Update on satellite tagged Southern Resident killer whale K33 from Dr. Brad Hanson: 21 January Update - As of 19 January K33 (and likely the rest of K pod) had just passed Heceta Head on the central Oregon coast. They continued traveling north such that by the morning of the 20th they were off Tillamook Head. By the afternoon of the 20th they were off Willapa Bay where they turned back south and were again off Tillamook Head this morning (21 January). Map courtesy of Brad Hanson, NOAA-NWFS NOAA-NWFS 2016 Southern Resident killer whale satellite tagging blog

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8-week-old J54 & older sister J46 (Star) west bound in the Juan de Fuca. Photo by Mark Malleson, January 19, 2016   (For Summary Report and more encounter photos see Center for Whale Research Encounter 8 )

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J28 Polaris and her newest calf J54. Great day today south of Sooke, B.C. - Canada with J pod heading west bound. Photo by Paul Pudwell, January 19, 2016

J27 Blackberry westbound south of Sooke, B.C. - Canada Photo by Paul Pudwell, January 19, 2016

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Update on the whereabouts of tagged killer whale K33 from Dr. Brad Hanson. 19 January--On the morning of 15 January, K33 (and likely the rest of K pod) was southbound and had just rounded Cape Blanco in southern Oregon. They continued south over the next two days reaching the southernmost extent of this coastal trip, just north of Cape Mendocino near Arcata, California, on the afternoon of 17 January. They reversed direction and for the last two days have retraced their route and as of this morning (19 January) had just passed Heceta Head on the central Oregon coast. Map courtesy of Brad Hanson, NOAA-NWFS NOAA-NWFS 2016 Southern Resident killer whale satellite tagging blog

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3:40 a.m. -  Resident calls on the Lime Kiln Hydrophone. (J pod per Jeanne Hyde)
Justine Buckmaster

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New Southern Resident Killer Whale Calf Confirmed!
We're excited to announce that NOAA Fisheries killer whale researchers documented a new calf during a research survey with J pod yesterday, January 18, 2016, in Puget Sound. Using photos taken by the researchers, the Center for Whale Research confirmed this is a new calf, designated J55. The calf was in close proximity to both J14 and J37, so we don't know who the mother is just yet, and it may take a few encounters before we know. The calf seems to be just a few days old and in good condition.
This good news comes with some sad news, however. On the same trip we observed J31, a 20 year-old female who has never successfully calved, pushing around a deceased neonate calf. It is estimated that at least 50% of calves do not reach their first birthday, so unfortunately this sad event is not unusual. We're sharing a picture of new calf J55 with this post. (see photo of the day)
NOAA-NWFSC
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5:20 p.m. - Calls on Port Townsend hydrophone, through the ship noise.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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3:43 p.m. - they have passed us (S. Bush Pt) heading north with NOAA boat, leaders should be at Bush Pt. by now, trailing group slowed and was doing some direction changes and foraging-type behaviors.
3:00 p.m. - Looks like the lead group is just off Foulweather bluff now, at the entrance to Hood Canal. NOAA boat still with them, all still heading west, closer to the Kitsap/Jefferson side of Admiralty.
Susan Berta
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2:54 p.m. - beautiful tight group NW bound up Admiralty. They are east of me at the end of limpet Lane. NOAA still with them.
Rachel Haight
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2:24 p.m. - Seeing dorsal fins and blows NE of Point No Point, heading north, with NOAA boat east of the whales.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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2:20 p.m. -  Orcas passing Double Bluff, Whidbey with NOAA. Northbound still, traveling pretty quick and steady. 2:13 p.m. - some passing Point No Point, Kitsap Peninsula. Photo by Connie Bickerton, January 18, 2016

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Members of J Pod came down south today, including the oldest and youngest members of the pod. The oldest, J2 Granny in on the right, as they pass Point No Point, Kitsap peninsula. Photo by Steve Smith, January 18, 2016

J2 Granny (left) tail slapping. Point No Point, Kitsap. Photo by Steve Smith, January 18, 2016 (ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

Photo by Steve Smith, January 18, 2016

2:05 p.m. - Someone spyhops as the pod passes Point No Point. Photo by Steve Smith, January 18, 2016

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1:56 p.m. - At Maxwelton, Whidbey Island and am seeing blows straight east of me. Still northbound.
Rachel Haight
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Last fin I saw was about 1:10 mid channel Eglon/Edmonds about 1/2 mile south of NOAA-NWFSC research boat at the time. Now 1:29 research boat has moved more northwest but still in general area.
12:48 p.m. -  They are spread all across. Some appear to be trending east side if keep current line but others definitelt mid channel and west of. Trailers passing north Edmonds now.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Members of J pod in Puget Sound traveling northbound.  Filmed from the shores of Richmond Beach in Shoreline and Edmonds Marina Beach. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network January 18 2016

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12:50 p.m. - Ariel Yseth sees orcas off Sunset in Edmonds, heading NW toward Admiralty Inlet.
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12:38 p.m. - Orcas heading by Edmonds marina now...heading north!
Julia Wiese
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12:25 p.m. -  Volunteer Vanessa is seeing orcas (possibly 3, one of which is a male) from the Edmonds pier next to the ferry. Still heading north.
Whitney Neugebauer, Whale Scout
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12:23 p.m. - We're spotting 3-5 from the south end of Edmonds off leash park. East of mid channel off Point Wells, Woodway. They're getting closer & we're absolutely giddy!
Tara Bergin
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12:15 p.m. - Looking back at the photos after my phone call. Positive ID for J-28 with one of the groups with a calf off Edmonds beach. Positive for J-17... I had one pic with part of a saddle showing J-17s finger.
Ariel Yseth

J pod members traveling northbound close to shore past Edmonds Marina Beach. Photo by Ariel Yseth, January 18, 2016

J17 Princes Angeline & her 3-month-old offspring J53 -  Edmonds Marina Beach. Photo by Ariel Yseth, January 18, 2016

J47 Notch - Edmonds Marina Beach. Photo by Ariel Yseth, January 18, 2016

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Orca Whale sighting today on Edmonds/Kingston 12:05 pm ferry run. Spotted 3 adults about 10 min before arriving into Kingston.
Deborah Lawrence
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12:18 p.m. -  I am now at Edmonds Marina Beach. Several on this side of channel still south of me. Is Residents, J28, J46 and J54 just passed.
Noon - There are at least 12-15 orcas. Spread across channel, leaders north of Kingston/Point Wells in Woodway. Others at about that location with some still to the south heading this way.  Several closer to me well east of mid channel with young ones. I've seen at least 3 adult males. I am leaning residents.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:44 a.m. -  watching the group from Kingston bluff. They are just south of the mid channel bouy. The male is leading.
Dorothy Rosenbladt
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11:17 a.m. -  Volunteer Colleen is seeing orcas traveling north past Carkeek now.
Whitney Neugebauer, Whale Scout
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11:30 a.m. -  adult male and group transecting RB and Jefferson Head/Indianola steady northbound.
11:20 a.m. - transect south Port Madison and Carkeek, mid channel surface active. Cartwheeling killer whale. Trending northbound.
11:00 a.m. -  mid channel group deems tobhave slowed/stalled. I see action South of Faye Bainbridge west side of channel AND blow east of Faye but north of the others
10:45 a.m. - From Richmond Beach Saltwater Park can see their blows middle Sound transect upper parking lot and Rolling Bay Bainbridge.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:45 a.m. -  Big male just breached between my location and Shilshole Marina, he's closer to westside, last I saw the rest are closer to mid channel.
10:34 a.m. -  I can see them northbound, from Fay Bainbridge. They are line of sight south of Shilshole Marina, mid channel-ish. Seem to be pretty tightly grouped, but too far for a count.
Connie Bickerton

10:30 a.m. - Orcas off the lighthouse at Discovery Park at 10.30am, about 7! Looked like a baby too. Northbound.
Lisa Thompson
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9:10 a.m. - On the Bainbridge ferry, not far from Eagle Harbor-- spotted at least two orcas on the crossing. Halfway down the photo, left side, you can see a fin. Two years on this commute and finally a sighting!
Andrea Ogg
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9:04 a.m. - Maia with WS Ferries relayed a report of 4-6 orcas in the Bainbridge ferry lane, heading north.

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(IDs on both January 17 reports are unconfirmed, but probable J pod since they showed up in central Puget Sound the next morning)

 4:28 p.m. - Orcas out of Edmonds, we saw them from the Edmonds Kingston Ferry. They were headed southwest, closer to the Edmonds side of the route; and there were at least three or four. I only saw one tall, dark fin and maybe 2-3 smaller ones.
Dawn Bennett
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3:57 p.m. - We've been watching a group of Orcas headed north to south close to Edmonds. Four plus in the group.
Jim Finnell 

3:00 p.m. - They are further north now than I can see. I would think at least up around Kingston if they continued to head in that direction.
1:30 p.m. - two humpbacks west of mid channel northbound between Point Jefferson and President Point, Kingston.
Chris Otterson

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Humpback Whales around Sooke, B.C. Today. Photo by Paul Pudwell, January 17, 2016

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10:30 a.m.  - Possible Humpback sighting. We have been watching a large whale breach in Hood Canal. Definitely not an Orca, possible Humpback. We are on the south shore of Hood Canal, 17 miles north of Hoodsport, Mason County near Triton Head. Just south of the Jefferson County line. The whale is across the canal between the center & North side of the canal.
Jenny Langlow  

Saw a grey whale today around 10:30 am south sound. Southern tip of Key Peninsula and Anderson Island. Saw it blow a few times and tail once from about a mile or so away. That's McNeil Island in background looking north. Sorry no tail shots. Between Key Peninsula and Anderson Island. Posted it in the local Key peninsula group and a few responses said it's been in the area since at least last Sunday (January 17). Photo by James Lewis, January 20, 2016

 

Noon - I want to report a large and healthy population of Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) throughout South Puget Sound. I live on my sailboat and I am on the water all the time, and I see pods of Harbor Porpoise everywhere. This individual was photographed off Day Island and Fox Island, south of Narrows bridge, she/he was one in a pod numbering about 15. Photo by James Lewis, January 19, 2016