November Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of November 2004 whale sightings.

November 30, 2004

Both KOMO 4 & KING 5 News of Seattle had great shots of the orcas near Seattle today. We know at least J pod was present, but from the bits of footage we saw, it seemed there were some other whales there as well, possibly K pod.
Susan
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Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called to say he saw the orcas on KOMO 4 news at around noon with footage from their chopper, & they said the whales were between Alki Pt. & Bainbridge Island, mid-channel heading south. Tom said he was able to ID J17 from the footage.
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Just saw an aerial shot on King 5 news 12:10pm of the Orcas off Bainbridge Island, there was 4 above swimming and you could see one underneath the surface on its side looking up.
Sonja Smythe
Marysville
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I heard from Jeff Hogan this morning that there were rumors of whales (orcas) down near Vashon & Bainbridge, & just got these two reports in of whales heading northward - keep your eyes peeled for them & let us know if you see them!
Susan
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Did not get to see them myself but had reports of about 15 Orcas in the North Vashon ferry run this morning. First sighting was just after 9:00 am and had them on the Vashon side traveling south. Dock workers reported that they then passed by going North about 1/2 hour later.
Amy Carey
Vashon, WA
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Just received a message from the Seattle/ Bainbridge Ferry that a pod of killer whales was sighted mid channel northbound at 1040. The RP said she saw 5+ animals but no other info was given. Cheers..
Brent Norberg,
NMFS, Seattle

November 29, 2004

We received a call from Sue Zaveruha of Coupeville reporting a pod of between 6 - 10 orcas off Partridge Pt, west Whidbey Island, NW of Coupeville at 2 pm. She said there were 2 HUGE males, & several young ones, & they were heading south fast.
I was in Coupeville when I got the above report on our voice mail, so headed over to Ebey's Landing to take a look at 3:45 pm. I saw about 6 orcas mid-channel, half way between Fort Worden & Fort Flagler, still heading south. I saw at least 1 adult male, but didn't have my best binoculars & it was getting dark with lots of white caps on the water.....the only way I found them was when they began doing some breaching & spy-hopping! I went down to Lagoon Pt, hoping I might be able to see them better if they were closer in, but it was so dark by the time I got there I was unable to find them. The good news is that they seem to be heading back into the inland waters, & have been showing up pretty regularly, so hopefully we'll get another chance tomorrow!
Susan Berta
Orca Network, Whidbey Island
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T41, T41A and T44 milling at Race Rocks at 1432.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC

November 28, 2004

We were out sailing with transients, either T10s or 11s per the previous report. There was one large dorsal, two females (or juveniles) and the youngster. We counted a total of four.
Keith Provan
Victoria, BC
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Kari Koski of Soundwatch & The Whale Museum reported seeing a big Minke whale between Battleship & Turn Pt, heading south down Haro Strait around 2 pm. They also saw 19 Stellar Sea Lions at Green Pt. on the northern tip of Spieden Island.
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Transients off Victoria, & a pod of orcas bouncing around the west side of Whidbey all day, but I've not had good luck catching up with them! After we received the Port Townsend report, I went out to the west side of Whidbey & spotted the orcas at about 1:30 pm, VERY spread out between Port Townsend & Admiralty Head on Whidbey Island. They seemed to be going back & forth, likely foraging. They were far too distant to count or ID.
Then when the below reports came in, I headed south to see if I could find or ID them off Bush Pt. I was just south of Bush Pt. at 4:05 pm, unfortunately the orcas were already far off in the distance, but I could see them traveling spread out & in small groups between Pt. No Point (Kitsap Peninsula) and Possession Pt. on S. Whidbey, heading SE toward Possession Pt/Sound. They were again too far off to ID, but it looked like either J or K pod, with one larger male.
Susan & Howie
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Elsa Leavitt of Freeland called to report orcas 1 mile south of Bush Pt, headed south at 3:10 pm.
Freeland
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Louanne Fortin called at 3:40 pm to report a pod of 6 or more orcas off Skunk Bay, just south of Bush Pt., milling in small groups.
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We got the report of Orca heading East from P.T. at 12:30 pm today. We looked North from Bush Point at 2 pm and could just make out the whales blowing. We are pretty sure we saw a few spy hops and flukes once. The whales were in the the vicinity of Keystone Harbor and Fort Casey.
Nick Lyle,
Bush Point
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A large number of transients off Victoria this afternoon. I had at least 10 and think there were more. At least 2 kills both around 1500, at least 1 kill was a Steller and I think the second was also. One report was T10's, T11's and friends, also a very young animal not sure which group it was with.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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Just received a call from Brad West in Port Townsend, reporting a pod of at least 6 - 8 orcas or more, 1/4 to 1/3 mile offshore, heading east toward Admiralty Inlet at 12:30 pm. A beautiful sunny day for seeing whale spouts & fins - it sounds like they're headed in, so let us know if you see them! 1-866-ORCANET. Susan & Howie

November 27, 2004

Orca northbound west of lagoon point at 2:50 pm. Appear to be 3/4 the way across to Marrowstone Island.
Gene Ohlson
Greenbank, Whidbey Island

November 26, 2004

We received a call from Tyra on the Kitsap Peninsula reporting a pod of orcas with 1 large male and at least 9 females off Point No Point, heading southeast toward the Kingston/Edmonds area at 4:15 pm.

November 25, 2004

A pod of at least 6 Orcas were spotted near shore on the west end of Penn Cove on mid-morning Thanksgiving day. They appeared to be within 300yds of my home (next to the Captain Whidbey Inn) around 9:30AM.
Loren Iwerks
Coupeville
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Today, I saw, from Clinton-ferry-beach, Orcas passing south from Camano Is. towards Makiltio...
Olga Nada
Whidbey Island
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Thursday at 11:00 AM a friend and I spotted two Orcas about 200 yards off of the Clinton ferry dock. They swam around for a few minutes in that area, then headed SW.
Denis Hill
Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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My guests at Bold Bluff Retreat on Salt Spring Island, BC reported they saw 3 orca in Sansum Narrows this morning around 8 AM and one was still here about 9:30 AM.
Tamar Griggs
Bold Bluff Retreat
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We had the happy gift of seeing 3 Orcas as they swiftly passed by Edgecliff in Langley around 12:45 pm.
Carol Kerley
Langley, Whidbey Island
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It's 1 pm and we're looking at fins a way off Columbia Beach (S. Whidbey Island, so of the Clinton ferry) heading south. I could see three or four for sure, maybe more.
Elaine Rost
Clinton, Whidbey Island
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Yippee Skippee and Happy Thanksgiving!! We just saw the orcas--probably about 5 being led by a male but in two little groups. They were heading south from the Mukilteo Ferry just rolling along. We watched them between Smuggler's Cove and Chennault Beach at about 1:35 PM. They were about halfway out in the water between Mukilteo and Whidbey but a little closer to the mainland side. Yes!!
Janet Eaton
Mukilteo
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Susie & Kelly Williams of Langley called to report a pod of orcas passing their house (on Saratoga Rd, just north of Langley) heading south at 11:45 am.
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11:30 am - Just watched a pod pass by Bell's Beach (east side of Whidbey) going south toward Langley. At least 7 of them. They were cruising quickly.
Peggy Sullivan
Langley

November 24, 2004

Carolyn Mercer called at 2:10 pm to say there was a pod of 6 - 10 orcas in Saratoga Passage, in front of their house on North Bluff Rd, Greenbank (just down from us!). She said there was one male with a very large fin - could've been J1? They were in one spot, right in front of the house for quite awhile, then headed slowly back north.
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Laurie Eger called at 2:15 pm to report at least 10 orcas in Saratoga Passage near Greenbank, heading south.
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Tom Perry of Camano Island called at 8:40 am to report two groups of orcas (3 & 4) had just passed Onamac Pt. on NW Camano, heading north toward Madrona Beach, very close to shore. Don't know yet if it's J's or K's.
Susan
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Mac Shearer of Greenbank just called to report the pod of orcas is now on the Whidbey side of Saratoga Passage, heading south past Hidden Beach (just below us!) about 100 yards offshore. He said there were at least 10, including some young ones, & there was lots of spy-hopping going on.
susan
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Carolyn Mercer called at 2:10 pm to say there was a pod of 6 - 10 orcas in Saratoga Passage, in front of their house on North Bluff Rd, Greenbank (just down from us!). She said there was one male with a very large fin - could've been J1? They were in one spot, right in front of the house for quite awhile, then headed slowly back north.
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Laurie Eger called at 2:15 pm to report at least 10 orcas in Saratoga Passage near Greenbank, heading south.

November 23, 2004

Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales called to report orcas off Alki Beach near Seattle at 2 pm, milling & heading south.
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2:50 pm Jeff called to say it was J pod, now headed south down the east side of Vashon Island.
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3:15 pm Jeff called with an update on J pod, they are north of Dilworth, east Vashon Island, criss-crossing back & forth (having their thanksgiving salmon feast?!)
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Mark Malleson has just called he had 2 humpbacks just South of Race Rocks at 1448.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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Mark Malleson reporting T103 and T104 off William Head at 1530 Going towards Race Rocks.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC

November 22, 2004

Ralph just called and he is on the Bainbridge Island ferry (2:30 ish). Halfway between Seattle and Bainbridge there is a large pod of orcas. He can't tell which pod it is, but they are heading south.
Karen Munro
Olympia, WA
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Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales found the whales at 3:50 pm, parallel with Alki Point, halfway out, spread out & milling. At 4:15 pm they were still between Alki Pt. and Eagle Harbor, slowly drifting southward, heading from the NW toward the SE. He was pretty sure he had spotted J1, so this could be J pod, not K's as earlier thought. He followed them until dark, but said they were making long dives and remained very spread out, making it hard to get ID's, but his best guess is that it was at least J pod he was seeing.
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4:20 pm: Approximately 4 Orcas spotted between Blake Island and West Seattle headed south towards the West Seattle Ferry. They were spread out quite a bit.
Paul Ruppert, park ranger
Blake Island State Park
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Pod of about 12 orcas heading south from Clinton ferry on the Whidbey side at noon. Several jumping.
NB Couch
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Jay Freeze of Glendale called at 12:40 pm to report a pod of at least 12 orcas heading south past Glendale toward Possession Pt. on S. Whidbey Island. He said they were close to Possession point by 12:40. He saw a breach & lots of foraging activity.

November 21, 2004

I had J and L pod east of Race Rocks this afternoon milling. It looked as though they may have just met up as I had only seen one male in the group through the "Big Eyes" from the hilltop in the morning. Both L104 and 105 were there but no sign of any L12's. I left them headed south for Port Angeles at 1500.
Mark Malleson
Victoria, BC
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A follow up after Ron Bates called saying that L's and J's were at race rocks heading east. Went up to the top of Walbran park (spotting cliff) and could see some dorsals (through binocs) way on the other side just offshore from Port Angeles - moving east. I also saw a few breaches, but from where I stood, looked like some little black blobs flying out of the water...
Chantelle Tucker,
Victoria BC
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Just wanted to let you in on the sightings we had today while working at Cama Beach on Camano Island. At around 1:30 pm we spotted seven orcas, at least one baby and maybe two, heading north. They bee-lined past us and then swam in what seemed to be large circles. Then again at 3:30 we saw (likely the same pod) at least 4 orcas heading south from the same spot.
Kim and the archaeologists
Cama Beach State Park, Camano Island
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Lots of folks were able to catch glimpses of K pod in Saratoga Passage today. I followed them north after they passed Greenbank, & found them as they were headed north off Onamac Pt, Camano Island at around 2:30 pm. I watched for a bit, & suddenly there was a splash & some action, then they all turned & began heading back south down Saratoga Passage at about 2:45 or 3 pm. I followed them back south to Cama Beach at 3:30 pm, and then back home & across from the Orca Network office off Lowell Pt at 3:50 pm, at which point we started hearing really loud blows close in, of whales we couldn't see. Howie ran down to the bluff, & watched as they headed into Holmes Harbor at 4 pm.
Susan & Howie
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Mark Malleson has J's and L's a few miles east of Race Rocks at 1400.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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Orcas heading north at Onamac Pt, near Coast Guard marker #6 at 2:25 pm.
Sally Colt
Camano Island
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Orcas heading south past Onamac Pt. at 3:05 pm.
Tom Perry
Camano Island
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Orcas between Onamac Pt. & Camano Island State Park, heading south at 3:30 pm.
Connie Barrett
Camano Island
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...at 12:45 pm, Howie took one more look out our scope from the kitchen, & saw fins! The orcas are still heading northwest up Saratoga Passage, very spread out between the entrance to Holmes Harbor & Elger Bay, with some of them north of Elger Bay passing close by Lowell Pt. on Camano Island. They are too far out for us to ID yet, but it's likely K pod still around foraging on the salmon runs.
Susan & Howie
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Three orcas Just passed Langley at 10:45, I think they were two adults (females?) and the third whale looked smaller. They are traveling west closer to Whidbey than Camano. Probably the same ones that were spotted in Port Susan.
Veronica
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Mark Malleson called at 1008 to report whales South of Victoria but he is not on the water until 1200.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria

November 20, 2004

J pod reported by Mark Malleson off William Head (west of Victoria), far apart and milling, this was at 1445, J1 seen about 1550. The whales seemed to be going slowly to the East.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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What a fabulous afternoon of whale watching from our bluff in southwest Seattle approximately 1.5 miles south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. We first spotted them around 12:30pm off the east side of Vashon Island where they were porpoising and traveling south. During the course of afternoon, we observed lobttailing, spyhopping, and even a few breachings. One whale with a huge dorsal fin stayed solo off to the west of the large group that seemed to be traveling in a fairly tight formation. They headed south for approximately one hour, then abruptly turned and headed north at a faster speed than when they were southbound. Maybe due to the boat activity? We had them in sight for almost 2 hours which was simply thrilling to observe!
Cindy and Larry Cripe
Seattle
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Tom McMillen of Salish Sea charters called & reported K pod off the north end of Vashon Island at 12:30 pm, heading down the east side of Vashon Island.
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Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales called in a report of K's headed south off Vashon Island, near Dilworth Pt traveling south at 12:45 pm. He called again to say they had turned around at Dilworth point at about 1:30 & were now heading north, at 2 pm they were still traveling in a northward direction.
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We've been following the whales and the Research boat for the past hour (12:30 - 1:30 pm) going south along the east side of Vashon. We are on the Seattle side above Seahurst Park and it appears as they have changed course and are now headed back north.
Cindy Cripe
Seattle
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At 2:30 pm Edward Jensen, Washington State Ferry Capt. called to say they (orcas) were off the Fauntleroy ferry heading north. He reported the Captain from the earlier ferry run had them heading south. Sounds like the ferry riders were getting quite a bonus ride today!
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John Durbin called this morning to report they were on the Center for Whale Research boat with K pod, & had followed them south from Elliott Bay. At 11 am they were off Restoration Pt, east Bainbridge Island, heading south toward Blake Island.

November 19, 2004

Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale tales called in the following reports on K pod this afternoon:
4 pm - spread out and milling between Bainbridge Island and Alki Pt, heading south.
5 pm - heading south down the east side of Vashon, between the Vashon & Southworth ferry docks.
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3:40 p.m. Well, I finally got a bead on the orcas from one of these reports. They are tight against the Bainbridge shore approaching Restoration Point as I write this. I am at Alki Beach,
John Loftus
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They're continuing south, soon to pass between Manchester and Blake Island. It's a good bet they will head down Colvos Passage. 3:50 p.m. The whales spread out and milled awhile at the head of Vashon, or at the area where Rich Pass, Alki Point, Blake and Vashon more or less converge, making kind of a basin - probably a convergent zone for fish. Little Springer did pretty well in the area! Sunset was upon us as the K's stopped to mill for a few minutes, and the sweep of the water was alive with sunlit orca blows, like a beautiful field of pale yellow flowers.
John Loftus,
Alki Beach
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K pod spotted off of Restoration Point at 4:00pm. They were pretty far off so I could not tell what direction they were headed.
Paul Ruppert
Blake Island State Park
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Second hand report I received in email today, don't know who saw them... Big pod of whales by Thatcher pass (east of Lopez Island, between Blakely & Decatur Islands) at noon today.....
Laurie Davidson
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For the first time I finally saw the orcas from the ferry! At 11:55a.m. today J pod was putting on a great display, just several hundred yards into Rosario Strait where Thatcher Pass intersects the strait. Most of the whales seemed to be torn between either exuberant socializing or foraging, so they seemed to opt for both, except for J1 Ruffles. He was exuberantly foraging, doing his trademark deep angled dives, often turning in mid-dive. The sprouters also seemed to be more interested in energetic foraging than playing. While often I see the calves and juveniles being the most active, today it was the adults. They were engaged in lively socializing with lots of rubbing together, active tail slapping, tail throwing, head lunging, and spyhopping and falling over backwards. They were making some serious white water. Probably the youngsters were also involved, but I just couldn't see them for all the water the adults were putting up. Great day!
Sharon Grace
San Juan Island
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Mark Malleson has been phoning in Transient reports for the last hour now confirmed they are T46's. He left them South of Race Rocks on the American side going East at 1600.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
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Kim Parsons called from the Center for Whale Research boat with a report of K pod 1 and 1/2 miles south of the mouth of Elliott Bay at 2:30 pm, spread out and heading south.

November 18, 2004

There was a orca spotting at 3:00 pm, on Yeomalt Point, Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Kris Thompson

November 17, 2004

Echolocation clicks were heard from Val Veir's west San Juan Island hydrophone at 4 pm. - K's were still further inland, so maybe it was J pod??
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I was fishing yesterday just off of Camano Head when we saw a number of Orcas. I tried to count, but they were all around us. There was at least ten, but probably more. There was at least one very large one with a huge dorsal fin and a few small ones that I presume were next to their mothers.
Garrett Bradford
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Maxine Kostelyk called back at 10:25 am to report the orcas are now headed south out of Port Susan, and that there are at least 7 of them - sounds like K pod!
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I found the orcas at 11:15 am just off Sandy Pt, Whidbey Island after they left Port Susan. They were heading south into Possession Sound at a pretty good clip, with some breaching & feeding activity. Several commercial fishing boats in the area didn't seem to bother the orcas, who were obviously after the same catch! It was a large pod of orcas, & I was pretty sure it was K pod at that point. By 11:30 they were between Gedney/Hat Island & Whidbey, still heading south amongst the fishing fleet. I headed south thinking I'd find them down by the ferry, but lost them for awhile, & discovered they had remained in the Gedney/Hat Island area for awhile. Kim Parsons & John Durbin were out in the Center for Whale Research's boat, & had headed north from Shilshole to to catch up with the whales. After seeing some hybrid porpoises on the way, they found the whales off of Gedney/Hat Island at 12:30 pm, still heading south, but moving more slowly & feeding. They confirmed it was K pod. At 1 pm they spread out between Whidbey Island & Everett, still slowly moving south. Kim & John continued following them south through Possession Sound amongst dozens of fishing boats & nets, & I followed along watching them from land. At 1:30 pm they were across from Glendale, close to the mainland side, at 2:30 pm they were still close to the mainland side, across from Possession Beach Park, & heading south. I left them shortly after that. Kim called & said they left them at 3:30 south of Possession Pt, spread out and heading west toward Point No Point on the Kitsap Peninsula, but they were unable to determine whether the whales might turn south back into Puget Sound or head west out Admiralty Inlet.
Also, a gentleman I spoke to at Glendale had seen orcas south of there on Monday Nov. 15 at around 4 pm, which was likely K pod - we had an earlier sighting of orcas on Nov. 15 heading south past Lagoon Pt. w. Whidbey Island.
Susan
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Sarah Birger called in a report from someone who had been on the 1 pm Mukilteo ferry & saw 6 orcas from the ferry, heading away from Clinton.
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Mark Malleson has just called at 1555 to report a humpback whale just south of Victoria.
Ron Bates
MMRG
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We received a call at 9:35 am from Maxine Kostelyk of Camano Island, reporting 3 orcas in Port Susan, between Kayak Pt. & Sunny shores, heading north.

November 16, 2004

Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales called in to report K pod between Bainbridge & Vashon Islands at 1:10 pm, still heading south, porpoising at high speed.
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Based on your note today identifying the presence of Orcas south of Bainbridge, I sighted them at the north end of Colvos Passage, between the Southworth and Vashon ferry landings, playfully heading south. I live in Manchester, and they were too far away to identify. Time of sighting = 13:35.
Dave Pabst
Manchester
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Paul Ruppert, Blake Island State Park Ranger, called at 1:45 pm to report the orcas heading south off the east side of Blake Island.
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Jeff Hogan called back at 2:15 pm to report that K's were headed down Colvos Passage - he had them off the north end of Vashon Island at about 2 pm, closer to the Kitsap Peninsula side & still heading south at a fast speed.
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K pod just passed down Colvos passage (W. side of Vashon), should be nearly to the lattitude of Gig Harbor as I write.
Lawrence Huggins
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4:15 pm - Jeff Hogan had K pod near Gig Harbor, traveling south in a tight group, passing close to the Southworth Ferry dock 4:30 pm they were at the south end of Vashon, heading around to the east around Pt Robinson and possibly headed back up the other side of Vashon.
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Kim Parsons called at 12:05 today to report they were with K pod at the south end of Bainbridge Island, heading south. They had found them at Shilshole, & it looked like they may have been heading west toward the inside of Blake Island when they left them due to rough sees.

November 15, 2004

Saw Orcas going South in the East shipping lanes off Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island at about 1pm today.
Kathy Pulley
Whidbey Island
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We observed what appeared to be a group of about 20 dolphins or porpoises off of Fort Casey and the Keystone Ferry area this afternoon (11/15) about 1pm. They were dark grey or black in color and we saw only very low profile dorsal fins as they surfaced and dove. Mostly stayed in the same area and may have been feeding. Individual groups ranged in number from 3-7. Tried to get pictures, will see how they turn out.
Rebecca Uncapher
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J's went through Active Pass at mid-day today, and Dave and Kyla (research staff) are with them.
Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research
San Juan Island
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We saw a pod of about 10 orcas in Active Pass about 1:30pm off the B.C. Ferrie. There didn't appear to be any large males and I couldn"t identify them but they were very active, tail slapping and breaching. They were heading out of Active pass and into the Georgia Straits with a small whale watching boat travelling with them..
Sharon McPhail, Sooke, B.C.
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Jpod in Swanson Ch. going towards Active Pass 0955.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC

November 13, 2004

Linda Bartlett called with a report of approx. 7 orcas (1 large male), 2/3 of the way between Kingston & Cultus Bay (S. Whidbey), traveling east & spread out.
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The last sighting of J's & K's was from Ken Balcomb - they were passing Pt. No Pt. on the Kitsap Peninsula, heading north at 4 pm.
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Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called at 9:30 am to report orcas off Blake Island heading north - likely the J's & K's that were down south yesterday.
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Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research reported the orcas were off Shilshole, north of Seattle, heading north at 11 am.
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Tom McMillen called back to report the whales were off Edmonds, still heading north at about 1:30 pm.

November 12, 2004

Around 2:30-3pm we saw at least 6 whales in front of Shilshole Bay Marina, near the Northbound shipping lanes, heading south. At least one male (very large fin on back).
Kathy Cabrian and Ron Lloyd
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A minke reported just south of Constance Bank this afternoon. Ron Bates MMRG, Victoria
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Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called a little after 1 pm today to report orcas off Kingston, heading south. So far he has identified members of J pod, but there are more whales toward the Edmonds side & possibly more coming from up north, so it's likely K's are with them as well. Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research is out with them & we will have ID's later. Still foggy around Whidbey, so we hope you folks further south can see them out there!

November 11, 2004

Many whales or porpoise blows off Edwards Point, SJI, 9:30pm. The fog was rolling in and it was incrediblly dark, quiet, and calm. I could not tell if the blows were from porpoise or whales. Some sounded too long and forceful to be porpoise but I did not hear any vocalizations/echolocations on the hydrophones. Plausible given J and K off Vic yesterday....
Doug McCutcheon
San Juan Island
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Transients in the Race Rocks area this afternoon. So far I have heard of T20, T21, and T31 There were more but will have to wait for a update from Mark Malleson.
Ron Bates, MMRG
Victoria, BC
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ID now of the T46 group being present and still more to ID, a total of at least 12.
Ron Bates, MMRG
Victoria, BC
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Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research called in a report of one gray whale north of Pt. Wilson, heading out of Admiralty Inlet, 1 mile offshore at 1345.

November 10, 2004

J's and K's going east south of Constance Bank, south of Victoria at 1627. Lots of activity reported.
Ron Bates, MMRG
Victoria, BC

November 7, 2004

T11 and T11A off Victoria in the am.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC

November 5, 2004

Today was my first orca sighting from where i live (Victoria, BC). i saw t20 and t21 (2 ish) thanks to ron bates who gave me a heads up on their travelling my direction. later ran up to king george terrace and found one around the cardinal buoy between shore and trial, that was the last i saw (3:30ish).
Chantelle Tucker,
Victoria BC
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Jim Maya of Maya's Charters called at 1:45 pm to say Mark Malleson had reported transient orcas T20 & T21, and Jim was with them off Trial Island near Victoria. They were heading east and had just made a kill.
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Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called at 3:10 pm to report two gray whales, one of them a calf, near Edmonds. They were north of Edmonds, half way between the ship wreck & the ferry terminal, about 1/2 mile offshore, heading south toward the ferry terminal. Keep your eyes open & let us know if any of you see their spouts out there this weekend!

November 4, 2004

We received a call from Teresa Sinclair at 3:30 pm, reporting 3 orcas in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Sekiu and Clallam Bay, near the Hoko River west of Kydaka Pt, heading west. She called a bit later to report there were 8 whales present, including 1 male. Her neighbor Pat Ness called again at 4:20 pm to report that there were at least 10 - 12 whales present, with 2 males and 2 calves. Some of the whales were out in the strait, others were playing in the kelp bed closer to shore. With the first report we thought it was likely a Transient orca pod, but by the last report it's sounding like it could definitely be some of our Southern Residents.