July 2001 Whale Sightings Tuesday, July 31, 2001 13:00 Reported by: Susan Berta, Orca Conservancy Location: Partridge Pt, West Whidbey Island Species: Orca Pod: Transient Members: 2 orcas Direction: north Comment: We had a call at 1:25pm today from Bill Attwater -2 orcas off west Whidbey at Pt. Partridge, heading north - 1 breach observed. Appear to be transients? Susan ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 31, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Hein Bank Species: Minke Pod: Members: Direction: Comment: Mikes on Hein bank. Day 4 no orcas Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Monday, July 30, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Darcy Island, Hughes Pass Species: Gray Whale Pod: Members: possible gray Direction: Comment: A vague report of a possible Gray on the north side of Darcy Island in Hughes Pass but not found at 1600hrs. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Monday, July 30, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Hein Bank Species: Minke Pod: Members: 3+ Minkes Direction: Comment: Hi Susan Day 3 no orcas. Minkes on Hein Bank 3+. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Sunday, July 29, 2001 19:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Cape Flattery Species: Orca Pod: , Unknown Members: 20 - 30 orcas Direction: east Comment: 20-30 orcas reported going East off Cape Flattery at 1900 on the 29th but did not get here. Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria ----------------------------- Sunday, July 29, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Location: Haro Strait/Hein Bank Species: Minke Pod: Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan No Orcas, Minkes reported on Hein Bank, Salmon Bank and I had one in Haro St between Kelp Reef and Halibut Island both the morning and afternoon trips. Ron Bates, MMRG ----------------------------- Friday, July 27, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Rosario Strait Species: Orca Pod: J Pod, and maybe K's? Members: J22 & family Direction: south Comment: Rosario Strait - I was on scene at 1542hrs with J22 and family. Whales right accross the Strait, so I assume Kpod was there but I did not see them, only there for short time. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Friday, July 27, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Rosario Strait Species: Orca Pod: J Pod Members: Direction: south Comment: Whales going South in Rosario Strait at 1200, (I was on scene at 1542hrs with J22 and family.) Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Friday, July 27, 2001 09:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca Species: Orca Pod: , L pod? Members: Direction: west Comment: Hi Susan Whales going West from Otter Pt, Strait of Juan de Fuca and fast at 0900hrs Lpod? Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria ----------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 18:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Kellett Bluff, Henry Island Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: north Comment: J's & K's were off Kellet Bluff about 1745. going North. Still no transient news. Ron MMRG ----------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 17:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Victoria, BC Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: Direction: Comment: (Lpod off Sooke at 1100hrs going East), off Constence Bank 7.5 miles So. off Victoria at 1730hrs. Still going slow. Ron MMRG ----------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Rich Osborne, The Whale Museum Location: La Push, Olympic Coast Species: Orca Pod: , Possibly Offshores? L pod? Members: 10 - 20 Direction: Comment: Here's an interesting report from Rich Osborne of the Whale Museum - anyone have any thoughts on this? Susan Hi Susan: I just received a very interesting sighting about a large group of orcas (10-20) that were spotted off La Push on the outer Olympic coast Thursday July 26th at around 11 AM. The person who reported it is a fisher (Clallum County MRC member- Joe Schmitt) and he definitely observed them with mackerel in their mouth. But no pictures. I'm guessing either some of L-Pod or some Offshores. Anybody else have any insights about who it might have been? Rich Osborne ----------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Sooke, Vancouver Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: Direction: east Comment: Hi Susan Lpod off Sooke at 1100hrs going East - Ron Bates ----------------------------- Thursday, July 26, 2001 10:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Rosario Strait Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: toward San Juan Comment: Jand Kpod came down Rosario in the am went toward San Juan in the pm. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 25, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Lime Kiln Park, San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Left J's & K's entering Lime Kiln park, San Juan Island at 1600hrs. No reports of transients today. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 25, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Cork, Ireland Species: Orca Pod: , Cork orcas Members: Direction: Comment: The 25th of July was the last sighting of the whales in Cork. Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 25, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Race Rocks, Vancouver Island Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: North East Comment: Hi Susan Met J and Kpods off Race Rocks at 1044 going N.E. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 24, 2001 19:00 Reported by: Derek Holzapfel Location: South Pender Island Species: Orca Pod: , Unknown Members: 12 orcas Direction: southeast Comment: A nice sighting of about 12 Orcas, with 2 large males about a mile south of South Pender Island. Heading from Stuart Island toward Orcas Island. Regards Derek Holzapfel Pender Island ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 24, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Penny Stone Location: Lummi Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: south, toward Rosario Strait Comment: These guys seem to be doing the round-the-islands shuffle lately - we had a big group off west side of Lummi Island today around 11:00 a.m. moving south pretty fast towards Rosario Strait - they were spread far out all across the strait - from in close to Lummi to east side of Orcas - looked like maybe J's and L's (maybe some K's?) - 2 big males and one looked like J1 from a distance. I'll be looking out for them Thursday..... Penny Stone ----------------------------- Monday, July 23, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: West side of San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan A magic morning - had a few Jpod whales in the fog about 6 miles West of Hein Bank at 1144hrs, then K20 and K21 went by and in the next 15mins. the fog rolled away to reveal a superpod - J's K's and most of L's. Great vocals, spyhops and breaching. By the afternoon the fog was gone and the whales were spread from Eagle Pt. almost to Lime Kiln and out into the Strait itself (west side of San Juan Island). Ron Bates MMRG, Victoria ----------------------------- Monday, July 23, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Penny Stone Location: Lummi Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: We saw J's and L's(and K's?)from Lummi Island, way out west of Hein Bank. Penny ----------------------------- Sunday, July 22, 2001 17:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Rosario Strait Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: south, past Thatcher Pass. Comment: Hi Susan Bit behind, J and Kpod in Rosario St. going S. passing Thathcer Pass At 1645hrs. Ron MMRG ----------------------------- Sunday, July 22, 2001 17:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Sombrio Pt. Species: Orca Pod: , unknown Members: Direction: east Comment: Whales inbound (going east) off Sombrio pt. at 1730hrs. ----------------------------- Sunday, July 22, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Penny Stone Location: Lummi Island - west side Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: We saw J's and K's off west side of Lummi again around noon. Penny ----------------------------- Saturday, July 21, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Penny Stone Location: Henry Island Species: Orca Pod: J Pod Members: Direction: north Comment: 7/21 we saw J's off Henry Island heading north. Penny ----------------------------- Friday, July 20, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Allison Smith Location: Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: L-12 Direction: Comment: Allison Smith, naturalist for San Juan Excursions reports seeing L-12 on either 7/20 or 8/3, and observed an odd-looking white line below the saddle patch; but she reports it wasn't a big cut or gash. Any one else get a good look at L-12 lately? ----------------------------- Thursday, July 19, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Race Rocks, BC (west of) Species: Orca Pod: , unknown Members: Direction: west Comment: Whales West of Race Rocks (12) going W. at 1600hrs. Ron Bates ----------------------------- Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: west side of San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan Had J's K's and some L's all day off the West Side of San Juan Island. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Thursday, July 19, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Swanson Channel Species: Orca Pod: Transient Members: 3 transients Direction: south Comment: 3 transients in Swanson Channel going down at 1104hrs. Ron Bates ----------------------------- Thursday, July 19, 2001 08:00 Reported by: ronRich Osborne, The Whale Museum Location: Oak Bay, Vancouver Island Species: Orca Pod: Transient Members: Direction: Comment: 2 transients in Oak bay at 0830 Ron Bates ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 18, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Rowann, The Whale Museum Location: Strait of Georgia, Pt. Whitehorn Species: Orca Pod: , unknown Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan, We got a call that 18 to 21 orcas were seen off Point Whitehorn at 16:00 today 7/18. No direction given. Rowann, The Whale Museum ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 18, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: south San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: L12 & L26 sub-pods Direction: Comment: July 18th: Hi Susan L12 subpod and L26 subpod off the Southern half of San Juan Island all day. Ron Bates MMRG, Victoria ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 18, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Haro Strait Species: Minke Pod: Members: 2 minkes Direction: Comment: 2 Minkes in Haro strait Ron Bates ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 18, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Telegraph Bay, B.C. Species: Orca Pod: Transient Members: T14 Direction: Comment: T14 (transient) in Telegraph Bay on the 18th, he was last there June 27. Ron Bates ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 17, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Bob Weimer Location: Cork, Ireland Species: Orca Pod: , "Cork Three" in Ireland Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan - Those on your mailing list that are following the news about the "Cork Three" may be interested in the latest correspondence and photo from Tim Murphy of Cork, Ireland. It is a photo and note of the findings regarding the elder female of the trio that died on July 8th. it is posted on OrcaCam (www.orcacam.com) this date. Bob Weimer Orcacam ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 17, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Tom McMillen, Salish Sea Charters Location: False Bay, west side of San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Across Haro Strait from Victoria, to False Bay Comment: The Orcas came across Haro Stait from the direction of Victoria, B.C. and by 11:15 am all three pods were in False Bay on the west side of San Juan Island. They are very active and appear to be foraging and playing. Captain Tom McMillen Salish Sea charters ----------------------------- Monday, July 16, 2001 18:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca Species: Orca Pod: L Pod, K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: west Comment: J & K pods went West, and at 1830hrs turned East off Jordan River when Lpod came from the West. They all turned and went West, last report they were still Westbound. Ron MMRG ----------------------------- Monday, July 16, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Sooke, BC Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: west, then east, then west with L pod. Comment: Hi Susan J and Kpods off the Sooke area (St. of Juan de Fuca) going in and out all day. They went West and at 1830hrs turned East off Jordan River when Lpod came from the West. They all turned and went West, last report they were still Westbound. Ron MMRG ----------------------------- Sunday, July 15, 2001 16:00 Reported by: Paul Dee Location: Mizen Head, Ireland Species: Orca Pod: Members: Direction: Comment: Hi there, Today at 4.14pm I was standing at the rails at the Mizen Head, the most south westerly point of Ireland and I spotted what I thought were dolphins approaching along the west coast. As they got closer I noticed that their movement was too lazy to be that of a dolphin. as they surfaced I recognized them as killer whales. One came up out of the water enough to let me see the distinctive black and white markings. I counted seven, a group of four and seconds later several hundred yards away a further three. They seemed to hang about near the Headland and I would guess that there were actually a lot more than seven judging by the distance between individual surfacing. I know there were 3 whales in Cork harbour lately and reported sightings several miles out to sea, but I'm wondering if there may be organisations interested in my sighting, or is it of any research value. Regards, Paul Dee. ----------------------------- Thursday, July 12, 2001 10:00 Reported by: Tom McMillen, Salish Sea Charters Location: Victoria, B.C, Canada Species: Orca Pod: J Pod Members: Direction: northeast Comment: J-Pod has been sighted approximately 3 miles South of Victoria, B.C. heading northeast toward the San Juan Islands. Captain Tom McMillen Salish Sea Charters ----------------------------- Monday, July 09, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Bob Weimer Location: Ireland Species: Orca Pod: , "Cork Three" Members: Female of "Cork Three" Direction: Comment: I just received the sad news from Tim Murphy that the female Orca of the "Cork 3" of Cork Harbor, Ireland has died. She was taken to Crosshaven for necropsy. Bob Weimer bob@orcacam.com ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 04, 2001 15:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Stuart & Henry Islands, San Juans Species: Orca Pod: J Pod Members: Direction: north Comment: I was with Jpod off Victoria in the morning and between Henry and Stuart Islands in the afternoon, they were going north. Ron Bates ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 04, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Location: Rosario Strait Species: Orca Pod: K Pod Members: Direction: south Comment: Kpod going south in Rosario at 1100. Ron Bates, MMRG ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 04, 2001 11:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Sooke, BC Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: Direction: Comment: HI Susan Lpod went west past Sooke (Vancouver Isl.) at 1100hrs. Ron Bates, MMRG ----------------------------- Wednesday, July 04, 2001 09:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Victoria, B.C, Canada Species: Orca Pod: Members: Direction: north Comment: I was with Jpod off Victoria in the morning and between Henry and Stuart Islands in the afternoon, they were going north. ----------------------------- Tuesday, July 03, 2001 06:00 Reported by: Rowann, The Whale Museum Location: Strait of Georgia, Pt. Whitehorn Species: Orca Pod: , unknown Members: 11 orcas Direction: southeast Comment: Hi Susan, We got a message on our hotline this morning 11 orcas heading SE from Point Whitehorn in the Strait of Georgia at 6:30 am. So they will be here today, if they are not already. Rowann, The Whale Museum ----------------------------- Monday, July 02, 2001 15:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Sooke, BC Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: Direction: east Comment: Lpod going East Off Sooke at 1500hrs. No Northern residents as yet. The 3 are still in Cork, Ireland. Ron Bates, MMRG ----------------------------- Monday, July 02, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Boundary Pass Species: Orca Pod: J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Jpod in Boundary pass at noon. Ron Bates Monday, July 02, 2001 09:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Swanson Channel Species: Orca Pod: K Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Kpod in Swanson Ch. in the am Ron Bates, MMRG ----------------------------- Sunday, July 01, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Jodi Smith, Orca Conservancy Location: west side of San Juan Island Species: Orca Pod: K Pod, J Pod Members: Direction: Comment: Hi Susan, Busy today with J's and K's and lots of boats!! L's were off Race Rocks this morning, I heard. Jodi Smith ----------------------------- Sunday, July 01, 2001 12:00 Reported by: Ron Bates, MMRG Location: Hein Bank Species: Minke Pod: Members: 6+ minkes Direction: Comment: Hi Susan Day 5 with no Orcas for me. Minkes on Hein Bank in the morning very little action. The afternoon was wonderful, lunging whales, huge flocks of birds had 4 whales on the surface at one time, there were more than 6 whales. Ron Bates MMRG ----------------------------- Sunday, July 01, 2001 09:00 Reported by: Jodi Smith, Orca Conservancy Location: Race Rocks, BC Species: Orca Pod: L Pod Members: Direction: Comment: L's were off Race Rocks this morning, I heard. Jodi Smith ======= [1]Back to archives [2]Home [3]Search [4]Top ŠOrca Network Please contact [5]Orca Network to inquire about educational use of any materials on this site. References 1. http://orcanetwork.org/sightings/archives.html 2. http://orcanetwork.org/index.html 3. http://orcanetwork.org/search.html 4. http://orcanetwork.org/sightings/july.html#top 5. mailto:info@orcanetwork.org