Rosario Strait south - Lopez Is.

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September 4, 2009
Pod went past the south end of Lopez 11:15 am. About 12 orcas, traveling east to west, very relaxed and easy pace. No boats around just the orcas.
Sally Reeve, Lopez Island


August 23, 2009
Howard was on the Anacortes/San Juan Island ferry doing naturalist talks, and at 11:30 am he saw 3 orcas including 1 adult male just north of the ferry lane in Rosario Strait, heading SW toward Lopez Island. At 1:45 pm on the trip back, he saw 4 orcas 1/4 mile SE of the Lopez ferry dock, milling close to shore. Likely Transients.
Howard Garrett & Susan Berta, Orca Network, Whidbey Island


Orca Network received a call from Gary Lagerloef reporting seeing 4 orcas on Sunday near Thatcher Pass, Rosario Strait at 10:15 am. There were 3 adults and a calf, heading north.


During the afternoon we came upon three different groups of Transient Orcas, one in Rosario Strait, another (the T10’s) near Middle Bank and the final group near Beaumont Shoals. This final group was 7 or 8 Orcas that included 2 Calfs several females and the lone male T31! As we arrived on scene they had just made a kill, probably a Harbor Seal and then began to move South Eastward.
Andrew Lees, Marine Naturalist, Five Star Whale Watching


August 11, 2009
Minke traveling east to west out from Swirl Rocks, Lopez Island, around 7pm (travelling roughly SW from Aleck Bay on South Lopez out into the straits). And large surface area of the water closer to shore that was rippling with small fish. Great to see evidence that there are still some fish out there.
Sally & Tom Reeve, Lopez Island


August 10, 2009
We had a dozen or more orcas slowly travelling west-to-east off Flint Beach, South Lopez, between 6:15 and 6:30 this evening.
Tom Reeve, Lopez Island


August 9, 2009
At iceberg point on the southern tip of lopez island at about 6.30 looking south towards port townsend, and saw a whale that was not an orca. it was bigger, had a smaller fin. it was by itself, meandering around, and gradually working its way east. My guess is that it was a humpback whale. just curious if anyone else has mentioned a sighting in that area? thanks,
babette saltzman
We sent photos of minke & humpback fins & asked a few questions to clarify the species on this sighting, & received further information: “the flukes didn’t ever come out of the water, but i was able to see them once close to the surface (but still under the water). also, as we were watching the whale, we were remarking about the fact that we never saw a spout. i would say that the shape of the fin was more like the minke, but smaller than the one pictured.”
We are pretty sure this sighting was of a Minke, given the observations & location of the whale – sb


August 3, 2009
J-Pod and K-Pod with some L’s breaching their way south, against a strong flood tide, down Rosario Strait past Burrows Lighthouse, from 2:50pm to 3:50pm.
Caroline Armon, San Juan Island


We spent a good hour watching lots of broaching, with many Orcas leaping completely out of the water, 3 pm. Must have been over 20 Orcas total. Approx. 1/4 mile off Washington Park, Anacortes. Seemed to just be playing and not moving in any particular direction.
Bill Rowlands, skipper of sail boat, “Sweet Surrender”


7:45 to 8:30 pm lots of orcas cruised past the south end of Lopez. Changes in direction, breaches, two very small orcas with females towards the end of the group.
Sally Reeve, Lopez Island


Today we had early morning reports of L Pod south of Lopez Island, but the thick fog prevented anyone from actually finding them. In the meantime, Js, Ks, and some Ls that had been up north yesterday came down Rosario Channel. We caught up with the whales near the Burrows Lighthouse, and even from 1 mile away, it was evident that the whales were excited about something. You could see the huge splashes of breaches against the shoreline, and then you’d spot a bright white chin during a spyhop. We paralleled whales about 250 yards away, and began counting the breaches – we stopped counting at 32, even though there were more. The highlight of all these acrobatics was a rare (for me anyway) double breach. The whales were working against a flood tide, but managed to find every back eddy they could to move southward. We saw J30 Riptide, and J26 Mike (both easy to spot from long distance), and we saw one of the two new J calves.
John Boyd (JB), SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, Friday Harbor


What a day down in Rosario Strait! We were seeing whales from all three pods and what a show they put on! Lots of breaches, spyhops and loads of other activities!
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver


At about 4:30 pm we received a call from Jeff Hogan, relaying a report of Southern Resident orcas between Deception Pass and Colville (S. Lopez Island). Also heard from John Boyd that they had j’s and k’s heading towards deception around 4:30pm.


July 28, 2009
Minke was around south end of Lopez most of the day.
Sally Reeves, Lopez Island


July 27, 2009
Orcas coming around the south end of Lopez - pod was very active with spy hops, tail slaps, rolls and many breaches. Then large number of orcas in close formation traveling about ½ mile behind the others.
Sally Reeves, Lopez Island


This evening from 7-8 PM on the Western Prince we watched K-Pod and at least part of L- Pod travel from Iceberg Point to Cattle Point. There were several small active groups of whales spread out and it was hard to get IDs at first, but L79 and L72 were both there. There was a lot of breaching and tail slapping going on, and one young whale breached so high its whole body must have been 10 feet above the surface. Pretty impressive! We then had a truly fantastic encounter with all of K-Pod in one tight group, and from my photos I was able to confirm that every single member of K-Pod was traveling together, in addition to honorary K-Pod member L87.
Monika Wieland, Naturalist aboard the Western Prince, San Juan Island


The 3.30pm Ocean Magic had a wonderful encounter with some of K pod later in the afternoon at Iceberg, off Lopez Island. There were multiple breaches, spyhops, tail lobs and backward rolls. K 21, Cappuccino and, K 40 were really playful together. They kept us entertained for some time, while other Orca in the distance were breaching along the shoreline. Some were off shore and other close to shore, and all moving slowly south.
Marie O’Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic POW


July 15, 2009
I got some good photos of L78 (Gaia) and his new rake marks as well as a picture of him breaching! We saw K pod and looked like lots of L pod as well, at least the L 2’s, at the bottom on Cypress island.
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver


5:30pm large group of orcas went from east to west, past the south end of Lopez Island. First group of about 8 were traveling very fast. Many others followed but not as fast, in groups of two to eight. Breaches, spy hops, tail slaps were all part of the show.
Sally Reeve, Lopez Island


As we slowly and carefully made our way across Rosario (1530), we heard on the VHF that we had members of all three pods together again! The whales slowly meandered south and it was great to see the matrilines coalesce and break apart in apparent mating behaviors. Lots of rolling on top of each other, pushing each other to the surface from below, multiple tail slaps, spyhops, and some mighty incredible breaches. We ID’d J1 Ruffles, J2 Granny, L79 Skana, L78 Gaia (with his new rakes), J30 Riptide. We left the whales (1639) still heading towards Colville/bottom of Lopez Island.
John Boyd (JB), SSAMN Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, Friday Harbor


L’s in two tight groups eastbound Swirl Island [South Lopez) at 1140. Turned north at Davidson Rock 1230. Reports of J’s and K’s southbound at Deepwater Bay at about that time, so they should be getting together as we speak (1:45 pm).
Erick Peirson, Port Townsend


July 12, 2009
We had a close Orca visit this afternoon here at the end of Biz Point on Fidalgo Island. A family of 3 came by for about 10 minutes, followed by about 15 – 20 others. Eventually they all headed south towards Deception Pass.
Penny Berk and Philip Attneave
ID’s from Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research: These are the J16’s with J16 and J26 being identifiable in the pics.


July 7, 2009
We had a large and very spread-out pod travel past South Lopez late this morning. I watched them travelling east-to-west between Aleck Bay and Iceberg Point between about 11:30 and 12:00. Our daughter had seen them a bit earlier passing by Hughes Bay.
Tom Reeve, Lopez Island


June 27, 2009
The Ocean Magic II caught up with J Pod just after 13:00 as they came around the SE point of Lopez Island heading West. They were quite spread out and appeared to be foraging. Our later trip found them South of San Juan Island, very active, with lots of splashing and breaching. They then grouped up and we had some great passes by the whole family! It was great to see both new calves looking very healthy. I happened to click the shutter at the right time and got a fantastic shot of Granny, Ruffles, and (I am assuming) J45, Granny’s great-grandson! We left them at 17:30 at Middle Bank, still West-bound.
Mika Ogilvie, First Mate on the Ocean Magic II (Prince of Whales)


Tom Reeve of Lopez Island called to report a pod of ~15+ orcas was off S. Lopez Island, heading east to west toward Iceberg Pt at 1:30 pm.


Nadja Baker called at 1:25 pm to report a Minke whale about 1/4 mile south of Iceberg Pt, S. Lopez Island.


June 26, 2009
We left the Ks last night off the Southern tip of Lopez Isl. Js had gone North in the morning, so they should be back today.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya’s West Side Charters


June 24, 2009
I have seen a minke whale out by swirl island, entrance to aleck bay, south Lopez Island.
Sheila Bishop


June 23, 2009
I have seen a minke whale out by swirl island, entrance to aleck bay, south Lopez Island.
Sheila Bishop


Minke traveling west to east just outside the kelp line, south end of Lopez between the Monument on Iceberg Point Preserve and Flint Beach, 1:30pm.
Sally Reeve


June 21, 2009
There were at least 20 Orca Whales spotted on the west side of Lopez Island between 11:00 to 1:00.
Theresa Borrodell


Well over a dozen orcas headed west from Aleck Bay toward Iceberg Point at about 10:30 this morning. Their travel pace was pretty relaxed but they made sure to give a show on the way: a couple nice breaches, some tail slaps and several spy hops.
Tom Reeve, Lopez Island


June 4, 2009
A nice start to the holiday this morning with an orca visit early this morning. About 6:15am just over a dozen were swimming west along the south shore of Lopez, headed from Aleck Bay toward Iceberg Point. They were followed by another dozen or more about 20 minutes later. While most continued west, about half a dozen spent 15 minutes or so milling just east of Iceberg Point before heading off with a couple tail slaps and a nice breach. They were clearly residents as the harbor seals didn’t seem to mind them at all.
Tom Reeve, Lopez Island


Sally Reeve called & emailed us with this 4th of July morning report: Iceberg point lopez - Grand way to celebrate the holiday. Orcas traveling east to west. Very relaxed travel with some breaches and direction changes with regrouping. Amazingly beautiful sunrise with Orcas, 6 am to 7am.


May 23, 2009
We watched a large but dispersed set of whales head west between Aleck Bay and Iceberg Point on South Lopez mid-day today. They were passing by from about 11:45 until 12:15 – there were probably more than a dozen, but I don’t have a clear count as some were far from shore.
Tom Reeve


May 21, 2009
Sally Reeve called at 8:30 AM to report about ten orcas heading west toward Ice Berg Pt. at the south tip of Lopez.