WHALES: Orcas in the area

(Added: Photos by Robin Sinner)

8:05 AM: Southern Resident orcas are in the area, southbound toward Alki, reports Kersti Muul, who says they’re from L Pod.

8:45 AM: See comments for updates.

9:44 AM: Thanks to everyone for those updates! Kersti noted in her most-recent comments that (a) all three of the endangered Southern Residents’ pods were represented – J, K, and L – and that they’d turned around and headed back northbound.

18 Replies to "WHALES: Orcas in the area"

  • Dan Ciske November 7, 2022 (8:16 am)

    Scattered over the place, heading south.

  • Becky M November 7, 2022 (8:24 am)

    They rounded Alki Point lighthouse going south at 8:20

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (8:28 am)

    Spread from south end of Blake to Blakely rocks 

  • Robin Sinner November 7, 2022 (8:30 am)

    East of mid channel sb just north of Blake island passenger ferry following view from Emma Schmitz 

    • whales! November 7, 2022 (8:57 am)

      Yes, just north of the slow, passenger – only ferry. I’m looking with binoculars from shore in Fauntleroy.

    • Robin Sinner November 7, 2022 (1:48 pm)

      Off Emma Schmitz around 9:15 am

      • WSB November 7, 2022 (3:34 pm)

        Thanks! Elevating that one. Always great to get photos; we can never manage to peel ourselves away from the desk to even go try.

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (8:47 am)

    Jpod is here too. J19

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (9:08 am)

    Lots of milling and directional changes one group in between Blake and Vashon and another group still north of Blake Island further west in the channel now

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (9:14 am)

    Whales have flipped and are now northbound, leaders already at Restoration point 9:15

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (9:23 am)

    Kpod present too!!!

  • kersti. November 7, 2022 (9:49 am)

    So far I’ve only seen members of JPod and Kpod…Ls were on the hydrophone early this morning. Groups were so spread out may be Ls as well 

  • Kersti Elisabeth Muul November 7, 2022 (10:20 am)

    We have a partial, or actual super pod happening right now! Members of all three pods present. East in channel heading towards Magnolia

  • Alki Resident November 7, 2022 (12:26 pm)

    This morning was spectacular with the # of Orcas out there. I only had my Iphone. Did anyone get any shots or know where you can see anyones pictures from this morning. Stunning to see how many of them were out there. What a morning!

  • RickB November 7, 2022 (6:07 pm)

    There were orcas seen off Shilshole today, I wonder if they were the same ones? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dhsVo5pjXGE

  • Penny November 8, 2022 (11:01 am)

    How does people know what pod orcas are from. When is the best time to go site seeing for orcas & where?

    • Hannah LS November 8, 2022 (1:26 pm)

      Orcas have distinctive saddle patches and each pod has its own set of calls, this is how researchers can tell each pod apart. Orcas aren’t super predictable but they tend to be in the Seattle area more in the fall for the salmon, and the WSB and Orca Network Facebook will post updates. You can see them from any beach.

    • Hannah LS November 8, 2022 (1:29 pm)

      Orcas have individual saddle patches and each pod has their own calls, this is how you can tell them apart. The residents tend to visit Seattle more in the fall, for the salmon; the WSB and Orca Network Facebook post updates. You should be able to look for them from most beaches facing the Salish Sea.

Sorry, comment time is over.