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Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's killer whales (Transients)
Unidentified killer whales
Humpback whales
Gray whales
Minke whales
Common dolphins
Dall's porpoise
Harbor porpoise
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Feb 24-28, 2017
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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

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Lolita/Tokitae,

 

captured in Penn Cove,

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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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October 6,   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.
In the early morning hours on Sunday October 2nd southern residents were heard on the hydrophones off San Juan Island. In calm seas later that sunny balmy day, they continued their travels down island, kept a southeasterly course where they spent several hours traveling, foraging and socializing in eastern Juan de Fuca. With reports of their sights possibly on Admiralty Inlet, word quickly spread to the many eager humans who inhabit Puget Sound this may be the day we await all year to hear the news, the residents have arrived. 
Sure enough, Js, Ks, and L87 (who travels with J pod) held a steady course and entered Admiralty Inlet that afternoon making Point No Point, Kitsap by nightfall. At daybreak, October 3rd, they were in Central Puget Sound, just south of metro downtown Seattle, spread out in sub-pods and mixed groups traveling northbound.  Their day was spent on a steady course northbound as they traveled up Puget Sound, stalling in places to gather and forage, before ultimately choosing a northwest course back up Admiralty Inlet,  exiting sometime after sundown. Word is Js went north and Ks went west.   

As we celebrate the life of each of the 8 newest surviving calves, and the others in their clan who make it through each day, we keep our minds on the delicate balance of hope and reality. Reality being their main food source has been decimated at the hands of humans and our hope being that we can still do enough quickly enough before we lose any more members due to lack of healthy wild Chinook salmon.
The Center for Whale Research reports J28 Polaris, a resilient fighter, is thankfully still alive, though she is still looking thin as his her infant son J54 Dipper.  This family is often seen trailing behind at a slower pace yet we hold on to such sprigs of hope when we hear reports that little guy J54 and his big sister J46 Star appear to be foraging together and sharing bites of salmon at times.


On the death of L95: October 5th NOAA announced that the satellite-linked limpet-style tag deployed on L95 Nigel, found deceased earlier this year just 5 weeks after being tagged, contributed to his death.
"After a thorough necropsy and investigation, including an expert review of findings, there was sufficient evidence to implicate the tag attachment site as a source of fungal infection to the whale. This fungal infection contributed to illness in the whale and played a contributory role in its death."

Chris Dunagan of the Kitsap Sun covers the story of L95 in his blog entry Satellite tag contributed to the death of a 20-year-old orca, experts say.

Bigg's/Transients have been encountered in Juan de Fuca and inland waters around the San Juans.  Humpbacks frequented areas north near Boundary Bay and continue in numbers out west in Juan de Fuca. So far, we are not seeing the same number of humpbacks as we did by this time last year in the inland waters of Puget Sound, however a small pod of the Common dolphins remains with reports coming in of their daily presence deep in south Puget Sound.
  
Your sightings reports during these Fall and Winter months will continue to prove beneficial in tracking the movements and foraging habits of the Southern Residents in particular.

Orca Network
Photo of the Day
October 2 
Late afternoon sun illuminates the blows of some of the members of J & K pods (& L87) who passed Bush Point, Whidbey Island while traveling southbound Admiralty Inlet on what marks their first 2016 Fall arrival in Puget Sound.
Photo by Steve Smith, October 2, 2016 
 
Southern Residents
October 4 
3:35 a.m. - Hearing some orca voices on Lime Kiln! Looks like they came back north!
Ali Barratt

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October 3 
7:28  p.m. - The leaders are now past Lagoon Point. Some passed very close to Whidbey Island. Headed north.
Margaret Marshall
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6:21 p.m. - Pat Scott sees orca dorsal fins mid-channel, from Bush Point, Whidbey Island.
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I camped my butt in the sand against the big rocks at Bush Pt from 3:30 to 6:30 to see these babies! I think last post before I headed down said they were mid channel South Mutiny Bay. Thats a lot of stalling but hoping they found lots of good eats out there...I know there is some good Chinook fishing south Mutiny Bay and before heading around the corner to Double Bluff. Once they came in view from Bush Point around 6:15, most were way out midchannel and further over. Dori and I first spotted them across towards Foulweather Bluff and entrance opening that goes towards Hoods Canal. Could barely see with naked eye, def needed binocs. Once they headed north a bit more near Marrowstone Island, they were a tad closer, like mid channel.
Marilyn Armbruster
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5:30-6:15PM - From a bluff a mile south of Bush Point lighthouse, at 100' elevation, the whales were 2-3 miles away, roughly mid-channel, where they usually travel. They were in travel mode, all 20 or 30 orcas heading north, spread out in small groups with a few adult males traveling alone. I saw only a few tail lobs and breaches as they moved in choppy water at a uniformly slow pace, each one in the same rhythm of rising, blasting a burst of heated breath, then rolling forward and disappearing.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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5:55 p.m. -  the orcas are now VERY CLOSE to the Whidbey side, approaching Bush Pt. in very cold, windy, white-cappy conditions!
Susan Berta, Orca Network
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4:50 p.m. - 20-30 SR orcas still foraging off Mutiny Bay mid-channel. Lots of tail-lobbing, omni-directional movements, but several tight groups, all generally oriented northward but don't seem to have moved much for the past hour.
4:05 p.m. - At least 5 or 6 orcas are mid-channel, probably up to west of Mutiny Bay, still going very slow, circling and lob-tailing, but trending gradually northward.
Howard Garrett,
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4:09 p.m. - They have stalled south of Mutiny Bay mid channel.
3:42 p.m. -  Still heading north mid channel. I've seen a couple of tail lobs. Viewing from the south end of mutiny bay. here is a humpback doing pectoral fin slaps too! What a great day!
3:27 p.m. - I'm seeing blows now south of Mutiny Bay.
Danielle Penningtons

3:16 p.m. - line of sight from Pt No Pt parking spread from Mutiny Bay back towards Double Bluff. Have observed some foraging behavior from a couple adult males including a brief direction change. Still northbound mid channel or east side of mid channel.
Connie Bickerton
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2:45 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Seeing fins and blows just NE of Point No Point. No clear direction, seem to be foraging from Point No Point  to Useless Bay.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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2:23 p.m. - At Point No Point: A few whales barely visible with the naked eye. I think most are between Maxwelton and west side of Useless Bay. They appear to be mid channel or slightly east of mid channel.
Connie Bickerton
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1:43 p.m. - Passing Scatchet Head now. Mid channel heading north up Admiralty.
Dori Dace
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1340 - spread between Point No Point and Possession.
They (east group) were stalled out heavy foraging along the western contour lines of possession bar at 1330
Michael P Colahan
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1:15 p.m. - Eastern groups heading towards southeast side of Whidbey. South of Cultus Bay. West group has turned east, looks to be south of Useless Bay/Scatchet Head.
12:50 p.m. - Now watching from Edmonds Sunset Ave, north side of the ferry terminal: pods very spread in all directions. More western groups appear headed towards Admiralty, others in groups holding line east of channel, unclear which side of Whidbey east side groups will choose.
12:35 p.m. -  watching from Edmonds Marina Beach: pods are spread across and north south. Most if not all past Kingston/south Edmonds still northbound in choppy seas. Steady pace... Some breaching & tail lobs.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Southern Residents, northbound Puget Sound, as filmed from the bluffs of Richmond Beach in Shoreline & the shores of Marina Beach in Edmonds.
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
October 3, 2016

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Approx 12:15 p.m. - I saw them heading north from Richmond Beach they were right by Edmonds ferry.
Joni Barnes Pollino
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11:52 a.m. -  From apple Tree Pt. Large group. Heading slowly north. Choppy and closer to Edmonds side - hard to see from here. Lots of blows.
Gina James Vigna

11: 50 a.m - leaders are past the mid channel yellow buoy off north Richmond beach, steaady pace in white-capped seas.
11:40 a.m. Pods are spread across either side of mid channel out from north end of Port Madison to the west and Richmond Beach to the east. Some grouping and brief stalling, while others maintain steady medium pace northbound. Lots of surface activity the past hour...breaches, wake surfacing, directional changes.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

11:42 a.m. - Orcas visible from Richmond beach park. Headed north. Can't tell how many.
Esther du Crocq
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Only one shot - from the group closest to us at Faye Bainbrdige, showing a saddle that Sara Hysong-Shimazu identified as K22 with 95% certainty.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, October 3, 2016 

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Report from 9:45  to noon today from Bainbridge Island. I was first  on Rolling Bay bluff, north of Skiff Point for most of the two hours ...reluctantly left Connie and the Kitsap gang at Fay Bainbridge around noon. At 9:45 am I spotted first dorsals about a mile south and west of West Point (Discovery Park, Seattle). Orcas were in a tighter group at this point and I counted 8+ bunched together hanging out in a patch of sun with the emerald city glistening behind them.
Orcas continued north  slowly with very little surface behavior. Chilkat came on the scene shortly afterward and whales spread out at that point. Connie, Kimberly and Aviva arrived and we watched from a distance for over an hour. The tug came by and we were too far away to see the surfing action you reported on ON. Around 11am we thought all whales were north and east on the other side of the channel, but a male and several females -and I'm pretty sure a couple of calves- appeared right below us very close to shore. We don't know how long they had been there but they soon made tracks and were porpoising to catch up the others which, at that point, which were well past Shilshole and on the east side of mid channel marker.
Susan Andersson
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10:44 a.m. - From Richmond Beach seeing at least one orca porpoising the wake of a large tug east of mid channel out from just north of Shilshole heading northbound. Also seeing blows of others behind that action west of mid channel. Groups spread. Shorlty after the wake surfing, larger group gathered, changed direction and milled for a few minutes mid channel out from Richmond Beach/Jefferson Head, Indianola.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:20 a.m. - They're moving at a medium pace right now, off Shilshole. Lots of tail lobbing and spyhopping!
10:11 a.m. - We are at Discovery park now and they are heading north! All of them (J pod). Ks too.
Renee Beitzel

And a belly flop! One year old, J52 Sonic (of the J16s), breached SO CLOSE to the boat but I missed it because it was so unexpected. However, he didn't stop with one! He breached over and over as they continued to head north. Such a cute little guy.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 3, 2016 

J34 Doublestuf (of the J22 or "Cookie" matriline) powering northbound in Puget Sound during their first visit into Puget Sound this Fall season.
Photo by Renee Betizel, October 3, 2016 

We can never get enough of J27 Blackberry, he is such a regal and beautiful guy. J27 was born in 1991 and travels with his younger siblings,  sister J31 Tsuchi and brother J39 Mako. Their mother J11 Blossom died in 2008.
Photo by Renee Beitzel, October 3, 2016 

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8:45 a.m. - Stephanie Raymond called from Emma Schmitz park in West Seattle while watching at least some of L pod, "lots of whales out there," mostly on the east side, heading north toward Alki Point. They are headed toward West Point now, lots of tail lobs and some breaching. Saw some Ks and Js in there too.

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8:45 a.m. - Leaders passing Elliott Bay, trailers still passing Alki, farther offshore.
8:41 a.m. - Passing Alki now.
Meg McDonald
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8:35 a.m. - I can see them between Me Kwa Mooks park, West Seattle and Blake Island. Heading north. Big group.
Kate Calamatta
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J pod female (J16?) off West Seattle this morning.
Photo by Kirsti E Muul, October 3, 2016

J46 Star (daughter of J28 Polaris) on the left trailing J34 DoubleStuf. Taken from Lowman Beach, West Seattle earlier around 8:10am this morning.
Photo by Kirsti E Muul, October 3, 2016
(ID help by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 

Spyhop off Lowman Beach, West Seatle.
Photo by Kirsti Muul, October 3, 2016 

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8:15-9:15 a.m. - Large pod off Alki pt - Large pod between Lincoln Park, to Blake Island heading north 8:15 am to Alki & beyond thru 9:15, several large males, lots of spy hops, tail lobs, pec slapping, breaching...
Jeff Crow
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8:08 a.m.-  killer whales northbound just off Lowman Beach in West Seattle. I was told j-pod. Maybe a dozen animals in the group I saw.
Jason Lee Bell
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7:58 a.m. - Charlie on the ferry Issaquah called to report orcas off Fauntleroy Cove, heading north.
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7:50 a.m. - WA State Ferries reports a pod of orcas heading north off the Fauntleroy ferry dock.

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October 2 
Southern Residents came down Admiralty Inlet today! Early afternoon reports came in of Js and Ks heading south off Whidbey Island near Smith Island, near Oak Harbor. We hoped they would head on down Admiralty and sure enough reports came in from Ft. Casey, then Lagoon Point of Residents heading south fast off Marrowstone Island in several groups, very active, much splashing. When we got to the lighthouse at Bush Point just after 5 pm beautiful backlit orcas were blasting tall sparkling blows in mid-channel, followed a few minutes later by four others including J27, much closer to the Whidbey side. Later more came south further out, all at the same steady pace, headed for Point No Point and Puget Sound
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network

 

J27 Blackberry and 4 others blessed those on the shores of Whidbey with a close pass by Bush Point.
Photo by Howard Garrett, October 2, 2016 

Beautiful sunlit tail lob.
Photo by Howard Garrett, October 2, 2016 

Beautiful afternoon spent watching Js and Ks passing Bush Point.
Photo by Susan Berta, October 2, 2016 

Photo by Susan Berta, October 2, 2016 

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7:14 p.m.  - seem to be stalled and milling south east of Point No Point. Seem active with many dorsals surfacing in different directions. Boat with flashing lights still with them...NOAA?
7:01 p.m. - pod heading south in shipping lanes east of Point No Point. Some of the group are well east of shipping lane.
Stu Davidson
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6:45 p.m. - I left Point No Point (PNP) about 15 minutes ago (6:30ish) the lead pack was traveling very quickly and must have been about half a mile to a mile south of PNP at that time I would expect them to be approaching Edmonds if they continue that pace.
Neil Hathi
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6:34 p.m. - Dorsal seen directly north of the Point no Point boat launch close to Whidbey shore headed South.
Melinda Barajas
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6:24 p.m. - Kit Turner called again while watching a single male also heading south, closer to the Marrowstone side.
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6:15 - We still see them from Bush Point approaching Point No Point.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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6:00 p.m. - 20 plus orcas (at least 2-3 adult males) heading south to Double Bluff. Traveling
John Ramsey

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5:58 p.m. - They (leaders) are just north of Point No Point Whidbey Island side of the barge.
Anouska Willett
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5:41 p.m. - Trailers passing Bush Point now. Steady travel southward.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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5:38 p.m. - Lots of whales in small groups passing Bush Point over the past 20 mins, and more distant blows now visible.
Steve Smith

A lovely afternoon on Whidbey Island with members of the SRKW's passing by Bush Point, including this close pass by J-27 Blackberry.
Photo by Steve Smith, October 2, 2016 

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6:02 p.m. - It's so calm right here we can hear their blows. There are multiple groups right now so I can look south and see them and I can look north and see them. Spyhops and breaches.
5:24 p.m. - Just passed very close to Bush Point still heading south.
5:08 p.m. - I've got a group already south of Bush point.
Danielle Pennington
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Watched members of J & K (& L87) travel southbound in several spread out groups in Admiralty Inlet. Most of the groups passed midchannel or west, but a few gave us some nice looks at Bush Pt. Welcome back - hope they find plenty of food.
Photo by Rachel Haight, October 2, 2016 

Photo by Rachel Haight, October 2, 2016 


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5:03 - Kit Turner called from Lagoon Point excited about seeing two groups of orcas moving south fast, very active.
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5:02 p.m. - leaders on west side south of Marrowstone. A couple of groups behind, southbound . A few groups on east side of channel off Lagoon Pt, foraging behavior, hanging out.
Rachel Haight
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5:01 p.m. - As soon as Howie called, I grabbed my scope and found them right away. They're off Fort Flagler (if that is the southern-most fort near Pt. Townsend). I first saw a splash, and then another splash, then a few blows. They're quite spread out and pretty far away, but I did not see any fins to speak of. There's a good-sized boat following them�doesn't look like a whale-watching boat. The whales do seem to be heading generally south, though a few are kind of wandering or milling. Thanks for the alert!
Elsa Leavitt

4:42 p.m. - They are between Lagoon Point, Whidbey island and Marrowstone island still heading south. A few breaches and tail slaps.
Margaret Marshall
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3:44 p.m. - From Fort Casey - they are definitely on west side. In small groups. Some are well south of pt Wilson, another group just north of it. All southbound at steady pace.
3:21 p.m. - orcas are on the west side in Admiralty Inlet.
Rachel Haight

1:00 p.m. - Js and Ks! J2 Granny and L87 Onyx in the lead with K13's and others following. Southeast off Smith Island so that puts them heading toward Puget Sound.
Renee Beitzell
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The approximate area we spotted J and K pod late morning into early afternoon was south of San Juans and west of the northern part of Whidbey. They headed in a south easterly direction between Whidbey Island and Jefferson and Kitsap Penninsula. Super awesome day for seeing such beautiful magnificent creatures, really took my breathe away, left me speechless at times.
Marilyn Armbruster

K20 Spock, born 1986 (mother to K38, daughter of K13) eastern Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 2, 2016


K22 Seiku (born 1987) on the left, eastern Juan de Fuca Strait, backdropped by Cattle Point, San Juan Island and Turtleback Mountain, Orcas behind.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 2, 2016
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 

J17 Princess Angeline and her  nearly one-year-old daughter J53 Kiki (Kikisoblu).
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 2, 2016
(ID's by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 

15-year-old K33 Tika of the K12 matriline, eastern Juan de Fuca Strait.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, October 2, 2016
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) 

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We were able to get off the dock a bit early, and motored out into Guemes Channel with glassy smooth water and sunshine, though with the feel of fall in the air. After checking out the lazy harbor seals on Colville Island, we happily caught up with some of J pod just south of Lopez Island. They were very spread out and heading south--we first spent some time with J17 Princess Angelina and her newly named 11 month old daughter, Kiki (the human Princess Angeline, Chief Seattle's daughter's nick-name). Also seen were J47 Notch (6 years old) and his mom J35 Tahlequah (18).
We then moved further south to catch up with quite a few of K pod, including K25 Scoter, a handsome 25 year old male, K22 Sekiu (29) and her son Tika K33 (15), K20 Spock (30) and her son K38 (just 12), and K43 Saturna (6), as well as others spread out across Eastern Bank, all heading south. They were later seen off the west side of Whidbey Island in the late afternoon. They were all very actively fishing, with great lunges through the water to pounce on the salmon, very dramatic and exciting! There were some breaches, a few tail slaps and a nice spy hop as well. It was yet another thrilling visit with about 20 Southern Residents, and very encouraging to see them eating and playing. All pictures taken with a 300mm zoom and cropped.
Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist

K38 Comet (son of K20 Spock) traveling eastern Juan de Fuca earlier in the day before he and other members of J & K pods (& L87) headed into Puget Sound.
Photo by Bonnie Gretz, October 2, 2016 

_

They were off Cattle Point, south end of San Juan Island at 10:15 this morning.
Report by Allie Hudec, photo by dad, October 2, 2016 


6:45 a.m. -  Orcas on Lime Kiln hydrophone
Thorsten Lisker

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September 28 
 - L25 Ocean Sun -
We had the pleasure to have J and L pods all day foraging around Sooke, BC today with a couple of Humpbacks and a Gray whale.
Photo by Paul Pudwell, September 28, 2016 


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September 27 
10:29 p.m. - Calls on Orcasound!
Vickie Doyle
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10:06 p.m. - Lovely orca calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Steve Smith

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September 26  
1:13 p.m. - L or K resident breaching by the humpback whales off Beecher Bay.
Photo by Clint Rivers, September 26, 2016 


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September 25 
Once the K16s were identified, "Orcinus" headed north and, ten minutes later, found more spread out whales in Swanson Channel around 1030. J46 and J54 were foraging together mid-channel and looked like they might have been either chasing a salmon or sharing one. J44 moved north past this pair while they were foraging. J54 still looks too thin for his age but it was encouraging to see him try to catch fish with his older sister.
See full summary and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 103.

Bigg's killer whales (Transients)
October 5 
T137s and T100Bs about 5 miles north of Port Angeles in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The lighting was unreal!
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 

T100Bs  - Juan de Fuca north of Port Angeles, WA.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 

14-year-old male T137A - Juan de Fuca, north of Port Angeles, WA.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 


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October 2
Infrequent visitors. While most everyone else was watching J and K pod residents heading for Puget Sound, the Island Adventures trip from Port Angeles encountered the T038's west of Victoria BC. These whales are rarely seen and it was my first encounter with them.
Photo by James Gresham, October 2, 2016 


October 2 
This is why I have a love affair with the Pacific Northwest. October 2nd we watched the T036A and T065B group of mammal-hunting transient orcas circumnavigate some of my favorite waters in the San Juans'. The evening lighting off Spieden Island was incredible and dynamic. I am so lucky!
Heather McIntyre

Gorgeous spyhop by T46A1.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 2, 2016 

Quintessential Pacific Northwest: T065B and totem.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 2, 2016 

Photo by Heather MacIntyre, October 2, 2016 

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The T36As in Haro Strait on October 2nd.
Photo by Monika Wieland Shields


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October 1 
 - T123 -
Another great morning off Sooke, BC, 6  minutes from our docks...we find Transient/Bigg's killer whales (T123s) hunting close to shore. Always great to sea!
Photo by Paul Pudwell, October 1, 2016 
 
Unidentified killer whales
October 6 - Georgia Strait 
9:15 a.m - Orcas, I believe 6, seen south west of Lasqueti and Texada heading north.
Jillian Rutledge

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October 4 - Puget Sound 
Amy Carey sent us a 2nd hand report at 8:30 this morning of 3 orcas southbound near Glen Acres on Vashon - which is just south of the north end ferry.
Humpback whales
October 5 - Juan de Fuca Strait 
We encountered numerous humpbacks out west about 15 miles from the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Everywhere you looked you saw humpback whale exhalations. It was incredible!
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 

Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 


October 5 - San Juans
Two humpbacks feeding between Patos and Sucia. Mother and juvenile. 1:00 to 2:00pm.
Dianne Dee Iverson

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Humpback heading west through Boundary Pass at 10:30 this morning  - taken from South Pender Island.
This same humpback just headed back east a few minutes ago at 12:30 p.m.
Photo by Madison Duffin, October 5, 2016 

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October 3
I was watching the pod of orcas (Southern Residents) traveling north past Mutiny Bay (Whidbey) and there was a humpback there too doing pectoral slaps. It was too choppy to tell the direction of travel. This was around 4 PM. 
Danielle Pennington

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September 29 
9:40 a.m. -  saw two whales frequently blowing water spouts over by Salmon Beach. Could see all the way from the Gig Harbor side! They were pretty tall spouts!! Could not see the bodies, but they were moving fairly quickly and headed south towards the Narrows Bridge. (Humpbacks?)
Gaby Kinnear

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September 28 
We had the pleasure to have J and L pod all day foraging around Sooke, BC today with a  couple of Humpbacks and a Gray whale.
Photo by Paul Pudwell, September 28, 2016 

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September 27 
As the sun was setting, a pair of humpbacks surfaced in Welbury Bay, no more than 20 meters  off the south shore of the Scott Point peninsula. Pretty delightful.
Peter Reiner, Salt Spring Island

September 27 
A pair of humpback whales passed within 100 feet of shore at Lime Kiln Point State Park on Tuesday. They were headed north at 12:45 pm. One had a nick in its dorsal fin (as clearly visible in one of the photos). It would be interesting to know if it is individually known by that feature.
Andrew Redding

One of the two humpback who passed close to shore off Lime Kiln State Park.
Photo by Andrew Redding, September 27, 2016 
 
A second humpback off Lime Kiln State Park.
Photo by Andrew Reding, September 27, 2016 

Fluke of one of the humpbacks off Lime Kiln.
Photo by Andrew Reding, September 27, 2016 
 
Gray whales
September 28 
Gray whale swims off Sooke BC while among Js & Ls and a couple of Humpbacks.
Photo by Paul Pudwell, September 28, 2016 
 
Minke whales
September 26 
Yes another glorious calm, sunny day for Mystic Sea's scenic trip through the San Juan islands to Salmon Bank, where a plethora of sea-birds gathered to feed on nature's bounty. Not only sea-birds but seals and Minke whales (smallest of the baleen whales) kept passengers intrigued with their appearances and disappearances as they made a number of directional changes. It's not often we are fortunate to see the beautiful tapered head of the Minke whale, but today's lunge-feeding provided that golden opportunity. Cruising on to Smith and Minor Islands we spotted another Minke, which has sustained wounds in front of, and on, the dorsal fin. Hopefully these wounds will heal with time... Growling Steller sea-lions jostling for a place on Whale Rocks greeted us as we sailed past their haul-out, giving it large with attitude!
Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist.
Photos Richard Snowberger, Crew, and Sandra Pollard - zoomed and cropped.

Minke whale surfaces while feeding at Salmon Bank, south end San Juan Island.
Photo by Sandra Pollar, September 26, 2016 

...Smith and Minor Islands we spotted another Minke, which has sustained wounds in front of, and on, the dorsal fin...
Photo by Richard Snowberger, September 26, 2016 

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Minke whale lunge feeding - caught his exhalation! Salmon Bank Monday Sept 26th.
Photo by Jill Hein
(zoomed and cropped) 

Photo by Jill Hein, September 26, 2016 
 
Common dolphins
October 4 
Pod of common dolphins at Spencer Cove (Harstine Island) for the second day in a row. There were 5 or 6 dolphins, and they have been around the cove all day near the middle of the channel. They leave periodically to follow boats and play in the wake, but keep returning to mid channel.
Photo by Nick Wenzel

Common dolphins  - Spencer Cove.
Photo by Nick Wenzel, October 4, 2016 


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October 1 
At about 3.5 miles on Arcadia Road, Hammersley Inlet, common dolphins again at 8:05 a.m. They have been regulars for the past couple weeks. There were 5 or 6 of them.
Brenda Rix

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September 29 
For approximately one week, back from Monday, we've had 3 to 5 dolphins traveling back and forth through Hammersley Inlet during the day and night. A lot of activity. Not sure what was see in Oakland Bay in Monday.
Brenda Rix 
Dall's porpoise
October 5 
Dall's porpoise, central Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, October 5, 2016 
Harbor porpoise
October 2 
Around noon I stopped at the Suquamish Tribal Center on Port Madison and watched a pod of at least 8-10 Harbor Porpoise surfacing from northbound towards the dock.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

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September 29 
11:19 a.m. - I'm watching at least two porpoises swim between Dash Point and the south end of Vashon. I feel fairly certain that they were porpoises because of the quick way they were swimming and their small size...the size and shape of the their dorsal fins looked much more like a type of porpoise.
Heidi Vincent
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! ALL WATERCRAFT  
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 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/video if at all possible.