Orcalab reports:
No calls but orcas nearby
A small group of transients travelled through Blackney Pass this morning headed toward Blackfish Sound. There were no calls. The whales looked relaxed as they travelled along. The sea is calm and the sky sunny, lovely. We will resume audio streamig tomorrow.
Helena
31 May 2008 09:25:48 PDT
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
27 May 2008, The Centre for Whale research reports:
May 27, 2008
Transients
Platform: Orca
Departed Snug Harbor: 5:00 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 5:36 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 31.43 N
Start Long: 123° 13.37 W
End Encounter: 6:35 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 35.93 N
End Long: 123° 14.40 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 6:35 p.m.
Observers: Ken Balcomb, John Durban, Erin Heydenreich
T102 and T20 were traveling at a medium pace nothbound through Haro Straight about 200 meters from T21,T101,T101A and T101C.
**
T40 off Victoria.
T40 inbound from Race Rocks headed for Victoria
**
May 27, 2008
Transients
Platform: Orca
Departed Snug Harbor: 5:00 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 5:36 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 31.43 N
Start Long: 123° 13.37 W
End Encounter: 6:35 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 35.93 N
End Long: 123° 14.40 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 6:35 p.m.
Observers: Ken Balcomb, John Durban, Erin Heydenreich
T102 and T20 were traveling at a medium pace nothbound through Haro Straight about 200 meters from T21,T101,T101A and T101C.
**
T40 off Victoria.
T40 inbound from Race Rocks headed for Victoria
**
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
18 May 2008, Orca Network reports:
We headed out from Victoria across to the Haro Strait and approx. a couple of miles SE of Kelp Reef, at 1345, we just happen to come acrosss 2 lone Transients, one identified as T20 (and the other T21?). We proceeded to observe them as they headed north, and left them with other WW boats off the east side of Sidney Island at around 1445.
Tim Hunt
Orca Spirit/former Beam Reach student
We headed out from Victoria across to the Haro Strait and approx. a couple of miles SE of Kelp Reef, at 1345, we just happen to come acrosss 2 lone Transients, one identified as T20 (and the other T21?). We proceeded to observe them as they headed north, and left them with other WW boats off the east side of Sidney Island at around 1445.
Tim Hunt
Orca Spirit/former Beam Reach student
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
20 May Orca Network report
Orca Network received a call from a reporter for the Eureka (CA) Times Standard about an orca that charged up on a beach and grabbed a harbor seal. Half of the whale's body was out of the water. The whale then tossed the seal away and slid back into the water. At least 3 juvenile orcas were nearby. Was it all a hunting lesson for the young ones? He said there were some reports of a larger group of orcas further offshore. Orcas are known to beach themselves to catch sea lions in Patagonia, Argentina and in the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean, but this is believed to be the first report of an orca grabbing a seal off a beach in North America. This occurred in front of about a dozen people who all tell the same basic story. The beach is called Indian Beach, in Trinidad Bay, about 20 miles north of Eureka CA, near the Humbolt Bay Marine Lab. The story will appear in the above paper tomorrow. No photos were taken as far as the reporter knows.
Orca Network received a call from a reporter for the Eureka (CA) Times Standard about an orca that charged up on a beach and grabbed a harbor seal. Half of the whale's body was out of the water. The whale then tossed the seal away and slid back into the water. At least 3 juvenile orcas were nearby. Was it all a hunting lesson for the young ones? He said there were some reports of a larger group of orcas further offshore. Orcas are known to beach themselves to catch sea lions in Patagonia, Argentina and in the Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean, but this is believed to be the first report of an orca grabbing a seal off a beach in North America. This occurred in front of about a dozen people who all tell the same basic story. The beach is called Indian Beach, in Trinidad Bay, about 20 miles north of Eureka CA, near the Humbolt Bay Marine Lab. The story will appear in the above paper tomorrow. No photos were taken as far as the reporter knows.
Monday, May 19, 2008
19 May 2008, Orca Network reports:
Hi Susan and Howard,
I believe the transients in Sansum Narrows on Monday were T20 and T21. I left them Sunday night off Coal Island(Swartz Bay) at 6:30pm and then picked them up again in Sidney Channel between James Island and Sidney Island at 8:30pm.
Simon @ Ocean Ecoventures
Hi Susan and Howard,
I believe the transients in Sansum Narrows on Monday were T20 and T21. I left them Sunday night off Coal Island(Swartz Bay) at 6:30pm and then picked them up again in Sidney Channel between James Island and Sidney Island at 8:30pm.
Simon @ Ocean Ecoventures
Saturday, May 17, 2008
17 May 2008, Orca Network reports
Orca Network received a call Monday AM from Gregory Gilbertson about a sighting of roughly ten orcas ~2:30 PM, approx. 25 miles west of Newport OR (240 degrees from Newport), in an area known as the "chicken ranch." He described them as hunting whales so these may have been Transients (or Offshores? or Residents?).
Orca Network received a call Monday AM from Gregory Gilbertson about a sighting of roughly ten orcas ~2:30 PM, approx. 25 miles west of Newport OR (240 degrees from Newport), in an area known as the "chicken ranch." He described them as hunting whales so these may have been Transients (or Offshores? or Residents?).
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Transients pass Victoria waterfront
The Center for Whaleresearch reports:
May 14, 2008
Transients
Platform: Orca
Depart Snug Harbor: 10:55 a.m.
Begin Encounter: 11:35 a.m.
Start Lat: 48° 25.17 N
Start Long: 123° 16.83 W
End Encounter: 12:38 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 38.6 N
End Long: 123° 32.3 W
Return Snug Harbor: 2:05 p.m.
Observers: Dave Ellifrit.
Report by Dave Ellifrit: "I left Snug at 10:55 a.m. (overcast and mostly calm) and got on scene around 11:35 a.m. just west of the Chain Islets (48°25.17N, 123°16.83W). The eight whales were tight and heading southwest at a medium speed. The whales present were T87, T88, T90, T90B, T124, T124D, T124E, and a sprouter who I don't remember seeing before. I will have to send a picture of him off to Graeme (Ellis, DFO) for an I.D." (Graeme Ellis reports that the transient male Dave refers to is T073B, "who we haven't seen for a few years, so nice score!")
"By around 11:55 a.m. the whales were off the south tip of Trial Island still tight but had slowed down a bit. Most of the whales appeared to be resting but T124E and the sprouter were just slightly off to the side rolling around together. I saw a "seasnake" from those two that I think belonged to T124E, so I'm pretty confident he is a young male. I left the whales with a couple Victoria boats at 12:38 p.m. about 2 miles southwest of Trial Island (48°38.6N 123°32.3W). The whales were still tight and slowly heading southwest. After fueling up at Roche, I made back to Snug Harbor at 2:05 p.m."
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
T73B and T87 pass close to the rocks of Trial Island, May 14, 2008.
More Photos
Just thought I'd add a little more info about the Transients sighted off Victoria. It seems as though we picked up the T's where Dave Ellifrit left them. We had a 1pm trip and came out of Victoria Harbor and they were approx. 2 miles SW of the Ogden Pt Breakwater. They then hugged the shoreline and swam right up against the breakwater, with one of the individuals rolling over and giving the lucky people walking along the breakwall a nice view of its white underside. It was amazing to see them right at the tip of Ogden Pt at the mouth of Victoria Harbor. They then crossed the mouth of the harbor and headed in a general SW direction towards Albert Head.
Tim Hunt, Orca Spirit/former Beam Reach student
May 14, 2008
Transients
Platform: Orca
Depart Snug Harbor: 10:55 a.m.
Begin Encounter: 11:35 a.m.
Start Lat: 48° 25.17 N
Start Long: 123° 16.83 W
End Encounter: 12:38 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 38.6 N
End Long: 123° 32.3 W
Return Snug Harbor: 2:05 p.m.
Observers: Dave Ellifrit.
Report by Dave Ellifrit: "I left Snug at 10:55 a.m. (overcast and mostly calm) and got on scene around 11:35 a.m. just west of the Chain Islets (48°25.17N, 123°16.83W). The eight whales were tight and heading southwest at a medium speed. The whales present were T87, T88, T90, T90B, T124, T124D, T124E, and a sprouter who I don't remember seeing before. I will have to send a picture of him off to Graeme (Ellis, DFO) for an I.D." (Graeme Ellis reports that the transient male Dave refers to is T073B, "who we haven't seen for a few years, so nice score!")
"By around 11:55 a.m. the whales were off the south tip of Trial Island still tight but had slowed down a bit. Most of the whales appeared to be resting but T124E and the sprouter were just slightly off to the side rolling around together. I saw a "seasnake" from those two that I think belonged to T124E, so I'm pretty confident he is a young male. I left the whales with a couple Victoria boats at 12:38 p.m. about 2 miles southwest of Trial Island (48°38.6N 123°32.3W). The whales were still tight and slowly heading southwest. After fueling up at Roche, I made back to Snug Harbor at 2:05 p.m."
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
T73B and T87 pass close to the rocks of Trial Island, May 14, 2008.
More Photos
Just thought I'd add a little more info about the Transients sighted off Victoria. It seems as though we picked up the T's where Dave Ellifrit left them. We had a 1pm trip and came out of Victoria Harbor and they were approx. 2 miles SW of the Ogden Pt Breakwater. They then hugged the shoreline and swam right up against the breakwater, with one of the individuals rolling over and giving the lucky people walking along the breakwall a nice view of its white underside. It was amazing to see them right at the tip of Ogden Pt at the mouth of Victoria Harbor. They then crossed the mouth of the harbor and headed in a general SW direction towards Albert Head.
Tim Hunt, Orca Spirit/former Beam Reach student
Thursday, May 08, 2008
8 May 2008, Orca Network reports
Just a quick report that I heard a few transient calls between about 11:50 and midnight PDT on OrcaSound. The first couple were very loud and squawky -- at first I thought it was a great blue heron getting surprised and eaten by something! The subsequent calls were spaced a few minutes apart, rapidly grew fainter, and sounded like transient calls.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School
Just a quick report that I heard a few transient calls between about 11:50 and midnight PDT on OrcaSound. The first couple were very loud and squawky -- at first I thought it was a great blue heron getting surprised and eaten by something! The subsequent calls were spaced a few minutes apart, rapidly grew fainter, and sounded like transient calls.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
7 May 2008, Orcan Network reports
Another report of T20 and (apparently) T21 -- same place (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) , close to the same time, in fact 50 hours later. Animals were almost exactly on top of the aypoint where I had marked them on May 05. Time of sighting was 15:42 and seas were 6ft.-plus at in a roaring flood current.
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C. Canada
*
T20 and T21 going West off Sooke this afternoon in 5to 6 ft. seas at 1455.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C. Canada
Another report of T20 and (apparently) T21 -- same place (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) , close to the same time, in fact 50 hours later. Animals were almost exactly on top of the aypoint where I had marked them on May 05. Time of sighting was 15:42 and seas were 6ft.-plus at in a roaring flood current.
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C. Canada
*
T20 and T21 going West off Sooke this afternoon in 5to 6 ft. seas at 1455.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C. Canada
Monday, May 05, 2008
May 5 2008, Orca Network reports
Orca Network received a call this morning from Chris Peterson, reporting a sighting of orcas off the N. end of Texada Island, B.C Gulf Islands. There were at least 3 orcas, near Rebecca Rock, observed from 11-11:30 am.
*
1204 hr - 1300hr. Bull orca T20 and (another T?) spotted in 3 ft. seas (4 ft. and building by the time we left the animals) approx. 2 NM offshore of Sooke Bluffs (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) at 1204hr. Current was a strong flood at Race Rocks but, further west and offshore, there was still a river of ebb current that the Westbound Transients sought out and rode West (of course dragging us into more exciting seas as time wore on). Left the animals near 1300hr approaching Otter Pt., still 2 plus NM offshore. Behaviour: 3-4 min dives between 3-4 minute "surfacings" (time near surface). No apparent hunting; animals traveling 4-6 Kn. (S.O.G).
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C.
Orca Network received a call this morning from Chris Peterson, reporting a sighting of orcas off the N. end of Texada Island, B.C Gulf Islands. There were at least 3 orcas, near Rebecca Rock, observed from 11-11:30 am.
*
1204 hr - 1300hr. Bull orca T20 and (another T?) spotted in 3 ft. seas (4 ft. and building by the time we left the animals) approx. 2 NM offshore of Sooke Bluffs (Eastern entrance to Sooke Basin) at 1204hr. Current was a strong flood at Race Rocks but, further west and offshore, there was still a river of ebb current that the Westbound Transients sought out and rode West (of course dragging us into more exciting seas as time wore on). Left the animals near 1300hr approaching Otter Pt., still 2 plus NM offshore. Behaviour: 3-4 min dives between 3-4 minute "surfacings" (time near surface). No apparent hunting; animals traveling 4-6 Kn. (S.O.G).
Chris Zylstra, Victoria B.C.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
03 May 2008, Orca Network reports:
Orca Network received a call from Dave Metz of Newport, OR at 10:10 am, he was observing 3 orcas swimming up the Yaquina River in Newport. They went 200-300 yards upriver, nearly to the Newport Bridge, then turned & were starting to swim back down river. He referred Angie to us, who was nearby watching the orcas - she first saw the orcas at 10:00 am as she was driving over the Newport bridge. She followed them along the jetty and took some photos which she will send to us. It is likely these are Transient orcas looking for a seal or two.We received several photos of the Orcas reported Saturday morning in the Yaquina River, Newport OR, along with an additional report (which leaves no doubt that they were Transients!).
From Jim Rice: I've received this additional piece of information about Saturday's orca sighting: "I was out at S. Jetty this evening and ran into a young man walking the road who saw the orcas kill at least one harbor seal this morning. He lives near the start of the S. Jetty road. He thought there were 5 orcas, and they killed the seal on the south side between the bridge and the finger jetty. Barry"
Jim Rice, Stranding Coordinator, Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU
Orca Network shared Angi's photos (which weren't great ID shots, but one had some saddle patches) with researchers, and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research replied: I will go way, way out on a limb here and take a GUESS that this MIGHT be T49C and T50. The fin shape is right and I think I can believe that I see nicks where they should be. I believe both of those whales have been photographed down that direction before too. Other than that, I can't say for sure!
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
Orca Network received a call from Dave Metz of Newport, OR at 10:10 am, he was observing 3 orcas swimming up the Yaquina River in Newport. They went 200-300 yards upriver, nearly to the Newport Bridge, then turned & were starting to swim back down river. He referred Angie to us, who was nearby watching the orcas - she first saw the orcas at 10:00 am as she was driving over the Newport bridge. She followed them along the jetty and took some photos which she will send to us. It is likely these are Transient orcas looking for a seal or two.We received several photos of the Orcas reported Saturday morning in the Yaquina River, Newport OR, along with an additional report (which leaves no doubt that they were Transients!).
From Jim Rice: I've received this additional piece of information about Saturday's orca sighting: "I was out at S. Jetty this evening and ran into a young man walking the road who saw the orcas kill at least one harbor seal this morning. He lives near the start of the S. Jetty road. He thought there were 5 orcas, and they killed the seal on the south side between the bridge and the finger jetty. Barry"
Jim Rice, Stranding Coordinator, Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Marine Mammal Institute, OSU
Orca Network shared Angi's photos (which weren't great ID shots, but one had some saddle patches) with researchers, and Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research replied: I will go way, way out on a limb here and take a GUESS that this MIGHT be T49C and T50. The fin shape is right and I think I can believe that I see nicks where they should be. I believe both of those whales have been photographed down that direction before too. Other than that, I can't say for sure!
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
Friday, May 02, 2008
02 May 2008, Orcanetwork reports:
T14 tail slapping away near Sooke! Curious to know just how many T's were turned up 3-4 NM West of Crescent Bay (Olympic Peninsula) today -- sounded like quite a few (around 1600hr).
Chris Zylstra , Victoria B.C.
I should be sleeping, but am listening to the Orcasound hydrophone and it is 1:34am. I am hearing whales and I think they sound like transients!
Annika, Shoreline, Wa.
Yes, it was T calls at 0133-35 off Lime Kiln .
Ken Balcomb, Senior Scientist, Center for Whale Research, Friday Harbor
T14 tail slapping away near Sooke! Curious to know just how many T's were turned up 3-4 NM West of Crescent Bay (Olympic Peninsula) today -- sounded like quite a few (around 1600hr).
Chris Zylstra , Victoria B.C.
I should be sleeping, but am listening to the Orcasound hydrophone and it is 1:34am. I am hearing whales and I think they sound like transients!
Annika, Shoreline, Wa.
Yes, it was T calls at 0133-35 off Lime Kiln .
Ken Balcomb, Senior Scientist, Center for Whale Research, Friday Harbor
Thursday, May 01, 2008
01 May 2008, The Center for Whale Research report:
T14 was picked up again today, this time back on his own. He was first spotted at 10:10 a.m. cruising through the kelp forests of East Sooke Park. He then continued east through Race Passage and crossed Victoria's waterfront.
He passed by Trial Island at 5:00 p.m. and went through Oak Bay. I last saw him exiting Baynes Channel going north past Ten Mile Pt. at 6:45 p.m.
T14 was picked up again today, this time back on his own. He was first spotted at 10:10 a.m. cruising through the kelp forests of East Sooke Park. He then continued east through Race Passage and crossed Victoria's waterfront.
He passed by Trial Island at 5:00 p.m. and went through Oak Bay. I last saw him exiting Baynes Channel going north past Ten Mile Pt. at 6:45 p.m.
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