August 2019 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of August 2019 whale sightings.

August 31
Sat Aug 31 - Swiftsure Bank - K pod - I had my boat on a fishing trip off Swiftsure bank on Saturday (8/31) and saw a pod of 10 or 12 orcas, in Canadian waters, a 1 - 2 miles to east of the bank. The photos attached were taken with a 300 mm lens and cropped to enlarge. The dorsals in the first photo rise above the low swells that were out. Do they appear to be orcas of the coastal group? There were also a lot of humpbacks out there. (Follow up) Hi Alisa, let's see, my photo files show me the times they were taken, 11:20 to 11:30....There is another photo I see where one of the orcas caught good light and a position above the swell. The background is Vancouver Island...We were traveling west that day. The pod appeared to be moving east, toward the Strait...I wouldn't be surprised if these salmon were salmon-feeding. I presumed so when I saw them in a place salmon fishermen frequent. We didn't have a hard time catching hatchery coho ourselves, along with one 13 (or so) lb chinook which was released. I've only just learned about a third group of orcas, the "offshore," which made me wonder if some of these are from this population. Glad to know these may be useful photos. -Thanks, Tim Roos
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research (CWR): I see the K14s in both photos. I think I see K33, I see K16 as well.)
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Sat Aug 31 - Haro Strait - J pod - 18:30 -19:40 - Observed from shore. Between Hannah Hts and Edwards Point, I observed 12 -14 orca including 4 large males (3 for sure), and a calf - loosely grouped, spread out traveling to the N/NW. Dark clouds before dusk but I believe I saw J39 Mako, J38 Cookie. Just south of Edwards Point 2/3rds of the group turned heading back S/SE with part of that group also moving closer inland. The remaining 5-6 continued past Edwards Point, stalled awhile, U-turned, then followed the others southward. 3 breaches. 1 headstand. (Count might be off due to direction changes). J56 with J19 Shachi and J41 Eclipse -Michelline Halliday, SJI
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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20:18 - Sounds like it was most of J Pod - they got to Lime Kiln and then flipped south.
19:47 - Orca. About 4 or 5 milling offshore at Land Bank.
19:13 - Orca. Ok southbound, maybe 4 or 5 including a male, traveling slowly.
19:04 - My husband just reported whales at Land Bank. -Cindy Hanson, Orca Network
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19:08 - Js. Orcas on Lime Kiln hydrophone, echolocating and calling! -T.L. Stokes
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18:06 - Js. Two orca traveling north - watching them from American Camp. -Luci Francis
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13:32 - Js. Pod is hanging south of Hannah Heights. -David Neiwert
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13:18 - OMG, what a pass by, whales turned north, headed towards False Bay right now, close to shore, lots of breaching. Moving at a good clip, Hannah Heights before long! Hopefully on towards Limekiln!
11:00 - Whales off of Granny's and further south, off shore of American Camp. -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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Saturday, 8/31: So happy to have met up with J pod off False Bay, San Juan Island, in the misty morning. At first they were spread out, moving south, then some milling around, and groups started getting together, doing a little fishing, a little breaching, etc. I think ALL of them were there, including L87 Onyx. Such a joy to see my dear J pod friends!!! Little J56 is adorable!!! On the way back to Pt. Townsend, the sun came out and we found humpback MMX0006 (around MacArther/Hein Bank) doing big circles of feeding, and h/she gave us a couple of very close passes and lovely fluke up tail dives. Very special day, thank you Puget Sound Express! -Bonnie Gretz
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Sat Aug 31 - T60 has a brand new calf T60G, so cute! -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Aug 31, 2019
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MINKE WHALES - Sat Aug 31 - 17:28 - Just saw a Minke heading west from Port Townsend/Fort Warden towards the Strait of Juan deFuca. It's alone. -Carson Allen
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Sat Aug 31 - Admiralty Inlet - 19:30 - Hi there, Single gray or humpback whale mid channel between Fort Casey and Port Townsend on 8/31 around 7:30 PM. Multiple dives and blows. Long arched dives but no flukes showing so could not tell for sure if it was a gray or humpback from where I was. I hope some ferry riders had the opportunity to see it close up. What an amazing sight!! -D Campbell

August 30
Fri Aug 30 - Haro Strait - It had been awhile since Ken had an encounter with the resident whales, so when everybody else was ending their whale watch day he cast off from Snug Harbor in "Chimo" at 1606 in the late afternoon in hopes of getting a glimpse of how the new baby, J56, was doing. About two miles off False Bay, San Juan Island, J27 was spotted foraging in the tidal chop near the end of an incoming tide. Soon, J35 appeared nearby also foraging while accompanied by two young females J53 and J56 that appeared to be having a marvelous time splashing alongside... Notes-Comments: Another photograph was taken of J56 rolling around with J53 and J35, confirming she is female...Full report with photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 58.
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0937 - Js. Big patches of rolling fog in and out. I saw the whales close to the rocks for a few minutes and then all fogged in again just hearing blows and tail flaps
09:01 - Js. Heading out more now. Tail flaps north
08:37 - Js. Blows and tail flaps at Eagle Point. milling , small group, but more blows coming from the north. Definitely SRKWs but can't see much more than fins. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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08:47 - Exhales at Eagle Cove! Lots! Heavy fog, can't see a thing! -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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Sat Aug 31- Strait of Juan de Fuca -We saw a humpback on the Coho ferry this morning 3/4 of the way to Victoria on the 8:15 am ferry. -Rani Hunter
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Sat Aug 31 - San Juans - 16:30 - Humpback currently visible through binoculars when looking South from Iceberg Point. -Tim Reeve
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On the way back to Pt. Townsend, the sun came out and we found humpback MMX0006 (around MacArther/Hein Bank) doing big circles of feeding, and h/she gave us a couple of very close passes and lovely fluke up tail dives. -Bonnie Gretz
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Sat Aug 31 - Admiralty Inlet - I don't have a photo but Saturday night August 31 well beyond sunset a humpback cruised the Lagoon Point beach heading south about 50 yards out at high tide - definitely a humpback and not a gray - first time we've seen one in our neighborhood so close! -Dianne Bratz
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20:30 - 2nd hand report (from Mary & Rick Perrigo) humpback 830 pm right off Lagoon Point heading south. Very close to shore, within 100 yards. -Logan and Lindsey McCune Goheen
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17:34 - Humpback is still feeding off Fort Casey..Yes! Very pleasant surprise. Both (minke & HB) from the WSDOT Port Townsend- Coupeville ferry route. -Carson Allen
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Fri Aug 30 - Strait of Juan de Fuca...we were happy to find around 12 Humpback Whales scattered about the Juan De Fuca Strait and stopped to visit around 8 together east of Sombrio...Good times! -Paul Pudwell
(Includes MMY0146, MMY0149, BCX1053 Tiaki per IDs by Alethea Leddy - alb)
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Fri Aug 30 - San Juans - 15:50 - Humpback S Lopez. And it is there again now (first time I've looked out there since my last report). I'm wondering if it has taken up residence. -Tom Reeve
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Fri Aug 30 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca
12:08 - Humpback off of West Beach (Whidbey).
11:42 - Humpback. Whale heading towards Joseph Whidbey Park. -Terra Parham
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Fri Aug 30 - ~16:00 - The humpback in the video from Hood Canal/Admiralty Inlet looks exactly like the one we saw one at Point No Point about ~16:00. It was right off shore and SO close!!! -Emily Popp Andtiago
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15:45 - Point No Point today at 3:45pm Shawn Chapman sent two videos of a humpback extremely close to shore at Point No Point at 3:45pm heading towards Edmonds. -Frame grab from video by Shaw Chapman, Aug 30, 2019
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13:20 - Humpback. Whale boat has departed, but whale still making steady progress south. Mid-channel, closer to Marrowstone.
13:17 - Definitely a humpback. Southbound again.
13:12 - Large whale, likely a humpback, being trailed by a whale watching boat in Admiralty Inlet between Lagoon Point, Whidbey and Marrowstone Island. Had been heading southbound but just turned back to the north. -Margaret Marshall
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~10:00 - Sandy Willoughby reported a whale in upper Admiralty Inlet off Fort Casey Turns it it was a humpback, the whale swam by extremeley close to shore! Humpback cruises by super close to shore off Fort Casey, Whidbey. -Frame grab from video by Sandy Willoughby, Aug 30, 2019
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06:30 - I saw a humpback (correct me if I'm wrong) this morning north of the Hood Canal Bridge. So cool! Sorry for the language on the beach. -Matt Leach
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GRAY WHALES - Fri Aug 30 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 16:00-17:00 - Watching a gray...started at mid West Beach (Swantown) to north past Joseph Whidbey State Park. Appears to be out from Rocky Point at this time (16:58), northbound... pretty sure #2253 (confirmed). -Marilyn Armbruster
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~16:00 - Gray whale off the west side of Whidbey Island near Swantown. -Frame grabs from video by Dan Sanders, Aug 30, 2019
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15:47 - I *think* it's a humpback (confirmed gray whale - alb) right now Joseph Whidbey State Park. I'm not very good at telling it apart from a grey but it looks big! it's a little ways out but we can hear it. Maybe 200 yards out. -Linnane Armstrong

August 29
Sat Aug 29 - Members of J pod heading south off the west side of San Juan Island. -Photo by Michelline Halliday
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Thu Aug 29 - 16:50 - 17:01 - Haro Strait, SJI. Observed from shore. I observed 11(12?) orcas including J56 and 3 large males flying through the water in tight formation to the S/SE between Edwards Point and Hannah Hts. J56 was easily keeping pace with the big guys; J27 Blackberry, J38 Cookie & J39 Mako as she swam with mom J31 Tsuchi, J19 Shachi, J 22 Oreo and the rest. J31 and J56, J46 and J53 -Michelline Halliday, SJI
(ID J46 & J53 by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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16:04 - Orcas off Lime Kiln State Park right now. At least 4 with whale watching boat. Splashing and jumping....We ran into a whale watching enthusiast and he said it was Jpod. He ID'd J27. We saw 18 whales total headed south!! It was awesome! -Jennifer Feldman Stanton
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14:53 - Lime Kiln hps, hearing more J calls
14:40 - Tuned in to Lime Kiln Hydrophone, heard one J call. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:21 - Jpod on hydrophone at Lime Kiln. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
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13:40 - not sure where they are right now but they left Georgia Strait early this morning. -Rachel Hayden
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13:30 - I've heard rumors is J16's headed in from the west and the rest of the J's headed back south. Can anyone here confirm that? -Christina Rust
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Thu Aug 29 - San Juan Channel -T137s - 14:28 - Orcas headed north up San Juan Channel, headed towards Yellow Island. -Cathleen Burns
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13:59 - Mike WS Ferries Ops called to report at least 2 orcas off Friday Harbor as seen by crew of Kaleetan. They slowed to let the orcas pass.
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Does anyone know which whales were in Griffin Bay today around 12:15? there were a couple boats following them, about 3-4 orcas. (T137s per Sara McCullagh) -Julia Packard
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Thu Aug 29 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - The daily trend continues...with Transient Killer Whales and humpback whales all around Race Rocks Lighthouse...I was finally able to get an Id shot of the active calf. -Paul Pudwell
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Thu Aug 29 - Admiralty Inlet - 14:30 - While walking my dog now on Double Bluff Beach observing a Humpback surfacing regularly approximately 0.25 miles off beach heading slowing in a SW direction. -Janet Stein

August 28
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Wed Aug 28 - Puget Sound/Admiraly Inlet - 19:13 - Orca, now NB off Lagoon Point, appear to be feeding again out of my sight. Saw them from my upstairs loft after my son called from beach. There were at least 3. (We asked if male was present): My view was very limited though and I was lucky to see them at all. I was not close enough for id either, or for pictures. -Patricia Prochaska
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17:45 - We spotted three orcas (one large and two smaller ones) at approximately 545 pm swimming in Mutiny Bay. They then swam toward Bush Point. About halfway between Bush and Lagoon they veered north toward the straits. -Sheila Proby Gross
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16:25 - Orca. Seeing blows between ON HQ south of Bush Pt and Skunk Bay, slowly trending north. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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15:30 - T137s are even with the south end of Double Bluff facing north but barely moving now. On the Whidbey side of the channel. -Bart Rulon
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14:15 - We are viewing from north end of Double Bluff, orcas have repositioned south of Foulweather Bluff mid channel facing northbound.
13:00 - Viewing from Southend Mutiny Bay, orcas in line with yellow channel marker now, moving very very slow northbound. 3 ahead with T137A lagging behind. Closer to Whidbey. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:26 - Orcas, Limpet Lane across Point No Point. Larry Bozzi
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10:40 - MV Saratoga is leaving the T137s a little over a mile south of Double Bluff. Still slowly northbound
10:15 - MV Saratoga has all 4 members of the T137 pod very slowly northbound off Useless Bay. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound express
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07:17 - Mike with WS Ferries Ops called to report one orca transiting northbound in traffic lanes of Edmonds/Kingston run. Ferry slowed to let orca pass.
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Wed Aug 28 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - 07:37 - 2 humpbacks headed east south of Sooke harbor. -Mark Sopchak
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Wed Aug 28 - San Juans - 15:37 - The humpback is in that same area now off South Lopez. I've seen whale boats in that vicinity several other times this week, but unable to confirm the whale through binoculars. -Tom Reeve
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Wed Aug 28 - Admiralty Inlet - 20:15 - Hello, we spotted this humpback whale 25 yards off Point No Point (Kitsap). It was amazing. -Photo by Carrie Barrios
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19:30 - Large beast near Norwegian Point. -Photo by Jesse Avery, Aug 28, 2019
(lunge feeding humpback)
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11:10 - Mike, WS Ferries Ops, called to report a humback whale heading northbound in the northbound shipping lane out from Marrowstone Point.
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Wed Aug 28 - Admiralty Inlet - Blows off Point No Point on the kitsap side-humpback? 6:40 PM no clear direction kind of milling around. -Laurie Arnone
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Wed Aug 28 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - This is our favorite time of the year for great weather and whales! Today with more Transient Killer Whales (T046s & T137s) east of Race Rocks Lighthouse and Humpback Whales everywhere we go...We always go the extra mile to put big smiles on our guests faces! We love what we do! -Paul & Dan Pudwell, Sooke Coastal
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Wed Aug 28 - Strait of Juan de Fuca Humpbacks off Sooke with painted skies...Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 28, 2019

August 27
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Tue Aug 27 - Haro Strait/Active Pass - ~16:00 - J pod entered Active Pass and travelled quickly eastward. Unfortunately, we were not at our usual whale watching spot but were able to see them from the Sturdies Bay ferry terminal as they hugged the Mayne island shore and then from the Gulf Islands ferry as it gave them a wide berth in Georgia Strait. The pod was very spread out, with some breaching and a lot of tail slapping. -Karoline Cullen, Salish Sea Orca Squad, Galiano Island
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A big cartwheel from J31 Tsuchi this morning off the west side of San Juan Island. Not only did she had have J56 with her, she had J53 Kiki with her as well. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, Aug 27, 2019
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~10:45 - Off Sunset Point.... We saw about 11 whales over 2 hrs, from 9~11am. Lots of jumping out of the water and tail slaps. Some were close enough to hear them breathing..it was wonderful. -Jen Strongin
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07:30 - 08:25 - Haro Strait, SJI, J Pod observed and photographed from shore between Hannah Hts and Edwards Point: 10-14 orca spaced out but moving as a group traveling N/NW. Just South of Edwards the group turned due west outward then north again finally drifting back Westside Preserve area. Calm, quiet morning, their sounds were lovely, massive breaching, tail slaps. J27 Blackberry, a small calf - assuming J56, J47 Notch. Possibly J39 Mako (photo attached). -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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06:41 - Okay , I am going to start by saying I am not making this up.... orcas at Pile point... 42 breaches in a minute and a half!!!!!! So amazing!!! What a beautiful, beautiful morning...they were heading north at the time. -Chris Wilson
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Tue Aug 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - So many whales so little time! Our morning and afternoon adventures had the pleasure to visit Transient Killer Whales (T109A's, T010's & T060 D&E) Along with multiple humpback whales...What a special place we live and are able to share the beauty of west coast Vancouver Island around Sooke B.C. -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 27 - ~12:34 - Jon Miller WS Ferries Ops called to report: MV Chelan reported 8 orca NW of Battleship Island near buoy Gulf Romeo.
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Tue Aug 27 - 19:42 - San Juan Clipper just passed a group of 5-6 Ts northbound at President Pt, maybe this same group? (or is possible another group in undetected until Rich Passage where several reports had anywhere from 6-10). -Stephanie Raymond
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13:20 - Saratoga is leaving the T37s and T34s drifting south in a resting line, in line with Foulweather Bluff a bit closer to the Whidbey side.
12:45 - Saratoga has the T37s and T34s mid channel off of Nodule Point slowly southbound. -Justine Buckmaster
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11:16 - Mike with WSF Ferries Ops called to report 6 orcas observed transiting into Port Townsend Bay.
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Tue Aug 27 - Puget Sound - T137s - Brad Hanson and Candice Emmons, NWFSC/NOAA were out with the T137s August 27th, here are their observations: We spent a few hours with the T137s starting about 1145 yesterday. T137A was alone when we first arrived swimming slowly south. He only had a slight head lift when we arrived, but then his behavior suddenly changed. He stopped moving, the head lift became very pronounced, and he sunk down instead of normal diving. This was the case for over an hour. His family group later came in from the south and joined him. At this point his surfacing became more normal again and he could keep up with them. While we were there his respiration pattern seemed normal (2-3 breaths per surface interval) and he didn't take extra breaths when he was with the group. We couldn't detect an odor from his breath. The breaths seemed normal (no wheeze, forceful). His skin looks fairly normal other than some sloughing around his head and on the dorsal fin. Although we could not get a good look there appears to be a light colored area of skin at the base of the peduncle on the right side. We didn't see any foraging while we there. Unfortunately it was too windy to collect a breath sample. Similarly the 20 knots of wind precluded effective fecal sampling. After the whales joined up they milled for a while and then headed west towards Rich Passage. We left them at 1515. -Brad Hanson, NOAA
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21:07 - Pod of Orcas on the move out of Dyes Inlet. So beautiful...Jackie Magee Miller
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21:03 - Orca. They just passed Rocky Point into Port Washington Narrows. -Teresa Gaines
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21:00 - Orca. Looks like they are moving out past tracyton. -Aly N. Graff
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19:52 - Orcas in Dyes Inlet Silverdale. Too far away to see how many. -Kelly Hallett Tingelstad
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19:38 - Orca. They still near Chico. Sheriff boat is in the area! -Omar Machado
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19:35 - See them now from Tracyton... on Chico side. -Vanessa Acierto
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19:06 - Just saw a flurry of activity halfway between Anna Smith children's park and old town Silverdale. Jumping and tail slapping! -Erik Schweitzer
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18:16 - A male orca just swam north up Dyes Inlet, heading toward Silverdale. We saw it from our house! -Sara Hamm Rush
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08/27/2019 - 1800 - Rich Passage/ Sinclair Inlet - 6 to 10 Orcas traveling south in the area of Manette/Enetai Beach between Bremerton and Bainbridge Island. -Jeffry Mellum
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17:33 - Just saw a pod between Manette and Warren Avenue bridges, Bremerton, headed towards Silverdale. -Caryn Gabryshak
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16:33 - Orca. More just appeared. 5-6 total
16:31 - Orca. Two females just appeared. Heading towards Bremerton. >16:30 - Single male Orca mid channel on the Bremerton to Seattle route. 20 meters from the Ferry...Mac Sawicki
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16:34 - Maija with WS Ferries Ops called: MV Chimacum reported 6 orca in Rich Passage heading towards to Bremerton.
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15:55 - Three orcas headed north via Rich Passage near Fort Ward. -Colleen Coleman
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14:50 - Orca. Heading SW past alpha tango buoy towards pilings. (south Bainbridge). Multiple blows. -Kersti Muul
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13:46 - Orca. still off north side of Alki point, mid channel, no direction.
13:05 - All 137s (4 orcas present, including 1 male) appears to be off Constellation Park of Alki, west of mid-channel, milling, no direction. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
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12:44 - Jon Miller WS Ferries Ops called to report MV Walla Walla moments ago saw 1 orca heading eastbound in traffic lanes just SE of Tyee.
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11:41 - Orca. Seeing one from Constellation Park in West Seattle, headed north...a male, he was closer to the west Seattle side and moving at a fast clip, he rounded the corner to the lighthouse within a few minutes of spotting him. -Brian-Nicole Jenkins
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11:24 - We're going to take one last look at Jack, now at West Point...He's moving pretty quick now, but surfaces regularly every 30 seconds or so.
10:35 - Justine Buckmaster reports they, MV Saratoga, have located T137A middle Puget Sound (out from S Richmond Beach/N Carkeek) on his own slowly southbound. NOAA has been updated. Location of rest of the family unknown at the time.
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Stephanie Raymond on Clipper called at 09:53, says a passenger photo shows 99% sure T137s but no T137A off Indianola headed south east at a good clip. They didn't look a mile or two behind them so maybe trailing again.
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09:20 - The mid channel blows off Richmond Beach are 1-2 humpbacks foraging back and forth. (turns out one probably was T137A, who was later picked up in that area lagging behind). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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~ 09:10 - I saw both the humpback on the mainland side and the orcas off of Jefferson Head from the 845 Kingston to Seattle fast ferry so it would have been at about 9:10. -Andrew Dempsey
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08:55 - I believe I've spotted the group. Several blows south of Jefferson Head, out from Port Madison, another further east more mid channel. The group looks SB in SB traffic lanes. Way too far to ID. Clipper just getting here hopefully they'll have IDs. (I was seeing blows of two animals closer to Richmond Beach, mid channel but several hundred yards apart, one for sure humpback). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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07:30 - Mike with WS Ferries Ops called to report 4 orcas traveling southbound in the northbound traffic lanes on the Edmonds/Kingston run.
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tue Aug 27 - 20:18 - 2 young orcas off ferries in Tswassen. -Andre Cusmano
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Tue Aug 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - ...Along with multiple humpback whales...What a special place we live and are able to share the beauty of west coast Vancouver Island around Sooke B.C. -Paul Pudwell
(Includes BCX0158 Kappa & probably MMX0096 -per IDs by Althea Leddy -alb)
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Tue Aug 27 - Puget Sound - 19:15 - Hi, We live just south of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. There is a whale about 200-300 yards off the beach. We are not sure what type of whale but it appears to be alone so we're thinking it is a humpback. It blows about every 4-5 minutes. Hope all is well with this whale! -Debra Brown
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09:30 - I have been watching 1-2 humpbacks forage between Richmond Beach and Jefferson Head since about 9am. (the other blow turned out to be T137A, see Bigg's section). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED - Tue Aug 27 - Carr Inlet - 17:58 - Just saw two surface near Purdy, headed out of the inlet. (we had no other orcas reported in south end, suggested they may have been the common dolphins - alb) They may have been (dolphins)....was hard to focus on them! -Keziah Brown
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Tue Aug 27 - Here is the end of day Salish Sea orca summary for today (8/27). Every day for the last two weeks has looked similar!
T60D and T60E heading east from Dungeness Spit at 13:10
T34s, T37, and T37Bs heading south at Foulweather Bluff (Kitsap Peninsula) at 13:20
T36As heading north towards Point Roberts at 15:10
T10s and T109As milling at Race Rocks at 20:00
T137s heading out of Dyes Inlet at 21:00
J-Pod (no J16s or L87) heading south from Tsawwassen at 19:00 In addition, there have been many dozens of humpback whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and scattered elsewhere in the Salish Sea, as well as minke whales, a gray whale, and porpoises, seals, sea lions, and even a couple sea otters. Wow!
We know as much as we do about the marine wildlife in the region because of the citizen scientists who both view from shore (that's most of you!) and those that work for the Pacific Whale Watch Association. The PWWA shares information with us as researchers at OBI and also with the general public; much of the information we share on this page comes from them, and their willingness to support shore-based whale-watching. In return, we also support responsible boat-based whale-watching. We say this just as a gentle reminder that this page is inclusive to everyone who loves these whales as a space to share information and our passion for all our marine mammal neighbors. (Believe it or not, we continue to have to remove negative comments about both boat-based and shore-based whale watchers!) Truly, we are all on the same side, as we all love seeing whales. As is evident from the above list of sightings, we are lucky to live in what is really still a pretty healthy marine ecosystem. Let's continue to work together both to share sightings and to ensure the future health of the Salish Sea. Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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Tue Aug 27 - Rich Passage - (T137s were well documented in last Whale Report -alb). Not the greatest video, but incredible to see. I've only lived here a year, but none of my neighbors recall seeing them around here for quite some time. We are right above the salmon pens and they were circling the rocks at high tide that are barely covered. Which pod are they part of, I wonder? t did appear to be a family and it was on the afternoon of August 27th around 3:38 pm. They continued up the shipping lane towards Pleasant Beach as far as I could see. -Regards, Frances Glass

August 26
Mon Aug 26 - 12:15 - 13:21- Haro Strait, SJI, observed and photographed from shore between Hannah Hts and Edwards Point. Wind and waves, 12-14 orcas including 2-3 large males, loosely grouped traveling to the N/NW. As they reached Edwards Point the group split into 3 groups; 4-5 continued north past Edwards Point (group w/ J38 Cookie), 2-3 traveled far out due west then turned south, 5-6 U-turned heading back S/SE (group w/ J27 Blackberry). The group with J27 was very tight together and stayed tight through surface behaviors; repetitive tail slapping, 3 breaches, spy hop, lunging, even what looked like "community bubble blowing". They milled about then loosened up resuming travel to the S/SE past Hannah Hts. The group with J38 Cookie appeared again at Edwards Point having doubled back. Observed spy hop, lunging behavior, tail slapping as they traveled following Blackberry's group past Hannah Hts. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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08:59 - (Js) Between Pile Point and Edward's Point. Headed towards Lime Kiln. -Nancy Detterbeck
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08:45 - 09:30 - Haro Strait, SJI, observed and photographed from shore between Hannah Hts and Edwards Point: 11 breaches! Surface behavior included spy hops, tail slapping, a double-breach and just lounging at the surface. Hard to count but 10-14 orcas including 3 large males, loosely grouped traveling to the N/NW. When they reached Edwards Point the group turned, slowed down, swam a little farther out and headed back to the south until out of sight past Hannah Hts. J27 Blackberry, J19 Shachi, J38 Cookie, J47 Notch, (possibly J45 Se-Yi-Chn). They socialized along their entire journey. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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07:40 - Orcas headed South, between Pile Point & False Bay. -Suz Howells
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07:30 - Orcas, trending south again off False Bay. -Monika Wieland Shields
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06:24 - About 20 orcas between Eagle Point and False Bay - close to shore - slowly moving north-ish. Playful. -Chris Wilson
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Mon Aug 26 - Boundary Pass - ~17:00 - One of a 4 member rapidly moving group taken from Saturna shore about 1 km west of East Point Lighthouse....Attached are 2 other images of the baby orca and 2 images of the nearest large orca. Whales motored by so rapidly that good shots were difficult. Pod was comprised of 4 whales. -James McLarnon, Vancouver
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Mon Aug 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - What another special day with around 12-15 Transient Killer Whales harassing 4-6 humpback whales just west of Sooke today! Some possible ID's are T030's, T10's, and T046B's and possibly T069c...Paul Pudwell
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Mon Aug 26 - San Juans - 4 PM sighted the T99s headed outbound through Cattle Pass. -Photo by Dante Aubert, Aug 26, 2019
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11:12 - Right now - four orcas traveling east to west close to shore by Flint Beach on the south end of Lopez. -Tom Reeve
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Mon Aug 26 - T137s - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage - 17:30 - MV Saratoga is leaving the T137s still circling off Snatelum, apparently feeding on a kill.
16:45 - MV Saratoga has spotted the T137s circling off of Snatelum Point. We have all 4 of them together here! -Justine Buckmaster
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We were out on Saratoga Passage today, a beautiful day, specially when whales were spotted just off Harrington Lagoon, on the north end of Saratoga. There were 4 of them, the T137s, and being late in the afternoon the colors were wonderful. Here are just a few of the many photos taken ..... all images zoomed and cropped. (observations by Jill on T137A: surfacing slowly each time, but he was staying with the rest of his pod. If I had to describe his movements, would say he moved like he had a really bad headache (or some kind of ache). A family portrait (almost) - T137A (b.2002), Mom T137 (b.1984), T137B (b. 2006) and part of T137D (b. 2012)-Jill Hein
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16:00 - 4 orcas (T137s) seen off of Harrington Lagoon. -Photo by Lanie Kiel, Aug 26, 2019
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14:40 - I last saw T137A approx 3-4 miles north of Fox Spit traveling mid channel or so, appearing to be on the Camano side...Marilyn Armbruster
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~14:30 - Running down Saratoga Passage at ~14:30. Saw large male T137A - Saratoga Passage, in distance and cut engines. He came right at us, rolled under boat belly up, then flipped back and surfaced 10 feet on other side. -Cody Bartheid
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12:34 - The 1 male just nearing Camano State Park heading north with whale boats in tow. (T137A). -Tami Fifield
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11:40 - T137A is approx 3 miles north of Langley heading northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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10:58 - Watching from Langley. T137A closer to Camano heading north. MV Saratoga on scene. -Sandra Pollard
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10:55 - T137A is just passing Langley still northbound. -Justine Buckmaster
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10:35 - T137A. He just rounded the corner heading into Saratoga Passage nb
09:45 - T137A. He's out from north end of Brighton Beach northwesterly bound...he was like in one spot circling and going up and down, don't know that behavior. He is heading north
09:36 - Big male straight out from mid Brighton Beach, near Whidbey. (ID from her photos as T137A). -Marilyn Armbruster
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09:26 - One orca north side of Clinton ferry headed north. (T137A). -Sharon Emerson
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09:20 - LeAnn Larsen message: Orcas passing west side of Hat Island headed north towards Saratoga Passage.
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08:45 - I just talked to a guy at Glendale and he said they were at Glendale 1/2 hr ago northbound at 08:45. -Marilyn Armbruster
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08:10 - I just saw a lone male swimming north on the east side of Whidbey passing through Possession Sound about 5 mins ago....3 times it came up for air. Heading north. I want to say at 0755-0805 this AM. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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Mon Aug 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - BCX1068 2017 calf "Valiant", a recipient of prior Bigg's Transient orca attacks. What another special day with around 12-15 Transient Killer Whales harassing 4-6 humpback whales just west of Sooke today!...Photos by Paul Pudwell, Aug 26, 2019
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Mon Aug 26 - San Juans - Had a message from Karen reporting a humpback off Frost Island. Sighting was Monday Aug. 26th in the afternoon. She said it was off the south end of Frost Island then went along the north end of Decatur between Decatur and Blakely Islands.
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Mon Aug 26 - San Juans - 17:25 - S. Lopez humpback. Currently a humpback visible (through binoculars) when looking South from Iceberg Point. -Tom Reeve
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Mon Aug 26 - Puget Sound - 15:00 - (Two Spot) Now 1.2 East of a Point Jefferson, Northbound for buoy SF.
13:20 - Two Spot is 1.5 miles East of Apple Cove Point. -Christopher Hanke
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13:00 - Sara Frey reports seeing a humpback whale (CS631, aka CRC16017, aka MMZ0013) in northern Puget Sound off Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Close to Kitsap side with no particular direction of travel. (ID per Sara photos: CS631aka CRC16017 aka MMZ0013 "Two Spot")
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07:10 - There was a humpback at 710 this morning off Apple Cove Pt no direction. -Christopher Hanke
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Mon Aug 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - While working in the office Monday, reports of transients in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca had been filing in all afternoon. A group including the T10s and the T109As, who were a few miles southwest of Trial Island, sparked Dave's interest as CWR does not get to encounter the T109As very often. The T46Bs had also been seen in the area. Dave headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1600...See full report with images at Center for Whale Research Encouner 57
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Mon Aug 26 - Henderson Bay/Carr Inlet - Hello! About 7am this morning, I saw 2 small orcas breaching in Henderson Bay. They were in the middle, but you could see them shoot straight up out of the water and flop down, making a thump/splash. They were about 150 yards from each other. My phone didn't capture it very well, but hope to get a better photo tomorrow morning. -Judy Peterson (with no other orca reports thinking they may be common dolphins - alb)

August 25
Sun Aug 25 - Haro Strait...J53 was seen playing with a piece of kelp all by herself-tossing it in the air and vocalizing above the surface. J pod headed slowly around Kellett Bluff and the encounter ended at 1130. The J16s and L87 did not seem to be present during this encounter. -Report and images (w/baby photos) at Center for Whale Research Encounter 56.
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Amazingly, after a 5+ week absence, we've now had Southern Residents in the Salish Sea on 11 out of the last 12 days. We hope you don't get tired of pictures of little J56, because we are completely smitten with her. We don't seem to be the only ones, either - she has really been making the rounds in J-Pod, regularly traveling/playing with members from all matrilines. Here she is traveling alongside J40 Suttles heading south past Lime Kiln this afternoon. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behaviro Institute
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18:18 - 3 orcas north of Eagle Point - (includes one little dude or dudette ) - headed south - more coming from False Bay area - about 20 altogether. -Chris Wilson
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16:30 - 16:50 - Haro Strait, SJI. Observed from shore. 4:30pm - 4:50pm, Minke and orca (possibly residents and transients?) An unusual sighting, between Edwards Point and Hannah Hts traveling generally to the south, I watched 4-5 minke traveling with 10-12 orca. I was looking directly into the sun with the saddle patches in shadow but I believe I saw J27 Blackberry (??). His group was closer to shore. Debra Giles and Eba were following collecting scat. I think I saw T75 in a group farther out. The minke's were in the middle and they were moving away from the island. The minkes surfaced many times, 2 groups of 2 and a single. 2 beautiful breaches. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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16:04 - Hearing orca calls on Orcasound (4:04pm)! Haro Strait. Sound like Southern Residents....but I'm just guessing. -T.L. Stokes
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11:16 - Calls on OrcaSound NOW! Nice and loud and happy! I'm not confident. But I thought Js. Squeals. Honks. Whistles. -Kim Merriman
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11:00 - We spotted several orca, suspected J-pod, according to a seasoned watcher next to us. Off San Juan County Park, headed north, 11AM. I believe we saw J-56! My first ever sighting. Best birthday gift I could ask for! -Rebecca Fredstedt
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09:30 - J Pod Lime Kiln northbound - looks like maybe without J16s and L87 again. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sun Aug 25 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Hi Orca Network, The white orca and two of it's buddies went west off Sooke at 18:30 Aug 25 2019. Here is a video I took from shore (below). -Vincenz Eberl
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Sun Aug 25 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Great to sea the Transient Killer Whales (T010's) again today...this time minutes from our docks..Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 25, 2019
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Sun Aug 25 - 20:45 - Transients just approaching Glendale northbound. (T137s). -Marilyn Armbruster
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~20:00 - A shot of the big guy passing Possession boat ramp earlier tonight around. -Donna George photo
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20:10 - T137s have passed Possession boat ramp heading toward Clinton. T137A is bringing up the rear.
19:50 - Ts passing Possession boat ramp Whidbey side northbound.
19:35 - Possession Shores. Whales appear to be heading away from green marker toward Mukilteo Clinton and Saratoga. -Sandra Pollard
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19:40 - They're super active. I see at least 3 right now from Mukilteo! (Harbor Point, S Mukilteo) (T137s). -Alice Thuy Talbot
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19:11 - Ts at Entrance of Cultus Bay on a kill. (T137s)
19:09 - Orca. seem to be rounding close to whidbey side. (T137s). -Danielle Pennington
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~19:00 - An hour before sunset, Aug. 25, 2019, three of us observed 4-6 orcas cruising north along the kelp line at the southeast edge of Useless Bay. Not close enough to identify markings but some tall fins. They cruised along the surface for 3-4 minutes then dove deep and were lost. -Thomas James
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18:56 - I didn't see the northbound group come back, but did see others with the male heading south just before I left. -Dori Dace
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18:44 - Sarah MacDougall reports seeing 4-5 orcas off Adams Rd. in Freeland. They left heading south. --
18:22 - 4 orcas heading south viewing from Scatchet Head looking southwest...I think it's the same group. The three seem to be waiting for the male. He is following a little behind. They look to be rounding Whidbey to head up Possession Sound. It's actually fascinating to watch. The group of three will turn back from time to time almost like they are checking on him. -Danielle Pennington
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18:02 - Three orca continued north (mid channel, west side of Whidbey.), the male is still in the same location.
17:40 - Orcas aren't close, but just met up with a male - still milling in same area, directly west from Scatchet Head.
17:37 - Orca. I am on the point of Scatchet Head looking directly across at the green buoy. At least three whales just north of the buoy - currently milling.
17:28 - Orca. Still northbound north of the green buoy - sea lion desperately trying to get up on the buoy - lots of surface activity mid channel.
17:20 - Orca, northbound directly across from Scatchet Head just behind the cruise ship. -Dori Dace
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16:50 - I moved back to higher vantage. Saw Pod south of Scatchet was very surface active, maybe hunting or ? Don't know story, but whales very close to now idle small private boat. Maybe was idle fishing or came upon them by surprise, but just a reminder to give these whales at least 200 yards. Its 5 now and am not seeing activity now.
16:35 - I am seeing many dorsal and blows probably ~ 2 miles south of Scatchet Head, S Whidbey Heading northbound. Directionally where T137A was reported lagging behind earlier, ~13:30. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:27 - Orca. Big male is still hanging out east of Point No Point. He's pretty far away. -Ashely Whitman
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15:43 - Male dorsal just spotted N of Eglon, unknown direction. Just off the front of watching boat. -Tim Leahy
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15:40 - We are with Jack (T137A), South of Point No Point heading east very slowly. He's following the tide line. -Janine Harles
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14:50 - From High Bluff Edmonds only fins I a seeing so far are way over on Kitsap side passing Eglon area steady southbound toward Kingston. Quick glimpses...didn't spot any of the males yet. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:50 - Kim Page reports 4-5 orcas heading south approaching Eglon. Lots of splashing going on.
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14:23 - Orca. Eyes on them from Eglon. Hard to tell where they're headed. Not super familiar with the area. Almost looks like they're headed east now, maybe southeast.
14:09 - Orca. Looks like the group is headed southeast somewhat leisurely.
13:45 - Orca. Viewing 5 from Point No Point. Closer to Whidbey side. -Ashley Whitman
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13:23 - Orca. Still southeast bound, 1.3 miles north of Point No Point. 4-5 knots. -Brian McGinn, Puget Sound Express
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13:10 - Orca. One group looks to be about half way between Foulweather Bluff and Point No Point now. I did finally see two groups at once, so watching at least two groups, one with two large males. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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12:54 - Orcas still southbound. Grouped up nicely. About to turn the southern most point of mutiny bay to double bluff.
12:45 - Orca. Committed to southbound travel (pretty fast pace). Close to the yellow channel marked by foulweather bluff. -Danielle Penningston
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12:25 - Watching from ON HQ 1 mile so. of Bush Point, at 12:25 orcas were south of Foulweather Bluff continuing south, but looks like they stopped to make a kill. There may possibly be another group further south that I was watching earlier, but lost them behind trees and have not relocated. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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12:31. Orca. Still relatively in the same spot. Directional changes and surface activity. Glacier spirit is on scene.
12:18 - Orcas are continuing south. Viewing from south Mutiny Bay. About mid channel. -Danielle Penningston
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11:46 - At least 2 large males and, at least, 6 females or juveniles on the Marrowstone side of the Strait, off of Smuggler's Cove (north of Westcliff) about 45 minutes ago. 5 boats watching in-between Whidbey and whales. Heading south slowly. -Amy Smith Norris
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10:43 - These are the T46s, T137s, T99s, and T122. Lagoon Point, but much closer to Marrowstone Island. -Bart Rulon
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10.29 am viewing from Lagoon Point. Looks like two males and perhaps four or more whales heading south mid channel. -Sandra Pollard
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10:15 - Watched one breach several times off Liplip Point on Marrowstone Island around 10:15 am. I thought a barge was being bombed before I finally saw the whale completely clear the water and splash down. Lasted about 15 minutes. -Lisa Petrick
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10:11 - Orcas. Off Fort Flagler now. Looks like they are continuing south along Marrowstone.
09:33 - Orcas off of Fort Casey in middle of channel. There is a WWB on scene! Whoohoo. -David Haeckel
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Sun Aug 25 - San Juans - 13:40 - Looking South from Iceberg Point, Lopez Island, at 1:40pm we could see a humpback in the distance, swimming west to east. -Tom Reeve
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Sun Aug 25 - Admiralty Inlet - 11:20 - Humpback "Two Spot" northbound half way up Marrowstone Island, passed by the KWs. Seen from MV Saratoga. -Bart Rulon
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09:08 - ~ 1 or 2 humpbacks heading north, mid channel of Double Bluff.
08:40 - Possible humpbacks, SW of Double Bluff/Skunk Bay. Diving, large blows. Will report back. -Katherine Crossett Montalvo
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MINKE WHALES - Sun Aug 25 - Haro Strait - 19:43 - Minke - Eagle Point - next to orcas. -Chris Wilson
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16:30 -16:50 - Haro Strait, SJI. Observed from shore. Minke and orca (possibly residents and transients?) An unusual sighting, between Edwards Point and Hannah Hts traveling generally to the south, I watched 4-5 minke traveling with 10-12 orca. I was looking directly into the sun with the saddle patches in shadow but I believe I saw J27 Blackberry (??). His group was closer to shore. Debra Giles and Eba were following collecting scat. I think I saw T75 in a group farther out. The minke's were in the middle and they were moving away from the island. The minkes surfaced many times, 2 groups of 2 and a single. 2 beautiful breaches. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED Sun Aug 25 - Hood Canal - We saw spouts in Hood Canal between Lofall and the Hood Canal Bridge around 6:00pm tonight. No breaching but multiple spouts. Our (four adults) guess that it was a single whale but we couldn't tell. We only saw about five or six blows and they were all one at a time. We had no other observations, but I had hoped this would help if others had sightings. -Alan Robertson

August 24
Sat Aug 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - 15:00 - J Pod inbound off Sooke. -Monika Wieland Shields
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What another special day with a good time happy fun smile marine adventure off Sooke! Our family and great team love to share Orca and Humpbacks to guests from around the world that come to us because we LOVE what we do! Many a Transient / Biggs Whale (MatriarchT10's & others?) ID by Dan Pudwell and Humpback Whales everywhere we go! -Paul Pudwell
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Sat Aug 24 - T137A update - T137A Update from Dr. Andrew Trites, Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries: "We last saw him at 8:38am off False Bay about 2.4 miles west heading slowly south-south-west at 2-3 knots, pretty well grouped up. He never came high out of the water to see his saddle patch, and was about 500 m behind the rest of the pod who were close together. We did not notice anything unusual about his behaviour and saw no obvious sign of peanut head. There appeared to be about 9 animals, but we haven't gone through pictures yet." -Kelley Balcomb-Bartok
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Sat Aug 24 - While we are by no means an ecosystem without its share of problems, it is really pretty amazing that so much wildlife can live alongside what is such an urban area in the Salish Sea including cities like Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria. Today alone there were 47 Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea; the youngest of the bunch, T34A1 at just a few months old, is pictured here in San Juan Channel.
There were also more than 20 Southern Resident killer whales, with word of J-Pod coming back into inland waters late this afternoon. On top of that, the Strait of Juan de Fuca has been teeming with dozens of humpback whales, and more scattered throughout the rest of the region. That's to say nothing of the many hundreds of harbor seals weaning pups, the dozens of Steller sea lions returning from their summer breeding grounds, the elusive minke whales and harbor porpoise, or the thousands of sea birds! Sometimes we, with reason, feel down about all the damage being done to our waters, but it's worth also taking a moment to recognize what in many ways is still a thriving marine ecosystem. If we can find a way to restore salmon runs, one might even venture to call it a healthy ecosystem, despite the seven million people living along its shores. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Aug 24 - Haro Strait - 13:15 - Orca - Haro Strait, SJI. Heading to the north and just approaching Edwards Point I observed 2 (3?) transients racing together up island. The male had a bent or crooked fin. Almost too far away to photograph, I am sending a very enlarged photo.
12:30 - Orca northbound in Haro Strait off Hannah Heights far out in the South shipping lane, a small group of orcas barely seen with binocs, moving to the N or NW. -Michelline Halliday
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On Saturday we found the T46Bs south of San Juan Island - always fun to see these 5 whales (the 46B1s were further north). They appeared to be hunting but no visible signs of "what was for lunch". Lots of Steller sea lions by Whale Rock (Just off Lopez Island - between Lopez and San Juan Island.), one Tufted Puffin, and 3 Humpbacks on our return trip, but not enough good visuals to identify them. A wonderfully calm day, even though it was overcast and at times a little misty. Thank you Puget Sound Express. -Jill Hein
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Sat Aug 24 - Puget Sound - T46s - 20:11 - I have report from a friend on Three Tree Point that they turned back north. -Christina Van Wolbeck Fenerty
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18:50 - Received a phone report of spouts seen off the south side of Three Tree Point, headed south toward Pt. Robinson, at 6:50 pm.
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18:49 - Orcas three tree point south side 6:49 pm southbound 3 orcas one male. -Sandyha Ballal
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17:43 - Marie with WS Ferries Ops called: Another orca this one male just off Brace Point kind of slowly heading southerly direction.
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17:30 - Saw 3 orcas, including one male with tall dorsal fin, going south past yellow buoy off Lowman Beach. -Chaz Morris
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17:37 - Orcas T46E off West Seattle. Staying on Seattle side shipping lanes due south.
17:30 - Orcas passing Fauntleroy ferry dock mid channel going south now. -Noelle Morris
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16:44 - Just saw at least two orcas from our spot on Alki beach heading west right between the Bainbridge ferries toward Port Blakely. - Erin Cowey
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16:55 - Orca. Last spotted, viewing from Constellation park... Appeared to be between Blake and Vashon. They went under and we lost track of them.
16:40 - Orca. Straight out north from lighthouse, heading SW. -Cara Sorenson
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15:54 - Currently 1/2nm due west of west entrance to Elliott Bay Marina and moving south into Elliott Bay. -Craig Smith McMaster
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15:25 - Pod sighting off Discovery Park, heading south. -Michael Martin
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~15:00 - We were sailing off Shilshole about 3:00pm this afternoon and spotted at least three. Two smaller and one with a large dorsal fin. -Angela Peck
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17:00 - T46s as viewed from shore at West Point Lighthouse, Discovery Park ~
14:50, I'm watching from Discovery Park. Seeing at least 2-3 orcas spread out closer to east side of channel trending south. They are moving somewhat lethargically. -Connor O'Brien
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13:55 - T46s keeping mid channel line south of 1:42 update. One of he brothers traveling with main group other brother close on their tails. All keeping steady southbound pace. Good to see All boats have been very respectful, most just going about their business of idly fishing or transiting. Some have moved out of the way, a couple a little closer to get a peek at appropriate distances. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:15 - Orca. Right off golden gardens.
13:46 - Seeing them from sunset hill park 146pm. Off Kingston still. Lots of boats around them. -Alexander Simenstad
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Sat Aug 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - What another special day with a good time happy fun smile marine adventure off Sooke!...and humpback whales everywhere we go! -Paul Pudwell (Includes MMY0063 Hornet, MMY0086 Artax, MMY0102 per IDs by Alethea Leddy. - alb)

August 23
Fri Aug 23 - T137A, the lovely big guy we all rooting for. -Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, Aug 23, 2019
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13:39 - Pod just south of Kingston. (T46s). -Report by Amy Douglas, photo by her son Caden Hawke, Aug 23, 2019
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13:42 - After some directional changes they've continued southbound still grouped. One big bro hanging with youngster, surfacing in tandem. They've moved east, more mid channel Currently south of Jefferson Head and south end of Richmond Beach, keeping slow-med pace.
13:23 - pod is loosely grouped with 2 males (brothers) close together and others grouped. In southbound shipping lanes west side of channel south of Presidents Point, but still north of mid channel yellow buoy...All heading steady southbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:21 - We just saw him going south between President Point and Point Wells. There are another 3-4 trailing behind. Maybe with a baby. -Lori Patch
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13:00 - Just north of Presidents Point. -Angela Galipeau
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2 orcas sighted off the south end of Whidbey Island, just north of Edmonds / Kingston - believed to be one male and at least one female, loose (about 50-100 meters apart from each other) and traveling steadily south. Thank you! -Susanna Trimarco
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12:08 - Left them (T46s) at 1200 2.5 East of Eglon Southbound.
11:10 - 1 Male so far, SE end of useless bay 1 mile west of Scatchet Head, SE bound. T46s. -Christopher Hanke
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07:55 - 4-5 orcas including 1 large male, southbound mid-channel admiralty inlet, south of southern tip of Marrowstone. -Margaret Marshall
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Fri Aug 23 - Strait of Georgia - ~19:00 - Bigg's transient orcas T37, T34s, and T37Bs came into Active Pass and transited quickly westward. It was a beautifully calm evening and their spoofs were backlit as they moved down the Pass. Photos taken from the shore of Galiano Island. -Cheers, Karoline Cullen, Galiano, Salish Sea Orca Squad
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4 more orcas TONIGHT- Mayne Island- Edith Point: They initially came from active pass heading along the shore toward Saturna. T37 spyhops. T37 and daughter T37B. T37B1. Then just past our home, they turned around and headed back into Active Pass...unusual...most other pods keep one direction. -Yves Tiberghien
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Fri Aug 23 - T46Bs - 16:23 - Confirmed from Cattle Point Lighthouse...it's the T046B1s. T46B1B present. Northbound up shoreline of Lopez through Cattle Pass. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
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16:00 - T46Bs milling in Cattle Pass - sounds like the rest of the T46s are to the south. -Monika Wieland Shields
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8/23: great day with humpbacks (Scratch MMY0079 and another who wouldn't fluke up) near MacArthur Bank and then T46B and her girls and little calf....T46B1s were about 5 miles north closer to Cattle Pass. All of the T46B matriline except T46B1 and her calves, T46B1A and T46B1B (Tl'uk gray calf). They were sort of leisurely hunting but definitely made a kill as the smell was pretty strong! Some breaching and tail slapping, too. Beautiful glassy water! Also saw a sea otter near Whale Rocks, first time I've seen one here, and a puffin near Smith Island. -Bonnie Gretz
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Fri Aug 23 - T137s - Friday morning, we received reports of the T137s heading east near William Head (west of Victoria). There was concern over the welfare of T137A who was reported to be acting lethargic and was often trailing the rest of the group....While something was definitely wrong with T137A's behavior, how he looked physically was a lot harder to judge. T137A, at least in his teenage years, has historically had a different appearance than most transients.... See full report and photos of T137A over the years at Center for Whale Research Encounter 55.
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We have a report of T137A 1.5 nm south of Albert Head (west of Victoria) currently traveling in a lazy line towards Victoria. The ALERT, however, is both yesterday and today he has been acting "odd" and very lethargic, with his family seeming to check in on him from time to time, but he's often traveling alone and slow behind the rest of the group. Please keep a keen eye out for him, report him on the PWWA Sightings page and the App if you can, but while we'd like to keep track of him let's give him some extra space in case he's not feeling well. The Center for Whale Research has been alerted, and may make an effort today to check on his condition. -Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, PWWA
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Aug 23 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - WOW! Another great day off Sooke with 30-40+ humpback whales minutes from our docks at Salty Towers all day! And on our afternoon tour we..well Cpt. Dan found the T046's Transient Killer Whales inbound south of Sooke...Good Times! Tried to get as many flukes shots as possible....Paul Pudwell (Includes: MMX0128 Vivaldi, MMX0160 Blizzard, BCX1358 Frankenstein, MMY0110, MMY0146, MMY9982 Nalu, MMZ0030, MMZ0038 Gherkin per IDs by Alethea Leddy - alb)
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Fri Aug 23 - McArthur Bank - great day with humpbacks (Scratchy MMY0079 and another who wouldn't fluke up) near MacArthur Bank and then T46B and her girls and little calf....T46B1s were about 5 miles north closer to Cattle Pass. Scratchy has these two nice white marks on the dorsal fin, so can be i.d.'d even without a fluke up tail dive...They were sort of leisurely hunting but definitely made a kill as the smell was pretty strong! Some breaching and tail slapping, too. Beautiful glassy water! Also saw a sea otter near Whale Rocks, first time I've seen one here, and a puffin near Smith Island. -Bonnie Gretz
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED Fri Aug 23 - Admiralty Inlet - 17:38 - Maija with WS Ferries Ops called to report whale sighting by MV Kennewick outside Port Townsend ferry traffic lanes. 10-20 meter long whale, type unknown.

August 22
Thu Aug 22 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - We headed out west this morning from a report from one of our guests that was camping at French Creek that they thought they seen Orcas from shore...sure enough we did find what looked to be J,K, and L pod heading west past Sherrigham Lighthouse - L72 Racer, J38 Cookie all grown up wide spread across the Juan De Fuca Strait...respectively we visited them for about 10 minutes...took a few pictures and left them to themselves... Then we looked for other whales and hooray we found Transients not too far away...I believe some of the T046 matriline were present....Than on the way to Race Rocks Lighthouse we stopped and visited a few different humpback whales. Wow what a day off Sooke with just our boats! -Paul Pudwell
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Thu Aug 22 - Haro Strait - on another picture perfect day aboard Glacier Spirit, we found Transient/Biggs whales traveling along the shore of Sidney Island, slowly northbound. It's always surprising to see T037Bs "resident-like" saddle patch! Always fun to see these whales. Homeward bound we found Scratchy the Humpback several miles west of Smith Island. Thank you Puget Sound Express. -Jill Hein
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08:33 - Killer whales milling just south of Westside Preserve...ecotype unknown (no large males present)...3-5. They seem to have given us the slip...Brittany Noelle Philbin
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Thu Aug 22 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca...Homeward bound we found Scratchy the Humpback (MMY0079) several miles west of Smith Island...Photo by Jill Hein, Aug 22, 2019
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GRAY WHALES - Thu Aug 22 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - I was on the beach over at NAS Whidbey just south of the runway birdwatching with a spotting scope about 9 am today and saw a gray whale surface and spout. It was out far enough that it would have been hard to see without binoculars or scope. Thanks! -Mary Jo Adams
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED Thu Aug 22 - South Puget Sound - 10:30 - Gray whale (70% confident) Wollochet Bay. Gray feeding in shallow inner bay at 10:30 am Aug 22, 2019...Missed the photo, waited over 5 minutes no resurface. It was about 80-100 yards away, bubble ring looked to appear first and whale surfaced with gapping mouth and then submerged. -Dave McEntee

August 21
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Wed Aug 21 - Unfortunately, the SRs left the area that night and were seen the next morning (22nd) near Sheringham Point heading west again. Whale reports had been filing in for most of an extremely gray and rainy Wednesday. Most of J pod was heading south from Pt. Roberts and the J16s, Ks, and Ls had been coming in from Sooke since the early morning. There were also several groups of transients scattered about the central Salish Sea... Full report with images at Center for Whale Research Encounter 54
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It was a full house at Lime Kiln Point State Park tonight. Watching J-pod pass by after sunset to the excited wonder of those seeing them for the first time made it well worth the wait. It was pretty dark, but I thought you might enjoy these pictures. One with J56 (the new little calf) and the other with J27 "Blackberry." You will need to click on the pictures to see all the whales. -Alison Engle
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It was quite the whale day on San Juan Island! In the morning and afternoon, four different groups of Bigg's killer whales were visible from the shores of San Juan. Then in the evening, the 18 whales from J-Pod that have been in the Salish Sea for a week made their way down Haro Strait, while the J16s, K-Pod, and a portion of L-Pod came in from the Strait of Juan de Fuca! This is the first time Ls have come into inland waters since February! J-Pod took their time getting to Lime Kiln as they came down Haro, but once they did, it's almost as if Ks and Ls came into acoustic range, because they started porpoising south. The whales not only looked excited but sounded excited as well - the link below is to a short clip of their vocalizations as they started porpoising! Many of you have been asking about L87 Onyx, who had not been seen with J-Pod in the Salish Sea over the last week. He did indeed return with L-Pod today. Is this the beginning of a new chapter in the Onyx story? While in our minds it's not a true "superpod" unless the entire Southern Resident community is present, we are beyond excited to have members of all three pods present, and have our fingers and toes crossed that there's enough salmon to entice them to stay around for a while! -Monika Wieland Shields
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20:41 - Still hearing one loud repetitive call on OrcaSound, which doesn't match with the posts that Js were at LK heading south toward Ks & Ls? Unless they are so spread out there are stragglers far enough north to be heard on the OS Hp?
20:27 - Hearing calls on OrcaSound now. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
(Bizarre! I only counted 14 passing LK where there should have been 18. I just figured I missed some, but maybe some are trailing - Monika Wieland Shields)
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20:34 - Bumper to bumper orcas. Haro Strait between Edwards Point and Hannah Hts. At 8:34pm, after sunset but I was able to count 8-9 individuals, traveling quickly to the S/SE. A leading group of 2 were about nine-orca-lengths ahead of a big male who was 4-orca-lengths in front of a tight group of 5-6. It was getting dark but I think I saw a calf. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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19:51 - County Park, J pod between rock and bouy...Active breaches, just chillin' on a beautiful evening! -John Attila Umar
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19:37 - Js. Blows in sight way north of Lime Kiln, and breach splashes. -Monika Wieland Shields
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18:36 - Whales off shore Eagle, southbound again! Very spread out, groupings of twos, fours, sixes. Water and wind kicking up. -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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18:00 - What a day! Sounds like Ks and Ls off the south end of San Juan and Js coming down Haro from the north. Ts scattered all over. 1800 It sounds like L87 came back in with Ls. -Monika Wieland Shields
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17:32 - Can see at least 6-8 resident orcas foraging between Pilot Point and Hannah Heights, including a little one with at least two others closer in while others spread further offshore. Can hear exhalations. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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17:54 - Yes, flipped, milling, stalled out facing south...then north...then south again.
17:26 - Now hearing more off point...northbound
17:19 - Whales just north of Eagle Point...I only saw a few, north of my location. -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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With an early report from fishing friends of a few Orca off Otter point this morning around 8 am heading east I went out by myself at 9 am to see what Transients might be around. To my surprise it was L Pod and a few turned into many! With all due respect I kept my distance with motors shut down and tried to get a few pictures as they passed by and than after about 15 minutes...headed back to our docks. Our team does not promote or take guests to our Southern Residents when other whales are present, but was a special treat for me. There he is....L87 Onyx coming in with who turned out to b J16s, K pod, & part of L pod. Thank you nature! -Paul Pudwell
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10:16 - L pod and maybe K pod inbound from Sooke should be at Race Rocks 08:00 - L and K pod off Sooke at 8 am...30 or so whales. That I could see from far away 8 in lead group 15 in next group with others spread out in and off shore than another trailing group of about 7 that I seen myself. -Paul Pudwell
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Wed Aug 21 - 16:30 - Arrived at Jackson Beach in time to see Transients headed out of Griffin Bay, rounded the point and are currently northbound San Juan Channel. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:45 -16:15 - T37 group, or part of, was milling and killing between Jackson Beach and Dinner Island for half an hour. -Monika Wieland Shields
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~15:00 - pod of at least 5 orcas grouped off SW Shaw shore heading east bound into Upright then on longish dive. Surfaced split up a bit heading different directions slowly. Seen from WSF MV Yakima on approach to Friday Harbor from Anacortes. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Wed Aug 21 - 14:30 - Six orcas, including one adult male, swimming in a tight group west-to-east off of S. Lopez, near Flint Beach. -Tom Reeve
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...As we headed into the Castle rock area we found a couple of adult bald eagles and got a nice surprise greeting from the T10's!!! These Biggs orca whales had apparently just served dinner and T10C "Bones" brought some left overs by the boat to show it off. It was definitely a harbor seal, or the remains of what was a harbor seal that we easily identified since it was hanging out of T10C's mouth. T10C was also leaving a trail of scraps behind him which a few bald eagles were able to capitalize on by swooping in and grabbing chunks out of the water. After the orcas finished this meal off they continued west bound along the southern coast of Lopez island. We followed along from a distance as the low-lying clouds soon turned into marine layer fog. As the Biggs orcas faded in and out of sight we had reports of a second pod in the area. Suddenly the fog began to clear and out of nowhere the T109's showed up and joined the T10's... Island Adventures (See IA Aug 21 trip reports, incl. T10s T109, T34s, T37s, T49A1)
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13:01 - Seeing distant T fins at Salmon Bank heading SE. Sounds like other may be aiming back down SJ Channel. -Monika Wieland Shields
14:44 -T49As (coming down Haro) may have flipped back north in Haro - had been watching from Land Bank and boats seem to have turned. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Wed Aug 21 - 10:59 - Just spotted the pod with the baby between Orcas and Sucia! Headed west around Doughty Point. -David Shatzer
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10:45 - Orcas! North Beach Orcas Island -Spotted 5 orcas (two babies/juveniles maybe??) traveling westerly on north beach about 1045am today!! Very excited bc I've never seen orca from the shore! -Cat Armstrong Soule
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10:13 - Just saw orcas at east end of Spieden Channel. Headed west. -Peter Glein
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07:57 - Didn't get any pics..but just saw at least 5 Orca feeding and milling about from the 630a Kaleteen at the mouth of Friday Harbor. They were headed NW up the San Juan channel. -Cheryl Rawlings
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07:41 - Mike with WS Ferries Ops called w/2 reports orcas in San Juan Islands: Ops 1st received report of 7 orcas (incl 1 male) off Point George, Shaw Island transiting northbound; then later report of orcas transiting towards Friday Harbor, so appear to be in Upright Channel area transiting.
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07:40 - Small group of killer whales heading north in San Juan Channel near Friday Harbor. -Monika Wieland Shields
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GRAY WHALES - Wed Aug 21 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 14:00 - Gray whale again reported on its side parallel to beach, 3-400 yds off Joseph Whidbey State Park. -Alan Unger
(possibly CRC2253 who has been in the area for weeks - alb)
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED - Wed Aug 21 - South Puget Sound - 17:28 - Saw a couple of spouts a couple of times in Hales Passage near the Tanglewood lighthouse. Appear to be heading towards the Fox Island bridge. -Karen Nixon Hale

August 20
Tue Aug 20 - For all those asking, Js did stay in! They headed north up President's Channel this morning, possibly heading back towards the Strait of Georgia and the mouth of the Fraser. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Tue Aug 20 - Haro Strait - 19:40 - We saw orcas right by the Lime Kiln lighthouse tonight. -Photo by Coleen Lucchese, Aug 20, 2019
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...After visiting with him for a bit we moved on to Haro Strait where we encountered the T46B's (including little gray whale T46B1B "T'Luk"). There we saw something none of us had ever seen...transient orcas chasing pink salmon! Tearing them up and quite possibly eating them, not really sure! They were going to town, non stop action that had no end in sight! I heard later that the whale chatter on the hydrophone in the area was amazing! We actually heard a little bit of it while we were there! Incredible experience topped off with a colorful sunset on the way home! Photos taken with a telephoto lens, heavily zoomed and cropped for details. All whalewatch guidelines were followed. -Janine Harles
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Just a few quickies from the afternoon tour with the T46B's...no they weren't on a traditional kill, instead they were terrorizing pink salmon!! The action was nonstop, they were jumping over each other, sharking, cartwheeling, it was amazing! None of us had ever seen anything quite like it! Not sure is they were actually eating them or just tearing them apart, but they were having a blast!! -Photos by Janine Harles, Aug 20, 2019
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16:24 - We're leaving County Park. Sure looks like Ts are eating out there. Tad further south than previous update.
16:09 - Ts making many directional changes while trending SB, sightline mid Darcy (from County). Wondering if on kill.
15:59 - From Sounty Park, San Juan Island we can see several boats and I just saw orcas porpoising SW bound towards Darcy. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network and Gayle Swigart, ON Volunteer
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Tue Aug 20 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Headed out on Saratoga for the morning tour, beautiful calm seas! Found at least 6 or 7 humpbacks near Victoria, got some close looks at Cinder, will post ID's on others. Then we got word that there were transient orcas at Race Rocks, got over there and saw the T109's and T041's!! Wonderful trip! -Janine Harles
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Tue Aug 20 - Strait of Georgia - Aboard MV Salt Chuck today @ 1245 hours, southbound from Powell River to Pender Harbour. Off the mouth of Jervis Inlet. Believe it was a humpback (?); my first! Fairly distant; no photos obtained. Overheard radio reports of a humpback off the south end of Harwood Island on the afternoon of Aug. 18th also; not seen. -Perry Edwards
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Tue Aug 20 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - As summer heats up so do the whales around Sooke, B.C. Than with plenty of time to visit Race Rocks and many humpback whales, all within 25 minutes from our docks...Paul Pudwell (includes MMY0048 Titan per ID by Alethea Leddy)
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Tue Aug 20 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - The afternoon tour began on Smith Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca with one of our favorite humpback whale MMY0079 "Scratchy"! Scratchy even came over to the boat to say hello! (no pics) After visiting with him for a bit we moved on to Haro Strait where we encountered the T46B's (including little gray whale T46B1B "T'Luk"). There we saw something none of us had ever seen...transient orcas chasing pink salmon! Tearing them up and quite possibly eating them, not really sure! They were going to town, non stop action that had no end in sight! I heard later that the whale chatter on the hydrophone in the area was amazing! We actually heard a little bit of it while we were there! Incredible experience topped off with a colorful sunset on the way home! Photos taken with a telephoto lens, heavily zoomed and cropped for details. All whalewatch guidelines were followed. -Janine Harles
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11:50 - humpback in the strait in our route between Cattle pass and Point Wilson. West of smith island. -Ruth Rogovoy Berkman
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Tue Aug 20 - San Juan Channel - 11:40 - Peniel found two humpbacks coming down San Juan Channel abeam of Pt Caution southbound. -Barbara Howitt
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Tue Aug 20 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 14:26 - there has been a gray whale on West Whidbey about a mile south of Joseph Whidbey state park, for the last couple if hours. -Kristi McClure Giesman
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Tue Aug 20 - We have reports on the Saratoga Passage Whale Watchers Groupme.com chat of Orca Mid channel heading from the Camano Island State Park towards Mabana. Also posted on Camano Whale Watch. (Follow up re level of confidence by reproting party): Not high there were a couple of reports, but they were a mix of porpoise and Orca reports. Not sure anyone can see a porpoise mid channel though. They died out quickly. Sorry no known photos. -John Storbeck
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Tue Aug 20 - Saw this and maybe 2 others on the 20th close to Twassassan Ferry terminal (from the ferry)...About 10.30 am ferry heading into Terminal at Twassassan, they were heading in a south west direction. A long way off but they gave the impression of being young (small) possibly 3 of them. -Tony Austin

August 19
Mon Aug 19 - Haro Strait - After sunset with Js off Lime Kiln. -Photo by Gayle Swigart, Aug 19, 2019
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21:10 - Somewhere top of island ealier they slowed way down. A lot of foraging for while before they made their way down, stalled a while probably out from County Park & north of? We could see a lot of breaches in the distance. They finally made it out from Lime Kiln after dark pretty far offshore, they streamed by spread out in 1-4s. It didn't look to be all of them, but they were so spread it's difficult to say. Tonight's was an exceptionally gorgeous sunset. Js finally passed the lighthouse after the sun went down, backdropped by sky cloaked in brilliant warm tones. Gayle and I ( and so many others) stayed on to listen to their exhalations in the waning light when we could no longer see their beings.
20:15 - From Lime Kiln been watching Js far north for the past 30 minutes, some breaches. Few of the whales heading SWerly away from the island, including male. Currently there is a line of several whales coming southbound in the distance closer to the island. -Alisa Lermire Brooks, Orca Network
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20:00 - It's 8 p.m. and there has been constant J pod vocals for the past 15 minutes on the Orcasound Lab Haro Strait! It's unbelievable! I hope they're catching salmon! -Stephanie Mclaughlin
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18:00 - Js Kellett Bluff southbound.
17:00 J Pod (minus J16s) have rounded Turn Point and are heading fast down Haro Strait towards the west side of San Juan Island. -Monika Wieland Shields
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16:00 - J Pod east of Satellite and Stuart island around 4 pm today! -Caitlyn Blair
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12:07 - Lovely visit with J pod. Traveling in tight resting group w of Sucia...Did not see J26 or L87. So assume no J16's. -Alison Engle
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Mon Aug 19 - WA Coast - NORTHERN RESIDENTS - Greg Schorr sent us this message and link to the report and photos below, about Northern Residents off the WA Coast this week: While conducting a survey for SRKW out of La Push on August 19th, researchers from MarEcoTel ran across members of B and G pod.
Northern Residents off the WA coast. On August 19th researchers from MarEcoTel, in collaboration with Northwest Fisheries Science Center, conducted a survey out of La Push, WA to search for Southern Residents. Taking advantage of a gorgeous day on the water, the crew was surveying north towards Swiftsure Bank when they encountered the B1 pod of Northern Residents. In addition to lots of surface active behaviors, the whales were also associated with Dall's porpoise for a bit. A total of 7 fecal samples were collected for analysis. On the way back to the harbor, two members of G pod were also sighted. While we were disappointed not to find the Southern Residents, this was an interesting data point nonetheless!
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Mon Aug 19 - San Juans - 19:00 - I believe these same orcas kept looping back, T49As north and south of Jones Island, right into the evening. Here's one going by Spring Point at 7:00 pm. -Robert Dash
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14:17 - They're (T49As) headed back south now, down SJ Channel towards FH. -Cathleen Burns
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15:04 - T49As in San Juan Channel off Friday Harbor heading northbound, slo-med pace, grouped. Beautiful! Viewed from WS Ferry MV Kaleetan coming into FH. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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07:20 - At least one male orca south bound from mineral point at 7:20 as seen by neighbor. -Alan Niles
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Mon Aug 19 - Rosario Strait - ~18:20-18:25 - Not sure which pod but saw these off the eastern tip of Orcas Island (Sea Acres) this evening. Looks like a baby was with them. -Photo by Erin Carlton, Aug 19, 2019
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...western coastline of Whidbey this summer. We'd gotten word from a fellow whale watching captain that another species of whale had been found further to the north, so we left the gray to continue its feeding and cruised off in search of more whales. We were in for a treat. We arrived to find at least sixteen Bigg's orcas having an all-out T-Party, the T36As, T36s, T37, and T99s amongst them!...-Sam, Island Adventures
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Mon Aug 19 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - What another special day to share our backyard off Sooke with people from around the world with Transient Killer Whales / Orcas hunting close to the shoreline and many humpback whales all within 20 minutes from our docks at Salty Towers. -Paul Pudwell
(Includes BCX0064, MMY0102 per IDs Alethea Leddy)
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Mon Aug 19 - Haro Strait - 17:52 - Close in humpback surfaced very close to shore and is heading northbound off Bellevue Point.
17:44 - While waiting for Js, gifted by surprise of Humpback surfacing off Bellevue Point a few times. S/he turned in shore towards the point. 2nd blow further offshore, so looking like 2 whales but cannot confirm. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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14:00 - Breaching humpback whale spotted in Haro Strait just west of Stuart Island. -NW Sailing Adentures
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HARBOR PORPOISE (& Unidentified) - Mon Aug 19 - Saratoga Passage - I've attached a few pictures of a small pod of what I can only guess were dolphin-sized whales just off Camano Island State Park this morning (8/19/19) around 8 am. Is it possible to ID these with these pictures? (Harbor Porpoise) -Michael Crawford

August 18
Meeting newest Southern Resident calf J56 for the first time early one summer morning off the San Juan Island west side...Photo by Traci Walter, Aug 18, 2019
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Sun Aug 18 - Haro Strait - Finally got to see some of J pod! A lovely time with the the J16's just north of South Beach, San Juan Island, as they headed north. A few distant breaches, a sweet spyhop from J16 Slick....so wonderful to see them, and so nice to know the rest of J pod was nearby. -Bonnie Gretz
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09:15 - Js, just past County Park still slow north. There's nothing like a resting line first thing in the morning (or anytime, really! This was most of J-Pod as seen off San Juan County Park this morning. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, Aug 18, 2019
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08:00 - Jpod is north of lime kiln together in a resting line headed north. Fog rolling in. -Traci Walter
07:46 - This morning at Lime Kiln on a Sunday! If you know me, you know what a miraculous feat that is! Not much gets this body out of bed that early, except for whales. It felt like a blast from the past. Racing (not excessive) to Lime Kiln, and sprinting down the hill to the lighthouse. Watching most of Jpod (minus the J16's) in a resting line was pretty amazing. I so miss these opportunities to see them from Lime Kiln. To top if off, I got to watch with some dear fellow whale nerds. It was so wonderful to "meet" J56 too!!! -Traci Walter
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Sun Aug 18 - Strait of Georgia - This pod of 3 big ones (and a baby, I think) swam leisurely along the rocks and did not bother to go after the many terrified seals.. They came near shore and near the reef. A beautiful sight in the evening light with Baker in the background. -Yves Tiberghien, Mayne Island
(Melisa Pinnow, CWR reviewed many images and ID'd them as T49As -alb)
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sun Aug 18 - Pender Harbor, Sunshine Coast BC - Sorry for late sighting report. As sun setting 3-4 orcas were feeding inside Pender Harbour on Sunshine Coast area in BC. They stayed for about 40 minutes or so but as there is no speed or noise enforcement inside harbour, much to dismay of many residents, 2 open stack speed boats raced in about 80 kph which happens frequently sadly, (they did not even see whales) and another guy came speeding out towards them in his inflatable. I was distraught but too dark to get info on any of the boats. The orcas looked like two adults and a young one. Could have been 4 total. Not sure. I was in row boat. I called DFO to report conflict with them but of course they cannot be everywhere. -Gaylene Lueger
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MINKE WHALES - Sun Aug 18 - Haro Strait - 11:30 - Minke whale off Mcarthur bank south of San Juan Island. -Mandy Severs

August 17
Sat Aug 17 - Haro Strait - 19:30 - Haro Strait, SJI. At 7:30pm observed from shore 2 orca traveling S/SE from Edwards Point/Westside Preserve toward and past Hannah Hts. They were pretty far out moving quickly.
20:15 - 3 orca, including a large male, wandering S/SE from Edwards Point/Westside Preserve toward and past Hannah Hts. They were spread out a bit, very far out and moved closer to shore as they swam past. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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11:25 - 12:20 - Haro Strait - Observed from shore at the northernmost edge of Hannah Hts. I observed 8-10 orca including 2 large males hunting with fish jumping everywhere. The orca were in a fishing spot they often favorite. They were generally moving to the N and 2 orca did swim past Edwards Point. The rest stayed and slowly worked their way southward again and some far out towards Strait of Juan de Fuca (sightline directionally) away from Pile Point. I identified J16 Slick, J42 Echo, J26 Mike, J37 Hy" Shqa and J49 T'ilem I'nges. If my ID's are correct; for a time Echo and her brother Mike were together. Later Mike was joined by Hy'Shqa and her son T'ilem I'nges. There were other orcas to my south nearer to Pile Point but I could only see the boats and those orca didn't move north. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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08:26 - some orcas still north of eagle point. saw about 20 orcas in all from 7:15 until present. Yea! -Chris Wilson
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08:11 - Whales at Eagle Cove now, some close to shore others waaaaay out mid strait, headed south, southeast. -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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08:06 - Fins out in front of Eagle Cove. They were heading south towards Salmon Bank. Five or six of them. A couple of spy hops. -Erin Corra
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Sat Aug 17 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - MMY0147 Mogul. A quick few shots from an early morning run out west on ol' Sonar to do some recon searching... (west of Sooke) -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 17, 2019
(MMY0080 Hemlock also present per IDs by Alethea Leddy)
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Sat Aug 17 - Haro Strait - Good morning Alisa! 8-17-19, Haro Strait, SJI at the far N/NW edge of Hannah Hts, observed a humpback traveling to the S/SE. It was very close in to the shore and surfaced 5 times. It had a blunted dorsal fin. Just lovely as it passed by. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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07:15 - Humpback at 0715 off south west corner of Henry Island heading south off San Juan Island. -Julie Davis Lawrence
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Sat Aug 17 - Admiralty Inlet - My husband saw a humpback (initially reported as orca) this morning while fishing at Point No Point. It rounded the point from the south and was heading west towards Hansville. Follow up: thanks for asking those clarifying questions. After talking to him more he's pretty confident that it was a humpback, did not have the right orca dorsal fin. Re; time: I'm not sure exactly but he was there between 5:30 and 7:30 this morning. -Krisandra Allen

August 16
J-Pod whales heading south in Haro Strait tonight at sunset. All the whales passed Land Bank heading south (decidedly "down island", not "out") by 8 PM. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, Aug 16, 2019
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19:23 - Js just passing the lighthouse.
19:06 - Js milling just north of Lime Kiln. -Cindy Hansen
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18:39-19:40 - more conversations on LK hydrophone ending at 7:40 and 15 minutes later 11 individuals appeared far out traveling to the South. They were spread out but all turned towards SJI and came closer near Hannah Heights and then continued down island out of sight. I saw 4 breaches at dusk. I heard them until 8:35pm. Fish were jumping all over the place. I trust they are finding prey. -Michelline Halliday
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18:43 - Just saw 3 orca southbound at Kelp Reef. -Keith Provan
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18:16 - Hi Alisa, They're still out here. They're right off Smugglers Cove "Cove" and there's NO boats anywhere. Again, yay!
18:08 - I've been in heaven today...Along with the Orcas this morning, a large school of porpoises were hugging the shore and a seal was sitting it out on a rock on our point. At 3:30 today a large group of orcas swam through going north again, and because of their number, they must be Residents. And just now at 5:30 they came back through going south. They were definitely doing some serious fishing! Yay!!! I hope they did well. I got a video of them if you'd like to see it, please let me know how I can send it to you. -Laura Good
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18:14 - SRKW Approaching County Park from the North. -Lisa Lamoreaux
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18:12 - Orcas on Limekiln hydrophone right now! -Laurie Barber
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18:08 - SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales J pod live now at Orcasound Lab! -Scott Veirs
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17:30 - The leaders flipped south from Stuart, J16's and J19's. Others never made it passed Kellett - looked like lots of foraging. There were many fish jumping in Open Bay and near the Js! Looks like they were foraging! -Barbara Howitt
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16:04 - Southern Resident calls on Orcasound now! -Susan Berta
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14:54 - Orcas. Super vocal right now on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Micah Vacatio
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14:20 - 14:35 - 10 - 15 orca traveling with purpose to the N/NW from Hannah Hts to Edwards Point & beyond. There were two groups; a group of 6 clustered around J56, including a large male, J47 Notch and possibly a 2015 youngster but I couldn't ID. The second group was breaching, slapping and spyhopping. Much socializing in this group! I turned on LK hydrophone 15 minutes later and heard amazing conversations. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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J pod was on the west side of San Juan Island early in the morning so Dave, Mia, and Conor headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 0830. We found the whales heading north at Kanaka Bay at 0900...The encounter ended at 1220 south of Hannah Heights with the whales still heading north. J pod passed CWR at 1540 still heading north although they later turned around again. -Full summary with images at Center for Whale Research Encounter 53.
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10:37 - Two orcas headed south on the west side of San Juan Island, just south of False Bay. We are headed north and orcas were headed south, they were close to south tip of San Juan Island when we lost sight of them, on the west side of the island. -SueAnn Alexander
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09:50 - 10:05 - Haro Strait SJI - 6 orca one at a time, all in a row traveled quickly to the SSE from Edwards Point towards Hannah Hts. Time out was taken to tail slap and breach. I saw 2 breaches and heard 3 more out of sight to the south. I saw J27 Blackberry, J19 Shachi and maybe J16 Slick. There was an individual I couldn't ID. -Thanks! Michelline Halliday, SJI
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08:54 - At least 10 SRKWs 1km offshore of False Bay surface active & foraging. Lots of echolocation, J pod calls, and some whistles in a very quiet Salish Sea. But now there's speedboat noise (though we can't yet see the vessel!)... No clear direction, but trending north. -Scott Veirs
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08:15 - Js. More off False Bay northbound.
07:45 - Seeing a couple whales several miles north of Lime Kiln several miles off shore, no clear direction. -Monika Wieland Shields
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07:00 - Calls on LK hydrophone. Js. -Rayne Billings
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Fri Aug 16 - Haro Strait - ~08:30 - Five Orcas went through Haro Strait an hour ago (~ 08:30) headed north toward the west side of Henry Island. Do you have any idea if they might be Resident or transients? They hung out for a while fishing so, they never came close to shore. -Laura Goode, Smugglers Cove Road
(probably T18s - alb)
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Fri Aug 16 - ~17:00 - Point Roberts WA- we spotted a group of Orcas way off shore heading North towards Active Pass. Def Orcas but too far away to id any individuals even with binoculars. At least 5 blows with at least 2 very tall dorsal fins. Five whale watching boats remained in the area with the Orcas for at least 30 mins. Thanks! -Sandra Scott
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Fri Aug 16 - 06:00 - WSF to Orca Network: 5:40 departing MV Yakima reported at least 5 orcas southbound San Juan channel.
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Aug 16 - WA Coast - 17:00 - La Push, WA. A fisherman, Ty Durbin, called to report seeing 2 orcas at 1700 today, 8/16, about 2 miles out of the harbor, at 47 53.726N x 124.39.2W. No photos or direction given.
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Fri Aug 16 - Haro Strait - 16:01 - Humpback. Now north of Land Bank (still northbound).
15:45 - One humpback whale off of Land Bank on San Juan Island headed north. SJI headed north. -Cassie Barclay
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Fri Aug 16 - Puget Sound - 13:34 - Humpback. Is out of Elliott Bay, just spotted flukes south of West Point (Discovery Park, Magnolia). -Mary Hartman
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13:20 - Hannah Dickinson reports a likely humpback heading west out of Elliot Bay.
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13:10 - Humpback in Elliot Bay behind cruise ships, headed west. -Jim Reitz
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13:05 - Humpack. In front of grain terminal (Seattle), heading West out of bay. -Mary Hartman
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12:40 - After about 15 mins down, it came up about 10 feet from our boat in the middle of Elliot Bay. Our Passengers and (and us) were shocked. Luckily we had King 5 onboard shooting for evening magazine, hoping they got good footage.
12:22 - Now behind celebrity solstice. Inbound to the bay (Elliott).
12:18 - Just spotted .5 mile south of 4 mile rock! A dive that is trending north. -Joey LaMarche
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10:51 - Possible humpback (image confirms) whale traveling northbound - just passed Lincoln park. -Back of camera photo by Matthew Saporito, Aug 16, 2019
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Fri Aug 16 - Admiralty Inlet - 10:30 - One minke whale a couple miles northeast (mid channel) from Fort Flagler on north Marrowstone Island. Seen from MV Saratoga. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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Fri Aug 16 - Puget Sound - Forward by Brad Hanson NOAA: Brad, I am taking the main line calls...A woman who lives on the Sound in Des Moines reported that she spotted a Minke whale (twice) and thought someone might want to know about it. She said it was not a Humpback and not an Orca. It was shiny black with a small dorsal fin. She does not need a call back, so this is just informational. -Thanks, Alicia Matter, NOAA/NWFSC
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Fri Aug 16 - Puget Sound - 07:10 - Not Orca, but just as cool!!! A dozen or so porpoises and maybe dolphin? (Larger and more willing to be near the ferry) about 1/4 to 1/2 mile north of the Vashon ferry terminal. VERY active this morning!!! Milling around in the area with no real direction of travel at 0710...grey, not the shiny black I'm used to seeing for Dall's just the one photo of the unknown which isn't great but the rest were for sure porpoises.-Robyn Daly

August 15
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Thu Aug 15 - Haro Strait - 15:28 - Whales went north then flipped southbound. Cher Renke reports hearing faint calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Some of J pod reported to have passed the lighthouse southbound very close to shore.
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Aug 15 - Haro Strait - 19:00-21:00 - We encountered an adult male and female 1km north of Lime Kiln around 7pm and moved w them southward reaching Kanaka Bay at 9pm where they milled with a few others including a calf. Lowered hydrophone at 7, 8, and 9, but heard no vocalizations. -Scott Veirs
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20:00 - Whales at the mouth of Eagle Cove, some milling, some heading north. -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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20:00 - Hi, At 8 pm J pod feeding for an hour at Eagle Cove. -Bob Stavers
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18:53 - Been hearing echolocation on Lime Kiln since 18:42. -Gayle Swigart
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21:05 - Only the J16s came up as far as Land Bank and they all went back south.
18:40 - A few Js milling at Land Bank again. -Monika Wieland Shields
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3:52 - Js just went back south, close to shore...All south of Land Bank now. -Monika Wieland Shields
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12:15 - J22 Oreo surfacing off False Bay in the fog. -
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Front to back in this group are J19, J51, J41, J40, J22, J37, & J38. -Photos by Ariel Yseth, Aug 15, 2019
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Observed from shore Haro Strait SJI. 6:10pm - 8:10pm- very spread out moving generally N/NW but then flipped again, some heading to the SW away from the island. It's an orca parade until just before dusk. They were milling a bit so my count may be off.
3:40pm - 4:05pm- they switched direction and crossed past me traveling to the S/SE (Edwards Point to Hannah Hts)
1:40pm - 2:15pm, 16-18 individuals including 3 large males and a tiny calf traveled N/NW from Hannah Hts past Edwards Point. (I think I may have seen L87 Onyx, photo enlargement attached) At 2pm two orca made a quick u-turn to inspect the Whale Research boat then turning again continued their travels. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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We flew all the way from Ohio just to see the Orcas and were so lucky to find Blackberry and J-Pod yesterday (15th)! Thank you all for sharing your little slice of heaven with us. It was our first time as well and we didn't want to leave! The whole island is very passionate about the orcas and wildlife in general. We saw orcas, a humpback, minkes, 10 or so bald eagles, foxes, it goes on and on. Had an amazing time. Southern Resident Orcas Return To The San Juan Islands!!-Michael Digiorgio
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Welcome Back J-pod!! We had some great trips on August 15 with J-pod on the west side of San Juan Island! Its great to see them back in our region. During our afternoon trip from Edmonds J-pod had a breach-fest right at Pile Point! Here are some photos from the encounter. J38 (Cookie) was especially breachy! -Naturalist/Photographer Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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14:16 - Headed north. I am just south of the lighthouse. They just rounded the bend! -Shannan Van Houten
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I saw 19s, 37, 40, 38. -Ariel Yseth
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J22, 38, 27, 31, and saw three more in fog that I couldn't ID. I think we were off False Bay. -John Boyd
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HI Alisa! Hi Howard and Susan! 8-15-19 Orcas in the fog, Haro Strait, SJI. (Please help confirm Id's, I believe the pair was J16 Slick and J19 Shachi.) Observed from the shore. 10:45am - 11:25am, in dense fog I heard a group of orca moving to the NN/W across Hannah Hts towards Edward Point. It sounded like they were very spread out and moving quickly. A smaller group stayed to the S across from Hannah Hts. (Close in to shore I noticed a larger than usual number of fish jumping). 11:29 am, moving to the SSE from Edwards Point to Hannah Hts. Traveling swiftly and closely together, 2 gorgeous orcas moved out of the fog through a patch of sunlight and then back into the fog. To see them like this with the fog and sparkling water was magnificent. (Photos enlargements attached) Thank you so much. -Michelline Halliday, SJI. -Photos by Michelline Halliday, Aug 15, 2019
(IDs confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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11:21 - They flipped, now southbound...Very spread, all back south in the fog now. Saw J19, J16, J36, J39, and a couple others couldn't ID in the fog.
11:17 - Leaders just passed Land Bank...Low vis at LB but not completely socked in
11:05 Hannah Heights northbound.
10:38 - they're at Pile Point. -MWS
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09:30 - They're still here! Residents seen offshore of the south end of San Juan Island, no known direction and mostly in the fog. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Thu Aug 15 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Took our breath away yesterday 8/15/19 ~ left Garrison Bay, SJI, approaching Smith Island, in and out of fog & then got to see this breaching male orca at 8:09. This beauty was headed West, then turned & WOW! There were two smaller orcas traveling together headed North. Couldn't get a good picture of them. Thanks for all you do ~Traci Darmody
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Thu Aug 15 - WA Coast - 16:00 - 5 Orca entered Grays Harbour at 4:00 PM 8/15/19. Travelling steadily E into the harbour at quite a clip. Looked like 3 females, 1 possible male and 1 juvenile. Didn't catch their exit, if they did yet. They were on the N side of the harbour, 25-50 yards off the N Jetty. -Mo Moss
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Phone call: 4PM - Ocean Shores - 3-4 orcas heading east toward Aberdeen. -Paul Carkeek
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Thu Aug 15 - Boundary Pass - 15:42 - Single humpback in Boundary Pass off Skipjack and NW Waldron diving for 5 min on average with 2-3 blows in between. Lots of salmon jumping and seals foraging from Skip Jack and Bare haul outs. (Means based on 9 dives observed between 3-4pm today (8/15/19).) -Scott Veirs
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Thu Aug 15 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Humpback whales are everywhere around Sooke now! We encountered our first pair 15 minutes from our docks and than almost anywhere we went they popped up...even a few breaching ones! Another great day to share the marine beauty of our backyard...What will tomorrow bring? Can't wait! MMX0077 Trifecta. -Paul Pudwell
(ID by Alethea Leddy)
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Thu Aug 15 - Puget Sound - Humpback - From earlier tonight on the ferry that had the sighting. -Caroline Martin Matter, Aug 15, 2019
(is possible evening reports are MMX0157 per Admiralty Inlet reports below -alb)
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19:55 - Maija with WS Ferries Ops called to relay report of large whale, unknown type, off Fauntleroy in the traffic lanes. No direction of travel noted.
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Thu Aug 15 - Admiralty Inlet - 14:52 - This was MMX0157 (re; Admirlaty Inlet Humpback) -Bart Rulon
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10:40 - The Scotts reported blows off Bush Point.
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10:40 - Humpback southbound just northwest of Bush Point about 1 mile. -Ariel Yseth
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08:50 - Lost sight in low clouds/fog but last seen still southbound...Saw blows, and back but too far away from me for pics or I'd and then lost in fog.
08:25 - Whale southbound Admiralty Inlet, across from Lagoon Point, Whidbey. Guessing humpback. -Patricia Prochaska
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Thu Aug 15 - Puget Sound - While kayaking at about 5pm off Point Robinson today my friend and I were ringed by porpoise. They circled around us at a range of 20 yards or more. They were focused on feeding-apparently oblivious to us. We aren't sure how many there were but one looked really immature....We did not get any pics. As I look at photos online I think they were Harbor porpoises due to their consistent grey color. -Jeanne Marie Thomas
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Not sure if you want harbor porpoise sightings or just larger cetaceans, but there are at least 2, looks like mom and calf, cruising Alki beach right now (8:13am). They just passed the obelisk at 63rd ave. -Patrick Hutchins

August 14
Wed Aug 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - The report we've all been waiting for: SRKW inbound! At least J pod was seen heading east from Sooke around 17:45. -Monika Wieland Shields
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GRAY WHALES - Wed Aug 14 - Gray whale. Sighting off West Beach, Oak Harbor. 14AUG2019 -Johnuz Bartels
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14:00 - ...we were out with Puget Sound Express and saw a Gray feeding near West Beach Rd. yesterday around 2 pm. -David Bieniek
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Wed Aug 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Sharing this VIDEO to allow everyone to have a small window into what we experienced Today...with 12+ Transient Killer Whales first converging on a single Humpback Whale than shortly two more came to "rescue"? We first had the pleasure to visit 4 Orca traveling at high speed SW of Jordan River and as the only couple other boats departed we were quickly engulfed in dense fog....we lost our first group but could hear Humpback blows near by so we slowly headed that direction...All of a sudden we surrounded by Killer whales and Humpbacks everywhere! We shut down our boats and were blessed to witness what happened. We always follow regulations and with only our two boats on scene in thick fog we had an encounter of a life time. This does not happen, so please understand we did our best to be responsible for all whales involved and I truly believe we did not interfere in any way, we love what we do. Enjoy. -Paul Pudwell
(Some possible IDs are T030As, T121As, T046C2 and for sure...T028As&B's IDs by Russ Nicks, Brendon Bissonnette and myself)
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Wed Aug 14 - Admiralty Inlet - 3:15 - Minke whale circling mid channel off Bush Point, Whidbey Island. Seen from MV Saratoga. -Bart Rulon

August 13
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Tue Aug 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Wow what an other killer day west of Sooke! Transient killer whales T101s. Always great to sea. -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Aug 13, 2019
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Tue Aug 13 - Admiralty Inlet - ~17:20 - 20:30 - We watched them (T46 group) from about 7:20 pm until 8:30 ish - the Transients continued south in Admiralty, we watched as they traveled from the south end of Marrowstone Island (~7:20), to just north of Skunk Bay (~8:30). They were spread out across the Inlet, some close to the Whidbey side, others mid-channel. Then we saw the two humpbacks continuing south - first in front of the orcas, then later swimming parallel to them, moving much further from the Whidbey side. We for sure saw one of the humpbacks continuing south as we left around 8:30. The orcas stopped and seemed to have made a kill mid-channel, then were below for awhile, and then continuing south past Foulweather Bluff toward Skunk Bay/Hansville. Tried to find them through the big eyes when we got back from the bluff, but it was too dark to find them. What an awesome evening of orcas, humpbacks, fuschia sunset, Mt Ranier bathed in pink, and a rising golden moon ~ we are so fortunate to live in the Salish Sea! -Report from Susan Berta & Wendy Sines, Orca Network
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19:03 - whales are totally stealthy trending south. One blow at a time by single whales 5 min. apart, just south of Bush Point. -Howard Garrett
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18:50 - whales have slowed down. Occasional milling but still trending south. Little Moon is with them. More whales a bit further north. -Sandra Pollard
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19:30 - when I left Bush Pt around 7:30 the last group I could see from afar were in line with Bush Pt and the entrance to Hood Canal. and I know there were others ahead of this group
18:50 - Large male and young one in this group
18:45 - viewing from Bush Point about 5 orcas straight out from lighthouse closer to Whidbey southbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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18:31 - Orcas just passing Bush Point.
18:00 - Janine Harles called (and texted!) to report the T46s and T46Bs (who include the pale whale T46B1B Tl'uk) are in Admiralty Inlet just north of Bush Point heading south, Whidbey side. T46B1B Tl'Uk & family in Admiralty Inlet. -Photo by Janine Harles, Aug 13, 2019
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18:00 - Paula Ratcliffe reports at least 3 orcas heading south midchannel in Admiralty Inlet between Lagoon Pt. and Bush Pt.
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T46 group from the air. 17:50 - I think we counted at least 9. It could have been more. Total gift to get to see them all! -Photo by Kay Olv, Aug 13, 2019
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17:52 - T46s and T46Bs between Lagoon Point and Bush Point heading toward Bush Point closer to the Whidbey side. -Justine Buckmaster, PSE
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15:45 - T46s are about 3 miles NW of Point Wilson coming SE, probably be going be the point in 15-20 minutes. -Christopher Hanke, PSE
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Tue Aug 13 - WA Coast - Noon - We saw two orcas breach at our beach in Grayland, near Westport WA, it was on Tues around 12 noon. There were two that we saw breaching looked to be heading south of Grayland Beach. -Sandi Hardesty
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tue Aug 13 - 06:31 - 4-5 orcas heading towards Joemma State Park from Devils Head in Case Inlet. Follow up re; species confidence: I know the diff. Definitely orcas. Males, I dont think so. It was a very quick peek thru my spotting scope so no pics. Hard to determine height of dorsal but I dont think it was 5'. More like 3. -Tim Enders
(Note: we had no other orca sightings reported, we do think it possible they were the common dolphins - alb)
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Tue Aug 13 - OR Coast - 12:55 - Multiple humpback blows at the Peter Iredale Shipwreck (Fort Stevens, Oregon). Definitely two whales. -Ariel Yseth
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Tue Aug 13 - Haro Strait - 19:30 - Two Humpbacks cruising along Land Bank heading north. Very tight to shore! -Pat McEvoy
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Tue Aug 13 - Admiralty Inlet - ~ 19:20 - 20:30 - We watched them from about 7:20 pm until 8:30 ish - the Transients continued south in Admiralty, we watched as they traveled from the south end of Marrowstone Island (~7:20), to just north of Skunk Bay (~8:30). They were spread out across the Inlet, some close to the Whidbey side, others mid-channel. Then we saw the two humpbacks continuing south - first in front of the orcas, then later swimming parallel to them, moving much further from the Whidbey side. We for sure saw one of the humpbacks continuing south as we left around 8:30. The orcas stopped and seemed to have made a kill mid-channel, then were below for awhile, and then continuing south past Foulweather Bluff toward Skunk Bay/Hansville. Tried to find them through the big eyes when we got back from the bluff, but it was too dark to find them. What an awesome evening of orcas, humpbacks, fuschia sunset, Mt Ranier bathed in pink, and a rising golden moon ~ we are so fortunate to live in the Salish Sea! -Report from Susan Berta & Wendy Sines, Orca Network
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19:15 - Just spotted a humpback apparently in vicinity of the Orcas also southbound. Watching from Bush Point. -Sandra Pollard
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18:45 - Two Spot is approaching Bush Point heading south - 1845 hrs -Tyler McKeen
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18:42 - 2 humpbacks with IE5, heading South, one of them is Two Spot, earlier he was traveling with Nala, not sure if that is who he's with now.
18:11 - There are 2 humpbacks coming in as well (Admiralty, also on the Whidbey side quite a ways behind these guys (T46 group). -Janine Harles
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Tue Aug 13 - 20:00 - Gray off Whidbey just south of Base runway. - Holly Youngblood Cannon
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Tue Aug 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Great to sea the T101's in the am tour and on our afternoon tour literally 5 minutes from our docks....then we visited a few humpback whales and Race Rocks Lighthouse....what a great day in the Juan De Fuca strait! -Paul Pudwell
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Tue Aug 13 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Trifecta day! First we found gray whale, probably #2253, off Swantown (Whidbey Island), where h/she has been for weeks,foraging. After checking out the harbor seals, a juvenile bald eagle and puffins at Smith Island, we headed out to Dungeness on reports of as many as 8 humpbacks in the area! We found three (MMY0139, BCX1210 Slate and her calf) in glass smooth water....so lovely to hear those huge exhalations! Then we sped back to Whidbey Island and caught up with the T46s and T46Bs....finally got to see little T46B1B, Tl'uk, the gray calf! Spectacular time with them! On the late ferry home, a magnificent sunset. What a special day! -Bonnie Gretz
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Morning tour on Saratoga was incredible!! We found 2 humpback whales near Port Angeles MMY0082 "Nalu" and MMZ0013 "Two Spot"! They travelled side by side next to us then they sped up towards a freighter ship wake and started SURFING in the wake! Then they went into a breach fest and one point breached together (no pics) but awesome to see!! We got a call from another WW boat that had transient orcas T46's and T46B's about 3 miles away!! We spent a few moments with that group of 13 whales including the little 7 month old gray/white whale T46B1B T'Luk!! The orca pics in tour #2 album are the same whales, different pics. Enjoy! -Janine Harles
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Aug 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Trifecta day!...we headed out to Dungeness on reports of as many as 8 humpbacks in the area! We found three (MMY0139, BCX1210 Slate and her calf) in glass smooth water....so lovely to hear those huge exhalations!...Bonnie Gretz
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Tue Aug 13 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Gray whale 2253 off Swantown, Whidbey Island where s/he has been foraging for weeks. -Photo by Bonnie Gretz, Aug 13, 2019
(ID confirmed by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)

August 12
Mon Aug 12 - Mark M got out to see R's yesterday, including both calves. Mark and Joe left Victoria harbor at 0730 on Mike 1 to head west out the Juan de Fuca to search for whales with hopes to see the large concentration of humpbacks seen off of Sombrio Point the last few days with hopes to get out towards Swiftsure Bank to find the Southern Residents....Full Encounter report w/images at Center for Whale Research Encounter 51.
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Mon Aug 12 -Strait of Juan de Fuca - What a FLUKING AWESOME DAY! We are so thankful to be so close to sooo much marine life this time of year...15 minutes from our Docks at Salty Towers and we were able to spend quality time with well over 30+ humpback whales with calm seas and great guests we really love what we can share everyday! -Paul Pudwell
(Includes: BCX1301 Andromeda, CS631/CRC16017 Two Spot, MMY0139 pictured. AND BCX1068 2017 calf Valiant, MMY0147 - IDs by alb)
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Mon Aug 12 - Absolutely beautiful day on the Salish Sea....sunshine, flat glass water, active lunge feeding minkes at Hein Bank, and the "Navy base" gray whale CRC 2253 off West Whidbey doing rainbow blows at Swantown. What a wonderful place we live in! And the heron chicks at the Coupeville ferry dock are growing up! - Bonnie Gretz
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED - Mon Aug 12 - 12:20 - This is my first sighting so forgive my lack of information. From the pier at holiday beach in Hoodsport. A small pod of what I thought, at first were pilot whales, was traveling west out Hood canal. They appeared to stop and play near Sund Rock Conservation...They all appeared grayish, but darker rather than light(I noticed no additional colors) . The point or tip of their dorsal fin was angled back towards their tail it's curvature similar to a pseudo orca. There were 4-6 of those cute buggers I think, all swimming nonchalantly, but paused near Sund Rock for a while and I wondered if it was too eat as it was that time I saw them surface gently more quickly in succession. Their lengths clearly varied, but I'd estimate them between 7 and 4feet....The picture of the harbor porpoise looks the closest. Hope this helps and thank you. Area. It was incredible. -Jacob Cartwright

August 11
L77 & her new calf L124 - J31 & her new calf J56 - Swiftsure Bank. -Photos by Mark Malleson, under permit w/Center for Whale Research, Aug 11, 2019
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Sun Aug 11 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Great day out west again...really happy to share my favorite Transient Killer Whale T011a again today with some great guests...he seems to be a "Local" the last few days! Then with calm seas and our west coast built vessels we can get to the humpback whales further out west than most. -Paul Pudwell
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Sun Aug 11 - San Juans - 10:57 - Single male, headed north. WP and Maya's with him. Possibly hunting due to shorebird activity but direction is steady.
10:41 - Lone orca. Aboard WSF Samish, seems like he's here now. No visual yet. -Sandra Prow
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09:05 - Marie with WS Ferries Ops called to relay report from MV Samish of lone male orca just milling in Thatcher Pass.
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Sun Aug 11 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Great day out west again...Then with calm seas and our west coast built vessels we can get to the humpback whales further out west than most, with time to spare! Yes we had around 40+ and was a sight to sea! -Paul Pudwell (inculdes MMX0049 Shell, MMX0160 Blizzard, MMY0093 Mercury pictured below. And MMY0138. IDs by Alethea Leddy)

August 10
Sat Aug 10 - Active Pass - 20:20 - T065A2 swam slowly westward through Active Pass off the shores of Galiano Island.. An hour later, perhaps after a circumnavigation of Prevost Island, he swam stealthily eastward through the Pass. On his return, all was calm and we could clearly hear him breathing as he hung on the surface for two or three breaths. Photos taken from the shore of Galiano Island. -Karoline Cullen
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Sat Aug 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Our afternoon tour had the pleasure today to change it up and visit the T046's and T046B's Transient Killer Whales and my favorite Transient Killer Whale T011A off Sooke and many a humpback whales too. -Paul Pudwell
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Sat Aug 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Port Angeles Trip: Our westbound track out of Port Angeles harbor took us out by Crescent Bay on the peninsula. From the water, we could see forested mountain tops through the clouds and drizzle. The further west we went, the less rain we encountered which was great because this is where we encountered our first humpback whale of the day, known as "MMZ0030" (no nickname yet) and another a bit further off. We watched this whale while it headed eastbound through the strait. Moments later, Captain Scott located another humpback which turned out to be "Lyra". It turns out, we hit the jackpot of humpbacks!! There were several more in the vicinity, including, "Hemlock" and three others just off Beechy Head in Canada, two of which were spending quite a bit of time together. They barely raised their flukes high enough upon diving so will have to spend a bit more time on those to confirm IDs....Renee Beitzel, Island Adventures
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Sat Aug 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca...Then we had the pleasure to share the beauty of our west coast and 20+ humpback whales. Only a few were fluking for some reason. Always great to sea! -Paul Pudwell
(BCX1053 ID by Brendon Bissonette)
(MMY0138 "Tiaki" ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Our afternoon tour had the pleasure today to change it up and visit the T046's and T046B's Transient Killer Whales off Sooke and many humpback whales too - BCZ0298 Split Fin & firend.. We LOVE IT! What a special place we live and able to share to so many people from around the world and close to home! -Paul Pudwell
(ID by Alethea Leddy)
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COMMON DOLPHINS - Sat Aug 10 - Just saw your comment on the post about orcas headed for Joemma State Park and that they may have been common dolphins. We had a great encounter with a pod of what we're pretty sure were common dolphins last Saturday in Case Inlet...We saw them on Saturday the 10th, at about 4pm in Case Inlet a little southwest of Joemma State Park. There were at least 3 of them, possibly up to 5. We were traveling northward on our sailboat heading toward McMicken Island from Olympia when we saw the splashing over near the Key Peninsula. We slowed down and maneuvered in large circles watching them jump from the water repeatedly and, twice, they came over to our boat to check us out and then immediately swam away again. It seemed like feeding behavior but we're unsure. -Rachel Messerschmidt
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Sat Aug 10 - 14:41 - Looks like they're heading farther south.
14:30 - Whale out at Deception Pass west beach a little south towards Oak Harbor. There's one whale boat out there can't tell if it's a grey or humpback. -Liz Davdison

August 9
Fri Aug 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Sharing a few quick pictures from this mornings encounter with Transient Killer Whales just west of Sooke with the T028 A's & B's (IDs Mark Malleson). Than I have many more pictures from our EPIC afternoon adventure with T11A Strait of Juan de Fuca and others tormenting Humpback Whales...with 30+ in the area...Paul Pudwell (also see T121A and T121A2, in many images of Paul's - alb)
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Fri Aug 9 - Victoria Harbor/Haro Strait - 16:52 - He (T65A2) is continuing up Haro Strait northbound. -Barbara Howitt
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~15:30 -16:00 - I watched him (T65A2) from shore for a little while at Ten Mile Point in Victoria around 3:30/4. -Michelle Rachel
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10:00 - Orcas in Victoria Harbour today. AND: Saw him in the Haro Strait at 2PM this aft! Twice in one day! What are the odds? -Photo by Jackie Cowan, Aug 9, 2019
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It was along the southeastern Vancouver Island coastline, west of Victoria city, that we met up with a lone Bigg's Killer Whale. It turned out to be T65A2, going it solo. This fifteen-year-old male is typically seen traveling with his mom and four siblings, but as of this week, he's been spotted on his own several times. It will be interesting to see when/if he meets back up with mom and joins the pod once again. He seemed to be having a good time this morning. Right as we arrived on the scene, we were wowed by two full breaches and a dramatic tail slap. After this impressive display of strength, he proceeded to scout out the kelp beds along the shoreline, possibly looking for prey...Sam Murphy, Island Adventures
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Fri Aug 9 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 18:10 - The T99s made a sharp turn to the South and are now off of Protection Island.
17:21 - We've got another group of Ts heading towards Admiralty Inlet! The T99s heading toward Point Wilson from about 3 miles NW of the point. -Justine Buckmaster
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Fri Aug 9 - ~11:30 - 4 orca NW of Smith Island heading southbound. -Sarah May Sing
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Fri Aug 9 - Admiralty Inlet/Puget Sound - 20:45 - Orcas 3,4 out south of Double Bluff heading south mid channel. -Katherine Crossett Montalvo
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19:51 - Orcas now trending south slowly...Long down times so hard to say but in the 15-30 min. range to Point No Point.
19:47 - Orca. Apparently completed a predation event, and the breaching has begun just north of Hood Canal on the Kitsap side.
19:22 - Orcas milling mid channel between Foulweather Bluff and Mutiny Bay. -Howard Garrett
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19:20 - Orcas have passed the entrance to Hood Canal and are about half way between Foulweather Bluff and Point No Point, observed from 1 mile south of Bush Point. Hunting. -Susan Berta
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18:44 - Orcas slightly north of Mutiny Bay, traveling southbound, mid channel. Visible from Mutiny Bay. -Justin Stockton
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18:34 - Viewing large grouping from Bush Point, orcas are south of channel marker moving south. Gorgeous backlit blows. MV Saratoga on scene. -Debbie Stewart
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18:05 - Orca. 6-8 passing Bush Point mid channel southbound. -Donna George
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17:34 - Orca. definitely on the move south in Admiralty at Lagoon Point. -Debbie Stewart
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17:30 - Correcting myself. Orcas do appear to be heading south at around mid channel between Lagoon Point and northern tip of Marrowstone Island/Ft Flagler.
17:12 - Looking like orcas have changed directions...were heading away from Whidbey towards Marrowstone and now look like possibly north? Can't tell for sure. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:55 - Kit Turner reports orcas NW of Lagoon Point off the north end of Marrowstone Is. milling.
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16.50 - Orca. some movement toward Port Townsend side. Bit spread out.
16.45 - Orcas milling north of Lagoon Point. May be on to a meal. -Sandra Pollard
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With reports of the T46s and T46Bs (including the light-colored calf T46B1B) heading south in Admiralty Inlet, we caught up with the whales at Lagoon Point mid-afternoon. They didn't seem to be in any hurry as they milled and circled for a while, and THINK (from a rather long and slightly distorted shot) that they had a harbor porpoise in their grasp at one point. After having some fun porpoising the wake of a Navy freighter (alas, the camera didn't do this activity justice), they continued south with rather more purpose passing Bush Point in the early evening. As the orcas were exhaling plumes of vapor creating exquisite back-lit blows, dedicated Orca-Dorks were drawing breath at the sheer beauty before them. (Photos Richard Snowberger). -Sandra Pollard
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16:24 - Orcas are north of Lagoon Point, some seem to be closer. Still viewing from high bluff Lagoon Point. to Whidbey. SB. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:03 - Orca. They are slowly southbound abeam of Point Marrowstone in the middle of the channel. These are the T46s and T46Bs (including the white calf T46B1B Tl'uk. There are 13 total in this group. -Justine Buckmaster
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15:15 - Orca. Viewing from high bluff at Lagoon Point looks like they are mid channel between Port Townsend/Fort Casey southbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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15:00 - Orca. Southbound, South of Point Wilson (outside Port Townsend) steady travel, mid-channel. -Connie Bickerton
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15:00 - Orca. Looks about 8 whales, 1 adult male, mid channel southbound approaching Port Townsend ferry lanes.
14:28 - Orcas southbound into Admiralty, closer to Port Townsend side. Approaching Fort Worden area. -Rachel Haight
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Fri Aug 9 - There's still a gray whale hanging out along the west side of Whidbey - near NAS, believed to be #2253. Beautiful water conditions on Friday 9th. - Jill Hein
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Fri Aug 9 - we found at least four different minkes whales near Hein bank. The first couple that we came across were living up to the nickname "slinky minkes", but the next group, well, they were downright curious. As we approached the scene, one of the minkes we'd spotted did a full 180 to beeline for the boat. We watched with eager anticipation as it swam closer and closer. Then, all of a sudden it was right next to us! We were quite literally staring down the blowholes of the whale as it gave us as close of a pass as a minke could...Sam Murphy, Island Adventures

August 8
Thu Aug 8 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Clouds from the morning were lifting and the Olympics were starting to peak through. We headed north across the straits as the T137's, a marine mammal eating family of orcas were reported and since they were heading west we knew we had to catch up with them. We arrived on scene to find T137 and her 3 calves T137A, T137B and T137D all swimming along with lots of surface time. One of the younger calves was a little playful throwing a few tail slaps and a spyhop in the mix...Island Adventures

August 7
Wed Aug 7 - San Juans - T18 Esperanza and T19C Spouter this afternoon off Shaw Island. Today was not the best day to be a harbor seal in the San Juan Islands! The T18s were making pit stops at nearly every seal haul out as we watched them this afternoon. Here's T19B Galiano with some very nervous harbor seals near Blind Island.
15:50 - Orcas westbound Harney Channel (They did indeed go west through Harney Channel and Wasp Passage, and then north up San Juan Channel). -Monika Wieland Shields
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14:40 - So cool to get a text from my niece Leah McNabb with orca sighting report near real time & images included below: "Just off Lopez and Shaw. I was out at Friday Harbor today for work - making my way back - ferry (FH/Lopez/Anacortes run) was delayed thankfully so we got to see the orcas swim in front of the boat so we were there for about 20 minutes. People who do this run weekly for 30 years saw them for the first time." (T18s per other reports - alb) -Report/images by Leah McNabb, Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:15 Ts - likely the T18s - heading NW from the west side of Thatcher Pass. -Monika Wieland Shields
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13:05 - Mike with WS Ferries Ops called to report pod of orcas (number unknown) in Thatcher Pass milling, no direction.
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12:38 - Spotted 2 Orcas, 1 adult, 1 juvenile in Thatcher Pass today, 8/7/19 at 12:38 pm. T19B (born 1995) traveling the islands. They were traveling west and were very close to the north shore of Decatur Island. Taken with 400mm lens and cropped. We were about 200 yards away, heading west also. I am a bird photographer and had my camera with me. -Thanks, Eileen de la Cruz
(ID confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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Aug 7 - Puget Sound ~ 09:00 - When fishing on the 7th we had four or five Orcas swim by, two large ones and one younger one and we think one medium size. They were coming from the Point No Point area and stopped on the east, deep side of the the bar. They swam around in a circle for about 15 minutes the slowly swam north. The much smaller one kept very close to the adults. I will attach several pictures l took. To the north of the orca is Bush Point. I am sending you this info because in today's Kitsap Sun newspaper it stated the whales had not been sighted in Puget Sound for awhile. We did see them and hope they can find salmon, we didn't. -Don Williams
(T137s were in on 6th. We had no other reports of them on the 7th, but this looks probable to be them heading out after a night's stay - alb)

August 6
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Tue Aug 6 - Upper Straight of Georgia - Hi, I don't know if you are aware, but today, we saw a family of orca just off the shores of Savary island by the wharf. So close to where boats are anchored and we could clearly see daddy with baby and the mom was farther away, slapping the water. We think to send signals of boats or danger nearby. They peacefully finished their feast and went around mace point and we saw them an hour or so later from our front deck on the south side going toward Comox. What a sight! I have video. But am emailing to advise. :). Everyone was respectfully distant and stopped traffic until they'd moved on. Including a likely startled kayaker! -Cheers, Jenn Gaiger
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T18s - T019C hunting seals at the Belle Chain Islets (east of Victoria) on the afternoon of August 6th. -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2019
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Orcas just west of Orcas Island. T18's. -Photos by Holly Youngblood Cannon, Aug 6, 2019
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Tue Aug 6 - San Juans - 10:32 - Saw a beautiful orca as we passed Shaw Island a few min ago. We had left deer harbor and on our way to Rosario Strait. I tried to post a video on the network page. Not sure if it worked. -Bette Sereia
(T65A2 per Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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Tue Aug 6 - San Juans - We saw a lone male orca off Lopez on Tuesday morning on our way to Victoria. I wonder if it was the same one. -Alice Thuy Talbot
(Presumably T65A2 who was traveling inter-islands - alb)
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Tue Aug 6 - Puget Sound - Hello, spotted these orcas on August 6th while fishing just north off of Point Robinson on Maury Island. -Photo by Paul Dixon, Aug 6, 2019
(T137s; who were included in our previous Whale Report - alb)
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Tue Aug 6 - Puget Sound - 20:45 - Maija, WS Ferries Ops called again to report the 4 orcas (T137s) are now about 1/2 mile off Blakely Rock heading north.
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19:10 - Orca. Stalling between Blake Island and the north end of Lincoln Park, very slowly trending north. -Cayla Wilson
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18:35 - Orca. They've committed to east side of Blake, headed northbound. Viewing from Charles Richey park on Alki. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
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18:29 - Pod seen off of Southworth ferry dock, currently at southwest tip of Blake Island. Appears to be 4-5, at least one very large dorsal fin, and one or two very small. There is a kayaker that is right there, hopefully will make a better report. -Laura Christman
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18:08 - Maija with WS Ferries Ops called to report the 4 orcas off Southworth heading westbound via Blake Island and Yukon Harbor.
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18:05 - Four or five orca whales just west of the Southworth ferry landing. 6:05 pm 8/6/19 Sighted from home above parking lot. -Peter Bulthuis
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17:45 - Northbound just south of Southworth Ferry. -Noreen Ferris
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17:40 - The T137 pod is still slowly northbound along the Kitsap shoreline about a mile south of the northern entrance to Colvos Passage. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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17:30 - 4 or 5 Bigg's slowly NB on 8.6.19 1730 hrs north end Colvos close to Kitsap side. Cheers. -Photo by Tim Ferris, Aug 6, 2019
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~ 17:25 - Orca. They passed Wilson Creek at about 5:25 heading north towards Southworth ferry. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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17:25 - Orca. It looks like they are just a mile south of Southworth, northbound hugging the Kitsap shoreline. -Robyn Daly
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16:34 - Orca. They are just a bit north from where we are (we are blue dot). Still trending north along the Kitsap side.
16:21 - Orca. It looked like they had something (prey) near Olalla. They were in super close to shore too. Continuing to move north near the shore. -Kimberly Marzano
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16:08 - Orcas moving up to Southworth in Colvos in front of Anderson Point. -Sherrie Flaten
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15:45 - T137A - Colvos Passage - Olalla, Kitsap. -Photo by Ashley Whitman, Aug 6, 2019
(ID by ALB)
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15:46 - Orca. passing Al's now still slowly heading north. Gorgeous close Pass to Kitsap side!
15:32 - Orca T137s - Colvos Passage. They're 50 ft off the shore on the Kitsap side heading north. Saratoga Express with them. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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~15:00 - T137s in Colvos Passage off Ollala, Kitsap. -Photos by Jolena Tagg, Aug 6, 2019
(ID by ALB)
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14:55 - T137s. they are super close to the kitsap shore, seen from just south of Lisabeula Beach (Vashon side) looks like they are hunting, being very stealthy, drifting slowly north. -Marla Smith
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14:45 - A group of 4-5 orcas moving very slowly northbound up the extreme west side of Colvos Passage, just north of Point Richmond. Only 50-100 feet from shore. -Chris Friedemann
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14:27 - Orca. Just saw them SLOWLY heading north past Point Richmond (Colvos). -Jen Ruffner
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~13:00 - Last I saw they were heading north through Colvos Passage....Yes, Colvos. Over an hour ago (~12:50). From my mom's house in Gig Harbor, she lives between the marina and the Narrows. They were heading north into Colvos passage at 1:00 pm. -Brianna Schroeder
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12:51 - Orca. I'm signing off, they are still southbound, mid channel in no hurry, in the Narrows. Chilkat has departed. Potential amazing viewpoints coming up: Boat House 19 dock, Narrows Beach, Fox Island Fishing Pier. -Melissa Burks
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12:45 - Orca. I had to leave Old Ferry Landing at 12:45. At the time they were trending west/mid channel and as I was getting to my car, I could see at least 3 had turned north. I returned at 1:10 and spoke to someone who was watching when I left. He said they had continued to circle around for a bit and then as several boats approached they dove and he never saw them come back up.
12:42 - Orca. They look to be milling a bit, trending west/mid channel. About parallel to the north end of Salmon beach. -Heidi Armstrong
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12:42 - Orca are mid channel heading south toward Narrows Bridge still. Viewing from Narrows Viewpoint Pt Defiance. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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12:35 - T137s below Gig Harbor Viewpoint, Point Defiance heading southbound into Tacoma Narrows. -Photo by Carry Lee McAllister, Aug 6, 2019
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12:20 - Orca. Viewing from Gig Harbor. They are approaching Point Defiance. Heading south. -Heidi Armstrong
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12:08 - Orca. Viewing at Dalco viewpoint. Just went under. Looked to be trending south...Amber Stanfill
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11:57 - Orca seem to be crossing Dalco Passage heading for the Narrows.
11:38 - Orca are off southeast tip of Vashon, close to shore, Westbound towards Ferry terminal. Some breaching as the crossed entrance to Quartermaster Harbor. -Melissa Burks
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11:50 - Orca. They're at the ferry terminal on south Vashon. Huge male present.
11:35 - Orca. They're against the island to the west of the WW boat. Little hard to see unless they blow against the dark land. They right at the mouth of Quartermaster Harbor by the white buoy. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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11:09 - Orca skirting S. End of Maury Island, crossing Quartermaster Harbor, towards Pt. Defiance Ferry Terminal, Vashon side.
11:06 - Orca. Chilkat Express on scene, should make them easier to spot. Still southbound off the Soutern tip of Maury Island, heading towards Pt. Ruston/Owen/Dalco Passage.
10:49 - Orca. from Dune Peninsula Park, can see them with binoculars milling off south end of Maury, 2 boats with them. -Melissa Burks
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~10:00 - I wanted to report an Orca sighting of two large and one baby Orca this morning around 10am-ish just off of the Gold Beach waters on Vashon Wa. It was very exciting to see! They stayed in the same area for at least ten minutes. My husband was able to get some photos from our deck. I hope this is useful info! T137D (left) & big brother T137A (right) off Gold Beach. -Many cheers, Maggie Hillding & Darren Short
(could confirm as T137s - alb)
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07:45 - 5 Orcas spotted this morning north of Tramp Harbor on Vashon Island. Remained feeding in area for about 45 minutes. Last seen moving south. (First seen Approximately 7 AM. Departed the area around 745 AM.) -Jim Bazemore
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Tue Aug 6 - Upper Strait of Georgia - 12:20 - Another humpback hanging out in front of Powell River. Lots of fin slapping. Noon - Two humpbacks sighted heading north in the Malaspina Strait just north of Powell River before noon on August 6. -Caitlin Cooper
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Minke whales at Hein Bank swimming together, chilling...Photos by Janine Harles, July 30, 2019
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DALL'S PORPOISE - Tue Aug 6 - DJ Mar called at 10:53, reporting 4 - 5 Dalls porpoise N of Des Moines pier, moving toward mid-channel foraging.
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10:13 - 2 Dall's porpoises just passed Des Moines Yacht Club headed north towards Des Moines Marina! -Kimberly Brown

August 5
Posted Aug 5 - As we've now gone another five weeks and counting without Southern Residents in inland waters, you, like us, have probably been wondering where they've been. We've now heard from multiple sources that members off all three pods - and likely most or all members of all three pods - have been seen on several occasions over the last couple weeks out at Swifsture Bank, shown on the map below. So close and yet so far, right? The fact that they haven't come in to do their typical circuit to the Fraser gives us hope that they've found a steady source of food out there; otherwise, it seems to us that they would at least check out what for decades has been their mainstay summer food source.
Perhaps it makes sense for them to be out there, where they can encounter fish not only returning to the Fraser but to many other river systems both in Puget Sound and further south on the outer coast, including the Columbia-Snake River Basin. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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Mon Aug 5 - Puget Sound - 19:33 - Orca (T137s). I can see them from our dock in Edmonds! They are southbound mid channel. -Justine Buckmaster
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18:30 - T137s. Now about 3.5 NW of Edmonds, southern end of Possession Bank, milling. -Christopher Hanke
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17:53 - Orca (T137s). Made it almost to Apple Tree Point Kingston and then abruptly turned east. Hard to say if heading around Whidbey or if they will continue south but were well east into the the shipping lane with long down times. -Sara Frey
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17:06 - Orca T137s. Skirting Eglon southbound. Way over toward Kitsap side. -Ariel yseth
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15:33 - T137s are off Skunk Bay, 2.8 miles NW of Point No Point.
13:23 - Saratoga leaving them (T137s) west side of traffic lanes between Bush Point and Double Bluff, not moving over the bottom but pointed south. -Christopher Hanke
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11:20 - Whales south of Bush Point at north end of Mutiny Bay. (Whales stalled after this). -Sandra Pollard
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10:33 - T137s southbound in Admiralty Inlet, now approaching Bush Point. -Justine Buckmaster.
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09:45 - At least 3 orca heading south at Lagoon Point. -Paula Ratcliff
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08:12 - Marie, WS Ferries Ops called to relay report from MV Salish (PT/Coupeville run): while pulling out of Port Townsend crew spotted 4-5 orcas heading southbound in Admiralty Inlet off Port Townsend.
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Mon Aug 5 - Hi, I saw an orca in Port Townsend bay on Monday August 5th at about 7:30 a.m. He/she was incredibly close to shore, maybe only 30 feet away. No exaggeration! This was on the beach about 40 meters south of the rock groin at Point Wilson lighthouse. There was just the single animal and they arched out of the water apparently following a channel just offshore. Sorry I couldn't tell anything more to identify it as it was seen against the morning sunrise. -Thanks, John Downey
(Would be T137s who were included in previous Whale Report -alb)
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Mon Aug 5 - Strait of Georgia - Last night (5th) I was on a whale watching trip to use up a pass I had...Here's a few photos of humpbacks I got! It was a beautiful evening to be in the water. I was out with Island Adventures from Anacortes but we found the humpbacks in Canadian waters just in the middle of the Strait just south of Pt. Roberts area. It was between 6:00 and 7:30 approximately. BCY0160 Heather -Wendy Kotorynski
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON) (Per Island Adventures Blog, Heather was hanging out w/Big Mama BCY0324)
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GRAY WHALES - Mon Aug 5 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 14:00 - Gray on west side of Whidbey Island. We were North of Swantown. -Thx, Holly Cannon

August 4
Sun Aug 4 - Haro Strait - re: Breck Tyler sighting: T46s and T137s. 137s were last seen a few weeks ago in SE Alaska!! -Ariel Yseth
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~12:15 - Small group of orcas well off Cattle Point, SJI with a dozen boats about 1215 today. -Breck Tyler
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Sun Aug 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Just thought I would send these to you, Biggs Transients in the strait of Juan De Fuca off of Port Angeles on 08/04. Little one in fore is T46B6, T46B2 left with spyhopper friend. Love the work you guys do and appreciate the efforts to save these awesome animals. -Andrew Bolton
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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Sun Aug 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Flat Calm Seas allowed us to get at least 15 humpback whale ID's today west of Sooke! With over 20+ in the area...Always Great to sea...smiles all around with very happy adventure going guests from around the world! Includes: BCX1068's 2017 calf Valiant, MMY0102, HW-MN0510157 aka MMY0106 Aerie, MMY0063 Hornet, MMY0147, BCZ0075. -Photos by Paul Pudwell
(IDs: MMY0102 by Alethea Leddy, all others by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON - see others in report above)
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SPECIES UNCONFIRMED - Sun Aug 4 - 20:47 - Just saw a whale south bound in Peale Passage. Dorsal looked like a humpback. Not very large. Surfaced twice. Not real big. Maybe 15ft. -Jimi Limric

August 3
Sat Aug 3 - Hood Canal around noon till 3 PM - (Melisa Pinnow reviewed several images and ID'd as T37As - alb) Orcas - 1st goup, 4, three adult females & 1 young one; 2nd group 2 females and 2 very young ones, 47°54'13.64"N 122°36'44.23"W, traveling North. First group was transiting at a pretty good clip. 2nd group were 2 moms and 2 babies teaching them how to tail flop, spin and jump and look to be hunting and playing No males, 1st group: 3 females, and a juvenile , 2nd group: 2 females and 2 juveniles. The first 4 pics were the first group: 2nd two and video are of the second group. -Russell Avocato
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Aug 3 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - A great day out west of Sooke with 7 humpback whales, a gray whale, a random Sea Otter floating off Sherigham Lighthouse, many porpoise and our local eagle having lunch! MMX0084 Scuttle. -Paul Pudwell
(ID'd by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Sat Aug 3 - WA Coast - We've been walking along the beach south of Kalaloch and north of Elephant Rock north of the raft river and observed a whale in the same spot with a front fin in the air for most of the time. Perhaps this is normal but we were concerned enough to write. Thank you....A note that we just ran into some folks who are down here daily and have observed this, saying they adore grey whales that are feeding so I'll walk on with a lighter heart. -Julie Slone
(video shows feeding gray just off the breakwater - alb)
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As of yet unidentified Gray whale west of Sooke, BC. -Photos by Paul Pudwell, Aug 3, 2019

August 2
Fri Aug 2 - Lower Strait of Georgia - T65As near Cherry Point Friday afternoon. -Photo by Janine Harles, Aug 2, 2019

August 1
Thu Aug 1 - Rosario Strait - Transient orcas (~3) on west side of James Island heading southeast down Rosario Strait!! -Moey Rojas
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Thu Aug 1- Strait of Juan de Fuca -Another great day of Sooke! ...Transient / Biggs Killer Whales T46B's were in our backyard again, great to sea! Here is a few shots from the morning and afternoon tours with still soooo many humpback whales out west. -Paul Pudwell (Includes CRC16840/MMX0076 Delta, HW-MN0510157 Aerie, MMY0102, MMZ0004 Zephyr IDs by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Mon Aug 1 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Met up with the "resident" gray whale hanging out off Joseph Whidbey State Park - Gray whale 2253 - West Whidbey., then found a total of four minkes on Hein Bank and Salmon Bank. Beautiful day! -Bonnie Gretz
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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MINKE WHALES - Thu Aug 1 - ...found a total of four minkes on Hein Bank and Salmon Bank. Beautiful day! -Photo by Bonnie Gretz, Aug 1, 2019