Recent Sightings
Back on Dec. 29th under much controversy NOAA (the USA’s governing body similar to our Fisheries Department) tagged one of the South Resident Orca whales with a transmitter in order to gain information on the travel patterns through the winter months of this endangered species. The controversy was mostly around the potential dangers to the whales through possible infections and shock to the whale. Anyway they were successful in tagging K25 in Pudget Sound, a 21 year old male in K-Pod, and have been following its travel patterns via satellite. Here is link to the site showing the whale’s movements since Dec. 29 (scroll to the bottom). http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cbd/marine_mammal/satellite_tagging.cfm Kind of cool; it has traveled as far south as the Oakland area (north of San Francisco), then back up to our area and is now off southern Oregon. The satellite tag is expected to fall off any day now so have a look. They have spent a lot of time off shore.
Sad news. The newborn orca calf found on Dungeness Spit on January 7 was a Southern Resident: On Jan. 7 a dead 2.4m long killer whale calf was found on Dungeness Spit, near Sequim, Wash., by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff. The body was recovered and a full necropsy was conducted on Jan. 8. Members of several local stranding network groups, including NOAA, Cascadia Research Collective, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife worked with Dr. Stephen Raverty on the exam. Samples have been sent out for diagnostic analysis to investigate potential cause of death. Initial DNA sequence analysis by NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center revealed that the stranded male calf was a member of the Southern Resident killer whale population. Additional genetic analysis will be conducted to assign the calf to a pod or matriline if possible.
Lots of whales around over the holiday season and we were happy to get out and see them on December 29th. Eleven hardy people braved the cold to see JPod just south of Race Rocks. The seas were calm and the rain seemed to be everywhere but where we were. It was at GREAT but cold day on the water and EVERYONE enjoyed the show!
We started the afternoon trip with the T-10’s, 3 transient killer whales near Albert Head, close to the harbour. With orcas this close to Victoria, it allows for a trip through Race Rocks to steal a look at all the pinnipeds! Not only did we hear of a humpback whale near Sooke on our way home, we also heard the Southern Resident orcas were on their way back in from the west! Book your trip for tomorrow - we're out at 10am and 2pm :)
We love September whales... Transient Orcas, Minke whales and Humpback whales have been around the last few days and this morning, all three pods of Resident Orcas are slowly making their way North from SJI.
We had an incredible day on the water yesterday... before we left the dock, we heard Southern Resident killer whale calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone so we had a destination in mind but we didn't have to go to San Juan Island afterall. We encountered the T18's just off Oak Bay, very slowly going west. We spent quite some time with the transients and then went to Race Rocks. The afternoon trip was also a bit of a surprise as we found the T60's on our way to see the transients from the morning trip. We also treated our guests to a humpback whale and the numerous sea lions at Race Rocks.
We're having a great day on the water... Jpod and Kpod were on the West side of San Juan Island this morning where the King Salmon took our guests and members of Lpod were near Sooke, where our zodiac decided to go. Lpod was in a resting pattern which allows for nice photographs. Of course, we stopped at Race Rocks on the way home to look at the sea lions, elephant seals and numerous marine birds!
Two amazing days on the water with Transient killer whales and humpback whales. Yesterday, there were numerous humpback whales from Sooke to Victoria. We spent time with a mom and calf who spent most of their time at the surface. We then went to Sooke Harbour where the T60's seemed to be on the lookout for lunch! Today was very much the same except we had more transient killer whales and only two humpbacks near Race Rocks! Every trip is different... come out with us!!! We have 10am and 2pm trips daily.
Our boats spent the day with resident killer whales near San Juan Islands. I was out walking my dog when I spotted at least two transient killer whales just off Clover Point around 4:20pm... I should ALWAYS bring my camera!!!
Superpod is on its way back in! Our boats were out there with a couple humpbacks this morning when word came in that the Southern Residents were on their way from Port Renfrew! The afternoon boats spent time with the resident killer whales and the evening boat is enjoying the orcas as I write this :)
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RECENT SIGHTINGS
Controversial tagging has tracked K-Pod up and down Washington Coast :
Back on Dec. 29th under much controversy NOAA (the USA’s governing body similar to our Fisheries Department) tagged one of the South Resident Orca...
Newborn Calf found dead:
Sad news. The newborn orca calf found on Dungeness Spit on January 7 was a Southern Resident: On Jan. 7 a dead 2.4m long killer whale calf was...
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