Haro Strait

July 3, 2008
Howard heard from someone on the San Juan Island ferry that J pod had been seen off the south and west sides of San Juan Island during the day.
Orca Network


July 2, 2008
Astrid van Ginneken, John Durban, and Holly Fernbach of the Center for Whale Research encountered J pod spread out traveling north between Kellett Bluff and Turn Point on Stuart Island (48° 65.00 N, 123° 23.00 W) at 4:14 p.m.. The Center followed J pod to the shore of North Pender Island, B.C. where the whales grouped up and continued to travel north close to shore. The encounter ended at 6:06 with J pod continuing north through Swanson Channel (48° 46.047 N, 123° 18.835 W).
Great Photos at Center for Whale Research


We enjoyed a very peaceful and rewarding visit with J Pod and K Pod as they rested their way across Oak Bay towards Discovery Island. The highlight was when the two pods came together before crossing the passageway into Haro Strait. Having more than 45 whales in such close proximity was a very special treat. We continued on to Stuart Island where we had another peaceful encounter with J Pod. The Orcas were travelling northeast, crossing Boundary Pass and entering Swanson Channel. The pod was travelling quite close to Stuart Island as they passed through the tide rips near Turn Point, then spread out over several miles when crossing Boundary Pass. We left J Pod at approximately 5 PM in very quiet waters, with only 2 research vessels still with them, between North Pender Island and Moresby Island.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist Vancouver Whale Watch


At 6:00 PM, K-Pod and the “L12s” (10-12 whales) were spread from Lime Kiln to False Bay on San Juan Island, heading south, but making little to no progress swimming against a strong flood tide. Some of the L12s were the furthest offshore, with Mega (L41) and others out in the middle of Haro Strait. From the Land Bank Preserve on the west side of San Juan Island, the closest whales were probably 400 yards offshore. One group of 3-4 whales included a calf, and at one point one or two of the females in the group were pushing the calf at the surface amid much splashing and tail slapping. Another group of 3 included a male (adult or nearly so) that did two spectacular breaches. It’s amazing how loud of a sound it makes even at that distance! J-Pod was reportedly northbound at Pender Bluffs.
Monika Wieland, San Juan Island


Southern Residents off west San Juan Island at 3:36 pm – Many S16 callss and buzz trains and whistles on Lime Kiln hydrophone now.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach


Orcas on orca cam 1:28pm, and on the Lime Kiln hydrophone at 1:29pm.
Ruby Keefe, Culver City, Ca


At 2:40 pm we heard some orca calls from the Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Susan & Howard, Orca Network


We had the opportunity to meet up with members of both J & K pods (could have been some L’s too??) returning to the San Juan Islands at approximately 11:00am. We met up with the whales as they headed through Baynes Channel (east of Victoria). While that was exciting in an of itself, when we approached, we were greeted with line after line of resting whales, tightly grouped, intermingled and slowly making their way toward San Juan Island. We stayed with the groups for about two hours (they seemed to gather speed as they entered the Haro Straits, heading north and breaking into three separate groupings). The whales appeared to be heading North but by the time we arrived home to the west side of the Island, many of the whales seemed to have turned and headed south, we even stopped to watch at least 5 of them come well into Deadman’s Bay (just south of Lime Kiln). By 6:00pm that evening, we still had the southern residents heading south along the shores, after a day of what seems to have been unstopped milling.
Sandy Buckley, Postcards From Friday Harbor


K-Pod & reports of J-Pod spread out between False Bay & Lime Kiln Point, heading north. Before we got to False Bay, about 2:30 pm, they had turned southeast, the west side shuffle. And turned northwest again! The spread out, small groups were working the shoreline, positively ID’d little K-42 with her mom K-14 Lea. Most of the whales were taking long dives, while K-42 had to come up for breath more frequently. Some groups were offshore and we got a nice view of K-40 with her telltale “Raggedy” dorsal fin. Then we watched a male (too far to ID – brother K-21 Cappucino?), circle & lunge several times. Another turn to the southeast. J-Pod was quite a bit north when some members (counted 15+?) turned heading southeast along the shoreline. We watched as they tightened up into that beautiful shoulder to shoulder resting formation. It appeared that many sprouters & males were in the group as they came up & breathed in unison. Then as they joined K-Pod they became active with breaching, tail lobbing, a few cartwheels and spy hops. At about 3:45 pm, we continued north around San Juan Island, the rest of J-Pod was off in the distance heading toward North Pender Island.
Caroline Armon- Naturalist by sea & land


We saw the J11s and the J14s frolicking through the currents together just north of Lime Kiln Lighthouse and we parallelled north with them until Kellet Bluff. The rumor was that Ls were also in the area, but we only encountered J Pod animals north of the light. The J11s, which include: J11 (Blossom) and her offspring J27 (Blackberry), J31 (Tsuchi), and J39 (Mako); were the first group sighted. J31 was MIA in the beginning of the encounter and grouped up with her mom and siblings as they approached the bluff. J39 appeared in high spirits, as usual, as he breached multiple times and played games with big brother Blackberry. Blackberry was seen swimming on his back and slapping his tail and pectoral fins while Mako popped up around him. Tsuchi joined in on the play when she appeared and also gave us a nice breach. The J14s were also there, with the exception of J14’s middle calf, seven year old Hy’shqa (J37). J14 (Samish) and her son J30 (Blackberry) and daughter Suttles (J40) met up with the J11s just south of Mosquito Pass and they swam together briefly before breaking off at the bluff. We also had an amazing encounter with J1. He looked nice and round, healthy and beautiful as ever. We began and ended our orca encounter with J1. We left them moving north towards Stuart Island.
Megan Young, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris


July 1, 2008
We had J’s in the morning with some K’s and L87 off W.San Juan Island, and then later in the day the K’s up north came back down and joined up with J’s.
John Boyd, San Juan Island


We heard calls on the OrcaSound hydrophones several times during the day, but each time there were just a few calls, we are unsure whether these were resident or transient orcas. Calls were heard at 11:10 am and 12:13 pm on the Lime Kiln hydrophone, and at 5:55 pm and 6:28 pm on the OrcaSound hydrophone.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island


June 26, 2008
We were having a picnic lunch at West Beach (west Whidbey Island), and around 1 p.m. we spotted several black fins and tails a good distance off shore.
Toni Tully, Langley


June 25, 2008
About 2pm to 3:30pm, J-Pod and some of K-Pod spread out all along the south & west side of San Juan Island, heading north, last of the ebb tide & the beginning of the flood tide. K-14 & family hugging the shore, little K-42 active & kinda of leap- breaching! We saw J-26 Mike, mom J-16 Slick, along with J-42 (whose white patches are still a bit yellow-orange at a year old!), cross in front of Mosquito Pass, heading north on the west side of Henry Island. At first I thought J-26 might have been L-57 Faith, J-26 has that same tilt to his dorsal fin. If there is research on patrilines, it will be interesting to see if L-57 fathered J-26. I have seen a few other wavy dorsals that make me wonder about J-1’s offspring!
Caroline Armon, Naturalist; San Juan Excursions, San Juan Transit &Tours, OnBoard Tours


Met the members of K-pod out on the southwest side off of False Bay and got some great looks at that cute little baby again! Little K-42 (first spotted in just the beginning of June) was moving quickly, porpoising out of the water, trying to keep pace with the grown-ups! The Orcas hugged the island’s coastline the whole way. The pods were spread out traveling the whole time – a few occasional breaches and tail slaps and a wave of a flipper from a male! Moving offshore we caught up to a few of the trailing members of J-pod.
Jacylyn Van Bourgondien, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris


Here’s a little report from a fellow who recently started listening from the UK (late at night!). He made a nice 2-minute recording of the orcas that went up the W side today (not sure of pods) which I’ve uploaded to OrcaSound. You may want to share it with your listserv as it has some seriously loud whistles and a few close S1 and S16 calls. (Maybe J and K were present?)
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach


From Andy Good, UK: I sent two more emails with mp3 recordings of several minutes each. One was a great one of all sots of chatter, calls and echo location as they passed limekiln. They seemed to have hung around the bay to the south then set off at pace to the north. That was just the combination of picture and sound I was hoping to get.


8am-8:30am, Cattle point, 5 orcas heading north along San Juan Island coast
Mike Bolte


June 24, 2008
Astrid van Ginneken, Courtney Smith, Mackenzie Consoer, and Stewart Macintyre of the Center for Whale Research encountered J’s, K’s and a few L’s traveling north off Kellett Bluff (48° 33.907 N,123° 10.855 W) at 9:28 a.m.. The whales were spread out traveling at a medium pace. After documenting most of J and K pod, Center staff went south looking for the reported L’s. At about 12:00 staff encountered L85, L25, L12, L27, L94, L79, L22, L89 spread out off South Beach. No L’s were encountered that have not been previously documented this year. At 3:15, Center staff determined that there were no other L’s in the area and ended the encounter, southwest of Cattle Point (48° 24.694 N, 123° 03.148 W).
Center for Whale Research website


10 am – Minke off cattle point (SW San Juan Island) heading west.
Mike Bolte


5:30 – 8:30 PM our local resident orcas (J-pod, K-pod, L-pod) have formed a superpod!! Off of the southwest end of San Juan Island, all spread out and swimming in smaller groups up and down the coast! We see plenty of breaching, pec slaps, belly rolls, and spy-hopping!! There’s a young calf and mother that spy hop nearby! L-74, a 22 year old male is trying to mate with a female of the K-pod or J- pod.
Jaclyn Van Bourgodien, naturalist San Juan Safaris


2pm between Lime Kiln and Cattle Point, 6-8 orcas heading south/east along San Juan Island (at least 3 adult males).
Mike Bolte


June 21, 2008
Astrid van Ginneken, Erin Heydenreich, Mackenzie Consoer, & Stewart Macintyre of the Center for Whale Research staff encountered K pod and a few L’s off Eagle Point (48° 26.904 N, 123° 01.866 W) at 11:20 a.m.. The whales were spread out from shore to the middle of Haro Strait traveling north. Around 1:30 the whales turned around and began traveling south at False Bay. Most of K pod was seen and documented along with some members of L pod. The encounter ended at 3:36 p.m. when the whales began traveling south at a fast pace, just southwest of Cattle Point (48° 26.255 N, 123° 57.373 W).
Shortly after Center for Whale Research vessel, Orca, arrived on scene, another Center vessel, Starlet, with CWR staff Dave Ellifrit, Kyla Graham, and John Durban, encountered L pod and a few members of K pod spread out in mid Haro Strait (48° 28.950 N, 123° 07.049 W) at 12:01 p.m. The whales were initially traveling north, then made a turn south at False Bay. Observers on Starlet followed the whales until 2:54 p.m. as they continued traveling south just off American Camp on the west side of San Juan Island (48° 26.425 N, 123° 01.041 W). Most members of L pod that were present were observed and documented, however not all members of L pod were believed to be present. Late Saturday evening, J, K, and L pod grouped up and began traveling north. Ken Balcomb, encountered whales off Lime Kiln State Park (48° 31.36 N; 123° 10.16 W) at 8:10 pm. Whales were traveling in tight groups as they continued to travel north past Henry Island. The encounter ended at 9:10 p.m. just west of Kellett Bluff, (48 35.12 N; 123 12.13 W).
Center for Whale Research.


We found K pod near Lime Kiln, heading towards Cattle Point (west San Juan Island). We stayed with them for close to an hour – and apparently J pod was heading towards the K’s. Off to Orca Sing (at Lime Kiln park) and listened to the (human) singing which was wonderful. Then – whales started appearing and passed by, some quite close to shore. J’s, K’s and some L’s (well over 50 whales passed the Lighthouse). I was on the hillside watching the people at the end of the bluff. All of a sudden there was a lot of finger pointing.Then an orca swam slowly by, then a pair, then another single, then 3 in close sequence. We kept on singing! Eventually over 50 whales swam by in a slow, majestic, procession.
Sandy Dubpernell, Coupeville, Whidbey Island


J’s, K’s and lots of L’s hung out off the south and west side of SJI most of the day before heading north out of sight from Land Bank after 9 pm. They joined Orca Sing at Lime Kiln in the evening, with lots of surface activity. It was pretty cool watching from Land Bank, hearing the drifting sounds of singing and watching the orcas pass. I heard about spectacular passes at the light at Cattle Pass and South Beach from two separate sources. Apparently lots of orcas were in tight at the Cattle Pass light, something I have not yet been privileged to see. I did get to see some pretty interesting behaviors below Hannah Heights. Among them, two whales that appeared to be approximately the same size judging by fins, stopped traveling and started logging right in front of me. From my vantage point above them I could see that the girth of the mature female was at least 4 times the girth of the other whale. Also at Hannah, between 7pm and 8pm there appeared to be lots of mating type activity. Some charming female (or more?) enticed lots of big males, including J1, L41, J27, J26, L57, and at least several more sprouters. I couldn’t tell who the female was, even tho’ the activity lasted quite a while. She or they stayed down most of the time, barely surfacing for breath, as the males entered and left the swirling circle of activity. Lots of sea snakes.
Sharon Grace, San Juan Island


Noticed a group of orcas right at shore on south end of Lopez heading east at 7:30am, one male, two females, two juveniles and a very small one. Lots of tail slaps by juveniles. Orcas going very slowly. Out further in the Straits were about 10 orcas – solo or in pairs. Then another group came through close to shore, one female, two juveniles, and another small one. Lots more tail slaps and breaches too. First group of orcas spent time fishing on the outside of Swirl Rocks. Orcas could be heard and seen until 9 am – and still no boats. Orcas headed out into the channel towards Whidbey. They did not head in around Colville. The sound of the blows continued to carry back. What a great visual and auditory summer solstice celebration – I’m hoping the whales enjoyed the peace surrounding their morning.
Later: Orcas made another pass at the south end of Lopez, this was east to west. First spotted two females just off rocks by monument at Iceberg Point shortly after 10 am. Several others following slowly behind them. Whale boats caught up with them around 10:30am. So you should be getting id’s from the boats.
Later: 3:15pm south end of Lopez, orcas heading east to west, now around 3:40pm they have all grouped together and are swimming in formation, estimate 15-20.
And even later: Great orca viewing off Flint Beach, Lopez Island. Lots of tail slaps, rolls, gentle approaches.
Sally Reeve, Lopez Island


On the West Side (San Juan Island), because of the big ebb tide, [orcas] stayed in front of Snug Harbor, our dock, all morning and into the early afternoon. On the evening trip we took them through Active Pass and out into the St. of Georgia. It looked like there were heading toward Pt. Roberts, which would be good news for West Side viewing today.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya’s West Side Whale Watch Charters, San Juan Island


June 20, 2008
About 2:30pm to 3:30pm, many members of J-Pod in tight formation, resting, as they crossed Open Bay, northwest San Juan Island, heading north, strong flood tide just starting to pick up. In my years of observation, I have seen the most resting behavior in this area. They woke up, broke up into smaller groups & became active with breaches, percussive behaviors, body rolls, and some kelp draping again. J-1 Ruffles with L-57 Faith, close behind, brought up the rear.
Caroline Armon, Naturalist; San Juan Excursions, San Juan Transit &Tours, OnBoard Tours


Went over towards the northwest side of San Juan Island to meet up with the J-Pod of Orcas that have returned from their venture out to sea for the last 2 days. The orcas were moving very slowly the whole afternoon – a few of the “leaders” of the pod were about a mile ahead while the rest of the pod was in a tight group all surfacing within seconds of each other to breathe. J-1 (Ruffles) was among this group! I love that big guy! Very cool to see them in this relaxed state. It seemed as though a few awoke because we saw a few calves breaching, as if to say “Mom, wake up, wake up!”. We also noticed that L-57 (Faith) is still hanging out with the J-Pod – perhaps looking for a mate – spending some time alongside J-28 (Polaris).
Jaclyn Van Bourgnien, naturalist San Juan Safaris


Orca Network received this report: 11:00 am – Hearing calls on Orcasound hydrophone – since 10:15 am.


My guests spotted Orcas at 7:30 this morning spread out and heading for Lime Kiln Lighthouse on the west side of San Juan Island. A little later, after 8 AM, another group with a calf came by. Not much action, just enjoying this beautiful day!
Helen King, Innkeeper, The Highland Inn of San Juan Island


June 19, 2008
On my way to the Minkes at Hein Bank I came across a Brown Booby at the South Hein Bank marker. Time was 1535 .
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C.


June 17, 2008
4 members of J pod (J16, J42, J26 and one other) entered the study area (Lime Kiln Lighthouse, west San Juan Island) at 1357 heading north on a strong flood tide. They spent much of their time facing south, facing into the flood tide. They turned around at 1603, headed south, leaving the study area at 1633. This was the 19th passby of the lighthouse this summer (since May 20, from 0900 to 1700. Last year, by comparison, we had 32 passbys through June 17. leaving the study area at 1333. At least 8 powerboats and 2 kayaks accompanied them into the study area.
Bob Otis, Lime Kiln Lighthouse, San Juan Island


Lots of Orca whales and activity as they are passing by here on the west side of San Juan Island going south from Lime Kiln Lighthouse, 5 PM.
Helen King, Innkeeper, Highland Inn of San Juan Island


Orca Network received a call from some Lopez Islanders at 2:40 pm, reporting 4+ orcas off Davis Bay, Lopez Island, heading north past Cattle Pass.


June 16, 2008
I could hear blowing as I was sitting in my hot tub at 6:30 this morning. My guests went down to the pull out area between the inn and Lime Kiln Lighthouse and they said they were running along the rocks with the [orcas] right beside them. About six and one small calf, all headed north on the west side of San Juan Island.
Helen King, Innkeeper, The Highland Inn of San Juan Island


June 14, 2008
Our AM trip took us to south Rosario Strait off Lopez Island to view members of L pod. The whales were bucking the tide as they moved past at about 5-6 knots, in small groups. The groups were spread out over almost the entire Strait, and heading south when we left them at about noon. On our afternoon trip, we were fortunate to join up with members of J Pod near Lummi Rocks. The J Pod whales were spread out over the entire area, moving slowly and randomly over miles of glassy calm waters. They didn’t seem to be going anywhere at the time, just milling in the area and enjoying a relaxing Saturday afternoon in “the pool”. There were no vocals, and the whales were all doing their own thing, even the calves. We had one pass-by of little J42, all by her lonesome. She spyhopped a few times, then swam slowly along the south Lummi Island shoreline, sometimes circling, sometimes on her back with her tiny pec flippers in the air and her tail flukes paddling on the surface. It reminded us all of a child swimming confidently in a pool without Mom hovering anxiously beside. Brothers J26 and J33 were in the vicinity, but not nearby. We left the whales at approximately 17:30, and they were still circling around off the west side of Lummi Island.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch


J’s and L’s milling off the west side of San Juan Island. Astrid van Ginneken, Dave Ellifrit, and Stuart Macyntire of the Center for Whale Research encountered J and L pod at 1:15 p.m. off South Beach at the southern end of San Juan Island (48° 26.720 N; 123° 01.39 W). L26, L90 and L92 were milling close to the Center boat. L92 (male born 1995) caught a fish and was pushing it around with his rostrum for several minutes. The whales were very spread out and aparently foraging. After a few hours, small sub groups began traveling north. The Encounter ended at 3:47 p.m. Just off shore of Lime Kiln Sate Park (48° 30.73 N; 123° 09.84 W), where the whales turned around and started moving south.
Photos & more at Center for Whale Research


June 13, 2008
L pod returns to join J pod traveling north through Haro Strait. Astrid van Ginneken, Dave Ellifrit, Erin Heydenreich, and Stewart Macyntire of the Center for whale Research responded to a call that L pod and possibly K pod are traveling with J pod east from Beaumont Shoal toward the west side of San Juan Island. The Center arrives on scene at 3:15 p.m. (48° 28.990 N; 123° 07.665 W) and confirms that some members of L pod are present along with all of J pod. No members of K pod were sighted. After milling off of Pile Point the whales grouped up and traveled North. The Center staff followed them up to Stuart Island. The encounter ended at 7:00 p.m, at 48° 40.190 N; 123° 13.760 W. The L 9 sub group, L 54 subgroup, L 2 subgroup, L 22 subgroup and L 12 were not seen or documented.
Photos & more at Center for Whale Research


It wasn’t a superpod, but it was spectacular. The Js and many of the Ls came together yesterday afternoon in the big waves off of Hannah Hts., and acted like a superpod. Jumping, rolling, spyhopping, the whole nine yards! And then, right out in front of Snug Harbor, our dock, the amazing views continued for our 5:00 PM trip. I haven’t seen so much porpoising in unison for years. Five and six at a time. Big wows from everyone on the boat, including me. We followed them all the way to Turn Pt. on Stuart Is. where they all passed between us and the cliffs and the light house and Mt. Baker. The sounds were amazing as we sat there with the engines off. Long after we could see them the sound of their blows came floating back to us over the calm waters.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya’s Chaters, San Juan Island


Capt. Jim Maya called Orca Network to report on what sounded like a WONDERFUL day on the water with J pod and parts of L pod! He said they were very active, lots of breaching and mating behavoir. He left them at 7:30 pm, at Turn Pt, heading north up Swanson Channel.


Orcas moving slowly northbound. No social calls. Lots of echolocation clicks. Orcas close to shore as are commercial boats.
Val Viers, Beam Reach/Colorado College, San Juan Island


Orca whales have been here just south of Lime Kiln Lighthouse for over an hour, (7 to 8 AM) on the west side of San Juan Island. I imagine J-pod. About six or more coming by now going north. 9:20 AM. My guests saw the baby with the earlier group.
Helen King, Innkeeper, The Highland Inn of San Juan Island


Reports of J pod west side of San Juan Island heading north, at noon. The folks on land all the way up to LimeKiln Point State Park got a great view! Wait, they turned & started heading south, so we headed down San Juan Channel, through Cattle Pass, to find them spread out from Hannah Heights to Hien Bank & beyond. A bit bumpy out there with the wind & fairly strong flood tide. We saw some breaches in the distance & were able to ID, through binoculars, first J-30 Riptide, who did some long dives. Right behind him popped up his mom- J-14 Samich with his sisters, J-37 Hy’Shqa & J-40 Suttles sticking close to J-14. J-37 did back to back breaches & little J-40 followed with her own breaches! They had been traveling somewhat easterly, near shore & then they turned rather abruptly south & west as if to catch up with the rest of the pod. I was wondering to myself why the pod would be going against the flood tide, when they had been riding it up earlier in the day, when we got the report that L pod was heading in from the west! When we left at 2pm, J pod was heading west, perhaps to meet up with L pod?
Caroline Armon, Naturalist, San Juan Excursions & San Juan Tours & Transit


June 12, 2008
We got a report that the [orcas] were seen along the west side (San Juan Island) heading north. By the time we departed they had made it past Turn Point and we intercepted them as they crossed in and past the southern end of South Pender and Saturna Islands. J-Pod sure has been moving! Another international trip, crossing into Canadian waters we were able to spend a solid 30 minutes or more watching J-Pod as they traveled northbound. The whales were steadily cruising but quite active again today! We were able to see a few breaches, lots of lobtailing, and one male who even rolled onto his back and showed us his belly and “waved” at us with his flipper!
Jaclyn Van Bourgondien, naturalist (san juan safaris)


12:09 pm – Echolocation clicks so far (during last 5 minutes) only at Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach


10:45 am – Orcas spread out and slowly travelling north. No vocals.
Val Veirs, Beam Reach/Colorado College


Scott Veirs reported orca echolocation clicks on the Lime Kiln Hydrophone at 9:25 am. We tuned into to Orcasound.net and heard clicks and later some calls, until approximately 10 am.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network


June 11, 2008
Stewart Macintyre, Center for Whale Research volunteer since 1994, spotted J pod spread out traveling north at Lime Kiln State Park at 5:48 a.m.. At 7:53 a.m. J26 was encountered just west of Turn Point (48° 39.158 N; 123° 13.674 W). The rest of his sub-pod, J16 (mother) , J36 (sibling) and the most recent member of J pod, J42 (sister) were traveling in a tight group a few hundred yards way. The encounter ended at 9:15 a.m. with J pod still spread out traveling toward Boundary Pass (48° 43.721 N; 123° 11.317 W).
Center for Whale Research


June 9, 2008
J pod reported heading west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A nice view of a dozen? or more Dall’s porpoise at Turn Point, Stewart Island, then a parade of a large pod of harbor porpoise.
Caroline Armon, Naturalist, San Juan Excursions & San Juan Tours & Transit


We did have sighting of the young Humpback whale, from Lisa Lamb on Stuart Island about 3:00 today. Going out toward Turn Point Lighthouse.
Denise and Captain Daniel,Orcas Island Eclipse Charters


I received a report from Ivan on Western Prince that the little humpback is still around the San Juans. He/she was sighted off Yellow Island in San Juan Channel in the morning and off Stuart Island in the afternoon.
Tom Averna, Deer Harbor Charters, Orcas Island


Sounds like there was another Humpback Whale off of Turn Point, Stuart Island.
Adam U


A couple of Minke whales off the south end of San Juan Island yesterday.
Denise and Captain Daniel, Orcas Island Eclipse Charters


This morning we had J-Pod nice and close at Cattle Pass. They were spread out. As “usual”, the whales were in a bit of a hurry to cross the entrance and then slow down once past. We found a nice group of 3 trailers about 2-3 miles behind the other whales, so we settled in to watch this small group. They were moving slowly up island until--they discovered salmon! They began lunging around and around, putting up nice sprays with their dorsal fins. We knew they had caught some fish as they surfaced, the wind brought over the distinct aroma of fresh salmon sushi!
For our afternoon trip, the whales were making a south and westerly movement, so we didn’t see the whales again until we got out past Hein Bank. Once again, the whales were very spread out over several miles, and the water began to get a bit choppy. But we did get to see two nice groupings of whales, one of which had J16, J33, and little J42 traveling together (big brother J26 was hanging out further away with J27). The best part of the trip was getting to see J42 traveling so tucked in by mom. Later that evening, whales were slowly heading back in. They went out west this Monday morning).

John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


I have attached two pictures (see above photo) of an encounter with J Pod around 2pm out in the Strait between San Juan Island and Victoria. The pictures were taken aboard the Island Explorer 3.
Scott Pudwell


June 7, 2008
I hear orcas!! (on OrcaSound) It is 21.47 here right now, (Holland time, = 1:47 pm Pacific time) i am hearing them for allmost 5 minutes now. I am recording this, Didn’t find anything yet with the orca cam. Then later: I saw them with the orcacam at 22.04 (Holland time; 2:04 pm Pacific).
Jette (Holland)


4 members of J pod entered the study area (Lime Kiln, W. San Juan Island) at 1309 heading south on a strong ebb tide. They turned around and slowly headed north at 1318, leaving the study area at 1333. At least 8 powerboats and 2 kayaks accompanied them into the study area.
Bob Otis, Lime Kiln, San Juan Island


June 3, 2008
Kelley Balcomb-Bartok and Erin Heydenreich of the Center for Whale Research went out to meet up with the superpod that had been reported earlier by Mark Malleson. Having not been seen since January 27, 2008 off Monterey, California, and Sekiu, Washington, February 29, 2008, members of Kpod and Lpod returned to the San Juan Islands. The whales were first reported off the south end of San Juan Island at around 8 a.m., then slowly travelled north up the coast of the island in tight social groups. Center for Whale Research staff encountered the whales off Bellevue Point at 11:24 a.m. (48° 31.981 N, 123° 10.009 W) as they swam in three large, tight and tactile groups very close to the shoreline. Staff confirmed that members of Kpod and Lpod were among the playful social groups, though it has not been determined yet if all the whales from the Southern Resident population were present. During the encounter a small calf was observed swimming in close proximity to sisters K14 and K16, both reproductive age females. Later in the encounter staff determined that the calf was indeed a new calf in K-pod, and observed the calf primarily travelling very near K14 and her older offspring K26 and K36. The encounter ended at 3:58 p.m. (48° 41.81 N; 123° 14.51 W)
Kelley Balcomb Bartok, Center for Whale Research


Around 10 am on the marine radio I heard “This is big!” I got to Landbank just as the leaders hit Edwards Point and spent the next couple of hours watching the J’s, K’s and L’s go up island. It was a perfect San Juan Island day, misty, raining, foggy and whales. It was great seeing so many open saddles back in our waters, and there are so many males with huge fins! There were groups of all kinds, juveniles, males, mixed, mating activity groups (don’t know what else to call them), kelping groups and lots of surface activity. There seemed to be a lot of forming up of groups, splitting off, re-forming into large groups, splitting, etc. Quite a party. J2 Granny and J8 Speiden were in the middle of the procession, both with appropriate kelp decor. Granny wore hers for quite awhile. I even thought I saw a new baby. I was later told that K14 had a new one with her. Let’s hope that’s confirmed. For awhile L41, L57 and J1 were together with a bunch of others in a tight group.
Sharon Grace, San Juan Island


Members of J, K, L pods entered the study area (Lime Kiln Lighthouse) at 1048, heading north against a stiff ebb tide. During the 36 minutes they were in the study area, 15 tailslaps, 2 tailwaves, 3 breaches, one pecslap, 2 spyhops, 2 cartwheels, some logging, and a sea snake were observed. The spreadout time from the first to the last whale over our “line” was 22 minutes. Dividing that by the 47 whales we observed gives us an average of 0.5 minutes between each whale. These whales were accompanied by 2 powerboats inside our study area and 5 powerboats outside our study area. There were 2 plane flyovers. The last whale left the study area at 1124. It rained throughout the passby.
Bob Otis, Lime Kiln Lighthouse


Welcome back Ks and Ls! Today was our first superpod of the summer! A superpod is when all three pods join together for socialization and mating. We headed out to Stuart Island to see Js, Ks, and Ls all traveling together. We saw multiple spy hops and tail slaps as they all grouped together for the first time after a long winter. We even saw a new calf, which appears to belong to K-14, Lea.
Megan young, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris


At approx 10:30 11:15am, we were treated to members of what appear to be all three pods (J, K & L) passing northbound on the west side of San Juan Island. There was alot of tail slaps and breaching, but altogther the group was moving slowly and VERY close to shore. Definitely saw Ruffles (J-1) mixed in with the L-11’s- besides that – lots of great splashes and body rubs going on!
Sandy Buckley, Friday Harbor


OrcaSound, Smugglers Cove Road, W. San Juan Island at 1900 – Orcas spread out and moving steadily southward. No vocals.
Val Veirs, Beam Reach


Just in time for Orca Month, a Superpod took place off west San Juan Island this morning! Orca Network received a call from John Boyd at 10 am this morning, saying there was a meeting of J, K & L pods off west San Juan Island, heading north, with the whales breaching like crazy! Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research relayed a report that Mark Malleson of Victoria had observed the superpod earlier in the morning heading in – we are still waiting for details and confirmation on all three pods being present. Last report had them nearly to Turn Pt. in N. Haro Strait at 1:55 pm.


After getting JB’s report, we immediately tuned into OrcaSound, and from 11:05 – 11:30 am we heard some amazing calls, whistles and superpod sounds from the Lime Kiln Hydrophone!
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island


Listening on OrcaSound.net, Lime Kiln Lighthouse 1100 - Fabulous calls on LimeKiln hydrophone at this time.
Val Veirs, Beam Reach/Colorado College


June 2, 2008
Today we had the good fortune of having J-Pod right at Cattle Pass, which meant a very short trip for us! We waited off shore for them to slow down. The sun came out just in time for J27 Blackberry to make a very slow pass. We saw a group of four orcas passing about 150 yards to our stern. Later in the evening (approximately 8:30PM), the trailers were passing mid-Haro channel heading northward.
John Boyd (JB) Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


June 1, 2008
I got a hot tip from Megan at San Juan Safaris that there was a humpback in San Juan Channel. We got on scene around 1625 and stayed with it for about 20 minutes as it headed north midstraight in between Jones and Rocky Bay. It was a small animal all by its lonesome in this big mean world.
Adam Ü


We were surprised with a young humpback whale just north of Yellow Island in San Juan Channel traveling slowly west. We followed the humpback to Limestone Point and watched him/her move away. But as we were ready to leave we were rewarded with a nice fluke display. The description of the humpback off Pender yesterday was very similar to this one. He/she had a mostly white underside of the fluke.
Tom Averna, Deer Harbor Charters, Orcas Island


The Humpback seen yesterday (5/31) in Swanson Channel is very likely the same one seen in San Juan Channel today near Friday Harbor heading up the channel. I have an Id shot that I will send when I get them downloaded but the underside of the fluke was almost solid white on both sides. The whale was definately a juvenile.
Jami Nagel, Naturalist, Island Adventures


May 31, 2008
Beam Reach’s GPS system reported J pod off South Beach, SW San Juan Island (Latitude:48.4444 Longitude: 122.9998) at 1401 Saturday. At 1450 Scott Veirs was hearing J pod calls and clicks from the Lime Kiln hydrophone. Beam Reach boat is with whales just S of Pile Point. By 1515 the GPS reading was Latitude:48.4569, Longitude: 123.0573, between South Beach and False Bay, SW San Juan Island.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach


Members of J pod entered the study area (Limekiln, W. San Juan Island) at 1453 heading north. 6 powerboats and 16 kayaks accompanied these whales through the study area. No boats were seen outside the study area. The last whale left the study area at 1513. Time from the first whale to the last whale over our line was 5 minutes, what we call our spread-out time. The rest of J pod entered our study area at 1538 heading north, though we only saw 14 pass over our line. 4 powerboats and 6 kayaks accompanied these whales through the study area. 17 powerboats were seen accompanying these whales outside the study area. The last whale left the study area at 1602. Time from the first whale to the last whale over our line was 19 minutes. Dividing this by 14 gives us what we call our spread-out time, in this case 1.36. this translates to mean that these whales were, on average, 1.4 minutes apart.
Bob Otis, Lime Kiln Lighthouse


May 28, 2008
Beam Reach was with orcas (likely J pod) today, beginning west of Iceberg Pt, S. Lopez Island (Latitude:48.5302 Longitude:123.1706) at 1515, moving W/NW. Their last report was north of Lime Kiln, west San Juan Island at 1642 (Latitude 48.5302 Longitude:123.1706 ).


J pod, Lime Kiln, 22 members of J pod milling entered the study area heading north at 1516, leaving the study area at 1605. These whales were accompanied by two boats in the study area, one a CG cutter, 755 yds. out at 1601. There were 10 boats accompanying them just outside the study area. 9 tailslaps and 6 cartwheels recorded. Considerable vocalization.
Bob Otis


We heard J pod on orcasound at Lime Kiln at 9:43 AM.
Susan and Howard, Orca Network


May 27, 2008
Ken Balcomb, John Durban, and Erin Heydenreich of the Center for Whale Research observed Transient orcas in Haro Strait from 5:36-6:35 p.m.. Start Lat/Long: 48° 31.43 N, 123° 13.37 W; End Lat/Long: 48° 35.93 N, 123° 14.40 W. T102 and T20 were traveling at a medium pace nothbound through Haro Straight about 200 meters from T21,T101,T101A and T101C.


May 25, 2008
Lime Kiln, 16:56 – J pod milling/north – 9 members of J pod passed through the study area beginning at 1656 heading north. Three powerboats accompanied them. Left the study area at 1732.
17:52 – J pod turned around north of the study area and reentered the study area heading south at 1752. At least 22 members of J pod were seen, at least 7 of whom passed by close to the kelp. 5 powerboats accompanied these whales, with one approaching within 50 yards of the whales about 1834. 1850 was the reported time the last whale left the study area heading south. At 1855, 4 more whales, including J30, passed by just outside the kelp, heading south.
Bob Otis, Lime Kiln, west San Juan Island


Beam Reach was with orcas (likely J pod) today, beginning west of Iceberg Pt, S. Lopez Island (Latitude:48.4212 Longitude:minus 122.9184) at 1515, moving W/NW.
Their last report was north of Lime Kiln, west San Juan Island at 1748 (Latitude:48.5278 Longitude:minus 123.178).


May 24, 2008
Extraordinary ballet of J Pod today off Salmon Bank. J-Pod reported north bound near Cyprus Island, seen off the ferry around 7:00p.m. this evening. Report called in by Mary Masters on her return home ferry trip, after winter. She works for Monterey Aquarium, is a volunteer for the MRC also works for Orcas Island Eclipse Charters as a naturalist.
Denise Wilk, Orcas Island


We had an incredible day with J Pod today! The afternoon was spent off South Beach watching five [orcas] as they headed south and toward Salmon Bank Buoy. They did a lot of traveling south, then foraging and heading out into Haro Strait, only to turn and work back toward the beach. These were all J Pod females and youngsters.
On our evening trip we found J Pod, grouped up and traveling around the south eastern tip of Lopez Island. The question was, will they go across Rosario and toward Deception Pass? Or up Rosario Strait? The whales got really active as they rounded the tip of Lopez. Then they split a little into sub groups, and yes! They headed up Rosario Strait! There were many tail slaps, a few breaches, some spy hopping, then more speedy travel. Ruffles had quite a crowd around him as he majestically came to the surface, and then slowly disappeared – going down, down, down. Another sub group with Polaris, J28 was on the flank. On this surprisingly warm afternoon, evening it was such a pleasure to watch the whole family head north with good energy. It was easy to spot J26, J30, J19, J41, as well as J16 and J42.
We left the J’s at Bird Rocks in Rosario Strait at 6:35 p.m. and headed back to the west to Friday Harbor.
Nan Simpson Naturalist, Western Prince Cruises


J-Pod was foraging on the southwest side (near salmon bank) and we got an incredible show. The sun was shining, the air was warm, the sea was calm, and J-Pod was active! The Sea Lion began our encounter watching three females, but then turned closer to shore to be with the Kittiwake and a group of orcas they were observing. J-28, J-26, J-14, and J-42 were all confirmed in this group and just as we were approaching the Kittiwake an orca exploded out of the water in one of the closest breaches we’ve had yet! The whale conveniently jumped about 115 yards off the port side of the Kittiwake and about 150 yards in front of the Sea Lion!!! We believe it was J-26 who breached, but it happened so suddenly that we didn’t get the greatest look at who it was.
Megan Young, Naturalist with San Juan Safaris


May 23, 2008
Lime Kiln – 7 members of J pod passed through the study area milling, beginning at 1137 heading north. Turned around at 1210, headed south in the study area.
Bob Otis


At 2155 PDT I’ve hear J pod calling on the Lime Kiln Hydrophone. At 22:00 there was some echo location. The calls, mostly S1, continues until 22.43 PDT.
Jan van Twillert Netherlands


Beam Reach auto email reports:
Begin With KW
Off San Juan Island near Lime Kiln Lighthouse Latitude:48.506 Longitude:minus 123.1557
Time:11:45:37
End With KW
Off San Juan Island 5 miles south of Cattle Pass
Time: 14:31


May 22, 2008
Orca vocal and clicks on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. Very faint at 12:30 (local) now louder 12:40.
Stewart Macintyre


J1, J26, J16, etc, in Boundry Pass at 5:30.
Capt. Jim Maya


Beam Reach map links
Begin Beam Reach auto email report
With KW just south of Lime Kiln along San Juan Island
Latitude:48.5779 Longitude:minus 123.2008
Time: 14:42


End Beam Reach auto email report
With KW in Haro Strait just west of Speiden Channel
Latitude:48.646 Longitude:minus 123.2017
Time:15:42


J Pod spent most of the day on the west side of San Juan Island. They were very spread out, fishing and traveling north slowly although they turned around several times. We got great view of Ruffles, J1 and and Slicks family, including the one year old and Mike.
Nancy Hardy, Naturalist
San Juan Safaris


May 21, 2008
We got positive IDs on J-1, J-8, J-16, J-42, J-26, and J-27. It was much easier to see them today because they were traveling together and moving slow. We began our encounter at 2pm about 1/2 mile off Lime Kiln Lighthouse and traveled with them for a while heading north, up the west side of San Juan Island. Little J-42 proved to be a favorite again as she popped up frequently in the middle of the pack. A point of interest: We learned from Gato Verde, the Beam Reach boat, that the orcas were not very vocal today (an unusual occurrence). There were no calls or clicks, which proved curious to the Beam Reach group. Like I’ve said before… every day is a new experience and we’ve barely scratched the surface of all there is to learn.
Megan Young, Naturalist (San Juan Safaris


Begin Beam Reach auto email report May 21:
With KW
Latitude:48.4561 Longitude:123.0579
Time: 12:24:17
(Just off False Bay, south end of San Juan Island)
End Beam Reach auto email report May 21:
With KW
Latitude:48.6134 Longitude:123.2074
Time: 17:36:13
(In Haro Strait just west of Henry Island)


Jim Maya had J pod as far north as Turn Point, Stuart Island, then all the way back south to Land Bank, just south of Lime Kiln Lighthouse at 8:15 pm.


May 19, 2008
We saw just part of J pod off Iceberg Point, Lopez Island yesterday at about noon - I know we saw J26, J27, J30 (whose fin has really sprouted!), J16 with calf J42. Not sure who else was with this group, we did not see J1. A wonderful quiet day with them as they were moving slowly, spent a lot of time at the surface and were making their way south/southwest when we left them.
Darcie Larson
Naturalist on Clipper III


We had a report of a small group of orcas (appx. 6-7) near Iceberg (Lopez Island). It was part of J-Pod! We had J14, J26, J27, J30, J40 and 2 others just rolling around on top of one another, pushing each other around, rolling in kelp, logging on the surface, sticking their noses out of the water, tail lobbing, and a couple of large surface percussives. Our afternoon trip we had J16, J26, and J42 about 8 miles south of the morning location (the rest of J-Pod was spread out over a 5-7 mile radius) and again it was so neat to see a family grouping just milling about somewhat aimlessly in the glassy waters. J42 gave us quite the treat as he breached 6 times!
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


1100 – J pod was heading east off Iceberg.
Peter Hamilton


Begin Beam Reach auto email report
With KW
Latitude:48.3307
Longitude:122.9431
Time: 18:34:49


1100 – J pod was heading east off Iceberg.
Peter Hamilton


May 18, 2008
We headed out from Victoria across to the Haro Strait and approx. a couple of miles SE of Kelp Reef, at 1345, we just happen to come across 2 lone Transients, one identified as T20 (and the other T21?). We proceeded to observe them as they headed north, and left them with other WW boats off the east side of Sidney Island at around 1445.
Tim Hunt
Orca Spirit/former Beam Reach student


May 17, 2008
J POD passing by Andrews Bay at 8:30 PM heading north very slowly. I was on my way out around 7:30 but the water got pretty rough, but by the time I saw them at 8:30, the water was flat calm again. Last saw them passing Kellett Bluff still going north!
John Boyd (JB), Chore-Bound Naturalist


J pod was here. The pod traveled up west San Juan Island in the morning, turned around at Lime Kiln and made wonderfully close passes along the beach. Many calf spyhops, almost as many adult spyhops, lots of the spyhops? where they come way out of the water and fall backwards, tail lobs, tail slaps, and rolling over and rolling over each other. J27 (Blackberry) was doing many angled dives seemingly right on top of other whales. As they went south in the afternoon fighting the flood tide, they swam in place in some of the rip currents for up to half an hour or more. It seemed they were exhibiting lots of the behaviors you see in superpods.
Sharon Grace, San Juan Island


May 16, 2008
We watched J pod foraging and playing a few miles off Saturna heading eastward towards Point Roberts. We got great looks at J-1 and J-26 as well as a group of unidentified J-Pod females. They seemed to be in high spirits and breached and spy hopped multiple times. We even got looks at a dozen Steller Sea Lions hauled out on Boiling Reef as well as Harbor Seals hauled out nearby.
Megan Young, naturalist (San Juan Safaris)


We are seeing J Pod right out in front of my house, just south of Henry Island, headed north.Summer is here for a couple of days. 0836 hrs.
Capt. Jim Maya, San Juan Island


Thanks to Jim’s email, we tuned into OrcaSound and heard orca calls from 8:51-8:56 am, then a large ship passed by & the calls stopped.
Susan & Howard, Orca Network


At about 1240, while surveying for marbled murrelets from R/V Rosi, I came across J pod passing by Iceberg Point heading towards San Juan Island. They were moving at about 5kts in classic “groups spread out” formation, probably occupying at least one square mile of water. I was able to see J19, J41, J16, J36, and J42 together with J26 a bit farther out, followed by the J11’s, then the J22’s and J17’s together, while what I’m assuming were all of the J14’s passed by about .5 miles away (I could only confirm J30 but he was with two other female-sized and a juvenile, which would make sense). Other animals were passing by well outside of binocular range. We left them as they were passing Long Island and approaching Middle Channel.
Adam Ü USFS/CWR


May 14, 2008
Dave Ellifrit is with some Transient orcas off Trial Island at 12:25 pm.
Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island


May 13, 2008
Beam Reach met up with J-pod about a nautical mile south of Bird Rocks in Rosario Strait between 2:00 and 2:30pm. We followed them south as they hugged the shore of Lopez Island rather spread out. We observed pectoral slapping, tail slapping, breaches, half breaches and spy hopping. We had a hydrophone array off the stern of our vessel, the Gato Verde, consisting of three hydrophones as well as a high frequency hydrophone, also off our stern. The whales were not vocalizing for at least 45 minutes when we first got to them, luckily, however, the pod became very acoustically active for a short period of time, emitting a large amount of echo location clicks, S1, S3, and S4 calls, and surprisingly, an unusual amount of whistles. They soon fell silent again and intermittently made echo location clicks and S1 calls. As the whale watching fleet slowly left the vicinity, the whales became more and more spread out and we left them at 5:30pm near the Salmon Bank buoy. They seemed to be milling non directionally, though we got a message from Orca Spirit stating that they were slowly moving west when they left the scene at around 7:00pm.
Dominique, writing for Beam Reach


We saw J-Pod in Rosario Channel in three distinct groups slowly heading south. In the lead group was J-1 Ruffles, who was surrounded by 10-12 of his family clan, including his mom J-2 Granny. They made slow, lazy surfacings with an occasional tailslap. Then we moved to watch the back group of whales which included J-22 Oreo, her two youngsters (Double Stuff and Cookie), as well as J27 Blackberry. This group was a bit more boisterous, with Blackberry pushing Doublestuff around. Then J27 swam upside down for a bit. The whales were spread out probably over 1 mile as they slowly made their way down the Strait.
John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


The Beam Reach students/staff with Marla Holt aboard are with J pod as of 2:19 pm viewing breaches and tail lobs, but hearing no vocalizations. The pod is traveling around S. Lopez Island heading NW.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach


J pod were found near the bottom of Rosario Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce


May 12, 2008
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 9, 2008
Ken Balcomb and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research found J pod spread out at mid-day (12:12-3:56 p.m.) heading north in Haro Strait.
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


May 8, 2008
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


May 2, 2008
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


April 27, 2008
T14 accompanying T36a’s and T49a’s (I think). Animals were originally sighted at Salmon Bank marker approx 14:20 (by another whale watcher). I arrived at 14:55, .3 NM NNE of Northern Hein Bank marker. 6-7 Transient orca were traveling West-bound, zig-zagging to the North every so often. Witnessed harbour porpoise in the immediate area but no hunting behaviour. Animals turned northbound at approx. 15:55 appeared heading for Lime Kiln.
Christoper Zylstra, Victoria B.C.


We saw T-14 and T-49 and T-29 middle bank about 3:30 to 4:00 from the “Orcas Express” North/west today.
Denise and Captain Daniel Wilk


Just got a call that Pender (T-14) and several other transients were cruising down near Salmon Bank (San Juan Island) around 2:30 PM.
John Boyd (JB), Friday Harbor


April 26, 2008
We spent the afternoon, enjoying flat water, bright sunshine, and a group of transient orcas (7?), along with male, T-14. This fairly tight group was spotted on the west side of D’Arcy Island along the west side of Haro Strait. We arrived about 1:00 p.m. and watched as the group zig-zagged around the channel between Vancouver Island and D’Arcy Island. They were on long dives, and then surfaced, going either north or south – or west, or east. There appeared to be several youngsters with the older females, and a calf that was maybe just over a year.
Nan Simpson, Marine Naturalist – Western Prince


April 25, 2008

A group of Transient Orcas (I counted 7), in southwest Haro Strait, a ways offshore from Gordon Head. We definitely ID’ed T14, and were informed that the remainder of the group was the T36A’s and T49A’s. When we arrived, the T’s were traveling slowly Westbound, doing typical long dives. A short time later, the whole group turned and headed Eastbound, now appearing to swim with a purpose in mind. Our Captain, wisely looking ahead, observed a Steller Sea Lion amongst a crowd of seagulls. The Sea Lion was obviously enjoying a fresh meal, and seemed oblivious to what was approaching from behind. We observed the T’s lunge at the sea lion, and what followed was much splashing and turmoil at the surface, with the sea lion’s flippers appearing several times, pointed upwards. There was an extended period of no action at the surface, followed by the departure of the T’s, once again headed back in the direction from whence they came. We felt that was rather quick for the dispatch and consuming of an animal as large and powerful as a Steller. A minute later, the Steller appeared at the surface, heading away from the whales. Where we expected to witness a prolonged and possibly messy battle, we instead observed the prey putting on a brave and effective defence. There were some cheers for the sea lion, and some expressions of respect being heard over the radio. As the T’s headed towards Discovery Island, we were finally able to finally get a closer look at them and observed that one female had some extensive damage to her dorsal fin on the left side. As this was the first time I had seen these T’s this year, I don’t know if the damage had been inflicted during the brief battle we witnessed, or if it had occurred earlier. A zoomed and cropped photo is attached (see above). Our passengers were thrilled with seeing the whales, and there was not one complaint about the long journey on a chilly April day to witness the amazing power of these top predators, even if they weren’t successful, this time.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
We sent this photo to the Center for Whale Research, and here is more background on this damaged fin – sb: This is T36A. Mallard had her first with the rakes the same day we had our big group of transients and J pod on April 5th. Her rakes were decidedly worse looking when Adam and I had the T49’s and T36A on April 16th. The rakes actually look a little better now than they did on the 16th.
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research


Well, it’s been a busy whale day for Haro Strait. First we had transients around 8:30 AM heading SOUTH, then later a group of transients headed towards Race Rocks going west. Later this afternoon, around 3:30 pm, I got a call saying all the transients were now heading in with the floodtide. So I wasn’t too surprised at 9:30 PM to hear a group of whales passing Kelp Reef. The water was so still you could see the lights of Victoria reflected on the water, and the sound of multiple whale blows clearly carried on the cool evening air!
John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, San Juan Island


April 21, 2008
Transients. The middle of Haro St., about three miles south of Kelp Reef/Balcombs.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya’s Chaters, San Juan Island


Mark Malleson called Orca Network at 2:35 pm Monday to report Transient orcas (T101’s) south of Discovery Island, heading north. They had been feeding on something south of Victoria.


The T100s and T101s head northwest up Haro Strait. The bull is T102. I first spotted them milling around a group of birds south west of Discovery Island (48.4 123.3) at 2:05 p.m. They looked like they were finishing off a kill. I left them heading north-west up Haro Strait near Beaumont Shoals at 2:50 p.m.”
Mark Malleson


Ken Balcomb and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research encountered and observed transients northbound in Haro Strait at 5 pm at 48° 62.01 N, 123° 24.43 W. The adult male T102 was traveling with the T100’s and T101’s – eight whales in total. “After Mark Malleson’s visit with them off Discovery Island, they travelled up Haro Strait and into the Canadian waters of Swanson Channel,” said Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research. “We observed the eight whales for nearly an hour and no hunting was observed during that time. Though we saw a dozen juvenile Dall Porpoises in Boundary Pass not far from the whales, and many harbor seals in the water off Stuart Island. It was reported by a whale-watch operator that these Transients fed earlier in the day off Discovery Island, so perhaps they were not hungry for the rest of the day.” the encounter ended at 5:50 p.m. at 48° 70.46 N, 123° 24.21 W. For photos and report go to the Center for Whale Research website.


Heard it through the grapevine (actually from Ivan) that a group of Transients (rumored to be the T-100’s) were heading in from Trial Island/Seabird, through Haro Strait and up past Mandarte. I did not get out to see them in the boat, but you could see the blows from San Juan Island.
John Boyd (JB), Friday Harbor, WA
April 19, 2008
We were able to see T14 take out a couple of seals this afternoon during snow flurries between Forrest and Domville Island. The gulls and even a bald eagle were able to take advantage of a few scraps left behind. He was originally picked up near Mandarte Island at around 1:30 p.m. heading north west. He was last seen north of Coal Island heading west towards Satellite Channel at appoximately 2:30 p.m.
Mark Malleson


Across Haro Strait over towards Mandarte Island, an Orca Whale about 3/4 of mile in shore of us and about 1/4 mile east of Mandarte. We spent the next hour thoroughly enjoying our encounter with T14 (Pender) as we observed him diving and traveling and even lunging at one point. It looked as though he made several kills (probably Harbor Seals) while we were there.
Ivan Reiff, Owner & Captain, Western Prince


April 16, 2008
Center for Whale Research report: Transients – Platform: Orca – Departed Snug Harbor: 12:21 p.m. – Begin Encounter: 12:41 p.m. – Observers: Dave Ellifrit and Adam U encounter