April 2014 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of April 2014 whale sightings.

April 30
8:30 pm....lone Minke between Pt. Partridge and Ebey's Landing slowly heading south with spectacular sunset. - Al Luneman Pacific White-sided dolphins

April 29
This is about the last thing I expected us to find on our trip today...but HEY! We'll take it! About 12 Pacific white-sided dolphins were lolly-gagging in between Sentinel Island and Spieden Island this afternoon. Icing on the cake! - Katie Jones

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T69's, 4 animals, initially spotted at Schooner Cove near Long Beach, Tofino around noon. We encountered them aboard the Leviathan 2 with Jamie's Whaling Station close to Frank Island, Chesterman Beach. The orcas traveled from Frank Island close to shore giving all the hotels and resorts a good look, on to Duffin Cove at the entrance to Tofino harbour, round the offshore of Vargas Island and to Cleland Island where they were left at 18:00. The animal gave a surprise breach close to their vessel, photo taken on cell phone - shows how close the activity happened! - Claire Mosley

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Around 9:20am Jon received a call that 50 killer whales were heading West past Neah Bay. We got on the water and found them passing Tatoosh Island, heading Northwest. We stayed on the group for a couple hours and got photographs of many. There were about 4 or 5 smaller groups spread out over about a mile. Each smaller group was between 10-15 whales, for total of 50-70 whales. We thought there were at least 6 or 7 large males (some other sprouting) and about 7 calves. We are guessing these are Northern Residents - a couple of the males had slightly hooked dorsal fins and one looks similar to a male we saw from G pod several years ago. - Adrianne Akmajian, Marine Mammal Technician III, Makah Fisheries Management

April 28
A long one today but it was worth the ride to get my first look at T65A5! The 65As were coming east from Race Rocks as we headed down and caught up with them around Constance bank. They picked off a seal right as we got there and started the celebration.....breaches, spy hops........love that group. - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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Reposting this from Alex Shapiro: 5 Orcas passing Eagle Pt. (SW San Juan Island) Heading south at 8:15 pm.

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The T065A's heading east off of Otter Pt. in the morning. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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At Legion park Everett studying for mid term and been watching a gray whale blow closer to Jetty Everett side due east of Hat Island. Has been hanging there for the last hour. - Marilyn Armbruster #49 Patch & Mukilteo Ferry. #49 Patch and #723 side by side. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Lags! Thanks to Western Prince for finding the Lags this afternoon! Lags? Lagenorhynchus obliquidens! Lags! Pacific white-sided dolphins! West side of Speiden Channel. - James Mead Maya

April 27
It was a pod of about 33 (20 in one group, 13 in another) heading North past the Point Reyes Lighthouse. The time was around 1630 hours. First time seeing orca in the park! - John Eleby, US Park Ranger, Point Reyes National Seashore

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3:52 - We have whales! Two grays between Hat Island and Everett, yay!! - Orca Network

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What a fun fundraising whale cruise today with Orca Network, aboard the Mystic Sea. We even found some gray whales - off in the distance, AND dodged the rain showers. - Jill Hein

April 26
Pictures of the orca seen at the Point Reyes Lighthouse from visitors, volunteers, and rangers! An incredibly rare sighting at the lighthouse - for the three+ years I have worked here, we have had warnings that orca were headed our way but have never seen them and caught them on camera! This is the second time an orca pod has been sighted since I started working.
Photo believed taken by Anela Marie Ramos of at least 11 orcas lined up side by side, apparently members of K pod and/or L pod.

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Yup - T077A and T049C - off Beechy Head, Sooke about 3:30 pm, headed west. I think Eagle Wing Tours and others from vic might have been heading out to find them. - Marcie Callewaert

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I just heard over the radio they are heading straight out for open water. I think our time with them is numbered. Not sure where they are though. Just direction. - Liz Fincher

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Beautiful day on the water. As far as whales it was 5-6 Minke. All being slinky. Not one did more than one breath at the surface all day. - James Gresham

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Got to see some Minkes off the Salmon Bank area today. - Marcie Callewaert

April 25
1 grey just east of Shipwreck point Friday afternoon, 2 Grey's this morning between Chito beach resort and shipwreck point (between Seiku and Neah Bay). Slowly going back and forth between the two. Been here for over an hour now. Will try and get photos. - Amy Cramer

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5 pm - Based on the saddle mark, this is T077A. Taken this afternoon as they were rounding Alki Point by the lighthouse. - Raymond Chip Yamka

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5 pm - They just passed Dilworth.
4:59 - Just saw T077A and T049C pass Dilworth point. Wow..,they are big boys!! Love those dorsal fins.
4:28 - Found them between Ferry dock and Dilworth Point. - Kelly Burns Keenan

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Feeling lucky here. Saw them from the Vashon ferry around 4:10 p.m. I almost wet myself, as I have not been following the action today and it was a big surprise! What a treat! They were beautiful... Made my day! - Shane Farnor

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3:23 - Watching orcas on s side of Alki. Twins - hedge north slowly - near Vashon ferry dock. - Trileigh Tucker

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3:03 - got pix as they passed West Seattle Lighthouse. They're still southbound toward Vashon. - Meg McDonald WildNorthwestBeautyPhotography:

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2:59 - heading south just past Alki point. - Melinda Simon

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2:47 - Visible from Alki Pt. - Sherman's Corner

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2:25 - Brad says now they've off Eliott Bay and headed south and should go past Alki in 10-20 minutes.

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2:20 PM from Pier 70 - WAY out in the bay thru binoc - heading South NOAA following. Theresa Rivkin

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2:20 - Two transients in Elliot bay. Spotted from the ferry just off the cruise terminal. Appeared to be feeding. Repeat dive behavior on the same spot. - Meredith Everett

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2:14 - Spotted from the westbound Bainbridge ferry Wenatchee. - Brian Schmitz

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12:21 - I'm on the bluff above golden gardens looking west. Pic was my iPhone thru binocs. 12:01 - Watching thru big binocs from above golden gardens. They are on the west side of the sound near the shore being tailed by what I hope is a research dinghy. Approaching Port Madison area. T77A and T49C approaching Port Madison area, Bainbridge Island, with NOAA research boat attending. - Jennifer Greiner Clark

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T077A and T049C passing Point Robinson, Vashon Island this afternoon. - Kelly Keenan

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Transient killer whales T049C (surfacing) and T077A (diving) next to Point Robinson this afternoon. Yes, these large orcas really were this close to shore! - Wild Northwest Beauty Photography

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1:12 - Update from Brad Hanson: The boys have traveled to the east side of Puget Sound, just north of West Point, aiming south toward Elliott Bay.

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12:38 - Now moving slower south sort of milling just north of Shilshole marina. - Kim Funchess

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11:41 - The "boys" are about a mile south of the Kingston/Edmonds ferry lane, on the Kingston side, heading south, as seen by Brad Hanson of NOAA. Bainbridge folks, here they come.

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8:55 am - A call came in from the US Coast Guard relaying a report from the Victoria Clipper IV of two orcas off Eglon, heading west in mid-channel. Sounds like the "twins."

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1 grey just east of Shipwreck point (about ten miles NW of Sekiu) Friday afternoon, 2 Grey's this morning between Chito beach resort and shipwreck point. Slowly going back and forth between the two. Been here for over an hour now. - Amy Cramer

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2:45 - I actually just saw one blow twice and saw his back!! He's in Saratoga Passage closer to Whidbey Island between Langley and Coupeville, right across from Indian Beach on Camano. - Wendy Nelson

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Windy the humpback has returned. It has almost been exactly one year to the day that she mugged the boat I was on last season, the first time she was recorded engaging in this behaviour in this area to my knowledge. This encounter surpassed the original however ....For over an hour, Windy slowly passed around and under the boat. The water was flat calm, allowing us to get an amazing view of her, and to give her an amazing view of us! At one point, she came parallel to the side of the boat I was standing on, rolled on her side, and just floated there, her huge blue eye peering at us for many moments. You could even see her eye open and close, the hairs on her chin, every fine detail and scar on her skin, the extreme smell of her breath. - Tasli Shaw

April 24
Slow and steady Bigg's in the same spot (Boundary Pass) two days in a row. (left to right) T124A1, 124A, 124A2A, 124A2. Different families both days. Today it was T124As and T86As. Another day I am very grateful for. - Tasli Shaw

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T049C and T077A Transient Orcas. From the shores of Edmonds to Mukilteo, literally. These two Orcas nicknamed the twins (because they swim together, not related), made a kill just North of the Edmonds ferry lane then headed North to Mukilteo. I caught them just off of the beach at Marina Beach, then out from the pier, and then later on at Mukilteo Beach, again, just off of the shore. This started around 11-12pm in Edmonds right off the shore then north of the Edmonds ferry lane, then about 2 hours later right off of Mukilteo beach. Looked like they made a kill at the 2nd stop, lots of activity and lots of birds trying to get scraps.
11:29 - 2 orcas close to shore off marina beach Edmonds heading south (then north) moving fast. - Janine Harles

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I have been waiting for *years* for a chance to check out this charismatic individual. He has remained on this elite, mythical level to me for a long time - this arguably legendary creature that others had seen, but I had only ever heard stories about. But today, after a long, tedious, nail-biting search, he surfaced and I can honestly say I erupted in goosebumps (and not just because I was being thoroughly soaked by wind-swept waves washing over the bow). It was him!...It was actually him...it was CHAINSAW! - Katie Jones

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12:07 - Solo big orca (T077A) -- east side a mile north of Edmonds terminal. Close to shore heading north. More effective than four triple shot lattes to get my heart pumping!! Luckily I looked outside at the blustery weather blowing by this morning; I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this Orca's 6 foot tall fin arching out of the water heading north along the waterfront!! Made my day!! Taken today around noon - Edmonds Washington - with south Whidbey Island in the background. - Stu Davidson Photography

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T063 "Chainsaw" west bound south of Trial Island. - Mark Malleson

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On my morning trip I came across the T065's south bound a mile south of Kelp Reef. In the aftenoon I was able to re-find them south of Discovery Island, heading west. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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645 am - Victoria Clipper III just saw an orca off Duwamish Head in West Seattle. - Jason Mihok

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10:25 am - Grey whale just off shore. North west tip of Camano Island. Headed south. - Randi Susan Armstrong

April 23
We had the T065's, 86A's and 124A's in Boundary Pass in the morning. The T065's split off and headed north while the 86A's and 124A's continued south down Sidney Channel in the afternoon. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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Awesome day today along the Galiano shoreline with T87, T124 and the T90's. Almost all the other boats ended up in Boundary Pass with a large group of T's and we had these guys in the Strait of Georgia along Galiano. Very mellow just cruising steadily up the shoreline but so beautiful! It's amazing how you just never get tired of seeing them. Here are a few shots! - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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7:15 PM - two orcas heading south in the east channel off of Pt. Piner (south end of Maury Island). - Mark McDonald

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6:45 pm - Burt Miller saw two adult males heading south along the ease side of Vashon Island, near Gold Beach. He said there were lots of gulls and an eagle over the action.

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At 8:30am they were reported circling the "hamburger buoy" off Salty's (on Alki Beach, in Elliott Bay), nervous harbor seals were seeking refuge on it. They've moved on apparently. - Lori Petersen

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6:56 AM - 2 orcas just north of our house on beach drive sw (about a mile south of Alki Pt. on Alki Beach. 100 yards off shore: two orcas, lat: 47:33:58.59 long: 122:24:32.33, swimming 100 yards out, then coming in close to shore (10 yards). slowly heading north. - Dennis Batchelder

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6:50am - 2 Orcas off Beach Drive SW in West Seattle. About 25 yards from shore. Have not seen them this close to our shore in the past. Chasing after something. Harbor Seals popped up their heads once the Orcas where gone. - Melinda Simon

April 22
Sighted a single orca in Elliott Bay (roughly off Smith Cove). Sighted from the Bainbridge ferry (9:40 AM departure) enroute to Seattle. New WSF 144 car ferry was also undergoing sea trials in vicinity (the M/V Tokitae). - Bruce Hutchison

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We were able to catch up with a humpback traveling north along the shoreline of Saturna Island in Boundary Pass. Thanks to the crew of the Island Roamer who spotted it while hiking up Monarch Head and reporting it to us. It was the same animal as the one seen the day before off of Victoria. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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First Humpback Whale of the season! The Western Prince II is viewing a Humpback Whale up in the Canadian Gulf Islands right now. Thanks to Mark Malleson for finding it!

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Spotted two Orcas on Fauntleroy/Southworth ferry about 4:35. On north side of ferry about 1/2 way between West Seattle and Blake Island. - Andrew Medina

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12:15 - They are now heading south. 12:03 - Two orcas just off West Point. Frolicking/feeding with no direction of travel. Appeared to have made a kill of something - saw a splash of red. Very cool! - Jim Devereaux

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10:35 - We saw them from our office window in downtown Seattle - The Nature Conservancy in Washington. - Robin Stanton

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Single orca spotted at 10:05 between east bound Bainbridge ferry and magnolia. Lots of spouting and great view of fin and upper markings. - Leslie Jones Hansen

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9:41 - Still under the bridge - just saw it [gray whale] come up again again for the 3rd time.
9:32 - Just spotted a whale under the narrows bridge (in Tacoma) heading north. Not orca - didn't see find. Saw spouting. Definitely not porpoises - much bigger. Best I can tell is it's skin is bumpy & not black. Did not see any fins and looked bigger than orca although admittedly I haven't seen any this close. Direction of travel is not definite - I initially saw it a little south of the [Narrows] bridge, then 2 times under the bridge then just a bit south again. It was more on the gig harbor side of the the bridge. Waiting for it to come up again but haven't seen anything for a bit now. - Heidi Powers Armstrong

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9:41 - Twins in Elliott bay right now. Viewable from bainbridge ferry. - Wendy Horger Alsup

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9:31 - I see him from lower Queen Anne. Seems to be heading east getting close to the Seattle waterfront. - Katie Kirking

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We also watched for awhile from our office overlooking Myrtle Edwards (Park, in mid-downtown Seattle). I shoot full-frame with a 70-200, and they were WAY too far out to get any good shots. - Mik Nei

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I saw a single orca in that area around 8:40 a.m. The fin was visible from downtown. - Holly Bowen

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8:30 - Single orca off West Seattle. - Mark Powell

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A passenger on the Fauntleroy ferry reported seeing a single orca headed north this morning on the 7 am ferry to Vashon. She said the ferry captain saw the orca and announced the sighting of two orcas. Relayed to Orca Network by Amy Carey.

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About 7 this evening. They were in Elliott Bay. - Mollie Marie Autumne Taylor.

April 21
Around 4:00 pm, about 10-20 killer whales were sighted heading west past Neah Bay. We were unable to get on the water to pursue. - Adrianne Akmajian

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We saw our first humpback of the season on April 21st north east bound east of Race Rocks in the afternoon. Thanks to Bill on Fast Tide for the find! - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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I saw them looking out from the grain terminal (north side of Elliott Bay) at 7:30 pm. 8 years in seattle and these are the first two wild orcas I have ever seen! - Timothy Johnson

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7:01 pm - Two orcas in middle of Elliott Bay. Can see them from Pier 70. - Jon Scanlon

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6:49 pm - Just saw a couple of male orcas in Elliott Bay from the deck of the M/V Wenatchee. - Brian Schmitz

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6:30 PM - Just spent at least 20 minutes watching 2 orcas feeding and playing in Elliott Bay not far from Pier 62. We watched for at least 20 minutes, then they headed North out of view. - Cynthia Dice

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5:55 PM - Two orcas thought by others to be juvenile males sighted swimming into Elliott Bay from Duwamish Head at 1755. Orcas swam into the bay and around an anchored barge for about 15 minutes then disappeared. Traveling it seemed. - Todd Anderson

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5:30pm - Witnessed two suspected juvenile males early this evening in Elliot Bay close to West Seattle. - Bethany Anderson

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1:57 - Two orcas in the ferry lane closer to Kingston. Just now. - Jennifer Thorn Scanlon

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1:37 - T137s off Race Rocks (SW of Victoria). - Josh McInnes

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11:30 AM - spotted one adult orca off of browns point lighthouse (north end of Commencement Bay), traveling north towards Seattle. - Michael Ward

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9 am - Tim on the Victoria Clipper reports two transient orcas heading south off Double Bluff, Whidbey Island. At least one of them was an adult male.

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Sandra Pollard aboard Mystic Sea reports seeing 2 gray whales, including #53, just east of Gedney Island at 1:15 this afternoon.

April 20
I just returned to Shilshole on my boat after sailing with a gray whale mid channel due west of Shilshole south bound. Shots taken at about 5pm. - Gary Peterson

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12:17 - #723 Gray whale on North side Hat Island (Gedney). 2 male orca traveling South. South side of Camano head.

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T049C & T077A in Mukilteo, 30-50 yards from the Port of Everett pier. They pummeled a little Harbor seal but didn't kill her/him. The seal either miraculously got away or they just like to practice pummeling little guys and move on. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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A call came in from April saying she had been watching two orcas from her home at Mukilteo Drive in Mukilteo, from about 3:30 until about 7:15 pm.

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Ed's video (below) of the "twins" T049C & T077A hunting just yards off the Port of Everett Pier in Mukilteo last night from 6:00pm-6:50pm. The hunt did not end with a kill but a warning for anyone who is sensitive, the Harbor seal is visible throughout most of the video getting beat up by these two big boys. Interesting to see their coordinated and individual skills with their prey. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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6:40 - Just got a report from someone on the Bainbridge Isl-Seattle ferry, who saw 1 dorsal fin between the two ferries at 5:55 pm, the whale was heading east toward Seattle. Not sure if this is the same as the orcas being reported off Mukilteo earlier or not. (Note: Not the same.)

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Out on the Island Explorer 3 with T77A and T49C near Everett. They cornered a harbor seal and then launched it into the air. Incredible. - Michael P Colahan

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We were at Lighthouse Park, Mukilteo about 5:00ish and saw two Orca Whales in the Puget Sound. We watched them traveling side by side for about 5 minutes as they headed out past the ferry launch. - Jean Bundas

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5:15 PM - Two orcas sighted in Mukilteo! We observed mating 1/2 mile south of Mukilteo Ferry Dock, 100 yards off shore on East side of Humpy Hollow. We were able to watch their mating ritual for approximately 15 minutes before they continued on. We watched them circling each other on the surface and then roll onto their sides next to one another. Eventually one rolled on top of the other which lasted a minute. - Alexa Lamey

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Saw them from 5 pm ferry to Clinton. They were south. - Gwendolyn Clemens

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4:20 PM - 2 orca, swimming in circular patterns. Going under water, and coming up often for air. Mukilteo south of the ferry dock, below Horizon Dr. - Rebecca Baker

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4:00 PM - 2 Orca whales off of Mukilteo Beach, off the tank farm in Mukilteo heading towards the ferry. Traveling - the ferry stopped for at least 5 min to let them pass. The tide was low and we heard them before we saw them. So cool. This is my first Orca sighting. - Heidi Fretland

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2:35 - Just spotted 2 dorsal fins on Everett side of Hat Island, heading south. No boats in sight. - Jennifer Mahn

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Update: #723 Gray whale on North side Hat Island (Gedney). 2 male orca traveling South. South side of Camano head.

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T103 east of Race Rocks. - Mark Malleson

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Lone male transient 4 miles South of Victoria. I got the report via BC Whale Tours. Transient T103 according to Ron Bates. - Josh McInnes

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T137As today in Rosario Strait! - Heather MacIntyre

April 19
Adrianne Akmajian and Jon Scordino, Makah Fisheries & MMSN, shared a report this afternoon of a sighting of at least 20 killer whales going past Neah Bay, headed east at 9:30 am.

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7:45 - Saw two maybe three orcas in Shorewood (near Burien, 5 miles south of West Seattle) traveling North. - Heather Aquino

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12:30 PM - Single orca off Titlow Beach in Tacoma. Two orcas off Tacoma yachtclub/ Anthony's restaurant hunting together. 3 total. Titlow Beach and Point Defiance. Titlow beach orca traveling north; Point Defiance pair actively hunting. - Diana Lyster

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Orcas today. Oh sublime joy...T137s and the T36As, Swanson Channel. - Katie Jones

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Sprouters T100C and T137A were "buddy buddy", swimming together away from the rest of the group. After observing them doing short, shallow dives for most of the encounter and travelling more-or-less on a steady course, two stellar sea lions were spotted within 100 yards of the killer whales, at which point all 12 whales grouped up tightly and went into "stealth" mode, taking 10 minute dives and being very sporadic. The sea lions went unmolested from what we saw, but who knows what happened when the human observers were gone! - Tasli Shaw

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Two Transient/Biggs in South Sound. At 0825 we encountered two adult male Killer Whales, assumed to be T49c and T77a, traveling in mid-channel between McNeil Island and the town of Steilacoom. The two were heading south at a steady rate towards Nisqually Reach. - Kwasi Addae

April 18
4 Orcas, including one juvenile, sighted along west shore of Admiralty Inlet off Nodule Point (across Admiralty Inlet from Bush Point) Friday, between 4:30 and 5:30pm. They appeared to be feeding (probably on salmon) rather than traveling, making frequent changes of direction and surfacing, then diving. They remained in the area between just south of East Beach Park and Nodule Point for over an hour moving southerly - a large passenger vessel (Safari Quest) shadowed them for an extended period. - Bruce Carlson

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Talk about a surprise visit! Our Oregon Coast Aquarium scientific dive team was offshore of Newport today doing Sea Star Wasting Syndrome research when a pod of orcas stopped by for a visit! The behavior seen in this photo is called spy hopping. Oregon Coast Aquarium
Dave Ellifrit: I can ID L84, L47, and L92 in those pics.

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L pod members were encountered off of Newport, Oregon today!! Specifically, at least from the photos I saw, Crewser L92, Nyssa L84, and possibly Nugget L55. - Melisa Pinnow

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What a day! Searching all over the Gulf Islands with not a whale to be seen and then, on the way home, we found the T100's, 137's and 36A's in the Strait of Georgia. They were hanging out right in the middle of the gulf moving west at 7 knots. My first Bigg's encounter of the year.....it's always so amazing to see them but especially in such a large group. They seemed to be mostly in travel mode but the two sprouters (T137A and T100C) broke off from the rest of the group and spent some time interacting, here is a shot of the two of them. It's incredible to see the the difference in T100C's fin from the first time I saw him in 2007 until now. His fin is starting to get quite large and looks like it's taking on a "T19B" shape. - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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4:00 - They're now back at Dana Passage.
2:17 "TWINS" IN ELD INLET (deep south Puget Sound) - heading south toward Flap Jack Point. I don't know if they can be seen from Frye Cove...but that's how far down they are. It is VERY shallow right now w/ such a low tide. They can't get much further into the inlet. - Kim Merriman

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3:41 pm - update on the Olympic Peninsula orcas from Steve Jeffries - there are 6 total, including a calf and large adult male. They were 2 miles south of the south end of Marrowstone Island, on that side, so looks like they are trending northward
2:26 pm - Brad Hanson of NOAA relayed a call from Steve Jeffries of WADFW of a half-dozen orcas in Admiralty Inlet, north of Hood Canal on the Olympic Peninsula side near Mats-Mats.

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2 or 3 gray whales south of hat island, heading north. I'll tell them to keep heading north for tomorrow's party. They will be VIP guests. - Danielle Doll

April 17
2 orcas near Olympia at 8:30am between Boston Harbor and Squaxin Island. At 4:30pm they were off the east shore of Cooper Point traveling south. In both sightings they were moving leisurely and close together, playing, slowly traveling. Always a thrill for us South Sounders! - Larry and Donna Brooke

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Orcas in Budd Inlet, Olympia. I saw 2 with large dorsal fins, one with a knick and a grey marking, about 15 times. After about every third time I saw them, about 3 times I saw what looked like a huge white and black belly surfacing then sinking back down plus some splashing. Could this have been a whale in distress or one giving birth? Or some backtracking maneuver of the twins? This was at 7:45 am as they were heading north in Budd inlet passing 62nd St on Cooper Point approaching Burfoot Park / Cooper Point, travelling north. - Wendy Eklund

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I spotted three Orca in Port Townsend bay, due east of the ferry dock, ~500 ft SE of Taylor and Water St. in downtown Port Townsend. There were two adults and one young. One of the adults appeared to be hunting an otter or seal, the other adult was flanking the prey, while the little one was trying to keep up. One of the adults seemed clearly to be hunting what I think was a river otter. The otter swam under the back of a cruise ship, and then dock, I think. I didn't see where the Orcas went after that. - Rico Moore

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Mystic Sea Charters reports 2 Gray whales (#49, Patch, and #53) feeding off the south end of Hat Island, and a third unidentified Gray whale heading toward Sandy Pt, south of Langley, from Hat Island, at 11:30 am. A good gray day!

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7:15 - The twins T49C and T77A are heading north again....through Dana Passage like they did earlier.
6:29 pm - The twins are in Budd Inlet - at the mouth during a torrential downpour. - Kim Merriman

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3:47 - Chrissy says they've headed over toward Ebey's Landing on Whidbey Island.
3:35 - Chrissy McLean of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center just watched the Ts go north around Point Wilson and out of Admiralty Inlet, while a group of seals and sea lions crowded together along the beach. She counted two females, two juveniles, and two orangey babies, but no adult males.

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12:18 - We saw three Orcas from the ferry to Port Townsend. Coming into Port Townsend right before docking. We had binoculars and could see three whales directly in front of the boat. It was on the right side of the ferry. - Rhonda Wallis Deal

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3:08 - Brian McLaughlin called to say the orcas have turned back north and are heading out past Port Townsend in Admiralty Inlet, toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
12:12 - Brian McLaughlin of WDFW called from Port Townsend with a sighting of about 7 orcas just 1/3 to 1/4 mile off Point Hudson, milling, with a lot of gulls around, trending into Port Townsend Bay. A cabin cruiser is following them way too close.

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T49C and T77A - 10:30 - Gayle Swigart is watching those two from Frye Cove County Park, Olympia. She sees them a little north of the park mid channel, breaching and tail lobbing! No direction of travel yet. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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T49C and T77A - 9:15 - they turned south and are heading way down into Eld Inlet. They just passed in front of my house and by Cooper Point. The both have "nicks" in their fins at almost the exact same place.
8:30 a.m. - TWO male orcas in Eld Inlet. Traveling west at the southern edge of Harstene and Squaxin islands - toward Hope Island passage. - Kim Merriman

April 16
4:52 PM - sighting off of Fox Island. Saw at least one Orca traveling past Fox Island. I noticed at least one seal that kept popping up in front of the house by the beach. I happened to look up and see the whale come up three times before it disappeared. So amazing! I've never actually seen one in person! Appeared to be traveling. I also saw seals in the area, they were closer to the beach and staying away from the whales. - Hannah Gilman

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We were lucky today. We left Pedder Bay at 11:30AM and as we were passing Race Rocks Pacific Ecological Reserve when we bumped into a large group of transients. The transients were moving west in three different groups: T011s (T011 and T011A), T065As (T065A, T065A2, T065A3, T065A4 and new calf T065A5) and T137s (T137, T137A, T137B and T137D). We followed the transients for 2.5 hours and left them at Sooke BC. They foraged on one harbor seal off Church rock, but majority of the behavior exhibited was socializing. - Josh McInnes

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I came across the T11's, T036A's, T065A's, and the T137's west bound in Race Passage in the morning. I left them at 1420 in Becher Bay tracking west along the shoreline. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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I'm with the Transient Killer Whale Project. Myself and Josh McInnes were just out with the T137s, T11s, and T65As off of Race Rocks. We followed them for 2 and a half hours to Sooke. Excellent day out on the water, lots of socializing behavior observed. - Kelsey Cullen

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Kathy Perry of the Depoe Bay Oregon Whale Watching Center relayed a report from a visitor of 2 pods of four orcas in each, heading north within a half mile of shore just off Otter Creek, at 1:15 pm.

April 15
This shot was almost at dark 1950 hrs from ferry heading to Port Townsend. T137's exiting Admiralty Inlet. - Ken Balcomb

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T65As hunting in picturesque Presidents Channel (NW side of Orcas Island, between Orcas and Waldron Islands). - David Howitt

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T137s & T11s - 7:37 pm - Moving very quickly to the north. Nearing the Coupeville ferry lane. Mid channel.
7:17 - At Ft Casey. Seeing blows mid channel just south of here. - Rachel Haight

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T137s & T11s - Orcas just north of Bush Pt, 6 - 8 orcas, at least one, maybe 2 males, at 6:30 pm, headed nw toward Lagoon Pt, Whidbey Island. - Susan Berta

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We saw at least 3 orcas heading into the Straight off of the Pt Wilson light house (North end of Admiralty Inlet) at approximately 5:30 PM. They were heading northwest at a pretty good clip. Could not see any markings. - Thomas Barnhart

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5:30 PM - Pod of Orcas, maybe 10, Point Wilson from Ft. Worden (north of Port Townsend), Adults and young's breaching and fin/ fluke slapping. traveling slowly north. - K O'Tyler

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5:30 - Orcas off of Fort Worden now seen from ferry, lots of spy hopping and splashing. - Christy Korrow

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T49C and T77A - 5:15 - 2 orcas heading west between McNeil and Anderson Island, then turning south heading between Devil's head and Amsterdam Bay. - Walter

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505pm - 5 or so orcas sighted off Point Hudson, Port Townsend headed north. Pretty far off but on the west side of the shipping lanes. At least one adult male. - Sarah Felder

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T49C and T77A - 4:25 PM - Orcas, I only could see two in front of McNeil island towards narrows bridge. Traveling. - Tuija Hajnal

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4:22 - They're just about to pass ft Flagler (Marrowstone Island). - Jill Hein

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3:50 pm - Sandra Pollard is looking from Lagoon Point over to the other side of Admiralty Inlet at K pod moving northward.

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T49C and T77A - 3:38 - We just saw two Orcas swim under the Tacoma Narrows bridge, so exciting! - we saw orcas this afternoon at about 3:15 heading south from the Narrows Bridge. We saw 2 adults for sure there could have been another smaller whale too, not positive. - Julie Gonsalves

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T137s & T11s - Graham DeWitt of WA State Ferries, reports a pod of orcas off Apple Cove Pt. at 3:15 pm, looked like the same group they reported in the same area last weekend. No direction of travel, milling behavior.

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T49C and T77A - Just saw some around 3:15 in the Narrows heading south. - Sherrie Duncan

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3 pm - the leading group is nearing Bush Pt, the last half is further south, NOAA and one Prince of Whales WW boat with the last group, all are closer to the Jefferson County side.
2:23 - they are just NW of Hansville, some are at the buoy between Hansville and Foulweather Bluff - way out there, but can see fins and spouts and the NOAA boat with them. Thanks to Rachel for finding them! - Susan Berta

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T137s & T11s - 1:12 - Whales heading north in front of Presidents Point (Bainbridge Island) now with NOAA following them. - Sue Surowiec Larkin

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T137s & T11s - 1:10 - Stopped briefly at center of Port Madison. Now moving north with NOAA boat. - Alan Alabastro

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T137s & T11s - 1:03 - turned around again and heading back north.
12:56 - Correction seems they've turned toward Hidden Cove!!
At Fay Bainbridge park.., got an awesome look at a group of 5-6 with a large male and looked like two babies!! Kingston they are headed your way!! - Cindy Russell

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T137s & T11s - A bit late and a little out of the loop here, but still wanted to share my journey of a whale tail story kinda of day... I spotted a pod of Orcas, one LARGE BIG ONE, his fin was HUGE!!, along w/ another adult and a couple of smaller ones @ 5-6 total swimming/breaching as they were passing by Fay Bainbridge Park @ 12:30, until they rounded Presidents Point @ 1:15 where I lost em'. Spotted them again at Kingston ferry terminal, near yellow buoy @2:00 and watch them milling around/ breaching heading northward along the east side of Edmonds/Kingston ferry route. At one point they look to come head on w/ a shipping frieghter mid-channel. I watch them for hours until they finally rounded the Point (Apple Lane) Kitsap side when I lost sight of them @ 4:30, still moving Northwest. Arrived at Point-NO-Point beach @ 5:00, with no such luck of spotting them again hung out until @ 6:00. Tomorrow is another day, for I'm feeling blessed & humble, DEEPLY touch by these AMAZING spirited "ORCAS" - Kathe Bradley

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T49C and T77A - Noon - Two orcas between south tip of Fox Island and Chambers Bay, Traveling north through narrows. - Steve Clair

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T137s & T11s - 11:55 - Brad Hanson, NOAA researcher, is with 6 Transients (T137s and T11s) off Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, close to shore, heading north.

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11:53 - K pod leaders approaching Kingston ferry dock. - Christopher Hanke

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T137s & T11s - 11:48 - And after that long dive they came up in the same spot and are heading north again. Closer to Kitsap side, north of Eagle Harbor.
11:42 - the Ts popped up after a long down time right north of Eagle Harbor heading south closer to Kitsap side. Currently down on another long dive but might be angling out towards mid channel again. - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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T137s & T11s - 11:25 - finally just spotted a group just outside Eagle Harbor. NOAA on scene now.
10:55 - from atop SW Queen Anne hill, have seen group with adult male northbound approaching yellow mid channel buoy that is between Alki and Restoration points. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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T49C and T77A - 10:50 am - Mark Hallan reporting a sighting of two orca whales. One larger dorsal fin then the other. Spotted just north of Ketron Island (Ketron Island is in south Puget Sound, just SW of Steilacoom, so. of Tacoma). Wonder if this is the two male T's from yesterday?

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T137s & T11s - 10:25 - Also some near Alki. SE of yellow buoy. - Amy Carey

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10:24 - Whee, lots more! Between Restoration pt and Blakely, heading maybe south? Lots of breaching. - Trileigh Tucker

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10:21 - I see them from Rockaway (Bainbridge Is). Heading north. Not close enough for IDs with the glare yet but I'll keep you posted. - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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9:45 - A pod of about 10 ORCA's passed very close to Blake Island on the east side of the island. They were moving at a pretty good pace north. - Paul Rupert

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9:40 - WA State Ferries just reported 6-7 orcas headed north off the Southworth ferry dock.

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T137s & T11s - 9:36 - I counted 4. North of Vashon now. In front of Lincoln park area. - Erin McDermott

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9:22 - About 10 orcas northbound Colvos passage near Southworth ferry. Pod of harbor porpoise trailing close to shore also northbound about 1 mile behind the orcas. - Tim Ferris

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T137s & T11s - 9:15 am - To start off a new day of sightings, Brad Hanson just relayed a report of "more than two" orcas headed north along the east side of Vashon Island, approaching Dilworth.

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T49C and T77A - 8:29 - We live right down from the Tolmie State park in the South Puget Sound and this morning I saw 2 Orca Whales jumping around. They circled around for a little while and started to head north. - Amanda Dehnart

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8:06 am - a report came in of 15 orcas, including 3 males, in south Puget Sound off Spring Beach heading north in Colvos Passage.

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T137s & T11s - 7:40 AM - Orcas sighted in Puget Sound. I was traveling from downtown Seattle to Bainbridge on the ferry when the orcas popped up on the starboard side of the boat. Whales swimming in a circular fashion, popping up for breath and immediately submerging again. 3 minimum. 2 males and 1 female (dorsal fins) Near the Seattle to Bainbridge ferry crossing in the middle of the route (~60-100 ft from ferry). Looked like feeding. The first 2 I saw were headed south (both male). Then 2 more popped up (one female one male) headed north and they continued in this manner with 1 or 2 popping up at a time and swimming circularly. There were also sea gulls at the surface of the water where the orcas were surfacing. - Shawnte Greenway

April 14
Visiting the T11's and T137's near Everett this week aboard the Island Explorer 3. - Michael P Colahan

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T036A's and T065A's northbound past Keystone ferry terminal.- Mark Malleson

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Transients (T065as) at Ft. Casey in the morning. - Monty McCormick

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Magical day on "Mystic Sea" with gray whales and the unexpected bonus of five transient orca at 11:30 am including Big Daddy (not official designation!) and a calf. Big Daddy with his ruffled dorsal fin (so like our much loved resident orca Ruffles) paired up with another male heading towards Hat Island while passing a gray whale closer inshore and stopping the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry to give thrilled passengers a rare treat. All five whales grouped up and circled for a kill, although there was no evidence on the surface other than wheeling gulls. Another perfect day in the wonderful Pacific Northwest. Sandra Pollard, Naturalist on "Mystic Sea." - Sandy Pollard

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The K's as they traveled down Colvos Passage on Monday. Taken from a dock in Olalla. - Katie Schmelzer

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Kpod heading down Colvos Passage, Vashon Island. - Kelly Burns Keenan

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Crazy and wonderful. What a day - I don't even know where to post with so many different threads from so many whales! Amazing to be surrounded by fins and in the warmth of the sun - very rare for those of us down yonder in Central Puget Sound. Not sure when I screamed loudest today - I whooped once when I realized we had Ks and also hooted exuberantly when just after watching K's head down the narrows ( after moving down the West side of Vashon Island), I turned around and saw the Big ol dorsals of the twin T's moving in from the East side. Saving my last holler for the hopeful blood moon that is on the rise. What might tomorrow bring? - Amy Carey

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7:50 - We saw them on the south end of fox island in front of Chambers Bay Golf Course. - Lisa Matties Gray

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6:34 - Just passed Kayu ... HAULING. - Jill M Rotset

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6:30 PM - Count at least 5 Orcas off of Mc Neil Is Between McNeil and Anderson Island coming into Drayton Passage from going by Eagle Is. towards S Key Pen and just outside mouth of Feludy Bay Saw spy hopping several times and one breach by male orca. Looks like one male swimming off a bit from group of at least 4 females. One mature female and three young orcas. This was spotted from my home through glasses. I saw dorsal fins at first got binoculars and began watching the show. Counted 5 total for sure. Spy hopping and breaching happened several times in course of observation. - Dorothy Gehgan Heim

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At 6:00 K-pod was still going south passing McNeil island. They were hugging the island side then circling around the open water.
5:56 - Just passing McNeil Island still southbound.
5:04 - Passing Chambers Bay. Going South. - Jason Cook

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5:29 - At Chambers Bay. They're still heading south. - Jessica Pagan

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4:38 - Seeing them from 5 mile drive Pt. defiance park heading south towards Narrows bridge. - Peter Woodward

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4:33 - I see K pod heading towards the Tacoma Narrows. Southbound. - Jessica Pagan

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My neighbor at Salmon Beach (Narrows) just reported 4-6 Orcas heading south under the Narrows Bridge at 4:30. A few in the air and lotta spouting. - Dino

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4:30 - Crazy, crazy whale day! Last reports of K pod had them going into the Narrows, past the Tacoma Narrows bridge into south Puget Sound a short time ago (between 4 and 4:30 ish). Amy Carey called at 4:30 with a report of two TRANSIENT male orcas off the south end of Vashon Island, also heading toward the Tacoma Narrows, not far behind K pod! This photo was taken of the two males, just off the south end of Vashon. From Kelly Burns Keenan: Melisa Pinnow id'd them as the twins...T049C and T077A.

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4:27 - Just watched them pass gig harbor heading under the narrows mid channel. - Diane McBane

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4:26 - In the Narrows now.. Just passed Gig Harbor.. On their way to Narrows Bridge fast! - Melissa Bird

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4:14 - Update headed towards Tacoma Narrows Bridge. - Russ McPhee

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4:01 - I saw them across the water, very close to the Gig Harbor side. Hard to spot in my glass, but I could see blows and dorsals. Good to know there are there; welcome back K-Pod!! - Robin Mann

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4 pm - They are currently in the place where Colvos & the Narrows Passages meet.. Headed into the Narrows. They will only be visible from the 2nd turnout for a bit longer. They are on the move!! - Melissa Bird

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3:59 - Headed south towards the Narrows. Still off Pt. Defiance. - Jason Cook

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3:55 - I just left Sunrise Beach Park-Gig Harbor. They came out of Colvos and headed toward southern tip of Vashon- as ferry was crossing about 10minutes ago.
3:19 - seeing distant blows north from Sunrise Beach Park -closer to Vashon side. NOAA boat trailing. Sailboat nearby.
3:09 - Seeing distant blows (barely visible) north of Sunrise Beach Park - Gig Harbor- still moving south slowly. Staying under water a lot. NOAA boat still trailing.
2:20 - They passed Al's store---- Olalla 5 minutes ago. Southbound with sailboat and NOAA boat trailing. Watched from bluff above the store. - Katie Schmelzer

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3:30 - I drove down to Spring Beach, Just below my house on the southwest side of Vashon and saw the whales on the Kitsap side. - Rebecca Benson

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3:25 - Approaching Gig Harbor on Kitsap side. - Meg McDonald

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3:25 - Here's K pod swimming through Colvos Passage (next to Vashon Island) this afternoon! - Wild Northwest Beauty Photography

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3:06 - Colvos update.. Just getting distant eyes in them now. They are about 40 minutes away from Point Defiance unless they wake up & start moving...- Melissa Bird
2:51 - Not the greatest quality of picture but I saw the K pod down in Olalla! I counted about 6 of them!- Nichole Read

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2:35 - Now mid channel just past lisabuela park on Vashon. Normal speed but have been staying under quite a bit.
2:07 - Nearing Ollalla southbound. Very very close to kitsap side.
1:28 - They are still about a mile north of Ollalla. - Amy Carey

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12:59 - Found them!! Middle Colvos Passage. - Kelly Burns Keenan

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1:28 - They are still about a mile north of Ollalla.
12:48 - Colvos whales are just north of cove road area. Southbound. - Amy Carey

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12:10 - Brad Hanson of NOAA just reported he's with orcas in Colvos Passage heading south.

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10:43 - Just saw them off the Bainbridge ferry as it was pulling out to Seattle. Seven, at least four young ones. They were definitely going south, and moving fast. - Penney Hubbard

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10:35 - WA State Ferries called to report 6 orcas from the ferry Tyee southbound, another caller reports 6 - 7 orcas off the Bainbridge ferry, closer to the Bainbridge side at the same time.

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Received a 10:30 am report of two whales at the North end of Vashon Island headed South. Busy whale day out there. - Amy Carey

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Saw a pod of about 4-5 on the 10:25am ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle. Absolutely amazing sight, with breaches and everything. - Elizabeth Rockett

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10:15 - 8 to 10 orca south bound off Yeomalt point on Bainbridge island. Traveling at a good pace. 2 young males. - Chris slye

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8:37 - 2 bull orcas feeding between North Admiral and Wing Point (on Bainbridge, just south of Yeomalt Point, at the entrance to Eagle Harbor) pair of eagles stole a fish from an osprey, migrating brants, busy morning on the Sound. - Dan Ciske

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A friend of mine was on the 7:55 out of Bainbridge and wrote the following: "Susan - there were about 3-4 orca sighted at about 8:15 AM about 1/2 mile off Blakey Rocks right were the Seattle/Bainbridge ferries cross. Looked like they were heading towards South Beach." - Susan Marie Andersson

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8:15 am - Orcas near Bainbridge ferry. - Mark Powell

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7:30 - WA State Ferries called with a report of a single orca seen 1 mile north of Alki in mid channel.

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On the 7:55 from Bainbridge, there were 2 or 3 of them in the same area heading south. Didn't see them after that. I was on the ferry Wenatchee on the 7:05 from Seattle to BI. We went to a dead stop because we lost sight of it. A seal popped up right next to the ferry, then an orca popped up and rolled and the seal was gone. It was happening right alongside the ferry. Proof that it pays off to stop the props if you have any doubt as to where they are. - Zachary Heistand

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Possession - 7:41 - Just watched what I think was at least two mid channelish from the beach at Golden Gardens until my hands froze in the wind. Think I saw male. Southbound. - Jill Irwin

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Vashon - Just saw the twins at 7:15 south of Titlow, just south of the bridge. - Michelle Borsz

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Vashon - 7:01pm - The Twins just came under Narrows Bridge..mid Channel almost to Titlow now. - Melissa Bird

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Possession - 6:57 - midchannel at Carkeek. - Jill M Rotset

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Possession - 6:45 - I saw them! off Richmond Beach bluff (the park) all I saw was a tail-dorsal fin-twice!! then splashing-no pix but with binocs-about!! YAY!!! - Joni Barnes Pollino

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Possession - 6:35 - found them east of mid channel south of yellow mid channel buoy south of pt. Wells southbound out from Richmond Beach in Shoreline. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Possession - 6:30 - I've just picked them up. A group of at least 3-4, headed southbound, roughly mid-channel off Kayu Kayu / Richmond Beach area. - Dave Haas

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Possession - 6:55 - two males continued south past Richmond Beach, females and young turned, are even with Jefferson Head/RB... tail lobbing, spy hopping and milling. Now have turned resumed southbound.
4:55 - last we saw the Possession pod was 3:30ish mid channel still heading southbound still north of Picnic Point. Ed and I moved south a few different places but have been unable to re-sight them so can't tell ya all if they went up Admiralty or kept moving south. Quite windy and choppy waters. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Vashon - Donna Siebers called around 6:40 PM to report the two male Transients, on the east side of Tacoma Narrows, under the large power line, headed south. They also saw what looked like the same two orcas 2 weeks ago Sunday, between Fox and McNeil Islands.

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Possession - 6:24 - 4 orcas heading south kitsap side almost to Kayu...moving fast now. Very spread out....!! - Janine Harles

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Vashon - 6:26 - The 2 Transients that are Following K Pod are at The Narrows Bridge.. But have not crossed over.
6:06pm - I have eyes on the Twins! Just passed Salmon Beach, almost to Narrows Bridge headed South. - Melissa Bird

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Possession - 6:06 - 2 dorsals went under ..east of mid channel Kingston ferry laneish. - Janine Harles

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Possession - The Everett pod of T's came clear into the harbor area and hung around right off the south end of the USS Nimitz for a bit. There's one huge male with them. Pretty cool; I have sat at that park many times thinking how cool it would be to have orcas come in there, and today they did. - Pam Ren

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Vashon - 5:42 - The 2 males were close to Point Defiance for about 30 minutes and headed fast towards Narrows Bridge about 10 minutes ago. - Michele Riley Campbell

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Vashon - 4:56 - 2 ts passed vashon ferry about 20 minutes ago headed to narrows. - Amy Carey

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Vashon - They just passed under the bridges, lots of watchers went to Titlow. - Peter Baker

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A day so stunning, so magical...killer whales roaming all over the inland waters of the Salish Sea. K pod, sweet lovely K pod south, so far south. and Transient pods by three....this video is of the T011s and T137s filmed from Mukilteo by Ed Brooks, edited by me. Beauty is... so many orca friends spread across this spirited place watching pods of killer whales simultaneously in the far reaching arms of the Salish Sea. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Possession - 3pm - Was watching pod off Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach & they were heading south, closer to Whidbey. Elisa Peabody

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Possession - The other pod of Transients was southbound, off of Mukilteo at 3 pm, we don't THINK they could have reached the south end of Vashon by 4:30, so we believe we've had THREE groups of Transients and K pod all in the inland waters today - wow!!

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Possession - 2:42 - The Mukilteo ferry going east is headed straight for them, they should get a nice view. - Jim McKinlock

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Admiralty - 2:38 - Just watched the Ts (assuming the T065As) swim past the Port Townsend lighthouse heading north. What a wonderful whale day. 2:27 - Just lost sight of them still going north. All bunched up and traveling pretty fast. 2:09 - Heading north. 1:54 - we got Ts in Port Townsend. Looks like they're hunting! - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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Vashon - 1:20pm - 2 Orcas off Point Robinson. I saw two orcas off Pt. Robinson - RIGHT off the shore from the lighthouse. Barely offshore from Pt Robinson, right by the lighthouse. We saw them blow about 6 times together, traveling South. They didn't travel very far each of these times, then after about the 6th "blow" we didn't see them again (even though they hadn't been that far away so they definitely did some traveling or went deep after that last breath). - Tracy Delphia

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Possession - We had the T11's and T137's near Everett today aboard the Island Explorer 3. - Michael P Colahan Possession - This was taken near Everett around 1:30. - Dave Davenport

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Possession - 1:08 - Sandra Pollard reports at least five orcas, including 2 adult males, are still off Everett, milling and not going anywhere.

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Possession - 12:59 - Orcas in Everett right now...right off the navy ship in the harbor. - Pam Ren

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Possession - 2:55 - woo hoo! They passed Mukilteo heading south east of mid channel, maybe trending SW. We are gonna move south.
2:30 - visual on them before ferry blocked our view...they are heading east towards Mukilteo ferry.
2:10 - They swung into the port and are headed back east, close to Mukilteo side. Waiting now at lighthouse for them
12:52 - midway between Everett and Hat/Gedney, still heading east.
12:30 - Ed & I are watching from above port of Everett pier in Mukilteo. 1-2 big males in pod. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Possession - 12:36 - Headed toward Everett.
12:21 - Orcas at Hat Island!! - Dave Davenport

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Possession - 11:46 - Maia of WA State Ferries reports a pod of orcas heading north, just north of the Mukilteo ferry lane.

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Possession - 11:45 - call from someone on the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry, saying there are 5 orcas and a Gray whale amongst them, just south of the ferry lanes.

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Possession - 11:35 - Sandra Pollard on board the Mystic Sea is watching at least four orcas heading north past the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane toward Hat/Gedney Island, while one or two gray whales is swimming a few hundred yards away.
So there are at least three groups of orcas around this morning: 6-7 heading south off Bainbridge, 5-6 heading north in Admiralty Inlet, and about four in Possession Sound headed north. Wow.

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Admiralty - 10:30 am - the orcas are just south of Bush Pt, headed north. - Susan Berta

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Admiralty - 10:30 - At Point No Point. They definitely are heading up into Admiralty. Haven't seen them for thirty minutes now.
9:45 - Definitely killed something. Gulls are going crazy! - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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Admiralty - 9:39 - Sara Hysong-Shimazu is at Point No Point with a pod of at least five Transient (Bigg's) killer whales, including T065A and a couple of young ones. Hanging closer to Kitsap side, in the current line, trending northbound and possibly on the hunt.
Admiralty - 9:27 - A long distance attempt to get a shot (five+ miles). Along the shoreline north of Kingston. pod heading north. One must be a big guy to be able to see his fin from so far away! - Stu Davidson

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Admiralty - 8:30am - pod of orcas north of Kingston heading north.. Boat following. Looking at with field scope from Edmonds. - Stu Davidson

April 13
Ken Balcomb reports K pod was seen heading into the Salish Sea about noon today from Sooke near Race Rocks and were on Salmon Bank about 2 pm, then they went northeast toward San Juan Island, then east around the south end of Lopez Island.

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12:10 PM. - Island Adventures reports residents inbound from Race Rocks! - James Gresham

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Saw a group from Discovery Park just past sunset. Looked like they were feeding at that spot, just N of the yellow buoy, along the Bremerton/Seattle ferry lane. - Alan Alabastro

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7:15pm - Orca sighting off West Seattle, spotted a southbound pod of 5 or 6 orcas about mid-channel in the Puget Sound west of Alki Point. - Darryl Duke

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7 pm - Breaching orcas off Bainbridge. 6-10, breaching, spying, traveling in pod off Bainbridge. The weather and light last night were picture perfect with the Olympic foothills distinctly outlined in front of the snow covered peaks farther back. I made my way to the stern to enjoy the view and sun. Unexpectedly, I spotted a blow on the horizon, then another and then a breach followed by at least 35 similar splashes as we sailed towards Seattle. They were clearly visible all the way across Elliott Bay. There might have been porpoise among them. The splashes were so big and frequent that we were able to watch/see them for about 15 or 20 minutes from the ferry - their blows remained clearly visible almost all the way to Seattle due to favorable lighting and atmospheric conditions. It was a special treat; a good omen. - Gerard Wirz

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Saw these orcas around 7pm today just south of West Point in Elliott Bay. - Brian Jones
Dave Ellifrit: It's T11, T11A, plus a sprouter. You can even see T11's tag scar.

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5 pm - sighting off of Marrowstone point. We saw two orcas while sailing off Marrowstone island, just north of Marrowstone point on Sunday evening. Quite a few breachings, many upside down?? exposing the white under side of the whale. - Bob Frank

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Orca sighting from aboard sailboat. From aboard sailboat PLATYPUS 6-7 orca observed off the S end of Whidbey, headed east then south past Edmonds. Definitely one large adult male part of the group, and observed one male split off from group. Spyhopping and splashing observed. 6 adults plus possibly 1 juvenile. GPS Location 47 degrees 15min N 122 degrees 26 min W. - Keith Dekker

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4 pm - Bob Bowen reports seeing two adult male orcas heading south from the Port Townsend ferry. The ferry slowed down to let everyone get a good look.

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Transient orcas at 3:15 reported 2 miles east of Eglon, headed E toward Edmonds, by Stephanie Raymond on the Victoria Clipper.

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6 adult orcas including males reported by WA State Ferries south bound in Admiralty Inlet at 12:23, we presume they were seen from the Port Townsend /Coupeville ferry.

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11:45am-12:30pm. - Three Orcas sighted in Admiralty Inlet north of the Port Townsend ferry route. - Julie Lloyd

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Jane at the Cape Mears OR lighthouse called at 3:45 with a real time report of three orcas travelling north, about 2 miles out from the lighthouse. About three gray whales were also seen moving northward, including a mother and calf.

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11:44 - Yay...a whale! North side Hat/Gedney. We had Patch. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Victoria Clipper saw Gray whale Patch between 10 and 11 am SE of Gedney Island.

April 12
T77A & T49C visit Friday Harbor. - David Howitt

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7:35 PM - 2 Orcas were sighted from YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island swimming in presidents channel heading north. - Jared Larson

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Transient Orca off of Cattle Point. This one has a chunk of some animal in its mouth and blood streaming down to it's pec fins while it spy-hopped in front of the Cattle Point lighthouse. - Chris Teren

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T77A and T49C in San Juan Channel Saturday afternoon. - James Gresham

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Transient Killer Whales T77A and T49C. Orcas Island in the background. They were not making life easy. Doing the T thing. Zig zagging around, reversing, into the glare and then down sun, long down times. - James Gresham

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Spencer Domico and his passengers getting a nice surprise. A good perspective of the size of a male Transient Orca. They look very close and they were but they did nothing wrong. They were sitting with engines off as were we, and he surfaced right behind them. - James Gresham

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4:25 - Orca off Brown Island, East Bound at Friday Harbor. Ferry spooked him. One spy hop /porpoise. - William Worden

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435 - Still on north side of Yeomalt. Closer in to Bainbridge Island. Thanks for the posts. - Anne Duggan Smith

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4:28 - Victoria Clipper III reports the orca pod still at Yeomalt Point, still breaching and cartwheeling. - Stephanie Raymond

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4:12 - I am leaving...pod still on north side of Yeomalt, Victoria Clipper just on scene. Happy Sun & orca day.
3:45 - pod still in same place, north side of Yeomalt Point, Bainbridge moving back and forth. Pleasure boat been around them close to an hour now.
3:52 - boat moved on and orcas started breaching.
2:50 - pod has stalled in same place since 1:00. Made a kill, they have been moving around the same general area north of Yeomalt point (north of Eagle Harbor). - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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2:40 - There are 5 transients off Yeomalt Point at this time. 2 males and 3 others. They are hunting down a seal lion. - Chris slye

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2 pm - Pod of orcas on the west side of the Sound directly across from Sunset Hill in Ballard. Breaching, splashing, spouting, just visible with 7x50 binoculars. - Steven Dare Lundholm

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12:10 - Still south bound, approaching the north side of magnolia from my line of sight at Fay Bainbridge. 12:01 - still heading south. Line of sight, between my location at Fay Bain and shilshole marina. Looks like 5-6. - Connie Bickerton

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11:00 - Alisa Lemire Brooks spotted the orcas nearing Jefferson Head approaching Port Madison, Bainbridge Island, southbound.

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10:35 - Just spotted two Orcas off Kingston/Edmonds ferry. Heading south!! - Michelle LeMieux Hall

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At least two pairs, traveling slowly south within sight of each other. One large male and a companion, and a female with a small one. Passed by off Apple Tree Cove around 10:30 am. - Kate Stovel

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7:50 am - Saw a pod of Orca mid channel Mukilteo off Smugglers Cove. Think there were 3 but not sure, heading south. - Linda Shuger

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6:55am - Pod of orcas - can't tell whether they are transient. They are in front of Possession Point right now- slowly heading toward the Mukilteo Ferry. Such a calm beautiful morning down here. - Terica Taylor

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Heather Cotes called with a report of 4 orcas, including one adult male, in Winchester Bay in the Umpqua River OR, at about 3:30 pm. She said they came into the river, ate something, then left.

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7:15 pm - Gray off south end of Camano state park. Surfaced about 3 times with long periods between. Stealth whale. ; ) - Krista Paulino

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We've seen 10-15 spouts and a gray back of a whale moving south in Saratoga Passage over the last half hour. I also saw one on the south side of the passage about 11 this morning. - Lara Pate

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9:07 am - No orcas but I saw two grey whales right in the middle of the ferry lane, closer to the Clinton side. They were heading north east. - Danielle Doll

April 11
7:10 pm - WA State Ferries, from the ferry Kitsap on the Seattle-Bremerton run: 6 orcas south bound, off Restoration Point.

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3:23 pm - WA State Ferries report by Graham DeWitt, 2nd mate on the Edmonds/Kingston run - about 6 orcas, including 1 male with a huge fin and one calf, sighted off Apple Cove Point in the southbound shipping lanes. First heading north, then stopping to mill around.

April 10
07:12 PM - 4-5 killer whales mix of large and small spotted near Bainbridge Island, near Port Madison, there were at least 4 or 5. Truly amazing! So beautiful! - Elise Sivilay

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4:30 pm - Southbound orcas off Point Wells and Richmond Beach. Video of today's acrobatic cartwheeling and tail-lobbing Bigg's (Transient mammal eating) Killer whales taking down a harbor seal (not graphic) in Puget Sound off of Richmond Beach in Shoreline. Earlier ID's by Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries included T137 and T137A among a probable total of 7.

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8:07 - boy are they moving fast! Passing by Shilshole marina now looking from the south end of rolling bay on Bainbridge. Mid channel.
7:58 - Looking from rolling bay on Bainbridge they are about to cross in front of Golden Gardens.
7:55 - Finally spotted them! They're going to pass to the Bainbridge side of the second tanker in a minute. - Lynn Batson

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7:38 - Yes! Between Golden Gardens and Pt. Monroe, mid-channel.
7:37 - Between Meadow Point and Halvorsen's Buoy. Southbound at a good clip.
7:34 - Between Meadow Point and Downtown Suquamish.
7:23 - Southbound! Between Meadow Point and Indianola. Way out. - Ben Blankenship

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7 pm - Pod of 8 orcas. About a mile or less off Richmond Beach heading west towards Bainbridge. Perhaps they were feeding or playing, they would go down and then all appear on the surface. They would come up high above the surface and seemed to be playing. - Debra Brown

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6:22 - Still in the same spot....for over an hour south of the Kingston ferry lane mid channel. - Jamie Grundhauser

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6 pm - Jamie Grundhauser is watching the Transients/Bigg's Whales in mid-channel, between Richmond Beach, Edmonds and Carkeek Park. They have been in a resting line, basically lined up side-by-side, moving slowly southward, for about ten minutes.

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6:50 - it looks like they've got their engines started again... moving together as a group in a SW to WSW direction, headed out towards mid-channel, pointing roughly towards Fay Bainbridge.
6:30pm - they're *still* more or less parked in the same area, SW of my place in Richmond Beach. No sign that the whales have decided to move on. Birds are still working the area too, so there must be good bits leftover...
6:10pm - they're still parked in roughly the same area as they were when they were working over that harbor seal around 5pm. 3-4 of them are in a resting line facing S to SE, a couple are facing roughly NW to N a little further to the north of the S-facing resters, which is also where the birds seem to be focusing their attention.
5:00pm - looks like it's a harbor seal they're trying to have for dinner. At least one of the whales is being very surface active... might be a prey item it's wrestling with...
4:51 - Was able to get a good count of 7 of them. Transient dorsals for sure. Sounds like the same ones Brad was with earlier.
4:44 - Seeing dorsal fins from Richmond Beach now. If you're at Kayu Kayu Ac park, that'd be a great view. They'll be visible from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in about 5-10 minutes (around 4:50-4:55) then heading towards Carkeek shortly after that. Sticking closer to the King County side. Sorry Kitsap folks! - Dave Haas

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4:28 - I see them heading south into Puget sound. Passing edmonds. Going FAST. They are being very stealthy. I would head to Carkeek. - Sara Troyer

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3:35 - NOAA researchers left the whales just north of the Edmonds ferry lane, with no clear direction but trending westward. He ID'd T137 and T137A among a probable total of 7. They might continue around the south end of Whidbey and head NW, or they might go south into Puget Sound. Or for that matter they could turn around and head NE.

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Kristine Marshall called at 1:45 pm from the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry, reporting 3 orcas just south of the ferry including 1 adult male, closer to the Clinton side. She had also seen at least 1 Gray whale between Langley and Hat/Gedney Island earlier in the ferry crossing (the Grays are likely quite relieved the Transient orcas continued south!).

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Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries called at 1:40 pm, they are with a tight group of Transients just south of the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry run, closer to the east/ Mukilteo side, with the whales continuing south.

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12:15 - Island explorer update orcas on east side of gedney action is picking up. Gray whales only 1/2 mile away. - Tyrone Reed

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11:33 - Mystic Sea Charters : THIS JUST IN! ORCA SIGHTING ON MYSTIC SEA! Watching at least 5 or 6 Orcas on the West Side of Hat Island, swimming South towards Clinton Ferry! We'll keep you posted when we get more info! - Liz Fincher

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11 am - orcas just north of Langley, through the Saratoga passage there passed an adult and 2 babies, close to the shore (relatively) moving slow and coming up frequently. And at the same time, out closer to Camano, there was a pod of at least 5 moving east towards Everett. - Rachel Franklin

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9:28 - About 15 orcas including a number of large males off Hidden Beach (Greenbank) headed north. Milling around in one spot right now. - Roger F. Clark

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About 8 am - On the Lopez-Friday Harbor ferry this morning, when the boat cuts its engines in the middle of the strait, it's usually a good sign - and it was. A couple of killer whales came by, close to the boat to say hey, then carried on. It was a little ways out from Brown Island - they were heading east as the ferry headed to the harbour...just a couple, possibly a male & female (by dorsal size)...shot with my little pocket camera, as you can tell...the orca shown is heading to the left, in the pic (so she might be a T). Always nice to see friends...- Ian Byington

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Marie Lincoln of Chocolate Flower Farm just reported a Gray whale off the Langley seawall at 5:20 pm - the whale bell has been ringing a lot today!

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This afternoon, around 4:30, we had a large gray whale out in front of our house, stirring up the crawdads on the sandbar and then swimming in circles eating. We are about 1 mile northwest of Langley on the Saratoga passage. - Rachel Franklin

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11:56 - on board the island explorer 3 we have 3 gray whales right on top of each other south end of gedney/hat island. Acting crazy and sticking extremely close for safety reasons due to the group of orcas north of gedney/hat island. - Tyrone Reed

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A friend reported seeing a Gray whale at 9:15 ish. Crossing in front of the Vashon ferry, headed north. Closer to Seattle side of water. - Kelly Burns Keenan

April 9
Had an encounter with twins today. T49C and T77A were found traveling together in the Gulf Islands. I have seen T49C before but not T77A. They are amazingly almost identical looking. Both have twin notches in just about the same place! We also found a huge chunk of lungs in San Juan Channel on the way out. I imagine from a Steller Sea Lion, but who knows. The lungs were about 20 miles away from the whales, so not sure if it was left over from these guys or another group of Transients. Notice the fresh rake marks on T49C. - Ivan Reiff

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We were able to catch up with T077A and T049C in the morning west of Mandarte Island (Haro Strait). Thanks to Jeff on Goldwing for finding them. They killed a seal as soon as we arrived and we spent our entire time watching them sharing it with each other while the gulls picked up the scraps. In the late afternoon I saw them take another seal in Navy Channel. They then skulked along the shoreline of Mayne Island, enter the western entrance of Active Pass and then turn and head west up Trincomali Channel. Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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At 7:30 pm northbound on east side of Whidbey at Bells Beach, about halfway over to Camano. - Angela Johnson Zink

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Killer whales. Just past Clinton heading north on the east side of Whidbey. Racing to Langley now. Looks like they went between Hat and Camano island. We saw them from Langley for about an hour. Looked like a pod of about 7. My first wild orca experience. - Danielle Doll

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4:48pm: We are enjoying a pod northbound right now moving FAST from Possession Point to Clinton. We took some first-timer friends in search of Grays and came up empty for 90 minutes. Imagine our surprise returning to Edmonds to have such a great encounter. Maybe our friends are good luck? The Orcas were on a mission-- 8.5 MPH over ground into a 2.5 MPH outgoing tide. Fun stuff! I can email more photos for I.D. - Jim Fahey Dave Ellifrit: The big bull is T11A. I was just talking yesterday about wanting to see him again so send him up here! The sprouter is a little too grainy to say anything with any certainty but it MAY be T137A if his upper nick is being invisible in the grain.

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We had T49C and T77A head up Swanson Channel and Trincomali Channel. - Dave Ellifrit

April 8
We had a great hang-out session with the T75Bs with the T36As near Trial Island. Then we poked our heads out a little farther into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to see the T101s. Pictured here is big boy T102 (T011A?)(born in 1984) with San Juan Island in the background. - Katie Jones

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T101's off Victoria waterfront. - Mark Malleson

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T036A's and T075B's at Trial Island. - Mark Malleson

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Thanks to reports from John @ Gotcha Fishing Charters, Roy @ Blue Wolf Charters, and Paul @ Sooke Coastal I was able to pick up the T101's at Constance Bank and the T075B's and T036A's following behind. Both groups were traveling east. - Mark Malleson

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We had a great day out on the water with a group of transients today. We got a call at 9:30AM from local whale watcher Paul Pudwell with Sooke Coastal Explorations. He was with a large group of transients feeding at Race Rocks Pacific Ecological Reserve. By the time we left our station at Pedder Bay they were headed east in Constance Bank, split into two groups. We were able to identify them as the T101s, the same whales spotted in Puget Sound near Seattle Washington a few days earlier. They were spread out foraging and doing 4-10 min dives. We followed them towards Trail Island light house. - Josh McInnes

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We just got a report of 15-20 transients off Race Rocks near Victoria BC at 9:30AM. Thank you Paul Pudwell for the report. - Josh McInnes

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5:45pm - Saw a grey on the way to Everett in Saratoga Passage, south of Langley, before Sandy Point, close to Camano. - Buzz Mersereau

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This morning at 10 am 2 gray whales seen at Chito beach (west of Sekiu), moving steadily west and lost to sight. Myself and two other observers. - Janet Partlow

April 7
Eighteen Transient Orcas present, 4 mile NE of Active Pass. - David Howitt

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We had an incredible encounter with the T124s, T124As and T87 yesterday afternoon in the Strait of Georgia. Our naturalist Traci, put this great video together. - Traci Walter

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A glorious day for whale watching on "Mystic Sea." Making our way towards a heart-shaped blow silhouetted by the sunshine, we met up with No. 56 as we headed towards Everett. Soon No. 49 (Patch) and No. 53 (Little Patch) swam into view, delighting passengers with the unforgettable smell of whale breath drifting on the light breeze. So good to be on the water with our visiting whales on such a calm sunny afternoon. - Sandra Pollard

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I finally caught a glimpse of one this morning; 10:30 Clinton-Mukilteo boat, half way through the route about 600 yards north towards Hat Island. Slow brief rolls on the surface and then it submerged for quite some time before breaching to breathe. - Jason Kidd

April 6
2PM Sunday about 10 Orcas went south along the east side of Victoria. Alot of tail slaps, spy hops and a few breaches. A lot of it was caught on video as they passed my location on the shore. Most of the action happens just after 9.40 on the video. - Vincenz Eberl

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T49A1 T65A2 in Haro Strait. - David Howitt

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8:28 am - Potential sighting in front of Bainbridge across from Shilshole. - Steve Quigley

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Report of Orcas in Trincomali Channel moving quickly. 8:42am Orca S bound east Prevost Is. Likely T's, ~10 w many young. - Brandon Harvey

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I was coming back from Fort Worden State Park Port Townsend, after a day of watching 2 gray whales/ possibly a calf swimming in the area. On my way home, when crossing the Hood Canal bridge @ 4:30 the same time, I saw many porpoises surfacing parallel to the bridge.. white sided dolphins? wish I could of had a better look as I was traveling across the bridge at a high speed. - Kathe Bradley

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From Rob Taylor: I vote white sides too. I crossed the hood canal bridge at 4:30 (April 6) and there were 30-40 scattered on each side of the bridge, surfacing every twenty yards or so. It was amazing, but what I saw weren't orcas.

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There were THREE Hood Canal orca (white-sided dolphins) reported by Jean Boone, and forwarded to me by Jeni Gray: Just saw three juvenile orcas in my backyard!!! I love listening to them! They are heading towards Union just north of downtown Hoodsport.

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It was a gorgeous day on the water today, here is gray whale #383 going on a dive. - Jill Hein

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Gray Whales #56 and #383 were near Whidbey Island. It was a beautiful day. - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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Spent the afternoon @2-4 watching two gray whales breaching/ swimming along the shoreline Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, from atop the bluff looking east. - Kathe Bradley

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Gray whales between Ebey's Landing and Ft. Ebey State Park at 4:20 pm, reported by Al Lunemann, who says: "There are 3, 2 larger ones and a smaller one usually but not always in between, and the pectoral fins sometimes up....very similar to the nursing behavior I saw in the Baja lagoons....so, perhaps a mother, calf and another escort female...? They're just hanging out near the surface and have been here for over an hour....same area."

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Ariel Yseth called at 1:20 while watching a gray whale from the Edmonds marina. The whale is mid-channel, headed south.

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12:07 - Grey whales 383 & 56 from Mystic Sea, heading north towards Langley! - Connie Bickerton

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9:23 am - Jamie Grundhauser reports seeing a gray whale just east of the south end of Hat/Gedney Island.

April 5
On the 6:00pm ferry eastbound out of Clinton I saw blows of two Gray whales between Hat/Gedney Island and Everett. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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6:45 pm - Orcas sighted on north of Maury island. Four orcas were seen north of Maury island heading towards KVI beach. Location: Vashon/Maury Island. - Gordon Mueller

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6:42 - Orca whales heading through Colvos Pass! Just passed the northern tip of Vashon. Heading North! - Kristi Amrine

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11:00 am - Sightings on Henderson bay (Gig Harbor)! 6 orca !! 2 tall dorsal fins lots of play 4 other whales! 2 males playing tandem others tail slaps & pectoral fins up and down. Very cool day kayaking in south sound! - JoAnn Moore

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11:00 am - I saw at least 6 or 7 orcas playing in Henderson Bay (northeast of Gig Harbor), 2 miles south of the Purdy boat ramp. Two tall dorsal fins and lots of splashing. Beautiful experience. I will send photos if they turn out. - Christine Burris

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I was leading a paddle with 7 Kayakers from the Purdy Spit to Cutts Island, as we approached Allen Pt we sighted a group of Orcas traveling north in Henderson Bay (near Gig Harbor). We counted at least 6 in the group, 2 of which had very tall pronounced dorsal fins. The group was very active and playful. We witnessed several pectoral fin slaps, tail fin slaps, lots of playing and splashing. - Jason Learned

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10:35 am - John Rogstad of WSF called to relay a report from the ferry Kennewick on the Port Townsend/Coupeville run - a pod of 6-8 orcas, heading south into Admiralty Inlet. They also report some small boats chasing the whales.

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I was awakened this morning with a steaming cup o' joe and four words every PNW woman wants to hear, "The whales are here." Jumped (a relative verb at my age) out of bed, grabbed my camera, and shot the ballet happening before our eyes. Gray whale feeding on ghost shrimp in the Saratoga Passage off Langley, slow and methodical which for a mammal this size only makes sense. We thought it was two whales because of the span, but quickly realized it was one *huge* whale. They spin slowly, hypnotically, using their fins to stir up the ghost shrimp embedded in the sand below, and then feast. Also saw my first fluke on the Mystic Sea cruise last Friday night to benefit our new Langley Whale Center. I guess you could say it has been one whale of a week on Whidbey Island. Looking forward to the Welcome the Whales parade on the 19th. These magnificent creatures deserve a formal 'Welcome." - Debra Campbell

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10:45 am - Alisa Lemire Brooks spotted THREE gray whales entering Port Susan! On her way to staff the Langley Whale Center today, so glad she was rewarded with a whale sighting to start the day!

April 4
I didn't see the whale, but Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay Oregon did. They had the whale on their Whale Watch Report on April 4th. You might have already seen this, but I thought I'd send it anyway. Here's the report: Date: Friday, April 4, 2014 at 07:11 Current Report: Sometimes you get lucky on Gray whale cruises and see the Orca's at the same time. They are spectacular and thanks to one of our passengers who shared some of the pictures he took on the cruise. Male orca with a notch in the trailing edge of dorsal fin. - Julie Massa

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5 pm - Looks like they were headed towards salmon beach when we lost them and looks like NOAA turned back to head home. They might be headed to The Narrows (Tacoma). - Jill Clogston

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4:30 - Saw orcas traveling south through the Narrows. Were first sighted on the West side of the Narrows, South of Gig Harbor, close to the beach under the bluffs. They moved out into the center of the channel North of the Narrows Bridge, and crossed under the center of the main span of the Narrows Bridge. Last seen heading South, still in the main channel about 1 to 2 miles South of the bridge. One orca with a very tall dark dorsal fin and two smaller ones with short dorsal fins, lighter in color. Traveling South through the Narrows, South Sound. Although, as they moved out into the center of the channel North of the Narrows Bridge, they went underwater for a minute or two. The one with the very tall dorsal fin came to the surface about 100 to 200 feet further to the East, but rejoined the others in the middle of the channel before going under the bridge. - Warren Wilson

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4:25 - Just passing Owens beach heading towards the Narrows.
4:15 - Approaching the ferry lane Vashon/Pt. defiance.
3:55 - I can see them from Owen beach!! - Jason Cook

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3:32 - They were mid way to Browns Point about 30 minutes ago. - Amy Carey

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3:01 - Whales are past Pt. Robinson now, still heading south. - Meg McDonald

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2:20 - They are slightly north of Des Moines pier mid channel with research boat. - Tanya Jackson Esparza

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2:05 - orcas in south sound. Sighted a small pod, 2 to 4 orca, headed south in East Puget sound North East of Point Robinson Vashon. Headed south appeared to be feeding on seals. - Patrick McClean

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2:04 - Basically still across from 3 tree.
1:56 - Vashon side...near Tramp Harbor. NOAA is with them.
1:40 - I can see some fins in the distance off three tree point, Vashon Island, through my binocs. On the pier at Des Moines. - Vickie Doyle

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On the 11:30 Bainbridge to Seattle ferry and saw them way in the distance in the Bremerton ferry lane. - Jay Burkett

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11:33 - Jamie sees some farther south nearing West Seattle.

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1:29 - Nearing three tree point.
1:19 - Some passing Dilworth. Spread across from vashon and some very close to Seattle side. - Amy Carey

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12:41 - Saw 2 orcas surfacing on Vashon side, even with ferry dock, about 12:30 pm. Haven't re-found them yet. Heading south. Trileigh Tucker

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12:31 - Two orcas off of Fauntelroy ferry dock heading south. - Christine Zahn

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12:30 - Jamie Grundhauser called in reports of the orcas, still heading south at noon. NOAA was with a group of 5 Orcas including 2 large males, the earlier group was reaching Vashon Island.

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Transient killer whale T102 (born 1984) , T102's younger brother T101A (born 1993) family members passed Point Robinson today near today's 12:20 Vashon ferry, surfing a huge wake from a Tacoma-bound freight ship. - Meg McDonald

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12:15 - They are just past Alki Lighthouse but north of Fauntleroy ferry. - Jamie Grundhauser

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12:00 - Same three pods of orcas today around noon. Southbound at fauntleroy ferry dock and pt williams, headed south towards tacoma. - Clint Jones

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11:42 - Brad Hanson called with visual confirmation of orcas off Alki. No ID's or numbers yet.

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11:30 - now in front of Seattle harbor.
11:25 - re-sighted them from Queen Anne. They are porpoising mid channel just north of Eagle Harbor. NOAA just getting on scene.
10:56 - see the mid channel just south of West Point/Rolling bay still southbound. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Woohoo!!! At 11:30am there were at least 5 or 6 Orcas off the tip of Alki Point this morning. How exciting! I've lived at Alki Point for 7 years and rarely leave the house without my binoculars in hopes of spotting whales. I'm so glad I had them this morning because this is the first time I've finally caught sight of them off Alki. One had a super tall fin that tipped over at the top. They swung around the point really close to shore, too! - Adrianna Wells

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11:27 - Good viewing water. Staying under a while. Between magnolia and wing point. Mid channel or east. No good count. - Rick Hatten

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11:05 - Eagle Harbor area. Look a little closer to BI side now.
10:56 - They are about at Yeomalt still mid channel.
10:41 - Between Bainbridge Is. and Shilsole right now. - Anne Duggan Smith

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10:34 - Yes they were heading south and by my estimation they might be a bit north of the Bainbridge ferry pathway about now.....or thereabouts.
9:57 - I just now saw this post and went to look thru the binoculars....sure enough I see their spouts a bit south of here (live on President Point in Kingston). - Chris Beamer Otterson

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Around 8:15 am a pod of killer whales was seen heading south across the Kingston Edmonds Ferry pathway. The ferry departed from Kingston to Edmonds and the whales were seen off the bow of the vessel. Total there were 15+ whales, either in groups of about 5 or singled out. Unsure if Transients or Residents. - Kelsey Donahue

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John Rogstad from WA State Ferries called at 8:16 am to say the ferry Chelan saw 8-10 orcas traveling fast eastward through Thatcher Pass, between Decatur and Blakely islands, into Rosario Strait.

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Mystic Sea called in a report of 3 Gray whales E of Hat Island, 1 at Mukilteo, and 1 at Clinton, shortly after noon.

April 3
Yesterday we were able to catch up with the T049A's and T065A's (T065A, T065A5, T065A3, and T065A4) near Whale Rocks. They skulked through the rock piles past the seal haulouts and I left them at 1210 near Iceberg (Lopez Island) harassing a harbor seal. Thanks to Tom and Jane on Morning Star for passing them off to those of us who could make it there. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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They went south, peeked into san juan channel, then headed for Iceberg on the south tip of Lopez. - Traci Walter

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This afternoon at 2:45 PM a friend of mine saw three orcas in Rosario Strait from the ferry between Anacortes and Decatur. - Monika Weiland

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I sighted a pod of four Orcas. They where traveling south through Cowichan Bay (BC) and stayed for a couple of minutes in front of Saltspring Island. The was one adult male and one calf in the pod. - Stefan Seiden

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1:32 - Two orcas spotted off Decatur Island on the ferry from Lopez to Anacortes!
11:34 - Orcas southbound on San Juan Island, spotted at San Juan County Park!A group of 4! - Deanna Hume-Cheatwood

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10 am - Thanks to a tip from Ken, Dave and I got to see the T49As and T65As cruising south past Lime Kiln. It was somewhere around 10am-ish. - Adam U

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9:30 - Capt. Hobbes reports the Ts NW of Lime Kiln. Hopefully we'll hear vocalizing on the hydrophones. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

April 2
KING5 facebook page: Our friend Jeff saw Mom & Baby in Port Angeles today!

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Transients, Thetis Island (Gulf Islands, 15 miles SE of Nanaimo), 15 whales ! - T86A, T124, T87, others. - David Howitt

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I spotted seven Orcas from just north of Nye Beach about one and a half miles off shore at 5:25 pm and followed them up to Moolack beach (about 4 miles north of Newport OR) around 5:54 pm. There were three in front and four a quarter of a mile behind them. They were two miles plus off shore at my last sighting at Mookack. - Renee Fowler, Interpretive Park Ranger

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14:46 - Bill Hanshumaker reports that volunteers at both Yaquina Head and DePoe Bay have orca under observation simultaneously at this hour. Both groups appear to be headed north. Volunteers coordinator at Hatfield Marine Science Center public wing reported Renee Fowler from Oregon State Parks had spotted a pod of orcas this morning at 10:15 am off of Yachats and heading North.

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At 10:15 am this morning a pod of orcas was traveling off of Yachats and heading North. Thank you to Renee Fowler from Oregon State Parks for spreading the word. - Rebecca Harver

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David Oclander reports seeing about 4 orcas just beyond the surf near Yachats OR at about 8:30 this morning. He says they remained stationary for about a half hour. He said he saw a poster with our number so he decided to call.

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7:54 am - Gail Brewer called to say she saw fins that might have been orcas or porpoises about 3-4 miles south of the bridge about 2 miles offshore of Yachats OR.

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5 pm - A mother Gray with her calf sighted heading north along the west shore of Point Lowell, Camano Island. The pair were moving slow with frequent blows (every minute or so). We watched them from the beach just north of the boat dock at Camano State Park as they came up from the south, easing along the shore of Point Lowell until they disappeared to the north heading directly toward Crescent Harbor. - Rob Plaza
Note: No gray whale calves have be confirmed. All the Saratoga Grays are believed to be males.

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10:35AM - One Gray Whale sighted swimming South along the East shore of Camano Island at Port Susan Terrace Beach. - Robert Pelland