale in the same area this morning. She was alone. She was large. When she breathed it sounded like a freight train. She was diving, swimming back and forth, and slapping her tail. At first she was in the ferry lane then eventually swam toward Manchester/Bainbridge.
A guy on a sail boat said the whale was chasing Coho Salmon in the ferry lane. He saw her too.  When the whale returned 30~40 minutes later a fisherman was witnessing her as well.
A woman and her son on shore in South worth could see her too. She was Definitely larger than a porpoise or dolphin...it was a magnificent whale.
I am so happy and honored to have seen her.
Gina O'Brien

October 21 - central Puget Sound 
Humpback whale reported feeding at Pier 50 at 5:00pm.
Kelly Keenan

October 21 - central Puget Sound 
4:00 p.m. - spotted a whale west of Elliott Bay Marina constantly jumping tail up. Worried he might be caught in gill net.
Fay Alm

October 21 - north Puget Sound 
4:45 p.m. -  a pair of humpbacks 2-3 miles NW of Edmonds.
Sherman Page
 
October 21 - eastern Juan de Fuca Strait 
2:00 p.m. - Lunge feeding humpback near Hein Bank.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 21, 2015 

October 21 - eastern Juan de Fuca Strait 
Bumpy Humpback in near Hein Bank.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 21, 2015 

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

October 20 - north Puget Sound 
10:09 p.m. - It's a bit odd but on Camano at northern end of Mabana, since 7 pm I've heard blows and tail slaps. Too dark to see much so no idea what sort of whale it is and I think maybe 2 but not 100% sure it is 2. Definitely whale though. Very close to shore. Its been here for almost 3 hours. Too bad we don't have a full moon.
Sally Olin

October 20 - north Puget Sound 
Humpbacks (at least 4 different humpbacks at once) have been active last couple days off Whidbey Island.
Photo by Toby Black, October 20, 2015 

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

October 19 - Juan de Fuca Strait 
After a 15 mile run to the south of Victoria, BC...A humpback BCZ0131 named Gnarly! I've never seen Gnarly...Another first. She has the most amazing fluke I've ever seen!
Photo by Jim Maya, Maya's Legacy Charters, October 19, 2015 

October 19 
BCZ0131 "Gnarly"
Photo by Jim Maya, October 19, 2015  

October 19 
BCZ0131 "Gnarly"
Photo by Jim Maya, October 19, 2015  
 
October 19 - north Puget Sound 2:10 p.m. -  we've been watching what thought, and now confirmed is 2 humpbacks...moving back and forth in same general area as 1:35 report. Went south about a mile now back on northerly pattern.
1:35 p.m. -  we see humpback (w/white on fluke) milling around approx. 2 miles west of us and 2 miles south of Cultus Bay. Viewing from Sunset Ave, just north of Edmonds ferry Sightline looking at Double Bluff, way too far for photos.
Alisa & Ed

October 19 - north Puget Sound
1:11 p.m. - Spotting a humpback at Point-No-Point, Kitsap from the lighthouse.
Sarah Roderick Fitch

October 19 - north Puget Sound 
9:58 a.m. - At least one Humpback is visible off the south end of Whidbey this morning. I'm watching from Edmonds and it's extremely distant. Lots of blows made me wonder if there's two.
Alex Wilson

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

October 18 - Rosario Strait 
We found a mom (left) and calf (right) humpback pair in Rosario Strait and later found a pod of Dall's porpoise. It was chilly and gray, but the water was unbelievably flat calm.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 18, 2015 

October 18  
Mother and calf.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 18, 2015 
 

October 18 
 The calf tail slapped several times, and as if in response, mom threw her tail in the air.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 18, 2015 

October 18 
Best image of calf's fluke I had, mostly dark with small white patches near the back edge.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 18, 2015 

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

October 17 - Pacific coast 
Cape Flattery Sighting, 3 humpbacks and 1 minke...at the Cape Flattery lookout there were two humpbacks an adult and youth (I was unable to identify without a fluke showing) hanging around between about 6:30am until heading into the strait around 1:30pm. Another humpback cruised by along with a minke and porpoises. What a wonderful treat!
Brittany Foxley


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

October 16 - south Puget Sound 
4:30-5:30 p.m - Humpback in Colvos Passage.
Photo by Cheryl Mikkelborg, October 16, 2015
(Cheryl's full report was included in our October 17th Sighting Report) 

October 16 - south Puget Sound 
This was just about a mile North of Gig Harbor entrance. Watched for about an hour....
Photo by Kevin Hill, October 16, 2015 
 
October 16 - south Puget Sound
...
Dolphin friend (surfacing next to diving humpback in this photo) was doing flips all around the humback!
Photo by Kevin Hill, October 16, 2015  
 
Fin whale              
October 21  
...we saw a couple humpbacks, the fin whale, a minke, and the cutest harbor seal feasting on a bait ball. Hein Bank.
Rachel Haight

Minke whales             
October 21  
...we saw a couple humpbacks, the fin whale, a minke, and the cutest harbor seal feasting on a bait ball. Hein Bank.
Rachel Haight

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

October 18 
4:07 p.m. - Just saw 2 Minke whales off of Marrowstone Point!
Lindsay Walker
 
Pacific white-sided dolphins              
October 16 
4:30-5:30 p.m.  We spent about 30 minutes watching them (humpback and PWSDs) roll, breach, and investigate boats (including ours). We capture many cool photos, including two that show the dolphin jumping over the top of the whale!
Photo by Cheryl Mikkelborg, October 16, 2015
(Cheryl's full report was included in our October 17th Sighting Report) 

October 16 
Her/his unique dorsal and pec fin notches tell us this is the same dolphin who has been report in south Puget Sound area since at least August of 2014.
Photo by Cheryl Mikkelborg, October 16, 2015 
 
October 16 
Photo by Cheryl Mikkelborg, October 16, 2015  
 
Dall's porpoise             
October 18 
Mom and calf Dall's - Rosario Strait
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 18, 2015 
 
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.