Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance

June 27, 2008
Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research encountered J,K, and L pods off the coast of Port Renfrew, Vancover Island, B.C. early Friday morning, 7:10 a.m. (48° 33.9071 N, 124° 38.79.71 W). The whales were spread out in small groups traveling west. A few grey whales were also sighted in the same area, as well as several Steller sea lions. The encounter ended at 5 p.m. with the whales still traveling west at 48° 33.032 N, 124° 42.862 W.


Eagle Wing Whale Watch saw J’s, K’s and L’s headed west, out the Strait of Juan de Fuca past Otter Point, BC, Friday afternoon.


May 26, 2008
Orca Network forwarded photos from a report of a pod of orcas off Wadah Island near Neah Bay, WA to Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research, who replied:
One of the the bulls, I think, is T102.


Orca Network received a report from Sarah Miller of 30 to 40 orcas - appeared to be a very large, spread-out pod, 1/8 mile east of Snow Creek on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, approx 200 yards off beach, traveling west, approx 2 p.m. They seemed to be playing – lots of breaching, tail- lobbing, spy-hopping, at least one was a large adult male.


Orca Network received a report from Gerg Barcello, reporting 15 orcas off Wadah Island, near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, milling and heading west to Neah Bay, from 3-4 pm.


Jpod coming back East at 1730 off Sooke.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C.


Just letting you know that we left J pod at 1940 , and they were about 5 miles south of the entrance to Victoria Harbor, heading east. They were all within a 1/2 mile of each other, travelling slowly east. Seems as though they turned around at about 1400 and headed back east along the coast of southern Vancouver Island. Perhaps we’ll see them back around San Juan in the morning. It’s 0030 as I write this but I’m not hearing anything on the hydrophones.
A few minutes later: Just as I sent that previous email through I began to hear J pod calls on the Orca Sound hydrophone! It’s 12:39am Tues 27th May and I can just hear them over the cargo ship going by.
Tim Hunt Orca Spirit Naturalist/former Beam Reach student


J Pod heading back in! They made it to Sheringham Pt. before turning around. Should be near San Juan late tonight! (Later) Hearing vocals of J’s at 11:30 PM!
John Boyd (JB) Marine Naturalist, Western Prince


Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research relayed a report of J pod off Sheringham Pt. (So. Vancouver Island), heading west out of the Strait of Juan de Fuca at about 1:30 pm.


May 19, 2008
Scott Veirs called in a report of observing one gray whale in the kelp out side the entrance to Neah Bay the morning . They also observed at least 100 feeding pits in the sandy beach in front of Hobuck Resort, half way down Makah Bay.


May 9, 2008
Orca Network received a call from Eric (?) reporting 3 – 4, possibly more, orcas 400 yards off Bowman Beach, between Neah Bay & Clallam Bay, at 5:30 pm. They were heading west, there were 3 males.


March 25, 2008
Report from the NOAA Ship McArthur II: Weather chased us in to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, early AM when we picked up J pod inbound off Neah Bay on the towed array. They turned NW near the Sekui River and we followed them over to near Port Renfrew and then west to Pachena Pt –
Brad Hanson, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC


Report of a Humpback Whale near Beechey Head area (between Sooke and Race Rocks) about 1400.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C.


January 29, 2008
A pod of about 6 to 9 whales (orcas) came by our house today, 10:00 AM. One mile west of the Sekiu River, WA state about 1/4 mile offshore heading west. I saw 2 juveniles.
Paul Blake

We sent Paul’s photos to Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research, & he has ID’d them as L pod!
It’s L pod! Whales appearing in the photos include L47, L55, L86, L90, and L26. Others are there too. Very cool since J pod decided to come in.
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research


January 14, 2008
Janet Cummings called a little after noon, to report that a pod of 8 – 12 orcas had just passed 1.5 miles west of the Sekiu River in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, heading west at a fast pace. They were cruising among the kelp beds, 1 male was present in the pod.


Mary Jane Brown called at noon to report a pod of 8 – 9 orcas off mile post 8 outside of Sekiu (assume they were also heading west, as in above report).