bannernewblack    

Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's (Transient) killer whales
Gray whales
Humpback whales
Visit Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER (LWC)

115 Anthes Ave
 Langley,
Whidbey Island

~~~
Open
Thurs - Sun 11 - 5

Displays, videos, gift shop, lending library
-
To support our ongoing education and outreach 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

March 21,  2016

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.
On the first morning of Spring, J pod came down from the north by way of their customary route in Haro Strait along the west side of San Juan Island.  Many of us enjoyed listening in on their communications on the OrcaSound hydrophone (situated north of San Juan Island County Park) while others reveled in seeing this family as they headed offshore southwesterly. By afternoon Js reached Victoria BC  heading west, seemingly towards the Pacific, but a short time later they flipped, and by early evening could be heard on the hydrophones once again, this time as they made their way back north.

Bigg's killer whales, the T46s spent a few days around Whidbey and could be found by daylight hunting in Penn Cove, Coupeville.

This week gray whales #383 and #49 "Patch" have joined the others (#56, #531, and #723) on their annual migration to the inland waters of the Salish Sea, specifically around Whidbey and Hat/Gedney Islands where they come to feed on ghost shrimp buried  along the shores and shallows of Puget and Possession Sounds, Port Susan and Saratoga Passage.

Two young humpbacks were seen traveling and breaching together (at least for part of one day)  in south Puget Sound and other reports has single whales seen in various places around primarily central and south Sound, perhaps these same two.

In a surprise move, SeaWorld announced it will end their captive killer whale breeding program. Still so many unanswered questions and there is still much work to be done,
but this is for sure a milestone.  We have so much gratitude to all who have followed along with us, not giving up hope these past two decades.

Read more on their announcement in CNN's piece and The Guardians piece .
Also, this great Seattle Times article with Ken Balcomb and Howard Garrett, who have worked for decades to educate the world about orcas in the wild and to end the practice of keeping orcas in tanks.

And more thoughts by Howard:
"I had a chance to answer some questions about SeaWorld and public attitudes yesterday on CCTV. This announcement shifts public opinion even further against captivity by acknowledging that the 50-year experiment of holding orcas for circus acts has failed. That era is officially over now in the public consciousness, and that makes our call to retire Toki the natural next step. Hard to measure exactly how it will help our retirement plan for Toki, or how much, and it's really up to the judge in June, but SeaWorld's about face definitely helps."
Watch the full CCTV interview HERE.


Upcoming Event:
Our annual "Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival" in Langley to honor and celebrate the arrival of Gray whales to Whidbey Island falls this year on Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17th. Come join us for two days of education, celebration , and whale watching. Welcome the Whales Festival is sponsored by Orca Network and the Langley Chamber of Commerce. See our Facebook event page for more details.

Orca Network
Photo of the Day
March 20 
This first day of Spring brings the gift of beautiful J pod.
Photo by Traci Walter, March 20, 2016 
Southern Residents
March 20 
6:10 p.m. - J Pod on Lime Kiln.
Connie Bickerton
-
Today we had our first on-the-water encounter with J pod this year! It was a bit of a dreary Northwest day, but that certainly didn't dampen the excitement. The entire pod was traveling slowly in tight groups near Discovery Island. Lots of social behavior and lots of antics from the new babies! Icing on the proverbial cake!
Katie Jones

Lovely eye patches of tightly grouped J pod family members.
Photo by Katie Jones
, March 20, 2016 

-
Just an incredible encounter with Jpod off Discovery Island. Very tight groups with a lot of surface time, some seasnakes, and lots of baby play. There is something so magical and powerful to see these incredible families and their strong bonds together. As I watched this scene take place, I think to the future. Will they have enough food to eat? What will the year ahead bring these Endangered animals. We still need to talk about Salmon and dam removal! Please remember to call the White house and urge President Obama to remove the lower 4 Snake River Dams.
Traci Walter

 15-month-old J50 Scarlet and her mom J16 Slick
Photo by Traci Walter, March 20, 2016
 

J17 Princess Angeline and her 5-month-old offspring J53
Photo by Traci Walter, March 20, 2016 

J34 Doublestuf swims aside a belly-flopping nearly 4-month-old J54
Photo by Traci Walter, March 20, 2016 


 
An incredible encounter with Jpod near Discovery Island. We also got to observe Ken Balcomb from the Center for Whale Research.  He's been studying these whales for 40 years!
Video by Traci Walter, March 20, 2016
(Footage was taken with a 600mm zoom while abiding the Be Whale Wise guidelines)

-
J Pod today on the West Side of San Juan Island. They went off toward Victoria then turned around and perhaps have headed back. Stay tuned. Here are some pics.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Legacy Charters

Matriarch J2 Granny and L87 Onyx.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, March 20, 2016 

Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, March 20, 2016  

2:30 p.m. - Paul Pudwell in Sooke BC reports: J pod is heading this way...in front of Victoria right now coming west.
-
11:07 a.m. - still hearing echo and S4 calls on OS
10:49 a.m. - variety of calls including S3 calls and echolocation.
10:17 a.m. -  tuned in to OS, start hearing faint echo and shortly after faint vocals, sounds like J pod. Volume of both increases and by 10:25 can hear S4 calls. 10:33 loud echolocation!
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
-
10:12 a.m. - Listening to Orcasound and hearing some very light clicks and one squeal... might be worth logging on soon!
Danielle Vance  

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

March 11 or 12 
(We received this report on the 13th which would make "last evening" the 12th which is when J pod was northbound in Haro and in Swanson channel - waiting for confirmation on dates)
Hi Orca folks.  Last evening. March 11, 2016, we had Orcas by our home, Mouat Point, Pender Island, from off and on, from about 4-8 pm, south to north as usual.
Kathy Gilbert 
Bigg's (Transient) killer whales
March 16 
6:50 p.m. - Hidden beach halfway across the passage. Maybe a baby? About 5 of them.
Penstemon E. Gayfeather
-
Finally found 4 very elusive orca as they left Penn Cove, around 3:50 this afternoon. They started to head northbound from Penn Cove, but then appeared to turn southward ..... haven't seen them since. Long long down-times, 20 minutes plus.... easy to lose them. Am watching Saratoga now, will let you know if they're spotted again.
Jill Hein

T046's today, leaving Penn Cove. Very elusive whales, taking 20+ minute dives, stealth mode.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 16, 2016 
-
3:04 p.m. - They're in Penn Cove! Eastbound northeast of mussel rafts.
Rachel Haight
-
12:15 p.m. - just south of Shangri La Shores. (Shangri-La shores is off Race Road, Coupeville. A bit south of Race Lagoon.) Looked to be group of 5-6 whales. They were about 800-1000 yards off of Whidbey Island's east shore.
Bill Wiegand

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

March 15 
Today I went on my usual whale scouting routine and just as I was driving up to the mouth of Penn Cove, I saw orcas heading in! They made a kill off Monroe Landing and stayed there for almost an hour before heading back out. They made it just south of Fox Spit before turning back north. Such a beautiful day spent with whales! ID'd as the T46s - I've seen them in Penn Cove on several different occasions.
Rachel Haight 

One of the T46's spyhops, backdropped by the beatuiful seaside town of Coupeville.
Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016 

T46s - Penn Cove, Coupeville.
Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016 


T46E - Penn Cove, Coupeville, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016 


Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016

Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016

Photo by Rachel Haight, March 15, 2016

-
5:12 p.m. And there they are to greet me back home in front of woodland beach, just milling.
4:25 mid-channel in front of sandy beach Camano, 4:45 north end of sandy beach. I'm heading home to woodland beach area. Will report if we see them come by. Still slow diving.
4:17 mid-channel, front of Monaco beach, moving very slowly north.
3:39 mid channel, northbound in front of Camano island state park. Just slow diving.
3:24 p.m. - Northbound approaching north end of Bells Beach.
3:04 p.m. - They are between belles beach and Langley. Whale watching boat is tracking them.
Krista Paulino
-
3:15 p.m. - They are now northbound. Just north of Fox Spit.
2:20 they popped up off Fox spit few hundred yards offshore. Headed quickly south. Then another orca popped up 100ft or less offshore quickly moving south trying to catch up. So cool!
1:25 p.m. -  southbound passing Cama Beach, closer to the Camano side.
12:40 p.m. - They look to northwest of Omanac point milling. Not going much of anywhere 12:40.
Rachel Haight
-
12:40 p.m. - Jill Hein sees the four Transients in Saratoga Passage heading south toward Cama Beach.
-
Noon - Mid channel across from Woodland Beach, Camano heading south.
Krista Paulino
-

10:40 a.m. - This was as they (T46's) were beginning to head out of Penn Cove.
Photo by Teri Bozeman, March 15, 2016 

Photo by Teri Bozeman, March 15, 2016

-
10:52 a.m. - I'm relocating but they just left the cove.
9:48 a.m. - Still here in same spot. In between Monroe Landing and Coupeville wharf. 948. At least 4, adult male and a juvenile. Pretty sure they made a kill. Gulls now surrounding them
9:27 a.m. - Orcas westbound in Penn Cove 9:27. More on north side of cove passing Monroe landing now
9:20 a.m. - Orcas!!!! Heading west into Penn Cove now!!!
Rachel Haight

T46's in Penn Cove - "I though I would bring the dog to Monroe Landing this morning instead of West Beach. Thanks to the photographer that was already out there and pointed out the orcas to me."
Photo by Lorenzo Coleman, March 15, 2016 

Photo by Lorenzo Coleman, March 15, 2016  

Photo by Lorenzo Coleman, March 15, 2016  

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

March 14 
4:06 p.m. - A pod of Orcas just past Maple Cove Beach House on Maple Cove just south of Langley. At least 4 orcas headed north.
Debra Rack
Gray whales
March 20 
Nice to see gray whale #383 has returned to Saratoga Passage. He was seen today feeding with #56, just south of Hat Island. Whales #531 and #49 Patch were near the entrance to Port Susan too. Great to see Patch back in our waters, he's been recorded being here locally every year since 1991 (Cascadia Research Collective records).
Jill Hein

#49 Patch!
He was traveling with #531, right at the entrance to Port Susan.

Photo by Jill Hein, March 20, 2016 


Gray whale #383 in Possession Sound.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 20, 2016 
-

Saw #383 today!  About noon, between Everett and Hat Island, we were with #383 and then as we were leaving we saw another one in the distance near Hat Island. Out with Chilkat. Mystic Sea and Redhead had just joined us so they probably got an ID on the other one.
Photo by Janine Harles, March 20, 2016 

Some sort of large whale at West Beach, Whidbey Island at 8:30 this morning, fairly close to shore, trending south, saw several blows and its back but no fluke or easily identifiable parts. (unconfirmed, but sounds like gray - ALB )
Teri Bozeman

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

March 19 
3:19 p.m. - Patch is southbound along the west side of Gedney. We watched him swim right into the middle of a bunch of kayakers. With Island Adventures.
James Gresham

A group of kayakers at the northern end of Gedney Island got quite a surprise Saturday afternoon when Saratoga Gray #49 Patch who had been seen further offshore suddenly surfaced in the middle of the group and decided to hang around while foraging on the bottom. The group did a very nice job of calmly backing up and giving him room.
Photo by James Gresham, March 19, 2016   


Saratoga Passage Gray Whale #531 fluke ID. Along the western side of Camano Island.
Photo by James Gresham, March 19, 2016  

Saratoga Passage Gray Whale #531 along the west side of Camano Island.
Photo by James Gresham, March 19, 2016 

-
1:30 p.m. - Eric from Mystic Sea called to report Gray Whale Sightings today, #531 near Elger Bay and #49 "Patch" near Camano Head, both near Camano Island. #723 between Gedney Island & Everett!
-
12:50 p.m. - Following a gray whale in Saratoga Passage. Seems to be heading toward Camano Head, Hat Island. Lots of blows and a couple of flukes. Hope to have pictures later.
Gail Greenwald
-
12:35 p.m. -  finally caught up with gray whale on ferry from Clinton to mukilteo. Was north of the ferry heading north/NW. Surfacing and diving.
Michelle Goll
-
12:18 p.m. - The grey whale is approaching the clinton ferry lines. Still heading north.
Danielle Pennington
-
Noon - whale near Camano State Park heading southeast, Mystic Sea is on scene.
Marilyn Armbruster
-
Gray Whale #723 heading down on a deep dive.
Photo by James Gresham, March 19, 2016 

11:57 p.m. - With Island Adventures. It's 723.
James Gresham
-
11:05 a.m. - Just saw a whale near Possession Point in main channel. He seemed to be headed north toward Mukilteo. No photos because he caught us off guard. We saw his back and tail before he dove. He came up pretty close to our boat, too! Several whale watch boats.  
Sharon Clark
-
10:38 a.m. -  whale off of east side of Scatchet Head - Chilkat whaleboat nearby. Likely a grey (?).
Stu Davidson
-
10:24 a.m. - She's just south of baby island entrance into Holmes Harbor.
9:38 a.m. - Marilyn is with gray #531 still heading towards Hidden Beach.
9:17 a.m. - Gray heading towards Baby Island. It's at the end of our dock towards heading towards Greenbank. Heading towards Hidden Beach.
Marilyn Armbruster

Gray whale #531 near Baby Island heading north this morning.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 19, 2016 

-
9:13 a.m. - Grey whale in Saratoga passage, near baby island, heading towards Holmes Harbor.
Eric Wittenmeier
-
9:00 a.m. - Gray whale spotted off Fox Spit this morning midway between Whidbey and Camano headed north.
Ann Bockenbrough


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

March 18 
On a beautifully calm sunny day we left Langley and very quickly spotted the spout of our first gray whale. It was #531, just south of Camano Head. Then more spouts to the south - so off in that direction where we eventually found two whales traveling together, #56 and #723. They were feeding along the shallow bank just south of Hat (Gedney) Island. Such a good feeding area for these whales in approximately 25 feet of water. Homeward bound we found something you don't see too often - a bald eagle landed on tree trunk debris in the middle of Saratoga Passage .. we caught him taking off to catch his lunch. A fun day on Mystic Sea, as usual.
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist, Mystic Sea


Gray whales #723 and #56 traveling together south of Hat (Gedney) Island.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 18, 2016 

Water cascades off the top side fluke of gray whale #531 as she goes on a dive between Camano Head and Hat (Gedney) Island.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 18, 2016 

-
3:42 p.m. - Gray whale right by Shilshole.
2:52 p.m. - Gray whale spotted just north of Shilshole headed south.
Mindy Boeher
-
Three gray whales reported by Mystic Sea today - #531 midway between Camano and Hat Island - and #723 and #56 traveling together on the south-east side of Hat Island (1:30 pm-ish). They all appeared to be feeding.
-
12:15 p.m. - I'm above Langley marina and south and a tad northeast of Sandy Pt and north west of Hat Island seeing blows. There are 4 smaller boats out near it.... Im going to drive into Clinton now smile emoticon
Marilyn Armbruster
-
9:00 a.m. -  Gray whale off Columbia Beach (just south of Clinton ferry dock), South Whidbey Island, heading south.
Photo by Tim Anderson, March 18, 2016 
 
**********************

March 17 
4:02 p.m. - He's heading towards bells beach now! Gorgeous!
3:55 p.m. - Moving past Fox spit right now. I got a few pictures but none of the tale quite yet.
Cara Hefflinger

Gray whale diving - Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Cara Hefflinger, March 17, 2016 
-

3:04 p.m. - Happy humans greeting gray whale #531...she is foraging along shore in Saratoga Passage. She was mid channel diving & is now back in front of my neighbors.  (just south of Baby Island, Whidbey)
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

Gray whale #531 on her side, pectoral fin in the air, foraging for ghost shrimp along the shores of Whidbey, just south of Baby Island.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

Gray whale #531 foraging close to shore near Baby Island, Whidbey.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

 - Gray whale #531 -
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

Beautiful head shot of #531 as she forages along the shores of Whidbey Island.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

-
2:59 p.m. - Reporting one Grey, feeding close to shore, just east of Baby Island, heading towards Fox Pit now. No boats to be seen -just me and the soothing, bountiful breath, of an old friend, traveling slowly East.
Nancy Nolan
-

2:50 p.m. - Marilyn Armbruster reports seeing a gray whale between Baby Island and Fox Spit closer to Whidbey side, first northbound and now looking to be southbound towards Fox Spit.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 17, 2016 

-
11:30 p.m. - Some more exciting news that we would like to share with you, Patch #49 is back!  IE4 is on scene right now :) Have a great afternoon and enjoy this beautiful weather!
Jess, Island Adventures

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

March 15
Good Morning, Just wanted to pass along that Captain Carl Williams and Naturalist Tyson Reed on the Island Explorer 4 did ID a new gray for the 2016 season on yesterday's (March 15)  tour.  Photo confirmed shows that #383 has returned. "Just as we reached the end of Gedney island Captain carl spotted a blow, and then another blow, it was two more gray whales. We got in nice and close to them and found out it was #56 and #383 swimming side by side..."
Jess Plier, IA 

Gray whale #383 has returned!
Photo courtesy of Island Adventures, March 15, 2016 

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

March 14 
5:18 p.m. - Two grays (heart shaped blows) between Langley and Camano in Saratoga Passage heading north.
Sarah Malmstead

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

March 13 
The 'fingerprint' underside of #531's fluke.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 13, 2016 

A very blustery and very "rough" day in Saratoga Passage, but Mystic Sea Charters found gray whales #723 and #531 separated by a mile or so, mid-channel and south of Elger Bay, heading south. Photo shows the top of #531's fluke with interesting pattern.
Photo by Jill Hein, March 13, 2016 

-
1:39 p.m. - Yep I have been watching both for 4 hours now. Moving slowly south one is . I can't see Elger bay the point blocks it but will keep my eyes out for it.
Sally Olin
-
12:58 p.m. - Mystic Sea just called our Langley Whale Center to report gray whale #531 near Mabana , close to Camano, and another gray (possibly #723, but unconfirmed) at Elger Bay.
-
11:30 a.m. - Yes saw them blowing at Elger Bay... I didn't see the direction they left towards.
Lorri Garske
-
8:18 a.m. - Actually 2 whales. 2 blows!
8:12 a.m. - Camano Island gray whale between Dana Point and Mabana Heights. Appears to be feeding behavior.
Sally Olin

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

March 12 
Fluke shot of 531.  Newer vertical stripe on right side of fluke visible.
Photo by Ariel Yseth, March 12, 2016 
Humpback whales
March 20 
11:00 a.m. - Juvenile humpack off Brownsville. Friend and I were leaving Brownsville Marina this morning when a juvenile humpback surfaced directly ahead of our vessel. Was alone. Headed towards Agate Pass the last we saw. (Brownsville is on Kitsap Peninsula across from Bainbridge Island)
KC Crowell

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

March 19 
4:00 p.m. - Slow cruising single grey or humpback seen northbound in Colvos Passage at Point Richmond Beach about 200 yards offshore.
Steve R.

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

March 15 
6:02 p.m. - Humpback whale just passed by Harstine Island and under the Harstine Island bridge. Beautiful showing of a huge white fin. Moving slow and deliberate. Sure wish he'd have surfaced a bit more. South toward Squaxin Island. Came from the north.
Gretchen Stewart

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

March 13 
5:00 p.m. - I think I say a gray (humpback) whale in the Nisqually Reach. (humpback based on other sightings/photos and further details from Rosemarie)
I live on Johnson Point outside of Olympia.  My house has a view of the Nisqually Reach from Devil's Head, the Drayton Passage, Anderson Island and down towards the Wildlife Refuge. I watched what appeared to be a young gray periodically breaching while traversing the Reach in the direction of the Nisqually Refuge.  This was around 5 pm, March 13. My first whale sighting.  It seemed as if the whale would shoot perpendicularly out of the water, appear to remain suspended for a few seconds and then lean/topple to the right.  There were at least 4 breaches before I lost sight of the whale. It was during one of the periodic lulls yesterday from the high winds.
Wow!! I hope this is helpful.
Rosemarie M. Robinson
-
3:28  p.m. - Two whales southwest key peninsula heading southeast - multiple breaching ... Two, dark grey with white underside, no defined dorsal. Came straight up, twisted and fell on their backs....Watching from Johnson point looking northeast. Went around Johnson Point, heading to Nisqually region.
Tina Davis
-

Here's the second humpback whale, crustier than the first. They were about a mile away, during a rain squall. Taken from the east shoreline of Harstine Island in the south sound, on Case Inlet. About a mile south of Herron Island.
Photo by Dave Berliner, March 13, 2016 

2:30 p.m. - Spotted 2 whales breaching in Case Inlet near Fudge Point, heading south.
Photo by Dave Berliner, March 13, 2016 
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 [email protected], 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.