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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's killer whales (Transients)
Coastal killer whales
Fin whale
Humpback whales
Gray whales
Minke whales
Dolphins & porpoises
Upcoming Event
Saturday Aug. 6th
- Penn Cove
Orca Capture Commemoration Event
-
 Details HERE 
 
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:

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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 

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July 26,  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.
Word last night of a large group of Bigg's/Transients heading in to Admiralty Inlet made it likely this ever-growing report had every possibility of being interrupted this morning by whales...and so it goes. The T65As have been coming and going this past week and were part of the large group encountered heading inland yesterday. The T65As have been tentatively ID'd as at least part of the group currently in Puget Sound.
 
Adding more to the stories of the orcas of the Salish Sea, Resident salmon-eaters showed up in Haro Strait off  the west side of San Juan Island this morning.  The past two days were quiet as far as residents after Js and Ls  exited Juan de Fuca heading towards the Pacific on the 23rd. On July 21s J2 Granny was the latest in the clan to take up interacting with a neonate Harbor porpoise. Hers makes for the third documented case of this phenomenon in the past 2 weeks. Still no word on Ks who are probably out in the Pacific hopefully finding enough Chinook salmon wherever they are to keep their bellies full.
 
Everyone is still wowed by the superabundance of Humpbacks feeding in Juan de Fuca Strait this summer. Puget Sounders are enjoying a near daily presence of 1-3 at any time as well. Latest hot spot inland Puet Sound appears to be Saratoga Passage where a pair has been hanging out the past few days.
 
And humans sit in awe when fortunate to be in the presence of the Fin whale feeding among the humpbacks out in Juan de Fuca. Minke whales keep a steady presence in various locations, and yesterday one of our staff watched as a cow/calf pair of gray whales made their way north off the south end of San Juan Island.

UPCOMING EVENT:
Penn Cove Orca Capture Anniversary Commemoration Saturday,  August 6th, 2016
Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA - Orca Network's commemoration of the Penn Cove orca captures of 1970 includes an on the water ceremony  as well as a special screening of the documentary Lolita: Spirit in the Water with guest appearances by the creators of the film. 46 years ago over 100 Southern Resident orcas were herded into Penn Cove off Whidbey Island, WA.  Seven of the young whales were netted and delivered to marine parks around the world.  All but one had died by 1987. Originally named Tokitae, they now call her Lolita.  In memory of the nearly 40 Southern Resident orcas captured in Washington State, and the 13 orcas killed during the captures, and in honor of Tokitae, the sole survivor, Orca Network is sponsoring two events on Saturday August 6th to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the 1970 Penn Cove Orca Capture.

11-2:30 pm - Coupeville Wharf educational displays and waterside ceremony. 
A limited number of tickets for a ceremonial boat trip in Penn Cove will be available.
To RESERVE your space on one of the sailing vessels please contact Cindy Hansen at cindy@orcanetwork.org

3:30 to 5:30 pm we will meet at the Nordic Lodge in Coupeville for food, drink, a silent auction, and a special screening of the 1998 film Lolita: Spirit in the Water featuring the late Kathi Goertzen from KOMO 4 news.

Kathi's husband and photographer Rick Jewett, photographer/editor Mike Rosen, and the film's producer Sharon Howard will be present to introduce the film and for a Q&A following the screening. Tickets to the event are $20 (includes appetizers and wine). 

Registration for the afternoon event at Nordic Lodge is available  HERE.

Orca Network
Photo of the Day
July 21 
11:30 a.m. - A few of the J17's passing Lime Kiln on a morning pass (one of several today) just beyond the kelp patches.
Photo by Elizabeth Swann, July 21, 2016 
  
Southern Residents
July 26 
11:23 a.m. -  and now a male with her, they both flipped at Land Bank and are heading southbound. Definitely Residents, but too far out for ID's just yet....there was some awesome salmon chasing.
11:12 a.m. -  One female passing Land Bank, San Juan Island northbound...I can see more headed this way.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network

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

July 23
10:00 a.m. -  some of L & J Pod feeding off Sooke, slowly heading west. A few quick shots of our Southern Resident Killer Whales feeding off Sooke this morning! Allen from Pizzability was fishing and helped us to be first on scene 12 min. from our dock!
Paul Pudwell

L55 Nugget heading west towards the Pacific after spending time inland with other J and L pod members.
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016 


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

July 22 
When we reached the south side of the island (San Juan) we found parts of our resident J and L pods. First spotted where L41 (Mega) and L85 (Mystery), both large males. After spending some time with this group, we turned our eyes closer inshore where members of J-pod were swimming. Some of these identified whales include J28 (Polaris) and a calf known as Notch (J47) for a notch in his fin....
 Amy W., Mystic Sea
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3:38 p.m. - intermittent calls still coming in over  the hydrophone.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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3:07 p.m. - Some just passed Lime Kiln headed south and north. Going both directions.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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2:57 p.m. - WW boats hanging off Land bank, but just a few whales here....may head to Lime kiln
Susan Berta, Orca Network
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While out around 2:30 p.m.  - J17's were spread approaching Lime Kiln. J22 and 34 were south of them and J31.
Barbara Bender
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2:30 p.m. - They are back vocalizing and echolocating. Js and Ls sounds like
Alisa

11:00 a.m. - 2- large scattered group in Boundary Pass extending from south end of Saturna to south end of the Penders (Bedwell Harbour). 15 to 20 individuals, one large male breached at least 7 times (lots of whale watching boats).
sorry no pictures of any value.
10:30 a.m.  - 1- one large male, two females, one young of year diving and slowly advancing east with the tidal current at 1030 along the south side of Tumbo Island in Tumbo Channel (towards East Point). Two spy hopping events. no other boats.
4 in first group / 15-20 in second group
1 male with group of 4 / 1 male with large group
group one: feeding (frequent dives) and slowly travelling
group two: travelling and a bit of play
I work for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and was viewing from a government vessel.
Frank Gee
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8:20 a.m. -  from County, Js Group B southbound. J17s are still barely visible to the north.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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8:14 a.m. - Heard a few S4 calls at 8:00 a.m. and echolocation since on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Alisa
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5:37 a.m. - Orcas on Lime Kiln  hydrophone.
Althea Leddy

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July 21 
After missing the - I kid you not - nine hours of west side whales in the morning and afternoon, we made up for it by catching the three hour evening extravaganza, complete with sunset, lightning, rainbows, and some of the coolest clouds I've ever seen. And we LIVE here!!  Around 9:15 p.m. the  L12s did come up to meet Js, and were very spread slowly southbound. I
believe just J Group B came back south? J17s, J11s, J22s. There were practically whales in sight of Lime Kiln for all daylight hours today!
Monika Wieland 

J28s (J28 Polaris, J46 Star, and J54) passing the rocks at Lime Kiln in the golden sunset.
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016 

Beautiful breach by J35 Tahlequah off the west side of San Juan Island
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016 

It's been awesome to get to spend some time with L85 Mystery over the last couple days; I used to see him all the time, but not nearly as much in the last few years!
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016 
-

7:50 p.m. - SRKW on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Echolocation and calls.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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1805-1815 - Seeing whales out front of County park. J28 and 54. Male offshore. Not going very fast. A short time later they picked up the pace a bit still southbound.
Sara Hysong-shimazu
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1750 -  I see some at Edwards Point facing south, not going anywhere.
Monika Wieland
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While out, we had L89,  L22 and looked like L77 and L119, by False Bay, southbound. We found a couple more at Pile Point southbound. A bit later the L94's southbound at Pile Point, but not really going anywhere. This was between approx. 5:25 and 5:50 p.m.
Barbara Bender???
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WOW!! J2 Granny, THE matriarch of an entire population, playing with a neonate harbor porpoise?!  J2 is possibly the oldest killer whale alive with an estimated birthday of 1911. She is a southern resident killer whale that feeds primarily on Chinook (king) salmon. J2 is the matriarch of the 83 southern resident killer whales that remain alive. Since this ecotype does not feed on mammals, this behavior is rare. It sure has scientists stumped ... Of course, it is also quite possible that this behavior happens more often than we know since we only see them a fraction of their day-to-day life.
During the encounter, J2 played with the porpoise, pushing it around on her rostrum, back, side and would peridcially let it go to chase it down again. At the end of the encounter, she thrashed the baby harbor porpoise around a bit then left to join her adopted son, L87 Onxy who was waiting patiently about 300 yards away while she did her thing. Want to know the most interesting part? The neonate porpoise actually survived, for the time being at least.
In other rare instances that have been observed where southern resident individuals "play" with harbor porpoise neonates, they actually play with them to death and usually drown. J2 knew just how much pressure to put on this neonate and deliberately did not kill it. This was indeed a rare behavior to witness.
Heather MacIntyre

The Harbor porpoise next to J2's dorsal. You can really see just how small the porpoise is compared to Granny's dorsal fin.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 21, 2016  

J2 with the harbor porpoise draped across her rostrum.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 21, 2016 


The footage - Facebook Video  - is of Granny playing with a small porpoise 7/21/16 off Pender Island. Onyx was by her side for about 15 minutes as she played a cat and mouse game with the dolphin. Eventually she came right along side us pushing the little porpoise along. About 10 minutes later she lost interest. The porpoise was seen twice afterwards swimming and surfacing. Granny and Onyx continued on their way north. We were on a whale watch tour with Salt Spring Island Adventure Co. Very unusual activity. I thought I could send the video via Messenger, but that isn't an offered option.
Joy McFate Lee
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Another magnificent day on the Salish Sea! On the way north, we checked out some fat harbor seals, including the young reddish pup. Caught up with two orcas, a male and female, just south of Eagle Point on San Juan Island, and caught a few glimpses in between their very long dive times. With a report of orcas coming in from the west, we headed out and found L94 Calypso, and her young son L121 Windsong, with daughter L113 Cousteau following. As they sped toward San Juan Island, we were able to get great looks at this lovely family, including some with beautiful Mt. Baker in the background.
As we left them to find other wildlife, they had formed up in a tight group, still heading very swiftly toward the other whales spread out all along Haro Straight, mostly heading north toward the Frasier Rive and hopefully a lot of salmon. Out by Hein Bank we found 4-5 minke whales, with a close encounter of the minke kind, to get a really good look at these beautiful small baleen whales. A splendid day!
Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist


Sweet family with mom L94 Calypso in the lead, baby bro L121 Windsong (with a new zig zag on his back) and big sis L113 Cousteau.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016
(all photos taken with 300mm lens and cropped)  

L94 Calypso and baby son L121 Windsong.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016 

Looks like J39 Mako.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 
 
-
1:24 p.m. - Watched a few whales pass Land Bank northbound.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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11:06 a.m. - Just saw J16s and J17s north of Lime Kiln heading north. A male is approaching the park.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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9:45 a.m. - Whales continuing to pass Lime Kiln in small groups.
Monika Wieland
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9:18 a.m. - J17s and J19s for sure traveled very slowly northbound from Lime Kiln and County Park. Lots of foraging and stalling out. J17s were doing above water vocals in front of the light. Those two groups were still going north when I left the park.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu


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

July 20 
So glad to finally catch up with the L12 sub-group today! They've been around for a few days, but have stayed in southern Haro Strait and out at the banks. Today they finally rode a huge flood tide up and made it north of Lime Kiln!
Monika Wieland

Here's L77 Matia and her four year-old daughter L119 Joy off Lime Kiln State Park.
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 20, 2016 

-
L85 slowly passed LK until 19:25. He was south of the light, offshore but not out of sight. L77 and L119 came fairly close. L94, L25, L113, and L121 weren't too far offshore and grouped up together. It was a nice time watching them and just good to see them.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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We left the trailer L85 southbound 1 mile north of Lime Kiln at 1845
Monika Wieland
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Around 5:20 p.m. - L22 and L89 wer off Eagle Point going back and forth.
Barbara Bender
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L25 Ocean Sun, Tokitae/Lolita's presumed mom, porpoising past Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse this evening.
Photo by Lindsey Webster ,July 20, 2016 

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L77 Matia tonight near Eagle Point. Taken on board the Natsilane.
Photo by Amy K Fowler, July 20, 2016 

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5:04 p.m. - Watching one large orca and one small slow diving in tide churn off Eagle Point, San juan for last 20 mins. We're at grandma's cove and facing into sun, so can't get a good pic yet.
Krista Paulino
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4:33 p.m. - L pod coming up. Might be a good time to sit at the Landbank.
Ariel Yseth
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4:15 to 4:45 p.m. -  Off the west side of San Juan Island we watched the L11s, L25 (and believe the L22s) very spread out foraging, but in general trending northbound. We first encounter L41 who was a mile or more offshore heading inshore away from us. At first it was difficult to get a sense of how many whales were present as they were very spread out. We then spotted L25 as she swam a bit more inshore steadily northbound. L119 and mom L77 were nearby. The two separated for a short time when L77 seemingly alone headed in our direction then turned parallel several hundred yards inshore of us and just behind L119 who was full of spunk. After a nice breach,  L41 eventually turned in and approached others inshore as did L55 & L119 where eventually all the L11s (heard the L22s were there too) grouped up and porpoised for a minute somewhere around Pile Point. Once huddled in a tight group they resumed a steady northbound course interspersed with tail slaps by little ones. We left them about 
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

 
Members of L pod foraging and traveling northbound Haro Strait off the west side of San Juan Island. Sweet little ones engaging in some surface activities.
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
July 20, 2016 


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

July 19 
19-month-old  J50 traveling the south west side of San Juan Island.
Photo by Jessica Alexander Doyle, July 19, 2016 
Bigg's killer whales (Transients)
July 26 - Puget Sound 
11:00 a.m. -  5-6 Orca hunting, milling, tail slaps, breaching. Watching from Fay Bainbrisge Park, south end. Still milling now but maybe trending south a little... Kitsap side.
Kimberly Sylvester-Malsahn
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10:45 am - feeding mid channel. Lots of tail slapping and blows. Clearly visible from Indianola.
Cher Greenlaw
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10:20am - looks to be on a kill east of north Bainbridge.
Stu Davidson
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10:11 a.m. - We found some...they are making a kill of a Harbor seal.
Renee Beitzel, Chilkat
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9:50 a.m. -  pod has stalled and moved more west of the channel. Sightline Richmond Beach and Faye Bainbridge parks.
9:33 am - they are actually more mid channel, sightline south of Richmond Beach. Together, but thinly spread in 2-4s. Steady southbound. A. Small blue and white boat is now on scene to north of them so you can look for that. As seen from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.
9:23 a.m. - I spotted large pod west of mid channel approaching Jefferson Head/ Indianola steady southbound. As seen from From Kayu Kayu Ac park, north Richmond Beach.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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Victoria Clipper 3 watched them briefly at about 9:30 south of Kingston mid channel in pursuit of a harbor seal trending south. Appeared to be the T65As.
Justine Buckmaster
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9:02 a.m. - South of Point Wells, Woodway heading south east of the traffic lanes.
Ryan Johnson
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9:00 a.m. -  At least 4-5 whales, including one male, traveling south toward Richmond Beach.
Kate Stovel
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8:13 a.m. -  we have Orcas in the North Sound!
Stu Davidson, Edmonds

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July 25 - Juan de Fuca 
7:50 p.m.  -  Ts are headed south into Admiralty it looks like. It was rough out there!
Five to six footers. I haven't looked up at a wave since Monterey Bay! I'd say more than fifteen. At least 20 and I wouldn't be surprised it it was pushing 25 individuals. Aiming that way definitely,  they were zigging and zagging and was hard to keep track of all of them! T65As were in there. Pretty sure T37s and T37As. Plus many more.
Sara Hysong- Shimazu
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WOW...what an AMAZING DAY! Capt. Dan on Sonar this morning was the first to find Transient Killer Whales in the FOG just SW of Race Rocks! We also visited a few Humpbacks. Then on our afternoon adventure we caught up to the same Transients/Biggs (T065 & T037) maybe others...with an acrobatic show of 12-20 Humpbacks interacting or responding to the presence of a dozen Orca! Seas were rough but everyone had a BLAST!
Paul Pudwell

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 25, 2016 


Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 25, 2016 

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July 24 - Admiralty Inlet 
Al Lunemann reports at 4:45 pm: "a small group of orcas between Ebey's Landing and Pt.Partridge ~ mile or two out heading west. Pt. Townsend whale watching boat is there and can ID them...Also, small 2 person sport boat following them very closely."
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3:00 p.m. - Pod of 3 or 4 orcas, one juvenile. Seen from Keystone-Port Townsend ferry...south of Keystone.... Orcas traveling toward Whidbey  island. I would say traveling northbound towards the straight.
Cathy Cannon

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July 23 
8:37p.m. -  just passed point Robinson headed southbound. Got an amazing video will share later. Red/white boat following them.
8:10 p.m. -  seeing sprays from Point Robinson Lighthouse. Appear to be on a kill. Not sure direction of travel
Brittany Gordon

Point Robinson, Orca with Mt. Rainier as a backdrop during sunset - best I.D. shot we could get with an iPhone.
Photo by KatieSchmelzer, July 23, 2016 

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6:21 p.m. - Just spotted them near the Vashon ferry line following a barge still headed south.
Wendy Bradley
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5:56 p.m. - Last watch they were headed south off Alki lighthouse mid channel at 530pm. Appears the female was showing a couple young ones the feeding procedure, diving deep in short distances.
Gary Peterson
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5:31 p.m. - Just watched them from Bainbridge Ferry. Longjsh dives. Trending south.
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn

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Renee Beitzel reports the pod in Elliot Bay as the T65As.
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4:15 p.m. -  We had some great sightings off Bainbridge Islands Rolling Bay when a pod of about 10 Orcas milled around feeding. There were what appeared to be a couple of young orcas being instructed on hunting for food, many long dives for short distances and you never knew where they would show up next giving a couple tour boat riders a treat, here's a few of the shots I took. Milling in Rolling bay and feeding then they split with some heading towards mid channel and 3-4 staying on the Bainbridge side heading south when we finally went back to sailing. Last count was around 8-10 in the pod.
Gary Peterson

T65As on their southbound journey passing Elliot Bay and downtown Seattle.
Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 

T65As Rolling Bay, Puget Sound
Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016 


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3:19 p.m. - Southbound just north of Fay Bainbridge.
Max French
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12: 55 p.m. - From Kayu Kayu Ac park Richmond Beach I can see pod is stalled same place as 12:10 report. North of Kingston ferry terminal.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:10 p.m.- Tony Woelke, WS ferries call to report 5 orcas (1 male, 2 female, 2 young) just south of Apple Cove Point, Kingston, in the southbound shipping lanes about 3/4 miles out. Kind of hanging out.
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12:00 p.m.- At least 4 Orcas, now just south of Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Noon, heading south slowly. So good to see them. Lots of fishing boats, but they are happily keeping their distance.
Gina James Vigna
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10:20 a.m. - Second hand report about 2 orcas heading south at Useless Bay. We are looking south of that but so far nothing.
Renee Beitzel

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July 22 
Orcas were seen off the Friday Harbour - Anacortes 6:30pm ferry. The pictures I got were much too far away to glean any valuable information from, but does someone know who these whales were? There were a couple of whale-watching vessels with them.
There looked to be about 4 individuals - at least one with a taller broader fin. They were porpoising quickly towards the Strait at 6:49pm, I believe along the coast of Lopez just before the ferry entered the channel between Shaw and Lopez. I was guessing they were transients from what I observed and their behaviour, but they were too far away to confirm.
Elizabeth Swann

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

July 20 
2:09 p.m. - Just saw them NNW of Orcas this morning. T65A2 spent a lot of time chasing a porpoise unsuccessfully but so fun to watch.

T65A4, T65A5, T65A3 scouting the southern strait of Georgia just before they came upon a pod of harbor porpoise.
Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016
(All photos taken with telephoto lens, zoomed and cropped) 

T65A3
Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016 

T65A5 surfacing behind mom T65A
Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016 
 
Coastal killer whales
July 21 
5:52 p.m. - Orca sighting, Klemtu, BC. 1Bull, 1 Cow, one young calf. Traveling
Jim Cave

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July 20 
Pod of 5+ Orcas Pod sited off Long Beach Peninsiula,Washington. Feeding
Eileen Crookes
Fin whale
July 23 
The fin whale was hanging out with about 20 humpbacks off Port Angeles all day today. Here it is surfacing right at our stern this afternoon. The white counter shading on the right side of the lower jaw is visible (see photo below). I was able to see it's entire length as it cruised by just under the surface. It's at least 60 feet long and maybe a bit more than that. Thanks to Capt.John of Island Adventures for putting us in the right place at the right time once again.
James Grehsam

Beautiful image of the Fin whale rostrum gliding through the sea.
Saturday afternoon off Port Angeles.
Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016 

Fin
Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016 

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

July 20 
5:20 p.m. - After watching the L11 and L22 subpods off San Juan Island, we headed south to see the many humpbacks that have been feeding in the area north of Dungeness Spit....In the distance...the fin whale was spotted by the naturalist so we went to check on that individual and caught glimpses as it powered through the waters then disappeared for several minutes only to surface on our starboard side much close to the boat. We watched fin surface several times while humpbacks lit up the horizon with their blows. A magical time on the waters of Juan de Fuca.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Fin whale surface in the foreground (blow hole w/dorsal tip just breaking the surface), humpbacks surfacing & blowing beyond.
North of Dungeness Spit, Eastern Juan de Fuca Strait.

Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, July 20, 2016 
 
Humpback whales
July 25 - Puget Sound 
7:58 p.m. - 2 humpback whales Camano side of the passenger ferry lane traveling north
Mabana and State Park at present.
Sally Olin

July 25 - Juan de Fuca 
A humpback riled up after the T065A's and T037's swim past on the afternoon of July 25th south west of Race Rocks. Notice the killer whale teeth rake marks on its pectoral fin  from a previous encounter.
Photo by Mark Malleson, July 25, 2016 


...just SW of Race Rocks! We also visited a few Humpbacks...Than on our afternoon adventure we caught up to the same Transients/Biggs (T065 & T037) maybe others... with an acrobatic show of 12-20 Humpbacks interacting or responding to the presence of a dozen Orca!...
Paul Pudwell

Just one of the many beautiul breaching humpbacks in Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 25, 2106 

Photo by Paul Pudewll, July 25, 2016 


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

July 24 - Rosario Strait 
2:00 p.m. -  Just one of the humpbacks remains in the area
11:45 a.m. - 5 Humpbacks in Rosario Strait. We were heading towards Decatur Island.
Emily White

July 24 - Puget Sound 
8:39 p.m. - Definitely 2 whales. High blows. Very tall blows. Possibly a 3rd whale. Still by Elger Bay close to passenger ferry channel.
8:30 p.m. - No idea what kind yet but definitely a whale between Elger Bay and Mabana Heights . Will wait for it to come closer south and try and determine what kind.
Sally Olin

6:00 p.m. - Observed about 2 humpbacks between East Point on Whidbey and South Camano State Park at 6 PM on Sunday, July 24. Seemed to be staying on the surface out in the middle. I've never seen one up here before.
Roger Clark, Camano Island
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12:50 p.m. - Humpback is just northeast of Possession Point, shallow dives with single blows
Steve Smith
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9:07am just off shore from North Edmonds - blows ( humpback) heading slowly south. Video'ing to try and ID better.
Stu Davidson


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

July 23 - Juan de Fuca 
The fin whale was hanging out with about 20 humpbacks off Port Angeles all day today. Here it is surfacing right at our stern this afternoon. The white counter shading on the right side of the lower jaw is visible. I was able to see it's entire length as it cruised by just under the surface. It's at least 60 feet long and maybe a bit more than that. Thanks to Capt.John of Island Adventures for putting us in the right place at the right time once again.
James Grehsam

Humpback BCX0324 Big Mama busting through a swell Saturday morning in sloppy conditions off Port Angeles.
Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016 

The humpback Big Mama with her 2016 calf known as Pop Tart. Saturday morning off Port Angeles.
Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016 


July 23 - Puget Sound 
8:20 p.m. -  Pretty confident it's a Humpback. Last saw it mid channel off West Point still heading North.
7:45 p.m. -  Alki beach. Spotted either a humpback or gray whale not too far off the beach. Huge spouts!! north bound
Charle Vendley
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Late report--at 3:30pm there was a single humpback just north of the mouth of Gig Harbor that breached very close to shore and then travelled quickly north up Colvos Passage.
Michele Riley Campbell

July 23 - Admiralty Inlet 
Whales Port Ludlow/south Marrowstone Island area- We have a summer home on Whidbey Island--North Mutiny Bay, just south of the Condos off Shore Meadows Rd. Saturday evening, maybe around 6:00...my husband came to inform me he was seeing numerous whale blowings, one after the other. Approx 10 minutes later they were still in the bay heading north, but clear across from us. I saw very high blows from two whale--probably about a minute apart. These were not killer whales, we have seen them up close and personal, but something much larger! The Victoria Clipper heading back to Seattle had slowed to let their passengers observe them.
Sherri Hedman
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Single humpback seen just after 2:00pm off the ferry in Admiralty Bay.
Elizabeth Swann

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July 22 
I didn't see anything on 3:00 crossing except a couple of harbor porpoises and seals. Ferry worker in Clinton agreed humpback. He saw it about noon.
Debbie Stewart
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No photo, but can confirm it was a humpback. Saw the dorsal fin. 2 spouts and a long full body glide above the surface. On a sailboat motoring past the southern end of Whidbey Island into Possession Sound about 1:20 pm
Elaine Armantrout
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I was on this ferry and saw it. I couldn't believe how many tail slaps there were. Gave me goosebumps. It was magical!
Lori Kane
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(reported as gray but confirmed by others as humpback)
The Kittitas was departing Clinton at approximately 1230 hours today July 22 when they noticed a gray whale 1/4 mile due east of the Clinton terminal dock. Apparently, the whale performed approximately 25 tail slaps and submerged. No other identifying marks could be seen." -John Rogstad, WSF
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Received 2 reports of a Gray? Whale at the Clinton ferry dock. (later confirmed Humpback)
First report at 6 am from WSF, 2nd report at 1:05 from Debbie Friel, saying it was just yards off ferry dock tail slapping for 5 minutes.

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July 21 
With engines off, mugged by Humpback BCXuk, known as "Nike", who then surprised all with this nice spyhop - Eastern Juan de Fuca Strait.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 21, 2016 


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July 20 
5:20 p.m. - After watching a couple of subpods of resident L pod (L11s & L22s)  off San Juan Island, we headed south to see the many humpbacks that have been feeding in the area north of Dungeness Spit. We arrived on scene around 5:20 p.m. where we lay witness to a most beautiful sight, approx 25 plus humpbacks surfacing and blowing as far as we could see.  We watched as groups of anywhere from 2-6 traveled in tandem, blowing and fluking near, mid a far. Some surface activity in the distance as several would pec slap and roll, but otherwise mostly circling whales and sun illuminated blows. A paired popped up near the boat, another group of 3-4 surfaced and logged for several minutes nearby. In the distance...the fin whale was spotted by the naturalist so we went to check on that individual and caught glimpses as it powered through the waters then disappeared for several minutes only to surface on our starboard side much close to the boat. We watched fin surface several times while humpbacks lit up the horizon with their blows. After about 30-40 minutes it was time to head back. A magical time on the waters of Juan de Fuca.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

 
25+ Humpbacks & 1 Fin whale -
north of Dungeness Spit, Juan de Fuca Strait

Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
July 20, 2016 
 
Gray whales
July 25 
6:18 p.m. - 2  Grays, cow/calf pair, off South Beach, San Juan Island now. They seemed to be heading away from shore when we left 20 minutes ago. Taking long dives. One surfacing every 3 to 5 minutes.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network

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July 23 
Smoke on the water. Aboard the Peregrine we encountered a gray whale in Boundary Pass on the evening trip so this was approximately 5:30 PM. The encounter was amazing but left us wondering why is it here now? We coined it Lazy Fluke because even though the pattern of several blows followed by a deep dive was normal we were unable to get a really good fluke shot. Hopefully someone from another vantage point on another boat can get an ID shot to Cascadia - I won't know for sure until pics are on laptop but don't believe I got anything useful.
Debbie Stewart

Gray whale - Boundary Pass
Photo by Debbie Stewart, July 23, 2016 
 
Minke whales
July 21 
...out by Hein Bank we found 4-5 minke whales, with a close encounter of the minke kind, to get a really good look at these beautiful small baleen whales...
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016 

Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016 


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July 20 
6:00 p.m. - On the return trip after watching Ls off San Juan Island and humpbacks and a fin whale north of Dungeness we came upon a minke whale approx 2 miles west of Point Wilson foraging in glassy calm waters. We watched her/him make a wide circle first heading south then north where we left beautiful minke about 6:15 p.m.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Minke whale foraging off Point Wilson.
Cell Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, July 20, 2016 
 
Dolphins & porpoise
July 25 
5:50 a.m. - Tony Woelke, WS ferries reports 8 Harbor porpoise just out from the ferry dock at Kingston.

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July 24 
10:20 a.m. - Large pod (10-15) of harbor porpoise in Carr Inlet feeding at north end of Pitt Pass.
James Lewis

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July 23 
6:00 p.m. - Common dolphins off North Harstine Island again. (They could have been porpoises, it was hard to tell.) Last seen heading south.
Connor O'Brien
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5:30 p.m. - Watching what we believe are common dolphins off Sunnyside Beach near Steilacoom. Appear to be a little closer to McNeill. Moving south, but currently milling about and appear to be feeding. Too far from shore for a picture.
Tari Poe Norris
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.