Today. 🥰
A beautiful day featuring T49C "Janet Neilson" playing with a buoy outside of Port Townsend.
And "Little Patch" the grey whale, curious about us off Everett.
@sarahscrumbs.bsky.social
@sarahscrumbs.bsky.socialToday. 🥰
A beautiful day featuring T49C "Janet Neilson" playing with a buoy outside of Port Townsend.
And "Little Patch" the grey whale, curious about us off Everett.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgSeptember was a busy month in the Salish Sea, with high sightings of Southern Resident, Northern Resident, and Bigg's killer whales!
You can read our full caption for the map as well as find answers to common questions here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgSome days, you run out of superlatives. Such was the case yesterday when we went west - way west - on our second of two all day trips with @sjiwhalewatch.bsky.social for our Fluking Around with Humpbacks class.
We estimate we saw >300 humpback whales! Click the link to read more.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgGot to meet the newest member of the T36A1s today! This little one, who has received the designation T36A1B from Bay Cetology, was first documented on September 26th and appears to be a few weeks old.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org
@dbellingradt.bsky.social@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgTwo bulls on Saturday (T49A2 and T49C), and two different bulls on Sunday!
We were lucky enough to catch up to the T19s with T65A3 Amir. The group was split into pairs and 19 year-old T65A3 traveling in close association with 25 year-old T19C Spouter for the duration of our encounter.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgMy favorite dynamic duo - T49A2 Jude and his uncle T49C Neilson - were on an absolute rampage this afternoon off Orcas Island. At a minimum, we think they took 4 seals over the course of 50 minutes! 😳
@sarahscrumbs.bsky.socialI'm very proud of my nerdy autistic hyperfocus today. My dad was on a whale watching boat 150 miles away from me. He sent me a few photos with very little information...and I NAILED the exact IDs of the individual orcas in his photos. Hell yeah!
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgThe T19s are changing their status from San Juan Spring whales to San Juan September whales! 🍂
We've had several encounters with them this month, including this evening right outside Friday Harbor where T19B Galiano did a spyhop next to his brother T19C Spouter.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgOur online auction features original Southern Resident killer whale artwork inspired by our Orca Action Month project last June!
Browse the link to see all listings, including these custom pieces of L25, J19, J36, J40 and J63, and J46. Bidding opens Weds!
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgIn the presence of three more legends this evening 🤩
T19 Nootka, estimated to be over 60 years old, flanked by her sons T19B Galiano and T19C Spouter off the west side of San Juan Island.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgAlways an honor to be in the presence of these two legends: T65 Whidbey and her son T63 Chaninsaw, this afternoon in Boundary pass.
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgIn a lovely moment from J-Pod's visit to the west side of San Juan Island on September 14th, J56 Tofino and J57 Phoenix were swimming in tandem, at times physically in contact with one another. Perhaps allo-kelping?
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgWe're back with our third and final staff ID challenge, and it's a doozy as we pit Sara against Monika in an SRKW flashcard showdown. Who do you think prevailed? Take a watch and find out!
@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgHere's a short video clip highlighting J-Pod's pass in Haro Strait on the morning of September 8th, 2026 🥰
They were in two tight groups moving quickly south. They continued offshore towards the banks and slowly westbound, but we hope they'll be back soon!
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org@orcabehaviorinstitute.orgA unique quartet of whales made their way down San Juan Channel this morning:
T63 Chainsaw
T65 Whidbey
T65A3 Amir
T137A Jack
We find these type of social associations - whether or brief like today or longer term - endlessly fascinating.
