April 2011 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of April 2011 whale sightings.

April 30, 2011

Finally found some Transients . They seemed to disappear for a few days but we found a group of about 15 including T37's, T65A and calves and T137A. They were in the middle of the Strait of Georgia and were heading for the coal docks.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver
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We got to see wonderful Transient Orcas this afternoon, north of Pt. Roberts, almost to Vancouver, BC. We didn't know they were out there until right before we left the dock at Snug Harbor Marina. It's a very long trip, but we had sunny skies, calm winds and a full boat.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island, WA
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I was at Lime Kiln Park (San Juan Island) with my friend Melissa around 2:45 PM. After watching the movement in the water it appeared to be a Minke whale.
Vicky Miller SSAMN Member
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A few blows and a back of what appeared to be a Humpback Whale slowly moving in a Northerly / North-West direction in mid strait between Sliammon (just north of Powell River) and Harwood. I watched between 10 and 10:30 am then spotted it again, a short distance North, close to Atrevida Reef around 11 am still continuing towards Lund / Savary.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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Probable Minke whale spotted from Lime Kiln -- we watched it from 2-3 pm. It was dark colored and we saw its small dorsal fin as it surfaced several times. Also saw a very large (possibly pregnant?) harbor seal hauled out on a rock, sunning herself. It was a good day for sun!
Kelly Howard
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At 3:00 pm, on Maya's Westside Charters, we met up with several transient orcas north of the Coal Docks BC, heading northwest. Shortly into the encounter they slowed down, split and each group attacked prey. The group we watched attacked a harbor seal. Both groups seemed to move off at the same time, continuing to move northwest at a good speed. I identified T75B, T75B1, T75C, T36As, T65As and the T137s. I'll post pics on my blog.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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We were blessed with Transients (I think the T137's, T65A's, and T37's if I remember correctly...) in the Strait of Georgia heading toward the coal docks near Vancouver at approx. 13:00. They were moving quickly north (with a couple occasional abrupt, milling halts) and were in two fairly tight groups when we saw them.
Katie Jones, Western Prince Naturalist
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So, we finish the month as we started, with transient orcas cruising the waters usually patrolled by the residents. Today, a group of 10-12 transients was located in Georgia Strait at approximately 12:30, about 3 nm north of Tumbo Island. They were traveling northwest, at a fairly fast rate of speed, sometimes porpoising. The group consisted of females, juveniles, calves and 1 sprouting male. We were able to identify some of them as the T65A group and the T137's, T137A being the sprouter. The orcas were traveling in two groups, with T137A and some juveniles lagging about 200 m/yards behind the moms, and engaging in a fair amount of social activity. At one point, the group stopped and was milling in one area for about 5 minutes, then continued on their speedy way. I've included a photo of a juvenile porpoising its way up the Strait (see photo above) - photo taken with zoom lens and cropped. We left the whales still heading north to northwest, west of the Tsawassen feryy terminal.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
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~11:40 am: Just spotted what appeared to be two female orcas just east of tanker parked in the (Elliott) bay. I think there's a group just heading out of the bay, but I'm not 100% sure. They seem to be split into a group of 2 and one of 3, they appear to be heading towards Magnolia from what I can tell.
Katie Kirking
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9:52 am: Sighting off of pier 59 seattle right now!!! At least 5 orcas, one big and one small, not traveling, just milling, SW of the ferry dock in Elliott Bay, Seattle.
Jerry waugh/Roger Aaron
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We heard tale of transients past East Point headed toward the coal docks. The whales were still headed NW at a steady clip of 7-10 knots. Finally another boat came into view. Then we saw huge splashes. Finally we caught up to the pod, almost. They were cruising at about 10 knots. At first we could see what looked to be 5 or 6 dorsal fins. Then, after a few good surfacings, the rest of the pod came into view. There were at least 10 whales swimming side by side and another 2 or 3 about 700 yards west of the main pod. We watched for about 20 minutes as the pods split and then fused again and again. There were at least two juveniles in the pod (one may have been more of a calf size). The whales altered their course very little in the time we saw them. They were cruising at the surface, taking big breaths. We shut down the engines so we could listen to the exhalations. It was so calm and there was so little wind that we could hear them even from more than a couple hundred yards away.
Laura Swoyer, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris
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We had two Orcas off Depoe Bay, OR today. No doubt there were more but only one very large male and another with a medium dorsal were spotted. I believe this is the third time in the last month we have seen them.
Jim Tate, Dockside Charters, Depoe Bay, Or.

April 29, 2011

I just received third hand information that at approximately 11:30 AM today there was a brief sighting of 4 orcas close to Yaquina Head, just north of Newport OR. The observers said they were heading south and were out of sight within a short period of time.
Jim Rice, Stranding Coordinator,Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University
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0740: 3+ Orca North Bound from April Point resort on Quadra Island, B.C.
AJ, Campbell River, BC, submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC
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At 13:45 paddling from Rat Island toward town we encountered a gray whale heading northeast, it fluked and resurfaced West of us. Continued to see it until about 14:30, it was swimming all around the bay, South to Kala Point, then popped up just a few feet off the NW Maritime Center Pier very near shore as we loaded our boats. Last sighting was headed East around Pt Hudson.
Sue Long, Port Townsend, WA
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I got really lucky and witnessed 4 or 5 pairs of mother / calf Gray whale combos making their way north very close to shore from above (a pullout on Highway 1 about 400 feet above the ocean just south of Grimes Point CA - where there's a sea lion colony on the rocky beach at the base of the cliffs). The whales were in close enough to be able to see them underwater, so thought you might like to see the photos (see above photo of the day, and photo below), which were taken over the course of roughly one hour - 10:30am through 11:30am or so. One interesting aspect to this is that at one stage, a Risso's dolphin (there was a small pod of them further offshore) came and swam between two whales (that looked to be about the same size - so not sure they were mother /calf), and both whales rolled on to their backs (see photo below), then rolled back on to their fronts again and carried on. Most (if not all) of the combos turned around a couple of times and seemed to hang out in the kelp - rather than just constantly head north - I wondered if that meant they were hiding from predators or something, but I only saw the Risso's in the area, nothing more sinister. Is that normal behavior for the grays?
Tim Huntington
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Connie Barrett of Camano Island called to report two Gray whales at 1:30 pm, mid-channel in Saratoga Passage, feeding 300 - 500 feet offshore of Cama Beach State Park. A group of people were on the point, watching from shore.

April 28, 2011

After receiving a call at about 4pm, from Simon Pidcock of Ocean Ecoventures out of Cowichan Bay, we headed up there on Maya's Westside Charters. There we encountered T75B, T75B1 and T75C. More of the encounter on my blog.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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We saw two gray whales in front of the house--north end of Beverly Beach--about 5:15this evening. Neighbors to the south reported seeing three; they have a better view. Whales making their way north, feeding, blowing and rolling.
Sally and Tom Cahill, Whidbey Island, WA
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Chris Burt of Service Education and Adventure (SEA) called in from underway near the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lane to say a gray whale rose and traveled near them heading north at 5:10 pm today. The lat/long was 47 56 30N X -122 19 48W.
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Saw the Gray whale from the 5:30 ferry - what an awesome blow!
Margi Hartnett

April 27, 2011

Three Orca whales seen in Harney Channel (one large and two smaller dorsal), definately saw the white spots. First seen on Shaw side and cross to the entrance of Grindstone Harbor heading west. Spent a lot of time off Sweeney Cove. We first saw them around 6:00 PM till 6:30 PM. We think they were playing.
Spence and Vicki Clark, Orcas Island, WA
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At 5pm, on the Western Explorer we encountered T75B, T75B1 and T75C heading west isns in this same general area.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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I had three transient orca inside Deer Harbor this afternoon. Pretty rare to see orca so close to the marina but with transients, one never knows. I heard from Ivan on Western Prince they are the T-75's. They have been around the Wasp Islands part of yesterday and all day today.
Tom Averna, Deer Harbor Charters
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At least 3 orcas between Shaw and Lopez at 8 this morning. Heading north east.
Melisa Pinnow
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At 6 PM there was a Gray Whale headed from NW Langley out toward Camano Head. The whale came from the north and seemed to be headed in a southerly direction.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley, WA
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We watched a Gray Whale for over an hour as it fed immediately off East Beach County Park (Marrowstone Island). The tide was low enough so that we could walk out to the edge of the sand flat and take some photos and feel about as close to the whale as you can get without swimming.
Ron and Brenda Hirschi, Marrowstone Island

April 26, 2011

Breaching Gray whales near Everett.
Island Adventures, Anacortes
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We saw 3 or 4 orcas, quite active,in the mouth of Friday Harbor just below the pt. to the east of of the marine lab on Monday as we came in on the ferry at about 3:30. A friend coming in on the ferry from Lopez saw them again in the same place on Tuesday afternoon.
Kathryn Richter
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We spotted two large Orcas ( at least - may have been four) at about 4.30pm off Plettenburg Bay, Western Cape (South Africa). They were fairly close to shore swimming from Lookout Beach and round across Robberg. I think they were disturbed by motor boat and kyak at got close to them. They then moved out to sea. Just prior to spotting them there was a huge school of smaller dolphin moving in the same direction. I would love to know if a sighting in this area is unusual and if this pod was migratory.
Susan O'Keeffe
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Just as we were admiring the wildlife of Spieden Island we heard talk of orca whales just outside of Friday Harbor. We said adios to the deer and took off in hot pursuit of the rumored whales. Just north of the harbor entrance we saw blows in the distance. We could count three separate dorsal fins at the surface at the same time. We cruised slowly alongside and slightly behind the pod of transients for about fifteen minutes. They stayed fairly close to shore and kept a distance of several hundred yards, but even from a distance we could see that there was a calf present.
Laura Swoyer, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris
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On Maya's Westside Charters at about 4:00pm we received a call of three transient orca spotted near Pt. Caution, coming up San Juan Channel. The three whales present were: T75B, T75B1 and T75C. These are the same whales who were at Anderson Island on the 24th. Later, from shore, I watched as they continued up San Juan Island, entering Spieden Channel, traveling west in mid-channel. I last saw them at 7:05pm angling toward Henry Island. T75B and T75C were seen on 4-15 swimming backward. Today they were swimming backward again, as witnessed by me from shore and Ivan and Chris on the Western Explorer.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Transients April 23 - 26 - Some IDs for the Puget Sound Transients: Thanks to some great ID photos sent to us by several of the folks lucky enough to see the pod of Transient orcas that has been hanging around Puget Sound the past weeks, we finally have IDs of several of the whales: T75B and T75C are there.
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
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Nice morning over here on the Marrowstone side of Admiralty Inlet. Finally saw a Gray Whale. Just after 7 a.m. this morning as I was walking south from East Beach. The whale was feeding immediately off the cemetary, then moved south along where there is a nice long sand bar and eelgrass flats that forms north of Nodule Point.
Ron Hirschi, Marrowstone Island, WA

April 25, 2011

10am - 2.30pm we had approx. 10 orcas off Cleland Island, NW of Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C. We left them in a resting line, 3 miles offshore heading south east. No ID's.
Claire Mosley
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A Pod - Northern Residents. Bill T. was walking his dog down close to the water around 10 pm south of Powell River close to Myrtle Rocks when there were a number of blows. Since it was so dark and his dog was afraid of this unrecognized sound, he could not get closer for a count on the exact number of whales, but based on the reports, we can only assume it was the same pod known as the A5s. They were very slowly moving southward, almost drifting with the tide.
Susan MacKay Whales and Dolphins BC
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We had reports of J-pod out towards Victoria and heading West into the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Pretty soon the whales were up ahead. Somewhere between 10 and 14 members of J-pod was consistently swimming southwest with short down times. We watched for a few minutes when a few of them suddenly switched direction and became more active. A juvenile breached a few times, followed by others tail slapping and rolling on their sides. We watched the activity for about 30 minutes before we headed towards home.
Mike Oster, San Juan Safaris Whale Watching
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Nice to see the familiar fins of J pod again! We found them near beaumont shoal close to the Victoria waterfront. We spent time with J27 and a youngster, maybe J45, playing. There were a few others around the area too but couldn't get any ID's, water was a bit choppy.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver, B.C.
I can identify what I believe is T075C and T075B1 in these photos.
Graeme Ellis, DFO, Nanaimo, BC
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Tristen Maschneyer called with a report of 2 orcas 3 miles out from Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA, heading east. He said both were males.
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Northern Residents - A5 pod - Around 4:30 pm 8 or 9 Orca spotted just past Dinner Rock (north of Powell River and just below Lund). They were resting on the surface then slowly moving southward and disappeared.
From John and Joan on Savary Island, submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC
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April 23 - 25 - I was out today (4/25) and Saturday (4/23) and came across some Orca. Jared Towers has confirmed that they were the A5's!!!!! YES NORTHERN RESIDENTS!
Andrew Jennings, Powell River, B.C.
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5:30 pm: Hearing calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Max Block
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I was still hearing calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone about 3 pm, then the computer froze & had to shut down - still a few very faint calls now though, at 3:25 pm. 4:25 pm: beginning to hear faint calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone again.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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3:30 pm: still hearing faint calls (Lime Kiln hydrophones, San Juan Island).
Shari Tarantino
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~3:30 pm: Hearing faint calls from Lime Kiln-
Phyllis Crumrine
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April 23 - 25
74 samples were detected and recorded at Orcasound hydrophone between 12:09-13:26.
31 samples were detected and recorded by Val's WhoListener software at Lime Kiln between 12:30-15:05. These files are available as mp3s via the online database here. Also, on April 23, there were 7 auto-recordings made at Lime Kiln of the calls we heard via the live stream.
Scott Veirs, OrcaSound/Beam Reach, Seattle, WA
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Whales (orcas) were spotted from Lime Kiln today around 1:30 pm until about 3:00 pm. They were fairly spread out and moving south (see photo below)!
Amanda Bailey
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~1:30 pm: Calls on Lime Kiln - very faint..but they are there! getting better!!! louder! Excited calls right now!
Vickie Doyle
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~1:30 pm: Southern residents @ Lime Kiln hydrophone! getting louder.
Mariette Hoop
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Also, just heard very faint call at Lime Kiln hydrophone at 12:32.
Andrea Wieland
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Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research reported that J pod passed the Center (NW San Juan Island) heading south at 12:30 pm today.
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12:28 pm: Suzy reported calls on Lime Kiln, loud clear calls can also be heard on Orca Sound hydrophone. Sounds like J-pod.
Laura Swan
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I am hearing extremely faint calls LK, (maybe just 5 vocals) beginning 12:14 pm Pacific time.
Suzy Roebling, Key Largo, Florida
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I spotted two Harbor Porpoise in Saratoga Passage, off Hidden Beach north of Greenbank at 4:15 pm, heading south.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA

April 24, 2011

Orca off Annabon Island, Equatorial Guinea - off the coast of West Africa (-1.4050, 5.6131 - Gulf of Guinea, off the NW coast of Annabon Island, Equatorial Guinea). I was taking a boat tour around Annabon Island, when we spotted three Orcas north of our boat at 11 am local time. We moved closer and followed them for 10 minutes. There appeared to be two adults and a juvenile. We turned back toward the island and saw another large Orca also swimming north. It was a real treat to see these whales on the Equator!
Matt Taylor
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We spotted a pod of orcas about 10:00 a.m. that swam north to south just off the west shore (about 60 yards) of Sinclair Island in the San Juans. There were at least six, but difficult to count. They then circled for a long time off the north side of Cypress Island east of Towhead Island. In 30 years on Sinclair Island, we have never seen the whales come to that side of Rosario Strait.
Marni Heffron
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Kim Allen called to report seeing four groups of orcas off Tide Pt, Cypress Island at 11:40 am. They were heading south down Rosario Strait, close to Cypress Island.
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Around 1:15pm, my husband and I spotted an Orca pod between Lyle Point (Anderson Island) and the Green Marker at the mouth of the Nisqually River, South Puget Sound. We witnessed at least three adults and one calf. They were surrounding and herding a harbor seal I would assume in an attempt to teach the calf hunting skills. At times they would surface and appear to roll over onto the seal and submerge it as well as rolling to create a wake that would wash the seal around into the path of another pod member. In one instance three adult Orca surfaced simultaneously, forming a perfect triangle shaped corral around the seal then went back down again. We watched them toy with the seal for at least an hour and a half. By the time we left the pod had moved closer to the mouth of Orro Bay (Anderson Island), in their pursuit of the seal, and had begun to breach the water and splash down near or on top of the seal, we couldn't tell which for sure. There did appear to be one Orca with a longer dorsal fin than the rest, a male I assume, and one calf about twice the size of a large porpoise. I also saw three large scar-like marks on the left side of the calf.
Christa Haynes, Anderson Island, WA
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My wife and I observed a group of 3 orcas in south Puget Sound at approx 1:45 p.m. They appeared to be a transient group consisting of one adult female, one juvenile, and one other whale that was either a second adult female or possibly an older juvenile. The whales were ~ 1 mile SE of Johnson Point roughly mid-way between Johnson Point and Devil's Head. We were motoring in our 32 ft sailboat at the time. We stopped and the whales first swam towards us, then passed us and continued to the SE until out of sight.
Ken and Sarah Dzinbal
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Some members of J pod were located in Georgia Strait, heading East, at about noon. At first, only 3 whales were seen, and ID'ing them was difficult due to waves, and long dives. Eventually, more whales were sighted near the Pt Roberts lightstation, and we could finally confirm that it was J Pod. J34, Doublestuff, was observed lunging, presumably after a salmon. Then J28, Polaris, was seen milling, with little J46, Star, at her side. The whales were very spread out, from Pt Roberts, to north of the coal docks. They were working the tide lines, doing long dives, and apparently foraging. Some vocals were heard on our hydrophones - such a sweet sound. Approximately 8-9 whales were seen, most too far away to ID.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
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Pod sighting with approx. 3 orcas, east side of gibson point fox island (S. Puget Sound) heading North around 7pm.
Lisa and Jay Gray,
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We found the orcas reported earlier, at 3:15 pm off West Beach, NW Whidbey Isl. NE of Smith Island heading south. Looked like a small pod, but so distant we couldn't confirm numbers or get any photos or IDs, so possibly Transients.
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5-7 orcas were seen off West Beach, Whidbey Island, at 2 PM, heading south about 2 miles out. The report was called in by Philip Donlay.
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About 3 orcas were reported in Case Inlet, South Puget Sound, heading SW, at 10:44 this morning

April 23, 2011

We saw T123A again traveling with T137A along the Galiano Island shoreline. They were very active with breaches, tail slaps and the classic belly to belly activity. There were a few other T's in the area too.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver
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My son who lives in Tacoma saw [orcas] from the shore south of the Narrows Bridge about 4 PM ). He said some people thought it was 2 adults and one baby. He thought they all looked big.
Linda Haverstock
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Gray whale off Fox Spit, Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island.
Ginger Miller
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And a N. Puget Sound Gray whale update from Cascadia Research: It appears to me we have had Gray whales #21, 44, 49, 53, 56, 383, 531, and 723 (so far in the 2011 season). The two regulars I do not think we have seen but cannot quite confirm if they might have been seen by someone else are 22 and 356.
John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research, Olympia, WA
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We live on San Juan Island west coast between the two hydrophones, and HEARD a LOT of [orcas] passing by beginning at 9:45pm. They seemed to be going north. Once they had passed (and we got cold) I tuned to the hydrophones but heard nothing, so the report of hearing them at 11 pm suggests they turned around and came south again.
Mimi Anderson, San Juan Island, WA
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I thought I would send you this photo of J28 "Polaris" and her calf J46 a couple miles East of Sheringham Point in the morning. Apart from J28 & J 46, we also were able to identify the "Cookie Crew".
Andrew Lees, Manager & Naturalist, Five Star Whale Watching
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We had been up on San Juan Island and were welcomed back to the Anacortes ferry landing by a small group of harbor porpoise as the 5:40PM ferry was coming to dock.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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posted on Facebook ~11 pm: Calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Probably J Pod!!!
Mandy Bailey
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posted on Facebook ~11 pm: Definately sounds like J Pod!!
Brittany Bow
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It is 9.30pm and I am listening to some wonderful sounds on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. It must be J Pod. They have come home once again.
Marie O'Shaughnessy
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I believe I faintly detected two vocalizations at 20:37 PDT on Lime Kiln hydrophones.
Suzy Roebling, Key Largo, FL
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On Maya's Westside Charters in the later afternoon, we encountered members of J pod, just east of Race Passage, as they traveled eastbound in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Whales were spread miles out from shore. Whales we saw were J16, J26, J42, J28, J46, J17, J44, J34, J22, J14, J30, J37, J40 and J45. More of the encounter on my blog.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island, WA
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Ron Bates and Mark Malleson relayed information on a sighting of J pod around Sooke Inlet heading east. L87 was seen to still be with them! They are fighting against a strong ebb so are traveling slowly.
From Kelsey on Beam Reach catamaran; the Gato Verde
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1430: J pod with L87 near Sooke (S. Vancouver Island), BC heading east.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria, B.C.
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Afternoon, we saw Orca just off the mouth of Mayo Cove heading down (Southeast) Carr Inlet toward McNeil Island (S. Puget Sound). There were three adults and I believe there were two calves. We live on the point between Mayo and Van Geldern coves and the Orca were 4-500 yards off shore. They were moving slowly and frequently surfacing until a Sheriff boat came roaring down Carr Inlet from the direction of Purdy, which caused the whales to dive. The Sheriff boat did a U turn about where the Orca dove then backed off to the North and came down off a plane. I believe the Sheriff boat deliberately "harassed" the Orca and definitely violated the exclusionary zone around the pod (as exhibited by the way the boat turned almost exactly where the whales last surfaced). Several minutes after the Sheriff boat cleared the area, the Orca surfaced on the far side of Penrose point, and continued on toward McNeil Island.
Douglas Wheeler, WA
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Reports of Orca Southbound in Lewis Channel just below Teakerne Arm (N. of Powell River, BC) around 11am. They slowly moved down the channel to just above the Copeland Islands, locally known as the Ragged Islands. The weather was almost summer-like, and flat calm water to boot! The Campbell River Whale Watching tour caught up with them around 12:30 pm between Kinghorn and Mink Islands in Desolation Sound. There were 10 or more animals in the group which were probably the Transients that had been working their way down Johnstone Strait April 21st. Later in the afternoon, the whales headed Northward up Waddington Channel and were last seen around Church House on Stuart Island just below the Yuculta Rapids.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of B.C., Powell River, BC
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A group of transient orcas was located at around noon in Georgia Strait, in the middle, west of Deltaport. The group consisted of the T36A's, T123's, and T137's. Initially, they were doing the typical transient travel - 5 minutes underwater, followed by about 5 breaths, and repeat. As the group traveled northwest, they came upon a California sea lion. The attack was immediate, with the females and even the juveniles getting in on the act. While the moms were doing all the work, T123A breached 3 times some distance away from the sea lion, then proceeded to perform tail waves. As it turned out, his anticipation of a warm lunch was not to be, as the sneaky sea lion managed to get away. The whales passed by the area where the sea lion had last been, but after a short time, they turned away and continued to the northwest. T123A and T137A were very chummy, swimming seperately from the mom & kids group, and doing alot of rolling around together.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
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7:20 pm: I live in SW Seattle. Near Seola beach. My neighbors have seen a grey whale according to another neighbor. Last seen heading north towards the Fauntleroy Ferry.
Debbie Numoto
I have a reader report of this, spotted 8:20 tonight just off Lincoln Park.
West Seattle Blog
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Carolyn Mercer called at 7:08 pm to report a Gray whale about 1 mile out off North Bluff Rd, N. of Greenbank - it had been there a half hour or so.
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~5:30 pm: This gray whale just swam north past our house on the Langley side of Saratoga Passage, just south of Bells Beach. It was staying close to the bluffs and surfacing every minute or so.
Harry West, Langley, Whidbey Island, WA
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We got a little side-tracked by the sighting of a Gray whale. It caught our attention about 12:45 just north of Langley. A couple on the beach saw it breach and therefore had the honor of ringing the bell. We hurried up the beach towards the sandy point and watched as it continued to spout, the whale swimming in the same general vicinity. As we neared the little sandy point he had moved east past us towards downtown Langley. He crossed over towards Camano and moved around out there about the time the parade made it's way down to the waterfront. Once the welcoming ceremony was over and folks dispersed, we spotted it again NW of Langley heading east. The whale continued heading east towards and nearing Camano head. About 3:15 was the last time we saw it surface. A most beautiful and perfect Welcome the Whales day.
Alisa Lemire Brooks & Ed Brooks, Shoreline, WA
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2:06 pm: Gray whale just off of Langley beach in time for the parade!
Michelle Dawdy McKain
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11:35 AM: Neighbor, Sue Kuebler called to alert me that their was a whale, headed from Murden cove to Seattle. Fast pace, very elusive, taking breathes every 5 minutes or more. Doesn't seem to be feeding, moving too fast. Nadine Benson calls to say the gray whale is back. Very close to, seems to be feeding, but still moves rather quickly. Tail (?) seems to have a distinguishing nick out of it. Still moving quickly. Again along the beach to Yeomolt, heading to Seattle.
Maria Mason
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10:39 am: Greys north of possession pt south of Glendale (S. Whidbey Island) spotted by Victoria Clipper III.
Don Heminger
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9:43 am: Grays just left Whidbey Shores, sadly going west! 10:39 am: Big gray heading back east toward Langley! Just in time for the festivities!!!
Cyn Becker, whidbey Island, WA
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We live on the bluff on Fox Spit and were blessed by that wonderful swoosh sound this morning about 10:00am as we were tending to our garden. We looked over the bluff and saw one Gray coming South towards Eastpoint. All at once 3 more surfaced! They were obviously feeding (rolling and circling) and stayed around for about 2 hours. I got a few pictures of the largest one as it passed by our house and will send them to you in a following email. He looked to be 35-40 feet long. Much larger than the other 3 which parted from the large guy and headed back North. As he headed towards East Point he traveled about 60 feet from the shoreline.
Ginger Miller, Fox Spit Rd Langley, WA
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One beautiful Gray feeding by sunset, just below the bluff~ Baby Island Heights about 50' offshore. It is a very dark whale, not a lot of barnacles - breathing, feeding, and enlivening the world! On her/his way south to Fox Spit now @ 8:15 pm. Nancy Nolan, Whidbey Island, WA

April 22, 2011

Pretty sure I saw an orca (black and white) and smaller than a whale, but it might have been a small humpback. Whatever it was, it was pretty exciting.
Christy Deich Mackey
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6:28pm: Gray whale on its way! Spotted near Possession Point Whidbey Island from the 5:30 pm Mukilteo/Clinton ferry.
Margi Hartnett
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One Grey whale heading north, nearing Mukilteo at 3:30 pm.
Tim Taylor
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Two gray whales feeding and slowly heading south toward Langley. Right now (3:19 pm) they are just off Whidbey Shores! Perfect timing for "Welcome the Whales" Day:-)
Cyn Becker
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We had a juvenile humpback breach repeatedly at Point No Point (N Kitsap Peninsula, WA) around 3:20-3:30 pm, also lots of pec slapping. The whale was first sighted heading northwest and then turned around and headed southeast into Puget Sound.
Patty Michak, Hansville, WA.
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Saw maybe 3 killer whales today towards the end of our trip at about 1:45pm at 36.46.5 & 121.53.2. One of them was tail slapping and then breached in front of the boat! We didn't stay with them too long as they began to mill about heading west. I matched the ID I took with a photo from 6/25/10. I believe this is a sprouting male who associates with the CA122s.
Kate Cummings, Blue Ocean Whale Watch, Inc, Moss Landing, Monterey Bay, CA
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2 or more Transient Orca spotted right out in front of the Powell River Ferry terminal at 8:20 am. I picked them up continuing on a slow roll towards Grief Point. Since they were close to shore, I couldn't get a definitive count on them, but one large male and one, possibly two females. Transient Orcas this morning at 8:20am by Powell River, only two were visible at any time with the big male being either T054 or T093. They did cruise by some sea lions, and were on a head on course for the porpoises reported by Myrtle Rocks. Two Orca reported just south of Powell River at 10:40am. Some resting and continuing slowly southward.
by Bill T. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC, Powell River, BC
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Anna Frier posted this great video of the Transient orcas that were in Henderson Inlet, S. Puget Sound 8:15 am.
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2-3 Orcas off Westview, foot of Penticton Street, moseying south at 8:45 this morning, larger dorsal on one, and fairly close to shore.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River, BC
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Saw the (Transient orcas) in Henderson Bay (Gig Harbor area) Wednesday about 8pm, Thursday ~4 pm, and this morning (4/22) too.
Anna Frier
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Orcas in Quatsino Sound (NW Vancouver Island) this week - very awesome!
Michelle LeBrun
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Fred Lundahl of Langley called in a report of two Gray whales feeding off the Dog House, downtown Langley, Whidbey Island at 9:45 am.

April 21, 2011

Saw the (Transient orcas) in Henderson Bay (Gig Harbor area) Wednesday about 8pm, Thursday ~4 pm, and this morning (4/22) too.
Anna Frier
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Report & ID of Monterey Bay Transient: 171b (his mother died nearly 10 years ago and he was cared for by 138) he moves around alot and is not part of 122s. CA40s, and 39s eat an Elephant seal.
Nancy (with Alisa), Monterey Bay Whale Watch
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Susan Bullerdick called in a report of one Gray whale observed from the 6 pm Mukilteo/Clinton ferry. It was on the east side of the ferry, heading toward Mukilteo.
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I've been enjoying the herd of sea lions in Penn Cove over the last month. In 22 years living on Penn Cove I can't recall ever seeing a pack of sea lions.
Bob Wagner MD, Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, WA
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This morning somewhere around 7:30 am, 6 for sure maybe as much as 10 orcas going east to west between Eagle island and Anderson island (47.11'12 N; 122 4.58 W) in Balch Passage, last seen closer to Longbranch. One good size male, could have been as many as 3 juveniles, another 3- 4 mid sized ones. Rather a leisurely swim, rolling - sometimes upside down - actually 3 were just stationary for a few minutes, just floating - took them about 15-20 minutes to swim through the area when first spotted at Eagle island to Otso point, then didn't see them for a long time until they surfaced closer to Longbranch.
Walt and Patti, North side of Anderson Island, Puget Sound, WA
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Watching two gray whales spout less than a mile south of Columbia Beach ferry landing (Clinton, S. Whidbey Island, WA). Posted on Facebook ~ 7 pm.
Tim Taylor
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I live just south of Hat Island in Everett on a bluff. At about 11:30am, I could see whale spouts from a distance. I imagine a gray from recent reports.
Anna Winquist, Everett, WA
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Saw the first Dall's porpoise since last fall here in Case Inlet (south Puget Sound) this morning. Just a single one, moving leisurely along.
Pamela, s/v Spirit of Freedom, Port of Grapeview, WA

April 20, 2011

Saw the (Transient orcas) in Henderson Bay (Gig Harbor area) Wednesday about 8pm, Thursday ~4 pm, and this morning (4/22) too.
Anna Frier
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Around 4:30 pm I spotted a blow close to the Texada Island side of Harwood Island. I saw another blow by the reef off of Blubber Bay, where the Texada ferry docks. Then, over a period of time, another 5 or 6 blows by one animal. No sighting of back or tail flukes, and looking at the size and shape of the blow, I lean towards it being a Gray Whale rather than a Humpback.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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minke whale spotted from the Gato Verde near Marrowstone Island in Admiralty Inlet this morning ! He breached at least five times that we saw. Definite minke: no big pectorals and small body size.
-Mandy from Beam Reach
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A magical 4th Annual Quileute Tribal School Whale Welcoming Ceremony today at La Push. The sun broke through at the river mouth as the children danced, the drummers drummed, and songs were sung to honor and welcome the "brothers of the sea". The tide was out, the bay was flat calm...no sign of whales. The Whale Callers, in stunning regalia, assembled at the water's edge. Two boys entered the water and bare-chested pulled the little raft with cedar boughs and a fresh salmon out past all the little breakers, a food offering for the whales. The boys swam back to shore. No whales. The ancient whale calling ceremony concluded, and participants came up from the beach to rejoin the crowd. Many eyes still hopefully scanned the horizon one more time. And then they were spotted: a parade of orcas moving north outside the bay. Some people saw five or six at a time, some thought they saw twice that number. An elder was heard to say "I guess the Whale Callers did their job!"
Margaret Owens, Joyce
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My neighbor called me last night and told me she saw an orca pod out in Henderson Bay off Carr Inlet in Gig Harbor / Purdy area (S. Puget Sound, WA). I saw 3 Orcas and my neighbor said she saw 3 adults and at least 2 babies. They stayed in the same area for numerous hours - splashing and seemingly having a great time.
Molly McCutcheon, Gig Harbor
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We saw our first [orcas] just north of Sand Heads in the Strait of Georgia. 4 whales, I was able to ID T123 and T123A who is sprouting now and his dorsal fin is getting huge! We left that group and started heading home when we saw splashing in the the distance and as we got closer we could see breaching, tail slaps, spy hops so we were convinced it was residents but as we approached, we realized after seeing T87 that it was a large, active group of T's! (between 12-15). T87 seemed to have the top of his dorsal fin either missing or flopped over.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver
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Marie at Orca Live from the upper Johnstone Strait area had one report of Transients today: Wow more transient excitement this morning! The T023's came back heading North in Blackney. They attacked a sealion about 100m off the lab and were very vocal throughout!!! They have now left view still headed North. They did not kill the sea lion and he seems ok as I am watching him now about 30 m off the lab. There have still been a few intermittent calls.
From Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC
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About 7 Orcas actively feeding off southwest end of McNeil Island, So. Puget Sound for 10 minutes starting @ 0815 (est. 47 deg 12 min 00 sec X 122 deg 43min 40 sec). Maybe one male and at least three young. Seen from Mahncke Point. Departing direction unknown. Two of our four resident eagles and about 10 seagulls went out to clean up the scraps.
Kurt Anderson
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Just 7 miles out of Moss Landing CA, we came across a huge gathering of killer whales hunting a sea lion. They were porpoising out of the water throwing the sea lion around, and some came over and spy-hopped by the boat. There seemed to be around 3 different pods in the area, maybe 15+ killer whales spread out over about 1/2 mile.
Kate Cummings, Blue Ocean Whale Watch, Inc Moss Landing, Montereybay, CA
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At 11 am students on board the Beam Reach Science and Sustainability School vessel the GatoVerde called to report what they believed to be a Minke whale in Admiralty Inlet, off Marrowstone Island. They saw it breach 4 times! They also reported a Harbor porpoise in Skunk Bay, Kitsap Peninsula at around 12:45 pm.
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Walked north from East Beach on Marrowstone in Admiralty Inlet and Brenda first saw the blow of what appears to be a Humpback at about 8:15 am. It was first about 1/4 of way out from Marrowstone side, heading north, quickly. Blew four times as it moved further out into mid channel. Last seen about 8:45 nearing Keystone, directly off Marrowstone Point.
Ron and Brenda Hirschi, Marrowstone Island, WA
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In one of today's Gray whale reports (see below), the observer mentions a possible Humpback in Saratoga Passage, and in a Facebook post by Island Adventures they mention a Humpback whale being sighted off Everett, WA on April 18th.
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Saw Gray whales from our office again today! At 5:05 pm I saw a spout in Saratoga Passage, off the south end of Elger Bay, Camano Island, very close to shore, likely feeding.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Three gray whales sighted in Saratoga Passage between 1pm and 3:30pm. Two were grays, one may have been a humpback although too far away to tell for sure. All three traveling separately: one from the open Passage toward Holmes Harbor, one crossing the Passage toward Camano Island, one traveling from west to east close to Whidbey along the face of Baby Island Heights. The most exciting moment came when one of them breached near Camano Island State Park at around 3:20pm. It appeared fairly close-in near the boat launch (as seen from Baby Island Heights).
Eric M. Frasier, Whidbey Island, WA
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Ally from the Beam Reach Boat called to relay a report from the Adventuress Schooner of a Gray whale off Jetty Island at 12:30 pm. Beam Reach was also with a Gray whale half way between Langley, Whidbey Island, and Elger Bay, Camano Island during the afternoon
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We just (~6:30 pm) saw the sea lion gang at the west end of Penn Cove, heading slowly east. They were diving and surfacing together.
Sue & Marty McDaniel, Blue Goose Inn, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA

April 19, 2011

I was flying up to Oak Harbor and spotted a gray whale feeding in front of Fox Spit on Whidbey Island, at 5:25 PM. When I was flying back down the Island the gray whale was still there at 6:10 PM! I headed down to Everett and found another gray whale feeding near the marine marker northeast of Hat Island and west of Everett.
Veronica von Allwörden, Langley
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I was at Camano Island State Park today around noon (For a Salmon TAG site visit!) when I caught a Gray whale spout just west of East Point, Whidbey Island. I watched for about half an hour while it gradually moved around the point and south along the shore. The timing sounds like it was probably the Gray you saw.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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Report of 6 [orcas] near the beach at Point White on Bainbridge Island is VERY interesting. When I was a kid we lived just north of Point White. There were rubbing rocks at Point White [about 300 yards north of the point] where orcas came in to rub. My dad saw them doing this as early as 1907 and I saw them as a kid in the 1950's.
Ralph Munro, Olympia, WA
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4:19 Broomgerrie Beach on Bainbridge Island. Alerted by neighbors Ben & Nadine Benson that there was a pod of Orcas near our house. There seemed to be 6. They were breaching, lob-tailing, changing directions and enjoying swimming towards Elliot Bay.
Maria & Jeff Mason, Barbara Becker, Bainbridge Island
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Powell River/Sunshine Coast, BC reports from Whales & Dolphins of BC: 4 Orca spotted by Grief Point, Powell River. They appeared to be in stealth mode, disappearing for long periods of time. They were close in to shore heading towards Beach Gardens Marina. One larger male and one juvenile in the mix. I watched to see if they'd come closer to Westview, but nothing till too dark. Since we've had around the same number for the past few days in the area, they may be Transient (meat eating) Killer Whales that have found a food source too good to leave.
A FB friend, Laila, gave me this site after seeing a couple photo's I took of 3 Orca's while at the Beachgarden's in Powell River today. They were heading south. I think I may have seen the big male you mentioned. He is huge. From Wendy P.
Above reports forwarded by Susan MacKay, Whales & Dolphins of BC
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On the Western Prince at about 1:30 pm we encountered many transient orcas attacking a Steller sea lion just south of Patos Island lighthouse. T36 and a couple juveniles were off, while others were in the fray just a few hundred yards to west. The whales identified were members of the T36s, T99s, T65As, and T123s. The largest male, among all of these whales, was a sprouter T123A. It appeared to be a training session with groups taking turns attacking the sea lion. When we left the scene the Steller sea lion was still alive. About two miles away and approaching the general area of the whales and the sea lion, were more whales. Identified in this group were T101, T101A, T101B and T102.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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We had managed to discover approximately 15+ Transients 1.5 miles SW of the Patos lighthouse and they were in definite hunting mode. The focus of all this attention was a Steller Sea Lion. He spent much of his time vertical with his head down to help him see the attacks coming, but with so many orcas, he wasn't winning the battle. The whales would act like they were leaving, only to suddenly turn back and take turns hitting the Steller. Even the younger calves got in on the action. Lots of lunges, a few breach-like aerial assaults. It was like an episode of Wild Kingdom. After an hour, we began to leave, only to discover yet another group of Transients! They weren't part of the hunting group, and instead were about 3/4 of a mile west of the group, kind of hanging out. As if they could hear all the amazing vocalizations and knew what was going on, but weren't invited to the "party."
John Boyd(JB), SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince
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Orcas yesterday from South Beach, Bainbridge Island; looking toward Manchester. Whales swimming north at about 18:10. Looked like 5, one looked very young.
nplus1, Bainbridge Island, WA
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Appears to be about five to six orcas, 5:15 pm - current (6:15) pm, Yeomalt Point, Bainbridge Island, about 500 yards from shore. Seem to be playing. No large fins, however, one baby in this group! Baby surfaces with adult, baby does some tail splashing, baby does tail splashing with body in backwards position (belly up). Adults doing some rolling to the sides. Small metal fishing boat (not sure, but think # was WN1289NY) approached slowly and took photos with cell phone. Orcas remained in area after boat went by.
Patty
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5:15 pm: 6 orca at point white on Bainbridge island. Close to the beach circling and looks like they are hunting seals. Probably transients.
6:05 pm: 6 orca are frolicking off Yeomalt Point on Bainbridge island. There are 2 young ones and 4 adults but no obvious mature males in this group. They are swimming and circling and have been at it over an hour now. close to the beach and seems like they are feeding...cannot tell on what but there are seals and sea lions around lately.
Chris Slye, Bainbridge Island, WA
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Ivan on Western Prince just found ~ 15 transients off Patos Island ~ 2:30 pm.
posted on Facebook by Deer Harbor charters
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WA State ferries reports at least 1/2 dozen orcas off Kingston, near Appletree Cove, at 1:03 pm.
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I saw the pictured Orcas off of Point No Point Lighthouse near Hansville at 10:00am, then again at 11:03am in Eglon (between Pt. No Point and Kingston, Kitsap Peninsula, WA).
Michael Howell
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WA State Ferries called at 10:32 am to relay a report from a ferry captain of a pod of orcas near the Southworth/Vashon ferry lane, just milling non-directional. Probably the same ones that were at Hansville at 7:30.
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7:50 am: I saw pod of 4 or 5 Orcas off the entrance to Hood Canal on Skunk Bay headed towards Point No Point Lighthouse area and following the Kitsap Peninsula shoreline. It could be the Transients. I didn't notice any large males but did notice smaller smaller fins, maybe an older baby . They stayed close to each other with lots of tail slapping and general messing around. They kept heading east without any milling back and forth.
Kathleen Higgins, Hansville, WA
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We are seeing 4-5 orcas right outside our house located off the tip of Hansville, WA, since 7:15 am. They are playing and having a great time. Coming clear out of the water completely, I believe they are stunning the bait fish. spanking their tails. They are located between Skunk Bay and Point no Point but more towards Skunk Bay about 300 yards from shore - definitely not in the shipping lanes!
Suzanne and Mark L Potter
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~7:20 pm: 2 greys were spotted just off Lincoln beach in Oregon. Looked like a mom and baby. Spy hopping and breaching!!! :0)
Holly Sutliff
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4:30 p.m., 3 gray whales traveling in a tight group east along the bluff from Baby Island area and rounded the bend heading toward Langley. They were very close too shore but weren't feeding.
Linda Frasier, Whidbey Island, WA
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Tom spotted two gray whales in Holmes Harbor at the north end of Beverly Beach about 2:30 this afternoon. They spouted and rolled, heading north. Heather, who lives just south of us, said she saw 3--she thinks two adults and a youngster.
Sally Cahill, Freeland, Whidbey Island, WA
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At 12:05 pm I looked out our office/sunroom window to see a [gray whale] spout in Saratoga Passage, between Elger Bay and East Pt. At 1 pm, the whale was just off East Pt, continuing south mid-channel. At around 5:10 pm I saw three spouts in Saratoga Passage, mid-channel between Camano Island and the entrance to Holmes Harbor, moving closer to Camano. By 5:30 pm, one of the whales had headed N toward Elger Bay, and the other two appeared to be continuing south. Though we typically have only adult Grays in Saratoga Passage, one of the spouts did appear much smaller than the other two.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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We saw Patch and Little Patch off the south end of Hat from 11:30-1:30 or so today.
Annette Colombini
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We observed a lone gray whale at 11:35 in the north west part of Port Ludlow Bay about 100 yards offshore just adjacent the Admiralty Condominiums. It was hard to judge its size but probably 30 - 35 foot. This was right at a -2.0' low tide and we estimate it was swimming in 40-50 foot of water. Begining location estimated to be 47°-55'-28.0"N & 122°-40'-46"W traveling slowly to the NW. It surfaced every 4 - 6 minutes, blowing 3 - 4 times before diving. It appeared to be probably feeding. Unable to get good visuals on markings except for one more prominent light patch (not nearly as large as Patch's [#49] and further forward) on its upper left side below the dorsal hump and a white/light marking on the tip of the right fluke. It was exhibiting very leisurely feeding/surfacing activity and only on the final dive of each sequence were the knuckles and flukes even partially visible. In a little over an hour we observed the whale travel NW for about 0.75 - 1.0 miles and then return about 0.5 miles slightly further offshore, apparently milling around.
Simeon and Mary Baldwin, Port Ludlow, WA
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Connie Barrett on Camano Island just called at 10:52 am to say she's watching at least two gray whales in Saratoga Passage out in the middle of the 4-mile wide expanse between Camano and Whidbey Islands, off Cama Beach, not traveling, just milling (or possibly feeding in deep water if there are large patches of krill).

April 18, 2011

Possibly heard what sounds like some distant [orca] whistles on the Port Townsend hydrophones at around 9:55 pm, but ship noise making it difficult to really hear them. By 10 pm it was definite - we were hearing LOUD and boisterous Transient orca calls! They continued for at least half an hour.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Howard Shippey "saw two orcas last night off Moolack Beach! They were fairly far off the beach, and moving north with some speed, but with 10X binocs I could see them clearly ... spouts, dorsal fins, color ... one large and one smaller ... how cool!!!" Mooloch Beach is just north of Yaquina Head (near Newport, OR). Orcas have been seen in this general area in past years around Tax Day (April 15) also.
Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon
Forwarded by Jim Rice, Stranding Coordinator Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University
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~4-5 orcas at 6:50 pm heading south in Admiralty Inlet between Ebey's Landing, west/central Whidbey Island, and Protection Island. hmm - possibly one of the Transient pods from the past few days?
Al Lunemann, Coupeville
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We finally found Transients hanging out southeast of Hein Bank. And it was so amazing. Two family groups, the T49As and the T49Bs were traveling together, and they seemed to be almost out for a "casual swim". Normally with Transients we'll see 3-4 quick surfacings and then down for a long interval up to 6 minutes. Well, these guys would come to the surface very leisurely about 8-9 times, then go down for 4 minutes, and repeat. They were highly non-directional, one minute popping up 400 yards away and moving away from us, and then they'd turn underwater and show up passing our stern. For a lot of the trip, we were shut down so we could listen to their blows and discuss Transients vs. Residents, life histories, and more. It was such an amazing encounter that we were sad to have to end the trip.
John Boyd,SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, San Juan Island, WA
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I found the T049A's and B's with T075B and T075B1 southeast of Hein Bank early this afternoon after following up Jeanne Hyde's shore sighting in the morning. They tracked to Eastern Bank where they then split up into two groups and each group killed a harbor seal.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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7:45 a.m. transient calls began coming over the OrcaSound hydrophones (NW San Juan Island) and then later over the Lime Kiln Hydrophones. I spotted whales on the far side of Haro Strait, closer to Vancouver Island side at about 8:30a.m. They continued south and then turned east toward San Juan Island, turning south again at about mid-strait. They continued in a down island manner until they again moved over closer to San Juan Island. I last saw them at 10:30a.m., some close to shore, less than 1/2 mile south of Pile Pt. and another group off shore, heading away from the island. On Maya's Westside Charters in the afternoon, we found, who I believe were the same transients that I saw in the morning. This time we encountered them in the area of Eastern Bank. There were a total of 9 whales: T49As, T49Bs, T75Bs, and T75C. We left them in the same area spread out and they appeared to be socializing. During our time there we did not see any clear signs of any kills being made.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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I'm hearing some interesting calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone. I heard the first calls at about 8 am. I'm guessing these are transient calls, but I don't believe I've heard these particular calla before.
Jane Cogan, San Juan Island, WA
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(report received at 6:30 pm) We had just got down to the boat when it was reported to us that a gray whale had just headed out of our bay (Port Ludlow) and was heading out into Admiralty Inlet. Apparently it had been swimming around the coast guard buoy for a while.
Michael McGouran, Maintenance Department, Admiralty One Condominiums
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You have gray whales in your back yard (Saratoga Passage, North Bluff, N. of Greenbank). Peg and I saw one roll and two spouts today between 0640 and 0700.
Ken and Peg Urstad, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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I, along, with a curious seal observed a small group/pod? of harbor porpoises [best guess] Just outside the green bouy; off Penn Cove's Snakelum Point.
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Orca Network received a call from Jim Hodgeson, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife pilot, who reported seeing a huge group of California sea lions in Penn cove at 11:15 am. He stopped counting individuals when he got to 50, and estimated there were 70 - 80 total, all swimming and diving in one big group.

April 17, 2011

Ken Balcomb and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research arrived on scene just north of East Point (48° 47.08 N; 123° 02.51 W) at 12:15 p.m. The transients, who had been traveling north into the southern Strait of Georgia, had just turned around and came charging back out of the tide rip and began some intense milling around Rosenfeld Rock which had 30-40 Steller sea lions on it. There were thousands of Bonaparte's gulls working the tide rips. The whales briefly harassed one sea lion but apparently let it go. A couple whales continued to cruise around the rock while the rest of the whales on the calm side of the tide rip milled around the area in a social kind of way. There was another group of about 10 T's in the area but were on the rough side of the tide rip so we did not make it to them. We ended the encounter at 48° 47.23Np; 123° 02.37 W, around 1:30 p.m.as the whales turned north again into the sloppy waters of Georgia Strait. The whales photographed by CWR: T36, T36A, T36A1, T36B, T36B1, T37, T99, T99A, T99B, T99C, T124, T124D, T124E, T137, T137A, and T137B. Sixteen whales total.
Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island, WA
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There were at least 3 Orca right around noon including at least one large male moving quickly, with lots of splashing Southbound in front of Powell River towards Grief Point. Could not get a definite count from anyone.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC , Powell River, B.C.
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April 15 - 17 - We had Orcas travelling through Sansum Narrows for 3 days in a row: April 15, 16 and 17, 2011. I wrote you about the amazing encounter with 31 Transients who stayed in our area for at least 7-8 hours Friday. (Graeme Ellis identified them). Saturday I did not go out to see them. Sunday afternoon between 2 - 4 PM I went out in the whaler with 2 young friends from Victoria, and we watched a small group (probably 8) feed in Sansum Narrows. Every encounter is amazing! I took lots of photos and will burn a CD for Graeme Ellis so he can identify them. Simon Pidcock thought they were 49A's and B's and one other. They MUST have been feeding as they were here for over 2 hours, but again, I never saw a kill or evidence of a seal being eaten. However the gulls were flocking over certain areas and seemed to be picking up bits of meat, so who knows? I have seen the whales so rarely the past 2 decades here in Sansum Narrows that I am not trained to identify the whales nor be an accurate judge of their behaviour!
Tamar Griggs, Bold Bluff, Salt Spring Island, BC
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There was a pod of orcas heading north. We spotted them off of the Beach Gardens, Powell River BC around 3:40 pm but way out there. At least 6, including one very large male from what we could see through the scope. They looked to be feeding, disappearing for 5 minutes or so and then reappearing in same area. A couple of spy hops from the smaller whales then they slowly headed north, so I texted my friend and she spotted them off the 5 pm ferry to Vanc. Island "close enough to touch".
Margaret
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We have spotted several porpoises ( porpi/porpii ?) - on Saturday 4/16 - & again - yesterday - Sunday 4/17... mid-morning krooozin' along off of the Greenbank bluffs - near downtown Greenbank.
Wayne & Lynn Flaaten, Downtown Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Joan and I were walking the dogs last evening at the west end of Penn cove and watched approximately 75 Male California Sea Lions. They would all be on the surface and then ALL dive at the same time for about 60 seconds. This activity was repeated over and over. I wonder where they are hauling out? They have to rest and sleep somewhere. The family up at the Arnold Farm said they hear them barking all night long.
Matt and Joan Klope, and Jack and Buddy and Lilly-belle and Paco, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Isl. WA
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Between 3 and 5 pm saw a young gray feeding 80 feet offshore, between Pt No Pt Lighthouse and Hansville store. We estimate his length at about 25 feet. Over a two hour period he moved up and down the beach leisurely feeding.
Janice Ceridwen, Hansville, WA.
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At about 3:00 p.m. - a gray whale was spotted - heading south in Saratoga Passage - betwixt Greenbank and the State Park boatramp on Camano Island (closer to Camano Island).
Wayne & Lynn Flaaten, Downtown Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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At least two greys in Possesion Sound about half way between the Everett Marina and Hat Island at about 11:30am. We saw them from the boat but did not get close enough to see any markings. We saw one or two spouts and then they disappeared.
Adriaan Wakefield
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We spotted two grays just south of Gedney/Hat Island around 10:15. They were heading south at first, then turned toward Clinton. One was definitely #383 (several passengers got good pictures of flukes to confirm). The other was probably #22, but that's based on only one picture that wasn't at an ideal angle. I also spotted a single gray at the mouth of Holmes Harbor as we passed around 2:30 pm, a little ways NE of Baby Island.
Stephanie Raymond, Naturalist, Victoria Clipper III
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This superpod of transients is great! We found them just north of east point on Saturna Island and they were playing with a sea lion for a while and then there was a lot of social interaction and a lot of vocalizing! Weather and whales were perfect, couldn't ask for a better first day. Here are a couple pictures.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver, B.C.
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Tamar Griggs of Bold Bluff Retreat, Salt Spring Island, B.C. called to report that the Transient orcas were back in Sansum Narrows again for several hours. She said they had been ID'd as the T46's by Simon Pidcock.
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Approximately 12-15 orca were at the mouth of Fulford Harbour. I assume that they are residents (but more likely the large group of Transients that has been in the area the past 3 days). There were several juveniles and perhaps one very small one. They arrived at around 7:15 am and left around 8:00 am. They came into the bay on the west side of Russell Island went further into the bay and went out on the east side of Russell. They are currently headed southeast. I live on the west side of the bay across from Russell Island on Roland Road. I am checking whether I can spot them way out between Pender and us, but I haven't seen them yet. They may go around the point toward Active Pass or? 8:41 am: I just spotted them out in the channel between Pender and Salt Spring. They seem to be south of Beaver Point on Salt Spring. While they were in the harbour, they seemed to be eating - not frenzied, just slow easy swimming, sometimes turning, relaxed.
Susan Thorpe MacLeod, Salt Spring Island, B.C.
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After receiving the call from Connie Barrett, Howard went to the bluff and found the 2 gray whales feeding just under us in north Greenbank, Whidbey Island from 5:30 to 6:15, sometimes within 30 feet of a row of beach houses on Hidden Beach. Then they moved south toward Holmes Harbor, stopping a few times to gulp some more on the way.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
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Connie Barrett of Camano Island called at 5:15 pm to report they were watching two Gray whales feed over off Whidbey Island, at Hidden Beach just north of Greenbank, moving slowly south.
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~11 am: Grey's spotted just south of hat island by Victoria Clipper III.
Don Heminger
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About 10:45 am watched some blows just north of Clinton (s. Whidbey Island). Saw 2 blows appear about the same time more than once, so suspect 2 grays traveling together, Seemed to be moving south toward ferry.
Mary Dulin

April 16, 2011

Just heard of a report -We had transients at Oyster Bay - 3 pm and then Salmon Point - 5 pm on Saturday. This is between Campbell River BC and Black Creek on the Vancouver Island side of Georgia Strait.
Just hear of another report of 6 Orca entering in Havannah Channel around 4 pm near the top end of Johnstone Strait from Bill and Donna MacKay who operate MacKay Whale Watching out of Port McNeill on Vancouver Island
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC , Powell River, B.C.
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Grey whale headed west in mutiney bay on Whidbey 2pm .
Dean Peterson
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Steve Olmstead called in about a gray whale just south of Three Tree Point, Puget Sound, due west of SeaTac airport, feeding all morning until about 9:30 am, then headed north.
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At 7:15AM two gray whales slowly swam by right along the drop off, northwest of Langley. They were traveling from the northwest to the southeast towards downtown Langley. One whale headed off into deeper water towards Camano head, the other continued along the drop off to the southeast.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley, Whidbey Island, WA
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A gray whale was gulping ghost shrimp blasted out of the mud, from about 2:30 pm April 15. This was at Hidden Beach off North Bluff Rd., Whidbey Island.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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The large gang of Transients came back south through Samsun Narrows in the afternoon. The group included T20, 21,T87,88, the T90's, 124's, 36's, and 99's. At 2000hrs I received a call from a colleague who was at the Malahat Mountain Inn that saw them in Saanich Inlet.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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We got word that Transient Orcas were over near Salt Spring Island going north. Too far and too chancy, but then we got a call from Simon Pidcock, owner of Ocean Ecoventures, out of Duncan. They had turned south and Mallard was headed that way. We followed and were treated to about 20 Orcas headed into Cowichan Bay, BC.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island, WA
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8:30 am: Transients in Stewart Channel -- about 10 orcas (1 male, several females and juveniles) one mile north of Thetis Island, heading south into Trincomali.
Dave Twyver
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Northern Resident Orca feeding actively off the southern tip of Quadra Island (posted on Facebook ~ 4 pm). Breaching, lob tailing, and speed swimming, visible from land.
Camille Rock
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Around 5 pm I spotted between 10 to 12 Pacific White Sided Dolphins moving with great purpose. They headed Northwest from the Powell River side of Rebecca Rocks out towards Vivian Island and into Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC Blog

April 15, 2011

About 6:00 PM this evening along the west side of Orcas Island. They are the T49As, the T49Bs, the T75Bs and T75C...They made several seal kills and perhaps one sea lion today. Lots of little mouths to feed. And there were reports of many more over near Salt Spring Island.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island,WA
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Graeme Ellis of Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans called in a report of his encounter with the large group of Transients in Sansum Narrows and Ladysmith Harbor, B.C.. They had a total of about 31 orcas, IDs include the T100s, T36s, T20 & T21, T124s, T65As T90s, T99s, T137s, T87s and T37s. They found them in Swanson Channel after we got the call from Tamar Griggs, then followed them down as they went into and back out of Ladysmith Island, and left them around 7 pm up by Yellow Pt.
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Hunting transients off of yellow island! They were very surface active with short dive times, tail slapping, and even a juvenile in the mix. At least 9, maybe more.
Laura, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris, San Juan Island
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8:00-8:30 - the dive boat Magician spotted 6-8 OFFSHORE type killer whales feeding on fish. They were mid-Channel, about 10 miles off of the Los Angeles Harbor entrance, last seen heading slowly east.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census Project
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Robin Llewellyn of Greenbank called Orca Network Friday morning to report a sighting of several fins on smaller marine mammals in Saratoga Passage, from her description we believe she was watching Harbor porpoise.
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About an hour ago (~ 8 pm) a friend on my facebook says she was on the thetis ferry seeing killer whales!
E.J. Christiano
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Just saw (~7:40 pm) a male 2 females and some young orcas feeding at Bear Pt Chemainus Is from the ferry.
John McKenzie
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Small group of Orcas (5-8) of off Point Doughty on Orcas Island about 6:30 this evening, heading north.
Dimitri Stankevich
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5 pm - a small group (4-6) Orcas swam into Ladysmith Harbour, made a short tour and headed out again. Last seen at 6:30 pm heading into Stuart Channel.
Larry Paley
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6.00 pm - my almost apoplectic with excitement mother, Doreen Semmens, called from Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, to report seeing '...orcas popping up off Transfer Beach all over the place in groups of twos and threes...' from the comfort of home. No time to get down to the beach to take photos in case they disappeared (which they did while I was talking to you). They headed in the direction of Coffin Point, and seems you already had this unusual event of a 'transient superpod' logged with researchers on the scene. Mum had a great Happy Hour!
Sandra Pollard, Freeland, Whidbey Island, WA
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Across Ladysmith Harbour from Saltair I think, 5 Orcas - 2 adults, 3 young ones heading in toward Ladysmith at 5:30 pm.
Jane Avis
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Whales were spotted at Cattle Pass at about 9 a.m. The whales were the T49As, T49Bs, T75Bs and T75C (Transient orcas). Throughout the day they traveled up San Juan Channel - the first 2 hours they were feeding on what I believe was a Steller sea lion kill, based on the length of time and the amount of birds that stayed with the whales looking for scraps. At noon on the Western Prince the whales were still south of Friday Harbor and one whale did a very unusual thing, and repeated it several times. The whale was swimming backwards!
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At about 5:30 pm on Maya's Westside Charters we encountered the same whales as they made a kill in President Channel, along the northwest side of Orcas Island. When we left they were still heading north.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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This was the most stupendous day in my life at Bold Bluff! My neighbour across the (Sansum) Narrows phoned to say the whales were coming past my home shortly before 10AM, so I grabbed my camera and life jacket and dashed out in the whaler with Daisy, my dog. I followed two orcas for an hour. One had a tall wobbly dorsal fin and the other a small one - probably a male and female. Often they dove and rose together, as if in a ballet. I followed them for an hour, all the way to Cherry Point at Cowichan Bay and left them there, heading south. On my way back up Sansum Narrows right at Burial Island to my amazement I saw gigantic splashes and action - wow! A big gathering of more orcas where the seals haul out. There were whales everywhere: spy-hopping, jumping, slapping their tails and flippers, dashing here and there crossing over each other and having a grand time. It seemed like there were a lot of babies! I had not a clue whom I was watching, (but I knew I could find out later by phoning you!) My memory card ran out just when I reached the scene of action, so I zoomed home to fetch another card, and my two pruners who were working in the orchard. It didn't take much to convince them to join me in my big boat. Wow! Is all we could say. The whales were super active, and it FELT as if they were chasing food but we never witnessed their surfacing with a big morsel in their mouths. Altogether I stayed out with the whales for 3 and a half hours. Once they surrounded my boat, circling around me (I had taken my pruners back to work!) and I got nervous. Were they asking me to leave? Were they curious? Was there a poor seal hiding out beneath my boat? Two Steller Sea Lions looked very scared. They were heading towards shore with their heads high out of the ocean, looking back towards the whales. Brr! I was COLD! So back at home with a cup of hot tea, I phoned you to ask if anyone had reported the whales and knew who they were. Thank you for getting to Ken Balcomb and John Ford! Graeme Ellis and John came down from Nanaimo, and Simon Pidcock came out from Cowichan Bay. Graeme indentified them as Transients, and I am sure he will send you a report of exactly who was playing in the Narrows for so long. Simon stopped by this evening and said he saw a huge carcass on the surface - a sea lion, so they WERE dining! I got some superb photos, too! What a blessing to be living at Bold Bluff, with a good neighbour who phones to let me know the whales are here. I was just heading out the back door to clean the Garden Cottage with a bucket of rags when she phoned. I would have missed the entire show if Joan hadn't called at the precise time she did.
Tamar Griggs, Bold Bluff, Salt Spring Island, BC
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While pruning fruit trees on a historic property at Bold Bluff, Sansum Narrows, between Salt Spring Island and Vancouver Island, we were called out to get in the boat and witness a rare sight, brought to the property owner's attention by a phone call from a neighbour who lives in the Narrows. The orcas had been feeding since daybreak and it was now 11:30 am. Dozens and dozens of orca were feeding in the vicinity of Burial Isl, both to the distant south and east and west in the narrow channel. It is unclear how many were present, though 50 or more was guessed. They would surface in groups of 3, 5, 7 and more, individually or in pairs. There were babies and good old boys. They exhibited every orca behaviour I've ever heard of, repeatedly, both near and far. They were very tactile with each other, seeming to mount each others backs. After feeding, they seemed to get very playful. The numbers of whales and the level of activity was extroadinary. I will never forget this experience.
Bonnie and Raj, Salt Spring Island, B.C.
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We saw at least 6 Orcas by Lopez Island, coming up San Juan Channel with the flooding tide, starting at about 12:20pm. They were in 2 groups appearing to be feeding as many gulls were with them for leftovers. It looked like 2 families, 2 adult females with their offspring. Able to indentify T-049B with her 5 year old calf T049B1, and it looked like she had a new calf- we could see the yellow tint of the little calf's' white eye patches and chin! They all joined up and swam toward Shaw Island, stopping, lunging and circling as if hunting, then spy hopping at Thatcher Pass, as if deciding which channel to take. They continued up San Juan Channel, crossing over toward San Juan Island and began to hunt again with circling, direction changes, and tails hanging above the water. We went to see Yellow Island and Steller Sea Lions on Spieden Island and as we headed back to Friday Harbor, going between Orcas and Jones Island at about 3pm, there the Killer Whales were again!, families hunting and traveling. We also saw Harbor Seals on the rocks, Bald Eagles, Rhinoceros Auklets, Murres, and Cormorants. A delightful trip!
Caroline Armon, Onboard Tours and The Odyssey, San Juan Island
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Transients are at Whale Rock near Lopez Island at 9:30am. Same group as yesterday.
Karen Chapin Rhinehart
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~7:30 am: Transient orcas T41, T41 and an unknown (not T44) hanging around in Barkley Sound, B.C.
Peter Mieras, Rendezvous Diving, Barkley Sound
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Susan, it 9:00AM Friday there is a single whale maybe Pilot or False Killer Whale 1/4 mile off shore at Lagoon Point headed south. It has a very short dorsal fin that curves toward the tail.
Paul Kukuk, Lagoon Pt, Whidbey Island, WA
We're wondering if this might also possibly be a Minke whale, or the Humpback that has been seen recently, sounds more like a possible Minke - ON
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Nancy Zaretzke called to report a Gray whale mid-channel in Saratoga Passage north of Greenbank at noon. She called back at 2:08 pm to say it was still there, now feeding. This is just north of us, so Howard went down to the bluff and watched it until about 3 pm, as it fed close to shore.
Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Island Adventures reports on Facebook they saw Gray whales # 53 and # 723 today (4/15) off Everett - #723 even gave them a spyhop!

April 14, 2011

Island Adventures reports they saw gray whales #53, and possibly #1105, one of the "newer" North Puget Sound Grays that has just visited the area the past 3 years.
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Jim Maya called Orca Network to report ~15ish? Transients heading north in San Juan Channel 1 mile north of Turn Island at 1 pm, then sent this: We were calling last year the Year of the Transient Orca...Now this year is turning out to be it's equal or even better. Transients Orca numbers are INCREASING! Why? Lots of food! It's simple. Once again we had about ten of them. They were first sighted near Cattle Pass, then moved up past Friday Harbor and then on up to Jones Island.
Capt. Jim, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island, WA
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On Maya's Westside Charters we encountered transient orcas as they were traveling north up San Juan Channel. They were just outside of Friday Harbor and quite close to the entrance. It was the T49As, T49Bs, T75Bs and T75C. We left them at the north of Yellow Island, still heading north.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island, WA
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It was about five miles w of Moss Landing CA. We were with the orcas for several hours - observed a rather speedy sea lion kill by the males. After that the female group came in and they circled about and approached our boat repeatedly. One grabbed a free floating buoy in his mouth. They did several bubble bursts on our boat from directly below us. It looks like the same group we saw this past Sunday.
Dorris and Mike, Sanctuary Cruises, Monterey Bay, CA

April 13, 2011

After receiving a report of Transients in San Juan Channel, Center for Whale Research staff Dave Ellifrit and Erin Heydenreich departed on vessel Starlet from Snug Harbor. The encounter began at 9:56 am mid San Juan Channel (48° 34.95 N; 123° 02.07 W) with the T137's , T49B's and T49A's traveling in a loose group. We later encountered the T65A's and T36A's traveling up San Juan Channel. We also encountered the T75B's and T75C which have not been previously encountered by the Center. The encounter ended in Boundary Pass off John's Island (48° 40.81 N; 123° 08.73 W) at 11:26 am. The whales spread out and were heading toward Saturna Island, B.C. In all we had 20 transients: T20, T21, T36A, T36A1, T49A, T49A1, T49A3, T49B, T49B1, T49B2, T75B, T75B1, T75C, T65A, T65A2, T65A3, T65A4, T137, T137A, AN T37B.
Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island, WA
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At 6:00 pm, two gray whales heading east in Saratoga Passage closer to Whidbey side visible from Baby Island Heights.
Linda Frasier, Whidbey Island, WA
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Mark Willard of WA Dept of Fish and wildlife called to report 4 orcas, 1 male and 3 females, heading east just north of Protection Island, Admiralty Island, in the shipping lane, at 9:30 am.
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We had the (Transient orcas) T-137's, the T-65's, T-20, T-21, T36B's and others off Waldron (Island, San Juan Islands).
Deer Harbor Chaters, Orcas Island, WA
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8:45 am: [Orcas] somewhere in San Juan Channel!!! (via a friend on the ferry). They were near Yellow Island heading north around 10 am-ish. Four groups of transients in one "super pod".
John Boyd, San Juan Island
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9:23 am: Transients (T20 and T21?) in San Juan Channel heading towards Cattle pass.
Jenny Atkinson, the Whale Museum, San Juan Island, WA
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WhoListener (OrcaSound auto-detection program) detected more transient calls at 2:04, 2:31, and 03:55 a.m. at Lime Kiln hydrophones.
Scott Veirs, OrcaSound/Beam Reach
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Island Adventures reported via Facebook that they saw Gray whale 53 in the shallows of the river delta off Everett early and also on Tuesday diving in the ferry lanes between Clinton and Mukilteo, WA.
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Ironically I was fishing between Pt. No Pt. and Pilot today and saw the Minke (solo) circling in about 150 feet of water. There are 1 or 2 virtually everytime I fish Eastern and Hein Bank, they are so common I don't think about reporting them. They are usually in the areas holding large concentrations of shrimp and sandlance which shows on my sonar.
Mike Reid

April 12, 2011

We watched two whales below our deck off Polnell Rd, Oak Harbor all day. They were here for a while on Tuesday afternoon and night.
Alice Ellis, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA
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We watched many seals and some type of whale out at Pt No Point (N. Kitsap Peninsula, WA) east of the light house. Thought a gray but had more of a distinct dorsal fin. Read that there were gray's recently in area. Would like to know what it was. Orca Network sent the link to the photo of the Humpback whale reported in Puget Sound from the KING 5 TV website, and Katrina replied: That looks like what we were seeing. Awesome!
Katrina Diller
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After a call from Jerry Mercer on North Bluff Rd., Whidbey Island, at 5:05pm that a gray whale was making its way north in Saratoga Passage, I went to the bluff and after a half hour saw a blow about a mile northward. I got a shot of the fluke at about 5:35 and it turned out to be Patch, #49.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Two [gray] whale spouts were seen from the beach at Crescent Harbor (closest to Crescent Harbor Navy Housing). I spotted them the first time at about 2:40 p.m. I had the opportunity to watch them again at about 3:50 p.m. for about 30 minutes. The whales were quite a distance from shore, but there were two distinct spouts that could be seen off and on. They seemed to be gradually making their way north during the time that I was able to watch them.
Valerie Rosebery, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA
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Between 6:25 and 7:15 pm (while looking for Patch, who I never did see!) I observed several dozen porpoise (appeared to be Harbor porpoise) in Saratoga Passage off Hidden Beach north of Greenbank. They were traveling in small groups of 3 - 6, mostly heading north, but some heading south. There were also about six California sea lions swimming south mid-passage, rolling around each other, then another one further south, rafting with its head and flipper up, drifting north.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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11:45 pm: Now there are calls on San Juan Island hydrophone.
Lauren Johnsen
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Transient calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone from about 10:30-11:30 pm.
Jane Cogan, San Juan Island
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9:35 - 9:39 pm: Here they come - Orca at Lime Kiln - Loud and many calls (on hydrophones).
10:25 pm: Beginning to hear Orca at OrcaSound as well (further north) as Lime Kiln.
10:28 pm: Orca spread out between Lime Kiln and OrcaSound going north slow.
11:04 pm: Orca at Orcasound, still there at 11:29 pm.
Lon Brockelhurst, Olympia, WA
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10:45 pm: Transient calls NOW on the Lime Kiln hydrophone!
Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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Andrew Beckett called Orca Network at 6:25 pm with a report of at least 2 orcas, both females (not adult males), off Skiff Pt., Bainbridge Island, headed south toward Yeomalt Pt. and the middle of Puget Sound.
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4 to 6 Killer Whales, probably from the same group of Transients the other day, were spotted between Rebecca Rocks closer to Harwood Island and heading out towards Vivian Island around 5:30pm. Their breaching and splashing gave their position away. From John and Joan.
submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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10:17 am: solo Minke traveling North 100 yds off Lagoon Pt. (W. Whidbey Island, WA).
Mike Reid

April 11, 2011

After the report of 5 to 6 Orca coming in my direction yesterday around 12:30 pm, I quickly got a few things organized and headed out to find them with a neighbour. We spotted them rounding Grief Point and were surprised to see so many blows. There were around 16 of them spread out from Texada Island to the mainland. With them being so spread out, it was quite difficult to figure out who they were other than Transient Orca. Dropped the hydrophone in and not a peep. At least at the start. Later on they became quite vocal - a typical Transient Orca trait. Paced one group, at a safe distance - all boats are required to keep their distance - close to Harwood Island in front of Powell River. The other group with one or two males continued up towards Atrevida Reef area. The group we were with had two calves, one of which was having a great time porpoising clear out of the water. They continued to breach, roll around, tail lob and spy hop. Lots of missed photos - if only they'd be more co-operative. Having stopped the skiff and drifting, it was wonderful that they came over to investigate even surprising us by surfacing right beside the boat. Although we didn't see them actually take any porpoises or sea lions, one photo looks like there is something in one whale's mouth.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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9:48 am: Heard what sounded like a few faint transient orca calls on the Port Townsend hydrophone around 10:55 a.m. Now, just hearing boat/ship noise.
Gayle Swigart, Olympia, WA
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12:30 pm: 5 to 6 Killer Whales spotted just South of Powell River, B.C. close to Myrtle Rocks headed Northward. 9 am: 4 Dolphins or Porpoises spotted by Myrtle Rocks slowly headed in a Northbound direction towards Powell River.
From Bill, submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC Powell River, B.C.
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10:57 am: Thanks to heads up from Chrissy via Orca Network, I heard two transient calls over substantial boat noise on the Port Townsend hydrophones.
Scott Veirs, OrcaSound/Beam Reach, Seattle WA
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Chrissy McLean of the PTMSC called at 10:30 am with a 2nd hand report that a pod of orcas were seen going north past Marrowstone in Admiralty Inlet.
10:43 am: just got another good look at them. They are south of the ferry lanes, looks like they are milling in mid channel bank with the fishing boats and birds. At least one large male in the small group.
10:53 am: starting to hear vocalizations - still in the same spot. sounds like Transients.
Chrissy MacLean, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, WA
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Just received a report from Nancy Elder at the USGS Lab at Marrowstone Island. Witnesses at the lab reported seeing a group of killer whales attacking and consuming a Steller sea lion off Marrowstone Point this morning starting at approximately 0900.
Brent Norberg, NOAA Fisheries, Natl. Marine Fisheries Service NW Region, Seattle, WA

April 10, 2011

We saw at least 9 killer whales zig-zagging their way east at 44/00 in Monterey bay. I believe there were at least 3 males present. Once, the whales popped up about half a mile from us and it looked like they had been harassing a single gray whale since the whale was in defense-mode belly-up. The gray didn't appear full grown, possibly a juvenile. The orcas seemed to lose interest and continued east. The gray whale was left looking dazed and confused-- swimming slowly at the surface and taking shallow breaths.
Kate Cummings, Blue Ocean Whale Watch, Moss Landing, CA
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A pod of orcas was spotted. It was a great sighting and we were with them about an hour - lots of good views. They were 12 miles NW of Moss Landing CA on the edge of Monterey Bay. We were with them almost an hour. At least two females/one calf and two males. There was a lone gray whale that appeared and went "belly up" for the duration. The orcas buzzed it but then took off eastward towards Moss Landing. The females and males swam in two separate groups the entire time we were with them.
Dorris Welch, biologist, Sanctuary Cruises, Moss Landing, CA
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Monterey Transient IDs: These are California transients, including CA40, CA137, CA140, and CA163.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census Project
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Just want to report that on the shores of Malibu I sighted two humpback whales (mother and calf) going north direction.
Gabriela Silveira (via Facebook)
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There has been a fairly large grey whale working just off the beach on the north shore of the outer part of Ludlow Bay, Admiralty Inlet seen on April 9 and 10.
Joel Seres, Port ludlow

April 9, 2011

Orca Network and the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network received a call late Saturday afternoon with a report of a dead Gray whale found on a remote Whidbey Island Beach. The whale was very emaciated, and not one of our North Puget Sound population of 10 - 12 Grays that stay in the area for several months each spring to feed on the ghost shrimp beds of Saratoga Passage and Possession Sound. Howard Garrett and Matt Klope of the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network responded on Sunday, and a necropsy was performed Tuesday by a team from Cascadia Research and CPSMMSN. No food was found in the whale's stomach or intestines, samples were taken and will be submitted for further testing to try to determine cause of death, but it is likely this is just one of the whales that didn't get enough food last season and was not strong enough to make the long migration down south and back north.
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I was fishing between Kingston & the Southern tip of Whidbey Island and this amazing creature (Humpback whale - surfaced near my boat.
ChefPat
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(Gray whale #49) Patch spotted at Camano Head. 1:40pm, deep diving but headed to more shallow water. At 1:44pm Little Patch feeding to the south, too!
Tiffany Young
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SINGLE GRAY DRIVE BY at Mariners Cove [N.E. Whidbey] at about 6:30PM. REALLY CLOSE TO SHORE. Where, [most/all] of its head and much of its body surfaced out of the water, as it passed by. Sure, makes a difference when you see them, in ultra calm waters. And, when gray is so close to the beach and shoreline [50 to 75] feet out or so. Evidently, gray did not have much appetite for sand/ghost shrimp. After two brief beneaths the water surface/swirling stops, it went out to deeper water. Just south of the pilings to the Cove marina entrance. Last spouts seen, as gray headed N.E. towards Strawberry Point.
Robert Stonefelt Oak Harbor

April 8, 2011

Dave Ellifrit and Erin Heydenreich of the Center for Whale Research encountered the T99's,T36's and T37 milling and socializing in Swanson Channel about a mile off Mouat Point, North Pender Island B.C.(48° 45.74 N;123° 19.83 W) at 2:30 pm. We had 8 transients T99,T99A,T99B,T99C,T36,T36B,T36B1 and T37. After about 45 minutes of milling, tactile behavior the whales spread out in a loose group and headed down Swanson Channel moving inshore toward North Pender. The encounter ended 2 miles west of Bedwell Harbor (48° 44.25 N;123° 15.37 W) at 3:48 pm.
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I came across Transient orcas T020 and T021 with the T049A's and B's late morning offshore off Gordon Head. They headed south around Discovery Island. In the afternoon T020 and T021 split off and headed south-west out the Juan de Fuca and the others cruised the shoreline of Victoria's waterfront and were last seen off the mouth of Victoria harbour at 1700hrs.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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There were a total of 6 Orca seen as two groups of 4 and two, by Vivian Island just off of Powell River travelling towards the Vancouver Island side of Savary around 5pm. There was at least one large dorsal and one had an "L" shaped notch on the trailing edge of its dorsal about 5 inches down. We spotted a pod of whales harassing a sea lion, just off the government dock on Savary (Island, BC). We stayed with them from 7 pm until dark, and they spent the whole time circling, bumping and smacking a single sea lion. The sea lion was still alive when we left. There were four orcas - two appeared to be smaller.
Sean Percy, Powell River Living Magazine, Powell River, B.C.
submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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4 to 5 Killer Whales (Orca) milling about by Baker Passage between Hernando and Cortez Islands around 1pm. The report came from a tug boater who passed it on to one of the Campbell River Whale Watching guides who gave me a call on the marine radio - thanks!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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We located a group of transient orcas in Swanson Channel, south of Active Pass at approximately 12:30, in flat calm water. The group had killed a seal or two just prior to our arrival. They were busily guarding the entrails of their prey from swooping seagulls as we came on scene. The group consisted of females, juveniles and calves that we later ID'ed as the T36's, T37 and the T99's. After their meal, the whales were very social, and we were able to listen to some amazing vocals that continued for most of our encounter. The adults T36, T36B, T37 and T99 were observed logging at the surface several times, while the calves and juveniles were extremely social with one another, and about 100 metres from the dozing adults. Between these episodes, the calves would temporarily rejoin with the adults before once again forming into a play group. We were fortunate to observe spyhops, lunges, tail slaps, and tail stands. So much for serious, quiet transients. I love it when the whales have me re-thinking all those generalizations.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch, B.C.
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Turns out we had a report of orcas in Haro Strait, so we motored over towards Discovery Island (near Victoria, BC) and we were very lucky to have a chance to see the T20s, T49As and T49Bs. They were being a bit "un-transient like" in their behavior today. Lots of surface time, logging, and generally just "hanging out". Then down for 5-7 minutes, only to reappear in a random location (very transient like!) Even from 300 yards away, the whales were impressive, especially T20 and his massive notched fin. The whales appeared content to just "mosey" at a leisurely pace. John Boyd (JB), SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, Friday Harbor, WA
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John Boyd called about two groups of transients near Discovery Island, east of Victoria, at 1 pm.
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4 orcas reported from Port Townsend/Keystone ferry at 11:35 am, closer to PT side, but heading NE toward Whidbey, reported by David Gluckman - likely the Transients that have been in Puget Sound.
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Here at Mariners Cove (NE Whidbey Island). We observed short snack of 2 grays, right out front at 1:30PM today. 4 sailboats were on their line from a distance, so they headed out a ways and meandered southwest, towards Polnell Pt. Put my beach pedestrian shoes on to follow. About 1/4 mile down they stopped and hung out in same place, [300 to 500 feet off sand shoreline] for close to an hour. It was low tide with sand out a ways. Am persuaded they were feeding in deeper water/not shallow; at a drop off where sand ends and ledge to deep water begins. More like a baleen whale would do, coming straight up after being down for 5 minutes or more. Both side by side when surfacing. Witnessed, this about 5 years ago when two gray whales near Polnell Pt. were doing the same. Was out in the boat, at that time and could see tons of stick or kneedle fish in the water, as the whales were feeding. Their spouts today, seemed to be louder than the norm. Really, blasting away in the calm waters. Left them, but at 3:30PM they both came back out front the house, to finish their snack, they had started at 1:30. When sailboats were around. Grays visit ended with them steaming their way towards Polnell Pt. Was treated to lots of diving, rolls, with tails/flukes throughout the afternoon. Great Stuff!!
Robert Stonefelt Oak Harbor
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About 1 PM spotted one, possibly 2, Gray whales feeding in front of our house south of Mabana. They were out quite a ways and diving deep in about the same place for about half and hour, presumably feeding. I lost them, but then spotted a single Gray in closer just off Mabana about 2 PM.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
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We visited with (Gray whales) #56 and #723 off of Camano Island as two bald eagles soared overhead! They surfaced several times giving us some amazing looks with the island in the background. We spent a lot of time with them and as they got into deeper water, they showed us their flukes a number of times!
Island Adventures, Anacortes, WA
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Paula Rounds reported 1 Gray whale off Polnell Pt, NE Whidbey Island, traveling east at noon today.
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We spotted one gray whale feeding near Spee-bi-dah. We first spotted the gray at 8:25am and watched it travel slowly along the shore, leisurely feeding and churning the water. It went out towards the point, then came back in towards Spee-bi-dah. Around 10:00am we lost sight of him. While watching for blows about then, we spotted a group of porpoises, traveling swiftly north about 1/4 to 1/2 mile off shore in front of Tulalip Shores. They swam along in twos or fours, and then many of them came together at once - perhaps as many as 2 dozen. They separated again and swam further north, again in groups of twos or fours. The porpoises were gray with a dark blunt dorsal fin (harbor porpoise.)
Vicki
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One gray heading north up Port Susan. Fed in front of Tulalip Shores, now heading in towards Spee-bi-dah. Came through Tulalip Shores, Marysville, WA at 7:45am. Another gray whale joined around 8:00am and have been feeding. They've been in the same spot for 30mins- it's currently 8:31am. (location: in between Tulalip Shores and Spee-bi-dah.
Tamra Nelson
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I looked out the window at 4:50 pm hoping to see a Gray whale (still), and instead saw 3 - 4 Harbor porpoise off Hidden Beach, N. Greenbank, swimming north in Saratoga Passage (again). But somehow missed seeing the Grays that I KNOW were out there somewhere!
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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4:00 pm: A huge dark gray whale was lazily feeding at Point No Point Lighthouse for over an hour before heading out toward Whidbey. Initially, we were watching more than a dozen sea lions rafting not far from shore. Then further down the beach another 8-10 sea lions feeeding.
Janice Ceridwen, Hansville, WA

April 7, 2011

We had a Gray Whale in front of our farm on Mutiny Bay in the evening.
Chuck Pettis, Freeland, Whidbey Island
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My friend Chuck Pettis just sent you a photo and report of a grey whale in Mutiny Bay. His wife said it was feeding there about 100yds from the beach, for about 4 hours. They live along Wahl Rd, not far from Lancaster Rd and the whale was near their dock.
Chris Williams 3:30 pm: We're with a Minke Whale by Hein Bank! Our first Minke sighting of the year I do believe.
Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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Ron King had found Transient orcas T20 and T21 over near Baynes Ch., near Victoria. We were the only U.S. boat to see whales today.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island

April 6, 2011

While flying from Port Hardy to Campbell River at 1:20pm, I spotting a pod of approximately half dozen Orca transiting northwestbound along Johnson Strait, 5 miles east of Robson Bight, along the south shoreline. At least 4-5 were swimming 'line-abreast', and the remainder was/were approx 100metres off to their right and slightly behind. Also, abeam Chatham Lightstation, approx 1:45pm, we spotted 3 Orca transiting westbound. It appeared to be two larger and one smaller, but I can't confirm that..
Randy Meszaros, Coast Guard Helicopters, Victoria, BC
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6:30ish PM -- Just saw what appeared to be a couple of gray whales quite far off the west side of Whidbey Is. between Hastie Lake and Sunset Beach. The water was very choppy, but we could see several lazy blows and then the long backs as they dove.
Elizabeth Booth
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9:25 pm: An incredible evening with the Gray's at Whidbey Shores!. Can't see them but they are still here eating away in the dark at 10:14pm.
Cyn Becker, Whidbey Shores, Whidbey Island, WA
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Marie Waterman with Washington State Ferries called at 4:58 pm to report Five orcas off Vashon Head, NE Vashon Island, WA, heading SE.
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4 Orca Sighted at 4:45 pm approximately .5 mi N. of Vashon. 2 adult, 2 calf's heading South, unknown speed. Witnessed from PO. Appeared to be heading towards East side of Vashon Island.
David Rada
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Transient Killer Whales located later this afternoon by Constance Bank (south of Victoria).
Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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At 4:30 pm I was at the Scatchet Head (SW Whidbey Island) lookout facing south when we spotted 2 large whales, possibly 3, about 200 yards off shore. traveling due west.
Josh Jones
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Mary Pacher called at 9:18 am to report two Grays feeding in the ghost shrimp beds N. of Greenbank, heading north in Saratoga Passage.

April 5, 2011

Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research tagged along aboard the Western Prince after Captain Ivan saw some whales from the ferry just outside of Friday Harbor in the early evening. We found the whales with the help of Jeannie Hyde around 1845 just NW of Yellow Island (approximately 48 36.73N 123 03.44W). The whales were the T49As and T49Bs, six whales in all. They moved northwest slowly in a tight group, barely showing any saddle. Present were T49A, T49A1, T49B, T49B1, and the two newish calves T49A3 and T49B2. T49A2 was not there and it is unclear as to whether this juvenile dispersed or died. We ended the encounter and left them still slowly heading NW, mid San Juan Channel, between Jones Island and Limestone Pt., SJI at 1925.
Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island, WA
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The Washington State Ferries reported 4-5 orcas in San Juan Channel, just north of Shaw Island at Tift Rocks, at 6:15 pm, heading north.
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At least 2 orca heading north a bit north of Edmonds Dog Park, near Edmonds Ferry Dock, a ways off shore about 3:10 this afternoon.
Valerie Nagle
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Kate Smith saw at least 3 orcas from the Fauntleroy ferry at 10 am, heading south toward Vashon Island.
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9:19 am: Orcas spotted off bow of Vashon - Fauntleroy ferry just now. Boat stopped about half way across.
Marianne Metz Lipe Betty of Washington State Ferries reported ~7 orcas from the Tillikum ferry off the Fauntleroy dock at 9:15 am.
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Amy Carey of Vashon Island called to relay a report she received of orcas off Alki Pt. at 7:20 am.
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Orca Network received word from the West Seattle Blog that they had a report of orcas off West Seattle early this morning .
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Dee Reported from Savary Island (NW of Powell River, B.C.): From 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., we watched some orcas traveling and circling in front of our cabin. Steve saw a large male way out from the others. The most I saw at one time was four - looked like females or maybe young males.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC
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I saw about 6 Dalls Porpoise on April 5 around Church House and the entrance to Bute Inlet (Johnstone Bluff) around 12pm. Then on my way out around 1345 I saw about 6 Pacific White Sided Dolphins! They were just behind Clipper Pt. Then the really exciting news, I saw 3 fins today in Hole In The Wall around 10 this morning. My second Orca encounter for the year! They were headed west with the tide (max ebb at 941 -7.2kts) 1 smaller fin and 2 larger ones, hard to say if they were males or large females. Didn't get photo's either.
From AJ, submitted by Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins of BC, Powell River, BC

April 4, 2011

April 3, 2011

My friend told me he saw 4 female orcas and 2 babies heading north around 6:30 pm at lime kiln today.
Melisa Pinnow
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11:23 AM: I think I'm watching orcas on the port townsend tower cam. Traveling north around ferry lanes!
Buttercup Girl
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We had the T049A's and the T049B's off of Victoria heading east in the afternoon . T020 and T021 were spotted close to the group heading west towards Race Rocks.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
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My neighbor, Cindy Cummings, reported a single gray whale off of Pratts Bluff (Saratoga Passage, N of Greenbank) from 5:30pm and still out there at 7:30 on Sunday.
Nancy Zaretzke, Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WA
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11:47 am - Two, possibly three Gray whales just off of Whidbey at Langley.
Nancy Whitaker
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11:30 am: Watching Greys 1 mile south of Lowell point from Victoria Clipper III.
Don Heminger
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We spent around half an hour with gray whale #531 feeding in Elger Bay on Sunday. I saw another one surface behind our boat at the same time another passenger spotted #531 ahead of us, but I didn't see the other one again. We found them around 10:30am.
Stephanie Raymond, Naturalist, Victoria Clipper III
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Gray whale (maybe 20 feet?) in shallows of Skunk Bay (N. Kitsap Peninsula) at 10:30am.
John Herman

April 2, 2011

Center for Whale Research vessel Starlet departed Snug Harbor at 2:20 p.m. and encountered J's and L87 at 2:42 pm. The whales were spread out in small groups and singles traveling south in Haro Strait (48° 40.80 N, 123° 14.91 W). The encounter ended at 4:25 p.m. off D'Arcy Island (48° 35.72 N,123° 15.06 W). More photos can be seen here.
Dave Ellifrit and Debbie Sharpe, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island, WA
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Gray whales #383 & #531, Langley, Whidbey Island, WA
Veronica von Allworden, Sky and Sea Photography
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Victoria clipper following very close to gray whales on Camano shore, across from Bells Beach. Whales spouting & tails observed. Multiple watercraft pursuing whales as they move northward along Camano shore. Whales seen yesterday moving quickly through passage towards Langley approximate. 4:45 pm, mid channel.
Lauren and Kathy on Bells Beach.
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Veronica von Allworden of Langley called at 6:15 pm to report watching two Gray whales feeding in front of her house off NW Langley, Whidbey Island. One of the whales was #53, they had been there feeding for 45 minutes.
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Norma Jean Young of Langley called to report two or three Gray whales in front of the Inn at Langley, Whidbey Island, heading south toward Langley. They started watching them at 6:20 pm, at 6:40 pm they were still there.
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We saw gray whales off Bells Beach at about 4:40-5pm this evening there was at least two and they were headed towards Langley from Freeland area.
Rick & Kathy Lessley, Bells Beach, Whidbey Island
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Watching a gray whale off of Whidbey Shores Beach mid channel slowly feeding and heading toward Bell's Beach! Finally they are HERE! 4:30PM.
Cyn Becker
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We have two gray whales feeding near the shore in the Country Club area (near 3rd beach) of Port Susan. We heard them at 3:00.p.m. Have been watching them rolling and feeding. Just checked, they are still here:-) (4:15 P.M.).
Barb Joyce, Cascade View Dr, Country Club, Camano Island
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2:15 pm: Watching Greys in Saratoga passage on Victoria Clipper III.
Don Heminger
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1:30 pm: 2 Grey Whales sighted approximately 100 ft off shore near Coupeville. Heading South.
Lauren Johnson
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Watching the Grays now (12:02 pm) on the south end of Camano.
Kari Ingalls
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Fred Lundahl reports a Gray whale off Langley, Whidbey Island, heading south toward Clinton at 11:15 am.
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~7:25 pm: Calls on the Lime Kiln Hydrophones!
Mandy Bailey
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Orca call/whistle heard from Lime Kiln hydrophone at 6:00 pm.
Emalie and Mandy, Beam Reach
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About an hour into our trip, just north of Moresby Island, BC, in Swanson Ch., sure enough! Orcas headed toward us from the north. A moment later, Jeanne Hyde spotted Granny, J2. J Pod! We left them off of Stuart Is. headed south. About 4:30, they were just passing Henry Island. Alas, still no Ruffles.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters, San Juan Island
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1604: Orcas southbound in Haro Strait near Kellett Bluff. 1615: Orcas beginning to vocalize on the OrcaSound hydrophone. It sounds like J pod calls to me. Orcas are southbound in Haro Strait, near Kellett Bluff.
Jane Cogan, San Juan Island
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With a report of [orcas] coming south through Active Pass, Capt. Jim of Maya's Westside Charters headed in that direction. When he spotted the whales up ahead, it was Granny J-2, who I got a positive ID on first, as they traveled south in Swanson Channel near Moresby Island. They were spread out in many different groups. We left them at about 3:00pm as they continued south from Turn Pt. I'll post pictures on my blog later this evening. J Pod continued down Haro Strait, spread for miles, appearing to be moving toward Discovery Island. Last seen at about 6:15 pm.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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5:25pm: Still hearing call on OrcaSound. Sounds like J's?
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Shoreline, WA
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~5:15 pm: Calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone.
Monia Metzger

April 1, 2011

We got word of Transient orcas at the south end of Saltspring Island The group first appeared to be heading southeast, but what followed was only the first of many direction changes that we witnessed during our encounter. The travel pattern would have been best described as a series of large circles. At least one, if not several, seals lost out to these top ocean predators. We could see oil slicks on the water, and the gulls plus one bald eagle joined in for scraps. Following the meal there was some play time, and we were fortunate to see some spyhops, tail stands and even hear some of those eerily, amazing transient vocals. The whales that I could ID in the group were T100, T100B, T100C,T100E, T90, T90B and possibly newish calf with T90, T124, T124D and T124E. T100B appeared to be calf-sitting T100E for mom, while T100 worked on getting lunch. T90 appears to have a tag, very visible on her left side dorsal fin, and showing as a dark bump on her right side dorsal
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
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Transients over near Salt Spring Island, BC! The T100s and T124s, travel east, the right direction for us. Later on in the day, in US waters just north of Patos Island, they attacked a Steller Sea Lion.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island
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We are in California for a few days, and while on the Santa Cruz Wharf from about 5 - 5:30 pm we saw several Gray whale spouts.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network