Rosario Strait north

August 16, 2008
Afternoon : There was a pod of T’s in Rosario Strait, one of my favorite places to view wildlife. We headed east with the news that the T’s were making headway up the strait with the incoming tide. As we rounded the top of Sinclair Island we came upon the T101’s. Captain Ivan decided to focus on watching T101 and T102 as the others split off and headed north. These two whales zig zagged back and forth then all of a sudden we saw a few small splashes about 50 yards ahead of T101. She quickly moved in with T102 joining her. There was some splashing then they surfaced several time in the same spot as a “blood slick” formed on the surface. T101 then did two beautiful slow motion spy hops. We were all very excited to see these powerful predators in action. They then seemed to speed off after something else. No apparent kill but then T102, a mature male breached twice. Next they checked out Viti Rocks seeming to pass by many nervous harbor seals. To end our encounter we watched them travel quickly along the dramatic Lummi Island Shoreline with each surfacing their wet dorsal fins glimmered in the sun and rainbow colors formed in their blows. We peeled off at Lummi Rocks as they joined two more T’s and passed by more seals.On the way home we stopped to look at a Bald Eagle on Pea Pod Rocks.
Alison Engle, Naturalist, Western Prince Cruises, Friday Harbor


5:30 p.m.- small group of orcas (5-6) traveling north mid-channel west side Lummi Island – very close together – all females and/or sub-adult males – resting type mode – surfacing together and long dives – a couple Vancouver whale watch boats and a few small recreation boats.
Penny Stone, Lummi Island


August 13, 2008
On the east side of Lummi Island, a tight group of orcas decided to take the narrow channel, Hale Passage, heading west-northwest with a strong flood tide. We were thrilled to spot L-111 tucked in between L-83 and mom L-47, along with L-110, L-55 & L-103, L-86 & L-106, and L-72 & L-105. I think there were at least 3 more whales with them that we couldn’t ID. We watched all those moms & calves from 3:10pm to 3:45pm. At first they were traveling fairly slow at about 3.5 knots, then when they passed the red mid channel buoy, the youngsters started tail lobing, breaching, a few headstands and cartwheels, while the moms lifted their heads, as if taking a look!!
Caroline Armon, San Juan Excursions


A small group of orcas reported traveling north in Hale Passage about 4:30 p.m.- east side of Lummi Island! (very unusual to see orcas there).
Penny Stone, Lummi Island


July 7, 2008
Another boat from Vancouver called us to say they had found J-Pod, right above the top of Lummi! The whales had actually gone briefly to their old routine of the “25 hour circle” around the San Juans. So we didn’t have to go far to see J-Pod along with L-57 Faith. Whales were spread in 3-4 groups, and moving along at a fairly good clip. We saw L57, J1, J28, J19 with J41. As the group headed down the Strait, we saw about 8 breaches, a few other surface percussives, but no vocalizations. During the afternoon trip, the whales began slowing down a bit until they passed the Burrows Lighthouse near Anacortes, and began to spread out more. Most of the boats were up with the leaders about 4 miles ahead of us, but we were content hanging back with L57, and a group of 5 J-Pod whales.
John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


We met up with J’s in Bellingham Channel spread out in the early afternoon. We came down Bellingham Channel with a small group, while other whales went down the west side of Cypress. We continued south with J’s and met up with L53, L7 and later L57 who apparently are still hanging out with J pod. We then left them at the north side of Whidbey to check out a minke that appeared to be chasing L57. All we saw was L57 suddenly shoot out of the water with the minke surfacing behind him.
Katherine Ayres, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington


Katherine Ayres was with the southern residents. The orcas were traveling south in Rosario Strait between the confluence of Bellingham and Guemes Channels (at 2 pm) and mid-Strait WSW of Deception Pass (at 5 pm).
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School


As we came out of Peavine Pass, we were quite surprised to see one minke whale (confirmed), and sighted a second, much larger cetacean off in the distance. It was doing the somewhat typical minke dive ratio of about 4-6 breaths at the surface, and then off on a long dive of 5- 7 minutes.
John Boyd, Western Prince


June 22, 2008
4+ orca sighted at N 48 53’ 35.30” W 122 59’ 26.08” (off Boundary Bay, upper Rosario Strait), traveling south, 1300- 1320, including an adult male.
Mark A. Jablow
This location is near where the reports of J, K & L pods were on the 22nd, so these whales were likely Southern Residents – S & H


We had a rough trip to Birch Bay and saw some of all 3 pods, very rough and difficult to ID, but lots of whales again, quite a few breaches, spyhops and tailslaps. They appeared to be heading towards the shore, and south towards Lummi.
Jill Hein, Coupeville, Whidbey Island


June 15, 2008
As we were heading north, we had the opportunity to view something most people don’t see: a large standing wave at Boiling Reef (Saturna Island) where the flood tide was meeting the power of the Fraser River. It was interesting to see not only the color change, but the jump in water temperature (10 degrees). As we waited south of the coal docks, we saw the tall and stately dorsal fin of J-1 Ruffles as he worked a tide rip. He was doing “casual” surfacings, not seeming to be in any sort of hurry. He was being a good son and traveling close to mom J2 Granny. We also saw J26 Mike and J27 Blackberry, as well as J17 Princess Angeline. All seemed to be intent on foraging and a few times we saw foraging-type activity with lots of directional changes and a few lunges.
In our evening trip, we were once again with J-Pod, but further down Rosario. The whales were slowly working against the flood tide and were quite spread out. While shut down, we were able to hear J8 Speiden’s distinctive blows echo over the water. The whales then got a bit frisky with J2 and J28 Polaris doing surface percussives (tail slaps) and then Granny did a huge beautiful breach (especially impressive when you consider she’s 97 years old!) There were breaches by J27 as well, and lots of other tail slaps, a few spyhops, and it was so peaceful and beautiful in the late afternoon sunshine.
John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


We were just south of Point Roberts when we encountered J and L pods. There was a lot of breaching, cartwheeling and spy hops. J1 and J2 were cruising together. They were spread out for miles in the open waters of Georgia Strait. There was a lot of fish foraging with the salmon jumping right out of the water with the whales right behind! It was a great day out there with the sun shining, finally.
Victoria Souze, Island Mariner Cruises, Bellingham


Our AM trip had us battling large waves in the Strait of Georgia to visit with some members of both J Pod and L Pod north of Sandheads (South Arm of the Fraser River) travelling southbound. When we first arrived on scene, the larger group of whales (some of J Pod) appeared to be resting, while 3 whales (L Pod members) were more active and moving as a separate group. The active group spyhopped several times while travelling through the rocking waves. We eventually determined that the L Pod whales present were L57 (Faith), L7 (Canuck) and presumably L53 (Lulu). We also ID’d some members of J Pod J1 (Ruffles), J2 (Granny), J8 (Speiden). As the whales approached the South Arm of the Fraser River, the J Pod whales became very active, breaching, carthwheeling and spyhopping. We observed several foraging sequences with whales lunging at fish, often clearing the water while doing so. We also observed J1’s big fin sharking through the water as he pursued breakfast. We left the whales Southbound at approximately 10:45 AM. The PM trip was a huge contrast to the AM. We met up with J Pod in the almost glassy calm waters of the southern Strait of Georgia. The whales were very spread out, travelling gradually southeast towards Cherry Point on the mainland. Ruffles and Granny were moving in regal style at the southern edge of the group, with the others spread north and east of them. We observed one foraging event along a tideline that involved J8, J29 and J41, and some very distant breaches. We left the whales at approximately 16:15 hours, still moving gradually southeast.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch


Orca parade off Lummi Island heading south from about 6:30-8 p.m. – once again, spread WAY out, for miles – some close to shore and some out mid-channel in small groups – must be J’s again – heard a wheezy one (J8 Speiden?) – couple of breaches near shore – gorgeous evening.
Penny Stone, Lummi Island


June 10, 2008
One of our construction guys reported blows by the Anacortes Ferry just now (11:22 am).
Cathy Scott, Bow


June 6, 2008
Orcas (J pod +?) spread out for miles passing by Lummi Island on their way south from 6:30 on until after 8 p.m. They spent some time circling and lunging in the rips north of Village Pt. with a couple of toddler breaches to add to the excitement.
Penny Stone, Lummi Island


We had to travel quite a distance to find the whales south of Point Roberts, however, the time it took to get there was worth the trip. After our journey out, we found J Pod traveling towards the Rosario Strait. For much of viewing, we traveled alongside J26, Mike. Mike was much more easy to distinguish because of his large dorsal fin. While cruising back to harbor, a few guests spotted harbor porpoises swimming along.
Ashley Chapman, Naturalist (San Juan Safaris)


June 4, 2008
We headed east to Lummi Island. From about 1:30pm to 2:30pm, J, some of K & L spread out, seemed to be in travel mode utilizing the last of a strong ebb tide, then they slowed down near the southern end. Small groups near shore, a few breaches and spy hops. Able to ID the distinctive dorsal fins of J-I Ruffles majestically slicing through the water, and J-57 Faith. We were quite a distance from all the whales, as were the few boats in the area, so couldn’t ID other whales.
Caroline Armon, Naturalist, San Juan Excursions


Orcas near Anacortes ferry terminal, heading south at 17:45.
Jason and Scott of Beam Reach.


May 23, 2008
Susan Hetrick called with a sighting of about 6 orcas in Lummi Bay at 10:10 this morning. They were between Sandy Pt. and Lummi Island, swimming non-directional, just “happy to be where they are.”


May 18, 2008
J-Pod had been seen just around Alden Bank at the top of Rosario Strait. Once in Rosario, we noticed that the J’s were spread out from side-to-side in a swath of maybe 1 to 1 1/2 miles across. It was so cool to see J22 Oreo traveling with her two kids Doublestuff (J34) and Cookie. J34 was feeling mighty frisky as he did several half-breaches, and one very large breach that had him completely out of the water. The big surprise of the day came when we were watching a small group of orcas and I noticed a minke whale swimming amongst the orcas. We last left the whales just at the northern end of Bellingham Channel.
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


Afternoon we saw J’s out by Alden Bank (upper Rosario Strait).
Darcie Larson
Naturalist on Clipper III


1:30-2:30 ish p.m. – J pod off Lummi Island – very very spread out and heading south towards Rosario Strait and Lummi Rocks – couple of good size sprouter boys out there – wow!
Penny Stone
Lummi Island

L57 in Rosario Strait
January 13, 2008
Amy at the Whale Museum just forwarded us this amazing report of 12 to 20 orcas in Rosario Strait, 9:45-10:15 am, including L57. Location: Rosario Strait between Burrows Island and Bird Rocks (just SW of Anacortes), stretched out about 2 miles east to west and ½ to 1 mile north to south, moving south at about 8 mph. Every now and then they would circle around in one spot. Pod was spread out with a couple of small groups; three females with a juvenile, two females, a male and a female, and others within a couple hundred yards of each other. There were at least three males with very tall dorsal fins, one appeared to angle slightly forward and the two in the photos, which I am pretty sure were different ones. At one point we stopped and were watching several swim by a couple hundred yards away when all of a sudden the male in the close-up picture surfaced near us zig- zagging and making sharp circles as if chasing fish.
Ed Fisher, Decatur Island


January 4, 2008
Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research called at 11:50 am to relay a 3rd hand report of a pod of orcas in Rosario Strait near James Island, heading north.


Around 1200 hrs I got a call from Bo Brando. He was on the ferry near Thatcher Pass/James Island watching some Orcas going north up Rosario Strait. He thinks they might have been J Pod.
Jim Maya, Maya’s Charters, San Juan Island