Beautiful J pod off Henry Island. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 8, 2016

 

It's been awesome having J-Pod around for a week straight, the kind of thing we expect this time of year, but had not experienced in May and June! On July 7th, the J2s (J2, L87, and the J14s) and J19s headed north past Lime Kiln around 3 PM. We left them heading north off Turn Point at 6 PM.
On July 8th, the J2s and J19s started passing Lime Kiln going north around 4 PM. The rest of J-Pod (minus the J11s) was inbound, however, and just as we saw the whale-watching boats rounding Discovery Island, the J2s and J19s veered out and went to meet them. All the whales met up in the middle of the straights and headed back towards San Juan, "hitting" the island around False Bay. At 6:30 PM some whales started going north again past Lime Kiln, including the J2s, J19s, and J17s. Whales were in sight to the north and south not really going anywhere around 7:45 PM. From our boat, we met up with the northern whales at about 8:30 off Stuart Island, where they were very spread out and still going north, making beautiful vocalizations in the quiet evening.
At some point during the night, the J22s and J16s must have gone north, because at 11 AM on July 9th, all present J-Pod matrilines headed south past Lime Kiln, spread out and well offshore. At 3:30 PM, however, as they made their way back north past Lime Kiln, they gave us shore-based whale watchers the passby we've been waiting for this season, with lots of surface activity and playing in the kelp. They were all still slowly. northbound at 4 PM.
Monika Wieland, Orca Behavior Institute

A big breach by J40 Suttles this afternoon (July 9th) off Lime Kiln. After having three great days with J-Pod, it was time to share dozens of photos on the BLOG. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 9, 2016

2:31p.m. - faint calls
2:27 p.m. - Start hearing echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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It was the 16's, 17's and 22's in the Eagle Point area and south when we left. T49A's were around Salmon Bank.
James Gresham
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Lots of whales on the south end of San Juan Island. Heading south. Might be J pod there were a couple of babies out there!!
Lindsay Gustafson

Oreo J22 moving down island during the morning southbound pass. Lime Kiln State Park. Photo by Melisa Pinnow, July 9, 2016

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11:40 a.m. - Trailers just passing Lime Kiln  now.
11:08 a.m. - they're all here, but didn't all go north last night. Many still north of LK, they're very spread
Monika Wieland

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I've been waiting all year for another moment like this at Lime Kiln. Can't believe it took until July, but I'll take it! J47 Notch right off the rocks this evening. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 8, 2016

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7:56 p.m. - FABULOUS calls on the Lime Kiln hydro right this minute. Surprised me they were so loud!
Kim Merriman
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7:29 p.m. - Vocals on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Helen Shamek
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L87 Onyx surfacing through the glass of Haro Strait. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 8, 2016

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2:00 p.m. - It's beginning to seem like summer...Orcas cruised past again today! Traveling east to west along the south end of Lopez Island, but they lingered a long time with many changes in direction. About 10 orcas, very spread out. And I saw two breaches!
Sally Reeve
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We did the full distance today when hearing "incoming J-Pod members" near Race Rocks, west of Victoria BC! Fortunately the tides were in our favor, outbound and inbound, and what a thrill to find J-Pod group B whales, who hadn't been seen in the Salish Sea for a while. Four of the newest babies were there - a real treat. As they slowly traveled east, we heard that J-Pod group A whales were near our homeport of Anacortes! So homeward bound, we picked up Group A by Cattle Point, on San Juan Island, heading north - traveling very close to shore. L-87 Onyx who travels with this group, was off-shore so we caught a good look at him. Wow, what a day, long but included with all these whales were seals, a Steller sea lion, bald eagles AND a Minke whale!!
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

We were lucky to catch up with J-Pod (Group B) in Canadian waters yesterday, 4 of the new group of babies were there...here is J-28 Polaris with her 7-month-old son J-54. Photo by Jill Hein, July 8, 2016

J-17 Princess Angeline with her almost 9 month-old daughter J53. Photo by Jill Hein, July 8, 2016

J38 Cookie breaching as he and his family came in through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 8, 2016

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J17's (tho I didn't see J17 and others were saying J28's on radio), J22's and J16's were all inbound at Race Rocks this morning. They were fighting the current so only going like 3-4 knots! The kids all look great.  We heard on radio later that Jpod group A (granny and Onyx) were southbound at Bird Rocks in Rosario. Hoping we will hear them tonight on LK!
Renee Beitzel
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"Another BC Moment."  Part of J pod east bound past Beechey Head, East Sooke Park on the morning of July 8th. Photo by Mark Malleson

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7:55 a.m. - Many ORCA (inbound or east) off Sooke right now!
Paul Pudwell

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Tonight off Stuart Island - from left to right J40 Suttles, J2 Granny, and a little flair from J51 Nova. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 7, 2016

After a long drought, it was really nice to spend some actual quality time with members of J-Pod this evening, even if it was in the rain! Photo by Monika Wieland, July 7, 2016

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Caught up with members of J pod off Henry Island split in 3 groups. L87 on the outside, a group of 6 in the middle and 2 much closer land. Steady northbound with a pause in the rip for a few breaches & tail lobs, and possibly chasing a salmon. Steady progression north mostly with occasional bursts of activity. Out from Spieden Island a succession of tail lobs by several in the pod, and they all kept their course. Just south of Stuart Island we headed east towards inshore whales, one of who engaged in multiple breaches. We left with them still steadily northbound SW of Stuart Island just after 5:00 p.m.  
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

(Yep, those 10 whales! J19s, J14, and J45 were middle group inside of Onyx. J37 was breacher near J49. J2 was in their vicinity and J40 was way inshore by herself- Thanks to Monika Wieland for help with ID's and who was where)

J2, L87, J14s & J19s northbound Haro Strait. Henry to Stuart Island. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network July 7, 2016

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J51 breaching in the rip off Henry Island as he and his family make their way north in Haro Strait late this afternoon into early evening. Photo by Janine Harles, July 7, 2016

J pod members, Haro Strait south of Stuart Island early evening. Photo by Janine Harles, July 7, 2016

Breaching J pod member early evening in Haro Strait, still south of Stuart Island. Photo by Janine Harles, July 7, 2016

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...On July 7th, the Odyssey was able to see the Js and Onyx L87 again. They had come back down from the Fraser River via Rosario Strait and were coming back up the west side of San Juan Island. We arrived on scene with them as they neared Lime Kiln State Park. The ten of them were very spread out but we ended up seeing Granny J2, Hy'shqa J37, Ti'lem I'nges J49, and Onyx L87. Onyx L87 stayed offshore while the other three were inshore. Granny J2 was in the lead and when we reached Open Bay, she surfaced with a piece of salmon in her mouth. We left them at Open Bay as they continued on their journey, perhaps back to the Fraser River...
See Melisa's photos and full reports at  San Juan Orcas Blog.
Melisa Pinnow
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3:42 pm - Js at Lime Kiln!
Rachel Krauss Burrows
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3:28 p.m. - Large group of residents heading north past Lime Kiln. Ken and research boats following.
Bri Wilson
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The subgroup of J Pod comprised of J2 et. al. was found mid-day near the south end of Lopez Island as they were coming back toward Haro Strait along the coastline of Lopez. Ken launched in "Shachi" to encounter the very spread out group as the whales came toward False Bay, San Juan Island following their typical foraging pattern. The encounter began at 1433 just off Pile Point with the whales very spread out moving northwest against the ebbing tide just as it was turning to flood. The whale-watching boats were very disciplined and staying in a line about one half mile offshore of San Juan Island as the whales swam along conducting very long and unpredictable dives in the corridor between the shore and the vessel-based observers. L87 was the offshore flanking whale, and he zigged and zagged a half mile or so between surfacings with very unpredictable intervals on either side of the line of boats... See photos and full report at CWR Encounter 67.
Center for Whale Research
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Have not seen many of these this season. About a dozen vessels traveling slowly from east to west with one large specimen (Clipper) joining the pod from the west. Pod generally stayed close together with a sailboat tour hugging the shore and a few others meandering in search of great photo opportunities. Did notice several humans leaning over railings but no spy hops or breaches or slashing. There may have been feeding activity on the larger vessels.
This activity was viewed by about a dozen orcas as they cruised past heading to the west in two tightly packed groups and one solo male. The orcas had an enjoyable time, glad they decided to visit Iceberg Point and hope they do this tour several more times this summer.
Sally Reeve

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A surprise to see these 9 precious Jpod whales (including L87) at the Fraser River two days in a row. Their presence and behaviour would indicate they are being somewhat successful foraging here for right now. They have been spread out between the north and south arm of the river. We were fortunate enough to get good looks at the J19 matriline a few times. J40 "Suttles" was with them and J51 "Nova" has been full of beans apparently.
Tasli Shaw

J40 "Suttles" draped in kelp. Photo by Tasli Shaw, July 6, 2016

J51 on his grandmother's back. J19 and J41 appeared to be rounding up a fish when this happened. Maybe J51 was a little to eager for a chunk of salmon from his patient grandma. Photo by Tasli Shaw, July 6, 2016

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Beautiful photo montage of J51 Nova flying high - near the Fraser River, Vancouver BC. Photos by Tasli Shaw, July 5, 2016

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J2 Granny (see photo below) and her crew made their way back south past Lime Kiln this evening between 7:30 and 8:30, spread out with J2 and L87 trailing,  after a trip to the Fraser River. Fingers crossed that they found enough to eat to stick around for a while, and to call in the rest of J-Pod! I realized while watching her tonight that I've now known this whale more than half my life....pretty amazing.
Monika Wieland
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J2 Granny on a southbound run past Lime Kiln State Park. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 4, 2016

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After leaving the Bigg's Transient killer whales near Kelp Reef (Encounter 65), Ken headed north to Turn Point to meet with Granny's subgroup of J pod that was spreading out and foraging in the very active swirls of incoming tide off the point. Presumably, an aggregation of salmon was riding in with the fast moving tide flow, but the sea surface was so turbulent that it was impossible to detect any predation events. J19 and J41 were the west flanking whales and J14, J37 and J49 were the east flanking whales while J2 and L87 charged in a zig zag pattern down the middle of the tide rips that shot up vertically like haystacks of water, dousing the boat and camera. The others (J40 and J45) were here and there in the swirls,... See photos and full report at CWR Encounter 66.
Center for Whale Research

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Taken mid-day on July 4th from Saturna Cottage. Subgroup of J pod heading west. Photo by James McLarnon, Vancouver

Photo by James McLarnon, July 4, 2016

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Mark and Hannah Malleson encountered "J pod" in the morning inbound near Race Passage in pretty rough water. The whales had been reported earlier off Otter Point as a 'big group' but there were only J2, L87, and the J14's and J19's in a spread pattern as they continued inbound. Ken was returning from Sequim by automobile/ferry so did not get out on the water in "Shachi" until 1620, and then it was only to photo-document J2 before fueling the boat to be ready if more residents come in.
Notes-Comments:The continuing pattern of only a few residents widely spread can be correlated with the Chinook salmon pattern of relatively few fish making it to the Fraser River Albion test fishery nets. This is another bad year for Chinook salmon in the SRKW core summer habitat!...  See photos and full report at CWR Encounter 64.
Center for Whale Research
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J2 Granny (see photo below) leading the J14's and J19's into Active Pass this evening. Shortly after I shot this we (Island Adventures) ran a bit ahead of her and were going to sit and watch the J Pod whales stream pass when suddenly the T100's/101's, T36A's, T75B's and T051 came out of the pass! The residents and T's were very nearly in the pass at the same time. They gave each other a wide berth but the encounter ended with L87 who was off by himself headed directly towards one group of T's about 1/4 mile away before he veered into the pass.
James Gresham

J2 Granny leading the way... Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016 (see report above)

L87 Onyx heading into Active Pass this evening. Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016

J37 Hy'Shqa in Boundary Pass this evening.   Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016

 

I watched 4 Orca, 1 large male, 2 females (?), and I believe a young of the year, at the NE side of Miners Bay, Mayne Island at 0930 this morning.  They were very active, surfacing a lot from shallow dives (the water is fairly shallow there), but all 4 were very active.  Watched for 10 minutes; they played in the same area all the time. The male was distinctly large and I would describe his dorsal as shapely, in profile (smaller in the middle), if that helps.
Frank Gee, Parks Canada staffer
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From transiting from our club outstation in Gambier is. to WVYC we came across a small pod (two females and a male) on the north side of Bowen Is. between Hutt Is. to Hood Point. That I can only think that they are Bigg's transient orca's. They have been lurking around the area since April.
"Orca Spirit"

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Probably one of my most favorites of the season so far! This was taken during a pretty rowdy "T-party" as we call them. 18 Bigg's Killer whales in total came together for quite the parTy. Breaching, tail lobs, spyhops, cuddle puddles, you name it, we saw it. What I also love in the series I have of this image is that the little whale on the right just continues to do a headstand with the tail in the air for a little while. (see photo below)
Traci Walter

Sublime image by Traci Walter, July 5, 2016 (report above)

T51 in the Strait of Georgia. He was part of a large group of socializing Bigg's killer whales. Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, July 5, 2016

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...As they passed the reef in front of CWR they were about 400 yards offshore when Ken snapped a photo from the porch. The male was T51! And the others with him were the T36A's, the T75B's, and T49A2. The same grouping, minus T49A2, were encountered last year on 24 May (2015 Encounter 36) as they travelled in a social group in front of the Lime Kiln lighthouse and moved slowly offshore zig-zagging along in relaxed transient fashion...
See Photos and full report at CWR Encounter 65.
Center for Whale Research

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I always love "meeting" a new Killer whale. This is T51 born in 1981 and more typically hangs out in Southeast Alaska. He was hanging with a few other groups of T's in north Haro strait on the 4th of July! Photo by Traci Walter, July 4, 2016

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7:25 p.m. -  3-4 orcas headed south toward Lime Kiln State Park!
Maria Carney
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6:35 p.m. - Group of transients heading out of Friday Harbor. 2-3 transients? They went northbound along San Juan Island after.
Bri Wilson
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Nice and close to home, we had our own 4th of July Parade with Transient/Biggs killer whales off Lopez Island today. As they traveled by the Lopez ferry terminal and continued on around Shaw Island, we had some excellent views of the three of them, T123 (mom, born 1985), son T123A already a large male at only 16 years of age, and little sister T123C, born in 2012. They passed by several nervous seals hauled out on nearby rocks, so were not in hunting mode, lucky for the seals! After great looks and local inter-island sight-seeing, we glimpsed these three again before heading back to port ..... finding a mom seal with her newborn pup, and bald eagles! What a great 4th of July, back in port in time for the festivities.
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

T123A passing Lopez ferry dock. Photo by Jill Hein, July 4, 2016

T123A (born 2000) near Lopez Island heading towards Shaw Island. (while traveling with mom T123 and sister T123C - see photo below) Photo by Jill Hein, July 4, 2016

T123C - female - (born 2012) and mom T123 (born 1985) Photo by Jill Hein, July 4, 2016

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T123s. San Juan Clipper saw them take a seal in Upright Channel and then head towards Friday Harbor.
Stephanie Raymond
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11:27 a.m. - East side of the Lopez spit, we saw three orcas. I'm no expert but it looked like one big one (maybe adult male) and two smaller ones. Looked like they were moving northwest but also foraging (?) around. So beautiful!
Michelle Wormell Hollomon
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11:00 a.m. - WA State Ferries report from the ferry Elwha of 8 orcas at the west end of Thatcher Pass. No direction of travel given.

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T036A's and T075B's. Near Prevost Island. Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016

T051 near Prevost Island. Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016

T100's and 101's along Galliano Island. Photo by James Gresham, July 3, 2016

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T124C, Straits of Georgia, quite a bit south of Pt Roberts. Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 2, 2016

T124C Photo by Connie Bickerton, July 2, 2016

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...I also observed a small group of orcas on July 1 in the vicinity of East Point, Saturna. Male is T137A. Photo by James McLarnon, Vancouver (ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

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Saw 6 Orca being mobbed by whale watching boats, between Turn Point (US side of Boundary Passage) and Fairfax Point (south end of Moresby Island), east of the marker for Helen Rock (I think it is called?).  They were traveling steadily northwards, but I didn't see exactly where they headed.
Gotta love these work days,
Frank Gee, Parks Canada staffer

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6:14 a.m.  - WA State Ferries reports 3 orcas in Rosario Strait, heading north near the east side of the ferry lane.

Thayer Hollis  a commercial albacore fisherman, called with two orca reports from different days July 4 & June 28) , both of solo males, but not the same animal.
On 7/4 at noon, he was at N46 03 x 125 02, (about 40 miles west of Astoria) in 700 fathoms, when he saw a different male orca, also 4-500 yards away, heading ESE.

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1:00 p.m. - Orca/albatross Monterey Bay - Our whale watching boat found these albatrosses feeding on carcass in vicinity or orca sighting. In the general area of the bay there was one male slightly apart from a group of five. The group of five included one younger male and two young, according to our naturalist.
Jane Gelder

Unidentified adult male - Monterey Bay , CA Photo by Jane Gelder, June 30, 2016

Cropped from above photo by Jane Gelder, June 30, 2016

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Thayer Hollis report:
On 6/28 at 9AM, he was at N45 32 x 125 25, in 1200 fathoms, when he saw the whale about 4-500 yards away, heading south. This orca had a bend in his dorsal fin straight back, about a foot from the top, otherwise it was a vertical fin.

6:00 p.m. - Single Humpback seen surfacing 6 times with large vertical blow and large tail, 400 yards offshore. Between Lagoon and Bush Points, Whidbey Island.
Craig Tuohy
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[pause point during a run at Ft. Ebey SP, about 3:30 p.m., Friday, 08 Jul 16 from Partridge Point looking out and to the right of the big green buoy that goes "ding"] Whale spout! Big splash! Flukes? It was close enough in to see the flukes and decide it was most likely a humpback; far enough out to wish it would turn toward us. After the third misty puff of air and, perhaps, a smallish breach, all went quiet.
John Morelock

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2:59 p.m. - Humpback (long down times and very little fluking) near Possession, South of Point No Point.
Janine Harles

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Humpback Whales in Long Beach WA - At least 2 humpbacks were spotted off the beach just past the surf zone 2 miles north of the Ocean Park beach approach on the Long Beach Peninsula, WA. They were actively feeding near the surface and on multiple occasions the whales surfaced with most of their head out of the water and breached a few times. Sea birds were circling and diving into the water near the whales. Continued feeding for about an hour from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm.
Garrett Knoll

(we missed this evening update when reporting on Gray whale #723's presence in Puget Sound in our last report published July 3rd)
6:43 p.m. - San Juan Clipper just encountered #723 again! This time just north of Point Marrowstone heading out toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Justine Buckmaster  

8:35-8:55 a.m. - northbound Minke whale "Nick Jagger". The guy was being all active, looking to be lunge feeding. Sweet encounter from Land Bank/West Side Preserve, San Juan Island. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network June 25, 2016

 

Since it's 11:25 pm impossible to say what sort but... I hear whales at least 2. Blows and tail slaps. Just north of Mabana on Camano island. Not too far south of Elger Bay.
Sally Olin

12:25 p.m. - Appears to be dolphin/ porpoise pod right off Fauntleroy...up to 10 and lots of activity ..more so than harbor porpoise...appear to be gray and streaks of white...moving out away from ferry dock...will try and get pictures
Wayne McFarland, WS Ferries

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9:15 a.m. - Common Dolphins just headed north out of Eld Inlet. It is so calm and quiet, I can hear every single surface. It's breathtaking this morning. Glassy water, and flying dolphins.
Kim Merriman

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7:00 p.m. -  Dolphins moving very fast now south into Eld Inlet. They are cruising and kicking up quite a wake as they go.
5:40 p.m. -  they turned around and headed south into Budd Inlet. 8-9 surfacing at the same time. Very impressive. And they're moving with a purpose.
2:30 p.m. -  there is the other group of common dolphins currently heading north (slowly) just to the west of Zangle Cove (Budd Inlet). Very active!
Kim Merriman

6:50 p.m. - Common dolphins still by Mukilteo!! On the ferry headed to Clinton and Josh spotted them just south of the ferry lanes. East of mid channel.
Rachel Haight
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6:30 p.m. -  Common Dolphins still South of the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry, mid-channel.
April Bosley
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10:03 a.m. - A few minutes after departing Mukilteo, atop the deck on the 10:00 a.m. ferry Kittitas I spotted a lot of dorsals  and knew instantly I was being blessed with the presence of one of the pods of common dolphins that has been in Puget Sound the past month. The pod of at leas a dozen, including little ones, was moving steadily westbound to  the north of me in between the ferry lanes. The went on a dive and I could not relocate them at any time  during the crossing to Clinton or once on land. Video below.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Long-Beaked Common dolphins off Mukilteo as filmed from WS Ferry Kittitas. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network July 5, 2016

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1:10 - Common dolphins heading north passing Boston Harbor Marina and toward the southern tip of Harstine Island.
Kim Merriman

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Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 3, 2016

Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 3, 2016