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Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER (LWC)
Has moved next door
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NEW ADDRESS:
115 Anthes Ave
Langley,
Whidbey Island
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Open Thurs - Sun 11 - 5
Displays, videos, gift shop, lending library-
In order to meet our growth and expanded programs we moved next door into a larger space. To support our ongoing projects you can donate directly to
Orca Network's
Go Fund Me Fundraiser-
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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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Sign up for our
Whale Sighting
or Free Lolita
Email Lists
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| November 24, 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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Sunday the 22nd Ks and Ls were encountered in Juan de Fuca Strait heading towards the Pacific after a two day journey in Puget Sound. At the time of our last report, residents were making their way south in Admiralty Inlet late afternoon on the 20th. We weren't sure at the time who all was coming in, but morning light revealed Ks and Ls off the south end of Vashon Island. They kept a steady pace in spread out groups as they turned north up Colvos and continued through Puget Sound and were heard on the Port Townsend hydrophone on their way out of Admiralty that evening.
Good news update on Bigg's (Transient) male T77A who on November 3rd was seen as possibly entangled in some line and a float. November 23rd, Capt. Jim Maya of Maya's Legacy Charters encountered T77A near D'Arcy Island, BC swimming free with no entanglements!
The same time Ks and Ls were heading north in Colvos on the 21st, a pod of Transients were cruising the inlets further south in Puget Sound and appear to have stuck around.
Humpbacks continue to find what they need to keep them hanging around Point No Point. Three others were encountered in Haro Strait one morning, as were Dall's porpoise who were surfing the bow wave of the Peregrine.
Understanding marine mammals on their terms and in their native habitats helps us understand how incredibly well the natural world has it figured out. We do them, and ourselves a favor when we pay attention and understand our complex web of relations, our connections, and our reliance on the same things to survive. We all need salmon to survive, for the salmon feed the streams, trees, other animals, and the soil. The resident orcas need Chinook salmon to survive day to day. Simply stated, they will not make it many generations into the future If we don't restore Chinook salmon runs soon. So, while we enjoying the time we spend seeing and connecting with them, we also need to spend time taking action that benefits them, wherever and whenever we can. Use environmentally friendly products, help with salmon and other habitat restoration projects, , build a rain garden, ask the President to sign an executive order to breach the four lower Snake River Dams, just to name a few.
Orca Network |
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Photo of the Day
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November 22
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| Wave Walker L88 heading west in Juan de Fuca Strait, near Jordan River, B.C.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 22, 2015 |
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Southern Residents
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November 22
3:00 p.m. - the Ks and Ls seen yesterday in Puget Sound have headed out to the wide Pacific, seen near Sombrio, almost to Port Renfrew.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network- Johnny Berg, Wendy Pinnow and I caught up with K and L pod (minus the L12s) way out west past Jordan River. It was so great to see the orcas again, especially the exotic L54s, and to see Johnny's face as he saw orcas for the first time in his life. Melisa Pinnow |
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Sequim K12 in the Juan de Fuca Strait, near Jordan River, B.C.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 22, 2015
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Marina L47 near Jordan River.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 22, 2015
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| Nyssa L84 near Jordan River.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 22, 2015 |
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L54 and L90 westbound out the Juan de Fuca Strait.
We came across members of K's and L's off of Jordan River on the afternoon of November 22nd. They were moving quickly west bound.
Photo by Mark Malleson
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************************* November 21 - Puget Sound 7:15 p.m. - distant calls and echolocation on Port Townsend hydrophones.Susan Marie Andersson - 4:40 p.m. - A pod just off the south east of Point No Point beach.Stu Davidson - 3:22 p.m. - WSF reported 10 plus orcas at Edmonds headed north in the traffic lanes.- 3:20 p.m. - just watched them from the Kingston/Edmonds ferry. Passing Kingston, still heading north. Pretty spread out. Closer to Kitsap now.Sara Tryoer - 3:16 p.m. - Got some directly in front of Kingston mid channel, north bound very spread out.Elyse Margaret - 3:13 p.m. - See a pod just south of Kingston heading northerly.Stu Davidson - 3:05 p.m. - Still northbound Eglon area. Much closer to Kitsap side.Lance King - 2:55 p.m. - I see blows sw from the Edmonds fishing pier just south of Kingston ferry opening from this angle Michelle Goll - 2:59 p.m. - still heading north. Either abreast, or just south, of Kingston-Edmonds ferry route.2:48 p.m. - large number just south of President Point. half way between western (kitsap) shore and channel marker.2:39 p.m. - off President Pt, moving north, splashing a lot. Heading toward Kingston, west side of mid channel.Joanne Graves - 2:41 p.m. - from Suquamish dock we saw several passing Richmond Beach heading north. Close to Seattle side. One big breach. Sara Troyer - 2:30 p.m. - Blows and commotion in Port Madison at 2:30, come on over orcas! Steve Smith - 2:25 PM. - several Orcas to the west of mid channel off President Point, Kingston heading north at a pretty good speed. They are in small tight groups but the groups are pretty spread out.Chris Beamer Otterson - 2:19 p.m. - They're coming! Jefferson Point (north end Port Madison) Danette Walker - 1:56 p.m. - orcas moving past Golden Gardens, heading north mid channel.Sue Surowiec Larkin - 1:50 p.m. - watching from Faye Bainbridge State Park (looking toward Discovery park) - Seeing blows and a few splashes way off in the distance. Just north of West Point lighthouse now and still moving northbound. Looks like they are traveling closer to the Seattle side now. Lila Pharis - 1:25 p.m. - Yes passing West Point, northbound. Closer to Bainbridge lots of splashing.Jenny Slack - 1:20 p.m. - group of orcas making their way north, approaching West Point lighthouse . Sue Surowiec Larkin 1:15 p.m. - Looks like they're passing Discovery Park. Steadily northbound spread across the channel.Rachel Haight - 12:51 p.m. -Washington State Ferries 5-6 orcas northbound in shipping lanes off Restoration Point.- 12:44 p.m. - Large pod from off Restoration point in ferry lanes heading N moving fast 1/2 mile apart- at least 12Kayla Black - 12:36 p.m. - Large group crossing Bainbridge Island ferry route north bound. Mostly mid channel. Rick Hatten - 12:06 p.m. - watching from Manchester, they are still NB, appear to be closer to Seattle side, in between Bainbridge and Blake Islands. Not yet to yellow buoy - white boat watching them. Brittany Gordon - 12:01 p.m. - Group of orcas are at north end of Blake Island. Watching from Alki pointJill Hadji - 11:43 a.m. - They are active in front of Blake Island. Very close to shoreline and just south of the boats docked at the north end.Krista Larson Billinghurst - 11:33 a.m. - Just watched them from the north end of Vashon, they cleared the passage and are rounding Blake, heading North. Happy orca chasing! Stacie Bennett Caughell - |
| From Southworth ferry dock around 11:30 today.
Photo by Celestia Star, November 21, 2015 |
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| | Photo by Celestia Star, November 21, 2015 |
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| | Photo by Celestia Star, November 21, 2015 |
- 11:25 a.m. - Washington State Ferries reports 5-6 orcas northbound off Blake Island.- 11:21 a.m. - passing between Vashon and Blake Islands, should be visible from West Seattle. Meg McDonald - 11:16 a.m. - (watching from Southworth Ferry dock) They are now north of Southworth, still NB headed towards mid channel (southeast of Blake Island). Lila Pharis - 11:05 a.m. - very spread out just passed Southworth heading north, look to be mid channel and looks to be heading on the east side of Blake Island. Very active 3 breaches right next to Southworth ferry terminal.Brittany Gordon - 10:55 a.m. - The pod of orcas just cleared Colvos Passage...Heading north rapidly, crossed Southworth Ferry lane. Heading northeasterly towards West Seattle!Noreen Ferris - 10:48 a.m. - Orcas just visible northbound from Southworth ferry dock. Approaching ferry lanes steadily.Lila Pharis - 10:46 a.m. - Orcas seen from Southworth heading north thru Colvos...very close to shore at Southworth, multiple breaches. Mama & baby are in the group.BFST - 10:44 a.m. - Orcas are northbound in Colvos Passage, approaching the Southworth ferry dock now, and generally keeping to the west side.Rob Mosley - 10:37 a.m. - Nearing Southworth ferry. (should clear northend of Vashon and be visible from Seattle and Bainbridge in about 30 minutes)
Amy Carey
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K22 Sekiu leads L105 Fluke up Colvos Passage this morning.
Photo by Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography
November 21, 2015
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K22 Sekiu leads L105 Fluke and another family member up Colvos Passage this morning.
Photo by Meg McDonald, November 21, 2015
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K26 Lobo swims against an incoming tide in Colvos Passage this morning.
Photo by Meg McDonald, November 21, 2015 |
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K26 Lobo slaps his tail while swimming up Colvos Passage this morning.
Photo by Meg McDonald, November 21, 2015
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10:03 a.m. - At Peter Point Vashon, close to Kitsap side. In front of Fragaria.
Fiona Hope- 10:00 a.m. - About a mile or so south of the Southworth ferry headed north into a very cold wind. Approx. 20 that I see.9:39 a.m. - Just nearing Cove Walk area on Vashon.9:07 a.m. - Just passing Lisabuela on Vashon.Amy Carey - |
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L88 Wavewalker
9:00 a.m. - Beautiful pod pretty spread out, some enormous males right through Olalla Bay. Best morning ever!
Photo by Kelly Sedgwick, November 21, 2015
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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- 8:52 a.m. - Just had a pod of Orca whales heading north in Colvos passage by Gig Harbor. Rita Walters - 8:45 a.m. - Nearing Lisabuela on west side of Vashon northbound.Amy Carey - 8:06 a.m. - They all headed up Colvos, so close to Vashon side traveling in 4 groups of up to 6 or 7 each, close to Vashon side, I am just losing sight of them now! 7:57 a.m. - Lots and lots of orcas in Dalco Passage, ferry appeared too divert path to get to Vashon, some heading up Colvos and others still in Dalco! Michele Riley Campbell - 7:45 a.m. - Washington State Ferries reports 15 plus orcas off Dalco Pointt, feeding.************************* November 20 I spent the day wandering around Whidbey. I tried to find the orcas in Saratoga. I spotted a male off Hidden Beach for about two minutes, and then I never saw that pod again. I looked all over the place for them too. Then, as I was giving up, I saw a report of inbound orcas in Admiralty. I spotted them at Lagoon Pt, where they slowed down considerably, and appeared to be foraging. I watched the sunset behind the snow covered OIympics as the orcas slowly trended south. It was a beautiful sunny day. Rachel Haight |
| Incoming (southbound) Southern Residents & the Olympic Mountains - Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Rachel Haight, November 20, 2015 |
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| | Photo by Rachel Haight, November 20, 2015 |
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| | Photos by Rachel Haight, November 20, 2015 |
- 2:25 p.m. - WSF reports from Salish ferry on Port Townsend/Keystone run seeing 3-8 orcas headed south in shipping glanes toward Marrowstone Point.
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Bigg's/Transients
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November 24
4:45 p.m. - Spotted four orcas swimming lazily in Pickering Passage northbound on the west side of northern Harstine Island, south Puget SoundPaul Dinnel - 4:15 p.m. - Orcas: Five possibly just came through Pickering Passage about ten minutes ago headed slowly towards Allyn.Mary R Larson - |
| 3:30 p.m. -photo of pod traveling north up the east side of Case Inlet.
2:46 p.m. - Three whales spotted headed North in Case Inlet. Heading toward north tip of Harstine Island, south Puget Sound.
Photo by Jerilyn Evans, November 24, 2015 |
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| I love heading out out with a full boat, and then finding Orcas! In this case, it was a single Orca, T77A. Such good news, since the last time he was seen, he was tangled in some line and a float. NOT TODAY! SWIMMING FREE! Notice the identifying notches in the dorsal fin! Near D'Arcy Island, BC.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, Maya Legacy Charters, November 23, 2015 |
*********************** November 22 - south Puget Sound |
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4:25 p.m. - Distant photos, but for the sake of tracking and documentation, I think this is a Transient male south of the Chamber's Bay Golf Course and North of Steilacoom.
Photo by Belen Schneider, November 22, 2015
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| 4:22 p.m. - I have eyes on them, south of Chambers Bay Golf Course, north of Steilacoom, milling.
Photo by Belen Schneider, November 22, 2015 |
- 3:41 p.m. - it's hard to tell at this point but they're headed towards the south end of McNeil Island.3:33 p.m. - Make that at least 4 next to a jet ski. 3:25 p.m. - At least 2 orcas headed south in Hale Passage heading towards Steilacoom. At least one boat next to them. Towards the southwest end of Fox Island Kelly Lauricella - |
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3:11 p.m. - heading SE towards the Narrows Bridge. They are beside us right now.
2:50 p.m. - Spotted at least five orcas at the northern tip of Fox Island in Hale Passage. Incredible.
Photo by Brent Kobayashi, November 22, 2015
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- 10:20 a.m. - I saw these Orcas passing through at 10:20 AM! I spotted only three and they were headed towards the Purdy Spit and passing by Minter Beach estates! So beautiful. I'm so happy other people got to see them too!! Anne Mae Anderson - 10:35 a.m. - Heading south on west side of Henderson Bay. Glen Cove heading to Lakebay.Sammy Salmon - Ann Frier reports first seeing a few orcas in Henderson Bay around 9:30. And around 9:50 2-3 were moving towards Purdy Spit.************************* November 21 - south Puget Sound 1:00 p.m. - Orcas feeding off Lakebay and Penrose Point (Carr Inlet). We counted at least 6. Wow. Jed Casey - Noon - I was on Rocky Point by Von Gelderen cove near Home WA and saw several Orca (maybe 4 or 5) hunting seals...Henderson Bay. I watched for about 30 minutes, unfortunately I did not have my phone to get pics. They were about 50 to 75 yards out from the bluff. They headed south toward Olympia. Does anyone know which pod they might be? Leila Luginbill - November 21 - NW Whidbey 11:58 a.m. - I'm seeing breaching and lots of feeding action off the west beach of Whidbey Is, traveling North they are south of Smith island right now. I'm .25 miles up from the Hastie lake boat area they are right in front of me, easily seen with the naked eye. Definitely orcas! At least 4. Feeding at the surface, there are lots of gulls taking advantage of the carnage Melinda Killian
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Humpback whales
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November 22 - Puget Sound
12:15 p.m. - Just got to Point No Point and there is at least one humpback.
Michelle Goll
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12:13 p.m. - Michelle Moyer reported 3 whales (probably humpbacks) just south of Point No Point.
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12:10 p.m. - Humpback northbound by Point No Point just now
Doug Hayman
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November 21 - Puget Sound I was waiting at Point No Point, Kitsap for the orcas as darkness fell... They were off in the distance, but I also believe there were four humpbacks in the area as well. There was a pair together, another one a little further north, and then one humpback practically came up onto the beach, it was so close. There was also a breach in another location, I *think* it was an orca, but it was pretty huge, and may have been a 5th humpback. Lots of whales around today!
Rachel Haight
- 3:36 p.m. - Waiting at Eglon Beach and just spotted a humpback!
Elyse Sollitto
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November 21 - Haro Strait |
| The photo was taken from "The Sea Lion"-San Juan Safari's boat-that went out at noon...we found them around 1:30pm, and this photo was taken at 1:48 pm using my iPhone. We didn't see three, but we saw a mother and her calf milling about for about 30-40 minutes in the same area they were reporting seeing the three in the morning.
Photo by Amanda Marie Colbert, November 21, 2015 |
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10:58 a.m. - WA State Ferries called with a report from the ferry Elwha of 3 humpbacks in Haro Strait northbound.
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| One of the three humpbacks encountered in Haro Strait.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 21, 2015 |
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| A second of three humpbacks in Haro Strait.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 21, 2015 |
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| A third humpback, Haro Strait.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, November 21, 2015 |
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8:20 a.m. - at Lime Kiln State Park with Connie Bickerton and Sara Hysong-Shimazu. Connie spotted the blows of a humpback due west, mid channel. We all watched it surface and blow for several minutes before it dove, it surfaced several minutes later at it continued north then went on a dive again. We could not re-sight the whale again.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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Unidentified whales
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November 24 - Puget Sound
11:33 a.m. - Seeing multiple blows - at least ten within a minute, just NW of Point No Point. Guessing humpback.Susan Berta, Orca Network - 10:55 a.m. - Watching frequent blows that look to be north west of Point No Point, as seen from north Edmonds. Blows seem to be a northerly direction - guessing humpback or grey. Stu Davidson *************************** November 23 - Penn Cove
12:25 p.m. - Jenny, at the Mosquito Fleet restaurant in Coupeville, along with several customers, saw a whale surface a few hundred yards from shore, between the beach and the dock at the end of the Coupeville Wharf. From the description it sounds like a gray whale. It was heading east, out of Penn Cove. *********************** November 21 - Puget Sound 2:15 p.m. - saw a couple of whales off President Pt, Kitsap, heading north. I don't think they were Orca whales. (Orca whales came by about 1/2 hour later, the first two may have been humpbacks)Joanne Graves - 1:09 p.m. - whale blow (seems to be a single whale) a mile or so south of Point No Point near Kitsap side. Direction or type unknown at this report. Stu Davidson
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Dall's porpoise
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November 20
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| Dall's porpoise bow riding the Peregrine in Haro Strait.
Video by Jill Clogston, November 20, 2015 |
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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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