August 2018 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of August 2018 whale sightings.

August 31
J Pod was picked up late in the day coming in and reportedly hit the west side of San Juan Island shortly before sunset. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Aug 31 - Today we saw maybe 5 orcas while being on ferry from Tsawassen to Victoria. Exact location was next to Salt Spring Island. 48.7667748, -123.3784403 Have a great day! -Marcel Haczek
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Fri Aug 31 - T137A, T137D, and T137 charging east in the Juan de Fuca Strait in the afternoon. -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018
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Fri Aug 31 - 19:46 - Watching a group of at least 7 Orca heading north past Waldron on the Eastside of Waldron. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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17:20 - Now reportedly in Roche Harbor
16:00 - T36As and T99s are on the west side of Haro, currently coming east aiming at San Juan County Park. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Aug 31 - T65As (minus T65A3 & T65A4) - I was listening to the Orcas from the West shore of Day Island. They were off the Northeast shore of Fox Island from about 10:30-11:15 pm Friday. Sounds like they had a kill. Tail slapping and lots of blows in the same area for about a half hour or more. I'm pretty sure they went North towards Tacoma around 11:15. A train and a passing barge made too much noise but it sounded like they were heading North under the Narrows Bridge at 11:20 or so. Here is a video of some of the blows I heard. You can't see anything but you can definitely hear the Orcas. -Karen Caldwell
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18:00 - Saw 4 near Cutts Island in Henderson Bay. Looked like two adult and two smaller ones. (heading south). -Doug Brennan
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11:56 - They were headed through Balch Passage a few minutes ago.
11:39 - headed east toward Eagle Island, between McNeil and Anderson Islands. -
11:29 - SW of McNeil nearing Filucy Bay. -Erica White
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The Orca Network's (volunteer) text alert woke me up with news I had orcas heading my way. I managed to get out the door quickly and spent from 8:30-9:30am watching them head our way and pass the east side of Anderson Island, heading south. T65A2 was on a trajectory to come close to us on shore, but turned and rejoined his mom and siblings to pass closer to Ketron Island. What an amazing way to start the day! T65A5 (4 yr old) and baby T65A6 (first seen 4/20/18) with Mama T65A (32 yrs old). T65A2 (14 yr old male) with Fox Island and Narrows Bridge in the background. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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08:28 - There are orcas at the south end of Fox Island. - Cheryl Wagner
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07:30 - Fisherman Curt reported orcas swam by his boat near Fox Island heading south. -Carey Kirkland
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07:15 - Orcas just south of Narrows Bridge heading south. I'm a bit far up on the hillside so hard to tell how many...at least two. Such an amazing thing to see first thing this morn! -Christina Finn
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Fri Aug 31 - T65A3 & T65A4 - 20:20 - orcas off of Edgewater Hotel, southbound downtown waterfront. -Joey LaMarche
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Email received at 19:38 - 2 orca whales in Elliott Bay South of Raye Street. Several boats gathered to watch - they were there over an hour. -Fredericka Foster
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Not sure if your researchers would be interested but we saw 2 whales in front of our house just west and close to shore of Elliott Bay Marina in Seattle on Friday evening. Unfortunately it looks like we only caught one in our pictures. Any idea who they are from the fins? We did see a couple of harbor seals swimming around about 15-30 minutes before the whales, but haven't seen them since the whale sightings. We have lived here for 8 years and have never seen whales so close to the shore before. We are quite interested especially since our trip to San Juans with an afternoon of whale watching in June where we saw several whales. So any information you can share would be appreciated. T65A3 glides passed the Elliot Bay Marina heading towards downtown Seattle. -Troy Sorensen
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19:14 - Orcas off of four mile rock (Magnolia). Just north of Elliot Bay Marina. Transients hunting. No direction. -Joey LaMarche
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19:30 - I was in a kayak off Magnolia, saw the two Orcas just off W McGraw Shoreline Street End south of Discovery park. They were in the same area for about 15 minutes at around 7:30 pm. Headed south from there. -Thaddaus Huber
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18:32 - T65A3 & T65A4 have made at least one kill since being here
18:21 - T65A3 & T65A4 southbound just south of Discovery Park.
17:50 - Still off Shilshole trending south. We found them and can confirm it is T65A3 and 4. -Renee Beitzel
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4:56 p.m. - Two heading south just outside Shilshole Marina. -Sarah Waugh
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10:15 - Saw two orca whales right in front of our camp in north Edmonds, right between Meadowdale and Picnic Point! -Photo by Jess Dame, Aug 31, 2018
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10:09 - Two orcas approached the dock at the Beach Camp at Sunset Bay between Mukilteo and Edmonds, very close to the dock and beach where 60 campers and many staff were able to see them for about five minutes. Photos are posted at that facebook page but so far no saddle patches have been posted. The RP, Francie Dailer, suggested they were the missing T065A3 & 4. Hopefully more photos will be posted there. The whales were heading south and last seen of Meadowdale Beach. -Beach Camp at Sunset Bay.
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10:09 - T65A4 close in shore just off Beach Camp on Sunset Bay - north of Edmonds this morning. -Photo by Francie Dailer, Aug 31, 2018
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri Aug 31 - 16:01 - Just saw three humpbacks in Strait of Juan de Fuca. Shallow dives, heading west toward open water. Spraying along wake of cruise ship. -Kathleen Fife
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Fri Aug 31 - 12:41- A single humpback traveling west-to-east just off Flint Beach, Lopez Island. -Tom Reeve
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Fri Aug 31 - Confirmed it is Two Spot this afternoon. -Renee Beitzel
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11:08 - Humpback 1.5 NM west of Indian Point, south Whidbey Island. -Trevor Tillman
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10:21 - Humpback CS631/CRC16017 Two Spot - off South Whidbey. We were out on Red Head today and I got these two shots of Two Spot. The captain Trevor can give you GPS. They asked that I send these to you. -Jay Syverson, Port Ludlow, WA
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Fri Aug 31 - 18:30 - whale spouts seen in Case Inlet, between Heron and Harstine Island. Currently heading south. Also seen earlier today around 3pm in similar location. Not orca. Much bigger, no idea what kind. (Carla Jones: David's wife here. I told him to post it was a small gray whale, but he refused because it was too far away to really know. But that's my vote.) -David Morton
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Gray whale out front again this morning. It headed south toward Boston Harbor and Budd Inlet, in a set of slow and determined surfacing series - marked by robust blows. It then turned west and headed across the tip of Cooper Point spit where it remained for about 30 minutes - in what appeared to be feeding behavior. Slow surfacing and shallow breathing marked by a head here, a pectoral fin there, and tail fluke tip someplace else. It then started to travel south into Eld Inlet - where the first surface was highlighted by a robust blow as well as the startling of a dozen mergansers! It kept south for a short distance (about a mile) and then turned around and headed north again. As it passed in front of the house, it started to angle north east where I lost sight of it after its determined surfacing series - marked by robust blows again - as it traveled. Grateful! -Kim Merriman

August 30
Just before 5 pm today, a group of four transients orcas went eastbound through Active Pass. They were travelling quickly with the tide. Photos taken from the shore of Galiano Island. T100, T100C, and T100F. -Cheers, Karoline Cullen
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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14:20 - Small pod of Orca; 4 or 5 animals (1 large male w distinctive bent shape to dorsal) - location - 100 meters off Beaver Point (Ruckle Provincial Park), Saltspring Island; moving west to east/north - activity - long dives with continuous forward movement - about 10 boats watching; Straitwatch was on site. -Frank Gee, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
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Thu Aug 30 - ~19:00 - my daughter and I were walking the beach at Ebys Landing. We spotted 4 orcas circling and appeared to be feeding off the kelp beds. They were swimming towards Fort Casey and the Coupeville ferry terminal closer to shore. Unfortunately we didn't have our phones with us on the walk to report it sooner. -Michelle Schrader Krieter
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Th Aug 30 - 14:10 - Orca off the front of the Port Townsend Ferry, headed south, Whidbey Island side. -Benjamin Thompson
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16:52 - Thu Aug 30 - T65As (minus T65A3 & T65A4) - orcas just passed Point No Point heading south mid channel. -Carl DeRusha
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16:05 - Transients are now between Double Bluff and Point No Point, looks like a little closer to the Whidbey side. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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15:40 - whales still southbound on Whidbey side in Mutiny Bay as seen from Shore Meadows Road. -Sandra Pollard
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14:54 - 3-5 orcas, including 1 adult male, heading south off the Bush Point lighthouse. -Wayne Sedgewick
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10:48 - T65As (minus 3 and 4) southbound slowly at Marrowstone light, mid channel. Five month old T65A6 between mom, T65A, and big bro,T65A2 Renee Beitzel
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10:35 - reported orcas off the north end of Marrowstone. possible southbound direction. -Ryan Johnson
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Thu Aug 30 - 18:45 - I just saw the humpback (CS631/CRC16017 Two Spot) about a mile south of Scatchet Head, traveling southeasterly. -Marilyn Armbruster
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17:43 - We found Two Spot! He's feeding on eastern edge of the bank off Possession. (South Whidbey) -Renee Beitzel
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Thu Aug 30 - The Humpback Comeback west of Sooke continues! What a great morning visiting over 20 Gentle Giants today. I tried to get as many ID Fluke Shots as possible. A few I recognize but a new calf I believe. So little time, so many whales! Lighting, non-flukes, missed shots, fog, made it tricky but did my best! Stunning whale: underside fluke of Humpback CS298 aka BCZ0366 "Caspian". Humpback CS246 aka CRC-15995 "Lyra" Humpback who has been through some rough times: BCYUnk "Chop Saw". Always great to sea! -Paul Pudwell
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Thu Aug 30 - OR Coast - This is a picture my husband took yesterday in Pacific City, OR. We saw some sort of whale species right off of Cape Kiwanda. The picture is the fin. In addition to the fin, we saw blows in the area. This was the only one we saw and it hung around for quite some time. The folks at the restaurant said humpbacks and grey whales hang out in the area, but is this the correct fin for one of those? I understand the picture is taken from a distance, but if anybody knows anything, it's you folks! -Ronda Barrow Hempler Probable gray whale feeding (fin tip) with birds watching from the bluff above. -Report by Rhond Hempler, Photo by Don Hempler, Aug 30, 2018

August 29
Wed Aug 29 - 13:22 - Orcas In Port Angeles Harbor right now, They seem to be just doing circles. Turned out to be an adult and a juvenile. (adult male and female, possibly T11s) I don't have any idea how to identify them. -Christina Baze
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Wed Aug 29 - From the Port Townsend ferry, sailing toward Whidbey Island, at 1:25, I saw four orcas--three females and one male. They were in the midst of what I believe was a bait ball. There was a large flock of frantic gulls and birds at the surface, and the orcas rose in the midst of them. They hung around there for 2-3 minutes, then dove, and I was unable to find them again. -Peter Wayne Moe
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Wed Aug 29 - 19:57 - Right now off Point No Point Beach a whale came up for a breath. It was so close that I felt the spray from it. My husband says there are three. I only saw one. She did confirm humpback. -Jennifer Plenge
(also brief video reviewed does show humpback surfacing amidt beautiful sunset colors - alb)
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16:10 - We just saw the humpback south of Point No Point in a line to Edmonds and headed south. Watched from about 4:10 - 4:20. Saw blows, back, fluke dives. -Marilyn DeRoy
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09:50 - Two Spot is back! CS631 is currently mid channel off Useless Bay. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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Wed Aug 29 - Gray whale CRC-2234 Dana Passage this morning. -Photo by Chris Hamilton, Aug 29, 2018

August 28
Tue Aug 28 - It was a special afternoon adventure also! Victoria waterfront is not an area we normally encounter Transients Killer Whales on our tours so it was a new background for pictures...I believe we had (T065's, T034's, T037's) from radio ID reports. Please correct me if incorrect...As always many humpback whales were around Race Rocks Lighthouse and it is a joy to visit our Local Sea Otter "Ollie" and hundreds of Sea Lions! -Paul Pudwell
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13:10 - ...the rest of the T65As are in Baynes Channel way out by Discovery Island, Canada as about an hour ago. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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Tue Aug 28 - What a special morning with Transient Killer Whales (T030's) only a few minutes from our docks in Sooke. Matriarch T30, T30A. -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 28 - 18:30 - At least three orcas traveling west-to-east together spotting-scope-far off of Flint Beach, south Lopez Island. -Tom Reeve
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Tue Aug 28 - 16:10 - T65A3 and T65A4 are at the north end of Hat Island heading towards Everett right now. -Bart Rulon, Chilkat Express
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15:45 - ...southside of Hat Island near shore...saw one orca come up so far but i am pretty far away cant tell what direction but boat is pointing north....mid southside Hat. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:55 - we left them both circling around chasing something at possession point. No direction.
13:20 - T65A3 and T65A4 at Possession Point, very slowly northbound as if to go into possession sound. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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07:00 - spotted a single orca off Bush Point, Whidbey Island this morning, bout 50 feet offshore. Heading south. -Vicki Halbakken
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Tue Aug 28 - It was a special afternoon adventure also! ...as always many humpback whales were around Race Rocks Lighthouse and it is a joy to visit our Local Sea Otter "Ollie" and hundreds of Sea Lions! -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 28 - 17:30 - Spotted two humpbacks off of Cattle Point (San Juan Island)...Headed N parallel to shore a few km off. -Natalie Mastick
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Tue Aug 28 - ~19:20 - Possibly Humpback Whales off Deception Pass West Beach this evening, heading slowly South. Need Binoculars...no orcas though. -Benjamin Thompson
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Tues Aug 28 - ~16:30 - today caught a glimpse of a single whale approximately 20 to 30 feet in size and grey. Watched it spouting 4 or 5 times before deep dive. Captured briefly on video about a mile away. Headed west of Dana Point in Dana Passage near Squaxin Island. Now, at 5:30 viewing it with binoculars in front of Little Fish Trap. -Vicki Opsata
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saw this gray this morning off of Boston Harbor. It was heading south toward Olympia at around 11 AM. -Photo by Peter Ffolliott, Aug 28, 2018
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Gray whale CRC-2234 in Boston Harbor, Puget Sound, Olympia. -Photo by Chris Hamilton, Aug 28, 2018
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UNCONFIRMED CETACEANS - Tue Aug 28 - Email received 18:25 - We are off Johnson Point near Olympia. Saw what seemed to be smaller orca breach and blowing. Also porpoises feeding. Seems porpoises are going back and forth. Orca seemed to be alone and is gone....What we reported last night was not these guys. What we saw was much larger, with really white sides. We did not see the head. But we got a glimpse of a white underbelly. Really stocky body. After spending several hours on line looking at pictures and info we think maybe what we saw was one or two Dall's Porpoises. -Judith Judd
(leaving as unidentified with reporting party leaning Dall's. Common dolphins was proposed by ON as possiblity - alb)

August 27
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Mon Aug 27 - 17:52 - I've relocated to Dugualla Bay area. T65A3 & T65A4 are still north of here but slowly moving south. They are absolutely tail slap happy as they've been traveling today.
16:54 - T65A3 and T65A4 southbound along Ala Spit now. Several harbor seals and a Steller sea lion hanging out close to shore watching.
16:32 - Lots of gulls diving in now.
16:20 - seems like they have made a kill. Milling and lots of splashing, tail slapping. Viewing from Ala Spit, they're currently north of me. -Rachel Haight
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14:50 - These are the two (T65A3 & T65A4) that you have posted, heading towards Deception Pass. We were on Rosario Point looking across towards the Pass. They were rounding Lighthouse Point, heading east. We drove to the bridge and caught a quick sighting on the east side. -Terra Parham
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T65A4...her big brother T65A3 eastbound entering Deception Pass...Photo by Greg Parham, Aug 27, 2018
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14:37 - T65A3 and T65A4 super close to shore! -Rachel Haight
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14:19 PM Heading toward Rosario Beach.
14:15 - Two transient orcas (T65A3 and T65A4) near Biz Point (Burrows Bay) heading south! -Erin Johns Gless
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Today around noon, Aug 27th, I was fishing off Young Island, in Burrows Bay, Fidalgo Island and sighted a single orca traveling west. It broke the surface several times and made the distinctive noise from its blowhole. It was quite large, and I know the difference between orcas and porpoises. Is this not unusual to find one all alone? -Chip Treichel
(T65A3 and T65A4 were reported in Burrows Bay at this time - alb)
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Mon Aug 27 - Some great weather and whales today around Sooke! Humpback whales were everywhere and we had a great visit with Transient Killer Whales (T065A's & T030's) south of Race Rocks Light House. 5-month-old T65A6 and mom T65A. -Paul Pudwell
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MINKE WHALES - Mon Aug 27 - 13:33 - Minke whale reported just off Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island. -Craig Smith McMaster

August 26
~ Northbound out of Post Office Bay (Next to Parks Bay), Shaw Island in San Juan channel. NNW. -Photo by Bryn Black, Aug 26, 2018
(T65A3 and T65A4 confirmed by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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17:19 - Orcas passing Point Caution now southbound. Further from shore, but still on San Juan side.
16:37 - Ok at Point Caution. I see the boats still quite a ways north. Haven't seen the whales yet, but a harbor seal popped his head up and looked at me so I warned him. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
(T65A3 and T65A4 continued north in Haro Strait then took Mosquito Pass, went east through Spieden Channel, then turned south down San Juan Channel where Cindy Hansen caught up with them off Point Caution, after that they flipped and headed northbound again along the Shaw shoreline (see above reports by Cindy and Bryn) - alb)
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Interestingly, for the second year in a row, T65A3 and T65A4, a young brother-sister pair, have broken off from the rest of their family group for at least several days. This afternoon the two of them passed close to shore off Lime Kiln heading north. Unlike in residents, transients sometimes see both male and female dispersal from their mother's family group, but usually it happens with older whales. T65A3 is 11 years old, and T65A4 is 7. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sun Aug 26 - 19:44 - They are directly in front of the oil docks now in about 200 feet of water. We saw 3 both times, 1 baby we think.
19:40 - just spotted the orcas again just south of Edmonds just before the oil docks.
17:43 - Three Orcas spotted off Possession Point (Whidbey) heading across to Point No Point (Kitsap), right now. One looks like a baby but not sure. Really looked like a direct line from Possession to Point No Point, maybe slightly more north. -Stephanie Hansen Hogenson
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Noon - I'm heading home. They have pushed more west out of my view. I dont think they've necessarily committed to Admiralty yet. They have not made it south of me and looks like they've trended slight north as well. Good luck out there!
11:40 - still slowly southbound. Lead group is just about straight in front of Ebeys Landing now. Trailing group a mile? or so behind, appear to be headed south as well.
11:22 - whales have split a bit. Theres a group further north with several boats. There's another group off Ebeys Landing with only one boat. -Rachel Haight
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11:15 - T34 pod killed a seal so they are lagging behind.
10:52 - looks like they have spread out to start hunting, still southbound on the Whidbey side - still off Ebey area.
10:34 - T30 pod, T37, T37B pod, And T34 pod are the transients inbound now. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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10:00 - orcas off of Ft. Ebey, west Whidbey Island, in close slowly heading south. -Al Luneman
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Sun Aug 26 - 11:00 - I just wanted to report an orca sighting around 11:00 am. We saw it off south beach on San Juan Island, just south of where American Camp ends. We saw the fin approximately 7-9 times. I think it was just one orca (which I know seems strange). -Kimberly Priestly
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GRAY WHALES - Sun Aug 26 - 10:54 - Small grey whale feeding in front of my house on Hidden Beach. Shallow water. Not moving around much. -Liz Robbins

August 25
13:15 - T65A3 and T65A4 are over in Rosario Strait again today, reportedly close to shore off the east side of Cypress Island now heading north. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Aug 24 & Sat Aug 25 - I was on Galiano Island this week and saw a pod of orcas with a small calf. They were hanging around Active Pass and Trincomali Channel. We saw two males, ~3 ladies and one tiny calf on Aug 24 and 25....-Best, Jen Rurak

August 24
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Fri Aug 24 - WOW! These special Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales J Pod, J38 Cookie & L87 Onyx made a quick crossing of the Juan De Fuca Strait to be very close to Point No Point west of Sooke on our next adventure! They were all spread out foraging. Again it was great to only have 2-3 boats around who were happy to keep their distance to just enjoy the day! They quickly turned west and headed out to sea...SEPTEMBER is MY favorite! Heading east slowly as they foraged on Chinook Salmon. Very special to be the only boat around for miles-Paul Pudwell
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The surface tension of the water has yet to break in this photo of T99B surfacing in San Juan Channel right off the rocks at Reuben Tarte County Park this afternoon. (San Juan Island) -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, Aug 24, 2018
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Fri Aug 24 ~14:50-15:00 - Saw 2 whales today coming out of Trincamoli through Montague heading toward Victoria, BC...Unfortunately I was so mesmerized by the enormity and height of the first one's fin, I didn't look closely at them to determine if 2 males or mother and son. There were whale watching boats in the area. -Connie S Poppino
(possibly the T101s - Monika Wieland Shields)
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16:00 - orcas seen in Active Pass from BC Ferry. -Jeanette Dorner
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Fri Aug 24 - 13:50 - Lots of transients in the Salish Sea through Baynes Channel near Discovery Island, BC and have boats with them on AIS. They appear to be heading east across Haro towards San Juan Island. The T99s were seen close to shore on the west side of Blakely Island around noon (possibly they were the ones seen near Cattle Pass early this morning?).
13:30 T65A3 and T65A4 (just two whales) were seen heading north near Fisherman Bay on Lopez Island. Another shot of T99B on August 24th as the T99s passed right off the rocks at Reuben Tarte - look at those deep rake marks at the top of the dorsal. -Monika Wieland Shields
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14:22 - Orcas off Orcas Island...we just saw a couple orcas (small ones) going SW by the island. We were on the coast near the Champagne Champagne storefront (near Orcas ferry terminal/Harney Channel) Boats were following quite closely (boo,) so they were moving pretty quickly. Will try to attach the media I was able to take. So amazing. Thanks for doing what you do!! -Leah Willoughby
(Probably that was the T99s going west. - Monika Wieland Shields)
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Fri Aug 24 - 13:13 - BCX1251 - Orion is back! East side of Rock Pile. -Renee Beitzel
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Fri Aug 24 - Whale feeding activity off Port of Everett in the shallow water. Looks like 2 of them. (Discussion: gray whale who has been feeding in that area, when on his side feeding his fluke and pec fins are above surface and looks like multiple whales) That sounds like it. Traveled north toward Camano Island. I took some video, will look at it later and see if it's it worth sharing. -Brad Redmond

August 23
18:20 - more transients (the T65As) heading south down San Juan Channel - nearing Point Caution and Friday Harbor now.
10:15 - Transients heading north in San Juan Channel near Reuben Tarte (word is T100s) -Monika Wieland Shields
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Thu Aug 23 - Finally got to spend some time with a few humpbacks today..."Stitch" (aka CRC-15994) and Humpback known as MMZ0004 (aka CRC-15970) - some call him/her "Zephyr"...between Race Rocks and Constance Bank. -Renee Beitzel

August 22
Wed Aug 22 - 16:00 - neighbor saw 3-4 orca northbound at AppleTree Point (Kingston, Puget Sound). -Sara Frey
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Wed Aug 22 - Trip Report: Still very smokey as we left the marina, but got a report of Orcas off Dungeness Spit, so we headed southwest. We caught up with the T65A group of Biggs (meat-eating) Orcas at Protection Island, and followed them into Discovery Bay. This matriline consists of T65A, the matriarch (b. 1986), son T65A2 (2004: just 14 and very big!), T65A3 (2007), T65A4 (2011) and new calf T65A5 (born April 2018). T65A and 3 of the others were heading into Discovery Bay, with long down times, and T65A2 was bringing up the rear. He made a kill of a harbor porpoise without too much seeming effort, and proceeded towards the others though still behind. It was lovely to see this tight family, with the darling calf looking fat and energetic. -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist
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1400 - T65A's going south at Beckett Point into Discovery Bay.
1300 - T65A's are currently approaching Diamond Point eastbound, aiming south of Protection island. -Brian McGinn
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T65As off Dungeness Spit this morning. -Photo by Justine Buckmaster, Naturalist, MV Saratoga, Aug 22, 2018
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Wed Aug 22 ...a Humpback Whale near Eastern Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. -Photo by Justine Buckmaster, Aug 22, 2018
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Wed Aug 22 - 16:15 Now seeing humpback just south of Apple Tree Point, Kingston. -Sara Frey

August 21
19:47 - Just encountered 2-3 Orcas headed north up Rosario Strait just crossing over the ferry lanes from the stern of the Kalateen ferry headed into Anacortes. They were too far away to get a pic, at least from my cell phone. -Cheryl Rawlings
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Tue Aug 21 - 17:45 -18:00 - Group of 4-5 orcas just passed Point Roberts heading North - one youngster in the group. Moving quickly. -Sandra Scott
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Tue Aug 21 - As we headed out on our afternoon adventure we were in search of the T100's from AM tour ...Smokey Skies and not knowing how far west they went...we did our best but did not find them...but we were surprised to find 10+ humpback whales feeding on herring bait balls around Jordan River. We knew other transients (T137A & mom T137, T137D and all T137s) were milling off Sooke waters in the traffic lane so we had a quick visit and enjoyed flat calm seas and ride home only a few minutes to our docks. -Paul Pudwell
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Tues Aug 21 - What a great morning adventure! I found the T100's hunting very close to shore in Beecher Bay right in front of the Smokin' Tuna restaurant...WOW! They continued hunting west right past Sooke...Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 21 - As we headed out on our afternoon adventure we were in search of the T100's from AM tour ...Smokey Skies and not knowing how far west they went...we did our best but did not find them...but we were surprised to find 10+ humpback whales - BCX1251 Orion. feeding on herring bait balls around Jordan River. We knew other transients were milling off Sooke waters in the traffic lane so we had a quick visit and enjoyed flat calm seas and ride home only a few minutes to our docks. -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 21 - We made way to Langley, where we found gray whale #2234, who has been spotted several times over recent weeks! We looked on as he fed in shallow waters, rolling and swimming sideways, to get his mouth full of tasty food! Along todays trip though the Pass, we also saw several porpoise and seals swimming here and there. -Amy W., Mystic Sea

August 20
J50/Scarlet Update (8/20): Response teams spent about three hours on Saturday (8/18) monitoring J50/Scarlet as J Pod returned to the Salish Sea on the way towards San Juan Island. Biologists aboard a SeaDoc Society vessel reported J50/Scarlet actively socializing with the rest of the pod, a hint that her condition may be improving slightly. She fell behind the pod as the whales swam east, but University of Washington saw her rejoin her mother (J16/Slick) and sister (J42/Echo) to forage near Hannah Heights on the west side of San Juan Island. University of Washington also collected two fecal samples from the group. -Photo by Katy Foster/NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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The 65As and the T99s in Saanich Inlet, BC, last night. An amazing evening! You could see the orange sun barely through the smoke, but it did bring a somber beauty to the moment. Too many images for one post. Part one, The Mugging of a Marina. -Jim Maya
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Today's trip took us up to Sydney, BC, where we found two groups of transient orcas - no passport required! We found, and traveled with, the T99s and T65As (including their new calf) from Sydney to Pole Island to Swartz bay! As they swam, they made stops to slap their tails and to hunt in kelp. Along the way, we saw harbor seals and porpoise swimming about, a bald eagle landing on a tree, and a river otter! We enjoyed the cool air and sun as we voyaged back towards port after another amazing day! -Amy W., Mystic Sea
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Mon Aug 20 - at dusk, we saw and heard (!) two orcas whilst standing at the edge of the property of 35xx Shore Avenue, Everett, WA. -Terry Preshaw
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20:49 - WS Ferries called with a report of orcas 1/2 mile north of Mukilteo, heading north.
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18:05 - I saw one fin at the SE corner of Gedney island. They are still north of the ferry lines but I'm having a super hard time viewing with all the smoke. -Danielle Penningtons
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~17:45-18:00 - Reports of a group southbound near west side of Hat island. -Lori Christopher
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...on the MV Saratoga saw the thickest wildfire smoke I think I've ever seen. It cast an eerie amber lighting on the water and the T34s and T37s as they hunted Harbor Porpoises in Possession Sound. -Justine Buckmaster
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15:20 - T37, 37Bs and 34's southbound at Camano Head. -Renee Beitzel
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12:35 - 100s currently at Elger Bay southbound. -Carl Williams
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12:15 - Orca, Rockaway Beach, Camano Island. It looked to be 3 one of them a very small one maybe a baby. -Lisa Madigan
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1118: another group southbound off Rocky Point. Confirmed T37, 37Bs and 34's. -Renee Beitzel
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10:55 - so far we only have the T100 pod (4) heading south at Onamac Point. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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10:38 - Now heading around Polnell Point (T34s, T37, T37Bs). -Terra Parham
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10:30 - orcas in the Saratoga Passage just south of Madrona. -James Shasky
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10:21 - 4 Inside Crescent Harbor. (T34s, T37, T37Bs.) 10:09 - large dorsal spotted by Harrington Lagoon no direction. (T100s). -Terra Parham
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09:18 - Just saw about 8 Orcas outside Crescent Harbor! Heading northeast. -Gwendolyn Clemens
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Mon Aug 20 - Looks like some new humpback whales are coming in around Sooke B.C. Over 9 were spotted and we visited 7 and only these few wanted to fluke for identification...Paul Pudwell
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Mon Aug 20 - ~19:30 - Pod of Orcas near Mukilteo Ferry. We were with our 2 kids yesterday 8/20 on a small 16ft boat heading back to the boat launch. A pod of Orcas surfaced approximately 30 ft from our boat Did not get very good pics due to the haze, but here are a few pics. -KC Chor
(T34s, T37, & T37Bs were documented in this area and included in our previous whale - alb)

August 19
Sightings Sunday (8/19) reported J Pod headed west again, back
toward open ocean. The plan going forward is to administer another dose of antibiotic through a dart and, if possible, a second dart with dewormer to reduce parasitic worms that can harm emaciated marine mammals like J50/Scarlet and that were found in the recent fecal samples from three whales including J50. The veterinary team believes another dose of antibiotic remains the priority to treat potential infection since the first dart on 8/9 delivered only a half dose. This demonstrates that darting a swimming killer whale with thick skin, particularly on the fins and flukes, from a rocking boat is challenging. To ensure that J50/Scarlet receives the medication, veterinarians may switch to a collared needle with a ridge that holds it in place long enough to deliver the full dose. This type of dart is commonly used to treat wildlife, such as elephants, and will fall out in time. J50/Scarlet swims next to her mother, J16/Slick. -Photo by Katy Foster/NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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What a special afternoon! Some how this morning we missed J Pod of our beloved Endangered Southern Resident Killer whales, with J27 Blackberry, J38 Cookie, J17 Princes Angeline and daughter J53 Kiki. heading west past Sooke on our way to Transient/Biggs Orca east this morning...foraging and active from Point No Point to Jordan River! We all hope they are finding the nourishment they need! -Paul Pudwell
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13:00 - Several groups passed by Sheringham Lighthouse (Sooke, BC) August 19th. They were spread out. Some further out in the strait. They continued by for an hour! These 2 came closer by shore, moving faster along the shore. J16 and J36 -Tim Boat
(confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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Sun Aug 19 - What a great morning with guests from around the world sharing the beauty of Vancouver Island with Transient Killer Whales T010's and the T099's off Victoria. -Paul Pudwell
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Sun Aug 19 - ~20:00 - while returning to the boat ramp at Coronet Bay witnessed 3 orca's heading outbound Deception Pass towards Rosario Strait. 1 adult possible mother, 1 baby, small, 1 apparent juvenile medium size noticeably smaller than apparent mother. -Andy Lambert
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A fisherman called in a report of orcas near Lummi Island, so Captain Eric altered course to see those whales! Once we reached Village Point we found the T65As! We spent the early afternoon with them as they swam and hunted, with their new calf (born this spring) - who seems to be doing well! We stayed with this group as they traveled towards Cypress Head, making quick detours at various islands to see seals, eagles and other wildlife! -Amy W., Mystic Sea
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16:57 - Orcas, between Burrows Island and Skyline area of Anacortes, heading south. -Photo by Marlene Bocast, Aug 19, 2018
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Sun Aug 19 - 18:00 - Distant dorsals mid channel as seen north from Hidden Beach. Day 3 of transient orcas slinking along the shoreline of Camano Island northbound. -Sandra Pollard
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16:40 - Found this group mid channel between Fox Spit, Whidbey and Camano State Park. Steady northbound grouped. -Marilyn Armbruster
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15:50 - Orcas, mid channel, just passing Langley north from Whale Bell. They were going north from Langley when I left them. There are two groups out there. -Durand Dace
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15:18 - This is T37 (super triangular fin that looks like a male), 37Bs, and 34's. -Renee Beitzel
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15:00 - John Villasenor just called Langley Whale Center: he is seeing 5 orcas including 2 calves and one male. Near Sandy Point, Whideby headed north towards Langley.
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13:00 - My neighbors said they saw a pod of orcas at 1:00pm 8/19 off the east shore of Tyee beach at Camano Island. -Kara Kahler
(Port Susan - presumably the T34s, T37 & T37Bs)
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Sun Aug 19 - 16:55 - Left the T100s just north of Onamac Point, Camano Island, southbound. Spread out. -Renee Beitzel
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15:25 - T100s moved on now NE bound.
15:15 - Update Upper Saratoga group T100s: They are at entrance to Penn Cove circling. Look to be on a hunt/kill.
14:46 - Pod went in as far as mussel rafts and turned around. Mid channel in westbound and now mid channel eastbound, past Coupeville Wharf. So cool to ring the wharf bell on their way in. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
Video below begins with the T100s exiting Penn Cove as filmed from beautiful Long Point. Once outside the cove, this family of four circled and milled for a while mid channel before eventually moving on to the northeast. Prior to this video, we had the opportunity to ring the whale bell on the Coupeville Wharf and make some heartfelt connections with dozens of residents and visitors from around the world who lined the wharf in hopes of a glimpse. After some very long down times the orcas finally did surface to the west. We had some wonderful discussions and impromptu Q & A. The whales went as far as the mussel rafts then flipped and headed right back out the cove. Bigg's Transients T100s - Penn Cove, Whidbey Island - Aug 19, 2018. -Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:41 - orcas moving east quickly now approaching Coupeville area
14:10 - orcas closer to north shore, still westbound, west of Coupeville.
13:55 - T100s still westbound into Penn Cove approaching Monroe Landing area midchannel. -T100C passing a boat and back-dropped by downtown area of Coupeville on his way out of Penn Cove.Rachel Haight
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13:40 - T100s At the mouth of Penn Cove heading in. -Tyler McKeen
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12:40 - T100s heading towards Penn Cove
12:09 - T100s southbound now (from N Camano). -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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11:50 - Sister just called from Polnell Shores in Oak Harbor. She can see at least two orcas close to the north end of Camano now, Utsalady Bay. Too far away to identify. -Camille Hartley
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11:42 - T100s at least were found at the north end of Saratoga Passage between Camano Island and Polnell Point, currently on a kill. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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09:50 - We encountered a single Male orca heading north in Saratoga passage at 9 50, 19th Aug 2018. Position N48 09.5, W 122 32.222. No other sign of other whales. -Russ Waughman
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Sun Aug 19 - 14:44 - Current location of gray whales is offshore, mid channel between Utsalady Point and Polnell Shores, a bit closer to Whidbey side. -per screen grab Cora Reuter Foster
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11:12 - Gray whale #2234 feeding between Utsalady and Brown Point at entrance to Skagit Bay. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga

August 18
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Sat Aug 18 - Hi ON, Drifting 1 mile off False Bay 1900 hrs, J39 who looked to be fishing next to us with some echolocation on the hydrophone suddenly took off in close pursuit of a porpoise. J22 closer to shore was also in pursuit of another porpoise. While J22 was engaged with a porpoise J37 and J49 were milling nearby by and soon J40 came in to join J22. J49 began following and became somewhat involved. Off shore there were what seemed to be 3 other chases happening around us, including J22's son, J38, being one of them. Wait 'til the Transients find out about this. -Cheers, Captains Barbara & David Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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We spotted a pod of orcas from the coast trail at East Sooke Park yesterday morning (Saturday, Aug. 18). From what I can tell, they were southern resident orcas (maybe J-pod?). We were surprised and dismayed by the plethora of whale watching boats and small motor crafts that were swarming around them, many of which seemed closer than the allowed 200 meters, and a motor boat rushed at full speed right up to where they were. -Louise Alvarez
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What a special day! We headed out in thick fog and within minutes we heard fisherman talking about Orca...With some help from our locals we were the first to find J Pod off Otter Point...minutes from our Dock. Than within a few minutes the fog lifted and we were able to share the amazing Sooke waterfront with these endangered whales foraging with some very active celebration. J27 Blackberry (born 1991) and J51 Nova (born 2015)..What we have not seen in a while...So GREAT TO SEA!
10:53 - J pod off Sooke bluffs inbound east Now! Close to shore! -Paul Pudwell
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Sat Aug 18 - J26 Mike off the west side of San Juan Island. J-Pod took all day to make their way to inland waters and were visible from shore shortly before sunset. Mike's sister J50 Scarlet was present as well. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sat Aug 18 - 20:49 - They have moved on. Headed northwest....possibly Penn Cove or Oak Harbor.
20:14 - Watching four Orcas just south of Harrington Lagoon. They have been here for about 40 minutes. Circling in the same general area. Even a bit of lobtailing. -Randy Zimmerman
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19:07 - orcas slowly passing Shangri La Shores, northbound. Conditions are silky smooth and they are not quite midchannel, but visible to the naked eye. -Durand Dace
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18:07 - Orcas just past Hidden Beach going north. Seals swimming all over! -Rx N'Mike Boudreau
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17:27 - We watched both groups head into Holmes Harbor and stall out just in the entrance, south of Baby Island. Soon after they began circling, clearly on the hunt. While watching some females and young a bit south, heard a huge percussive sound to the north, turned to see the big guy T100C breaching about 4 times...belly flop breaches! Younger one started breaching as well, then both engaged in some tail slapping. They stayed split in two groups with T100C group exiting about 17:00 while the others remained for a while and headed out, clearing Baby Island about 17:30...all on northbound course. Viewed from Baby Island Heights -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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T100C breach as seen from Baby Island Heights. -Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, Aug 18, 2018
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We had the perfect ending to a fantastic day of watching three pods of transient killer whales in Saratoga Passage on August 18. The three families included the T100 pod, T34 pod, T37 & T37B pod. These 11 orcas were swimming north and south through Saratoga Passage. On the afternoon of the 18th the pods were grouped up very closely in a resting mode until they turned and aimed right towards Baby Island, at the mouth of Holmes Harbor, on Whidbey Island. Baby Island is a local haul out for harbor seals. After a long dive they surfaced and it was immediately obvious that they had caught something - most likely a seal or two. All the killer whales circled around and started getting active and playful. T100C, a 16 year old male, surprised us all when he exploded out of the water with a huge breach, and then he followed that up with two more in a row. Each time he landed with his pectoral fins straight out from his body making it look like he was trying to fly! What a finale to a fantastic day on the water with transient orcas on our newest boat, the Saratoga! -Bart Rulon, Naturalist, Puget Sound Express
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16:20 - pods turned and are now heading directionally towards Baby Island/Holmes Harbor at steady pace.
15:50 - Pods are in two tight groups Camano side of mid channel, just now passing Cama State Park, steady pace southbound on course towards Camano State Park. Male T100C is in the trailing group. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:08 - Pod is south end of Woodland Beach tracking south. At least one small motor boat appeared to be getting too close. -Krista Paulino
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12:35. Pods still spread out. Two Lead groups past Camano State Park. Trailing group is in Elger Bay being all lovely surface active, rolls, tail lobs, breaches. All groups trending northbound on Camano side, tho trailers slow poking along. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:23 - 5+ orcas just inside south point of Elger Bay on Camano. Breaches and tail slaps. -Kim Williams
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11:00 - T100s, T37, T37Bs, and T34s northbound all spread out in Saratoga Passage abeam of Mabana Beach. T37Bs and T34s on the Camano side. T37 and T100c in the middle being romantic and the rest of the T100pod closer to Whidbey. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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10:50 off Pebble Beach. The orcas changed direction once, then turned around and headed north. -Peg Boley
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Fri Aug 17 & Sat Aug 18 - (Real time reports included in August 19th Whale Sighting report.)
Sat Aug 18 - Day two of watching these three families of mammal eating type orcas (the T34s, T37 & T37Bs, & T100s) traveling together off Whidbey Island in Saratoga Passage, North Puget Sound. This day, Saturday, August 18th, the group cruised up and down Saratoga Passage as they did the day prior. This video begins once they turned their sights on Holmes Harbor and made a kill. While watching some of the females and young circling prey a bit south, we heard a loud percussive sound to our right and turned to see big male T100C breaching forward and landing belly-flops! One of the young ones started breaching as well, many tail lobs followed by all for the next several minutes. The first group exited Holmes Harbor, the others followed ~20 minutes later, all proceeded northbound in Saratoga Passage where they all continued together into the darkness this summer evening. -Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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GRAY WHALES - Sat Aug 18 - We received a report of a Gray whale feeding in shallow water between Tulalip and Hat/Gedney Island at 12:55. (Likely PCFG # 185, who has remained here feeding for months - sb)

August 17
J50/Scarlet Update (8/17): Test results from the health samples collected from J50/Scarlet are starting to come in from several top laboratories around the country. The first finding comes from a fecal sample collected last weekend from a group of three J Pod whales: J16/Slick, J42/Echo, and J50/Scarlet. It showed moderate levels of Contracaecum, a nematode parasite that has previously been found in killer whales and other marine mammals. The worm is not usually a problem in healthy animals. However, in animals that are emaciated or are otherwise compromised, the parasite can penetrate the stomach lining, introducing bacterial infection to the bloodstream, or it can bore into internal organs. While we cannot be sure the sample came from J50/Scarlet, the veterinary team has updated her treatment priorities to include a dewormer, in addition to an antibiotic. Both have proven successful and safe in other cetaceans. The treatment should help J50/Scarlet by reducing bacterial and parasitic burdens on her system so she can start regaining the weight she has lost. The whales remain in open waters off the west side of Vancouver Island, beyond the reach of the response teams. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other partners continue their watch for signs of J Pod's return to the more protected waters of the Salish Sea. Updates HERE. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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Fri Aug 17 - Whale watchers watching the pods loosely grouped between Hidden Beach, Whidbey and Cama Beach State Park, Camano Island.
20:00 - We moved to Hidden Beach, Whidbey and could see the pods still well north of us making slow progress while milling and drifting slowly towards Camano side. They seemed fairly committed, but at some point they flipped, made the directional change and started heading north where they continued for a significant distance. Then when almost out of our sight they flipped once again, now back to traveling southbound. The families picked up speed and passed between Hidden Beach and Cama State Park in the waning light which cast beautiful warm hues from orange to purple on the sandy bluffs across the passage on Camano making for a gorgeous backdrop. We left them on course for Camano State Park just to the south.
18:00 - Pod is out from Shangri La Shores mid channel slowly southbound while engaging in some directional changes, circling, and surface activities: tail lobs, breaches, pec slaps in glassy calm seas.
17:26 - Seeing pod mid channel slow southbound steady travel off Harrington Lagoon. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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My family and I were headed South from Canada to the US on August 17th, 2018. We were north of Stuart Island and East of Moresby Island, just north of the border. Only one other sailboat was traveling south of us, no whale watching boats. We saw a couple whales in the distance coming our direction headed northbound. We immediately stopped so they could pass. We spotted them a ways off on our port side. A few minutes later, 4 orcas surprisingly surfaced within a few feet from our boat. They apparently turned around to come and see us. After swimming around under our boat, the 4 orcas went west to join one orca that seemed to be hanging out on the surface and not moving much. I was able to take a few pictures and compared them to a 2012 report I found online. I identified one of them as T002C, Tasu. I'm assuming she was with 3 of her kiddos when they surfaced near us. I'm assuming the orca just west of us that they joined up with was Tasu's other son, T002C2 Tumbo. He's the one with a curved back, which may explain why he wasn't moving much and just hanging out on the surface. Anyways, sorry for reporting this so late. I hope it helps. It was such an incredible experience that we will never forget! -CarlaRae Arneson
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16:47 - 6-8 orcas mid-channel off of Madrona Beach, Camano Island. Lots of fluke slapping!!! Heading south. -Vicki Anderson
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14:52 - just spotted orcas northbound passing Shangri La Shores, Whidbey. -Rachel Haight
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13:30 - Orcas are in front of Camano State park northerly. Close to Camano side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:24 - Mid channel Saratoga Passage just off Lowell Point headed north. -Kim Williams
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13:20 - There are about 5-6 orcas just south east of Camano Island State Park heading northwest, closer to Camino island side. -Laura Flagg
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12:52 - Orcas viewed from Lowell Point, far off but mid-channel off Elger Bay south side. -Kim Williams
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12:00 - Viewing from Bells Beach. They are in between Pebble Beach and Mabana Shores 1/4 mid channel Camano Island side heading north. Some activity splashing possibly a kill. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:38 - Hello again, It's been a busy day for Orca pods around Hat Island. I reported sighting early this morning and there have been several more in the last hour. Whale watching boats all around and larger sized Orca whales with some spectacular leaps. Smaller pod a short distance behind them. I'm sure you've received documentation from these recent sightings but it's been a unique experience to see them so close to the Hat Island side of the passage between Hat and Whidbey islands. -Thanks, Cheryl Stief
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11:35 - Watching whales heading north past Camano Island, as seen from Langley. -Report Sandra Pollard, photo Richard Snowberger, Aug 17, 2018
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11:03 - approaching west side of Camano Head. Mid channel.
10:53 - Potential "relations" between T37 and T100C. They're separated from everyone else and very close to one another, rolling, pec slapping, etc
1027: Saratoga is with T100's, T37, 37Bs and 34's just west of Gedney. Group really spread out. No real direction. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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08:45 - They were sighted again southbound close to shore on southeast corner of Hat Island about 8:45, total 5 in the group. -Lori Christopher
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07:29 - this pod of at least 3 Orcas were in front of my home off the NW point of Hat Island. As they reached the point, they disappeared...not sure if they stopped to eat or just traveled north toward Camano or if they went east around the island? I've had my home for 23 years and have never seen them this close to shore! -Cheryl Stief
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Fri Aug 17 - Bigg's Transients: T34s, T37, T37Bs, T100s - Saratoga Passage. The T100s, who have been traveling inland Puget Sound for a few days, were joined by the others this morning. Filmed from shore off Shangri La Shores and Hidden Beach, Whidbey Island as they made their way south after having spent the day heading north up Saratoga Passage. When I caught up to them seas were glassy calm and the whales were in slow travel mode with some surface activity (tail lobs, breaches, circling, socializing). These families include one three-year old (T100F, born 2015) and two one-year-olds (T34B and T37B2 - both born summer 2017). -Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Tue Jul 17 - ~14:00 - Was just south of Tacoma narrows bridge. It was heading south? From narrows bridge where we girst spotted it towards day island and beyond towards Anderson. Can't remember the time. -Vicki Horton
(short video viewed confirms humpback - alb)

August 16
We found the T2C's last days, first around San Juans and today around Sucia Islands. They looked healthy and happy, yesterday on da move and today hunting, quite active and all 5 were there. T2C1 spyhopped in front of our boat. They slowly were going up and down the coast, we left them after a short while. We came from Victoria with Mark Malleson - we spend all week with him, tomorrow another day. -Inge & Peter Pijpelink
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Thu Aug 16 - 16:35 - leaving the T100s finishing up a kill just east of Crescent Harbor. No true direction but trending south. -Renee Beitzel
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16:03 - Orcas, eastbound approaching Polnell Point, Whidbey. -Rachel Haight
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14:35 - my dog Kai and I at Long Point, Whidbey near the the head of Penn Cove. I could see a group of orcas on the south, possibly east, side of Polnell Point heading north. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:35 - 3 orcas just past my house on Eagle Crest on Camano Island, heading north towards Utsalady, followed by a couple of pleasure boats. -Kristina Trowbridge
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13:11 - We just had a small pod come through Saratoga Passage right in front of our place on Camano Island...What a day for whale watching! We are in Camp Comfort...they were right out front about 20 minutes ago, headed north. -Jessica Amy Brehe
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Thu Aug 16 - 16:45 - Orcas, entrance to Bellingham channel. -Anna Stevens, S/V Epilogue
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~16:22 - Three males and one unknown off Green Point in Washington Park. -Photo by Dave Snyder, Aug 16, 2018
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August 16th trip report - With smoky haze still lingering, we headed north in Rosario Strait towards whales, but heard a report of whales much closer - at Deception Pass! We turned back and found Transient/Biggs whales - T101s and T102! We had some amazing views of these 4 whales as they slowly traveled towards Lopez Island. Mom and her 3 kids are in excellent condition, there's lots of food available for them (seals, sea lions, porpoise etc.). Homeward bound we passed many seals hauled out on various rock formations, plus glimpses of harbor porpoise, and always, a few bald eagles. We forgot about the haze during this spectacular day - well done Capt. Eric!! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.
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12:34 - T101s have pushed SW off Deception pass and offshore. -Rachel Haight
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12:20 - Leaving T101s westbound outside Deception.
11:57 - And, T101s just circled back. I think they're hunting in the tide rips.
11:48 - Confirmed T101's with 102. Heading out of Deception now at 1148.
11:44 - possibly T101's with 102 (haven't confirmed yet) in Deception Pass! 3 males and 1 female. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Thu Aug 16 - 23:01- Hello! I am Sitting on my deck of a summer rental home. Watauga Beach, Manchester, Wa, Rich Passage, I hear blow hole breathing, really strong breathes. Holy cats! Not a seal or sea lion. Big lungs, making huge ring of the rise, rises. Whale is going back and forth, lunging and flopping. First I zeroed in on one, in the dark! Then, saw there were two others ahead of my initial spot. I saw a Small dorsal fin on one via my binos. There are lots of salmon running through this pass right now. i'll stay up and report more, if more. Here's what struck me: The "largeness" of the splashing; They moved slow and long; once I realized there was more than one, how spread out they were. lots of loud; The biggee: How loud their breathing was. I've had the great blessing of hearing orcas and their blow holes from our family's boat when we've gone still in the water. As you know, once you hear that sound, you never forget it!! Also, there are many pinniped out front (harbor seals..I believe-) and I've heard their breathing. This was not them. I really believe this, after a night of sleep: That one dorsal fin, seen by me, in front of the neighbors house, with their porch light helping vision with my binos...was just too big not to be a female orca. Fyi, Not, the big giant male fin. -Kathleen Cage

August 15
The scene tonight with the T002C's around Russell Island (Salt Spring Is, BC). Here is a spyhop from T002C1 "Rocky" beside his mom, T002C "Tasu". -Photo by Gary Sutton, Aug 15, 2108
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Wed Aug 15 - 15:45 - T100s are still northbound and they just passed Lowell Point on Camano Island. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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15:44 - viewed orcas (T100s) from Lowell Point south of Camano State Park, west side of Camano in Saratoga Passage. -Kim Williams
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A few from today on Saratoga out of Edmonds! T100's, incl. T100C were caught and lunched on a harbor porpoise near Tulalip Bay this morning! T100F was very happy and breached multiple times including this one right towards me! The pod left the lungs and some rib cage and again this afternoon left the lungs from a seal. -Janine Harles
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12:30 - we left the T100s aiming toward Saratoga passage at Camano head, all grouped up in a resting mode.
12:00 - T100 pod caught a porpoise, ate it, and now they are heading south towards Camano Head (south end of the island).
11:30 - the T100s are just now entering Port Susan slowly northbound and very spread out.
10:55 - T100 pod found north of Hat Island between Hat and the Snohomish river delta slowly northbound, spread out. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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08:15 - Orca whale sighting. Sighted a very large Male Orca Whale @ about 8:15 am on 08-15-18. The Orca was swimming in an easterly direction toward the Clinton-Mukilteo Ferry Crossing. I spotted the Orca from the beach/shoreline @ Possession Point. The Orca was approximately +-150 to 200 yards from my position. -Paul Joseph (Joe) Wolcott

August 14
August 14th trip report - we headed out under foggy/smoky skies, towards Colville Island to check out the harbor seals, some with new pups, caught sight of a Steller sea lion swimming off Iceberg Point, found a few salmon jumping, and then located Transient/Biggs killer whales, the T02Cs!! A very special family group of 5 whales (mom and her 4 offspring) - with a 13 year old male who has scoliosis, and a calf (T02C4) born in 2017. We had some great views of these whales as they headed towards Discovery Island (BC). The fog had lifted, some smoky haze remained but visibility at the water level was good. A few harbor porpoise and bald eagles were encountered on the return trip to port, a big thanks Capt. Eric for finding those special T's. Family grouping - Mom T2C born 1989, T2C1 born 2002, T2C2 born 2005, T2C3 born 2011, and T2C4 born 2017. T2C2 known as "Tumbo". He has scoliosis. Orca families stay together for life, and his wonderful family waits for him, and helps feed him. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist (Images cropped and zoomed.)
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Tue Aug 14 - 20:07 - Orcas, just saw 4-6 individuals 100 yards off Point No Point heading south. -Jake Carter
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18:20 - Orcas mid channel possibly closer to Whidbey side passed southend of Lagoon Point heading south. Hard to say how many but for sure two. -Marilyn Armbruster
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1706: T100s (only 4) heading south into Admiralty Inlet at Partridge Point. ...Keep an eye out for the 65As also! They were initially reported to be with T100's but when we arrived, it was only the 100's. Maybe they split initially and then followed up the rear if they are in Admiralty Inlet. When we left T100's southbound, just south of Partridge, they were nowhere in sight. (Update: 65As confirmed up north, NOT in Puget Sound.) -Renee Beitzel

August 13
With all the recent media coverage about the troubles J Pod and all Southern Residents are having it was nice to see only a few boats today west of Sooke giving plenty of space and limiting their time with J Pod as they foraged and continued west out to the open ocean. J50 Scarlet west of Sooke, J39 Mako, J45 Se-Yi'-Chn, and J49 T'ilem I'nges - westbound Juan de Fuca. J27 Blackberry.. Hope they meet up with K & L Pod and find plenty of Chinook Salmon! -Paul Pudwell
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17:53 - Still pushing south but also went further off shore, just specks in the haze. Hope they continue down south though!
17:20 - orcas southbound by Deception Pass State park. Several boats following. -Rachel Haight
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Mon Aug 13 - 08:30 - Orca Sighting, ~10 orcas seen traveling west side of Lummi Island. They were going North and moving at a good pace. -David McAdams
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Mon Aug 13 - Call at 8:26 re: ~5 orcas SW of Sucia Island, seen from Fox Cove, heading west. -No name given

August 12
Members of J-Pod with the Lummi Nation boat that brought Chinook salmon, shown here off Land Bank's Westside Preserve on San Juan Island. While not shown in this photo, earlier this afternoon we saw them make an attempt to feed J50 Scarlet and her family. While watching from shore, we had no way of knowing if they were successful or not. Yay for happy whale photos! 5 breaches in a row from my girl J41 Eclipse this afternoon! -Monika Wieland Shields, Aug 12, 2018
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Trip Report: We headed out toward San Juan Island with reports of J pod spread along the shore and out into Haro Strait. After a stop at Colville Island to see the adorable harbor seals, we caught up with some males about a mile out from Eagle Point, and had a very nice visit with L87 Onyx (born 1992) who swims with J pod, and young male J38 Cookie (born 2003) whose dorsal fin has really grown! We then had J27 Blackberry (born 1991) cruising north and were able to see his lovely saddle patch. We also saw J31 Tsuchi (born 1995) who is J27's sister. There were other members of J pod further south but since the researchers and others working to help J50 were there, we left that group. There were a nice group of big Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks....always a treat to see those magnificent creatures! The water was calm, it was cool, all together a lovely day! -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist
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This orca passed very close to our boat today at Cattle Point. Our engines were not running.-Photo by Regan Haines, Aug 12, 2018
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08:54 - still hearing faint faint calls every once in awhile
08:12 - just heard a couple of vocalizations on Lime Kiln and some echolocation. -Alethea Leddy
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Sun Aug 12 - ~16:00 - Seal Rocks, north tip of Lummi Island. Orca sighting!! 4 in total. Sighting around 4pm they travelled from the far side of the bay towards the rocks and were still around the rocks when we carried on. -Nichole Marples
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Sun Aug 12 - 19:27 - 7 - 8 orcas, mid-way between Bush Pt. and Lagoon Pt. headed north, about one and a half miles offshore. -Claudia Mitchell
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We saw the Ts heading up Admiralty from our neighbor's yard and from Bush Pt. lighthouse and from the south side of Lagoon Point. Best was at the BP light but they still avoided coming up near us. It was a thrill to see them finally. They were in a tight resting line about 3 miles south of us, through the big eyes. T137A & looks like T46. T46E -Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network
(ID Alisa LB, ON)
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19:25 - Orcas visible from North Lagoon Point. As Sandra posted, not close to Whidbey. Seem to be more spread out than earlier. Still going north. -Becky Livingston
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While the plight of the Southern Residents and the recent events continue to haunt us, it was a pleasure to see so many people enjoying the magnificent spectacle of some of our well-known transient orcas, the T46s and T137s, cruising north along the west side of Whidbey Island on August 12. Orcadorks and spectators alike stood transfixed by the sheer magnificence of the orcas as they powered towards Bush Point, no more than a few yards from shore, leaving everyone wide-eyed and breathless at the close proximity of this exhilarating encounter. -Sandra Pollard
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When I heard the 137s and the 46s were traveling together, I so badly wanted to see them as I adore both of those families, AND they have some of my favorite boys - I can't help it, I'm a sucker for the big orca males. My heart swooned getting to see T137A, T46D and T46E swimming together yesterday! They graced us with a fairly close pass by Bush Pt - it felt so good to be back out chasing whales from the shores of beautiful Whidbey. -Rachel Haight
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18:03 - Orcas, about at Bush Point now.
17:40 - Orcas, on the Whidbey side of the channel, about half way up Mutiny Bay. We can see them from the shore at the north end Mutiny Bay. Seem to still be heading north. -Mike Meyer
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Squeaked on the 4 pm ferry, doggies and I hit up west side of Whidbey Island before heading home. T137's and T46' Transient Biggs Orcas were just passing Mutiny Bay and Bush Point around 5-6ish pm. They were in a fast traveling mode going north out of Admiralty Inlet...Marilyn Armbruster
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17:20 - Watching the Transients between Kitsap Peninsula and Mutiny Bay (Whidbey), in a resting line, angling toward the Whidbey side. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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Whales passing Double Bluff, steady northbound grouped up. -Photo by Richard Snowberger, Aug 12, 2018
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16:09 - orcas have completely stalled south of Useless Bay, Whidbey side of mid-channel.
15:32 - Ts mid Useless Bay - line of sight from WDFW boat launch area east of Point No Point. Slowly heading north, but trending towards Whidbey side of Admiralty. -Connie Bickerton
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15:16 - Leaving Point No Point (PNP). T's still generally northbound in 2 groups; leaders were passing Double Bluff and trailers back a ways...we did see them from PNP generally NB starting 2:30 pm, circling back, possible hunting activity with big splashes, then heading into Admiralty, mid channel-ish and then drifting farther east by the time PSE caught up to the trailers. Lead group passing Double Bluff and the trailing group approaching Double Bluff when I left around 3:15pm. Counted minimum 7 orcas. Documented 4 dorsals up at once. -Donna Van Renselaar
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15:01 - Orcas Still heading north just shy of Double Bluff. Puget Sound Express is with them. -Carol Derusha
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14:40 - Passing Point No Point northbound, steady pace. ~6. West side (Kitsap side) of the shipping lanes. Committed to Admiralty Inlet. -Sara Frey
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14:11 - Orcas passing Eglon headed north. -Carol Derusha
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13:28 - Tucked in close to Apple Tree Point, two groups spread out, 7-9 total. Boat did not approach, was unaware and flagged down and stopped just within their path. -Pandora Bjeletich
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13:00 pm - 6'ish Orcas, heading north at Apple Tree Pt - very close to Kingston side - traveling at a good pace. T46D - Kingston. -Gina James Vigna
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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12:58 p.m. - At least 2 orcas at Kingston just north of ferry lane heading north. At least 4 more in another group just east. -Eric Johnson
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12:00 - Today about noon a group of 7 orcas swam toward my boat just off Jefferson head. They dove under the boat and surfaced on the other side heading north. I was fishing in about 80 feet of water aprx 300 yard offshore. -Jim Petrich
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11:55 - Torie Manx called to report an orca opposite Elliot Bay off Jefferson Head, headed north.
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09:40 - 2 orcas mid channel off Blake Island and West Seattle. -Allan Scozzafave
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9:08 - WSFerries called with a report of a large pod of orcas between the north Vashon terminal and Fauntleroy. No direction given.
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Sun Aug 12 - This curious Humpback Whale was interested in a kelp wrap and our boats today, he spent almost an hour on the surface rolling around and playing with the sea weed. -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 12, 2018
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Sun Aug 12 - 18:48 - My friend just texted me to tell me that she spotted a juvenile gray whale in the inner Quartermaster Harbor approx one hour ago. -Pam Wise
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DOLPHINS - Sun Aug 12 - 15:45 - Kit Hardrock sent a photo taken from about 100' away along the Ruston Way waterfront in Tacoma. Kit was pretty sure it was an orca and it looks like it, but It's difficult to say 100% if this is an orca or possibly one of the dolphins seen in the area for weeks.
ID comment from Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research: "I received numerous reports last night and today from Ruston, Commencement Bay, and even Thea Foss Waterway. Some of the pictures were ID quality, and it is Stump. She likes to feed in the shallows, and is often very close to shore. She also spent years in San Francisco Bay, and doesn't seem to bothered by areas with high boat traffic."

August 11
J35 Tahlequah - "This afternoon at 1407 Pacific Daylight Time, J35 vigorously chased a school of salmon with her pod-mates in mid-Haro Strait in front of the Center for Whale Research for a half mile - no longer carrying the deceased baby that she had carried for at least seventeen days and 1,000 miles...Telephoto digital images taken from shore show that this mother whale appears to be in good physical condition..." -Photo by Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, Aug 11
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Sat Aug 11 - This afternoon at 1407, J35 vigorously chased a school of salmon with her pod-mates in mid-Haro Strait in front of the Center for Whale Research for a half mile - no longer carrying the deceased baby that she had carried for at least seventeen days and 1,000 miles. Her tour of grief is now over and her behavior is remarkably frisky. Telephoto digital images taken from shore show that this mother whale appears to be in good physical condition (no evidence of "peanut-head") following her record-setting ordeal. There had been reports from brief sightings by whale-watchers two days ago that J35 (Tahlequah) was not pushing the calf carcass in Georgia Strait near Vancouver, BC; and, now we can confirm that she definitely has abandoned it. The carcass has probably sunk to the bottom of these inland marine waters of the Salish Sea, and researchers may not get a chance to examine it for necropsy. -Center for Whale Research
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J50/Scarlet and J35/Tahlequah Updates 8/11: The team spent several hours with J50 / Scarlet on Saturday (8/11), watching her behavior and interaction with members of J pod. Researchers from University of Washington observed her swimming with the pod while trying to collect a fecal sample. Later the response team watched her fall as much as 1 kilometer (~1/2 mile) behind against a strong tidal current. Biologists were concerned that they did not see her eat, even in a prime foraging area off San Juan Island. A charter company reported seeing her catch a fish earlier in the day, and we are following up to find out more. Center for Whale Research confirmed J35/Tahlequah is no longer carrying the calf and appears to be in good condition. J50 near Lime Kiln Point, San Juan Island.-NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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13:52 - J50 and J35 are here. Couldn't tell about calf. J50 tight with family. Didn't see all of J Pod, not sure if we missed some or they're not all here. Fecal boat trailing the 16s but distant. Second happy sight of the day: J35 Tahlequah in the middle of a tight, playful, social group of whales, no longer carrying her deceased calf. -Monika Wieland Shields
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I was on San Juan Island on 8/11 at the Land Bank pullout just a bit south of Lime Kiln. About 1:30 pm J pod came through. They were quite spread out and took about an hour to move from south to north along the coast. I believe Mike was bringing up the rear with two females and J50. ID notes: Looks like J46, J51,& J49 - Haro Strait, L87 Onyx off the west side.. -Sara Frey 14:17 - Past lime kiln now. 20-25. Only one large male that I saw. Some breaching, tail lobs. Not sure I can post or send pics till tomorrow. Amazing quite spread out. 13:23 - More coming! 13:18 - I see them, just south of Lime Kiln, a couple ahead of main group. From Land Bank. -Sara Frey
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13:14 - Orcas off Westside San Juan Island trending North.
13:11 - One Orca off Westside Preserve on SJI. Seems to be hunting. -Jack Nolan
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Saturday Aug 11 trip report - on an overcast day, we headed out towards Colville Island to check on the many harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, then had a quick rendezvous with the Steller sea lions on Whale Rocks, and continued towards Salmon Bank to view some of our Southern Resident orcas....J-pod was reported in the area, very spread out, and slowly heading towards the San Juan Island shoreline. We had distant views of the J16s (including J50 Scarlet traveling with mom), and several other Jpod members, including J39 Mako who circled our boat - successfully fishing - good news!! A few bald eagles and glimpses of harbor porpoise rounded out the day - with some much needed rain! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist. Part of the J16s - J16 Slick (est born in 1972), mom to J50 Scarlet (born 2014), and J26 Mike (born 1991). -Photo by Jill Hein, Aug 11, 2018
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J Pod this morning off west coast of San Juan Island America Camp pod was split in multiple groups. Playing, Feeding, split in groups, several breaches, tail lobbing many times. -Carol Knight
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Sat Aug 11 - 20:15-21:15 - Saturday. We watched and listened to them from our beach as they headed north in Eld Inlet, along the eastern shore. What started out as late dusk turned to total darkness as they slowly made their way with surfaces, blows and simple breathing into the center of the channel between Edgewater Beach and Boston Harbor. Then they disappeared. -Kim Merriman
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19:00 - 20:30 - 4 Orcas (appeared 2 M, 1F, & poss calf), Sunset Beach/Green cove area of Eld Inlet. Traveling, feeding and some play, definitely traveling in search of food. Possibly scared down into our Inlet by Jet Skiiers and Boats. Jet Skiers left after we started yelling at them...They (orcas) were within an 1/8th mile of our Bulkhead. Fed and cruised around in front of our place for about 1 hour, then headed back North....tide was high at a approximately 15.7 tide. Majestic, many breaches and we could hear them breathe. SO AMAZING! -Tom Bean
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17:40 -18:30 - We went out in our boat where we found them once more near the south end of Harstine Island. From about 5:40 to 6:30 we followed them along the south end of Harstine while doing our best to keep our distance and telling other boaters to do the same. Unfortunately, we turned back before we could see whether they went up Pickering Passage or down one of the inlets. -Connor O'Brien
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18:12- Passed Johnson Point, southeast bound. We're on the beach, on the southeast end of Harstine Island.
18:05 - Orcas, now heading south through Dana Passage towards Johnson Point.
17:58 - Orcas, heading east toward the Nisqually Reach. -Cindy Klein
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17:00 - orcas (3 with 1 large) have been in front of my house an hour. About 2 Miles north of Joemma Beach in Case Inlet. -Charlotte Smothers
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16:27 - Two orcas south of Herron island near shore on Longbranch side heading southbound. -Brent Kobayashi
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14:16 - Hi! Just wanted to mention that we saw two orcas, at the beach of the Sequalitchew Creek Trail (Dupont)...they headed south together. -Catrina Miller
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12:00 heading up Pickering passage.
11:30 six splashing south of Stretch island. We're watching them from Harstine island. May be heading south? -Liz Wolk
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11:27 - I've been watching from the north end of Harstine for the last hour or so. They came by very close to shore with lots of breaches and tail-lobs. Easily the best orca encounter I've ever had. Now they are slowly southbound mid channel between the north end of Harstine and Key Peninsula. T46 and family - north end Harstine Island this morning. -Connor O'Brien
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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~ 11:15 - Pickering Passage between Grapeview & the north end of Hartstene Island. Boat was stopped as we knew there were orcas in the area. They approached the boat and gave our visitors from Michigan quite a thrill. Our 2 yr old twin nephews especially loved the "black whales". -Cammy Malm LaRiviere
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11:04 - Large group of orcas (6 I think) rolling around between the north point of Harstine. Lots of breaching and slapping. Watching from the shore for the last hour. At least two big males. -Cindy Faker
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11:00 - Orca Sighting Grapeview, Stretch Island. a pod of approximately 6 or 7. Believe we saw 2 babies. Playing, then traveling south. -Timothy Gero
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10:18 - I spotted at least 3 orcas north of Herron Island mid channel between Harstine and the mainland northbound. Presumably the T46s and T137s from yesterday. -Connor O'Brien

August 10
During our Parks Canada evening wildlife talk at East Point last night (Friday, August 10), just after 8 p.m. The Southern residents showed up and we were treated to breaching, tail lobs and the beauty and wonder of these magnificent whales. I would estimate about 50 people in attendance at our talk, were lucky enough to be present when the whales came by. Unfortunately, I did not have a phone or camera with me but several others did, hopefully they will share anything with your organization. -Robert Bruce
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18:00 - J pod member sighting. Saw 3 members (including one male) of J pod In active Pass today. Traveling North or northeast. 48.8615 -123.3316. -Michael J Schmidt
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At 10:30 am on August 10, a very spread out group of orcas went eastbound through Active Pass. Most were travelling quickly, some were porpoising and one did a spy hop. The last group showed more activity with multiple tail slaps and some body lunges. Far, far behind them, came J50, all alone. J50 Scarlet (who is ill) eastbound Active Pass off Galiano Island. J51 Nova - Active Pass. J38 Cookie and his mom J22 Oreo - Active Pass. L87 Onyx - Active Pass from the shore of Galiano Island taken by Gary Cullen. -Karoline Cullen
(ID by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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2018 August 10th, J Pod in Active Pass from Galiano Island shore. One of several groups of J Pod in Active Pass at around 10:30 am. The whales were widely spread out and moving quickly in small groups. "Scarlet" or J-50 was traveling alone and about 10 minutes behind all the others. -Video by Gary Cullen, Aug 10, 2018
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09:50 - Orca Sighting. We saw a large pod of orcas (at least 18 or more) travelling between Galiano Mayne Islands. We were on the 8:50am ferry, Salish Eagle, and has just left Sturdies Bay. Travelling, and some were playing or feeding. -Marielle Smith
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J50/ Scarlet Update: J Pod moved into Canadian waters on Friday (8/10), and the international response team followed. The team spotted J50 / Scarlet and watched as she repeatedly dove and surfaced where the pod was feeding. Biologists could not tell whether she also fed, but they collected leftover scale samples that will help identify what kind of salmon the whales had eaten. J50 / Scarlet again appeared active and energetic. The team also sighted J35 / Tahlequah, but could not confirm if she was still carrying her calf due to poor visibility. We will provide updates as the team continues this unprecedented effort to learn from and support J50 / Scarlet and her family. J50 / Scarlet swims near Point Roberts, WA -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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Fri Aug 10 - Trip report - On another beautiful sunny day, we headed inter-island toward San Juan, where Transient/Biggs whales had been spotted. We found the whales - T18s and T19s, near Flattop Island, then watched them circle Gull Island - looking for lunch! The four whales leisurely traveled in the area, and we left them as they started to head across Boundary Pass, aiming towards Saturna/South Pender Islands. Homeward bound we checked out the (lucky) seals and bald eagles on Flattop Island, and again traveled between the spectacular islands to cap off another wonderful day. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.
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Fri Aug 10 - 20:25 - There are three separate groups in the Budd/Eld inlets area. They are split up. Some are at Zangle Cove after going north and south in front of Boston Harbor. Others headed west after/toward Hunter Point. -Kim Merriman
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20:11 - 5 orcas are in Zangle Cove
20:03 - update from friends on their boat: They look like they are now quarter mile due north of Boston Harbor, heading towards Johnnson's Point. -Karen Marie Leetch
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~ 20:00 - At least 7 Orca in Eld Inlet, some close to Frye Cove. Moving in and out of inlet. Hovered near fish pens. No sign of the usual seals. They Traveled north toward Dana Passage and Budd Inlet entrance about 8 pm after playing, spy hopping, fins slaps, and breaching. -Kathie Bauer
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19:30 - 4-5 Orca Whales in Budd Inlet across from Boston Harbor feeding for about 30-40 minutes. -Allison Price
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18:40 - 4 each - Orcas (1-stand out size XL, 2-LRG+,1-LRG,1-SML whales) As I labored to locate a carpenter ant nest, roof area of my home a LOUD "DAD!!!...DAD!!!..DAAAD WHERE R U!!" Up here Mattson! On the roof! My breathless 8yr olds Mohawk appeared atop the ladder lamenting loudly ORCAS!!! 400' to 500' from shore, passing the deep water dock to my immediate south, Killers headed towards Cooper Point, oblivious to the floatilla of tag-a-long boat paparazzi. A welcome sight beyond tail slapping, head bobs, and mighty dorsal fins cruising effortlessly. I am thankful to see them. Snack on a seal, squid, salmon mighty hunters. Contact this close grounds me for a brief while, pondering challenges these apex mammals are enduring I feel lifted knowing I'm not alone in it, empowered contemplating what to do for me and mine, as our waterborne neighbors swim by enduring the insensitive actions of the masses overwhelming both our homes. Whoa one mile of dwindling view, outstanding! -Eldest Salt
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17:30 - Orcas passing Cooper Point heading south into Eld Inlet. Very choppy seas. Spread out and with long dives. Hard to see from the beach looking into the sun and with large waves. -Kim Merriman
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16:50 - 17:10 - Just Spotted in front of Hunters Point and Squaxin Island, Three Orcas, very active right now and close to shore. Southbound towards Budd Inlet. -Vicki Opsata
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16:18 - Just lost sight of them heading SW between Harstine Island and Johnson Point. -Tina Davis
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Orca sighting, 4, including babies traveling. Dana Passage, off Harstine Island. -Photo by Cindy Klein, Aug 10, 2018
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16:18 - orcas, definitely headed south down Dana Passage at 5-6 knots.
16:03 - orcas .7 miles off Johnson Point, headed south down Dana Passage. -John Gore, Tug captain
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15:55 - Just passing Johnsons Point northbound. -Photo by Joan Ahre, Aug 10, 2018
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15:35 - Orca sighting Case Inlet. Reporting two orca traveling northbound off shore between Johnson Point and Anderson Island. Swam by at appx 3:35 pm. Observed from our yard, address xxxx Walnut Rd NE, Olympia. Zoom in on photo to see dorsal fin. -Leslie Demich
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15:25 - from Anderson Island FB group, they were seen south of the island with the Nisqually delta behind them. Direction of travel uncertain (whether still heading south or rounding the island)
14:10 (from the Anderson Island FB group) off the Riviera Marina, heading south. 1 pair, 1 straggler. Moving fast. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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14:50 - seeing a lone orca from the south side of Nisqually Reach looking toward Anderson Island. The fin seemed large. -Bill Samaras
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13:15 - just south of fox island fishing pier. Mid channel. Saw 2 or 3 dorsals. Headed south. -Ashley Whitman
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13:21 - Multiple groups of Orcas just passed by Toy Point, Fox Island Concrete Fishing Pier. Headed south in three groups. Lead group was mid channel/closer to Chambers. Two smaller groups after that were progressively closer to FI. All I know is they went south and I haven't noticed them returning. -Glenn Hansen
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13:18 - saw the orcas still southbound passing the buoy at the south end of Fox Island. Spread out, some close to Fox shore. Fom Steilacoom ferry dock,
13:06 - We're on the ferry headed into Steilacoom and we see multiple blows of whales headed into Chambers Bay area. Lots of boats in their vicinity. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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There was one straggler that stayed 1/4-1/2 mile back meandering near the shoreline so if your out watching be aware there may be others not in the pack. -Keith O'Rourke
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12:54 - Looked like the smaller pod was hunting seals in the kelp beds just south of Gig Harbor. But that was about 30 minutes ago. -Melissa Malott
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12:45 - orcas, south of Narrows Bridge. 4 mid channel and 3 on gig harbor side.
12:37 - orcas, just north of Tacoma Narrows Bridge, heading south. Mid channel, -Sarah Whalen
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12:20 - orcas have passed Point Defiance & are continuing South down the Narrows. Mid channel across from Salmon Beach. They passed pretty close to Gig Harbor - this was about 12:15. -Heidi Armstrong
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12:00 - The transients all turned South at the south end of Colvos Passage aiming toward Point Defiance now.
11:50 - after making a few kills at the south end of Vashon (likely seals and a porpoise judging by their behavior) they are now aiming at Colvos Passage. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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11:49 - Watching orca at Owen Beach heading toward Narrows. -Dana Andrews
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11:31 - Spotted at least 4 dorsal fins at the Vashon Ferry terminal (south end). Headed in no specific direction. Watching from Gig Harbor. T137A and Washington State Ferry.-Gaby Kinner
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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11:00 - T137pod and T46 pod at the South end of Vashon island swimming south from Maury Island. -Bart Rulon, MVSaratoga
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10:18 - Two groups of T's just passed pt Robinson heading south. 4-5 in first group. 2 in second....first group was far out the second group surfaced unexpectedly 10 feet from the beach from us. We were just chatting thinking all had passed and out of no where a big male porpoised right in front of us, with a second that followed!! Amazing! T46's and T137's. -Kelly Keenan
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09:58 - Passing by Maury Island Marine Park, mid channel. At least four, with at least one male. Heading south slowly. A second group close to Maury Island. Point Robinson pass by T46D. -Patrick Gould
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09:18 - Orcas passing by Pt Robinson on Vashon heading south. -Jake Conroy
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08:20 - Very large male approx 100 feet from Vashon side (Glen Acres -North End) heading south. Very long dives down. With another - not identifiable. -Jan Kubat Staehli
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07:47 - Good morning! Just got a report of 4-5 orcas headed south at north end Vashon ferry. Going down east side. -Amy Carey
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07:00-07:30 - Saw a baby orca that looked like it was traveling alone directly east of Vashon. It eventually headed northwest. -Katelyn Pallas
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Fri Aug 10 - 10:22 - 5 Orcas spotted feeding off of Oregon coast near south beach of Lincoln City, Oregon. -Jared Benson
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Fri Aug 10 - Some great seas and weather today with 4 different humpback whales around Race Rocks Lighthouse. Humpback CRC 15970 aka MMZ0004. Humpback CRC 16455 aka BCYunk Scratchy. -Paul Pudwell
(IDs by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Fri Aug 10 - Orca (probably gray whale 2234) just out from Utsalady. Same place, and in late morning, afternoon, and evening. Just NE of Utsalady Pt. across from Strawberry on Whidbey. They, or it, has been fairly close to Camano shore, so feel pretty certain you have already been told. However, this is my first sighting from porch of home just moved in to. Very exciting. So did some research and found you. -Patricia Farrow-Bowen, Camano Island.

August 9
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Sometime between 8:50 and 9:10 one female with a calf close by appeared, followed by two females/juveniles. Very possible that I missed it if there was a male with them, it was almost completely dark over most of the water and they were traveling fast. Female that was with a calf was doing tail lob after tail lob...this was at land bank and they were headed south quickly. -Cassie Barclay
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19:04 - Currently seeing some fins down off Salmon Bank/Eagle Cove...Erin Cora
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18:57 - echolocation and S6? call - on OrcaSound.
18:47 - super loud S1 call and some nice echolocation..followed by S10s - on Orca Sound.
18:21 - loud S1 call followed minute later by faint echolocation. on Lime Kiln hps. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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18:37 - Hearing them on the OrcaSound hydrophone. -Gayle Swigart
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(Only ~7 whales passed Land Bank going north - looked like possibly J22s, J14s, and L87. J16s apparently stayed down south - MWS) 17:50 - 3 whales have passed Land Bank, made it to Lime Kiln northbound. I've got two males milling off Land Bank. , many others well spread to south.
1730 - presumed leaders passing Land Bank northbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
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17:42 - more vocals, some close, but not loud and few calls now more distant.
17:35 - A couple of loud S1 calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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17:21 - One orca at Land Bank norhtbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
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17:17 - Ok... few blows definitely on a north track!
17:03 - N of Eagle Point, some breaches at a distance. Just got to False Bay. Saw a dorsal, but even with binoculars I can't make out a direction. -Cher Renke
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14:35 - J pod crossing into US waters in Haro from Strait of Juan de Fuca. NOAA boat with J16's right now. -Sharon Grace
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Thu Aug 9 - 22:30 NOAA Update: J50/Scarlet Update (8/9): Progress! Response teams today reached J Pod in Canadian waters and followed them into U.S. waters near San Juan Island. While very skinny and small, J50/Scarlet kept up well with her mother and siblings. Veterinarian Marty Haulena from the Vancouver Aquarium got a thorough look at her and the team obtained a breath sample that will help assess any infection. They also administered a dose of antibiotics through a dart. Next step is to determine whether to proceed with trial feeding, depending on conditions and the location of the whales. Great work by the teams on the water!
15:30 Update: J50/Scarlet (8/9) Update: Teams have refined their stepwise treatment strategy and priorities and are ready if they encounter J50 / Scarlet. They laid out the steps this way:
> Collect breath sample (via long pole)
> Collect fecal sample (scooped from the water)
> Other sampling of mucus and/or skin if practical (via long pole)
> Simultaneously complete visual veterinary health assessment
> Provide antibiotic treatment through pole system or dart
Once all of those are complete, then the teams will consider using live fish as a means to provide medical treatment to support her critical condition. If they decide to attempt that unprecedented step, they would first conduct a trial release of live fish to see if she will take the fish. The team would release fish from a vessel through a chute about 50 to 100 yards in front of J50/Scarlet. If she takes it, the team will discuss delivering oral medications inserted into the live fish based on the outcomes of the veterinary assessment. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Thu Aug 9 - 19:49 - They were crazy active feeding! Heading south again at Bush Point
19:25 - They have changed directions now heading north.
19:00 - They are coming straight towards Bush Point lighthouse. Not too far out. -Marilyn Armbruster
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19:13 - orcas milling off Bush Pt, trending south, slightly on the Whidbey side. -Pat Scott
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19:11 - there is one male present, they are very active.
19:01 - 7 - 8 orcas headed south off Bush Pt. -Claudia Mitchell
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18:53 - Orcas just N of Bush Pt. heading slowly south. -Anna Singao
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18:51 - Seem to appear closer now to Bush pt maybe Whidbey side of mid channel but still in the same general north to south location. I'm sitting at the end of Sandpiper Lane Bush Point and they are straight out from me. To tell you the truth i dont know what they're doing...
17:45 -18:15 - They pretty much have stayed in the same area last half hour. Still of course a few miles north of the south Marrowstone channel buoy...
17:11 - Transients are southbound due west of the southend of Lagoon Point, mid channel. They stayed at Lagoon Pt from at least 4 to 5 pm. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:00 - whales committed to east shore of Marrowstone southbound passing Fort Flagler.
15:48 - seeing blows halfway between Point Wilson and Fort Flagler as seen from Lagoon Point... Just spotted a dorsal but distant still. Appear to be south east bound. -Sandra Pollard
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14;21 - Orca Sighting. We spotted several between Whidbey Island and Fort Worden near the lighthouse. A report was sent from a boat following them to a person at the marine science center at the fort who told us about them that's when we saw them closer Whidey Island splashing but we didn't see them directly only them splashing. -Zach Hickerson
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14:18 - Orcas just passed Point Wilson, Whidbey side continuing south bound. -Jonathan Crossman
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13:22 - T46D just showed up as we are leaving.
13:11 - NW of Point Wilson, Port Townsend with T46's (minus T46D) and 137's (minus T137A) heading towards Point Wilson currently in a zig-zag pattern for the most part, but trending southeast into Admiralty Inlet. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Thu 8/9 Trip Report: In bright, warm sunshine we left Cap Sante and headed northwest through beautiful Pole Pass, through the heart of the San Juan Islands. We found lovely humpback BCZ0180 "Monarch" in President's Channel, generally heading southwest. He/she did some very nice fluke up tail dives, giving us a good look at the beautiful pattern on the underside of the tail fluke, the identifying marks. We then headed to Flattop Island and saw a lot of adorable fat harbor seals, and and eagle family, with two mature mates, and at least one juvenile with a mottled brown and white feather pattern. Beautiful day! -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist.
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Thu Aug 9 - A gray whale has been feeding along the eastern shore of Port Susan Bay between Spee-Bi-Dah Beach and Tulare. We have seen a whale twice recently - on July 22 and again on August 9. Of course we are not sure it was the same whale, but here is a picture of the one we saw August 9 taken with a telephoto lens. Fluke tip of Gray whale PCFG 185. -Mary Lindquist
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)

August 8
NOAA Update: J50/Scarlet Update: Determined teams from Fisheries and Oceans Canada spotted Jpod again today (8/8), this time in U.S. waters off the Olympic Peninsula northwest of Neah Bay, Wash. They saw J50 with her mother, J16, also known as Slick. It was a bittersweet sighting for the teams to also see J35, Tahlequah, today, and witness the continued heartbreaking sight of her still carrying her dead calf, some two weeks since its birth. Our teams from NOAA Fisheries, DFO, and many other essential partners are ready to respond as soon as they are within range and conditions allow them to reach the pod and assess J50's condition. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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Wed Aug 8 - Another special day with Transient Killer Whales...(T037's &T046's, T46E, T137A) South of Race Rocks Light House (am) west to south off Sheringham Lighthouse (pm) with humpback whales too. -Paul Pudwell
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~ 18:30-19:30 - A ton (literally and figuratively lol) of humpbacks in eastern Juan de Fuca Strait yesterday evening (Aug 8). Between about 6:30 and 7:30 we watched around five or six different animals feeding, traveling, resting. This was just west of Victoria. I have one fluke shot. Only two opportunities to get any sort of fluke ID the whole time. As an aside, while ON gathered at Penn Cove and had a meditation moment at 6PM I concurrently visited the spot where Talequah gave birth to her daughter at Clover Point for a moment and offered a small token of flowers to pay my respects. Thanks to Maya's Legacy for offering me the opportunity to take a moment there. -Debbie Stewart
(BCYUnk Scratchy see photo - alb)
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Wed Aug 8 - Humpback Yogi (BCY0409) passed Lime Kiln around noon heading north in Haro Strait. =Debbie Stewart

August 7
DFO photo of J50 and her mother, J16, off Port Renfrew, B.C., on Tuesday (8/7). Ks & Ls have been seen off Port Renfrew by their teams past couple of days. Photo by Brian Gisborne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. -(Courtesy of NOAA Fisheries West Coast)
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Tue Aug 7 - NOAA Update: J50 Update: Good news! Fisheries and Oceans Canada spotted J50 with her pod off Port Renfrew, near the west entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The promising news ends this day of important preparations and anticipation as teams searched for the whales. Today, response teams and partners staged supplies and readied themselves for an opportunity to assess J50. We will provide further updates as they become available. In the meantime, all updates, photographs, and video are available at the NOAA Fisheries West Coast website. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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Tue Aug 7 - Great day on the water making people smile! Humpback whales are in large numbers around Race Rocks and our highlight was an encounter with some transient Killer Whales known as the T018's and T019's, brothers T19B and T19C South/West of Race Rocks heading westbound. -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug - 12:50 - Humpbacks: 4 whales traveling & playing, East of Whale Passage, in and north of Penn Islands (north end of Georgia Strait). The big guy heading west toward Whale Passage and three others heading north past Penn Islands. -Annie Kurzontkowski
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Tue Aug 7 - Great day on the water making people smile! Humpback whales are in large numbers around Race Rocks...Paul Pudwell

August 6
NOAA Update: J50 Update: Response teams continued their search for the J pod of Southern Resident killer whales on Monday (8/6) without success. The whales have not been seen since Saturday night, when they were spotted in open waters on the west side of Vancouver Island. Veterinarians remain on standby to conduct a health assessment of J50, which will inform further steps to support the whale. We deeply appreciate the assistance of many invaluable partners assisting in the search, as well as great public support for the dedicated response teams in the field. We will provide further updates as they become available. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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GRAY WHALES - Mon Aug 6 - We see this gray in Elger Bay this morning too. Shocking to see them here now. -Tami Fifield
(this in response to gray 2234 post, but this could be 2nd gray who keeps primarily to Possession Sound/S Saratoga/Port Susan and is possibly PCFG 185 - alb)
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Gray CRC 2234 off Oak Harbor/North Camano Island area. -Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, August 6, 2018
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13:35 - gray whale off Strawberry Point, Whidbey now trending southbound. Had been doing circles, no fluking. -Bonnie Gretz (presumably gray 2234 - alb)
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11:25 - gray whale #2234 west of Brown Point, Camano Island, feeding in circles. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga

August 5
NOAA Update: Southern Residents have not been seen in the Salish Sea since August 3, which was day 10 that J35 Tahlequah was still carrying her deceased baby. There are indirect reports that some J pod whales were spotted off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island in the past two days but no IDs on which ones were seen, and no reports yet today. -NOAA Fisheries West Coast
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Sun Aug 5 - ~16:10 - T19s off Victoria, we left them about 1610, They were headed west, we left them off Trial Islands. -Sara Baldwin
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Sun Aug 5 - Here is a Humpback Whale I have not seen before...Today in the fog out west of Sooke. -Paul Pudwell
(BCX0915 Fallen Knight see photo - alb)
(ID by Erin Johns Gless)
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Sat & Sun Aug 4 & 5 - We have been seeing a very big Gray whale around Jetty Island in front of Everett. Looks about normal but thought they would all be in Alaska by now. We saw it off Tulalip bay mid July and this past weekend on Saturday and Sunday (August 4th & 5th). -John Ackerman
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Sun Aug 5 - "Scratchy" (new ID # CRC16455) breaching on August 5 out near Victoria. -Photo by Bart Rulon, Naturalist, Puget Sound Express

August 4
20:28 - Reports of Small group of J pod inbound off Otter Point maybe more. -Paul Pudwel
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Sat Aug 4 - Flat calm seas and some thick FOG today but that did not stop us from finding 10+ Humpback Whales just west of Sooke, British Columbia - Vancouver Island, Canada. -Paul Pudwell
(includes MERS BCYuk2018#7 see photo - alb)

August 3
Resident orcas were off Port Renfrew about 15 miles on Swiftsure Bank this morning... -Paul Pudwell
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Fri Aug 3 - I spotted this one off Orcas Is. NW Coast by Lovers Cove on 8-3. It was traveling slowly in a southerly direction about noon that day as I was headed for Sucia from Friday Harbor. BCY0409 Yogi! -Gary Peterson
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Fri Aug 3 - What a fluking awesome day with more than 30 Humpback Whales west of Sooke off shore of Jordan River...WOW! Humpback comeback continues! Tried to get as many ID shots as possible. -Paul Pudwell
(Includes: CS246 (aka: CRC-15995 and MMZ0019) and BCZ0353 - alb)

August 2
11:53 - WOW! Another great day with our Beloved Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales and humpback whales right out front of Sooke, B.C. Looks like they were finding food at times spread out from shore to Traffic Lanes...Some of J and L Pod were present...L123 Lazuli (almost 3-years-old) and mom L103 Lapis. J27 Blackberry off Sooke heading west. -Paul Pudwell
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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Residents were still vocal at 12:40AM when I fell asleep - does anyone know how long they were on the hydrophones? (til about 01:15 (fading out at that time - Jeanne Hyde) -Monika Wieland Shields
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Thu Aug 2 - Jervis Inlet/Straight of Georgia - 13:00 - 2 or 3 orcas traveling north up Jervis Inlet (50 miles north of Vancouver BC). Spotted from land traveling close to shore. Location: 49 48.25 x 123 54.67. -Beverly Saunders
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Thu Aug 2 - 12:07 - Report of 6 orcas heading north about a mile off shore of Cape Mears Lighthouse. -Debbie (no last name provided)
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Thu Aug 2 - ...We then headed all the way to/beyond Victoria to catch up with a humpback whale (unidentified) where we had some great views of this whale, but just one fluke showing. -Jill Hein
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Thu Aug 2 - BCXUnk Stitch - One of the many humpback whales off Sooke, B.C. -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 2, 2018
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)

August 1
Haro Strait (Js and Ls) - 23:28 - J-Pod and 18 L-Pod whales down from the Fraser River! -Monika Wieland Shields
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22:52 - vocalizatons becoming stronger on Lime Kiln hydrophone...They've been audible for more than 80 mins. -Donna Van Renselaar
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Wed Aug 1 - Juan de Fuca Strait (Ls) - Great encounter today only 10 minutes from our docks off Sooke, B.C. with some of L pod of our Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (L41, L85, L77, L119 & L25) and a couple humpback whales in the same area! We are so fortunate to sea these majestic and special orca...Paul Pudwell
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11:06 - (Orcas) Secretary Island (I'm not on the water. Just getting reports from captain & local residents. I'm sure Paul & others will update with Id's)
10:51 a.m - L pod East Sooke west bound..a few close to shore. -Deanna Brett
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Wed August 1 Trip Report: With reports of both Resident and Transient Orcas to the north, we took the beautiful route on the east side of Guemes and Orcas Islands. After a stop at Puffin Island to see harbor seals and five eagles, we caught up with our friends from Monday, the T18/19 family of Transients at Saturna Island. The sun came out as we watched the two females and two big males make giant loops around us. The Residents were headed north, so we made our way back to the marina to end another lovely day in the Salish Sea. -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist
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Wed Aug 1 - Strait of Georgia - 05:30 - Small group of Orcas likely Biggs off Iona headed towards the North Arm (Between the North Arm and Sandheads, Fraser River. Iona jetty sticks out from the airport.) -Scott McLeod
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Wed Aug 1 - Great encounter today only 10 minutes from our docks off Sooke, B.C....and a couple humpback whales in the same area! -Paul Pudwell