December 2018 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of December 2018 whale sightings.

December 31
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - J17 showing peanut head. -Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, Dec 31, 2018
(photo taken under federal permit)
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Mon Dec 31 - Hi, Just wanted to share some photos and words from December 31st as I was out on the water that day. We went to watch the T124As and the T124Ds down near Smith Island in Washington. They were traveling slowing to the N/NW and taking very long dives - the two groups being separate at first before joining about 40 minutes later. As we were heading back into Victoria Harbour we came across the southern residents (J Pod) passing through to the west. In the sunset we were lucky enough to have a visit from J-26(Mike) and J-39 (Mako) before heading into the harbour. All current regulatory measures were taken and we did not spend much time with the southern residents. -Elizabeth Zwamborn, MSc
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Five Star Whale Watch Facebook VIDEO of J pod off Victoria this evening...."we had pretty much all of Jpod plus L87 stretched across the waterfront. The two Orcas in this video are J27 "Blackberry" and J47 "Notch", plus J38 Cookie was nearby". - ...The blows turned out to be from J pod and the whales were heading south on the Canadian side of Haro Strait, south of Kelp Reefs. Nearly all of J pod was grouped up and sleepily heading toward Cadboro Point on Vancouver Island. Not everyone was sleepy though. L87 and J47 were goofing off together, as were J38, J39, and J45. The J16s and J46 were socializing a few hundred yards to the west of the big group. To the east of the big group were J17 and J53. Unfortunately, J17 has not improved in health and showing a true peanuthead now. Perhaps reacting to their mother's condition, both J35 and J53 were acting mopey... See full encounter report w/photos & video at: Center for Whale Research Encounter 111.
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Mon Dec 31- Admiralty Inlet - T46s - What a way to close out 2018! The T46s passed by Fort Casey this afternoon, mid-channel and northbound, on such a clear and calm day. Bring on 2019, I think we're all ready for it! -Jill Hein
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14:00 - Going past Port Townsend, breaching, hunting?
13:39 - finally blows at Ft Casey! WW boat with them slow NB not to Port Townsend yet. -Bonnie Gretz
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11:59 - Seeing a group now between Lagoon Point and Marrowstone Island, northbound. -Margaret Marshall
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Beautiful T's (T46s) passing Port Townsend. From Ft. Casey this afternoon...gorgeous day! A fitting finale to 2018. Happy New Year to all! T46E in photo. -Photos by Bonnie Gretz, Dec 31, 2018
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Mon Dec 31- Admiralty Inlet - T124A2s & T124Ds - Just wanted to share some photos and words from December 31st as I was out on the water that day. We went to watch the T124As and the T124Ds down near Smith Island in Washington. They were traveling slowing to the N/NW and taking very long dives - the two groups being separate at first before joining about 40 minutes later...The photos below are of the T124A2s. All photos were taken with a telephoto lens and cropped. -All the best, Elizabeth Zwamborn MSc
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11:43 - They are traveling north west now, in the middle of the shipping lanes between point Wilson and partridge point. Now seems to be 5 whales in total.
10:47 - Three orcas at the Hudson marker in port Townsend bay. 2 females and a calf heading for Point Wilson. -Sarah Hanke
(We've no confirmed IDs from these reports below, but based on their stay in Puget Sound we are presuming they are same group as Zwamborn report above - alb)
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11:23 - 5 orcas off of Point Wilson. Headed toward Straits. -Alexandra Redman
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11:15 - Orcas (3?) passing Port Townsend Marine Science Center, northbound. Viewing from Fort Casey, way over on PT side. -Jill Hein.

December 30
Amiralty Inlet - T46s - 15:00 - Sandra, Duck and I at Limpet Lane seeing orcas north of Double Bluff Channel Buoy mid-ish channel heading south. -Marilyn Armbruster
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14:56 - T46 & T122 Admiraly Inlet. Looks like the T46s south bound at Double Bluff. -Justine Buckmaster
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14:50 - Orcas, group includes at least two adult males, continuing steadily south mid-channel. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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14:30 - Seeing about 5-6 orcas at least, spread out heading south between Mutiny Bay, Whidbey and Foulweather Bluff, Kitsap. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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1:13 - Orca in Admiralty Inlet between Marrowstone Island and south Lagoon Point, true mid-channel. Too far away to see saddle patches. Appear to be heading south bound. -Margaret Marshall
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Sun Dec 30 - Puget Sound - T124A2s and T124Ds - 16:05 - They just passed by Southworth ferry dock with research boat trailing behind. Seem to be northbound, moving quickly. -Kristen Levi
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15:45 - Northbound Colvos almost to Southworth...About 7-8 orcas with research vessel scoupin' whale poop. -Photo by Tim Ferris, Dec 30, 2018
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15:40 - They are slowly heading North and are bunched up closer to the Kitsap side....Heading towards Southworth ferry terminal now.
15:35 - Orcas Out front Driftwood Cove now, northbound. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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15:32 - T124A2s and T124Ds now northbound in Colvos Passage. 12/30 on the Chilkat Express was an amazing double-header with two different pods of Transient Killer Whales. We started out down south with the T124A2s and T124Ds as they hunted pinnipeds in Colvos Passage. We suspect that the seal(s) in question were attempting to hide under boats, including our own since this group approached us not once, but twice. Both close passes came right before some intense action and then feeding behavior shown by both the orcas and some nearby birds looking for leftovers. (Disclaimer: Both close encounters were on the orcas' terms. We and the other vessels on scene were watching from over 200 yards away when the whales turned and approached us. Engines were shut down.) Later, we met up with the T46s as they cruised south against the tide in Admiralty Inlet. T124D and T124A2B, T124A2, T124D2 & T124D1.-Justine Buckmaster
(While Justine ID'd the pods this day, Melisa Pinnow, CWR, ID'd individuals in the photos for this report)
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15:29 - Orcas. Directly across from Cove Beach Vashon hugging the west side of Colvos - still northbound - research boat following them. -Patricia Caughell
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15:21 - Orcas. We see them! Lots of blows, maybe 5 animals? Way out on the WEST side of Colvos, just south of Fern Cove. There's a little 2-man research boat trailing them. -Cheryl Richmond
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14:45 - Orcas are swimming crazy fast, now along West side of Colvos, Anderson Point, Kitsap. Zoom center of water part photo. Photo shows one dorsal and research boat. I'm looking North up Colvos.
13:54 - At Al's store in Ollalla. Pod, we think 5-6, swimming North in Colvos, East side of channel. Lots of spray, circular and vigorous swimming!!! Huge jumps and splashes. -Kathleen Cage
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Transient pics (below) as they were headed north up Colvos Passage this afternoon as seen from the shores of Vashon island. Erratic, stealthy behavior as they cris-crossed the channel, taking long dives, and popping up where you'd least suspect. Sneaky T's! I couldn't tell if it was the sunlight reflection, it's very possible, but it almost looked like the young calf in the pod had some very unusual pigmentation on the back of its body...from the dorsal to the fluke, looked very light....Would love to get some Id's if you get a chance! T124A2s & T124Ds Colvos Passage. -Marla Smith
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13:45 - Orcas headed north past Lisabeula, mid channel but more towards Vashon side. No adult males, one babe, all females/juveniles. -Marla Smith
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13:26 - Orcas. Between 3-5 heading north in Colvos Passage currently almost past Camp Sealth. -Joshua Cunningham
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12:27 - Orcas have committed to Colvos. Out of my sight now. Great breaches just before they left. Boats were a good distance behind.
12:20 - There was milling, direction changes. Now they (orcas) look to be heading towards Colvos.
12:01 - Orcas past the point (Defiance) traveling in a tight group of 5-6. Looked to be turning towards Owen Beach. Don't see any males/tall dorsals.
11:51 - Orcas are now well north of Salmon Beach. Heading towards Point Defiance faster pace now.
11:46 - Orcas are slowly trending north, close to Salmon Beach side. Very active, lots of splashing so I'd agree they are on a kill. Hard to count from here but I'd say 5+.
11:38 - Orcas in front of Salmon Beach, watching from Gig Harbor Old Ferry Landing. -Heidi Armstrong
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10:45 - Orcas under the Narrows Bridge, very quick sighting. Thinking they are heading north. -Andrea Walker
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10:24 - Orcas (3-4 of them as far as I can tell) under the Narrows Bridge. -Rhonda Haug
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Dec 30 - 15:17 - Single humpback just north of Oneal island in San Juan channel, heading slowly north just now. Melanie Nakashima

December 29
09:27 - San Juans - T49A2 & T65A2 Inside (west side) of O'Neal island, heading north toward Reuben tarte. -Melanie Nakashima
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09:00 - T65A2 and 49A2 in Rocky Bay headed inside of O'Neal Island. -Alan Niles
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Sat Dec 29 - Puget Sound - 14:39 - Pod of orcas. Mid channel Colvos Pass north of Olalla. Traveling south. -Kristi King
(Presumabely T124A2s & T124Ds - alb)
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14:20 - 7-8 orcas southbound in Colvos Passage, 1 mile south of Southworth Ferry, rapid pace. Kitsap side. -Noreen Ferris

December 28


December 27
Juan de Fuca Strait - T93 & T97 - Within minutes from our docks...we could see multiple blows from Humpback whales as we headed south after a minute or so we were fortunate enough to encounter two bull Transient Killer Whales right out front of Sooke. (55 year old T93 & 38 year old T97 who frequently travel together) After that we visited at least 8 of the 12 Humpbacks that were in the local area...Wow what a day! -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal
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Thu Dec 27 - San Juans - T49A2 & T65A2 ~14:00 - Orcas. Just wanted to let you know that we came across two kids at Salmon Bank, between the green buoy and shore, at about 2:00. They were milling about Salmon Bank, right near the green buoy for quite awhile...They may be the same two that have been hanging around the islands for the last week or so, T49a2 and T65a2. One is definitely larger than the other...Attached are two pics of the same orca that we came across...the smaller one, I couldn't get a pic of. They were milling about Salmon Bank, right near the green buoy for quite awhile. -Mariann Carrasco
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Tom and Jane headed out on "Morning Star" to look for whales at 1000. At about 1150, whales were spotted in Friday Harbor. "Morning Star" was nearby, having searched Spieden and President Channel, and arrived on scene at about 1200. T49A2 and T65A2 were on the south side of the harbor, but changed direction and headed across the harbor to the north side before continuing north to Point Caution. Full encounter report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 110.
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11:52 - Orca Friday Harbor, heading toward Turn island. -Alan Niles
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11:00 - 2 orcas in Rocky Bay just now, last seen at Mineral Pt. -Melanie Nakashima
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Thu Dec 27 - Puget Sound - T124A2s & T124Ds - 16:00 - Orcas were down really close to shore at Prospect point, heading towards Al's. -Matt Colby
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15:44 - Orcas visible from Al's grocery, almost to the other side. They were in front of the yellow house headed toward Bremerton. -Cassie Yeaher
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15:07 - My son just saw orcas from our beach, south of Al's in Olalla on the Gig Harbor line heading south and then a big barge went by and the orcas went under. -Pat Devore
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14:40 - I could barely see the orcas from Al's market in Ollala as they headed south along Vashon. I just left there at 2:40. 14:27 - orcas seem to be heading South again in Colvos on Vashon side. 14:00 - I can see the whale watching boat and orca blows to the south from Al's in Ollala. Hoping they come North up Colvos! -Amy Bliss-Miller
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On Saratoga in the South Sound. We got reports of orcas heading toward the Tacoma Narrows bridge from the south, so we headed there from the north. We met up with the T124A2s and T124Ds just south of Colvos Passage, flying north on a strong outgoing tide. The weather was nearly the complete opposite of the day before. Hardly any wind, the sun peeking from behind the clouds and water like glass. It made for some excellent photo oppurtunities, especially when the group stopped to make a kill and feed just before the end of our encounter. -Justine Buckmaster
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13:27 - They're entering Colvos Passage on the Gig Harbor side now. I'm counting 5 or 6 though. Maybe more. I am the executive director of Citizens for a Healthy Bay - I was on our -Melissa Malott, Citizens for a Healthy Bay
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13:10 - 4 orca just past the mouth of Gig Harbor and headed north. -Gaby Kinner
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13:05 - 4 orcas heading North Colvos Passage just off Vashon. 2 calves and 2 adults. -Mariska Blankenbijl
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12:21 - orcas heading north towards the Narrows Bridge. Three in total. Viewing from: at the end of Point Fosdick Drive.
12:13 - 2 or 3 Orcas likely Biggs in Hale Passage heading towards narrows Passage north side of Fox Island. -Anita French
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10:18 - 2 orcas at the tip of Fox Island heading for McNeil Island. (Southbound). -Jennie Martin
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Wed Dec 26 - Puget Sound - T124A2s & T124Ds on Saratoga was a very cold blustery day. Of all the days to forget my coat at home, I chose this one. My bad luck ended there, however, as just moments after leaving the Edmonds Marina we spotted a group of Transient Killer Whales hunting. It was family of 2 adult females, two juveniles, and two calves/younger juveniles. I tentatively ID'd them as the T124As but now I'm not so sure. Anyone recognize these whales? We last saw them heading south just off Shilshole and found them again the next day near Tacoma. -Justine Buckmaster
(IDs: T124A2s and T124Ds, We had them on Christmas Eve in Becher Bay - Brendon Bissonette)
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Thu Dec 27 - Within minutes from our docks...we could see multiple blows from Humpback whales as we headed south after a minute or so we were fortunate enough to encounter two bull Transient Killer Whales right out front of Sooke. (55 year old T93 & 38 year old T97 who frequently travel together) After that we visited at least 8 of the 12 Humpbacks that were in the local area...Wow what a day! (humpbacks include BCY0584 Pillar female, BCX0401, BCX0854, MMX0128 Vivaldi, MMX0401 ) -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal
(IDs by Tasli Shaw: MMX0128 & BCX0854)
(IDs by Alethea Leddy: BCY0584 & BCX0401)
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Thu Dec 27 - 12:43 - Just saw one (gray whale) again! (Maybe the same) feeding between Whidbey and Camano just a few miles north of Langley. -Dave Calhoun
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08:45 - Gray Whale sighting off of Bells Beach. Hi Alisa, I had reported a gray whale sighting back on 10/17 that you said was overwintering and was #185. This morning we heard one heading north and ran down to the beach but it was too far off to tell if it was the same one. My husband actually heard one on Christmas Eve as well sometime in the morning. Always magical! (My neighbor who lives on the beach says there were 2 heading north. He also said a separate one was heading south? (his sighting slightly earlier, exact time unknown). -Robin Reich

December 26
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Juan de Fuca Strait - 2 spotted outside of Victoria headed North out of the the strait of Juan de fuca. One looks to be an adult male. Didn't see the other well enough. -Zak Hinckley
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Wed Dec 26 - Puget Sound - 13:00 - OK, now orcas are off Point Jefferson, Kingston and heading south at a good pace much closer in and going towards the Port Madison/Bainbridge direction.
12:44 - Orcas are south of the channel marker (yelllow buoy between Kingston and Richmond Beach) and from when I posted a while ago a smidge closer to the west side. Seem to be SLOWLY meandering south, but still busy doing whatever they are doing.
12:15 - Half dozen or so orcas pretty well mid channel off President Point Kingston....they must be having lunch...a lot of activity...tail slapping, splashing, I saw one porpoise. I can only see them good with the binoculars. -Chris Beamer Otterson
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12:09 - Orcas off President Point south of Kingston, Kitsap side. -Joanne Graves
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We saw at least two orcas at about 7:45 this morning (Dec 26, 2018) off Enetai Beach (Bremerton). They were heading north - looked like they were going toward Agate Pass. -Deborah Short
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GRAY WHALES - Wed Dec 26 - 15:51 - Just spotted a gray whale (couldn't tell who it was) only 100 yards off shore in Langley, off of Seawall Park. Exciting addition to our wine tasting! Looked like it was probably feeding, came up a few times before we lost track. Was moving south to north. -Dave Calhoun
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Wed Dec 26 - Hi, This afternoon at 3:30 a whale (likely gray) entertained a number of us right off of Langley. I got some terrible pictures. I can't help but think that these whales are hanging around because they can't make the trip down south. -Bob Gentz
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DOLPHINS - Wed Dec 26 -I think this is a bottlenose? This Video does its size no justice. It's big. -Patricia Peachy Reynolds
(video shared with Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research : "That is a dolphin, probably a bottlenose...")

December 25
San Juan Islands - Hello, We were in our boat headed from Deer Harbor to West Sound (on Orcas Island) via Pole Pass on Dec. 25 and saw two KWs swimming up the east side of Crane Island and through Pole Pass toward Deer Harbor. It made for a very special Christmas cruise! -Craig Canine
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Christmas Whales. -Video by Craig Canine, Dec 25, 2018
(Possibly T49A2 and T65A2 who have been traveling around the islands together - alb)

December 24
Juan de Fuca Strait - What a killer Christmas Eve off Sooke! We had the pleasure to encounter two separate Transient Killer Whale matrilines: The T46's, Matriarch T46, her son T46E were spotted by Morning Star a couple miles off Sooke heading west and shorty after a local fishing friend spotted the T124As & T124Ds, T124A2 very close to shore heading west. -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal WW
(ID by Brendon Bissonnette)
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Mon Dec 24 - Haro Strait - 11:16 - 2 orca. Very close to shore. At Eagle Point. Going towards American Camp, San Juan Island (southbound). Lost sight of them. One large, one medium. Were seen by my neighbor. -Chris Wilson
(possibly T65A4 and T49A2 - alb)
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Mon Dec 24 - Happy holidays from 2 gray whales in front of Fred's house at noon on Christmas Eve! (Sandy Point, Whidbey). -Photos by Fred Lundahl, Dec 24, 2018
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This gray whale crossed Saratoga Passage from assumably the Langley area. Once it got near shoreline, it headed north to Pebble Beach, where we were lucky to be standing at the point. We first saw it at 11:00 am, and watched it travel back to Langley from Pebble. It rested there for about an hour before heading south. -Peg Boley

December 23
12:30 - Gray whale (reported as Humpback) in Portage Canal, between Indian Island and the mainland (Port Townsend/Jefferson County). It was milling at first, then seemed to be headed N toward Pt. Townsend....48 1.5 N 122 44 W. He said it was "crusty" and I thought maybe a gray, but he said they saw the pec fin and it was long and narrow. He got some photos so hopefully we will get those to confirm. -Tim Callister

December 22
I know this is late and not very useful, but just found out how to report. A pod of about a dozen? was heading south in the San Juan Channel on Sat 12/22 about 1pm. I can see others reported them, and I certainly can't identify them, but it was my first sighting since moving here this fall! -Cathleen Burns
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Individuals from a larger group of Bigg's Transients swimming in San Juan Channel. -Photo by James Gresham, Dec 22, 2018
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Sat Dec 22 - San Juans - I just saw photos from 12/22 of Ts in San Juan Channel---T75Bs, T75Cs, T35As, T65A2, T65A4, and T49A2 for sure. Others I see but haven't yet ID'ed. Erin says T38A was present too....Sara Hysong Shimazu
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..We didn't have to search too long to find whales, and many whales at that! We first came across T65A2 and T49A2 making their way north up San Juan Channel, near Point Caution. The took us on a slow cruise north before we split off to visit with a larger group of orcas we'd seen heading south. It turned out to be over six more transient orcas, including T38A! Our friend and naturalist for Maya's Legacy helped identify the T75Bs, T75Cs, T35As, and T65A4 as well. The whales took us south towards whale rocks where we visited with dozens of Steller sea lions...Island Adventures.
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Some of a large group of Bigg's orca encountered in San Juan Channel on 12/22 (photos below). Although not 100% confirmed it looked like members of the T35A's, T38's, T75B's and C's and T65A4, with T65A2 and T49A2 swimming separately in the opposite direction. The small calf might belong to T75C but again, that isn't confirmed. -James Gresham
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14:11 - Heading out into Haro Strait, SW bound. T65A2 and T49A2. Looks like the two that have been spotted a few times this week.
13:59 - Orcas Spieden Channel westbound. -Alison Engle
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13:57 - Orcas traveling north past Reuben Tarte. -Sydney Mumford
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12:50 - (2 orcas) Point Caution northbound. -Monika Wieland Shields
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12:22 - Orca just outside Friday Harbor from Samish right now. Appeared headed toward Friday Harbor. -Lee Connally
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Sat Dec 22 - Puget Sound - Heard T46 Transient Biggs orcas were near. I first saw them from Brighton Beach traveling about mid channel towards Hat Island and westerly...once they got close to Sandy Point, I knew then they were heading up Saratoga Passage. they traveled fast...saw them from Langley but they were already heading north of mid channel towards Camano. I left Langley Whale Center and headed home, but stopping at Fox Spit. they were there...but again, middish channel, a few mid channel and 2 further over towards Camano Island....then I lost them around 3:00pm.
14:45 - 3 orca in between Fox Spit and Elger Bay heading north towards Camano State Park...mid channel
13:40 - Orcas now in Saratoga Passage between Sandy point and Marina veering out to middish channel. Im heading to Langley
13:25 - From Sandy Pt. I see orcas, they are apparently closer to whidbey and may be heading Saratoga.
13:00 - seen 2 orcas south mid Hat island heading north. Seen from Brighton beach. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12/22 on Saratoga began with reports of orcas in Friday Harbor. Weather was bad in the Straits so we planned to head there via Deception Pass. Well, we never got that far, thanks to the T46s! These orcas suddenly surfaced off our starboard bow. "Orca one o'clock!" I shouted when I spied T46E's towering dorsal fin. We quickly realized he wasn't alone, his mother and siblings spread all across the channel, heading north toward Gedney/Hat Island...T46D was well behind the rest as he often is, but all 5 (T46, T46D, T46E, T46F and T122) were there. We left the Killer Whales just off of Clinton and went to view a couple of Gray Whales near Everett. Later, we chased reports of a humpback, but never found it. Some nice views and pinniped friends appeared instead! -Justine Buckmaster
12:30 - They are still moving north spread out across the Sound, now in line with Mukilteo ferry landing.
12:15 - Bigg's Transient orcas (T46s) very spread out in Possession Sound. They are currently between Possession Point and Glendale, Whidbey heading northbound towards Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes. -Justine Buckmaster
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Sat Dec 22 - Watched a humpback whale between Richmond Beach, King County and Point Jefferson, Kitsap County from about 3:30-4pm from my home at Richmond Beach, WA. Not sure if you can get an ID from these pictures, but thought it was worth a shot. It was pretty far out (I was shooting with a 500mm lens and still had to crop), and my photos are pretty grainy because the lighting was not great and I had to use a high ISO. The whale was first seen swimming calmly and popping up for air every 2-3 minutes; we usually saw 2-4 breaths before a dive with tail flukes. However, once he was about 12 o'clock from our viewpoint, we saw two full breaches followed by a head lunge. Then he went back to the previous behavior. From my experience, looked like a small whale, probably a juvenile? Let me know if these pictures are helpful! -Happy holidays, Anastasia Nicolov
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14:30 - I see "our" humpback out front west side of mid channel between Pt. Jefferson and President Point Kingston meandering north. Haven't seen it for several days....but then again the water hasn't been real conducive to seeing anything but high stormy whitecap waves!! -Chris Beamer Otterson
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13:42 - (humpback) Just saw a whale from off north Angeline (Suquamish). ...Just saw a bunch of blowing and a few tail fin splashes. Check the water it's heading towards Indianola. -Jenn Thurston
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The humpabck whale has headed out of Elliot Bay. At 1200 noon it was 9000 meters from Colman Dock traveling in a Northwesterly direction. -Burt Miller, wSF
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Noon - humpback in Elliott Bay looked to be headed NW towards Bainbridge, I haven't seen for 10ish mins because I moved viewing spots, will post if they come thru again.
11:30 - Humpback Spotted around mid channel (I'm on the bluffs south side of Magnolia) just now coming up for air pretty often. -Lila Burns
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11:11 - We just saw it headed north in Elliott Bay between Seattle and West Seattle. Closer to West Seattle side than Seattle. 11:10 spotted again farther out in the middle where the ferries run. -Stephanie Bailey
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On Saturday December 22, 2018 at 1030 a humpback whale spotted by Marine Mammal Monitors working with the Seattle Ferry Terminal project. No work was occurring and the project is in a shutdown mode until the whale leaves the 9000 meter shutdown zone. -Burt Miller, WS Ferries
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09:45 - Single humpback whale spotted from the Alki Bathhouse at 9:45 travelling towards Elliott Bay about 500 yds offshore. Dorsal and fluke before a dive. Too far for iPhone photos. -Andrew Malinak
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Sat Dec 22 - 13:30 - we have 2 Gray Whales feeding in the Snohomish delta. Looks like 2246 and 185. -Justine Buckmaster
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13:20 - seeing blows of who presume to be gray whale off the Snohomish Delta, about 1 mile off west side of Jetty Island. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Sat Dec 22 - CA Coast - My neighbors Fred and Janet McElroy watched 3 subadult orcas moving slowly south at the Point Arena and Gualala town line in Mendocino County. They felt the orcas were subadult males. The sighting was December 22. -Scott Mercer

December 21
...The first whales that we confirmed were CA174 and her newest offspring. We then confirmed one of the bulls in the slightly northern group as CA166 and then watched T049A1 porpoise to catch up with CA174 and her offspring. We saw T049A3, CA173, U083 and U084. They came together to prey share what we suspected a seal from the behaviour, and smell after they finished it off (48 15.7/123 45.3)....Mark Malleson and Joe Zelweitro, See full report with photos at Center For Whale Research Encounter 108.
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An amazingly calm evening off Sooke with Transient Killer Whales U83, U84, T49A1 (IDs by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Us confirmed by Alisa Schulman-Janiger), T49A3 (ID by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)today...always great to sea! (passed 4 Humpbacks...no time for pictures) -Paul Pudwell
(ID notes: Melisa Pinnow, CWR "...perhaps a U calf.") (ID notes by Alisa Schulman-Janiger: "The unnamed calf that Mark saw on 30 Nov is very very likely the same one that Paul saw on 21 Dec: same fin size and shape, same saddle shape and margin shading.")
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Fri Dec 21 - 15:24 - (humpback) Found it! Just watched it from the Vashon Overlook - very close to us. Seemed to be headed east & maybe towards Vashon.
14:22- Humpack Dalco Passage. just saw it fluke off the sw corner of Vashon. -Heidi Armstrong
(markings match that of the humpback new to Puget Sound who has been inland since November. - alb)
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13:17 - (humpback) I'm viewing from Vashon viewpoint just dove mid channel between point Defiance and Vashon.
12:52 - Just saw a blow off Point Defiance. Viewing from Owen mid channel. Amber Stanfill
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12:40 - (humpback) Seeing again. Hanging out at surface. Just fluked. Very far from gig harbor side. Close to southern tip of Vashon Island.
12:30 - (humpback) Lost sight from gig harbor. Only saw briefly (4-5 surfaces) and appeared to be headed towards Owen Beach.
12:10pm - Humpback: Viewing whale breaching in Dalco Passage, seen from Gig Harbor side, no direction of travel yet. -Sarah Cardinal
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10:51am, WS Ferry Tahlequah reports HB milling, maybe headed W off Pt. Defiance.

December 20
14:51 - WSF reports 2 orcas, adult and juvenile, off Nex(?)pt, Shaw island headed W to SJ channel.
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Thu Dec 20 - 09:41 - Humpback traveling north in Colvos Pass mid channel about 1.5 miles south of Southworth ferry dock. -Matt King
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Thu Dec 20 - 09:06- Gray whale just off the Port of Everett south terminal, swimming south. -Jean Olson
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Thu Dec 20 - Gray whale off Alki Beach, West Seattle. We were sitting at our computers around 3:30 this afternoon when looking out our window, Eilene spotted what she thought was a blow from a whale close in to the shore across the street. Using binoculars, we were able to confirm this and believe it was a gray whale. It stayed close to the same location for 5 - 10 minutes before swimming off toward the west along the promenade. You can see in several of the photos below how close this whale was to the beach. It would be nice if this guy hangs around in the area so we can take a look tomorrow in better weather - but hope he keeps his distance from the shore. -David & Eilene Hutchinson

December 19
When we first arrived we thought there were 3, but then we could only see T65A2 and T49A2 (who I initially thought was 65A3). Later looked at photos and confirmed it was T49A2. -Renee Beitzel
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12/19 on Saratoga, we were treated to a very special close encounter. We first spotted two Transient Killer Whales, T65A2 and T49A2. tucked in between several small islands on the east side of San Juan Channel. We watched from a respectful distance, engines shut down as they cruised west in 'stealth mode' likely looking for food. They were moving slowly, barely breaking the surface to breathe as they listened in all directions for seals or porpoises nearby. After a long down time, they suddenly appeared just a few yards off our bow and headed right toward us! Such a humbling moment when the ocean's apex predator decides to pay us such a close visit, seemingly just as curious about us and we are about them.
14:02 - (orcas) Now SE bound in San Juan Channel close to Yellow Island.
13:26 - (orcas) Slowly W bound between Reef Is and McConnell Is. Generally pointed at Jones. -Justine Buckmaster
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11:45 - Hello, I couldn't see who they were, but today Dec 19, 11:45 am, there were at least two orca just about 30 yards off the rocks just west of the Orcas ferry terminal. Just behind the county project rehabbing the old fuel storage area. A ferry from Anacortes was disembarking vehicles at the time. I saw them from the front door of the Orcas village store. There was tail-slapping, and one came at least half-out of the water doing so. Fishing? -Ken Carrasco
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10:39 - Two orcas on right side of Friday harbor ferry almost to Friday harbor, still between orcas and other island. Ferry confirmed sighting...My kids say "eastbound? We were headed out of Anacortes towards Friday harbor, almost there but the whales were headed straight back up our path away from us. -Shannon Mitchell
(based on later reports/IDs this would be T65A2)
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10:28 - WSF reports 2 orcas in Upright Channel, north of Flat Point, headed north.
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Wed Dec 19 - 09:00 - Hi, I'm brand new to the Orca Network. I live in sight of Bellingham Bay. I'm pretty certain I just saw about 5 Orca with a male in the bay. I was using a telescope from my window. I live off Eldridge in Bellingham. I thought they were seals at first, but then I saw a big fin. Can anyone confirm? The sighting was at about 9:00am December 19th...It looked like they were headed Northwest. I saw them about 1/2 way between the marina and the island. Sorry I can't be more specific...my geography is suspect at best. Pretty exciting nonetheless! -Jeremy Larsen
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Wed Dec 19 - 15:37 - Humpback between Point Defiance and Vashon Island. Visible from Gig Harbor. -Gaby Kinner
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Wed Dec 19 - COURTENAY, B.C. - Report and images on this gray in Whales and Dolphins BC December 21st Sightings Report. A whale was spotted swimming around the Courtenay River today. It's been identified as a grey whale, and was hanging around the river near the Courtenay Airpark floatplane ramp around 9:50 this morning... Full article and images at My Campbell River Now.

December 18
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - 15:53 - Claudia Mitchell, on the PT/Coupeville ferry, reporting large pod of 10 - 20 orcas, lobtailing, headed north.
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15:50 - Mike from WSFs called to report a large pod of orcas headed north off Admiralty Head, seen by the Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry.
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15:45 - Hearing them (SRKWs) now faintly on Bush Point Hydrophone. -Donna Van Renselaar
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15:19 - OMG saw an orca swimming beside a submarine off Lagoon Point North. What a weird juxtaposition! The larger group is passing here with lots of tail slapping.
14:59 orcas passing Lagoon Point South. NB. One male quite aways ahead of a group of 4-5. Whidbey Side. One male spotted closer to Marrowstone. -Becky Livingston
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14:43 - Spotted pod off of Lagoon Point and Bush Point moving north! -Kristen Wagner-Patterson
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Perfect timing today - two large dorsal fins came into view as we arrived at Robinson Beach, Mutiny Bay, early this afternoon, with other members of J and K pods not far behind. The northbound whales were moving fast, and we needed to do the same to catch up with them at Bush Point. A group of six or seven orcas stopped to forage briefly with a few tail-slaps and a couple of spy-hops, while one or two others created flying foam following a breach. Against the backdrop of the snow-capped Olympic mountains, as always the sheer magnificence of the Southern Residents was a spectacular sight to behold.
14:47 - Orcas have passed Bush Point nb. One group of 6 or 7 seen to be the trailers. Beautiful sight. They stopped for a short while to forage. Some tail slaps breaches and spyhops. Sub now passing hydrophone.
13:40 - (orca) at least 3 more have passed the yellow channel marker nb.
13:35 - seeing two male dorsals from Robinson beach Mutiny Bay steady north bound of yellow channel marker. -Sandra Pollard
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14:17 - Sweet - more spyhops, one orca was on his/her side, and did over two dozen pec slaps in a row!
14:03 - Beautiful, close together group - a spyhop and several tail lobs, slowing down, hopefully foraging some. What a sight.
14:00 - orcas much closer to the Whidbey side now, traveling steadily west out Admiralty, about 1 mile south of Bush Pt. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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13:45 - I am at Shore Meadows (Whidbey Island) and see 2 male orcas at Foulweather Bluff middish channel heading north. And a few close to Whidbey side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:10 - just saw another orca, definitely headed south west in Admiralty.
13:05 - from our view S of Bush pt, seeing orcas moving south from Double Bluff toward Kitsap, just east of the green channel marker. Can't tell if they are veering east or west, but definitely heading toward Kitsap now. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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12:35 - I see them (orcas) ... they are headed north past Point No Point. -Whitney Gabrielle
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13:00 - Last groups of at least 2 males under Double Bluff now... seen from Point No Point. Mid channel I'm guessing.
12:30 - Maybe K35, K26 Lobo, J39 Mako, J27 Blackberry, J26 Mike...at Point No Point. Lots of whales, 4+ males. Some foraging, spy hops, tail lobs, pec waves. Very spread out. Slow trend NB Kitsap side of shipping lane. -Sara Frey
10:35 - (orca) mid channel off Apple Tree Point northbound. Too choppy/ white capes for saddle shots. At least two males. Now some foraging activity. Counting 6 plus.
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow)
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12:15 - Confirmed Js... and Bart (Rulon) just ID'd Ks. -Renee Beitzel, Puget Sound Express
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Delayed post - 12:00 - 1:30 pm watched from Point No Point - Js and Ks traveling NB, many males both mature and sprouters. Spread out in groups of 2-4. At least 5 males, I think more. K21 & K25 trailing, I believe I saw J27 & L87 leading but can't confirm, they were pretty far out. witnessed general travel, circling around - possibly foraging, pec slaps, breach, rolling, and displaying "the full monty." Spread out from about Picnic Point to Maxwelton (Sightline: had whales spread all the way from btwn Picnic Pt/N Lynwood area & Eglon, all the way past Possession Pt to near Maxwelton, but on Kitsap side of midchannel. Super spread!) , they came closer to Kitsap side then farther east again as they all headed N and passed Double Bluff, last ones seen around 1:30. -Donna Van Renselaar
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12:50 - Orcas - blows and dorsals now well northeast of Point No Point, heading NW into Admiralty Inlet.
11:50 - Orcas - seeing blows and dorsals between Possession Point and Point No Point, mid-channel, no clear direction. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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(orca) We saw them on the 10:20 am Edmonds-Kingston run (heading to a soccer game in Sequim); a dream come true for me! My daughter and her soccer teammates were thrilled too. So fortunate! -Rebecca Dubin
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10:25 - (orca) two large males just off the fishing pier.
10:10 - (orca) many more spread out from Edmonds to Apple Cove Point. Some right off the Edmonds marina and others in the shipping lanes. Northernmost ones already north of Edmonds ferry terminal
10:05 - half a dozen orcas northbound spread out between Point Edwards and the Kingston ferry terminal. -Sherman Page
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Tue Dec 18 ~10:00 - Humpback in front of Salmon Beach, Tacoma, WA. Milling back and forth. -Photo by Zeno Martin, Dec 18, 2018

December 17


December 16
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - I spotted an orca (I can only confirm seeing one, but there might have been more) while on the Ferry from Clinton on Whidbey over to Mukilteo. I saw it very shortly after we departed. I was standing at the very front of the boat on the car deck, and there was no one else around, so I'm not sure if anyone else on the boat saw it. Date: 12-16-2018. Time: 3:07pm Location: Just southeast of Clinton Ferry terminal. I am fairly certain it was an Orca, but can't say with 100% certainty. In memory, the dorsal fin was a very clear feature, and I feel like I was able to see black and white coloration through the surface of the water. I also think I saw two dorsal fins (two whales), but can't say for sure. It was a very brief sighting, I was so excited that I ran back to the car to get my boyfriend and then I didn't see it again, I should have just kept my eye on it! -Fiona Booth
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Sun Dec 16 - 08:6 - 2 Humpbacks southbound in San Juan Channel. From Mineral Point toward Point Caution. -Alan Niles

December 15
Humpback is the same young humpback that doesn't match any IDs (re: whale Dec 5th off Kingston, in previous Whale Report and whale above dec 18th -alb). Southbound at Pt Robinson, I believe. -Renee Beitzel
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14:30 - Spotted across from Vashon lighthouse...Maury Island. Seeing consistent spouts, whale headed south. -Rachael Kloek
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Hello - Were lucky to have a close approach by a humpback traveling south at 1130 mid channel between Eagle Harbor (Bainbridge) and Seattle at 1130 am on 12/15. -Brenna Sowder, S/V Raconteur
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GRAY WHALES - Orca Network received word from Alie Perez, Cascadia Research regarding the 3rd North Puget Sound newbie gray whale first documented in March who returned to feed in the Snohomish Delta in November (included in our Whale Report dated December 6th): "I just added that gray from March and this month to the catalog and assigned an ID. It is now CRC2246."
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Sat Dec 15 - 13:39 - Two grays (no IDs) feeding on Snohomish River Delta, but not together. The one we are with is the same unidentified gray first seen in March. -Renee Beitzel

December 14
J Pod - Puget Sound - 16:10 - whales have picked up speed passing Shilshole.. breaching, spyhopping, tails oh my!!
16:02 - Orcas grouped up, just north of a Golden Gardens midchannel southbound..lots of breaching!! - taken as the whales were heading south by Golden Gardens...This whale breached 3 times in a row! They were very active for a bit! -Sue Larkin
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: maybe J41)
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14:47 - (orca) Male in lead of spread group, 6 or so animals. Male southbound and approaching Jefferson Head. Viewing from Saltwater Park, Richmond Beach. -Ariel Yseth
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14:36 - (orca) Passing the yellow mid channel marker 2:36. heading south. at least 4. West side of marker. -Joanne Graves
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14:21- (orca) Seen from the Victoria Clipper V, still headed south, at President Pt. -James Greenway
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14:19 - (orca) The Clipper is stopped and watching at 2:19, off President Point. Saw something jump. Can't tell direction. West of mid channel south of Kingston. -Joanne Graves
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13:45 -14:17 - (orca) straight out from Kingston Ferry as seen from Kingston bluff, 2 breaches and then steadily traveling SB Kitsap side of midchannel at least one male - they're well south of Kingston now (2:17pm) Inbound ferry should have had good view. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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13:30 - (orca) just passed Apple Tree Point, close to shore. Large male in the lead. At least one other male, smaller juvenile? Guessing 6+ approaching ferry line. Pics to follow...we have a finger saddle. J27 Blackberry passes Apple Tree Point, Kingston southbound. -Sara Frey
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12:15 - 4-5 off Rose Point/Eglon, closer to Kitsap side, heading fairly quickly southbound...Could only see their dorsal fins - they were moving right along quickly! -Rebecca French Gerke
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Found them! 12:15 pm - seeing huge splashes in the distance, watching from S. of Bush Pt, the splashes look like they are somewhere between Shoreline and Carkeek Park, mid-channel. They must be breaching and lobtailing, they are so distant, only seeing the splashes and one glimpse of a big fin, direction of travel not yet determined. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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07:45 - Just saw 4-5 orcas running the beach south of the Clinton ferry terminal heading southbound. The male was trailing with one or two with him, one appeared to be small but its dusk so hard to tell. -Melissa Simmons, WSF
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Fri Dec 14 - I just saw 3-4 heading north past Centennial Park. After some dialogue: could see little black backs ducking in and out of the water and they were fairly close to the shore and slowed down and sort of hung out near the grainery. They appeared larger than a porpoise or sea lion... Aisha Farooq
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Fri Dec 14 -(Reported as humpback but image looks like gray - alb) 16:00 -[gray] north of Hat Island marina , northbound towards Camano. MORE: you know that was the first thought (gray) considering how close in it came. Was hard to tell, but didn't feed in the usual way and when it swam away it had a pronounced ridge so assumed it was hb. The exhalations were tall and lacked the heart shaped swirls, but It could have been a gray. -Lori Christopher
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UNIDENTIFIED WHALES - Fri Dec 14 - 13:21 - Just saw a tail come up - maybe mid channel, slightly closer to kitsap side, between golden gardens and carkeek.....I was wondering if it was a gray or humpback as it hung out in the same area for awhile and it was before the orcas made their way south. I didn't really see a big fin on the back either. I live in northbeach between golden gardens and carkeek and the whale was more west on the other side of the channel. -Kristen C (aka Sir Winston)

December 13
J pod - Puget Sound - 15:35 - 3-4 orcas northbound slowly, foraging. Viewing from end of a Valley Road on Bainbridge. -Sue Larkin
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15:25 - J pod is currently just south of West Point, Discovery Park. They have moved off shore and are east of mid channel. Still grouped up, but now getting lost in the rain as they move slowly north. From West Point.
14:30 - After beautiful grouped close pass at Alki, J pod now north of Alki traveling northbound outer edge of Elliot Bay a bit more spread out with some aiming a little west. Disappearing in the mist with a breach. ( After looking through photos we could confirm this pass was just part of J pod, big boys J26, J27, L87 and others may have been trailing far behind or gone wide to the west)
14:11 - Beautiful close pass off Alki by J pod. We ran quickly down to the beach still on south side of the point...Many inverted tail lobs, rolls, spyhops, spypeeps as they moved north.
14:03 - Large part of the pod at least is tightly grouped in resting. Just south of Constellation Park, Alki. Very much on West Seattle side! Steady slow northbound, all cuddled together. A curious Steller sea lion watches J49, J40 & others off Alki......J41 Eclipse surfaces next to an inverted male......has J39 Mako on the left and J37 Hy'Shqa peeking. J38 Cookie, J40 Suttles, J35 Tahlequah (and maybe J37 Hy'Shqa). J38 Cookie and J19 Shachi. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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J45 Se-Yi'-Chn surfaces as J38 Cookie spyhops. CA and Steller sea lions watching J pod...Steller sea lion and J pod...Sea lions, California (L) and Steller (R) watch as salmon eating orcas stream past them at Alki. Here they are watching J45 off the point. J38 spyhops off Alki Point. -Photos by Marilyn Armbruster, Dec 13, 2018
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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Part of Jpod approaching Alki point. J-38, J-47, J-39 and others. Taken from shore on Thursday afternoon. -Photos by Kersti Muul, Dec 13, 2018
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13:55 - from Constellation park in West Seattle north bound east of middle channel north of Fauntleroy ferry. -Mary Hartman
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13:53 - Large group headed north on east side of Sound nearing Emma Schmitz's overlook. -Douglas Greenswag
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13:50 - pod has grouped up! Still east of mid channel, directly out from us at south end of Emma Schmitz/Me Kwa Mooks.
13:45 - looks like most are now north of Lowman Beach, West Seattle spread in at least 4 groups spread from east side of channel to mid channel. Steady medium pace northbound. From Lowman Beach, West Seattle.
13:30 - Some of the orcas have grouped up more with at least group of 6-8 right in Ferry lanes out from Fauntleroy. Steady northbound. Think that is lead group. One male trailing by approx. 5 minutes, he is furhter west, closer to mid channel. From Lincoln Park, south side.
12:45 - Moved to north side of Three Tree Point: residents spread out heading steady northbound. Trailers of at least four (believe J16s) on east side of channel, now just north of Three Tree Point about 15 minutes behind leaders. At least 16 whales. Leaders were just east of mid channel with others trailing in groups of 1-3s some same track, others more east with that trailing group much closer to mainland side. All steady northbound with 2 of those trailers hauling, half porpoising to catch up to male and female.
12:28 - Seeing two groups so far, female in lead with few others trailing, with 2nd group short distance behind, northbound. All east of mid channel at south side Three Tree Point. Breaches and rolls, pec slaps. From Three Tree Point, Burien. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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~12-12:30 - Hi, I saw 2 orcas just off the pier in Des Moines. I was in my apartment and saw a splash, then a orca jumped half way out of the water and another one was next to it. I drove down to the pier but didn't see them again. -Vicki Jordan
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11:48 - (orca) just passed Pt Robinson headed northbound, very spread out, foraging, mid channel. Couldn't get a saddle confirmed, but thought we spotted L87/Onyx from a distance. -Marla Smith
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11:08 - Orcas northbound nearing Point Robinson, Vashon/Maury. -Relayed by Amy Carey
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9:50 - Mike at WS Ferries reports 10-12 orcas heading east between Point Defiance and Tahlequah ferry dock.
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09:49 - I'm on Vashon south end ferry and about 6-10 orcas are east of ferry headed east. Not close enough for ID in choppy waters. I had two males that I could see. -Amy Carey
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09:40 - Saw them back at the Ferry on Vashon side. I lost where they went when I came back so don't know if they went into Comencement or up into Quarter Master. I don't see any heading north up the passage though (Colvos). -Kaelee Schoenneman
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08:30 - 3 Orca swimming West. They were halfway between Tahlequah ferry dock and Owen Beach. -Julie Burman
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08:10 - Orcas spotted on the 8am boat from Tahlequah to Pt Defiance. About 5-6 of them, heading north up the west side of the island, Colvos Passage. -Pat Scott
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Orcas visible from Point Defiance Vashon ferry. Announced at 8:00 am sailing from Vashon just west of the ferry line. -Andrew Casad
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Grouped up J47 Notch, J39 Mako, J31 Tsuchi, and J19 Shachi pass just offshore the few of us standing on the beach at Alki Point, West Seattle. A sweet and serenely beautiful encounter with such magnificent beings. -Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network, Dec 13, 2018
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)

December 12
~ 11:00 - Just saw 3-4 orcas fairly close to shore (east side of Bainbridge near Yeomalt Point). -Jane Rein

December 11
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tue Dec 11 - Puget Sound - 13:10 - orca (at least 5 with male) southbound right off the beach Apple Tree Point (Kingston). Dog sitter texted, neighbor confirmed. -Sara Frey
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Tue Dec 11 - It sounds earlier than my report, a few more big males went by. This is per my neighbor. Sara Frey
Addendum to this sighting included in our last Whale Report: 13:10 - orca (at least 5 with male) southbound right off the beach Apple Tree Point (Kingston). Dog sitter texted, neighbor confirmed. -Sara Frey

December 10
Sun Dec 9 and Mon Dec 10 - Also I attached a photo of that new gray, Gray whale CRC2246 that was spotted again on 12/9/18 (this photo from that day) and then again the next day, both at the mouth of the Snohomish River Delta. -Thanks, Bart Rulon feeding at the Snohomish Delta. -Photo by Bart Rulon, Dec 9, 2018

December 9
HUMPBACK WHALES - A humpback calf frolicking in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on December 9th. -Photo by Mark Malleson
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GRAY WHALES - Sun Dec 9 - 15:48 - Email received: There has been a grey whale hanging out in front of our house in Eld Inlet for the past half hour. Flap Jack pt. Diving and swimming back and forth...More after questions: He/she was first noticed around 3:00, I watched whale for over an hour and half. Until it got dark. So I did not see it leave, it stayed in about a half mile area during the time I was watching it, staying in the middle of the bay, moving from the front of our house Sunset Beach Dr. NW Olympia, sw toward Young Cove, but still in sight. -Sharesse Fowler

December 8
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - J pod - Strait of Juan de Fuca...At 1340, J26 was spotted heading west southwest of Race Rocks near the US-Canada border. "Morning Star" continued to slowly work east, taking distant photos of whales to the north and south. J pod was spread out over a large area and many of the whales were taking long deep dives as they slowly headed west...Full encounter report with photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 107.
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Sat Dec 8 - J39, Mako, just south of Race Rocks when J-pod was spread out hunting for fish and heading west. -Photo by Bart Rulon, Dec 8, 2018
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Sat Dec 8 - ...At 1240, a lunge-feeding humpback was spotted near Crescent Bay (48 11.800/-123 43.650). "Morning Star" stayed with the humpback for about ten minutes as it continuously lunged through the water with its mouth wide open and identified it as BCY0769...Full encounter report with images in Center for Whale Research Encounter 107.
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Sat Dec 8 - 1:45 - Jim Conover reports a humpback passed about 60' from shore at Possession Point, headed north up Possession Sound toward Langley.
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And from those aboard the Clipper: Visitors to LWC from the Clipper reported a humpback near Glendale Possession Sound. They had a nice video. -Debbie Stewart
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11:30 - a single humpback moving south in Possession Sound. Seen from the San Juan Clipper just north of Possession Pt. Unable to ID. -James Greenway
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Gray whale - Eld Inlet, Olympia. -Photo by Sharesse Fowler, Dec 8, 2018
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Sat Dec 8 - At 15:09 Nisqually Reach Nature Center posted VIDEO to their Facebook page of gray whale in front of NRNC.

December 7
J pod/L87 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet - Heard a few faint calls or whistles over substantial but fading boat noise in the period from 16:50-17:00. -Scott Veirs
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17:15 - a couple loud J Pod calls just moments ago!
17:03 - I'm still hearing them..always puts a smile on my face and in my soul, no matter how faint their calls are
16:45 - just got home and turned it on...hearing J Pod calls now. -Jeanne Hyde
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16:35 - great calls still at 4:35. This is the first time calls have been heard on the Bush Pt. hydrophone. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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~16:30 - (orca) watched several heading north toward the south end of Marrowstone. Was able to visually follow only one on the east side of Marrowstone. It appeared to be circling with some long downtime's. Lost sight of it around 4:45. I was viewing from Lagoon Point. -Becky Livingston
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J27 Blackberry in fading light this evening, passing the south end of Marrowstone Island - northbound. Only a few other whales visible over on the Marrowstone side, way far away...but good to at least "see" some of Jpod today. -Photo by Jill Hein, Dec 7, 2018
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~ 16:05-16:30 - watched (and heard some calls on Orcasound Bush Pt. hydrophone!) J pod as they went by Bush Pt, 4:05 - 4:30, foraging and heading west slowly. -Susan Berta and Wendy Sines, Orca Network/Langley Whale Center
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16:17 - Lots of vocalizing right now heard on the Bush Point hydrophone! -Shannan Van Houten
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16:15 - Hearing chatter on the Bush Point hydrophone. -Sara Frey
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15:48 - Leaders finally at southern end of Marrowstone...one big guy coming closer to my side. 15:28 - I see blows way south more than couple miles in line with Port Ludlow, so yay, they are in my presence.
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15:25 - (orca) Leaders are now about 2 miles south of Bush Pt.
15:10 - Orcas still pointed north and moving very slowly between the south end of Marrowstone and Hood Canal.
14:39 - This might be a good time to tune in to Bush Pt. hydrophone.
14:00 - Now about 6 orcas, probably off Mutiny Bay, foraging but trending north.
13:30 - (orca) Now some blows are showing up well north of Hansville, but still spread out and slow moving. -Howard Garrett
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~13:00 - It's Js with L87. They were really spread out, some foraging in singles and pairs, while others hung out in larger, more social, surface active groups. We left them northbound off Point No Point around 1300-ish. J40 Suttles - J31 Tsuchi - Admiralty Inlet . -Renee Beitzel, Puget Sound Express
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12:27 - Orcas off Point No Point...north bound towards Admiralty. Definitely saw 2. I'm thinking males (looked like 5ft dorsals at least). -Jacob Kasper
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10:20 - About 5 orcas northbound just off Pilot Point (Kitsap). -Kim Page
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09:30 - west side of channel, off Apple Tree Point, seeing a few including large male. Can see more farther east. Some foraging but generally NB. Open saddle. -Back of camera photo by Sara Frey, Dec 7, 2018
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09:12 am. - last of the group near wells point - one is center channel and other close to Kingston side. -Darleen Moneypenny
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10:10 - Three orcas N/B between Edmunds & Point No Point. -William Westrem
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10:10 - (orca) I saw one northbound north of Eglon and two southbound off the Edmonds marina - edit: the southbound ones may just be a momentary change of direction, as a couple of minutes later I saw three northbound off the marina
09:15 - (orca) I see more coming from the south towards Apple Cove Point, including one a mile off of the Edmonds marina
09:10 - half a dozen or more orcas well spread out between Apple Cove Point and Eglon, northbound, some close to Kitsap side, others more towards mid channel
09:00 - orcas northbound in the shipping lanes just north of Apple Cove Point (Kingston). -Sherman Page
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08:54 - WS Ferries reports 3-4 orcas heading NW off Apple Cove Pt. in the Northbound traffic lane.
08:20 - approximately 8 orcas in mid channel off Kingston heading north. -Darlene Moneypenny
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I'm new to this so for what it's worth - I believe I saw two orcas about 8am this morning heading north toward the kingston ferry area. I live in north beach and saw them across the channel north of president's point. One breached. -Sir Winston
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Fri Dec 7 - 14:29 - Humpback off of Jefferson Point in Kingston...No real direction at this point- appears to be foraging. -Darlene Moneypenny
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14:06 - Humpback off Jefferson Point feeding with lots of birds and California sea lions. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, Dec 7, 2018

December 6
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - J pod/L87 confirmed in Puget Sound.
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Thu Dec 6 - J pod/L87 - Central Puget Sound - 15:11 - orcas northbound, passing Yeomalt Point, Bainbridge, West of mid channel. -Sue Larkin
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14:52 - (orca) More gathering re circling NW Blakely rock- meeting up feeding ??? One big one came out entirely.
14:44 - (orca) Large N moving group came from Blake island area skimmed Restoration Point spread out NE direction. Big bull -these two now heading North from Blakely rock at a clip.
14:14 - Big bull off buoy and more orcas coming up from Blake to point (Restoration), gorgeous big group moving spread out.
14:06 - Orcas off Restoration Point Bainbridge, Heading North at least 4. Some heading NE towards ferry lane at fast clip. Not large fins and one looks smaller than the others. -Kayla Black
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14:05 - Nice views of 7-9 Orcas. We're looking south from the 2:05 ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle. -Mary Bond
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14:00 - WA State Ferries relayed report from ferry Chimacum, of six orcas directly off Restoration Point, heading east.
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14:00 - Big group between Seattle and Bainbridge from Bremerton -Seattle Ferry. A few breaches. -Nuvi Gee-Perkins
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Hello, Captain stopped the ferry to watch/allow passage of about 15 Orcas on the 1:30 PM Bremerton to Seattle ferry today, middle to eastern part of Puget Sound due west of downtown Seattle. -Photo by Sky Miller, Dec 6, 2018
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14:01 - J27 in group that passed close to east side. Further west of Mid channel approaching Bainbridge.
13:50 - Mid channel, mid Blake island 1:50pm NB L87 Onyx and J27 and L87 were traveling about 50 yards apart along with J39. L87 was in the lead of trailing group on east side). -Kersti Muul
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13:52 - I'm at Constellation/Alki point. Leaders have passed the yellow mid-channel marker 10 min ago, NB. -Pia VanHanen
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13:32 - Has to be 15+..they are spread out between Blake and Bainbridge again. Viewing from Alki. -Justin Allen David Jones
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13:28 - (orca) Another group farther south, east of mid channel.
13:16 - (orca) Leaders at South end of Blake. Breaching males. -Kersti Muul
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13:09 - Standing on the bluff of Discovery Park...can see 3-4 blowholes mid-channel between Alki Point and Bainbridge. Appears they're traveling NB. -Brittany Noelle
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12:49 - At Southworth Ferry terminal, orcas headed north. 3-4 spotted. -Mike Boginski
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1:03 - The group I am watching are still south of Blake Island, still with the research boat.
12:52 - Big cluster just north of the Vashon ferry dock.
12:40 - Headed north at a good clip toward Alki. -Christy Avery
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12:46 - (orca) I'm on the ferry boat leaving Vashon. Several are right in front of us mid channel, with the research boat. (northbound). -Pia VanHanen
12:11 - (orca) just got off the ferry on Vashon, headed to Pt Robinson. Saw several whales SB from the ferry. Hope to catch them at Pt R.
11:30 - (orca) Continued slow travel SB, foraging, 15+ whales very spread out, leaders passed Blake already, many more mid-Blake SB. Mid-channel. -Pia VanHanen
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12:26 - (orca) flipped north, now right in front of Fauntleroy ferry dock close to Lincoln Park..they do (look committed to NB), NOAA boat following them, trending north. -Marla Smith
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12:07 - (orca) Dolphin Point circling, partial breaching, traveling south
11:53 - (orca) Near North Vashon Ferry Terminal perhaps 6 slowly migrating Southbound. -Jim McDermott
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SRKW swims past West Seattle southbound, milling about ferry lanes. -Photo by Steve Smith, Dec 6, 2018
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12:02 - (orca) Passing Vashon ferry dock southbound, near Vashon side.
11:57 - (orca) from Lowman beach, they are passing just south of the Southworth ferry, about in line with north tip of Vashon Island, moving slowly southbound. 2-4.
11:22 - One dorsal spotted just south of Tillicum village, Blake Island. Southbound. -Trileigh Tucker
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11:13 - (orca) Watching from Constellation Park, spread out heading southbound from Bainbridge past Blake island. -Brian-Nicole Jenkins
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11:08 - 4 Orcas between Bainbridge and Blake islands headed south pretty quickly. Viewing from Alki. -Justin Allen David Jones
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10:52 - (orca) south of Restoration Point. Headed south. West of main channel buoy. Many of them. Followed by orange skiff. -Douglas Greenswag
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10:30 - Orca pod near Restoration Point. Good view from the Bainbridge ferry. -Casey Burns
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10:25 - (orca) still visible passing Eagle Harbor southbound, appears to be ~15 ind, inc at least 2 adult males. -Paula von Weller
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10:13 - Pod off Bainbridge. Sorry, no photos; they were maybe 500 yards offshore? Think we saw six, they were heading South. Yeomalt Point, Bainbridge. -Andrew Meyers
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10:05 - (orca) possible leader, adult male passing Eagle Harbor southbound. -Paula von Weller
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09:50 - (orca) Spread out between Bainbridge & Seattle. Many on Kitsap side passing Murden Cove about 30 min ago (9:50am) Were trending south. Hopping on BI ferry with Paula von Weller. Will post updates as soon as we have more info. -Kimberly Sylvester
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9:45 - (orca) many whales... spread across sound mid channel southbound approaching Elliott Bay...
8:45 - at least three orcas spread across sound between Golden Gardens and Bainbridge, southbound. Kitsap side. -Sue Larkin
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07:52 - we viewed at least three orcas heading south towards Seattle between President point and Jefferson Point. -Dawn Strickland
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Dec 6 - South Puget Sound - 10:23 - (orca) 2-3 close to Brown's Point heading towards the port (eastbound). Viewing via binoculars at Owen Beach before I lost site of them. -Jennifer Schweizer Johnson
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09:19 - Our community is reporting sightings of Orcas heading into Commencement Bay. -Chrystal Lampman
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES - Thu Dec 6 - 13:07 - Blows spotted off of Picnic Point (N Edmonds)...Tall blows and looked to be only one whale. No change in direction that I can see yet. Yes, (milling) for about 30 minutes at least. -Katherine Leckel
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Thu Dec 6 - 14:10 - Humpback or gray whale came up three times for a breath in the last 15 min. SB, around mid/southern part of Blake. -Pia VanHanen
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10:00 - Baleen whale also in Murden Cove area on Bainbridge, trending south very close to shore. -Sue Larkin

December 5
J pod/L87 confirmed in South Puget Sound.
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Wed Dec 5 - J36 Alki breaches in Dalco Pass, between Vashon and Point Defiance, Tacoma. -Photo by Justine Buckmaster
(ID by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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Wed Dec 5 - J pod/L87 - Puget Sound - 15:15 - (orca) From south end of Maury I have two groups and perhaps a single leader heading into Commencement Bay. Light coming from behind them makes spray a lot more visible. Spreading out a bit even in the last couple of minutes. -Gil Martin
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15:25 (orca) Some approaching the Channel Marker, some on the Vashon side of it. Slowly northbound. This is my last post for the day.. good luck everyone!
15:12 - (orca) They have been foraging in this area (between S Maury and Brow Pt) for about the last 20 minutes..
14:51 (orca) spread out crossing Quartermaster NE bound, looks like they may be going back up channel along Maury Island. Breaches & tail slaps.
14:17 - (orca) some near ferry dock on Vashon side & to East of dock. Saw some cross Quartermaster, but lost them. -Melissa Burke
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14:15 - We left them still circling, lots of social behavior, still pointed North at the mouth of Quartermaster Harbor. ID'd J11s, J14s, J16s, and J17s, J26 Mike outside Commencement Bay, Tacoma. J19 in the middle and J36 on the right., several more spread further out to the north. -Justine Buckmaster
(Individual IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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13:43 - (orca) leaders passing Vashon Ferry dock, eastbound towards Commencement.
13:30 - (orca) still eastbound (towards Commencement Bay). They are still West of the Ferry terminal, mid channel & Vashon side.
13:14 - orcas have flipped, eastbound now. Chilkat is with them. Mid channel off Vashon Viewpoint. -Melissa Burke
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13:09 - It's J Pod!! Mostly circling and feeding off of Point Defiance pointing North but not really going anywhere. -Justine Buckmaster
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13:40 - Watched from Vashon Island View Point on 5 mile drive for about 15 minutes, just milling around and a few tail splashes. -2 Photos by Amber Stanfill, Dec 5, 2018
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13:00 - I am at Point Defiance and there is currently a pod over by Gig Harbor. -Chuck Messinger
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12:48 - 3-4 different groupings. Vashon Viewpoint (at 5 Mile Drive, Pt Defiance) mid channel. -Laureen Claggett
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12:51 - orcas are now all passed Point Defiance, more tightly grouped heading slowly north westerly towards Colvos, slowly being the operative word.
12:45 - orcas are now all hanging right at the point at Point Defiance, been there for about five minutes.
12:37 - (orca) picking up speed. The three at the head of the line are now past the point at Point Defiance. The three or four trailing are catching up.
12:24 - (orca) I am at the Tahlequah ferry dock they are closer to the Point Defiance side basically just staying in the same area with a slight drift to the west. -Laurie Hare
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12:59 (orca) milling off Dalco viewpoint mid channel, hunting, drifting towards Colvos Passage.
12:41 - orcas are off Vashon Viewpoint (1st viewpoint on 5 Mile). Can just see them through Trees at Dalco viewpoint...Open saddle for sure!
12:30 - (orca) at least 6 in the lead, & 4 trailing. Think I saw an open saddle on one of the males. West of Ferry line now still westbound mid channel is for leaders, who are entering Dalco proper.
12:19 - orcas are lazily drifting, West of the Vashon Ferry terminal, Westbound, looks like a resting line now. (from Owen Beach). -Melissa Burke
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12:02 - (orca) A group heading west. Appear to be right in front of Vashon ferry dock. Tahlequah.
11:38 - (orca) I'm watching them from Maury. They're right off Pt. Defiance Park. They seem pretty close in. Big splash 30 seconds ago. -Gil Martin
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11:28 - (orca) I can see dorsals & splashes from Gig Harbor. Very far away from here. Definitely east of the ferry line. About mid channel between Pt Defiance & Vashon. From my Vantage Point I saw a large dorsal N of Browns Point Lighthouse. -Heidi Armstrong
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10:45 - (orca) I just counted 7, maybe 8 south of Maury Is. heading towards Pt. Defiance. Lots of surfacing. Sorry, didn't notice (if open saddles -alb). Saw plenty of dorsals and backs but nothing distinguishing. -Randy DeWulf
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10:39 - Orcas off the south end of Maury heading toward Pt. Defiance. 5 or 6 best I can tell. Traveling SW. -Gil Martin
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~09:15 - (orca) a couple multiple breaches off Brown's Point lighthouse park area. I saw at least 7-8 individuals slowly headed north on the inside of Vashon past Brown's Point towards Dash Point and presumably continuing north...I wasn't able to see saddle patches. They were too far away. They were pretty dispersed with at least 3 mature males. -Erin Stehr
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09:15 - (orca) They have moved over to by Brown's Point Lighthouse Park. Anyone seeing them there?
08:54 - (orca) May be on the north side of the bay near the Brown's Point Marina now. I am passing on second hand info (from project monitors -alb), but trying to keep you up to date. Anyone near Brown's Point? They may come by the Lighthouse if they head north. We don't know if they are Ts or SR.
08:42 - (orca) Last report was up to 8 individuals with multiple breaches occurring. They are in the mouth of Commencement Bay... about 15 minutes ago.
08:00 - We've spotted a male and female Orca in that area, probably Ts (was J pod/L87 - alb), but please post if they are spotted again. I am being told there are 4 to 5 milling and heading north. -Brad Thiele, Northwest Environmental Consulting
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~ 07:45 - I was watching from the Point Defiance Marina. At least 3 orca, 2 female and one male between Dash Point and Tahlequah at about 7:45...they looked meandering...they were slowly heading north. -Kaelee Schoenneman
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~07:45 - Something breached several times at about 7:45a in between Vashon and Pt. Defiance Marina. I was too far away to see what kind, but saw two huge breaches. -Kimberly Arentzen Rau
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Wed Dec 5 - San Juans - Marie at WSFs just called in a report from the ferry Samish: 4:38pm, 1 male and 1 female orca reported off Canoe Island (bet. Shaw & N. Lopez), southbound. Must be some of the pod Florian reported earlier, though he thought they were residents and they only are reporting two orcas.
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Just got a call at 11:40 am from Florian Graner, he was on the ferry to Orcas Island, leaving Shaw Island he saw a bunch of Resident orcas spread out and milling between Decatour & Lopez Islands, possibly heading toward Orcas Island. He was too far to get any IDs, but said there was salmon fishing going on in the area, and with the number and behavior of orcas he was sure it was Rs.
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Thu Dec 6 - 11:12 - Humpback still in same area slightly south of Kingston ferry terminal.
09:13 - humpback still milling around slightly south of Kingston ferry terminal. No real direction at this point. -Darelen Moneypenny
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08:18 - Joanne Grave reports the humpback whale who has been hanging around President Point, S Kingston area is back/still out there this morning.
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GRAY WHALES - Wed Dec 5 - Gray whale in Liberty Bay in the morning and downtown Seattle in afternoon.
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Wed Dec 5 - We encountered a young Humpback Whale just off of Kingston who was actively feeding with a large group of California Sea Lions. After looking through the catalog, I still haven't found an ID for this whale, so any help is appreciated! We continued south after a report of orcas near Tacoma. It turned out to be J Pod! They were being extremely social and we saw several tight groups tail lobbing, spy hopping, breaching, and more! It was one of those days where I didn't take as many photos as I probably *should* have because I was just so in awe of what I was seeing. Luckily, I didn't entirely forget to snap a few shots. -Justine Buckmaster
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Fluke and right side of humpback seen off Kingston. -Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Dec 5, 2018
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12:10 - There's a Humpback circling off of President Point! Working on an ID, will post photos later. -Justine Buckmaster
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Wed Dec 5 - 14:45 - (gray whale) Still hanging out in south Elliott Bay. Saw it surface a few times. Seemed to be going east. No sign of leaving the bay. -Troy Hightower
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14:18 - Surfacing and diving repeatedly in the bay to within 160m of the ferry terminal. Initially sighted just east of Luna Park at 2:04 moving east. Making approx 6 minute dives during my observation. Last sighted near ferry terminal at 2:18. 4:06 - Alisa, I have a gray whale downtown approx 1000m from Colman dock, just dove facing NW @ 1406. -Paula von Weller
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Wed Dec 5 - 09:33 - Whales in Liberty Bay in Poulsbo. Looks like Grey's. They must be eating something mid-bay - they've been diving there all morning. No dorsal like an orca, but a long dark back. Tail may be dark top/white bottom. Several blows every 7-20 minutes. After some questions by ON: May be the same whale just blowing several times? I saw it first at 9:00, still blowing at 9:40. So hard to see from here. Definitely a smaller whale, but I'd have to guess that it's a gray. That's also the word around town. -Molly Apel

December 4
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tue Dec 4 - (possibly J pod/L87 who showed up in S Puget Sound the next morning - alb) - 16:00 - Ann Linnea reports 6 orcas headed south off Adams road, Whidbey Island, a mile or so south of Bush Point. She said they were traveling quickly.
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14:59 - at least 3 Orcas at Bush Point hunting in the upwelling. (Last seen) About 3:15. No direction noted, unfortunately. Too few of them. They were there diving and surfacing and blowing, and then suddenly they were not. -Rachel Gaydosh
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Tues Dec 4 - Passing along Tues 12/4 sighting from WSF bridge crew of a gray whale just outside Eagle harbor, seen on 1550 departure from BI yesterday, whale breached ~5 times heading north, was described as "small", vessel Tacoma slowed for it. Unfortunately I had just stepped off the vessel at 1540 for the day! -Paula von Weller

December 3
K pod - Juan de Fuca - K Pod - Iceberg Point - ...I arrived as Jim Maya on Imagine was leaving them near Iceberg Point. It was all of K pod spread out traveling west with the K16's leading the way and K25 trailing slightly to the south....Full report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 106.
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Mon Dec 3 - Ks & Ls Rosario Strait. -Monika Wieland Shiels
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11:15 - Another group 20 plus. Saw one open saddle. Spread out mid Lummi Is. to north of Thatcher pass. Spy hops, tail slaps. Blows galore! Windy white caps! S. Bound. (The 10:35 orcas island ferry took obstruction pass route so we got to watch!!)
11:11 - From Anacortes ferry! 16 plus Orcas S bound towards Burrows island light house near shore. Trailer in ferry wake. Others East side of channel! Whoohoo! -Bethany Ryals
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Mon Dec 3 - 15:33 - (humpback) I'm on the Kingston ferry and something's breaching south of the ferry. -Todd Iverson
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~12:45 - Two humpback whales (?) off President Point, south and west of the mid channel marker (south of Kingston, Kitsap side). Possibly heading north. One has been off President Point just about every day for the last couple of weeks. First time I have noticed a second one. very close in. (added later: Lots of tail slapping this afternoon. Almost looked like it was doing back flips!) -Joanne Graves

December 2
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - T137s. 14:56 - They swam right past Point No Point! You could see them with the naked eye. -Back of camera photo by Alexander Simenstad, Dec 2, 2018
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14:49 - From Point No Point...(orcas) Headed north toward Port Ludlow now (directionally). 3 in group. Big male! -Becky Woodworth
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14:40 - my bro in law spotted 2 male orcas at Point No Point heading north, west of mid channel....seals and porpoises were seen heading toward shore and safer waters. -Sue Larkin
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14:23 - At Double Bluff on Whidbey Island looking towards Edmonds/Seattle, saw fins and a blow in the distance with zoom. Think they're heading North, but not positive. Will update again if we see more and can determine direction! -Melissa Kegler
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12:40 - two orcas including a large male, moving fast, north of Edmonds, looks like they are headed toward Admiralty Inlet. -Kate Stovel
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12:26 - We're just north of the ferry lane, whales on the Eastern edge of the shipping lane. The pod is still headed north. -Michael Christensen
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12:25 - Seeing blows just north of the Edmonds/Kingston ferry. East side of channel. Too far to see dorsals. -Sara Frey
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11:16 - Spotted from the San Juan Clipper, Spring Beach headed N toward Pt. Wells. Grand Banks currently on scene. We just left them, it looks like 5-7 transients. -James Greenway
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10:58 - (orcas) NB east of mid channel. Still south of Richmond Beach...Saw who I think is T137A (When I was up on the bluff at Saltwater Park I thought I saw two males, but then only saw "Jack" when I got to the beach). Ariel Yseth
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09:32 - Just saw some Orcas off the Bremerton Ferry. They were swimming northbound from my arrow about 5 minutes ago. -Sean Briere
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Sun Dec 2 - There are at least 2, possibly 3 Humpback whales in Haro Strait. None close to shore. One milling near Beaumont Shoal, one to the north mid-strait headed north. Lost track of another from earlier. -Traci Walter

December 1
Sat Dec 1 - L Pod - South east of Race Rocks - ..At 1105 I spotted a group of spread out killer whales over a mile to the south west of Beechey Head while hiking East Sooke Park....The first whales identified to the south were the L54's, L84, and L88. -Full report with photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 105.
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Sat Dec 1 - K pod - Puget Sound - 16:32 - Can see multiple blows against Double Bluff north of Point No Point. Whales are probably just north of mid channel.
16:23 - I've got at least 3 males heading up Admiralty approaching Double Bluff. (From PNP) -Connie Bickerton
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16:14 - (orcas) several in mid channel off Point No Point heading towards the Port Townsend side. -David Burns
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(orcas) They all committed to Admiralty. They were spread out at that time and traveling quickly, cutting over at Possession Pt and Scatchet Head - to midchannel between S Whidbey and Point No Point. They continued NB and then grouped up - we counted 8 including 4 males breaching and tail lobbing in front of Double Bluff before continuing N and spreading out again - we lost sight as they started to cross in front of Mutiny Bay. This was all between 4 pm - 4:30ish Total watch time from N of Edmonds to Mutiny Bay was about 40 mins. -Donna Van Renselaar
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16:00 - (orcas) Donna and I are seeing male and a couple others east of Point No Point mid channel traveling northbound towards Mukilteo sort of at Olympic View Dr, north of Edmonds at a good clip pretty far out so no photos. Unknown if they are committed to Possession or Admiralty at this point. -Becky Newell Woodworth
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15:52 - Saw the orcas way off Eglon, followed by a red Zodiac with 4-5 people and a private boat of some sort - both keeping their distance. East of the shipping channel. Also saw some harbor porpoises more mid channel a few minutes earlier. -Casey Burns
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15:45 - I just went to Eglon with my dad, they're the K pod we think, and are more close to Edmonds, kinda to the north. -Lila Burns
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15:24 - (orcas) They're just off of Kingston right now. Watching them from our house on Sandy Beach! (trailers?) -John Butler
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14:40 - (orcas) Nbound just past Kingston. Saw behind us from Ebound Edmonds Ferry. Probably hard to see from Edmonds/East side of the sound. -John Ryan
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14:28 - orcas passing Kingston, mid channel. Both NOAA boats still with them. Squall making sightings challenging. -Connie Bickerton
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14:08 - Thanks for the reports everyone! First time I've ever seen orcas in the wild. Been watching them from Sunset Park above Shilshole Marina with my birding spotting scope. Getting hard to see. Heading northbound past Fay Bainbridge closer to Bainbridge than Seattle. Carkeek might be a good place to head to. -Jason Groves
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13:45 - (orcas) seeing them from Golden Gardens headed north with two research boats. -Whitney Neugebauer
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13:30 - (orcas) Research boats heading north with whales just south of Fay Bainbridge, west of mid channel. -Sue Larkin
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12:44 - (orcas) They're split across the sound, heading north from Eagle Harbor. -Cary Kaczowka
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12:28 - orcas moving north mid channel off Elliott Bay. -Sue Larkin
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12:15 - (orcas) observed a few females and youngsters heading north past Discovery lighthouse. Two research boats on site, would be great if WDFW was out there too, although boats seem to be mostly behaving. -Connie Bickerton
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12:10 - Just left Manchester; observed 6-7 Orcas spread fairly apart , leader is about 25 minutes ahead of single Orca trailing the group, just now passing North of Blakely rocks, closer to Kitsap side and out of view. Observed a large sailboat following single Orca. Viewed some activity, breaching, tail slapping and jumping completely out of the water "YAAAAY". -Kathe Bradley
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Noon - (orcas) North bound along Bainbridge. Just now passing Blakey rock. -Charles Vendley
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11.45 - (orcas) just lot sight of them turning the corner around Alki. They are probably in ferry lanes as someone said. Way out toward Bainbridge. There's a research boat with them. -Anu Hastings
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11:36 - (orcas) crossing the Bainbridge ferry line. Looks like some boats following too close as they head north. -Douglas B Greenswag
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Pictures I took from Constellation Point between 11 am and 11:30 this morning. -Photos by Monica Zaborac, Dec 1, 2018
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11:06 - (orcas) Watching from Me Kwa Mooks. Leaders just at the Southern tip of Blake. -Kersti Muul
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10:57 - (orcas) Counted at least 15 spread out over 1/2 mile east to west. Heading north Fauntleroy crossing! -Mark Anderson
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10:49 - (orcas) Just north of the vashon-Fauntleroy ferry moving north. Scattered around. Closer to Blake Island mostly. -Matt Hahn
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10:45 - (orcas) they just crossed channel between north Blake Is and Bainbridge northbound. Lots of breaching as the made their way close in to shore of Blake. Probably 7 orcas, one especially large male. Earlier, at about 10:20 they were among three ferries just off Southworth and Vashon. Lots of ferry riders on deck watching. -Carolyn Duncan
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10:30 - whales passing through Vashon ferry lanes (northbound). -Amy Carey
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10:25 - (orcas) looking south, southwest from from 3600 60th SW. lots of blows and jumps near the Vashon to Fauntleroy ferry line. No clear direction. Nearer to Vashon. -Douglas B Greenswag
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10:18 - (orcas) Blows visible from Schmitz viewpoint whales near Vashon shore across from about 3 tree point. Whales appear to be in resting mode. -Buzz Shaw
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Spotted at least 8 orcas while on the 10 am ferry from Southworth to Fauntleroy, they were seen between Vashon and Fauntleroy. may be K22, may be K35, is K22, K16, and K35, K21 between Vashon and Fauntleroy. I have more photos of the breaching on my Instagram @jolena_623 as well. Thank you! -Jolena Tagg
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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09:40 - viewing from Dilworth, pod slowly traveling north, mid channel. Lots of tails slapping, cuddle puddle action. Not much foraging, but more meandering Northbound headed to ferry lanes. -Marla Smith
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After Orcas turned back north. Mostly strung out this morning and further away and just after they turned back north at Dilworth and Three Tree Point. -Photo by Elston Hill, Dec 1, 2018
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09:40 - orcas have passed Dilworth northbound, and should be to ferry soon.
09:15 - orcas have flipped, now northbound. Looks like K pod spread Dilworth to north of Three Tree Point, Burien. Leaders off Dilworth closet to Vashon with trailers N of Three Tree Point.
08:54 - Getting reports of orcas in Puget Sound near Dilworth, Vashon heading south. -Amy Carey
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8:50 - Randy Gordon called in a report of 3 orcas heading south off Dillworth in mid-channel.
08:45 - Sighted 5 Orca whales heading south, sighted off Glen Acres (Vashon), moving towards the middle of the channel, actively breaching/fishing versus travelling fast south. One full grown Orca jumped fully out of the water. -Calico Cook
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08:27 - Maia at WS Ferries called to relay a report of 6-7 orcas heading south in the shipping lane off northeast Vashon Isl.
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08:20 - neighbors at West Beach/Brace Point reported Orcas travelling south between Vashon and mainland. -Ellen Cole
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Sat Dec 1 - 14:08 - South sound surprise. Orcas in Case Inlet off Key Peninsula. Big male with 3-4 smaller. They are heading north towards Vaughn. -Charlotte Smothers
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11:13 - Several blows for the last 2 hours by Point Evans on the Gig Harbor side. (More later): Multiple short blows. The pod was feeding. They were too far away to see fins, but I did see them do some jumping. Stayed in the same area for several hours. -Dee Markham
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Chris said 6-7 people had been on the Boston Harbor Marina dock watching them. Sounds like T137s again. Then they headed north toward Dana Passage...Chris talked to a neighbor who said he was looking down on them (he lives on the bluff near and north of Boston Harbor). He said there were three. -Kim Merriman
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posted 10:24 - Whales in Boston Harbor area...Orcas were seen by my family member today, just thought I'd add info. -Nicole Seeley Link
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Thu Nov 29 - Juan de Fuca Strait - CA/T's taking on a steller sealion on the evening of November 29th off of Sheringham Point. -Photo by Mark Malleson
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Thu Nov 29 - South Puget Sound - Saw these two today (Facebook video shows T137s - alb) at 3:30 just off McNeil Island. I was on the southeastern side of the island near the island ferry dock. They were traveling north. -Monica Durkin Shoemaker
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~1:30 - (orcas) adult male and we believe either two juveniles or a female and juvenile came close to Devil's Head and slowed a bit. Then continued quickly through Dayton Passage on Anderson side. Lots of blows at point across from McNeil, appeared to have a kill, then continued around the corner. Jami Beitinger and I watched from near Devil's Head for about 25 minutes. -Cynthia Olekszyk
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Sat Dec 1 - 11:13 - Several blows for the last 2 hours by Point Evans on the Gig Harbor side. multiple short blows. The pod was feeding. They were too far away to see fins, but I did see them do some jumping. Stayed in the same area for several hours. -Dee Markham
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Sat Dec 1 - 10:34 - Seeing 6+ humpback blows all together off Secretary Island! -Paul Pudwell
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Sat Dec 1 - Gray whale observed near Mannette bridge in Bremerton! Spotted from our living room in Spyglass apartments! The spout caught our eye then we watched it go under, seeing its dorsal fin/ridges and fluke. The whale was moving north further into Dyes Inlet. The sighting was shortly before 12:30. I'm confident we were seeing the dorsal ridges of a gray. Though I'm not an expert. -Wayne Tahoe
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09:11 - "We have one small solo whale, maybe a minke or small grey headed north in rich passage!! Just now passing the channel marker near point Glover" More after some questions: "Couldn't see a dorsal, it was across the channel. Did get to see the tail. It was dark on top, light on under side" -Colleen Coleman
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Fri Nov 30 & Sat Dec 1 - This is a gray whale I've never seen before (Left dorsal ridge of gray whale CRC2246). I attached some photos for you. It wasn't coming out of the water very high while it was feeding in the Snohomish River Delta around high tide (mid afternoon) on both Nov 30 2018, and Dec 1 2018. Seen from Chilkat Express on 12/30, and MV Saratoga on 12/1. This whale appears to be small. Let me know if you find a match for it. -Thanks, Bart Rulon, Naturalist Puget Sound Express
(Photos by Bart were sent to Cascadia and Orca Network for ID purposes only so not including here. We will include in future report if received with watermark: ID notes by Alie Perez, Cascadia Research: "This animal doesn't have a CRCID but is the same individual who popped in and was seen on March 18th 2018 by Renee Beitzel.")
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MINKE WHALES - Sat Dec 1 - 14:31 - Just saw a baleen whale south of the ferry to Coupeville. Looked like a minke. The whale was swimming south and was about midway between the ferry and the island off the starboard side of the ferry. -Charlotte Cumming