bannernewblack    

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
Unidentified whale
Pacific white-sided dolphins
Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER (LWC)
Has moved next door

NEW ADDRESS:
115 Anthes Ave
 Langley,
Whidbey Island
~~~
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
-
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
December 31,  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.
Early this gorgeous winter morning a large number of orcas were reported northbound in Puget Sound off the north end of Vashon Island. Brad Hanson, NOAA/NMFS was able to get out and spent the day with members of K pod as they steadily moved north. By nightfall the pod reached Point No Point exiting the Sound into Admiralty Inlet.

Bigg's T10s showed up near the Victoria waterfront on December 28th.  The Fin whale that was first seen in early September returned and was photographed in Race Passage on the 27th.  Several humpbacks are still favoring the waters of Puget Sound near Eglon, Kitsap County.  A couple of our volunteers share beautiful images, one of which shows a humpback who has been documented regularly since early September!

On a sad note, we include reports of a deceased orca calf and a yearling humpback whale:
A deceased orca calf washed up and was spotted off Ucluelet, Vancouver Island on December 23rd. The Center for Whale Research has said that from the photograph they reviewed, "it doesn't appear that the dead orca belongs to the endangered whales that spend time in Washington state waters." DFO says the 340 lb. female calf had an infection, but are awaiting further lab tests before knowing if a cause of death can be determined, and await DNA testing to confirm the Ecotype of the orca (most likely Transient, Offshore or Northern Resident orca).
Below are several of the most recent news articles:
KVAL.com article
Q13 Fox article
Global News article

A deceased yearling humpback whale was found on a remote beach just north of the entrance to Gig Harbor in south Puget Sound on Friday December 18th. She was towed and to a location and examined by Cascadia Research Collective and MaST. "...While the cause of death was not certain, it was in poor nutritional condition, with thin, dry blubber and little food in the stomach and also a significant number of parasites in the intestines and these may all have contributed to its' death..."
You can see photos and full preliminary report on Cascadia Research Collective Facebook page
and read more in The News Tribune article.

Overall we end 2015 celebrating the birth and lives of the 8 new calves born to the southern residents in the past 12 months, the presence of a fin whale in the inland waters of the Salish Sea, and numerous humpbacks who appear to be moving back home to their ancestral home in Puget Sound.

We want to thank every one of your for the time, contributions,  and skills you bring that are particular to you. Thank you for your continued support of the the Langley Whale Center and all of the work we do to track the whales, and educate and help people connect to the whales of the Pacific Northwest and fight for Lolita's right to one day return home to her L pod family in her natal waters.  It is our connection to the whales, one another, and our sense of home that encourages and motivates us all to make better choices, join resources, restore salmon habitat, and actively advocate on behalf of all marine mammals.
Let's continue to do our best to ensure 2016 is the year an executive order is signed to breach the lower Snake River dams to save endangered Columbia basin wild salmon, the Southern Resident orcas, and a way of life for the people of the Pacific Northwest.

Happy New Year!
Orca Network
Photo of the Day
December 29 
Grace, beauty,  and power...a humpback breaching in Puget Sound -  Eglon, Kitsap County.
Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015 
Southern Residents
December 31 
4:40 p.m. -  Big male passing by Point No Point, steady north bound pace. Beautiful New Years evening!
Susan Marie Andersson
-
3:54 p.m. -  just arrived Sunset Ave north side of Edmonds ferry and pretty easily could see all their blows across the Sound (with binos)...sightline still south of Point No Point..northbound in southbound shipping lanes (so west of mid channel). Appear to be aiming for Admiralty Inlet.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
-
3:25 p.m. -  watching from Elgon. NOAA and orca are visible near the Kingston/Edmonds ferry lanes. Still northbound!!
Brittany Gordon
-
3:55 p.m. -  Many huge splashes from repeated breaches about 1/2 mile south east of PNP.
3:45 p.m. -  looks like NOAA has broken pursuit and heading south - white cabin cruiser still following at a good distance. Orcas North of Eglon heading to Point No Point.
3:33 p.m. -  they are close to line of sight now between north Edmonds and Eglon boat launch
So awesome to see these orcas even at 5.5 miles away!!
3:25 p.m. -  seeing the pod as they approach Eglon area. Still being followed by NOAA and another craft. - they are heading north towards Point No Point.
Stu Davidson

Members of K Pod breaching near Eglon as filmed from over 5 miles away across the Sound in Edmonds.
Video by Stu Davdison, December 31, 2015 

-
2:51 p.m. - Three orcas spotted along ferry course from Edmonds to Kingston. Orcas headed northeast.
Mindy Boehr
-
2:45 p.m. - Family of 3 orcas spotted from the Spokane at about 2:45 pm traveling north between Edmonds and Kingston. Large male, female and possibly young calf.
Anita Marie
-
2:52 p.m. -  group with NOAA is past Point Wells heading north, Kitsap side of mid channel.
2:07 p.m. -  just spotted them from the bluff at Kingston. They are south near President Point, traveling northbound west side of the channel. Looks like NOAA is with them. Hoping they stay on this side.
Connie Bickerton
-
2:39 p.m. -  visible on the far side of the channel from Kayu Kayu park. Heading north.
Ether du Crocq
-
2:17 p.m. - I see them from Marina Beach Edmonds! 2:17 still northbound!
Justine Buckmaster
-
1:59 p.m. - Off President Point, north Kitsap, south of Kingston. Followed by small boat.
Joanne Graves
-
1:30 p.m. - Brad Hanson of NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center is out with the orcas and reports seeing only members of K pod. They were between the north end of Bainbridge and Jefferson Point, still heading north.
-
1:16 p.m. - They just past Fay Bainbridge on the East side of the Sound.
Sarah Henesey
-
12:50 p.m. - They're about 1 mile west of Discovery Park. Spotted from Fay Bainbridge.
Vern Nakata
-
12:09 p.m. - Seeing blows and a breach, well south of Rolling Bay Walk!
Chris Merritt
-
11:25 a.m. - 12+ orcas between Alki and Bainbridge Island, crossing the Bainbridge ferry lane headed north on the Bainbridge side, reported by Jeff Hogan from West Seattle.
-
10:15 a.m. - Last we saw, about 1015, they were still heading north. Closest landmark was Alki Pt. at that time. They were closer to the east shore than the west shore.
9:30 a.m. - We have observed approx. 9 killer whales between Vashon and Fauntleroy at 0930 this morning traveling north in a tight group. There may be more. We will suspend planned vibratory pile driving until we can confirm that all whales have traveled out of our 3.4 mile monitoring zone
Burt Miller, WSF
-
At approximately 0838 PST on 12/31/15, at least eight (probably more) orcas (one male for certain) were seen off Dilworth Point on Vashon Island. Positon was approximately N 47 d 29 m W 122 d 25 m. The orcas were traveling in a north or northwesterly direction at moderate speed.
Rob Piston

*************************
December 30 
(these reports are unconfirmed SRKWs, but K pod was in Puget Sound the morning of December 31st - ALB)

...Orcas at 4pm south of Bush Point...lots of seals. The Puget Sound is generous today! Absolutely amazing day on the water! four kids 8-11 have declared its the best day of their lives. (So do the 40 something year olds!
Melissa Cable
-
4:00 p.m. - Just going by Windmill Heights mid Chanel appears to be 3 adults and possibly a baby going south.
Dennis Allen
-
3:17 p.m. - There's a pod headed south through Admiralty Inlet, due west of Lagoon Point approximately 10 minutes ago. At least 4 members, mostly sticking to the west side of the inlet.
Kendra Sheedy

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

December 20 
Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter 102
...Jane Cogan and Jeanne Hyde called Dave at home to relay a report of killer whales being spotted in San Juan Channel. Dave headed over to CWR and then to Snug Harbor and left aboard Orca at 0940...
...Orca final arrived on scene at 1250 about a mile southwest of the Salmon Bank buoy. Morning Star, who had stayed with the whales and helped Orca get there, reported that all the whales had been together in one group and had recently split up into several groups as they headed slowly southwest. The groups were spread out north to south with the largest group including the J11's, J14's, J19's, J22's, and the J35's. J2 and L87 and the rest of the J17's had disappeared to the south somewhere while the J16's were somewhere to the northwest....

Newest calf J54 and mom J28.
Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, December 20, 2015 
 
Bigg's/Transient orcas
December 28 
Nice day! T010s, from Trial Island to Johnson Reef!
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, December 28, 2015 

Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, December 28, 2015.

Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, December 28, 2015.

-

Around 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. - a small pod of 3 transients ( large male and possible 2 females ) were hanging around Trial Island South Oak Bay... likely hunting the numerous seals/ sealions that hang out there. We watched them for a good half hour before they headed off towards Sidney / Gulf Islands.
Cheryl Thorpe
-

T10B close to Trial Island's shoreline.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, December 28, 2015 

T10B and his mother T10 off Victoria, BC.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, December 28, 2015 

-

T010 & T010C passing by Victoria harbour's Ogden Point breakwater on December 28th.
Photo by Mark Malleson 

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

December 24 
U39 patrolling the Juan de Fuca Strait on December 24th.
Photo by Mark Malleson 
Unidentified orcas
December 30 - BC 
 5:22 p.m. - Too dark to see but just heard some blows off Point Holmes in Comox.
Kelly Strothman

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

December 24 - BC 
4:00 p.m. - One small orca traveling very close to shore. The orca was seen by itself in Malaspina Strait about 5 miles south of Powell River at 4 pm Dec 24th. I spotted it from shore and watched it for about 5 minutes. I would say it was not a calf. Guessing it was about 12 feet long and it's dorsal fin to be about 12 inches tall. I saw no other white markings on it's body when it came up for air. It was in traveling mode for sure and looked to be in no distress.
Dan Robinson 
Coastal orcas
December 30 
  At 1500 we initially spotted 4 orcas. 2 males. 2 females. Then never got closer than ~2 miles. So no photos. But definitely 2+2. They milled around and splashed around over an approximately half mile area for around 20 mins then took off back to the south at 175 degrees from our location on the Pt Arena Lighthouse Peninsula.
Scott Mercer
Fin whale
December 27 
Fin whale  in Race Passage.
This is the same whale that was around McArthur Bank in Summer & Fall.
Photo by Mark Malleson, December 27, 2015   
   
Humpback whales
December 31 
4:10 p.m. - I'm at Maxwelton, looking north toward channel marker bear Double Bluff... Big blows, appears to be a humpback.
Rachel Haight
-
3:16 p.m. - Humpbacks south of Point No Point!
Melissa Cable
-
11:00 a.m. - Humpbacks visible from Eglon boat ramp.
Tracie Jenkins
-
10:22 a.m. - Spotted them straight out from Eglon as we drove in.
Casey Burns
-
9:52 a.m. - Ok! They're here! Probably the few humpbacks being reported the last few days. A bit south of Eglon.  They're pretty active over the last hour, playing in the sun! We can see spouts and tails!
9:15 a.m. - They showed up and are active right now! Spouts, tails, sooooo cool!
Chelsey Gutierrez
-
8:15 a.m. - whale blows spotted about 1/2 mile south of Eglon boat ramp (north of Kingston) - close to Kitsap side as seen from north Edmonds. Unbelievable gorgeous day on the Sound with whales as a bonus! Believe these whales to be the pair of humpbacks we've been lucky to have for a while now.
Stu Davidson

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

December 30 
Humpbacks at 3pm at Point No Point, Orcas at 4pm south of Bush Point...lots of seals. The Puget Sound is generous today! Absolutely amazing day on the water...four kids 8-11 have declared its the best day of their lives. (So do the 40 something year olds!)
Melissa Cable
-
12:30 p.m. - -big blows off Point No Point. Mid channel. 2?
Laurie Arnone
-
Noon - We were at Eglon for about an hour around noon. Occasionally saw spouts, tails, backs. All way out past the middle of the channel on the Edmonds side. And then one magnificent breach where we could see the whole animal followed by a big slash.
Casey Burns
-
8:15 a.m.  - For those on the edge of their seat: The couple of Humpbacks are once again in the north sound today! Spotted them about 1/4 mile south of Eglon's boat launch (Kitsap side - between Kingston and Point No Point).
Beautiful morning overlooking the Sound and especially awesome with whale blows!
Stu Davidson

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

December 29 
3:00 p.m. -  From Point no Point looking south seeing 5 or 6 blows about 5 miles south looking toward Seattle.
1:55 pm. -  watching from Eglon. 2 whales heading west, approximately mid-channel. Maybe more Kitsap side. Saw a breach. Just took a deep dive. We are heading up to Hansville now
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn
-

12:15 p.m. -  whales heading south - east of Eglon - awesome photos today ( at x 5 times further away than minimum distances). Got some fluke shots showing two distinct round white circles on right side.
Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015
(this whale has been encountered and photographed in this general area since early September - ALB) 

Two of the many humpbacks who have been hanging around the Eglon area daily.
Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015 

Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015  

Humpback sounding with Mount Rainier and Seattle skyline in the background.
Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015 

Aerial beauty!  Photo by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015 


 
Sequence of a Humpback whale breaching  just offshore from Elgon (north of Kingston) on the Kitsap Peninsula - Puget Sound - Washington State.
 Video by Stu Davidson, December 29, 2015 

-
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Watched the whales from 10 -11 from Eglon. Plenty of blows, flukes, appears to be more than 3, maybe 5 whales with a calf. Awesome!
Cher Greenlaw
-
8:43 a.m.  - blows from a couple whales (maybe three) about a mile south of Eglon - closer to Kitsap side - as seen from North Edmonds. Likely same humpbacks reported over last several days.
Stu Davidson

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

December 28 
3:04 p.m. - They are between Kitsap and the southwest end of Whidbey. Pretty amazing to watch today. I took this series from Eglon, that is Possession Point at the southeast end of Whidbey in the background, but the whale and boat were much closer to Scatchet head at the southwest end of Whidbey.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, December 28, 2015 

Pec fin in line with the mast...
Photo by Connie Bickerton, December 28, 2015 

Photo by Connie Bickerton, December 28, 2015 

Photo by Connie Bickerton, December 28, 2015 

Photo by Connie Bickerton, December 28, 2015

-
2:30 p.m. - watching several humpbacks from our "Big Eye" scope - they appear to be about due east of Point No Point ... spouting, fluking, and one was just waving its peduncle and flukes around in the air before it dove! Still heading north - so wonderful to have them still hanging around!
Susan Berta, Orca Network
-
2:00 p.m. -  I am at Eglon. They are north, line of sight between Eglon and Scatchet Head on Whidbey. 2 or 3 not really sure, but 3 earlier.
Connie Bickerton
-
1:45 p.m. - Seeing two humpbacks, blows and arched backs, probably east of Eglon, moving east.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
-
1:30 p.m. -  Still watching them, northbound north of Eglon, closely following the current line.
12:57 p.m. - Just found 3 humpbacks a bit south of Eglon, heading south mid-channel, but may be circling and feeding. Visible without binoculars. Strangest sight of the day so far was a pod (?) of sea lions, at least a dozen animals, possibly twice that number or more.
Connie Bickerton
-
12:27 p.m - they appear to be moving more north .. Probably 1/8-1/4 mile north east of boat launch.
12:21 p.m. -  These whales appear to be just offshore east of Eglon boat launch. Viewing still from North Edmonds.
9:43 a.m. - if anybody else is looking for these whales - just re-spotted north side of Eglon.
7:53 a.m. -  blows from several whales (likely humpbacks) between Rose Point and Eglon (Kitsap side). As viewed from North Edmonds.
Stu Davidson

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

December 27 
8:54 a.m. - multiple whale blows (likely humpbacks). - mid point between Point No Point and Eglon. Seem to be moving slowly to the south (move likely just milling about and feeding).
Stu Davidson

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

December 26 
Watched 2 humpbacks from 1:00-2:15pm from Eglon. They were toward the other side of the channel.
Photo by Becky Newell Woodworth, December 26, 2015 

-
9:12 a.m. - after a quick look - I did find a couple (humpbacks) again on Kitsap side south Eglon (just south now of large green lawn near the water). At least two, maybe three?!
Stu Davidson

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

December 25 
2:53 p.m. - Blows seen heading south on Kitsap side about 1/2 mile south of Point No Point.
11:54 a.m. -  Full Breaches, rolls, tail flukes, blows. Quite a display just north west of Point No Point.  As seen from North Edmonds
Stu Davidson
-
9:14 a.m. - I can see them the same area, looking across to Kitsap from my spot on 9th Ave S they are just below a house on the bluff with a green roof.
Tia Scarce
-
8:21 a.m. - these whales seem content in the area I've been watching - just milling about. At least two, maybe three?!! Again, near Eglon.
8:03 a.m. - Christmas whales in north sound! Watching blows from multiple whales (likely humpbacks) on Kitsap side near Eglon. As seen from North Edmonds.
Stu Davidson

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

December 23 
9:58 a.m. - Multiple whales! At least two in the Eglon area maybe three! Moving slowly south.
9:49 a.m. - whale blows spotted Kitsap side near Eglon. Tall blows I believe likely a Humpback.
Stu Davidson

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

December 22 
12:25 p.m.  - Two humpback whales' blows popped up in north Puget Sound, possibly off Lynnwood. At least two are still there. It must be about time for them to head to Maui or Puerto Vallarta for the winter, but they seem to like it here.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network  
Unidentified whale
December 26
About 12:15 p.m. - We were boating in Drayton Passage when a whale breached about 20 feet from our boat. It was either a small fin whale or a minke whale. Drayton passage is in the south sound by McNeil Island. Thanks.
Beth Vandehey
Pacific white-sided dolphins
December 27 
11:00 a.m. - Orca Network just received a report from Charlie on the Southworth ferry of three Pacific white-sided dolphins seemingly foraging just south of Blake Island.
 
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.