bannernewblack    

Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's/Transients
Gray 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

April 12,  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.
Two matrilines of J pod, the J17s and 22s came down Admiralty Inlet on the 7th continuing south making north Seattle by nightfall. It is unclear what happened on the 8th since we started getting reports of several groups in various place in south Puget Sound, some clearly ID'd as Ts, but a large pod showed up in Colvos Passage miles ahead of the others, could this have been Js? The following day (April 9th) much to everyone's surprise and delight, the J17s and J22s were confirmed as the orcas in Holmes Harbor, east side of Whidbey so it was clear they had stayed over, and have stayed ever since. They've spent the past 3 days shuffling up and down the northern part of Saratoga Passage, making several trips to and from Holmes Harbor, and spending much of the day in the harbor. Data tell us there is large forage fish spawn and local word is folks are catching Black mouth salmon; perhaps the Js are as well. They must be finding enough to keep them in such an unusual location.

Adding to the excitement (and identification confusion), we've had an abundance of Bigg's killer whales (mammal eating type) in Puget Sound as well. Three matrilines came together on the 9th cooperating to hunt and kill a California sea lion; the event was over 3 hours long. Their skill, coordinated efforts and acrobatic abilities leave one awestruck.

Continued reports of the returning north Puget Sound grays and a lone gray, probably the emaciate juvenile who entered the locks we reported on last time.


In just a few days we celebrate the returning dozen gray whales who make their annual trek into to feast on ghost shrimp.
Please Join us at our annual Welcome the Whales Festival April 16th & 17th:
Sign up  for our annual Gray Whale watch fundraiser aboard the Mystic Sea, departing Langley at 3 pm on Sunday April 17th. 2.5 hr cruise, we'll be back around 5:30 pm. $75 includes appetizers and beverages. Get your tickets HERE.
And don't miss our Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival April 16th in Langley, more information on our Facebook event page  and on our Website.

Orca Network
Photo of the Day
April 9 
In the late evening light I was blessed with a beautiful pass by the J17s and J22s in Saratoga Passage. I finally got to "meet" J53 and J54!
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, April 9, 2016 
 
Southern Residents
April 11 
8:20 p.m. - They passed northbound at Dines Pt headed straight for Hidden Beach. Continuing to do the east side Whidbey shuffle, fingers crossed they'll be here tomorrow!
Rachel Haight
-
They must have just turned around - I had a message from friends at Honeymoon Bay at 7:39 pm that they saw the whales heading into Holmes Harbor while they were having dinner.
Sandra Pollard
7:39 p.m. -  northbound past honeymoon bay. They must've snuck all the way south and are coming back now.
Rachel Haight
-
I thought you might enjoy these photos from the J-pod visit to Holmes Harbor today.  We had the J17 and J22 subpods in there all day today.  Feel free to post them on the orca network email list.  What a fascinating surprise to have residents in Holmes Harbor, and I'm still scratching my head a bit wondering what their purpose was?  They seemed to be resting, socializing, playing, and just wandering around during our two visits with them on the Island Explorer 4 today.
Bart Rulon

J34 breaching in Holmes Harbor, east Whidbey Island.
Photo by Bart Rulon, April 11, 2016 

Photo by Bart Rulon, April 11, 2016

-
4:49 p.m. - Small pod heading north of us as of now... About 4-5 of them going very slowly. We are on Saratoga Passage about 4 miles north of Greenbank.
Marie Gill
-
4:30 pm - we left the orcas at Hidden Beach, heading north again in Saratoga Passage.
Sandra Pollard
-
2:45 p.m. -  Orcas are headed south in Holmes Harbor again! Assuming it's the J22s and J17s again, just reported passing Dines Point at the top of Holmes Harbor, heading south toward the golf course. Two babies were seen. That makes twice into Holmes Harbor again today.
-
2:22 p.m. - We are leaving them heading south into Holmes Harbor. Renee Beitzell

J22 Oreo takes a look around.
Photo by Janine Harles, April 11, 2016 

J47 Notch, J46 Star, & J28 Polaris.
Photo by Janine Harles, April 11, 2016 

-
2:00 p.m. - Looks like they're heading into Holmes harbor again, just now passing Baby Island.
Jill Hein
-
1:45 p.m. - Hidden Beach  J17s and 22s and a Bald Eagle.
Photo by Ariel Yseth, April 11, 2016 

Love seeing my birthday buddy J-53 emerging from winter looking so robust.
Southbound Hidden Beach.  
Photo by Ariel Yseth, April 11, 2016

J38 Cookie has done a lot of growing up. From Hidden Beach 1:45 pm today.
Photo by Ariel Yseth, April 11, 2016 

-
1:00 p.m. - J pod passed by Shangri La shores going north and south, very close pass each time. Here they are heading northbound.
Rachel Haight, April 11, 2016 
-
12:51 p.m. - So many breaches going on! Still south of Race Lagoon. Orcas turned and heading slowly south. Just offshore from a building that has written "Whido-isle".
12:28 p.m. - lots of breaches, spy hops, rolls on back.. They seem very content!. Still slowly moving north.
Stu Davidson

12:04 p.m. - they passed northbound close to dock off Shangri La.
Rachel Haight
-
11:54 a.m. - they (about six) are slowly moving north. Somewhat long down times close to shoreline Whidbey side near Race Lagoon
11:39 a.m. - Got them! They are just south of Race Lagoon.
Stu Davidson


Forward breaching and spitting water.
Great day boating up in the North Puget Sound today! Found the Southern Residence Orca J Pod up near Holmes Harbor (East Side of Whidbey Island). This is how to see orcas, wild and free!

Photo by Stu Davidson, April 11, 2016
(See Stu's photo album HERE) 

...and back flipping.
Photo by Stu Davidson, April 11, 2016 

Forward breach. The hover before the belly flop.
Photo by Stu Davidson, April 11, 2016 

-
9:45 a.m. - Got confirmation that they were by the honeymoon bay spit 30 mins ago, but no direction of travel.
Emily Wandres
-
8:40 am - 3-4 orcas seen travelling south in Holmes Harbor again this morning, passing Honeymoon Bay.
Joann Peterson.
-
7:56 a.m. - Just saw them pass by Hidden Beach. May be on their way into Holmes Harbor again?
Nancy Culp Zaretzke
-
5:30-6:30 a.m. - Half a dozen at least orcas headed south from Penn Cove. Spent a while in front of the house. Saw a spy hop for the first time in real life. Very active....this is day 3 we have seen them back and forth through here.
Lauren Johnsen

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

April 10 
We first saw the J17s and J22s coming up to the north end of Holmes Harbor just south of Greenbank around 2 pm. They were pointed north when we saw them but not going anywhere, just logging and spyhopping. Within minutes they turned south and headed into Holmes Harbor for the second time today and where they were yesterday, but where Residents are very rarely seen. We went a few miles south and stopped at Holmes Harbor Vista and watched them pass slowly, continuing southward. We then went to the Holmes Harbor golf course and out on the floating dock just as they came by within 30' of the dock, again slowly, staying close to the surface. They got to between the golf course and the town park, where the depth drops to just a few feet over the mudflats. They continued logging and spyhopping in tight groups for about 20 minutes, then they slowly meandered back northward. We headed back north to the Holmes Harbor yacht club and saw them pass by, still going very slow, for another twenty minutes, then went back to where we started just south of Greenbank, and watched them move slowly northwest toward the beach into very shallow water before turning northward. We then went up to Hidden Beach, just north of Greenbank, and watched as they moved at only a slightly faster pace, northward toward Penn Cove about 6 pm. All members of both matrilines were present and no new babies were seen. Lots of blackmouth salmon, which are the non-migratory Chinook, were reported to be in Saratoga Passage, so possibly they are finding plenty to eat, but they didn't seem to be foraging. Instead they were in tight clusters, intensely socializing the whole time. I won't even venture an explanation of their bizarre behavior.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
-
Incredible encounter with the J17's and J22's in our immediate neighborhood, Holmes Harbor, Freeland. Delighted to see Susan Berta, Howard Garrett, Wendy Berta Sines, and the intrepid Haight family, Rachel Haight, Josh Haight and  daughter Lily, enjoying land-based whale watching from the dock.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 10, 2016 

-
The J17s and J22s delighted us by coming close to shore, traveling all the way into Holmes Harbor and back out, past Greenbank, then they headed north up Saratoga Passage after we left them. What a great day, and getting to see two of the new babes!
Photo by Susan Berta, April 10, 2016 

The volunteer Haight family and J pod.
Photo by Susan Berta, April 10, 2016 

Photo by Susan Berta, April 10, 2016 

-
What a day! Again, I started the day at Hidden Beach and ended at Hidden Beach. Except today, J pod went back and forth in Holmes Harbor multiple times. They passed close by Dines Point several times and had an incredibly close pass by at the dock at the Holmes Harbor golf course. We also saw an osprey catch a fish, have an eagle chase it, causing the osprey to drop the fish, the eagle tried to get the fish but didn't; two more eagles flew in, and two of them locked talons. No one got a fish, but this moment made me forget about orcas altogether (for a split second!), such a unique sight to witness! It was another beautiful sunny day spent with J pod and orca loving friends. Perfect
Rachel Haight

J35 at Dines Point, Holmes Harbor, Whidbey.
Photo by Rachel Haight, April 10, 2016 

-
J17s and J22s in Holmes Harbor. It was a beautiful visit with spyhop happy babies (and adults) and beautiful Star (J46) here breaching.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, April 10, 2016 

-
7:50 p.m. - Some of J-pod came back up north this evening. Around 7:50 pm I saw dorsals going by my house, northbound. Dashed out,  saw them again north of Harrington Lagoon, but lost them - and it was getting pretty dark too. Just now checking my few photos and see J-34 Doublestuf, J28 Polaris with J54 and 3 other whales. So exciting, maybe we'll have them 3 days in a row?
Jill Hein
-
7:00 p.m. - Just watched a large group of Orcas (LOTS of babies) heading north from our place... We are on Saratoga Passage about 4 miles up from Greenbank. The Orcas are headed towards Coupeville.
Marie Gill
-
6:34 p.m. - Still watching J22s and 17s, just left Holmes Harbor and now at Hidden beach heading north up Saratoga Passage.
Susan Berta, Orca Network
-
6:29 p.m. - Just south of Hidden beach northbound.
Rachel Haight
-
5:22 p.m. - They're back up to Dines Pt and heading north of anyone's still following.
Dan Gulden
-
5:00 p.m. - I just had a profound encounter with J-17's in Holmes Harbor, will share photos later, they were down all the way by Freeland and very slowly headed North.
Steve Smith
-
4:18 p.m. - Watching Orca pod in Holmes Harbor, came in very close to old golf course dock. Baby and 6-7 more.
Susie Richards
-
3:28 p.m. - They're South of Honeymoon Bay moving south toward Freeland now.
Dan Gulden
-
3:23 p.m. - I have been watching them going back and forth from Dines Pt to Honeymoon Bay, I am across Holmes Harbor at Baby Island.
Marilyn Armbruster
-
3:01 p.m. -  At least 4 just north of Honeymoon Bay.
Lori Christian
-
2:14 p.m. - It is very odd. They turned back north again now slowly passing Honeymoon Bay
1:46 p.m. - They went back south, deeper into Holmes Harbor
1:00 p.m. - pod urned back north just north of Honeymoon bay
Rachel Haight
-
1:10 p.m. - They are breaching big time in Honeymoon Bay. We are few miles away and with naked eye amazing!
Marilyn Armbruster
-
12:50 p.m. - saw blows in Honeymoon Bay. Not able to tell the direction except when the whale watching boats move, but they had been heading into Holmes Harbor.
Cindi Bowen
-
12:16 p.m. - Dines Pt. Southbound.
Lori Christian

12:25 p.m. - J22s and J17s south bound in Holmes Harbor coming up to Honeymoon Bay.
Eric Rosemore
-
12:21 p.m. -   Orcas heading into Holmes Harbor in north side passing Dines Point, southbound.
Michelle Goll
-
12:09 p.m. - Looks like they're going to make a close pass by at Dines pt. still southbound
11:38 p.m. - Appears to be J pod going the same route as yesterday. At the entrance to Holmes Harbor.
11:06 a.m. - At Hidden Beach. Orcas north of me southbound and close to shore
Rachel Haight
-
11:03 a.m. - They just passed the Whidbey side shore east of where Houston Rd turns south into North Bluff Road. They were heading south at a good clip.
Scott Price
-
10:20 a.m. - Multiple orcas; males, females and baby. Very active. Jumping out of the water. Headed south from Penn Cove
Lauren Johnsen
-
10:01 a.m. - 7-8 orcas off Harrington Lagoon again (Saratoga Passage just south of Penn Cove). About mid passage, now heading south.
Erik Anderson

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

April 9 
J-34 Doublestuf , watching from Shangri La Shores over towards Camano Island, water was magical, so calm...this was around 6 pm.
Photo by Marilyn Armburster, April 9, 2016  
-

In the late evening light I was blessed with a beautiful pass by the J17s and J22s in Saratoga Passage. I finally got to "meet" J53 and J54!
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

Polaris (J28) and her newest kiddo, J54.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, April 9, 2016 

Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, April 9, 2016 

-
Day report and photos: Incredible to see the J-17s on the EAST side of Whidbey Island!!! (slowly moving north from Greenbank Farm). At first we assumed they were transients, but after closer looks at open saddle patches, and especially J-28 Polaris's notched dorsal fin, it was obvious. They were leisurely spy-hopping numerous times, gliding through the glass smooth late afternoon spring sunshine. What a thrill to see them, and of course, the darling babies! (all taken with a 300mm lens and cropped)
Bonnie Gretz

Lots of lovely spyhopping.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, April 9, 2016 

J34 Doublestuf.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, April 9, 2016 

-
Day report and phtos: Today was spent chasing J pod up and down the east side of Whidbey - I followed them from noon until just before 8pm. I spotted them at Hidden Beach where they went deep into Holmes Harbor, then traveled north all the way to just south of Penn Cove, last seen at Hidden Beach headed south. I ran into so many orca loving friends along the way, I laughed so much, enjoyed the sunshine, and closed off the night enjoying dinner with beer and friends. Just another day on Whidbey.
Rachel Haight


One of the males of J pod in Holmes Harbor, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Rachel Haight, April 9, 2016 

Members of the J17s and J22s in Holmes Harbor.
Photo by Rachel Haight, April 9, 2016 

-
Day report and photos: What a dilemma - with whales reported on the west side of Whidbey and then on the east, which way to go? Opting to follow up on the Orca Network report of whales heading south in Saratago Passage on the east side, the day took on many twists and turns. Tracking them proved difficult as they went deep into Holmes Harbor, but they were visible fleetingly at 2:15pm from our doorstep (a rarity indeed). After turning back towards Baby Island, the whales headed north in Saratoga Passage, passing Hidden Beach around 3:30 pm accompanied by Mystic Sea, who observed they were with possibly 11 members of J pod . Spy-hops, breaches, and logging behaviors were all seen from shore as the whales moved in leisurely fashion north in calm, clear conditions between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, until eventually disappearing from sight in the distance. A truly amazing day to have Southern Residents so close to home.
Sandy Pollard (photos by Richard Snowberger)

It's all about family... J pod Southern Residents in Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island
Photo by Richard Snowberger, April 9, 2016 

Sweet spyhopping duo. Curious members of J pod in Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Richard Snowberger, April 9, 2016 

-
7:34 p.m. -  J pod is southbound, north of Hidden Beach.
Rachel Haight
-
6:21 p.m. - 5-6 orcas meandering mid passage off Harrington Lagoon!
Erik Anderson
-
6:10 p.m.  -Sammye Kempbell just relayed a report of orcas in Saratoga Passage, heading north less than a mile south of Penn Cove.
-
5:16 p.m. - Orcas spyhopping, Saratoga Passage staying by west side very visible from Camano by corner of Lactrup and SW Camano Drive. Lots of splashing.
Jim Krannich
-
5:04 p.m. - UPDATE: we've been watching this pod all day... They have been just yards away from us. As I type this, we are watching the family of 6 breech, surface, leap out of the water, swim acrobatically in front of us. Truly the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
Marie Gill
-
5:04 p.m. - Yes we are across from Cama beach on whidbey quite a show spying flopping etc
Aaron Gill
-
4:50 - Ken Balcomb relayed are report from Mystic Sea via Island Adventures of J pod orcas heading north toward Penn Cove, toward Deception Pass.
-
4:49 p.m. - Eric from Mystic Sea Charters reported approximately 10 Orcas, J Pod near Baby Island, East Whidbey
-
4:32 p.m. - They are logging out. Like they truly look like logs, not moving at all. North of hidden beach mid channel.
4:11 p.m. - Mystic sea is with them. Passing hidden beach northbound.
Rachel Haight
-
4:30 p.m. - Hidden Beach sighting. Heading north.
Evan Escamilla
-
4:00 p.m. - Thanks for the update. We found them 6 miles north of Greenbank.
Ron Reeves
-
3:45 p.m. -  we're at Hidden Beach park and they are a bit south, there are 2 boats watching them.
Cynthia Welte
-
3:34 p.m. - Seeing them now from Camano state park. North of Baby Island
Pam Ren
-
2:42 p.m. - northbound passing honeymoon bay cottage now
2:24 north of golf course in Holmes Harbor. Appear to have made a kill. Milling, circling, spy hopping. Group of kayaks near them.
Rachel Haight
-
2:10 p.m. - Orca pod (9?) cruising, headed past honeymoon bay towards Freeland, Whidbey.
Teri Reiger
-
1:41 p.m. - They look like they're just north of Dines point, close to shore.
1:28 southbound pass Wonn road now. Seem closer to west side of shore.
1:07 p.m. - Orcas south of Hidden Beach moving south into Holmes Harbor.
Rachel Haight

1:15 p.m. - Our neighborhood was abuzz this afternoon about 1:15 pm when these lovely creatures swam into Holmes Harbor, traveling south.  We could hear pronounced exhalings from our vantage point, Honeymoon Bay vista.  The 4 or 5 animals were moving quickly.
Joanne Peterson

A member of J pod in Holmes Harbor, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Joanne Peterson, April 9, 2016 


1:00 p.m. - Greenbank- At least 6 Orcas heading south, Hidden Beach. Close to shore. Penstemon Gayfeather.

12:45 p.m. - They were headed south from our place (we are north of Greenbank (about 3 miles).
10:30 a.m. - Watched this pod head north off our beach in Saratoga Passage. Just now, we saw the same pod head south towards Holmes Harbor. Incredible! See VIDEO
Marie Gill

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

April 8 
(unconfirmed SRKW, but J pod was in Saratoga  next morning April 9)
We received a call from Finn Gatewood of Whidbey Island, who at 7:15 pm was in the lobby of WICA (Whidbey Island Center for the Arts) in Langley, and saw some whale activity out the window. Judging from the behavior and number of whales, she believes it was an orca pod, and they were heading north up Saratoga Passage.
-
2:45 p.m. -  Langley Whale Center volunteer Shari Devlin reports seeing several Orcas from Possession Beach, S. Whidbey Island. Mid channel, no direction given.
-
Two reports relayed by Renee Beitzell from boaters at Edmonds Marina of a pod of orcas in north Puget Sound at approx. 11:20 past Possession Point. Neither reporting party gave details as to which way the pod went, up Admiralty or up Possession Sound towards Mukilteo/Clinton.

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

April 7 
(couple of late reports on the J17s & 22s reported on in our last report)
 
7:20 p.m. - Pod of Orcas headed South, straight out from Richmond Beach in Shoreline.  They were approx. a mile or so east of Port Madison.  Maybe 8 or more and at least one male.  They were headed south and definitely looked like they were following a school of fish or something.  Lots of surfacing and diving with a larger group out front and one or two several hundred yards back sort of taking up the rear.
-
1:00 p.m. - 5 or 6 Orca's traveling South, between West Beach and Smith Island. Watched for near an hour off Bluff on West Beach and Fort Nugent Road.
Sanda Blondin

Bigg's killer whales/Transients
April 11 
8:00 p.m.  - Two small groups of orcas headed north past Point No Point, up Admiralty Inlet.
Patty Michak.
-
Noon - We had a report of three orcas southbound seen from a Bremerton ferry around noonish.
Tracy Record, WS Blog
-
8:05 a.m. - 6 orcas including a calf, 1.5 miles off Pt. Edwards, Edmonds, WA this morning, heading north at the time.
Tony Wilkes

***********************
April 10 
5:00 p.m. - Killer whales in the sound spotted from ferry Kaleetan out of Bremerton just now! Traveling northwest toward Bainbridge but didn't follow for long enough to see overall direction of travel. If I had to guess, west/farther in! (pod was off Restoration Point, heading what looked to be towards Rich Passage)
Haley Sochia
-
11:30 a.m. - On the ferry. Saw them just north of the ferry route. Mid channel breaching. Edmonds
Sarah Hanke
-
11:20 a.m. - update pod of approx 8-10+? still powering southbound mid channel out from Edmonds ferry dock transect just north of Apple Cove Pt, Kingston. Difficult to see in chop. I need to leave...good luck.
11:00 a.m. - from Ocean Ave Edmonds they are still southbound transect Eglon, Kitsap.
10:30 a.m. - Pod is southbound due west of Haines Wharf, north Edmonds. Mid channel.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
-
10:17 a.m. - hey are moving at a good clip now. Mid channel trending SW at least 1/2 mile south of Possession Point.
Nicole Woltersdorf
-
10:10 a.m. - from south Mukilteo spotted the pod southbound at green buoy off Possession Point.
Pam Ren
-
9:45 a.m. - We are at Possession Point and they are heading south. Still north of us now.
Danielle Pennington
-
9:28 a.m. - Sandra Pollard called in a sighting from Possession boat launch, seeing orcas coming from just past the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes, much active breaching and fast travel.
-
9:27 a.m. - can see major splashing from orcas !! Look to be on east side of south Whidbey north of Possession several miles, hard to tell direction just see lots of splashing .. And blows !! This from north Edmonds
Stu Davidson
-
7:40 a.m - Large pod (including 2 large males) feeding 1 mile south of Clinton ferry. Circling for last half hour.  There were 2 big fins and a fair number on real small ones. They were feeding off our neighbors buoy in 5o feet. Stayed a long time circling. Did see a large flash of red something on side of one larger ones....They came up as a group, similar to bubble feeding of humpbacks. Wierd action. Tail slapping in tight group.
William Couch

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

April 9 - Admiralty/Puget Sound 
Just thought you might like to know that I was able to identify the T36A pod, T137 pod, and T99 pod traveling south of Possession Point this afternoon 4/9/16. They terrorized a California sea lion in dramatic fashion!
Bart Rulon, Island Adventures
-
7:00 p.m. - A pod of 12-15 orca whales was seen from a house on vista del mar in north Edmonds off oylmpic view drive about 3 miles from shore. Watched them coming up in groups nose up probably feeding, doing tail slaps and even some full breaches. Watched though a spoting scope so much easier to see and count then the sighting ( which likely was the same group) that was seen from shoreline on Thursday. With tight grouping coming up this time with ten coming up for air all together. Watched for 45 min then sped off north...Feeding and playing then traveling at the end
Jared Mitts
-
6:50 p.m. - Pod headed north mid channel banking toward Admiralty Inlet. From overlook park in Edmonds.
Ariel Yseth
-
6:30 p.m. - Ts continued finishing off their meal, making it as far south as Apple Cove Point. Eventually drifted back northward, gulls scooping in picking up scraps. Slow progression north, I continued watching until approx. 6:30, where I left them closer to mid channel last a bit north and out from Eglon, Kitsap. Unclear at that time if they were heading towards  Admiralty or Possession.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
-
6:04 p.m. - Small grouping of orcas seen w/ binoculars from north of Edmonds ferry terminal heading north-ish- appeared to be close to shore across from Edmonds
Jennifer Love-Talley
-
5:25 p.m. - Ts still circling and surface active though not as vigorous. Off of Apple Cove Pt. just north of Kingston. West of mid channel.
4:20 p.m. - appears at least a dozen still active on a kill. Tail lobs/throws, breaches, lunging, circling. Ritual of kill is so intense. Still south of Eglon, west of mid channel as viewed from Sunset Ave in Edmonds.
3:40 they must be on a kill.. full out of the air flying orca!!!
3:15 p.m. - See orcas movin good pace southbound in southbound shipping lanes near Eglon.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

 
T36As, T99s, & T137s hunting a CA sea lion in Puget Sound off Eglon. 
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
April 9, 2016 
 
-
4:00 p.m. -  incredible breaches one after another !! Still stalled south of Eglon
3:41p.m. -  lots of activity! Breaches etc! Boats nearby - maybe on a kill?!!
3:38 p.m. - the pod seems stalled out just south of Eglon.
3:20 p.m. - pod moving south close to Kitsap side near Eglon.
Stu Davidson

 
T36As, T99s, & T137s hunting a CA sea lion in Puget Sound off Eglon. 
Video by Stu Davidson, April 9, 2016 

-
1:40 p.m. - finally caught sight of the orcas in south Admiralty Inlet, looks like they are hunting/foraging, about 6 miles SE of Bush Pt, between Point No Point and the green buoy. Have seen them heading both directions.
Susan Berta, Orca Network
-
12:47 p.m. - At the Limpet lane public beach, (This is the access off of south mutiny bay - off of ebb tide road on the map) watching them - definitely mid channel, still moving quickly south with lots of activity. Seems to be two pods, or one split a part?
Emily Wandres
-
12:45 p.m. - They seem to have gone around Useless Bay and possibly headed toward Possession Point.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
-
12:10 p.m. - Entering Mutiny Bay
12:01 p.m. - Orcas heading south at the north edge of Mutiny Bay. Maybe 5? Two babies, either 1 or 2 mamas. Another teenager out front. And possibly another group ahead that went around the bay and out of sight. Moving with purpose.
Nicole Bravo
-
11:05 a.m. - Jan Bell reports hearing blows in the fog off Bush Point, about 2 minutes apart, sounds northbound? At least two.

April 9 
Trincomali Passage, opposite Montague Harbour Sat. April 9, 3:00 PM
Photo by Peter Mcallister, April 9, 2016 

Photo by Peter Mcallister, April 9, 2016  
 
-

Transients in San Juan Channel, 3 pairs of transients moving south to north for about 2 hours, apparently hunting.
Photo by Richard Carter, April 9, 2016 

A lovely day yesterday, after the fog with T18s.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, April 9, 2016
 

-
11:52 a.m. - Heard them on OrcaSound,  a couple calls too.
11:46 a.m. - Hearing them again on Lime Kiln now.
Traci Walter
-
11:16 a.m. - after period of silence calls resume.
10:54 a.m. - just turned on Lime Kiln hydrophone and am hearing Transient vocals.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
-
10:40 a.m. - Zack Homer reported a pod of about 7 orcas off Discovery Island, BC.

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

April 8 
T123A in Boundary Pass while with the T49As and T123s.
Photo by Katie Jones, April 8, 2016 

-
We encountered the TO49A's and TO123's again yesterday, near Java Rocks. Here you can see TO123A, a big bull male, hunting for Seals right at Java Rocks and some nervous looking Seals nearby!
Photo by Andrew Lees, April 8, 2016 
-

April 8  -  south to central Puget Sound 
7:00 p.m. - We saw a whole pod going from south to north on Friday 4/8 sunset sail out of Seattle Sailing Club. Mouth of Elliott Bay.
Photo by Faran and Erin Kaplan, April 8, 2016 

-

6:00 p.m. - Had 3 or 4 orcas surfacing off our bow on the way back to Shilshole this evening around 6pm. We watched them for a few minutes but they were quickly making their way north.
Photo by Christ Cotton, April 8, 2016 

Photo by Chris Cotton, April 8, 2016 

-
4:07 p.m. - Large group of T's ~ 10 at the north end of Bainbridge. Very active at the surface and trending north. Seen from S/V Orion.
Kevin Campion
-
There were some Anderson Island residents that reported seeing orcas while on the 2:10 ferry that gets to AI at 2:40, so it sounds like a group was in Chambers Bay sometime around then.
Belen
-
2:00 p.m. - Spotted a pod of 6-8 orcas in Colvos Passage today off Peters Point, Vashon. Pod was moving north at a steady pace.
Mike O'Connor
-
1:10 p.m. - Definitely saw a group that was farther north in Colvos. Passed Cove Motel  headed north fast. I am now waiting on north end of Vashon
Amy Carey
-
1:00 p.m. - Three or four orcas traveling north on Colvos passage near north point of Vashon...One is a small juvenile. Always a pleasure
Tim Ferris
-
12:30 p.m. - Orcas in Colvos Passage. My kids and I saw the pod (5?, including 1 adult male) come thorough today.
Photo by Jonathan Summit, April 8, 2016 
-
12:20 p.m. - A pod of about 15 orca sighted @ Pt. Richmond Beach, Gig Harbor, going north, moving fast.
Joyce Winge
-
12:17 p.m. - 5 to 6 orcas between sunrise beach and Vashon heading North.
Ute Brindl
-
11:21 a.m. - Pod of 6-7 Orcas north of narrows bridge heading north towards salmon beach. They are having FUN!
Andrea Reubel Walker
-
Whales sighted and they looked like one of the Transient Pods off McNeil Island in South Puget Sound this morning at approximately 10:15 AM. I was on the Pierce County Ferry Steilacoom II heading to Anderson Island. The Ferry crew said the Whales were in Steilacoom earlier then went to the Anderson Island Ferry dock area and we saw them heading back towards Steilacoom and Chambers Bay area from a Distance. Pictures by Robert on Anderson Island. Looks like # 2 might be a Baby Whale?
Bob Lyden


Photo by Bob Lyden, April 8, 2016
 

-
9:40 a.m. - Orca watchers... Pod in rounding the island. If you go to the ferry dock look to your right. Pretty close to the island.
9:05 a.m. -  There is a pod of orca whales headed your way (southbound toward Anderson Island). In between Fox and Ketron right now.
Belen Bilgic Schneider relayed from the Anderson Island group
-
9:00 a.m. -  4-5  Orcas (including 1 adult male) traveling off Fox Island.
Photo by Daniel Nilles, April 8, 2016 

-
9:00 a.m. - Orca sighting at Talovia Sholes, south of Tacoma Narrows Bridge,  7 Orcas!! Travelling south.
Lisa B
-
7:15 a.m. - I spotted a small pod of Orcas this morning! I saw them from my home.  We live on the cliff just north east of the Tacoma Narrows bridge.  The pod this morning was heading south toward the bridge.  They were in the center of the channel. 
The pod was right in front of our home when I first spotted them.
Mary Lindgren

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

April 7 
Yesterday (April 7th), two groups of Transient Orcas, the TO49A's & TO123's near James Island. They had first been reported being spotted earlier in the day near Darcy Island from shore but had given the first boats the slip. Sidney Whale Watch picked them up near Halibut Island in the afternoon and they traveled south throughout our encounter!
Andrew Lees, Marine Naturalist, Five Star

Photo by Andrew Lees, April 7, 2016 
 
Gray whales
April 11 
4:06 p.m. - Gray whale Dana point on Camano southbound.
Sally Olin
-
Gray #531 -
Photo by Janine Harles, April 11, 2016 


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

April 10  - north Puget Sound 
4:22 p.m. - Gray just north of the dock at Kayak Point in Port Susan
Nate Trujillo

April 10 -south Puget Sound 
Around 3:30 PM a whale went cruising by in front of my house on Glen Acres rd. Vashon. It was heading South. I tried to take a picture, but it looks more like the Loch Ness monster than a whale. It was very close to shore, must have only been in about 20' of water. (from description sounds like emaciated juvenile gray that has been in the sound for several weeks)
Brent  Thompson
-
12:30 p.m. - Grey whale again hugging Vashon heading North to South heading toward Dilworth. Rolling and pec fin "waving". Just now!
Jan Kubat Staehli

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

April 9 
2:19 p.m. - Whale in Sinclair Inlet! Between Gorst and the ships. (possibly the young emaciated Gray, unconfirmed - ALB)
Jodie Lee Retzloff
-
April 9 
Gray whale #383 fluking off Hat/Gedney Island.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, April 9, 2016 

Gray whale #723.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, April 9, 2016 


-
11:50 a.m. - Gray whales #723 and #383 in Possession Sound, southeast of Gedney. With Cascadia Research. #723's tag (suction) finally fell off while we were with them. They've been able to retrieve it. Images from this morning in all the fog, Saratoga Passage. Head raising behavior from both #723 and #383. I missed capturing the full spyhop but got to see it which is even better!
Renee Beitzel, Naturalist, Chilkat

Gray whale #383 head raise.
Photo by Renee Beitzell, April 9, 2016 

Gray whale #723 head raise.
Photo by Renee Beitzell, April 9, 2016 


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

April 8 
6:49 p.m. - Gray whale spotted 60' off shore Suquamish heading South.
Ben Blankeship
-
2:13 p.m. - Large grey whale left Restoration Point an hour ago-
Moved North off shore to S side Blakely Harbour. Lots of barnacles. Moving at a human walk. Must be feeding. Watch for water birds being disturbed before she rises.
Kayla Black
-
10:10 a.m. - Gray whale passed in front of the landing structures at Vashon Island Ferry Terminal at 10 am. It was traveling north, close to shore. By 10:10 it was halfway between Vashon Island and Blake Island.
Burt Miller, WSF
-
9:23 a.m. - Grey whale heading north from Vashon. About to cross ferry lane. Hugging Vashon side.
Jan Kubat Staehli
-
8:49 a.m. - Amy Carey, Vashon found the gray nearing Dilworth hugging the shore.
-
7:20 a.m. - Two Videos uploaded to Facebook HERE and HERE of a small gray whale in Tramp Harbor, Vashon Island.
Lisa Lucke

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

April 7 
Young gray that was in the Foss Waterway in Tacoma on April 7th.
I spent about an hour observing and this young whale is definitely not healthy. I'd say it was 16' - 18' feet long, max. Spine appeared very emaciated. Pretty certain this is the same one that was in the Ballard locks earlier in the week.  My camera flunked out but my friend Lon Kincannon got these pics.
Dean Burke

An emaciated Gray whale in Foss Waterway - Tacoma.
Photo by Lon Kincannon, April 7, 2016

Photo by Lon Kincannon, April 7, 2016

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

April 4 
1:00 p.m. - One of our volunteers just reported seeing a gray whale heading south from Point Wilson and Admiralty Inlet.
Betsy Carlson, PTMSC

 
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.