Offshores

Offshores sighted in Ursula Channel near Craig Alaska

2009-04-10T22:42:00.000-07:00

Photo by Kathy Peavy

April 10
Orcas spotted 4/10 in Ursua Channel near Craig, Alaska. Travelling with a large pod of 4-5 family units with 4-5 in each pod. This one (w/curved fin) was travelling with a slightly smaller orca. Can you identify and let me know who this is?
Kathy PeaveyAnother reply from Graeme Ellis after receiving these additional photos from Craig, Alaska, April 10 submitted by Kathy Peavy & Joyce Mason:

Reply from Graeme Ellis of Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, in answer to photos from Craig, Alaska, April 10 submitted by Kathy Peavy
These animals are most definitely offshores. Although the photo quality is not great I believe I can id O183 (male with bent over fin) and O246.
Graeme Ellis, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada

Hi Kathy -Thanks for sending along the additional photos taken by Joyce as I was able to identify another animal, O175. These offshore encounters are very important, so thank you again for sending the photos and I hope you run into them again! Cheers,
Graeme Ellis, Canada Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans

Offshores in Santa Barbara Channel

2008-04-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

05 April 2008

Comments on the orca report in Santa Barbara Channel, CA by Anthony Lombardi: This sighting has not yet been confirmed as offshores through photo-ID. Anthony believes them to be offshores due to the large group size and temporal proximity to the previous day's sighting at Catalina Island. He said this was the largest pod of killer whales that he had ever seen (20-23+). I've asked him to send me any ID photos: these will verify if it was the same group. We have no documentation of offshore killer whales ever beating up any marine mammals; however, large transient groups of 25-30 have been documented to attack gray whale cow/calf pairs on multiple occasions. However, offshores have been known to make very close approaches to marine mammals, appearing to be especially curious in a manner similar to dolphins approaching (and often interacting with) gray or humpback whales.
Offshores confirmed & ID'd in Santa Barbara Channel, CA: After receiving photos from Anthony Lombardi, Alisa Shulman Janiger was able to confirm this sighting as offshores & ID several of the whales: Two of these are good ID shots: DEFINITELY OFFSHORE KILLER WHALES!! The ones that I recognize include the large male O155, the adult female CA502 (O150), and the female AP73 (all photographed off Pt. Loma on 11 March 2008; CA502 was confirmed in photos taken off Newport Beach on 23 March 2008). This encounter really adds to our record of a very nice series of offshore killer whale sightings off southern California.
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census Director

Offshores sighted off Catalina Island

2008-04-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

15-25 Orcas were sighted off Catalina Island, CA 33.4591°N 118.4939°W, traveling northwest starting at 6:30 am. They were swimming & playing, one had a very large fin. We had folks with us who have lived on catalina island for 26 years and have never seen killer whales here before ever.

Alexandra Winqvist.
These are definitely our offshore whales again! The second image is of CA101 (O87). She was also seen in the previous California offshore killer whale sightings: Pt. Loma on 11 March 2008, and Newport Beach on 23 March 2008. This is the female that I mentioned in earlier reports that I had first seen in Monterey Bay, California in November 1992. I identified at least 27 different individuals from the Pt. Loma sighting. Photographer Bill Lewis believed there to be at least 30 killer whales. Observers from the Newport Beach estimated the number of whales ranging from 30-60. Possibly some of these may have been around since the California offshore sightings in December! Thanks so much!
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census Director

Offshores sighted of Newport Beach, CA

2008-03-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

23 March 2008, Orca Network reports:

At least 30+ offshore killer whales were sighted around 4:00 pm about six and a half miles off of Newport Beach, CA. I just looked at a few photos: these are at least part of the group that was sighted off of Pt. Loma by Bill Lewis on 11 March 2008. They were in multiple active subgroups spread out over about one and a half miles; several made close approaches to the boats. When last seen about 5:30 pm, they were headed up the coast toward Los Angeles. Initial IDs from photos taken by Cathy Lesnick and Cris Young include: CA502 (O150); CA101 (O87); O231; & AP62 (male).
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Director, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project

Offshores visit Johnstone Strait

2007-10-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

10 October 2007, Orcalab reports:

No calls but orcas nearby

We began hearing distant calls on the Critical Point hydrophone around 6:45am, and think they were probably from offshore orcas, though we aren't sure.
Helena
10 Oct 2007 07:39:32 PDT

Distant calls audible.

A short while ago we began to hear calls in Johnstone Strait once again. Sounds like they may be an offshore group
Helena
10 Oct 2007 11:42:18 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The offshores continued west and are currently off the the entrance to Weynton Passage. They were foraging while generally still moving west mid strait. There are two small groups, maybe only a dozen or so.
Helena
10 Oct 2007 15:17:20 PDT

No orcas present.

The offshores were in two groups throughout the day, one group of 7 followed by a group of 5. They continued west past Alert Bay (Home of the Killer Whale!) but by 6:45pm only the group of 5 were seen going past Ledge Point (thanks to the MacKays for the report). We have only had constant boat noise since the whales went out of range to the west.
Helena
10 Oct 2007 22:48:02 PDT

Offshores coming in from the West

2007-09-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

07 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Just when you feel the day is slow and easy... just one group in the area, busy feeding,relaxed.... when, surprise! Offshores coming from the west. The A30s are getting closer to Critical Point.
Helena
07 Sep 2007 16:21:53 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The Offshores are in Blackney Pass but moving very slowly south against the tide.
Helena
07 Sep 2007 18:27:48 PDT

No orcas present.

The Offshores retreated to the northwest after a long attempt to come through Blackney Pass. They have been quiet for some time now.
Helena
07 Sep 2007 20:35:49 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The offshores are calling once again in Blackfish Sound. Still trying for Blackney?
Helena
07 Sep 2007 20:44:47 PDT

No orcas present.

Again the offfshore calls disappeared after becoming very distant on Flower Island.
Helena
07 Sep 2007 22:54:56 PDT

2006-12-01T18:26:00.000-08:00

01 December 2006, Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

We just started to hear Offshores in johnstone Strait.
Helena
01 Dec 2006 18:26:55 PST

2005-10-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

14 October 2005, Orcalab reports

The offshores were last seen near Port Hardy. Graeme Ellis of DFO was up in the area and had the day & good conditions to get the ID photos. Very exciting.
Helena
14 Oct 2005 09:34:33 PDT

2005-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

13 October 2005, Orcalab reports

Boat noise

We began hearing distant calls, amidst boat noise, on the Critical Point hydrophone, about 45' ago, but are uncertain as to whether they were from resident or offshore orcas. After travelling rapidly to the east last evening, the offshores returned to the west, and were near Robson Bight around 1am. By 9am they were off Pearse Passage, near Alert Bay. They were still in that general area around 10:30am, when we heard calls that could have been from G clan or offshore orcas. Boat noise has been very persistent since then, and we've heard no more calls. We are waiting.
Paul
13 Oct 2005 11:24:21 PDT

Orcas near mics.

A short while ago we started to hear the A12s on Flower Island. Earlier this morning we must have been listening to the Offshores when they were stalled off Alert Bay. This is normally out of our range but every so often we experience extended coverage. The offshores are now off Port McNeill still west bound.
Helena
13 Oct 2005 13:43:11 PDT

2005-10-12T23:16:00.000-07:00

12 October 2005, Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

This is exciting! We had received reports around 3:30pm of a large group of whales moving through Pearse Passage (between Alert Bay and Pearse Islands) headed for the Strait. We had been listening to the A12s,A36s and various G groups all morning and when they headed off to the west we thought that they might be going to meet the incoming group. As the new group moved east in the Strait we started to understand that they were Offshores. The northern residents have been very quiet - listening too no doubt. The weather is very wet and quite dark. The boat noise is not making it very easy either.
Helena
12 Oct 2005 16:40:05 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The offshore calls are getting stronger as they move closer toward the Bight.
Helena
12 Oct 2005 18:29:24 PDT

No orcas present.

All quiet now. The big question in all of our minds is what happened to the northern residents? They must have "crossed" paths with the offshores at some point. They ceertainly must have heard them on Flower Island when off the entrance of Blackney Pass and then later as the offshores came east into the Strait. So did the residents go out Weynton Passage to avoid the incoming group? We believe the offshores continued to the east.
Helena
12 Oct 2005 23:16:36 PDT