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Saturday Aug. 6th
- Penn Cove
Orca Capture Commemoration Event
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Details HERE
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Visit Orca Network's
LANGLEY WHALE CENTER (LWC)
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115 Anthes Ave
Langley,
Whidbey Island
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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-
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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.
 ______________ To learn more about orcas: 
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
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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.
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Sign up for our
Whale Sighting
or Free Lolita
Email Lists
Click Here to Join |
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| August 1, 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.
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Yesterday, the last day of July, members of J & L pods traveled south down Rosario, rounded Lopez and spent time spread out along the west side of San Juan Island. In years past the end of July and early August have been quiet times as the Fraser run of Chinook winds down, but this year is not even close to typical for salmon or the residents. Driving home the point is the absence of K pod. Sadly, still no word on their whereabouts, we sure hope to have more to say about Ks in August. Center for Whale Research staff updates us in Where Are All the Whales, covering this year to date with comparisons to 2013 which was another abysmal year for Fraser Chinook: "It was just last week (July 14) before we had seen all the Southern Residents this year. J pod has been drifting in and out of the area, but mostly in fragments and individual matrilines. All of the K's have been in but not all at once. Same goes for L pod: in and out, but not all together. Until this week, it was starting to feel a lot like 2013, when the whales were noticeably absent from their core summer habitat. 2013 was one of the two worst years on record for Chinook salmon, as measured by the Albion Test Fishery. Not coincidentally, the whale's presence in the Salish Sea that year was also at an all time low."
Bigg's/Transient pods T37As and T65As, plus, have been traveling around together all this past week through out Juan de Fuca, the San Juans, into BC, with several forays in and out of Puget Sound. Humpbacks continue to congregate, with the/a Fin whale in the mix, feeding primarily out in Juan de Fuca with a rare encounter last night when what was originally thought to be a humpback southbound in Admiralty Inlet turned out to be a fin whale who made Edmonds by evening and continued south.The two pods of Common dolphins who showed up in June are still calling Puget Sound home for the time being. Reports from areas around Olympia and north/central Puget Sound come in near daily.
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 [email protected]
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
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Photo of the Day
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July 31
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| We had a fun visit from 1-1/2 year-old J50, Scarlet, today. She came over to check out our hydrophone that was dangling by the boat which we were using to listen to her family vocalizing! Eye contact once again. Magic.
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 31, 2016 |
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Southern Residents
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July 31
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| Nothing but whales and water - L47 Marina and her son L115 Mystic off Land Bank this afternoon.
Photo by Monika Wieland, July 31, 2016 |
4:30 p.m. - Some of L47s and L26s just came back southbound past Land Bank, didn't know they were north of us.3:34 p.m. - Boats are spread from Hannah to Salmon Bank up to 2 mi offshore trending west.1:48 p.m. - Whales did flip before Lime Kiln, went west then south presumably to join up with others who look northbound off American Camp now.Monika Wieland - 12:30 p.m. - L Pod is at Salmon Bank (L-92, L-83, L-110) spread out and apparently foraging with some success. All boats doing a great job of observing from a respectful distance, happy to report. Steve Smith - 0902 a.m. 6-7 orcas (including 1 adult male - 6 foot dorsal) in Rosario Strait, seen west side of Deception Pass, close to Whidbey side. Traveling southbound directionally towards Port Townsend. Some breaching. Eric Adams 0849 - Orcas west of Rosario Beach, Anacortes. While visiting Rosario beach today my family and friends spotted multiple Orcas. One in particular with a baby. They were very active for about 30 minutes before heading towards Oak Harbor. Shannon Conley
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| Breaching orca Rosario Strait.
Photo by Shannon Conley, July 31, 2016 |
************************* July 29 |
| Humpbacks in the morning and then WOW, J & L Pod off Sooke in the afternoon!
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
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| Clan matriarch, J2 Granny - Sooke, BC
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
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| J26 Mike
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
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| L86 Surprise
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
*********************** July 27 Most of J pod had been spread out down San Juan Island all morning while J2, L87, the J16s, and the J19s had been found in Boundary Pass and were heading south around Turn Point. Dave headed down to Snug Harbor in the early afternoon and left aboard Orcinus to go and pick up Ken over in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island. By the time Ken and Dave came back across Haro Strait, the southbound J pod whales were in Andrews Bay....Photos and full encounter report at CWR Encounter 75Center for Whale Research - Sailed to False Bay where members of J pod group B were foraging close to shore while group A was coming down from the north a little offshore. J27 Blackberry breached multiple times leading a track to Salmon Bank. Granny was in the mix of the group B whales. Between the two groups was a pair of humpback whales. We sailed together to Salmon Bank and then all whales headed to Hein Bank and continued west into the sunset. |
| J46 Star breaching next to mom J28 Polaris.
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 27, 2016 |
- Wow!!! What an incredible day Thursday, July 27th was. I'm still relieving the amazing encounters. We watched the J11s (J27, J31, and J39) traveling with J2 and adopted son, L87. They sure seemed to be in high spirits ... And then there was that humpback that popped up surprisingly in the distance breaching over and over and over ... Heather MacIntyre |
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J2 Granny (oldest southern resident orca) looking gorgeous. She and J27 spent more time out of the water than in it!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016
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| J27 Blackberry - He's a beautiful being!
Photo by Heather MacInytre, July 27, 2016 |
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| J27
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016 |
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| J39 Mako takes a look around.
Photo by Heather MacInytre, July 27, 2016 |
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| J27 Blackberry (L) mid cartwheel as his sister J31 Tsuchi (R) launches.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016 |
2:40 p.m. - West side. They just passed quickly - L87 still offshore. J16s and J19s plus J2 with J26!Monika Wieland |
| J42 and I are on a roll! Here she is breaching by Monarch head this morning!
Photo by Gary Sutton, July 27,2016 |
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Orca passing by Mayne Island through Active Pass in front of Laura Point heading north.
Photo by Jennifer Peers, July 26, 2016
(Report & photo sent by Stephen Peers)
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- J17s foraging at False Bay, Doublestuf J34 and his Mum Oreo J22 foraging Pile Point. J31 breaching, J14s slow North, Blackberry J27 and his brother Mako J39 foraging near Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse. Group B of the Js plus the J14s all fishing in loose groups on the West side as we sailed around the island. We're hoping they're finding enough Chinook salmon to sustain their families. A summers day family sail returning by way of Spieden and Flattop draped in evening light with sunset in San Juan Channel. Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing |
| One of the J big boys off the west side of San Juan Island.
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 26, 2016 |
- One just never knows what wildlife we may see out on one of our excursions. We received word that some resident orcas trickled back into the area Sunday night, but they proved to be elusive on Monday. Today, however, they were back in good force! Captain Eric started this sunny, blustery day cruising towards Salmon Bank, where we caught up with several small groups of orcas spread out near there, Eagle Point, and False Bay. In total we estimate seeing between 10 and 12 members of J-pod near these points. While we haven't made a positive ID yet, we believe one of the residents may have been bull J34, also known as Doublestuf. There were also a couple calves and several females. Passengers watched in awe as 2 breaches were done nearby.Our return trip we traveled via San Juan Channel, stopping first to see bald eagles at Upright Head. As we continued on, we took a pause to get a look at 15 to 20 seals on Willow Island, some of which were pups. We spied another eagle at this stop!It's been another lovely day of whales in the Pacific Northwest. We hope this orca trend continues throughout the week! Amy W, Mystic Sea
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Bigg's killer whales (Transients)
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July 31
8:30 p.m. - 6+ orcas off Pender. Tonight just before sunset we sighted a small group of orcas,maybe approximately 6 individuals (including1-2males) off Theives Bay. They were pretty far offshore traveling but then they backtracked. Then they appeared to stop and go into a resting pattern, with a few forming a resting line at times. That was very cool to see, a behaviour I have not had the privilege to see before! Beautiful orca sunset! Jana Johnson July 31 - Puget Sound (Unconfirmed)
8:10 p.m. - reason I saw the Fin whale, was cause I believed I saw a single huge dorsal of an Orca. I watched the Fin go by. Now I see the huge dorsal again seemingly paralleling the Fin whale - both now south of Edmonds ferry terminal and slowly south bound.
Stu Davidson
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The first time I saw it I could've sworn I also saw a bigger orca - like dorsal surfacing with the Fin whale. I only saw it once... (observing from south of Bush Point when whales in Admiralty Inlet prior to Stus's sighting)
Susan Berta, Orca Network
- July 30
5:30 p.m. - Leaving Transients at Bush Pt slowly northbound.Rob Sanderson - 5:05 p.m. - They are just SW of Bush Pt northbound.Rachel Haight - 3:50 p.m. - Brad reports the T65As and the T37s are rounding Double Bluff heading north close to the shore.- 2:30ish between Point No Point and Whidbey. Closer to Whidbey.Jean Causbie - 1:35 p.m. - Brad Hanson of NW Fisheries Science Center reports possibly 5 orcas heading north between Kingston and Point No Point, in 2 groups about 1/2 mile apart.1:15 p.m. - past mid channel between Edmonds ferry and apple tree point. Closer to west side. Steady northbound.Sara Frey 12:41 p.m. - Kingston ferry now11:07 a.m. - We are with them north of skiff pt headed for Fay Bainbridge park.Rob Sanderson - 10:00 a.m. - John Miller at WSFerries reports 4 orcas at Blakely Rock, off Bainbridge, headed north.- Pod seen east side of Blake island for over an hour!! Not close enough to ID. Laura Lippman - Voicemail from 8:42AM - Caller reports 5 orcas off Vashon Head, at 42 31 7N by 122 28 7W, slapping water and jumping.- July 30 - 2nd groupWe had 4 orcas in Useless Bay about 9am this morning. Not common for us. What a treat. Anne Proffitt *********************** July 29 8:07 p.m. - orcas at Dilworth (northern end east side of Vashon) mid channel slowly moving south. Amy Carey - 6:53 p.m. - WA State Ferries reports 3 orcas between Fauntleroy and Vashon, headed south.- 6:33 p.m. - We left them a little bit ago east of Blake Island heading south still. They made a kill, had a celebration and then continued on.Renee Beitzel - 6:15 p.m. - Amy Carey relayed a report of orcas at north end of Vashon, east of Blake Island.
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| First in a breach sequence of one of the T037A's or T065A's after they made a kill.
From a surprise close encounter (no joke) to breaching, spyhopping, and tail lobbing to above (and below) water VOCALIZING T65A's and T37A's!! This has certainly been a season of firsts. Gotta love those T's
Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 29, 2016 |
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T065A2 breach!
Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 29, 2016
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| Members of the T65As or T37As southbound passing Faye Bainbridge State Park.
Photo by EB Photos, July 29, 2016 |
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| | Photo by EB Photos, July 29, 2016 |
- 3:30 p.m. - One group stayed east of mid channel and has now drifted back to mid or west of mid channel due west of Shilshole. Also blows to nortwest of that group. C onnie Bickerton and her niece Elisabeth found small group bit ago on Kitsap side off Faye Bainbridge also heading south. Maybe pods meeting up again. (see above photos of 2nd group)2:35 p.m. -some have drifted back east of mid channel. Just watched them pass by out from Carkeek Park, north Seattle. Shilshole Marina/Golden Gardens would be next. 1:50 p.m. - orcas have moved way over towards Kitsap side. Currently mid way between mid channel and Kitsap , south of yellow middle buoy between Kingston and Jefferson Head/Indianola. Steady southbound tight resting group. 1:15 p.m. - they've moved off shore more mid channel now between Edmonds Marina beach and Kingston ferry dock. Still steady slow-med southbound travel. 12:30 p.m. - still north of Edmonds ferry dock about 1-1.5 miles from shore now grouped moving steady southbound after period of grouping, long dives, then surfacing near idle WW boat . 11:50 a.m. - they've drifted south maybe 1/2mile with some directional changes, circling. And still surface active with tail lobs & thrashing. Viewing from Sunset Ave Edmonds. 11:15 a.m. - pod is still on same general area...south of Possession Point and approx 1.5 - 2 miles west of north Edmonds thrashing about.Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network - 11:14 a.m. - still lots of back n forth'ing - further south now and closer to North Edmonds .. Definitely hunting. Stu Davidson - 10:26 a.m. - They seem to be spreading out and heading towards Saratoga now, but still kind of milling. Possibly on a kill.10:16 a.m. - T065As and friends southwest of Possession Point. Renee Beitzel - Saw a group of 3-5 transients feeding on a harbor porpoise between 750am and 8am in west-central Useless Bay. (Whidbey) Batting the porpoise through the air. They appeared to depart the area pretty quickly after finishing with the porpoise. I couldn't get a good sense of which way they headed, unfortunately! Nick Horton ************************ July 28 |
| T65A2 (L) - Lovely day with some T65As and T37As south east of Dungeness Spit.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 28, 2016 |
*********************** July 27 7:20 p.m. - 3 to 4 orcas in St of Juan de Fuca between Dungeness Spit and Ediz Hook. Viewed at 7:20 PM from bluff at private residence on Osborn Rd mid-way between Dungeness Spit and Ediz Hook. 3 to 4 individuals only 1 male seen. Heading west towards Port Angeles. Michael Scuderi - Wednesday morning started out foggy, but the skies cleared and the sun came out just as our cruise was getting underway. As Mystic Sea sailed through Rosario Strait, we found the T65s near Peapod Rocks. We sat and watched them for quite some time as they fed and slapped their tails. As these 5 transients began to travel northbound, so did we. Our cruise then took us towards Lawrence Point on Orcas Island where we saw some bald eagles. As we sailed on towards Barnes and Clarke Islands we viewed a large number of seals, as well as more bald eagles at the latter. Just a bit further on we found this group of transients again near Sister Islands as they continued to feed and slap their tails! We spend an additional 45 minutes watching them before our return to port. While Mystic Sea did not see our resident orcas today, members of both J and L pods are still in the area and we have hopes to catch up with them tomorrow! Amy W., Mystic Sea ********************** (Our July 26th Sightings Report includes the July 26th morning sightings of the foray into Puget Sound by the T65As & T37As and another unconfirmed matriline. They all engaged in a kill together south of Kingston then resumed southbound afterwards. The pods split up somewhere south of there, but before downtown Seattle, where at least the T65As continued south while others turned back north into making their way up Admiralty Inlet) July 26 - north group 8:38 p.m. - orcas about to pass Bush Pt mid channel. Rachel Haight - 7:00 p.m. - Michael Waitt reports seeing four orcas about 100 yards from shore in water 30-40 feet deep, on the north side of Useless Bay, off Double Bluff, heading NW.6:20 p.m. - They were heading north and went under and haven't seen them since.5:40 p.m. - We are at Maxwelton on beach and got them. They seem to be heading into Useless Bay.Danielle Pennington - 4:20 pm from north Edmonds been watching northern group since 4pm, mid shipping lanes approx. 3 miles south of Scatchet Head. First northerly but appear to have stalled out. And now possibly aiming towards Admiralty. Alisa Lemire Brooks - 3:25 Orcas seen from Edmonds Kingston Ferry. We saw them from Edmonds Marina Beach. Going between ferries headed North.Melinda Barajas |
| 3:15 p.m. - Excellent whale watching viewing perches aboard Washington State ferries.
Transients, northern group - midway between Kingston and Edmonds.
Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016 |
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| | Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016 |
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| | Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016 |
July 26 - south group (T65As +?, there was an earlier split) 8:37 p.m. - They are in the ferry lane pretty close to Bainbridge. 5-6 orcas8:25 p.m. - Spotted from Alki. Northbound orcas right off Blakely rock. Charles Vendley - 7:00 p.m. - another report from the ferry Tilikum, of 5-6 orcas heading north, mid-channel, SE of Dolphin Point, Vashon Is.- 7:00 p.m. - mid channel Fauntleroy I saw blows but that's it. Could not tell direction and haven't seen them since. I'll head to the beach when I get home- Dilworth Aimee Demarest - 2:56PM - Report of 7+ orcas in tight formation, heading south between Williams Pt. (Fauntleroy) and the north end Vashon ferry terminal. Called in by Edward Furst, crew on the ferry Tilikum. |
| T65As (+?) heading southbound Elliot Bay - Seattle skyline in background.
Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016 |
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| T37A - southbound Puget Sound.
Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016 |
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| T65A4 (? & )T65A2 (R) southbound Puget Sound.
Photo by Stu Davidson |
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| T65A2 (born 2004) traveling southbound Puget Sound with his family and the T37As.
Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016 |
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| Tail lobbing Bigg's/Transient.
Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016 |
- 1:30 - Pod of T's off Rolling Bay BI., west of channel. Slowly moving north now. Not much surface activity. Counted 5 in this group including one adult male and juvenile.Susan Marie Andersson - |
| 10:48 a.m. - Nice breach just south of Faye Bainbridge park...
Photo by Sue Larkin, July 26, 2016 |
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Fin whale
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July 31
I had / have the exact same experience / reaction to believing there was an Orca too... I've seen enough orcas now to know it had to be one, versus a humpback or the Fin! And the behavior of the sea lion was classic of when a transient is nearby! My little video is posting now. Stu Davidson - The first time I saw it I could've sworn I also saw a bigger orca - like dorsal surfacing with the Fin whale. I only saw it once, then wondered if it may have been the tip of its fluke, but it had just surfaced so don't see how that could be (unless it has a calf traveling with it which would be way too much to hope for!). But that is what made me look twice, and when I saw the dorsal on the whale again it was larger than a humpback, but not the larger triangular shaped thing I saw the first time. Maybe it was an orca chasing it, and that's why it was moving so fast?! Susan Berta - 8:10 p.m. - reason I saw the Fin whale.. Was cause I believed I saw a single huge dorsal of an Orca. I watched the Fin go by, now I see the huge dorsal again seemingly paralleling the Fin whale - both now south of Edmonds ferry terminal and slowly south bound.7:58 p.m. - looks to have turned more toward a easterly (towards Edmonds Waterfront dog park)7:54 p.m. - the "fin" whale is just north of Edmonds Kingston ferry route -- more on the Edmonds side heading south. Huge rounded arches and dives.. No fluke Stu Davidson - 5:38 p.m. - We just saw it south of Bush Pt, approaching Hansville. We are looking through our "big eyes" (thanks to Center for Whale Research), and after repeated observations by both of us, we believe this isn't a humpback and is possibly/most likely a Fin whale! We have not seen it fluke, the fin does not look like a humpback, but the blow is more visible than a Minke's blow, and the fin is way back on this whale. It is traveling quite quickly continuing SE. Don't think we can get a photo from this distance, it is quite far south now - but if anyone is at Point no Point or can get there soon, we would LOVE a photo to confirm species on this whale! Susan Berta, Orca Network 4:47 p.m. - Just passed Bush Point headed south.Gregory Roeben - 2:00 p.m. - humpback (turned out to be a fin whale) SE bound into Admiralty Inlet. Viewing from Fort Ebey - been watching for awhile travel in from the west. Appears to be mid channel and traveling steadily.Rachel Haight ************************ July 30
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| The fin whale. East of Sequim. It has been staying within an approx.1 square mile area lately, indicating a solid food supply there.
Photo by James Gresham, July 30, 2016 |
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| Fin whale. Strait of Juan de Fuca. Heavily cropped. It's funny how telephoto lenses compress distance. That's about 35 feet of animal there between the splash guard and dorsal fin.
Photo by James Gresham, July 30, 2016 |
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Humpback whales
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July 30
8:30 p.m. - We saw several whales (no dorsal fin, so not Orcas) on the crossing of the Coho between Victoria, BC & Port Angeles, WA last evening about 8:30 pm in US waters. They appeared to be feeding, and heading west on Strait of Juan de Fuca. We did see the tail flukes of 2 , one very close and distinct. One of our group got a video of them blowing and the tail of one, though it's fuzzy. We dont know if Grays or Humpbacks have been seen in the area, but that's best guess. Elizabeth Blake ************************** July 29 - Puget Sound
Message from WA State Ferries 5:30 am this morning, reporting a whale in the middle of the traffic lanes outside Elliott Bay, 1/2 nautical mile north of the Tango Buoy. (No species or direction of travel given, but our guess is that it likely was one of the humpbacks that has been hanging around)July 29 - San Juan Channel 1:53 p.m. - Spotted 2 Minke whales in San Juan channel. Got lucky enough to see them breech. Heading south. (reporting party believes Minke, Humpbacks were reported and confirmed by several others- ALB)Amy Ferron - ...two humpbacks ...from the Victoria Clipper about 1pm Friday. Just outside of Friday Harbor. Sheryl Geuder Payton - Two humpback whales just outside of Friday Harbor noon-2:30pm today (Friday). Many whale watching boats following them. Sheryl Geuder Payton July 29 - Juan de Fuca Humpbacks on the morning tour and then, J & L Pod off Sooke in the afternoon! Been a few days around here for our SRKW... GREAT TO SEA!..we are EXCITED! Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal WW |
| Beautiful underside fluke image of a Humpback in Juan de Fuca Strait near Sooke, BC
Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
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| | Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016 |
*********************** July 28 8:13 p.m. - Seeing blows NW of Ebeys Landing.Rachel Haight - Just spotted this Gray (or Humpback) whale in Admiralty Inlet heading south, just above Lagoon Point, about 8pm. Figured it was a Gray since it was only the one and because of the spout, but I can't say for sure. (reported as Gray, but humpbacks have been consistently present)James L. Bogart *********************** July 27 - San Juans Sailed to False Bay where members of J pod group B were foraging close to shore while group A was coming down from the north a little offshore. J27 Blackberry breached multiple times leading a track to Salmon Bank. Granny was in the mix of the group B whales. Between the two groups was a pair of humpback whales. We sailed together to Salmon Bank and then all whales headed to Hein Bank...Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing |
| Humpback whale near Eagle Point, San Juan Island.
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 27, 2016 |
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| While watching the J11s....this humpback breached in the distance, and continued breaching over and over and over.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016 |
July 27 - Puget Sound 8:30 p.m. - I watched the humpback swim through the Bainbridge ferry lane at 8:30. Probably pretty close to Discovery Park point by now. 8:20 p.m. - Humpback spotted from the bluff above Alki. Whale is north bound on the west side of the channel. Moving pretty fast. Taking 2-3 breaths and then doing a deep dive. Charles Vendley - 7:12 p.m. - Humpback heading north in Colvos Passage. Just south of the Southworth ferry.Noreen Ferris |
| 3:00 p.m. - Humpback fluke - Dalco Passeage - Vashon/Point Defiance ferry lanes.
Photo by James Lewis, July 27, 2016 |
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| Humpback - Dalco Passage - Vashon/Point Defiance area.
Photo by James Lewis, July 27, 2016 |
- 2:40 p.m. - 2:40 possible blows sighted between Vashon and Dash Point, from the MaST Center at RedondoLindsey Magill - 2:31 p.m. - Just saw it surface, looking from Gig Harbor, closer to S. Vashon and near a bunch of lucky kayakers!Michele Riely Campbell - 1:45 p.m. - Now closer to Vashon side just west of ferry1:35 pm - Found it- just off Point Defiance.12:56 pm - Just got a report that there is a Humpback at south end of Vashon near Dalco Point. West of the ferry.Amy Carey - 12:47 p.m. - He appears to be feeding and swimming in tight circles in the open water between Point Dalco and Gig Harbor. The breaching and pec slapping has ceased, but he's still surfacing and diving. Last saw him just now - Point Dalco. I'm on Owen Beach. 12:28 p.m. - Low quality photo taken from iPhone video. (not included) Humpback traveling by Point Defiance. Possibly headed north up Dalco passage. Kind of circling by Gig Harbor/ Point Defiance.Vanessa VanGilder - 12:24 p.m. - Viewed from beach house outside of Gig Harbor. Humpback traveling and breaching several times from Point Defiance to Kent/Des Moines. Very large in size in comparison to past sightings. Darin Edwards - 5:57 a.m. - I'm sure I just saw a whale off Alki. Looked just in time to see a big hump then a tail come out of the water then it was so gone. Anyone else see this guy? Was heading west towards Southworth/Manchester. As viewed from just off 54th place and Alki. (around Alki point) Rusty Garner
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Gray whales
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July 25
A special visit of two Gray Whales - a rare thing, and especially out of the ordinary for the time of year. We met the pair South of Iceberg Point after exploring the remote cliffs, islands and hidden Bays South of Lopez. The Greys passed Whale Rocks and looked to be going through Cattle Pass, but turned and fought the flood current at the lighthouse to continue North on the San Juan shoreline.Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing |
| Gray Whale - Eschrichtius robustus, with Cattle Point Lighthouse.
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 25, 2016 |
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Gray Whale - Iceberg Point, Lopez Island
Photo by Barbara Bender, July 25, 2016
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********************** July 23 |
| Gray whale seen early evening - Boundary Pass.
Photo by Debbie Stewart, July 23, 2016 |
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Minke whales
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July 29
1:53 p.m. - Spotted 2 Minke whales in San Juan channel. Got lucky enough to see them breech. Heading south. (reporting party believes Minke, Humpbacks were reported and confirmed by several others- ALB)
Amy Ferron
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Common dolphins
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July 29
I am writing to report sighting a pod of about 12 bottle nose dolphins (probably the Common dolphins) near Devils Head at about 5 PM yesterday July 29th they appeared to be feeding and very active, we were traveling by boat to Narrows Marina for dinner at the time, later on our return to Olympia we sited them again near Toliva Shoal about the same number 12 seemed to be actively feeding. I know what Harbor and Dall's porpoise look like these were clearly different gray with a bottle nose and the first I have ever observed in Puget Sound. Please respond back to me to acknowledge your receipt of this report and let me know if you have other sittings. Thank you, Larry Cowan |
| Saw a pod of about 12 Common dolphins off the South side of McNeil island Friday afternoon.
Photo by Eric Devereaux, July 29, 2016 |
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| 7:30 a.m. - Beautiful video of one of the pods of Common dolphins riding the wake.
Colvos Passage, Puget Sound.
Video by Paul Mooselips Dudley, July 29, 2016 |
************************ July 28 |
| Pod of Common dolphins - Olympia, WA
Photo by Laurie O'Brien, July 28, 2016 |
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| Common dolphin - Olympia, WA
Photo by Laurie O'Brien July 28, 2016 |
- 5:50 p.m. - Common Dolphins are "screaming" south down Eld Inlet. What a lovely (and fast) sight of them porpoising just below the surface, throwing a wake, with every single animal. Throw in the total breaches once in a while and it's a grand night on the water. Kim Merriman ************************ July 27 - central Puget Sound 9:40 a.m. - Dolphins off Ballard buoy just now. The north buoy by Golden Gardens. And it was hard to tell which way, but I would say north. (direction of travel) It was pretty foggy. See Ryan's Facebook VIDEO.Ryan Johnson July 27 - south Puget Sound 7:00 a.m. Common dolphins very active heading north out of Budd Inlet. Flat calm and foggy is making a great backdrop. Kim Merrman ************************* July 26 8:10 p.m. - The pod of common dolphin just cruised through Alki north bound. No orcas yet. Charles Vendley
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ABOUT ORCA NETWORK
Orca Network is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats.
Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network involves citizens in helping researchers track the movement of whales, and encourages people to observe whales from their homes, businesses, ferries, and beaches.
Whale reports are sent in to our Sighting Network and emailed out to researchers, agencies, and citizens on our network, and posted on our website (MAP of sightings also on website). Whale reports and observations are sent in by a variety of sources, and Orca Network does not guarantee the accuracy of any report or whale identification.
TO REPORT WHALES, CALL: 1-866-ORCANET (1-866-672-2638), email [email protected], or post sightings on our Orca Network Facebook page.
*BE WHALE WISE! BOATERS - NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS OF MAY 16, 2011:
"The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect May 16 and apply to all types of boats, including motor boats, sail boats and kayaks, in Washington"
For more information on the new Federal Regulations, visit the NOAA Fisheries website.
To report harassment of whales in US waters, call NOAA Enforcement: 1-800-853-1964;
In Canadian waters, call DFO's Observe Record and Report (ORR) Violations Hotline: 1-800- 465-4336
Report the boat name &/or a description of the boat, & get photos if at all possible.
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