Recent whale sightings in the Salish Sea
To report whales please go to the Orca Network Sightings Report Page, or email Orca Network.
The purpose of Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network and Education Project is to encourage shorline observation and increase awareness and knowledge about the Southern Resident Community of orcas (J, K and L pods), and foster a stewardship ethic and motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and restore Puget Sound.
The orcas' steep population decline is a reflection of the problems and issues facing the greater Puget Sound marine and watershed ecosystems: declining salmon runs, PCB contamination, and the effects of a rapidly increasing human population including habitat loss and resource depletion. Through a volunteer Whale Sighting Network, sightings and observations of this orca community are gathered and disseminated to researchers and volunteers, and posted on our website.
May 12, 2008
Nancy Nolan called Orca Network at 3:45 pm to report a whale in Saratoga Passage, off Baby Island Heights, heading south toward East Pt. and Langley. She said it was close in, she heard it blow and saw the flukes, probably a gray whale?
*
Capt. Jim Maya called Orca Network at 1:45 pm to report 8 Pacific White-sided Dolphins playing in the wake of his boat off South Beach, SW San Juan Island today. These are very acrobatic and fun dolphins to watch - he sent us some photos.
May 11, 2008
We didn't get an exact time, but approximately 5pm two grey whales slowly worked their way along the south end of Camano Island, south of Pebble Beach; they were also spotted yesterday morning heading north. Most of our sightings this Spring have been one or two whales heading south to the Gedney/Hat Island area. Perhaps they travel between Gedney and Camano each day to feed?
Peg Boley, South Camano
May 10, 2008
Single Gray whale visited us approximately 1 PM. Moving east along the southern edge of Gedney/Hat island. Probably 150 yards offshore, surfaced within 50 feet of our boat -- quite a show and surprise!
Brian Fleming
*
J Pod off Fraser River, Strait of Georgia. We located J Pod at approximately 11:30 AM, offshore of the Fraser River. They were headed south at the time, and very spread out. They did a few directional changes in the time that boats were with them, and were last seen on our second outing at approximately 3:30 PM, heading Northwest from Point Grey, Vancouver. We observed several foraging lunges, and lots of pursuit behaviour, so hopefully they were finding lots to eat.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
*
Our operator took this photo of Jpod at 5PM in waters off the North Arm of the Fraser River, BC.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Ocean Friends
*
Orca Network received a call from Tom Quigley, reporting at least 3 - 5 orcas off Depoe Bay, OR at 10 am, heading north.
*
Barbara Anderson of Camano Island called Orca Network at 1:53 pm to report 3 Gray whales feeding close in off Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island.
*
12:15pm - Single Grey whale off of Arroyo Beach in W Seattle, moving quickly to the south toward 3 tree point. Maybe 50 yds offshore. Couldn't get the camera fast enough to catch it fluking.
Jennifer Barwick
*
I looked out our office window this morning, picked up my binoculars, and immediately spotted a spout out in Saratoga Passage!! One Gray whale was mid-channel, closer to the Camano Island side, heading north at a pretty good pace at 11:25 am. I first saw it just north of Camano Island State Park.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
*
Windwalker Taibi called Orca Network at 10 am to report two Gray whales coming in to the beach at East Pt (Saratoga Psg, near entrance to Holmes Harbor). There were some kayakers nearby. Then emailed us this update: Well, the two grays that we saw turned out to be three. They moved off pretty fast, so we didn't get pictures. We did get a look at one that was a much lighter color then any Gray I've seen before. Maybe it was the lighting, but I don't think so. The kayakers I mentioned in my phone call are definitely a bit of a problem. They just don't have a clue about the law. But, lots of folks were yelling at them from the shore, so I hope they got the point. Have a great weekend - what a treat!
Windwalker Taibi, Whidbey Island
*
A gray whale just past by Langley at 7:35 to 8:15 AM, moving from the SE to NW and feeding close to the shore.
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
8:00am, 3 grays feeding north end of Port Susan.
Gary Lingenfelter
May 9, 2008
At 5:30pm, flying in a small plane at 3000 ft I saw about 4 whales. One looked about 2/3s the size of the others. They were stationary. Not Orcas. Maybe grey? From my point of view they looked white. Location was between 1 mile south of Camano Island State park.
Rodney Tong
*
J's are back and all present except J43 (as noted in an earlier report - unfortunately this new J pod calf was last seen and photographed Nov. 24th off Whidbey Island - sb). They looked fat and healthy yesterday, but were very spread out.
Ken Balcomb, Senior Scientist, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
*
I'm very pleased to hear a few calls on the hydrophone again (started at 14:38 and continuing now - 14:52 @ Lime Kiln). Val passed on this sighting report from Shann of the Western Prince: J pod heading north at Eagle Point this morning at 11am. I'll upload some recordings to OrcaSound shortly.
Update: Scott called in at 3:40 pm reporting J pod calls on the OrcaSound hydropone, the calls began at 3:29 pm.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School
*
Just talked to Capt Mike on our boat and they are with the whales (J pod) right now - 2:13 pm - off lime kiln.
Colleen, San Juan Safaris
*
Noon, Gray at Kayak Point moving south. Neighbor said he saw 3. 11:30pm, heard at least 1 feeding in front of my house in the cove just north of Kayak Point.
Gary Lingenfelter
*
We just saw a gray whale 1/4 to 1/2 mile offshore, just north of meadow point (golden gardens) in seattle and heading south. 9:00 PM. As far as we could tell there was only one whale.
walt & nan spady, Seattle
*
Orca Network received a call from someone reporting a lone small gray whale off the WA coast near Kalaloch at 5:45 pm.
*
Two gray whales currently (7:15 PM) feeding in the shallows off Mabana Rd (SW Camano Isl). We just got back on Camano after being gone for several days, and our neighbors told us that last night about the same time, several grays were feeding in the shallows in front of the house, also several nights prior.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
*
Orca Network received a call from Eric (?) reporting 3 - 4, possibly more, orcas 400 yards off Bullman Beach, which is about 1.5 miles east of the eastern boundary of the Makah Nation, between Neah Bay & Clallam Bay, at 5:30 pm. They were heading west, there were 3 males.
*
9:00am, 2 grays feeding north of Kayak Point, moving north towards Warm Beach (Port Susan).
Gary Lingenfelter
May 8, 2008
A friend of ours had stayed the night in his boat there and his Uncle was with him. His Uncle told us he was up late and heard a [gray] whale feeding nearby for a long time. He said it sounded very large. He could hear the blow sounds and the feeding sounds. Anyway, that was late into the night right next to the Langley Marina.
Lynda Imburgia, Langley
*
Just a quick report that I heard a few transient calls between about 11:50 and midnight PDT on OrcaSound. The first couple were very loud and squawky -- at first I thought it was a great blue heron getting surprised and eaten by something! The subsequent calls were spaced a few minutes apart, rapidly grew fainter, and sounded like transient calls.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School
*
Heard a Gray feeding and blowing tonight at 9:30 pm near the shore off Edgecliff, just west of Sandy Point.
Gail Fleming, Langley
*
5:30 PM - Saw large gray whale off of Langley 100 yards out traveling SE. Later - 6:30 pm, walking along the Langley waterfront we saw what appeared to be mother and child off of the Camano Island side.
Wayne & Linda Furber
*
At 5:30 PM a gray whale swam by from northwest to the southeast past NW Langley. The tide was still pretty far out and the whale was just past the drop off doing deep dives and showing its fluke. The whale stopped in front of Langley at about 5:45 and in fifteen minutes it had sky hopped three times! That's the first time I'd seen a whale spy hop- it was wonderful. Of course I did not have my camera, by the time I had it the whale was headed to the SE (6:05 PM), I got one shot of its back and I think it is whale # 723.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley
*
We were on the 1 pm Mukilteo/Clinton ferry, and saw a whale watch boat and two spouts off Camano Head from about 1-1:15 pm. We drove over to Sandy Pt. south of Langley, to discover the two [gray] whales (and the boat, giving the whales lots of room) had moved south and were off the west side of Hat/Gedney Island. They were feeding VERY close to the shoreline! We watched them from 1:40 - 1:50 pm, they seemed to be slowly heading south as they fed.
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island
*
We have had two greys off our beach on Edgecliff Drive, Langley, just west of Sandy Point for about 90 minutes (8-8:30 am) at this writing. Appears to be a female with a youngster.
Dan Prewitt, Edgecliff Drive, Langley
Note - according to Cascadia Research, the local whales that feed in Saratoga Passage tend to be adult males rather than females with calves. However, one of the whales is smaller, and is often mistaken for a calf -sb
*
About 3:45 pm I spotted what looked like a minke heading north bout 1/4 mile south of Point Wells (near Edmonds). It was about 1/4 mile off the beach. I saw it surface twice so got a pretty good look at it thru the glasses.
Dan Leyde, Richmond Beach
*
I believe I saw a Minke whale. I saw the rear portion with the small dorsal fin as it rose out of the water. It was much smaller than an orca or a gray whale. Black or dark gray. I saw it just north of Rolling Bay on Bainbridge Island, and just south of Faye Bainbridge State Park. It was about 150 yards off-shore, travling north along the shoreline at 11:15 am.
Spencer Lemons
May 7, 2008
This was an amazing evening for gray whales! I thought they had finished feeding here NW of Langley but, at about 5:30 PM we heard a whale breathe and then accompanying splashing of a whale close into shore feeding. Sure enough it was Patch. He stayed for almost an hour and then suddenly took off very fast to the southeast. He was shallow and literally left a wake. We watched him head out to deeper water toward Camano Head and then at 6:30 PM we saw another whale blow off in the distance. The two whales met almost mid channel between Langley and Camano Island. They spent about 15- 20 minutes sort of milling about. At 6:50 they began to head back to the NW and 7:00 PM both whales were feeding side by side NW of Langley. They continued to work their way to the NW feeding and then swimming out to deeper water, then back in to feed. We thought they had left but at 8:30 PM they were back NW of Langley. At 9:45 PM they were still here feeding. It was wonderful to see them again!
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
*
A repeat performance of the day before, a large Gray was feeding close to shore at 6:30 am just north of Kayak point, moving north toward Warm Beach (Port Susan). Don't know ID's but saw two brushstroke-like markings on either the top of left fluke or bottom of right fluke.
Gary Lingenfelter, Kayak Point
*
Another report of T20 and (apparently) T21 -- same place (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) , close to the same time, in fact 50 hours later. Animals were almost exactly on top of the point where I had marked them on May 05. Time of sighting was 15:42 and seas were 6ft.-plus at in a roaring flood current.
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C. Canada
*
T20 and T21 going West off Sooke this afternoon in 5to 6 ft. seas at 1455.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C. Canada
May 6, 2008
Around 6:00 p.m I looked out and saw a lone (gray) whale outside my window feeding in front of my house. I am on Witter Beach (SE Whidbey) and face directly east toward Hat Island and Everett. He hung around for quite awhile making his way south.
Sharon Wandler, Whidbey Island
*
Orca Network received a call from Cheryl Uberman of California, she observed one male orca from the Timber Cove Inn, 90 miles north of San Francisco. It was several hundred yards offshore, possibly hunting, at 8:30 pm, then it headed out to sea.
*
Derek Whitmarsh of Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island, called Orca Network to report 2 gray whales heading south, closer to the Camano side of Saratoga Passage, at 3:35 pm.
*
One Gray feeding in shallow water between Kayak Point and Warm Beach (in Port Susan) at 7:30am. Moving north.
Gary Lingenfelter, Kayak Point
May 5, 2008
Orca Network received a call this morning from Chris Peterson, reporting a sighting of orcas off the N. end of Texada Island, B.C Gulf Islands. There were at least 3 orcas, near Rebecca Rock, observed from 11-11:30 am.
*
1204 hr - 1300hr. Bull orca T20 and (another T?) spotted in 3 ft. seas (4 ft. and building by the time we left the animals) approx. 2 NM offshore of Sooke Bluffs (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) at 1204hr. Current was a strong flood at Race Rocks but, further west and offshore, there was still a river of ebb current that the Westbound Transients sought out and rode West (of course dragging us into more exciting seas as time wore on). Left the animals near 1300hr approaching Otter Pt., still 2 plus NM offshore. Behaviour: 3-4 min dives between 3-4 minute "surfacings" (time near surface). No apparent hunting; animals traveling 4-6 Kn. (S.O.G).
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C.
May 4, 2008
Sighting began at 12:45, 1 gray (#49) milling, traveling north bound, off the shallows NE of Gedney Ils. Second gray spotted at 12:50 much further north, SW of Tulalip. Sightings ended at 13:11.
Kwasi, Salish Sea Charters
May 3, 2008
I just received a few more pictures and details about last Saturday's orca sighting in Newport.
Jim Rice, Newport OR: Last Saturday I stepped out on to our balcony and saw a big dorsal fin then a couple more. I counted 5 total. One big, three medium and one smaller. They were circling and splashing in the area shown in the photos (see above). We could hear them blow as they came up. I did not see the seals, but one man said that there were a couple of seals in the middle of them. There were 3 other seals that were up hiding up on the rocks on shore. We took the 3 pics from the balcony. I headed down to get pics close up, but by the time I got there the orcas were headed back out toward the ocean.
Allan Best, Newport, OR
*
There was a report by at least 3-5 people that on opening day of shrimping season they saw a killer whale eating a sea lion just north of Ayock Beach. It happened about 8:45. I did not see it.
Elaine M. Wiley, Gypsy Cove, Hood Canal, WA
*
We received several photos of the Orcas reported Saturday morning in the Yaquina River, Newport OR, along with an additional report (which leaves no doubt that they were Transients!).
From Jim Rice: I've received this additional piece of information about Saturday's orca sighting: "I was out at S. Jetty this evening and ran into a young man walking the road who saw the orcas kill at least one harbor seal this morning. He lives near the start of the S. Jetty road. He thought there were 5 orcas, and they killed the seal on the south side between the bridge and the finger jetty. Barry"
Jim Rice, Stranding Coordinator, Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU
Orca Network shared Angi's photos (which weren't great ID shots, but one had some saddle patches) with researchers, and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research replied:
I will go way, way out on a limb here and take a GUESS that this MIGHT be T49C and T50. The fin shape is right and I think I can believe that I see nicks where they should be. I believe both of those whales have been photographed down that direction before too. Other than that, I can't say for sure!
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
*
Heard it through the grapevine that a group of Orcas was supposedly going through Active Pass.
John Boyd, San Juan Island
*
We observed single gray whale pass through Mariner's Cove (near Strawberry Point) and feed very close along the shoreline at 7PM Saturday evening. A lot of swirling around with flippers exposed for 15/20 minutes before heading south towards Polnell Point.
Robert Stonefelt, Oak Harbor
*
Our first whale sighting began at 12:12 - The small/juvenile Humpback NE of Possession Pt. (N 47' 54.195 W 122' 21.995). The whale was traveling south bound, taking two to three breaths before diving. The sighting ended at 12:27, the whale did not fluke. Our next sighting began at 13:07 - 2 grays moving SSW of the dolphin day marker E of Gedney Island (N 48'00.268 W 122'15.863). Then a third Gray whale spotted at 13:15. All three whales were foraging in the shallows, with pectorals and flukes out of the water. One whale was #49. We left the whales at 13:35
Kwasi, Salish Sea Charters
*
Orca Network received a call from Dave Metz of Newport, OR at 10:10 am, he was observing 3 orcas swimming up the Yaquina River in Newport. They went 200-300 yards upriver, nearly to the Newport Bridge, then turned & were starting to swim back down river. He referred Angie to us, who was nearby watching the orcas - she first saw the orcas at 10:00 am as she was driving over the Newport bridge. She followed them along the jetty and took some photos which she will send to us.
It is likely these are Transient orcas looking for a seal or two.
*
Orca Network received a call from Kwasi Addae of Salish Sea Charters at 12:15 pm, with a report of the juvenile humpback that's been hanging around lately. It was off Possession Pt, South Whidbey Island.
May 2, 2008
Heard it through the grapevine that a group of Orcas were seen over near Port Angeles.
John Boyd, San Juan Island
*
The T100's, T101's, T124's and T90 with T90B (15 animals) head east past Race Rocks on Friday evening. They were first picked up near Pillar Point at 3:30 p.m.
Mark Malleson, Victoria, B.C.
*
(1) very large Gray whale, west Camano Island 1/2 mile north of Onamac Beach, Observed from High Bank Waterfront. First seen 5:55 PM and was still at location @ 6:15 PM moving north and south within 1/4 mile feeding.
Tom & Vicki Perry, Camano Island
*
T14 tail slapping away near Sooke! Curious to know just how many T's were turned up 3-4 NM West of Crescent Bay (Olympic Peninsula) today -- sounded like quite a few (around
1600hr).
Chris Zylstra , Victoria B.C.
*
2 minkes observed at Hein Bank exhibiting feeding (lunging with multiple changes of direction) at 1040-1120 and again from 1440-1515. Minkes were on the Southeast end of the bank where bait-balls were also observed and a few sports fishermen were having some good luck bottom fishing.
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C.
*
I should be sleeping, but am listening to the Orcasound hydrophone and it is 1:34am. I am hearing whales and I think they sound like transients!
Annika, Shoreline, Wa.
*
Yes, it was T calls at 0133-35 off Lime Kiln.
Ken Balcomb, Senior Scientist, Center for Whale Research, Friday Harbor
May 1, 2008
T14 at Beechey Head (East Sooke park), 1030hr.
Chris Zylstra , Victoria B.C.
*
T14 was picked up again today, this time back on his own. He was first spotted at 10:10 a.m. cruising through the kelp forests of East Sooke Park. He then continued east through Race Passage and crossed Victoria's waterfront (see above photo). He passed by Trial Island at 5:00 p.m. and went through Oak Bay. I last saw him exiting Baynes Channel going north past Ten Mile Pt. at 6:45 p.m.
Mark Malleson, Victoria B.C.
*
Probable grey whale spouting just off Camano Head (S. Camano Island) visible from above the Langley marina 10:40 AM May 1. Appears to be one individual. It was heading slowly northerly and disappeared behind the east side of Camano by around 10-15 before 11 AM.
David Daye, Langley, WA
NEW Interactive Map with recent sightings
(move cursor over icons for dates and details)
provided courtesy of MapMate
|
Join Our Sightings List
