July 31, 2023

T46C2 Sam porpoising in the San Juan Islands.

photo and ID by Kyla Bivens, July 23, 2023

SUMMARY

Sightings through July 30 include:

Southern Residents - On July 23, J Pod was spotted off Cape Flattery.

On July 29, L Pod & possibly K Pod were reported off Tofino.

Bigg's Killer Whales - On July 23, T65Bs were spotted in the San Juans. T46B1s & T46C2 were also spotted in the San Juans. T63 & T65 were seen up in Holkham Bay, Alaska!

On July 24, T65Bs again seen in the San Juans. T46B1s & T46C2 spotted in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

On July 26, T34s, T37, & T37Bs were seen near Active Pass. T65Bs were also spotted near there as well.

On July 27, T34s, T37, & T37Bs made their way north in Haro Strait. T46B1s & T46C2 were seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

On July 28, T34s, T37, & T37Bs were spotted in the Gulf Islands, BC.

On July 29, T65A5 went through Active Pass.

On July 30, T137s were spotted in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. T34s, T37, & T37Bs made their way north in Rosario Strait. T36As, T46s, T75Bs, T77C, & T77D made their way east in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Humpbacks - Many humpbacks seen across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Those spotted this report include: BCZ0298 Split Fin, BCX1795 Scuttle, BCY1029 Hemlock, BCZ0414 Zephyr, BCX2073 Sage, BCY1186 Velvet, BCX1773 Valiant, BCZ0432 Two Spot, BCX1796 Bullwinkle, BCY0946 Slits, BCX1747 Delta, BCX1057 Divot, HW-MN0523237, BCX0082 Puck & CRC16006 Gibbous.

Note about BCY0946 Slits: Slits was reported solo bubble-net feeding on the west side of San Juan Island on July 23. On July 27, Slits was spotted by Port McNeil! That means s/he traveled about 260 miles in 3.5 days!

Gray Whales - One reported in Admiralty Inlet and one reported in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

EVENTS:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023 AT 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Penn Cove Orca Capture Commemoration aboard the Suva or Cutty Sark

Coupeville Wharf

Join us for a special fundraising cruise onboard the Cutty Sark or the Suva. Both vessels will travel to the site of the 1970 Penn Cove orca capture for a commemorative ceremony.

Cutty Sark is a 50-foot classic ketch maintained and sailed by Captain John Stone through the nonprofit Aeolian Adventures. She was built of teak by American Marine in Hong Kong and was the first of 10 sister ships of the Mayflower class. In the spring and fall she takes students on educational cruises in the San Juan Islands, and is a support vessel for the native canoe journey.

Suva is a historic 1925 wooden pilot house schooner. She was built in Hong Kong, then shipped to Victoria BC. Her masts are made from British Columbian Sitka Spruce. She was the first schooner of her kind and the only cruising sailboat designed by Seattle naval architect Ted Geary. Suva has sailed through the waters of the Salish Sea all her life.

Thank you to Aeolian Adventures and Suva for their generous sponsorship of this event! 

Purchase tickets for $75 here.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2023 AT 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Penn Cove Orca Capture Commemoration

Coupeville Wharf

Please join us as we commemorate the capture of Southern Resident orcas in Penn Cove and honor Lolita/Tokitae/Sk'aliChehl-tenaut - the only survivor. We will celebrate her courage and resilience and the plans to return her to a seapen in her home waters.

Sunday August 6th, Coupeville Wharf

1:30 to 3:30 PM – Join us for educational displays, presentations, and a dockside ceremony. We are working on details to livestream this portion of the event to Toki TV. Stay tuned for more information.

Confirmed speakers:

Howard Garrett, Orca Network

Sandra Pollard, Author of “Puget Sound Whales for Sale” and “A Puget Sound Orca in Captivity”

Additional speakers to be announced soon.

3:30 to 5:30 PM – Help us raise funds for our education and advocacy efforts, and join us for a ceremonial boat trip to the capture site in Penn Cove onboard the Suva or Cutty Sark. Tickets are $75 and registration is available here.

If you have your own boat or kayak please join us for a procession to the capture site as we honor Tokitae and her family members who were captured in 1970.

Sat, Jul 29 - Vancouver Island Coast (L Pod & possibly K Pod)

L pod confirmed off the coast of Tofino, possibly with the K's. They seem to be spending lots of time out there lately.

Rob DeVille [comment on OBI post]

Sun, Jul 23 - Cape Flattery (J Pod)

J26 Mike

ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

08:40 - My wife has some photos and videos as well. There were six to eight, we believe. And they were spotted swimming south to north past the northwestern most view point at Cape Flattery trail.

Link to FB video.

photos by Aaron Barrett, July 23, 2023

Sun, Jul 30 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T36As, T46s, T75Bs, T77C, & T77D)

18:34 - We are sitting at Grandma's Cove at American Camp right now. There is a pod of at least five orcas pretty far off shore. There were a few whale tour boats watching them but the orcas slipped back behind them and the boats left towards the lighthouse. We lost sight of them about 10 minutes ago. [Per Ellie Sawyer, this is the T36As, T46s, T75Bs, and T77C and T77D.]

Erica Marie Kirkpatrick [WSSJI]

Sun, Jul 30 - San Juans (T34s, T37, & T37Bs)

photos by Brandy Jackson Ritchie, July 30, 2023

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We got a close up visit from this group while stern tied in the small cove south of Rolfe Cove on Matia.

Erin Masterson

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T37 Rocky III on left

15:13 - Still northwest bound [approx. 48.774833, -122.883861].

14:03 - Northwest bound [approx. 48.768829, -122.857348].

12:59 - Hunting at the mouth of Rolfe Cove.

12:49 - They have reversed direction. Heading east along the north shore again.

12:18 - Westbound [approx. 48.752248, -122.820026].

12:02 - Currently hunting between Puffin and Matia Islands.

11:47 - There's a group of kayakers ahead of them. Northeast of Puffin Island.

photos by Smith Siromaskul, July 30, 2023

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11:41 - [orcas] Approaching Puffin Island.

11:26 - Messaged reporting on this same group of about seven orcas who are now westbound north side Orcas Island [approx. 48.725567, -122.771052].

Smith Siromaskul 

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11:12 - At least seven orca headed north in Rosario [approx. 48.706925, -122.740199]! 

Rose Caitlin

Sun, Jul 30 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T137s)

17:45 - At least two just off Port Williams. Headed northeast it looked like. They took a deep dive and only saw one blow after that. Judging by the whale boat's direction they appeared to be headed towards San Juan [approx. 48.108379, -123.026659].

Kimberly Fritz

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16:57 - T137s are still traveling in a southwest direction. We have departed the scene now.

16:40 - They are now trending southwest from my last map.

16:30 - The T137 pod just killed a seal and are eating their meal. No direction, just milling [approx. 48.115668, -122.950797].

Bart Rulon Art & Photography

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T137D Wright, T137 Loon, T137B Tempest

T137D Wright, T137 Loon, T137A Jack, T137B Tempest

T137A Jack

T137A Jack spyhop

15:11 - They are currently following the southern shore line of Protection Island. Westbound.

13:36 - T137s! Eastbound [approx. 48.195904, -122.945777].

photos by Kyla Bivens, July 30, 2023

Sat, Jul 29 - Active Pass (T65A5)

T65A5 Indy

18:30 - A lone orca, T065A5 (thanks to R. Hayden for ID) swam quickly eastward through Active Pass. Long dives. 

photos by Karoline Cullen, July 29, 2023

Fri, Jul 28 - Gulf Islands, BC (T34s, T37, & T37Bs)

16:30 - We saw a humpback named Gibbous and then a bit later local orcas while out with Jeff and April from Maya’s Legacy this afternoon. Absolutely magical. 

Erica Marie Kirkpatrickv [WSSJI]

Thu, Jul 27 - North Vancouver Island

Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Thu Jul 27 13:28:55 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 50.88361,-127.59964

Number Sighted: 4

Submitter Name: Sarah

Whale Alert App

Thu, Jul 27 - Haro Strait/Boundary Pass (T34s, T37, T37Bs)

Out on IE with Donna George and met up with Cindi Crowder Rausch on a beautiful sunny day. We caught up with the T34s (Matriarch Grace T34, b. 1969, daughter T34A Pachamama, b. 2007, and T34B, Sonder, b. 2017) and T37s (Matriarch Rocky III T37, b. 1979, daughter T37B Harald, b. 1998, her son T37B1 Lance, b. 2012, and her calf T37B3, b. 2022), near South Pender Island, off Wallace and Tilly Points. The water was flat glass and sparkly. There were two nice breaches, probably by Lance (only male other than the unknown calves' sex), and predation on a seal (warning, photo of the seal being tossed). Mostly they were feeding, and the birds got some tid-bits as well. One, possibly Lance, did a moonwalk. Face and partial body out of the water, swimming backwards! 

Bonnie Gretz

T34A Pachamm

T34B Sonder

photos by Bonnie Gretz, July 27, 2023

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T37B1 Lance & T34 Grace

photo by Cindi Crowder Rausch, July 27, 2023

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T37B1 Lance

T37B1 Lance & T34 Grace

T37 Rocky III & T37B Harald

IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network

I’m constantly filled with gratitude and awe and love for the wildlife and beauty that surrounds us. With Bonnie Gretz and Cindi Crowder Rausch [the day] was spent up in Canadian waters with the T34s and T37s. They hunted and socialized and did their thing. And I saw something I’ve never seen before - an orca moonwalk - like a backwards spyhop! It was so cool!

photos by Donna George, July 27, 2023

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T34s, T37, & T37Bs from south of South Beach on San Juan Island.

photos by Kyla Bivens, July 27, 2023

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The T034s & T37s came along South Pender. I was so lucky to see this one so close in flushing out prey from the shore - ID’d as T34B Sonder by Melisa Pinnow.

Kathleen Durant [WSSJI]

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Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #38:

“The team received reports that the T34s, T37, and the T37Bs were on the south side of San Juan Island, heading up-island. With low wind, calm seas, and good lighting, the team decided it would be a good opportunity to conduct some drone-based behavioral observations. They headed to Snug, and got off the dock at 1242…”

Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #38.

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17:00 - Saw them late this afternoon near South Pender Island!

Bonnie Gretz

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Thu Jul 27 13:49:12 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.51406,-123.15093 [Lime Kiln SP] 

Number Sighted: 2

Submitter Name: Arjun Mehra

Whale Alert App

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13:26 - Further from shore again. West of Pile Point. A couple are a bit closer to shore.

13:16 - Everyone has now moved closer to shore. Turning towards Pile Point. Heading up Island.

12:57 - Most are now off of False Bay. Seem to be stalled. Three more are close to shore just north of Eagle Point, taking their time but continuing to head up island.

Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]

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12:00 - Per Ellie Sawyer: T34s and T37s.

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Thu Jul 27 11:36:29 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.40997,-122.97614 [Salmon Bank]

Number Sighted: 4

Submitter Name: Michelle

Whale Alert App

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06:30 - Good morning! At least two orcas were sighted this morning (very reliable friend in a boat) a couple miles off the Navy base [NAS Whidbey] headed south at a quick pace. Maybe something incoming into Admiralty today! 

Tyler McKeen

Thu, Jul 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T46B1s & T46C2)

AMAZING DAY! We had a great encounter with Bigg's/transient killer whales (T046Bs & T046C2) right off Sooke, excited to be munching on a sea bird, along with four humpbacks near Race Rocks Lighthouse. Always love to see that huge eye patch on the little orca!

Sooke Coastal Explorations

photos by Paul Pudwell, July 27, 2023

Wed, Jul 26 - Ruxton Passage, BC

Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Wed Jul 26 12:58:44 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.09068,-123.72347

Number Sighted: 1

Submitter Name: Mark

Whale Alert App

Wed, Jul 26 - Active Pass (T34s, T37, & T37Bs were in that area; T65Bs were as well)

Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Wed Jul 26 10:16:43 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.85415,-123.35618

Number Sighted: 3

Submitter Name: Sarah 

Whale Alert App

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Salish Sea Orca Squad reported that today T65Bs were in Tricomali Channel and Active Pass (on their youtube channel video). Also, T34s, T37 and T37Bs were seen in Active Pass today.

Andoni Arrambide

Mon, Jul 24 - San Juans (T65Bs)

12:46 - They’re still headed north up the Orcas Island coastline, staying close to Orcas as they approach Clark Island!

Rose Caitlin

Mon, Jul 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T46B1s & T46C2)

T46B1C is a boy!

T46B1C

T46C2 Sam

T46C2 Sam

T46B1C is a boy! And T46C2 has a new notch not shown in the 2019 Towers et al ID book. T46C2 is the whale in the picture doing a cartwheel and porpoising. I believe it is also her who did the breach. Just west of Smith Island.

photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, July 24, 2023

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Mon Jul 24 13:31:46 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.21852,-123.14201 [North of Dungeness Spit] 

Number Sighted: 3

Submitter Name: Ashley

Whale Alert App

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Orca Sighting:

Sighting Time: Mon Jul 24 11:19:34 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.32882,-122.93044 [west of Smith Island]

Number Sighted: 4

Submitter Name: Olivia

Whale Alert App

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11:12 - Pod just west of Smith Island with several boats. They were tiny specks from the air. Seemed to be pointed south-ish but not really moving. We were only in their vicinity for a few seconds as we passed over.

Theresa Mitchell

Sun, Jul 23 - Holkham Bay, Alaska (T63 & T65)

Super cool update on Chainsaw's location. He's up in Alaska! An acquaintance of mine, Adam U, is a researcher doing work up there & came across him! He's traveling with T65 [approx. 57.744617, -133.623999].

Melissa Bird

T63 Chainsaw

photo by Adam U, July 23, 2023

Sun, Jul 23 - San Juans (T46B1s & T46C2)

17:45 - These were taken by Viti Rocks. I’m assuming it’s one of the 46B1/46C2 group you mentioned above. 

photos by Brandy Jackson Ritchie, July 23, 2023

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13:06 - Orcas southbound northern Rosario Strait off west side Lummi Island [48.711673 .-122.744700].

12:40 - It appears [to be] two females and a young one. This is them passing Clarke Island.

Rose Caitlin 

Sun, Jul 23 - San Juans (T65Bs)

17:49 - T65Bs [approx. 48.697613, -122.750388].

Cindi Crowder Rausch [WSSJI]

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T65B1 Birdsall on right

T65B Chunk, T65B2 Nettle, T65B1 Birdsall

T65B3

T65B1 Birdsall

IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network

Watching the beautiful T65Bs in the San Juans. That baby - T65B3 so stinkin’ cute!

photos by Cherie StOurs, July 23, 2023

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T65B Chunk, T65B3, T65B1 Birdsall

T65B2 Nettle, T65B Chunk, T65B3, T65B1 Birdsall

T65B1 Birdsall

IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network

T65Bs visiting the San Juan Islands on Puget Sound Express.

photos by Jason Cook, July 23, 2023

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18:00 - I see at least one male, and one young, one two-ish females? From Lummi.

17:13 - A least two orca headed north in Rosario against the Orcas Island coastline.

Rose Caitlin

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13:12 - Sighted on the Orcas-Anacortes ferry. Headed east through the Cayou Channel.

Jon Lowry

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11:29 - Jen R DM'd about this pod of orcas and confirms they are heading into Cayou Channel.

11:20 - Per Marine Traffic, it looks like they are north of Upright Head aiming northwest toward Cayou Channel.

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11:24 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:26 to report: Captain [of] YAKIMA reports they have slowed for a pod of five Orca heading west near Harney Channel.

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09:45 - Pod of about four to five orcas seen off of the Anacortes to Friday Harbor ferry near Decatur Island headed towards Anacortes. That was around 9:45 but no service to send in sooner!

Kirsten Kreutz

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09:45 - Approx. five orcas heading west between Blakely and Decatur toward Lopez. Seen from ferry.

Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout

Tue, Jul 25 - California Coast

Submitted on Orca Network

Name: Marissa Taylor

Date of sighting: July 25, 2023

Time: 7:33 PM

Species seen: Orca

Number of animals seen: 10

Where seen: 15 miles offshore El Granada, CA

Direction of travel: Northbound unsure of pace

Behaviors observed: Groups of two and three, few hundred feet apart, breaching and blowing water

If orcas, any males?: Unsure

Any unusual markings?: Unable to see

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your encounter?: Spotted off Emerald Princess

Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org

Sun, Jul 30 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCZ0298 Split fin & BCX1795 Scuttle)

BCZ0298 Split Fin & BCX1795 Scuttle by Race Rocks.

photos by Kyla Bivens, July 30, 2023

Sat, Jul 29 - Haro Strait

19:31 - Single humpback traveling southbound by South Beach.

Adam Nguyen [WSSJI]

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19:00 - We saw a humpback surfacing twice at Eagle Cove.

Karin Roemers-Kleven [WSSJI]

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18:10 - Seeing a single blow far to the south down island. Viewing from one mile south of Landbank.

Michelline Halliday [WSSJI]

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18:00 - Saw a single blow. Looks like some kind of a baleen whale, probably a humpback.

Fred Horn [WSSJI]

Fri, Jul 28 - Strait of Georgia (CRC16006 Gibbous)

16:30 - We saw a humpback named Gibbous and then a bit later local orcas while out with Jeff and April from Maya’s Legacy this afternoon. Absolutely magical. 

Erica Marie Kirkpatrick

Thu, Jul 27 - Port McNeill, BC (BCY0946 Slits)

While up here near Port McNeill, BC, we went west this morning hoping to find orcas. No luck on that front, but we did stop to get photos a couple humpback whales we encountered. Back on shore, I was working through the ID guide for matches, and was shocked when one of the whales turned out to be BCY0946 Slits! Why was this shocking? Just four days ago, Slits was reported solo bubble-net feeding on the west side of San Juan Island on our whale sightings page from back home! That means s/he traveled about 260 miles in 3.5 days. Even more surprising, when looking at sightings records on Happywhale, we noticed that Slits was seen north of Port Hardy on July 15. That means this whale made the trek from up here off northern Vancouver Island down to Washington waters and back in less than two weeks. This is why we love community science and collaborative data sharing. Only through the open reporting of these sightings is it possible to piece together the impressive movements of an individual whale. Now why Slits chose to travel so far so quickly, that's a mystery we are much farther away from solving! The map below shows where Slits was seen on July 15, July 23, and July 27 (red pins); the inset photo is from this morning north of Malcolm Island, BC.

Orca Behavior Institute

photo by Orca Behavior Institute, July 27, 2023

Thu, Jul 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCX1747 Delta & others)

BCX1747 Delta

ID by Alethea Leddy

AMAZING DAY! Four humpbacks near Race Rocks Lighthouse.

Sooke Coastal Explorations

photo by Paul Pudwell, July 27, 2023

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Humpback Sighting:

Sighting Time: Thu Jul 27 16:32:17 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.28081,-123.37952

Number Sighted: 2

Reported Animal Status: Live

Submitter Name: Justin 

Orca Network followed up, response from Justin: It was on the Coho ferry heading south from Victoria to Port Angeles. There were two of them in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Canadian side but close to the border, seemed to be swimming west towards the pacific. They were separate, about fifteen minutes apart.  

Wed, Jul 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCX0082 Puck, BCX2073 Sage, BCY1186 Velvet, BCX1773 Valiant, BCZ0432 Two Spot, BCX1796 Bullwinkle, & HW-MN0523237)

BCX1773 Valiant

BCX1796 Bullwinkle

BCX2073 Sage

BCY1186 Velvet

BCZ0432 Two Spot

Humpback land southeast of Race Rocks - here are some of my photos of a group of humpbacks southeast of Race Rocks. I was able to ID five of the individuals - BCX2073 Sage, BCY1186 Velvet, BCX1773 Valiant, BCZ0432 Two Spot, and BCX1796 Bullwinkle.

photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, July, 26, 2023

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BCX0082 Puck

HW-MN0523237

IDs by Rachel Rodell per Happywhale

A few quick shots of the few fluking humpbacks from the nine we had the pleasure to see while on tour.

Sooke Coastal Explorations

photos by Paul Pudwell, July 26, 2023

Wed, Jul 26 - San Juans

20:14 - Seem farther south again along shore of Lummi. Sun flare keeps getting in my way.

19:38 - Based on the big splashes I saw earlier I really think it was two because of where the splash is occurred but I’ve been following big splashes for the last few hours but I haven’t gotten a good sight until now currently north Lummi Island between Lamy and Portage [approx. 48.690807, -122.634493].

19:20 - Whales visible in Bellingham, visible from Larrabee State Park. I’ve seen splashed and spouts from the distance near Lummi Island heading north, but have been in the area for a while. I do believe it’s humpbacks. 

Silver Hubble

Tue, Jul 25 - Strait of Juan de Fuca

Another amazing day visiting nine plus humpbacks on our three hour marine adventure! Get out and explore the Salish Sea!

Sooke Coastal Explorations

photos by Paul Pudwell, July 25, 2023

Mon, Jul 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCZ0414 Zephyr, BCX1057 Divot, & others)

The most amazing humpback Zephyr today on our ride with the FSR Clipper!

photo by Jess Quinn McCadam, July, 24, 2023

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BCX1057 Divot

ID by Darryl Luscombe

We beat the rain today and had a great visit with six different humpback whales out in the Juan De Fuca Strait!

Sooke Coastal Explorations

photos by Paul Pudwell, July 24, 2023

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Humpback Sighting:

Sighting Time: Mon Jul 24 12:04:38 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.26189,-123.13797 [North of Dungeness Spit]

Number Sighted: 1

Submitter Name: Olivia

Sun, Jul 23 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCY1029 Hemlock & others)

BCY1029 Hemlock

ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

So many humpbacks in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Sunday! Amazing time on Puget Sound Express.

photos by Jason Cook, July 23, 2023

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Amazing day seeing multiple humpbacks, between ten to fifteen, out of Port Townsend!

photos by Cherie StOurs, July 23, 2023

Sun, Jul 23 - San Juans

07:30 - Humpback sighted north of Orcas/southeast of Sucia - whale headed east. We were blessed with it passing right in front of our boat and shown a tail fluke on the last breath.

Joni Drake [WSSJI]

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Based on what I could see of the dorsal fin, that looks like Merlin. He/she was hanging out in that area all afternoon yesterday.

Sam Wallace [WSSJI]

Sun, Jul 23 - Haro Strait (BCY0946 Slits)

Submitted on Orca Network

Name: Cora Dennis

Date of sighting: July 23, 2023

Time: 7:04 PM

Species seen: Humpback

Number of animals seen: 1

Where seen: Just northwest of Snug

Direction of travel : North

Behaviors observed: This humpback has been milling about for approx 35 minutes.

If orcas, any males?:

Any unusual markings?:

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your encounter?:

Photos available?: No

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Submitted on Orca Network

Name: Cora Dennis

Date of sighting: July 23, 2023

Time: 6:23 PM

Species seen: Humpback

Number of animals seen: 1

Where seen: On the west side heading to Snug Harbor

Direction of travel : North

Behaviors observed: 

If orcas, any males?:

Any unusual markings?:

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your encounter?: Truly incredible!

Photos available?: No

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Per reports on WSSJI and to Orca Network Slits stopped at Lime Kiln for a while lunge feeding in the cove off the lighthouse and engaged in more lunge feeding off San Juan County Park and so on to the north. 

Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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18:10 - A humpback just passed Center for Whale Research headquarters heading north on the west side of San Juan Island.

photo by Howard Garrett, July 23, 2023

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07-23-23 Humpback BCY0946 Slits, Haro Strait

15:45 - 15:55, humpback BCY0946 "Slits" traveling up island (northbound) 400' from shore. The whale quickly headed due west away from shore surfacing many times. Their behavior was interesting; once rolling over to expose their ventral slits (stunning!), once just wagging the tip of a pectoral fin out of the water and a few times exhaling without lifting more than their rostrum out of the water. I wish she/he would have lingered. Interestingly, Erin Johns Gless told me that this is the humpback entangled and set free by DFO in October 2022. Erin included a link to a drone video of the rescue. Many thanks to the rescue team! Thank you Erin for the information.

Michelline Halliday, SJI

photo by Michelline Halliday, July 23, 2023

Thu, Jul 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (Trotsky II & others)

Trotsky II

There are at least five minke whales (but probably a lot more) on Eastern Bank including the minke known as Trotsky II. 

photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, July 27, 2023

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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Minke Whale Sighting:

Sighting Time: Thu Jul 27 10:49:44 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.26678,-122.99151 [between Dungeness and Smith Island]

Number Sighted: 1

Submitter Name: Michelle

Fri, Jul 28 - Strait of Juan de Fuca

Cascadia Region Whale Sighting

Gray Whale Sighting:

Sighting Time: Fri Jul 28 18:19:29 PDT

Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.34341,-123.38406

Number Sighted: 1

Reported Animal Status: Live

Submitted Comments: Spotted 30 mins out from Victoria on the Coho ferry. Moving S

Submitter Name: Luanda Arai

Fri, Jul 28 - Admiralty Inlet 

11:25 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:26 to report: Captain [of] KENNEWICK reports one grey whale [note: minke and humpbacks have been in that area as well] midchannel heading NB.

Fri, Jul 28 - Carr Inlet

We saw a sea otter in the south sound today - near Anderson and McNeil Island [video shows sea otter].

Deanna Sparks Kjorlien

Thu, Jul 27 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca

13:04 - They seemed to drift towards San Juan after I saw a couple breaches!

12:21 - Just now starting to become visible from Hastie Lake pull out. Just around the back edge of Smith and Minor Islands area with the whale boats. A lot of surface activity is noted, but very difficult viewing conditions to see any sort of blows even with my binoculars, it’s very challenging.

Silver Hubble

Mon, Jul 24 - Puget Sound

11:40 - My son is on the Bainbridge Island to Seattle ferry (11:30 sailing) and saw two dorsals. People took pictures but he didn’t - I don’t know if it was porpoise or orca but he goes watching with me and knows what they look like so maybe. He said they were milling and close to Bainbridge Island. Sighted about 20 minutes ago. [No other reports of orca received the rest of the day].

Amy Douglas Ramos