February 2019 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of February 2019 whale sightings.

February 28
Here is a photo taken 2-28-19 of grey whale divots on the beach on the east side of Holmes Harbor, 1/2 mile north of Beverly Beach. This is the earliest in the year we have seen signs of grey whale feeding. -Photo by Bruce Schwager, Feb 28, 2019
*
Thu Feb 28 - Grays have been spread out between Hat Island and Snohomish Delta all day today. With the flat calm water I can clearly see the blows and surfacing from my house near Howarth Park. -Ryley Fee
*
10:00 - Another gray in the same area SE of Hat this morning...Lori Christopher.
*
Thu Feb 28 - My husband took this video at Dash Point park. (Not state park) and it appears to be a baby grey whale or humpback whale. Can you confirm? (INSTAGRAM VIDEO of gray whale going under Dash Point Pier). -Thanks, Melissa Harrington
*
12:15 - A gray whale swam right under my feet at the dash Point pier... I was told you would be interested... it was about 15 feet offshore in just about 10 ft of water heading toward the lighthouse (Browns) from the Dash Point pier. -Tim Valdez
("This individual does not match any of the known IDed grays that are currently in the sound (49, 53, 185, 2246)". -Alie Perez, Cascadia Research)
*
Thu Feb 28 - Whale close in shore, north end Lummi Bay off Sandy Point, Ferndale, Whatcom County. -Tara Palmerton-Jacola Facebook Video on Sandy Point Watch FB page
(unconfirmed but probably a gray - alb)
*
Thu Feb 28 - 08:00 - I saw what looked like a whale spouting off of Ruston Way in Tacoma this morning at 8:00am, but wasn't able to stay long enough to see anything more...I only saw the spout, but it was a lot smaller than what I've seen in the past -- only about 2-4 feet high, so I was unsure. I didn't see anything other than that, but it definitely looked like a whale spouting. -Melissa McCleery Brewster
(possibly the gray who was filmed in afternoon off Dash Point - alb)
*
PORPOISE - Thu Feb 28 - ~16:20 - While on the ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo I spotted at least 2 Harbor porpoise swimming eastbound in glassy seas several hundred feet from shore as we neared Mukilteo. I then drove over to Edgewater Beach park (east of the new ferry terminal under construction) in hopes of seeing grays in the distance, no luck, but saw porpoise again swimming around off the beach. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

February 27
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - L41 Mega in Rosario Strait very close to shore off Washington Park, Anacortes. -Photo by Amy Eberling, Feb 27, 2019
(ID by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
*
Wed Feb 27 - (We arrived at Deception Pass bridge ~ 15:30, we could see no orcas to the east or west. We then searched from beaches along west Whidbey beginning at Deception's West Beach and ending at Swan Town during daylight hours and in excellent viewing conditions with no luck. Having arrived after Amy's 14:20 sighting we presume pod headed west towards the San Juans and was just out of sight ahead of our arrival - alb)
*
~2:20 - Last sighting through binocs 2:20PM- hugged Deception Island then continued south/southwest.
1:00 - BWs southbound - guessing Ts (turned out to be members of L pod -alb) - estimating 6/7 in pod -At Washington Park - 1 PM - slightly SE - could be headed under Deception Pass bridge?! ...so tough to tell (if a calf with group) - females/youngins stayed offshore and way ahead of the two HUGE bulls...definitely a good 4-5 females/kids ahead of these guys...They went west through Guemes Channel and played in front of the Anacortes Ferry Terminal before hugging WA Park...They first caught my eye from afar when they were romping around - breaching and tail slapping - just to the east of - but close to - the ferry landing in Ship Harbor before heading west and hugging the park. Still in shock. Wish I had better footage of the others for you! Other people from Anacortes are saying there were around 10 of them. Sounds like they were first spotted on the west side of Lummi, south of Lummi rocks at 10:30AM this morning. See Facebook Video. -Amy Eberling
*
Wed Feb 27 - 15:58 - There are at least 4 Grey whales off the east side of Hat Island. No direction, just diving. Grays have been spread out between Hat Island and Snohomish Delta all day today. With the flat calm water I can clearly see the blows and surfacing from my house near Howarth Park. -Ryley Fee
*
16:28 - Heard rumors that at least three (grays) have been between Hat Island and Everett all day! -Lori Christopher

February 26
09:09 - Orca off whiffin spit east Sooke side heading for possesion point east right now!...could only see a few from the house...to rough out to investigate further... Likely T's almost came into harbour but were tight to shore line heading out and than east. -Paul Pudwell
*
Tue Feb 26 - Thanks for all the great information. Just this morning we spotted at least 4 different gray whales in Snohomish River delta. My daughter took some pictures with her telescopic lens (see Spring Freeman photos below). When we first noticed them, they were spread out over the entire delta. They traveled south and west to deeper water. Again thanks for the info....
Original email: My wife and I have been watching a whale or two all winter long south of Tulalip Reservation between Everett and Hat island. We're pretty sure they are not Orcas. Grays fed here in the spring. Just wondering if you could shed some light on the species and why they're here. Thanks for any info. -Jim Quintel
*
Grays off Snohomish Delta. -Photos by Spring Freeman, Feb 26, 2019
*
Tue Feb 26 - ~ 07:00 - Sighting of 3-4 harbor porpoises of the Clinton Ferry headed north toward Langley...What a beautiful morning. -Photos by David Haeckel, Feb 26, 2019

February 25
Ls were heard in Johnstone Strait early on the 25th...Monika Wieland Shields

February 24
North Puget Sound Gray CRC53 fluke and left side - Possession Sound....Making our turn south, we met back up with Little Patch and discovered that his solo swim had come to an end. CRC-185 had now joined him, and the two traveled side-by-side, at one point seemingly surfacing on top of one another....Island Adventures Feb 24 Blog Post

February 23
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sat Feb 23 - 16:05 - Hearing some intermittent calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. Sounds distant. I can't distinguish between the eco-types. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
*
Sat Feb 23 ...As "Orcinus" putted out of the harbor, "Sea Lion" was seen nearing Kellett Bluff and Ken was also out in "Tonto". "Orcinus" headed southwest out of Mitchell Bay to try to find the group Jeanne had seen. Jane called on the radio to report that the three whales who had passed her place were the J19s and that was who was probably near Kellett Bluff. After about 20 minutes of searching, Dave finally saw his first whale mid-strait off Mitchell Bay. This was J39 who foraged a little before passing the boat and continuing north... Full summary report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 12.
*
15:54 - They (orcas) are up by Henry Island northbound. Saw them from a distance. -Traci Walter
*
14:44 - Heard (orcas) briefly on Lime Kiln, didn't really sound like R's to me. -Connie Bickerton
*
14:30 - Orcas heading north up West side of San Juan Island, 1/2 mile out from shore, almost to Lime Kiln. -Maria Doss
*
Sat Feb ...Our passengers were on it today, finding us not one, but two gray whales! It turned out to be Little Patch and CRC-185. These two mature individuals proceeded to spend the entirety of our encounter with them side-by-side, showing us just how social these gentle giants can be...Island Adventures Feb 23 Blog Post

February 22
~5:15 - Orca heading west past Otter Point towards Sheringham Lighthouse...seen from shore with rough seas. (no numbers, ecoptype or IDs due to rough conditions). -Paul Pudwell
*
HUMPBACK WHALES - Fri Feb 22 - 10:30 - Hi. Just wanted to let you know, Believe I saw a humpback this morning (Friday 2/22) at 10:30 am from the Ferry Boat docked on the northend of Vashon Island. Whale came right up to the stern of the ferry while docked and we got a good view of its side. Unfortunately it moved away quickly and was out of range before I could get my phone to take any pictures. Watched it head south a little ways toward Dolphin Point before the boat left....I have seen greys and humpbacks, in canada, California and baja - so I felt like I just knew.. but thanks for asking for clarification... I saw a dorsal when it was diving (saw it dive twice)...Kevin Kim-Murphy

February 21
A humpback whale who has been spending time traveling up and down Puget Sound the past few weeks is seen here paralleling the shore while heading northbound towards the jetty at the north end Marina Beach Park, Edmonds. -Photo by Rosa Duarte, Feb 21
*
Thu Feb 21 - (The dorsal of this whale matches the humpback whale who has been traveling Puget Sound since at least late January who does not raise it's fluke when sounding. We'll refer to her/him as PS Mn Unknown 2019 #1 until we have match or other ID# designation - alb)
18:30 - Michelle Goll and I decided to carpool north and waited at Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach in hopes the humpback would arrive before dark. The sunset was remarkable, the sky and water painted in pinks, oranges, golds...shimmering and glittery. Around 18:00, with much narrower swath of colored light beaming across the Sound, I spotted an exhalation and the head of the humpback to the south, traveling towards us hugging the shoreline. I observed two more surfaces. We waited anticipating the humpback would be visible as s/he continued and hoped for a surface in what remained of the light on the water, but s/he may have gone on a long dive because it was in near total darkness when we heard the whale blow directly out from our position at the southern end of the beach and we could just make out aher/his shape while gliding through the water. We walked along with the whale as she surfaced 2 more that we could hear but not see, and then one more last surface approx 6:30, again audible and this time visible...we both caught a visual of the black shape of her/his low arch as s/he slipped under water on her/his way north. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
~ 17:20 - David Freed reported seeing a whale between Mukilteo and Edmonds from the train at approx 5:20.
(Upon further discussion David said he did not have a noticeable dorsal, but looked like he saw a row of nubbies along it's back. We presume he saw the humpback who would have been right in this very area at this time, but leaving open possibility there was another whale -alb)
*
16:00 -16:35 - I relocated to Edmonds Marina Beach could see whale blows just to the south approaching the dog park area, but a bit farther offshore than s/he had been when passing Shoreline & Woodway. The humpback continued steady northbound passing in front of us and manybeach goers, same pattern leading with rostrum, pushing water, shallow surfaces and low arch when sounding on longer dive. S/he rounded the jetty at north end of the park about 16:10. I then relocated to just south of the ferry dock and watched the humpback keep steady northbound clearing the Edmonds Ferry dock (just ahead of the incoming ferry) around 16:20 still northbound at steady pace. I then relocated further north off Ocean Ave, pulled up and saw the whale slightly south of me, just north of and outside the Edmonds Dive Park keeping steady pace. Stayed long enough to watch a few surface intervals in glassy calm seas and left her/him heading towards Possession Sound to the north of us approximately 16:30-16:35. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
Rostrum and dorsal of humpback as s/he surfaces off Edmonds Marina Beach. -Photos by Janine Harles, Feb 21, 2019
*
15:15 - 15:45 - After waiting for about an hour down on shore at Richmond Beach Saltwater park, I finally caught a glimpse of the humpback to the south of the point between Carkeek and my location, this was approximately 15:15. The humpback continued in a line which looked as though s/he may be heading more offshore. A few minutes later (same as in Komo 4 video) a group of sea lions started porpoising along near the whale! What I know of this whale is s/he likes to hug the shore so I was hopeful s/he would round the point following the shoreline. Several minutes passed when about 15:25 I saw a large disturbance in the south end of the slight bay, the humpback was ~100 feet offshore. S/he continued surfacing in regular intervals, pushing the water with her/his rostrum while barely surfacing, but at times showing a little dorsal. On 4-5th surface a more pronounced arch (though not as pronounced as what I've typically observed in most humpbacks when sounding). Dozens of happy humans lined the beach on this gorgeous sunny day watching this humpback pass by very close to shore. I ran to keep up with the whale who was passing the north end of the park by 15:30 holding steady swift pace towards Woodway inshore. Sweet whale! (Very brief FB Video) I then moved to Kayu Kayu Ac park, further north in Shoreline and immediately spotted the humpback just offshore. I watched her/him surface several times and disappear around the dock at Point Wells, Woodway now on her/his way to Edmonds, time approx 15:45. The humpback did not raise her/his fluke during either of these passes. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
13:51 - Saw from land; just south of Discovery Park. Always a special event. Did not have my binoculars though!! -Deborah B. Cushing
*
13:45 - Humpback...from Discovery Point Lighthouse...maybe 30-40ft (from shore). Lost sight of it after it went around the point, then saw intermittent blows off Golden Gardens (judging that far away though was hard). Probably stayed more middle channel or east of mid channel NB. -Brittany Noelle Philbin
*
Humpback whale passing close to shore off West Point, Discovery Park, in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. -Photos by Brittany Noelle Philbin, Feb 21, 2109
*
13:40 - Air4 is running out of fuel. We have to leave. Last location (of humpback), northbound at Discovery Park, moving at a quick pace.
13:26 - Humpback. Just west of Magnolia...moving very fast northbound...Getting close to Discovery Park.
13:19 - Humpback. Right now...it is northbound, rounding Magnolia.
12:49 - Air4 reports spotting the whale (humpback -alb) near Alki Point. -Brian At Komo
(Aerial video: Komo News 4 website OR Komo News 4 Facebook. Near the end, at approx. 40 minutes in, you will see a group of sea lions swim and porpoise along with the humpback!)
*
11:45 - Just watched a whale swim north very close to the Lincoln Park shoreline in West Seattle, 11:45am. Humpback? -Mike Yov
*
GRAY WHALES - Thu Feb 21 - ~12:55 - Gray sighted off Mukilteo ferry dock about 12:55 heading north...It was a ways off Mukilteo just when the boat left and was headed toward Everett. Since there was quite a bit of distance, it is possible it was not a gray, but certainly was not an orca. Pretty cool about the humpback; we've seen a number of them near Johnstone Straits and Queen Charlotte Sound. -Sue Ellen White
*
Gray off Cooper Pt this morning feeding on the bottom. east side of Cooper Pt. -Photos by Chris Hamilton, Feb 21, 2019
*
09:43 - I just saw it (gray whale) 4 more times. On the east side of spot itself heading south and then north of it mid channel.
08:45 - Gray whale at tip of Cooper Point on Budd Inlet side. Traveling back and forth. Two surfaces and then a long dive. Watched 8 of these series. Was very close to shore and one time it looked like it was trying to feed. I have now lost it in the hot morning sun on the water. -Kim Merriman

February 20
10:30 - Humpback whale spotted in the Port Gardner area between Jetty Island and the Everett waterfront today at approx 10:30 am. It made 2 passes, north to south, breached 4 times, and was last seen heading south and back out to Possession Sound....It looked like a hump/bump on it's back when it was out of the water - very clear for all of us to see as it was within 30 feet of us. It wasn't fully out of the water, we could see about 2/3 of it, but it seemed to throw itself into a low arc and rolled it's body while going back under water. -Cat Levitsis
*
Wed Feb 20 - 07:04 - humpback moving north at a fast pace past Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. About 20 yards from shore, right through a group of sea lions! Sorry, wasn't quick enough to snap any pics. -Anastasia Nicolov
*
DOLPHINS - Wed Feb 20 - 10:49 - (bottlenose dolphin) It stopped and milling around. I got a couple long range shots of the fin I'll post soon and maybe someone can help identify the species
10:40 - Been at Edmonds for a couple hours. No humpback, but a lone small dorsal heading towards the south east end of whidbey. I suppose a dolphin or porpoise. -Kevin Crosby
(ID notes: Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) reviewed these images as well as video and frame grabs by Stu Davidson from where he could confirm ID of this bottlenose dolphin as "Stump". See her story at CRC's update HERE)

February 19


February 18
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Mon Feb 18 - At 1323, a whale watching boat reported that they had found members of J pod near East Point, Saturna Island. Dave and Melisa headed to Snug Harbor and left the dock at 1415 aboard "Orcinus". At 1454, "Orcinus" arrived on scene with the J16s about three-quarters of a mile west of the Patos Island lighthouse. J16, J36, and J42 were traveling east tight together. J26 was paralleling them a few hundred yards to the north and swam over to join them soon after...At 1618, the J16s joined the J11s, J14s, J19s, and J22s and they all turned south toward President Channel, though they seemed a bit indecisive about it at first. The encounter was ended at 1631 as the whales slowly swam south along the Sucia Island shoreline toward Present Channel. The J17s and L87 were not present during the encounter so the CWR will wait for another J pod encounter to confirm how J17 is faring. - Full summary report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 11.
*
Mon Feb 18 - ~ 15:12 - Humpback. Prospect Point, Colvos Passage headed north. -Photo by Brendan Phillips, Feb 18, 2019
(Unknown 2019 #1 who's been inland Puget Sound since at least January)
*
13:29 - We saw a humpback off the first viewpoint on 5 mile drive at 1:29. -Beth Selthofer
*
11:17 - A whale swam 100 feet from shore yesterday in Poverty Bay, just west of Redondo Beach...traveled westbound along the shore of the 200 block of SW 292nd St. Whale was halfway between the water's edge and the mooring buoys. A place that's dry tidelands at low tide!...of the most common whales in Salish Sea, it must closely resembled a humpback.
*
Mon Feb 18 - South Puget Sound - 4:37 - Grey whale currently heading west in Hale Passage. Gig Harbor side of passage....surfaced for such a short time, but they hung out up and down the shoreline in front of our house for about 30 minutes I am guessing eating. Anita French
*
4:37 - Grey whale currently heading west in Hale Passage. Gig Harbor side of passage. -Anita French
*
12:45 - Just saw the gray whale heading around Point Defiance corner toward the narrows. Too fast for a pic...definitely Gray whale, but saw a humpback about half an hour after close to the point defiance ferry but heading south. -Coral Pasi
*
UNCONFIRMED BALEEN WHALES (Humpback or Gray) - Mon Feb 18 - Possession Sound - 15:45 - Spotted from ferry to Mulkiteo from Clinton at 345pm today just north of Clinton ferry dock. Not sure what kind of whale, some saw large dorsal fin (like us) others also saw big tail dive down....Yes it was amazing to see as I held my two year old son. His first whale! My husband and I saw it from different spots on the ferry - he saw a tail from inside the ferry and thinks it was a gray or humpback. I however rushed outside with a group and saw a dorsal fin from the back of the ferry gliding through the water and disappearing - which I assumed was an orca but I didn't have my glasses on so it could have been a tail... - was hoping you might have other accounts to verify ... sorry we couldn't be of more help. It was very far away and very quick. -Sophie R Serrano
*
Feb 18 - South Puget Sound - 12:30 - (whale) Seen passing Owen Beach.
11:50 - Have been following one down Rustin Way today, last seen by the theatre at Point Rustin...unfortunately we didn't get a good view of the dorsal so we're unsure (if gray or humpback). -Gail Kobylinski
*
Mon Feb 18 - 11:17 - A whale swam 100 feet from shore in Poverty Bay, just west of Redondo Beach, Federal Way. Traveled westbound along the shore of the 200 block of SW 292nd St. Whale was halfway between the water's edge and the mooring buoys. A place that's dry tidelands at low tide! -Yogi Kuddha
(Probably the humpback - alb)
*
Mon Feb 18 - Elliott Bay - ~17:15 - Whale spout in Sound (Elliott Bay). View from downtown Seattle. -Photo by Kelli Malin Drobnick, Feb 18, 2019
*
13:53 - There's one (gray or humpback) breaching about 400 yards off of Pier 59. -Alexa Ellis
(Brief video taken from downtown high rise shared on FB shows whale fluke when diving, too distant to ID as gray or humpback - alb)
*
11:24 - Just saw one (gray or humpback) spout from the Bremerton ferry about 300 yards from Colman Dock. -Cameron McNeil

February 17
Possession Sound - 11:30 -12:30 - Wanted to share pictures of our outing yesterday with Island Adventures. We saw CRC2246 mainly near the Delta outside of Everett and on the Eastside of Camano Island. Time was around 11:30-12:30. There were a couple others we saw toward the end of the tour however they were too far to identify. -Have a great day, David Haeckel
(CRC2246 on Feb 17th by David Haeckel was incorrectly noted as CRC53.)
*
Sun Feb 17 - Elliott Bay - 17:00 - I saw a whale next to Coleman dock at about 5pm on Monday, Feb 17th. I was on the Bainbridge Ferry and we were loading. It surfaced just north of us, about 50 yards from the dock. It didnt have a large dorsal and appeared to be about 20' long. Dark grey and few barnacles or discoloration on the fluke so I assume it was young. I've never seen a whale this deep in Elliott Bay. Is that odd?......Sadly no photos. I did shock another ferry rider, when I showed him. The whale was a very dark gray, had a very short fin on the back (not large dorsal), and had almost no barnacles which surprised me. I just figured it was very young. And I think a humpback because I didn't see ridges along the spine leading to the fluke. -Adam Nilsen
*
14:00 - Young grey whale at Colman Dock...Not certain (gray). Seemed small and was whitish under the fluke. I only saw it briefly but my husband saw it all three times it surfaced. Very close to the docked ferry...No images. Husband said bit of bump when it surfaced. Then they made us leave the boat. Several people saw it. Sorry not a confirmed sighting. -Susan Smith Mitchell
*
Sun Feb 17 - Tacoma - 14:20 - Hi there, sending over info about a whale sighting in Commencement Bay in Tacoma, just south of point Ruston. I was in the car and saw it come up and spout, just sort of appearing out of the water. Then a minute or so later saw a great big tail fin as it dove down heading towards point defiance/colvo's passage. No big dorsal fin. My best guess is that it was a minke. Just thought I'd share! (probable Gray) - Dan Wickens
<(Both gray whale and humpback were in this area and had some crossover in time -alb)
*
14:00 - I think I saw a grey whale off Les Davis pier in Tacoma, today at 2 pm....(direction) toward the port but i think it looped back. Also I guessed grey whale bc one was sighted further north recently. Could def be a different type. -Heide Fernandez-Llamazares
*
13:55 - Looks like a humpback in the water by Duke's in Tacoma. It was hanging out near the shore - we didn't get a visual of its direction when it left. (Eating with one eye on water - must have missed it)...Got a clear view of the tail but no pics, unfortunately. Judgement was based on prior sightings of humpbacks and similarities but am by no means an expert. -Kate Kirby Boss
*
~ Noon - I am sorry that I didn't get pictures! We saw a humpback/grey whale surface twice, heading south from Browns Point lighthouse. Yesterday 2/17. At around noon. It seemed to be heading towards Tacoma/Ruston. -Matt Sasson

February 16
Marine mammal eating killer whales in the western side of Haro Strait this afternoon, including the T69Ds & T90s (corrected). When we left them at 14:45 they were southbound near Zero Rock. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, OBI, Feb 16, 2019
*
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sat Feb 16 - It's always a pleasure to meet new (to me) whales! Here are three of the first Bigg's killer whales of 2019 for me---left to right, T69D1 (b. 2013), T69D2 (b. 2016), and mom, T69D (b. 2001). -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Feb 16, 2019
(Only the T69Ds & T90s were present during encounters in western side of Haro Strait this day.)
*
...At 0942 I spotted a group of killer whales near Little Zero Rock through the binoculars. We approached the area slowly waiting for another sighting but it wasn't until well over 10 minutes before I spotted them again (48 30.9/123 17.5) They were doing between 10 and 14 minute dives the whole time we were there. T090 and T090D were slightly east of the rest of the T090's and the T069D's. Full summary report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 10.
*
GRAY WHALES - Sat Feb 16 - 16:51 - (gray) Just resurfaced south of the Mukilteo ferry dock, still headed south about mid channel.
16:29 - Gray whale just north of the Mukilteo dock, half a mile off shore headed south. Just dove, waiting to see where it reappears. -Melissa Simmons, WSF

February 15
10:51 - actually seems to be staying close to the delta and jetty island, I'm only seeing one individual (gray).
10:17 - Can see blows in the distance from Hat this morning...closer to Everett delta trending south, too far to tell (if same whale
as 09:27 or 2nd whale). -Lori Christopher
*
09:27 - GRAY WHALE in Possession Sound heading south toward Mukilteo. Very close to shore on Everett/Mukilteo side. Viewed from Shore Ave Area...Saw it surface twice. It was at the outfall of Powder Mill Creek. -Dianne Riter
*
PORPOISE - Sat Feb 15 - At about 11:45 I was out taking pictures, and saw the container ship outbound from Maxwelton Beach. I enlarged it and think they are porpoises or even 2 orcas. What do you think? -David Welton
(Great shot! I wish these were orcas, but looks like they are porpoise, but also be aware we have several dolphins who have been bopping around the Sound, though their fins would be a little larger and more curved -SB)

February 14
~13:30 - (Gray whale) 53 was hanging out by the Snohomish delta marker this afternoon when we went by around 1:30. -Tyler Mckeen, Island Adventures

February 13


February 12
HUMPBACK WHALES - Humpback heading South towards Chambers Bay at 3:10 from Day Island! -Photo (& crop of) by Karen Caldwell,
(dorsal shape matches humpback who has been traveling up and down Puget Sound, usually close inshore for the past 2 weeks - alb)
*
Tue Feb 12 - 09:06 - I can only see through my spotting scope they are about a mile out. And a mile west of Harborview now, headed towards Mukilteo.
08:51 - Pair of grey whalesbetween Harborview park and Hat Island sighted, heading southwest. -Ryley Fee
*
UNCONFIRMED WHALES - Tue Feb 12 - 10:50 - Observing activity in Possession Sound about 3 miles northeast of Mukilteo Lighthouse - moving in a westerly direction... Color and dorsal fin suggest Orca X 2, but distance from our location makes it difficult to confirm. This is VERY exciting! -Le Schneider
*
10:15 - My son saw blows from Mukilteo about an hour ago (10:15)...I asked he had no direction. His co worker said he saw a black tail (he thought) they are at a house/job site with a great view! -Joni Pollino
(Gray whales were reported in the area around this same time, but leaving open possibility of orcas since they've been inland Puget Sound as well - alb)

February 11


February 10
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sun Feb 10...At 1218 as we were approaching Bechey Head I spotted a bull dorsal fin what appeared to be coming straight at us. We stopped and waited while I scanned in case they were going away form us and then T100E and T100F popped up close to us east bound...Full summary with photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 9.
*
Sun Feb 10 - 13:10 - Same orcas I saw earlier today, now they're exiting Thatcher Pass towards Rosario...(re; direction) I'm not sure , I'd guess south, but they dove down and didn't surface as our ferry (I'm a captain for WSF) slowly went up their starboard side before I could tell for sure. VIDEO (Facebook)
10:13 - Orcas headed up Upright Channel along Shaw Island towards Orcas Island @10:13 am on February 10, 2019. VIDEO (Facebook) -Brad Brickley, WSF
(Each of Brad's videos morn/afternoon show female, two bulls, & young one. Melisa Pinnow, CWR reviewed both videos and notes: "the two males almost look like T125A and T128 but it is hard to tell. Hopefully they will show up again tomorrow...I guess it could be the T85s too. Who knows!" - alb)
*
10:45 - WS Ferries reports 2-3 orcas in Upright Channel, between Shaw and Lopez Islands, heading NE.
*
3 orcas going south around Eagle Point SJI at about 7:15AM. One large male. Very close to shore. Just caught a glimpse of them while I was out walking my dog. A beautiful sight on a beautiful morning! -Chris Wilson
*
Shortly after 6 a.m. loud calls from Transients over the Lime Kiln hydrophones. -Jeanne Hyde
*
Sun Feb 10 - 12:41 - Possible grey or humpback whale headed south mid channel at clinton/muk ferry crossing. -Melissa Simmons, WSF
*
12:30 - Whale (humpback? 1 or 2?) just south of the Clinton ferry, moving south. -Lee Ann Tobin

February 9
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sat Feb 9 - Folks: Apparent Orca sighting today. I say "apparent orca sighting" because some of the dark shapes in the attached photos sure like orcas to me--despite the poor visibility. I was actually taking pictures of the snowy scenes on Vashon Island, directly across from my West Seattle home (approximately one-half mile south of Brace Point). I did not notice the "orcas" until I downloaded the frames to my computer and examined them more closely. The dark black "cone" in the lower center struck me immediately. If I am not mistaken that is an orca "sky-hopping". When I looked closer at other parts of the photo, I noticed another "orca" doing a back flop--right pectoral flipper spread wide. The other "orcas" are not so apparent, but would explain the abnormal coloration and disturbance of the water (all circled in red in the second photo). -Regards, Jim Nunn
*
Sat Feb 9 - I live in Lantzville, BC [about 10 miles NW of Nanaimo in Georgia Strait] and saw 3 or 4 orca right across from me, on Maude Island (Winchelsea Islands) from approximately 1630 to about 1800 (it got dark so couldn't see them anymore). I did not see saddle patches unfortunately. If the neighbour did get photos, I will ask her to forward to them me or to Orca Network. -Juli Wild

February 8
(Facebook) VIDEO from Feb 8, 2018 around 12:25pm from our deck of 5 orcas passing by Salmon Beach (Tacoma) going north. Taken when snow storm started. Not the best video but sharing anyway. -Zeno Martin
*
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Taken at about noon from Day Island, they were Northbound just below the Narrows Airport, playing around. Didn't get a good shot of the male but there was one.
11:57 - Orcas should be visible from Salmon Beach, mid channel just North of the bridge, still Northbound.
11:50 - Orcas headed north under Narrows Bridge at 11:50! West side of channel. -Photos by Karen Caldwell, Feb 8, 2019
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: "Maybe the T124A2s and T124Ds".)
*
~09:00 - Heading south past Sunset beach/Chambers Bay just after 9am. -Sue Gaines
*
07:55 - orcas spotted just north of Narrows Bridge heading south. -Anne Lynde

February 7
14:03-14:09 - 3 adults and one calf sounding off the north point of Mutiny Bay on the west side of south Whidbey. They were about two hundred yards off shore heading southbound at 14:03-1409. They spouted three times then went down and were not seen again. -Ken LaForce
(possibly the Ts who showed up in South Sound morning of the 8th - alb)
*
HUMPBACK WHALES - Thu Feb 7 - ~ 14:00 - From Steilacoom, humpback went right past the ferry dock. -Photo by Dylan Beene, Feb 7, 2019
*
12:33 - 13:25 - Humpback mid channel by Titlow Park heading south. Came up three times!...mid channel. I traveled south to see if it'd pass me again. Sure enough, saw the big charmer from Sunnyside beach still traveling south. Last sighting was at pioneer orchard park mid channel by the ferry terminal. Whale passed Sunnyside at 1:25. -Tirza Hortensius
*
12:35 - Single humpback just seen heading southbound at Day Island toward Chambers Bay. -Gina Summers
*
11:15 - Humpback passing Gig Harbor viewpoint at Point Defiance Park 5 Mile Drive heading towards Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
10:50 - Humpback just off shore Owen Beach. This humpback was camera shy but here's what I got. -Photo by Sarah Cardinal, Feb 7, 2019
*
10:40 - Humpback spotted going right by the point defiance boat house and a fast clip, shallow dives. Heading strait past owen beach in the direction of Gig Harbor. -Kaelee Schoenneman
*
GRAY WHALES - Thu Feb 7 - 10:49 - Just spotted an individual gray whale between Hat Island and Camano head Southbound from Camano towards Hat Island. -Ryley Fee
*
UNIDENTIFIED WHALES - Thu Feb 7 - 07:17 - Am on the ferry from Fauntleroy to Vashon, just saw orcas (including spouting!) just south of Fauntleroy dock...I only saw the blow, so I cannot confirm dorsal. They were headed south. -Kristen Dallum
(We had no other reports of orcas but a humpback showed up further south so may have been that whale - alb)

February 6
At least 2 orcas, (bull and female) north of McNeill Island in south Puget Sound. -Frame grabs from video by Marshal Rydell
*
Wed Feb 6 - 15:25 - (Humpback) whale blows in Elliott Bay just north of Luna pier. Visible from back of arriving ferry looking west. Presumably humpback. -Jim Reitz
*
15:04 - Humpback. Moving fast! Now crossing the mouth of Elliott Bay....Looked to me more like it was heading toward Magnolia, we followed it around the point to see if it would hug the shore into the bay or not, then saw it surface out near the ferry lanes.
14:51 - Humpack is just south of Alki Point now, still northbound. -Stephanie Raymond
*
14:45 - Humpback just south of Alki Point headed north. -Douglas B Greenswag
*
14:45 - I saw (humpack) pass my house. I'm between Lowman Beach and Emma Schmitz. -Athena Bautista
*
14:42 - I believe I just saw it (humpback) heading north right before Alki Point Lighthouse. Crested for only a second and blew. -Kevin Murry
*
14:05 - Just at Brace Point heading to Fauntleroy Ferry line. -Photo by Jim Nunn, Feb 6, 2019
*
14:03 - Humpback just passing Brace Point and Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal! Heading to Lincoln Park! -Darcey Miller
*
13:08 - Humpback! Heading north passed (southside) Three Tree Point (Burien). -Sandhya Ballal (video shared with ON shows humpback surfacing several times among buoy/moorings close to shore while northbound -alb)
*
Wed Feb 6 - 16:10 - I am on Mukilteo ferry, can see blows of single large whale few miles south of the ferry lane. Direction of travel looked to be east/northeast. Just got into town from Omaha so how cool to be greeted by a whale! -Rachel Haight
*
DOLPHINS & PORPOISE - Wed Feb 6 - 14:42 - Dolphins (originally reported as orcas) south of Alki Point: Here is the original image posted from the DSLR viewer. This looks much more like a dolphin and was taken approx 10 minutes after (~14:40 ) the one I posted above that is a bit more blurry and was about 200 yards south (~ 14:30). Milling around and was with one other but I didn't get a shot of them both at once. The other shot that was from 10 minutes prior looked to be a different one that was by itself. Once the humpback passed through this area I didn't see them again. -Kevin Murry
*
13:55 - dolphins/porpoises moving south. Seen south Brace Point (West Seattle)...I did not get photos! They were moving fast and I had only my phone. Seemed that a a lot of the body came out, so likely dolphins. -Darcey Miller
*
DOLPHINS - Wed Feb 6 - ID note from Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research on West Seattle dolphin sighting by Kevin Murry included in our last Whale Report: "Yes, those are almost certainly bottlenose dolphins....I suspect that it is two different dolphins, though it isn't clear enough to say for certain." -Dave

February 5
(Despite many efforts in freezing temps by hardy individuals, including Center for Whale Research staff, no one could successfully locate J pod who could be heard on the hydrophone pretty much all day. A morning sighting of orcas off Eagle Cove could not be confirmed if Rs or Ts - alb)
*
20:10 - hearing one orca making a short call much closer to the Lime Kiln Hydro, as well as some more distant echoing calls. -Cassie Barclay
*
17:42 - Distant J pod vocals can be heard on Lime Kiln hydrophone! -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
16:46 - Definitely SRKW! -Monika Wieland Shields
*
18:02 - I may have mis-ID'd the calls initially as S02ii or they're making both SO2i and S02ii as I'm now hearing S02i. Possible since J makes both calls.
17:39 - SO1 calls now.
17:34 - They did just a moment ago (sound louder), I'm now listening from my desktop at home and they were sounding clearer. Quiet at the moment but that's how they've been...on and off since I first started hearing them.
16:44 - I think I'm hearing S02ii calls... So SRKWS
16:36 - I've been hearing faint calls on and off on the SMRU Lime Kiln hydrophone since 1540. Hard to make out and still trying to figure out ecotype. -Kyla Graham
*
15:30-17:38 - Guess what? They didn't go very far. They very faintly started over the Lime Kiln HPs at about 3:30...you can hear them a bit better right now. My guess is they have been down in the 'big water' all day...no telling what they will do next! Yes, J Pod!
03:15-06:00 - RKWs on Lime Kiln, distant at 3:15 a.m. By 6:00 a.m. it was clearly J Pod, and they were quite clear and loud over the Lime Kiln hydrophones. It will be interesting to see if/when they are located. Had they been north and came south? Had they been west and came in? Inquiring minds are so very curious to know!! -Jeanne Hyde
*
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tues Feb 5 - 17:45 - I could hear several exhales to the north of Eagle Point at 5:45pm. (Distant J pod calls were heard on LK hps at this time ,and through the day, but there was no visual confirmation on this group or Lodies morning group -alb)
09:00 - Several whales came by Eagle Cove at 9:00AM this morning, they were very spread out, headed south, stalled for a while off of Granny's, did a little back and forth routine, then turned and headed north (out of our view) by 9:30. And poof...where did they go? I did not get photos. They were off shore, spread out, and directly in the glare of the sun so I can not confirm if Ts or Residents. -Lodie Budwill
*
Tue Feb 5 - 16:11 - Fairly small humpback about 10 yards from shore passing Richmond Beach Salt Water Park at full speed. Was not able to get any pictures because he was moving so fast. Heading northbound towards Edmonds. -Anastasia Nicolov
*
~ 13:45 - Humpback, Northbound, close to shore. Passed pier 70 and Olympic Sculpture park. -Vicki Brown
*
13:43 - Humpback in Elliott Bay. We just watched a humpback cruising north along the shore of the Olympic Sculpture park, heading towards the grain terminal. Sorry, no photo. -Cheers, Bruce Moore
*
13:36 - Humpback whale Northbound in Elliott Bay off Pier 63, downtown Seattle waterfront. -Photo by Joseph R. Pursley, Feb 5, 2019
*
13:32 - My husband said he was able to see the whale from his downtown office that faces out over the waterfront. He saw it when it was out by the Aquarium. -Allison Brock
*
13:20 - No (photos), short surface time, but we just saw it again heading NE, will try to get a picture. Stephanie Raymond.
13:13 - Small humpback southbound, just a few dozen yards off the Seattle waterfront! Surfaced once off the ferris wheel, once off Ivars, and I'm hearing folks on the water taxi say they see it continuing southbound. -Stephanie Raymond
*
13:15 - Burt Miller, MMO at WA State Ferries also reported this humpback at 1:15 pm, near Coleman Dock, within 15 - 20 yards of the floating dolphins at slip #3! It first headed south, then turned and headed north in Elliott Bay. Work was stopped on the Coleman Dock project while the whale was present, and they contacted the workers at Pier 62 to alert them of the whale's presence so they could stop work on their construction as well.
*
12:00 - Just saw something big just south of Alki, headed North. I'm guessing it was the humpback, but I'm new to whale watching. I'm a bird watcher, so I wasn't prepared to ID a whale. I thought the blowhole was tall, not flat, but then again I was so shocked at what I was seeing I could be totally mistaken. -Sara May
*
08:09 - Humpback? headed west towards Owen beach just now. Almost to the ferry lane. -Kellee McLeod
*
Humpback was in area again today 08:15 at Owen, closer to 08:55 at Tahlequah. Seemed to follow ferry from Owens Beach to Tahlaquah terminal. Surfaced a half dozen times near the dock itself and along side ferry. Again hard to get any photos because I'm on duty. A number of commuters did see it. Sounds very little time on surface and lack of seeing the fluke during dives, makes it hard to identify. Seems small in size also. Thanks. The couple times I have seen it, it hasn't seen it's fluke, even on long dives. -Wayne McFarland, WSF

February 4
Admiralty Inlet - An amazing sighting. (originally reported as an orca)... upon further study of the whale sighting, I'm convinced it was Humpback based on the photos I've looked at. The small fin on the hump of its back was clearly noticeable...surfaced about 20 feet from the shoreline on Admiralty Inlet today at 4:30pm. Our house is on Keystone Avenue about a mile south of the Coupeville ferry. It traveled north toward the ferry rolling and surfacing and spouting. There is a break in the driftwood barricade in front of the house. I just happened to be looking out and saw it surface at the opening. It was beautiful! Couldn't catch a glimpse of any markings. Dark, shiny black. The sun was in the low western sky so I saw it spout numerous times up to Ebby's point. Then lost it in the sun, but I did see further spouting looking directly West close to Indian Island headed south about five minutes later. Tall spouts. But couldn't get any identifiers. Did not report to Orca Network. Weren't we just talking about never having spotted one close in on Admiralty east side at yoga last week?!!!! One in a million close up sightings for sure. -Leslie Warren
*
Mon Feb 4 - Puget Sound - 13:10 - Just saw what I believe is a single humpback moving north past Three Tree Point (Burien) at 1:10...She wasn't close to shore this time and I spotted her without binoculars. She would come up for air two times close together and go down for a longer period. Saw her do this twice before moving past the point. -Sandhya Ballal

February 3
11:05 - Two orcas reported northbound north of Bush Point lighthouse by Colleen O'Hare.
*
09:16 - Orcas just passed between Eglon Beach and Pilot Point heading to Point No Point. West of mid channel. -Kim Page
*
08:40 - Orcas (male & female) passing Apple Tree Point, Kingston heading northbound, west side shipping channel. Long down times. -Sara Frey
*
Sun Feb 3 - 15:59 - Just saw Humpback headed towards port of Tacoma, saw 2 blows from my front porch, and then it was behind the big ship waiting to go in port. -Kelsey Robbins
*
15:19 - Just spotted a whale from Wild Fin at Ruston. Maybe a humpback. -Leigh Ann Steele Heron
*
14:42 - Humpback in front of Salmon Beach (Tacoma Narrows) heading north! -Pam Baker

February 2
Juan de Fuca Strait - The T41s and T46s, first sighted by Mark Malleson, were travelling east past William Head when we joined them. As they travelled the juveniles were playing with (presumably) seal chunks and later on, seabirds, with occasional spyhops and side breaches. T41, Centeki (T122), Wake (T46) and T46E. -Val Shore
*
Sat Feb 2 - 16:30 - Saw 3 - 4 Orcas off east beach Marrowstone Island tonight at 4:30. -Peggy Norcutt
*
Sat Feb 2 - Puget Sound - 14:38-14:48 - There are what appears to be 8 or 9 orcas going through Balch Passage by Eagle Island currently! They came back through about 10 minutes later (14:48), heading back towards Chambers Bay. I don't know if they headed north or south. They passed on the north side of Eagle Island (between Eagle and McNeil) and appeared to be veering north, but I lost sight of them once they passed behind Eagle Island. Thanks for all you do! -Michele Buckley
*
14:30 - I had reports from the Anderson Island FB page that orcas headed west between Eagle and Anderson Islands. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
*
14:04 - Orcas up close to McNeil in the shadows, Southbound.
13:48 - orcas just passed tip of Fox Island off of Chambers Bay southbound...also have a small pod of Porpoise right off shore at Chambers Bay Northbound. -Melissa Burke
*
13:47 - Orcas Headed to the red bouy by Chambers Bay now. Humpback whale headed towards Day Island now. Lots of activity today. -Larry A Capps
*
13:42 - 2 more orcas north of Chambers in the direction of Fox Island pier. -Ashley Whitman
*
13:35 - 4 orcas mid channel, at least one closer to shore approaching Chambers Bay southbound. -Melissa Bird
*
13:34 - Orcas are off Day island now across from the Fox Island Pier. Like 15 of them 3 separate pods. -Larry A Capps
*
13:34 - Watching from the end of Pt. Fosdick and see a group of orcas heading south toward Chambers Bay. Looks like Melissa's group. Hope you see them Ashley! -Amy Bliss-Miller
*
13:33 - Orcas. One bull mid channel directly north of Chambers bridge. 2-3 females as well. -Ashley Whitman
*
13:29 - My kids just called. 4-6 orcas southbound past south end Day Island! -Dawn Dewhirst
*
13:27 - 6 orcas headed south past Fox Island Pier mid channel. Moving fast again, out of sight. Watched from Titlow. -Sarah Cardinal
*
13:21- Orcas southbound again, passed Boathouse 19 now. Close up to Tacoma shore.
13:13 - Ts still stalled out by Titlow/Boathouse 19. T137A has a Juvenile Male sprouter with him. 5 total here right now. Still looks like hunting behavior, starting to get spunky! -Melissa Burke
*
13:11 - Orcas. A second group? We are viewing at least 4 in front of Fox Island. -Sarah Tinsely
(Matrilines in same general area split in two groups - alb)
*
13:08 - Perfect view (of orcas) from Steamers Seafood Cafe! Not moving fast. -Anne Southerland
*
13:06 - I have T137's hanging out off Boathouse 19, maybe hunting. Lots of slow back & forth dives in same location. Think the others continued south.
13:02 - Orcas up close to Pt. Fosdick, Southbound. -Melissa Burke
*
~ 13:05 - T36B1 southbound off Day Island. T36B and T13A off Day Island. -Photos by Janie McPhee, forwarded by Karen Caldwell, Feb 2, 2019
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
*
13:00 - Orcas went by Narrows Park mid channel and continued south fast. They're closer to the University Place side now. At least 5. -Amy Bliss-Miller
*
12:56 - Orcas just passed Narrows Park headed south fast. -Ashley Whitman
*
12:52 - Orcas, right at the bridge viewing from Titlow now. Still heading south. -Jeffrey Stander
*
12:51 - Can see them (orcas) at Titlow just under Narrows Bridge. -Mary Hill-Woodworth
*
12:49 - Just drove over the bridge & saw them!!! They are mid channel closer to Point Defiance!! -Anika Blake
*
12:46 - Orcas in front of Cliffside Apartments headed south right now. -Katy Anderson
*
12:46 - Orcas, all have passed Point Marker just North of Bridge... approaching Narrows Bridge now.
12:39 - Orcas are in the Narrows, approaching the bend towards the Bridge, mid channel-ish, closer to Gig Harbor side, Southbound. Small boats with them. -Melissa Burke
*
12:30 - Saw what appeared to be foraging (or a kill) in the rip between Salmon Beach and Gig Harbor, on Tacoma side. Viewing with binocs from Gig Harbor lighthouse. Has the group (maybe 6 animals) been confirmed to be T's? (yes -alb) -Diana Frick
*
...Also commuters on the ferry report a small pod of orcas 30 min ago (Approx 12:15), headed towards Gig Harbor, in the ferry lane. Also porpoise or dolphins mid channel. On duty hard to get pics. -Wayne McFarland, WSF
*
12:12 - Orcas are in Dalco Passage, trending towards Narrows. Hard to see from my vantage point. 5 Mile Drive is closed...
12:05 - I have at least 3 orcas, with one adult male, westbound close to Vashon shore approaching Colvos Passage. -Melissa Burke
*
12:09 - Two orcas rounding the point at Owen Beach towards Narrows. -Ashley Whitman
*
12:04 - Orcas heading up the west side of the Island. Just past Talequah at 12:04. At least one large Male. 3 small groups of possibly 10 total. One group still by Pt. Defiance. -Susie Middling Wilks
*
11:58 - Orcas this morning off of the south end Vashon Ferry heading west. -Photo by Doug Perry, Feb 2, 2019
*
~ Noon - T137A, T36Bs passing Tahlequah, S Vashon off Bachelor Road. -Photos by Shelby Middling, Feb 2, 2019
*
11:53 - Orcas...One male at least! Near Maury Point still. Entrance to Quartermaster.
11:41 - Orcas. Viewing from Owens through binos. Just saw three blows a little to the east of the point on Maury. -Ashley Whitman
*
T137A, T137B, T36B2, Orcas feet from shore when passing Point Robinson, Vashon/Maury Island. -Frame grabs from video by Alex Morgan, Feb 2, 2019
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
*
10:40 - T137A passes very close to shore at Point Robinson, Vashon. -Frame grabs from video by Caroline Martin Matter, Feb 2, 2019
*
10:23 - We are seeing 3 orcas, a bull, female and calf. Eastern side of Maury just outside of Tramp Harbor heading south. Seeing them through a 20 power spotting scope and 8 power binoculars. -Linda Sedgley
*
10:00 - Orcas. Viewing form Alki. Looks like 2 males heading north between alki and Bainbridge. Right in front in front of the ferry. -JuJu Julie
*
09:05 - Taken by my neighbor FB video not available for inclusion) - shows Blake Island in the background. "There are three different pods. Two were traveling south, now there is a pod headed north (see Unidentified KW section - alb). The ferry has been stopped out there forever." -Pia Van Hanen
*
08:40 - ...Lowman Beach. At least 10 (orcas) in two groups southbound at the time. -Kersti Muul
*
08:28 - Orcas. Group of 4-6 headed towards Lincoln Park near the east side of the Sound. -Douglas Greenswag
*
08:23 - Pod of at least 4 (orcas) southbound near Me-Kwa_Mooks Park, not far from shore; cruising fairly quickly. -Trevor MacLachlan
*
08:08 - WA State Ferries reported a pod of 10 orcas southbound in the traffic lanes from the Seattle - Bainbridge ferry run.
*
~ 08:00 - This was in Fauntleroy cove this morning. I was all alone on a peaceful walk. Awesome! -Sara Lightle Low
(Video shows two groups of orcas several hundred yards apart; lead group of 4-5 female & young, trailers ~ 4 w/bull. See frame grabs below - alb)
*
(The report below by Andrew we are leaving as is with reporting parties ID of who he thinks he saw. We had no other reports of J pod anywhere inland Salish Sea so ID is UNCONFIRMED as there are no photos. Many matrilines of Bigg's have been coming and going in Puget Sound and we had early morning report of northbound group (aside from southbound Ts) who may have originated further south in Puget Sound that Residents typically ever venture - alb)
13:50-13:55 - Reporting: Today, Feb 2nd, around 1:50P to 1:55P at Point No Point (Hansville WA) 1/4 mile south of the Light House. Unreal, breath taking/stunning!!! - 30 to 50 meters directly out from me / directly across. Four Orcas!!! Trolling / feeding! The closet to the beach / me - Massive male via very high long dorsal fin - observed his distinctive white mark under massive dorsal fin many times as he trolled!! ...Afterwards I looked through online Orca Museum pics of the different male orcas - I'm 90% sure it was "J-27 Blackberry". However, I haven't found any solid pictures of "J-26 Mike" white marks under massive dorsal fin (found one, but it doesn't show much of his white / sense possibly much different than J-27 Blackberry). Also got a good view of one of the average size Orcas on the other side of the leader - guessing via pictures from Orca Museum either J-39 Mako or J-31 Tsuchi. Also read they are J-27 Blackberry siblings so was likely/possibly all three. The forth Orcas stayed underwater mostly/couldn't calculate size (and I primarily observing J-27 Blackberry as I was running - because he was right there ... 30 to 50 meters away with me all the way up the beach until we hit the Light house!!! Unreal moment!!! After the four Orcas trolled up to the Light House closely to the beach they turned and went directly out into deeper water. Watched them for another 3 to 4 minutes until they disappeared into the Salish abyss!! Unfortunately no J-Pod photos...heard from local fisherman lots of local Black Mouth / Chinook hang off that point) - off Point No Point Lighthouse area. -Andrew Muehling
*
09:30 - I am not there currently. But I know one pod was sighted going up north just north of Lincoln Park. -Pia Van Hanen
*
07:30 - Group of at least six orcas came through Narrows Bridge this morning about 7:30 am...Just seen pictures and talked with neighbors. -Patti Hutchison
*
Sat Feb 2 - 15:23 - Humpback looks to be still headed south with a slight turn out west off the end of Ketron. -Anne Southerland
*
15:22 - Humpback headed south going more near center channel toward at Solo point.
15:15 - Humpback is just north of Solo Point.
14:55 - Between Salters and sunny side...humpback! -Michael Soyka
*
14:56 - Humpback now heading south between mainland and Ketron. Moving slower and diving more deeply. A boat had been following closely, but peeled off and left. -Tari Poe Norris
*
14:45 - Humpback off Steilacoom. -Photo by Sara Montour Lewis, Feb 2, 2019
(match to humpback in Chris Hamilton phoots, Jan 29 in S Puget Sound)
*
14:44 - This was right before the above photo, taken from Pioneer Park in Steilacoom. Whale was super close to shore heading south at that time. -Photo by Kara Smith, Feb 2, 2019
*
14:42 - See the humpback over by Steilacoom ferry dock 2:42 ...Heading south towards Ketron. White boat following. -Kelly Pedotto
*
14:40 - Passing Sunnyside beach in Steilacoom...appears to be a humpback. Southbound, close to Steilacoom shoreline. Approaching ferry dock. Moving fast. -Photo by Tari Poe Norris, Feb 2, 2019
*
14:23 - Grey whale (was humpback) cruising along the shoreline at Chambers Bay, heading towards the pedestrian pier towards Steilacoom. -Cheri Rae
*
14:16 - Humpback whale heading south next to shore Chambers Bay side. -Kathleen Bartuska Harman
*
13:47 - Orcas headed to the red bouy by Chambers Bay now. Humpback whale headed towards Day Island now. Lots of activity today. -Larry A Capps
*
13:41 - Just north of Day Island, near Narrows Marina, large whale spotted, humpback. Southbound. -Sarah Cardinal
*
Humpback off Titlow Beach, Tacoma, incredibly close to shore. -Photo by Gina Summers, Feb 2, 2019
*
12:52 - My husband works at Anthony's at Point Defiance. He just text me saying there is a humpback coming from Owens Beach going towards Vashon Island. -Kelsie Robinson
*
Looks like small gray whale (confirmed humpback) near Pt Defiance terminal and Anthony's, several blows, headed towards the point itself. -Wayne McFarland, WSF
*
12:10 - Tacoma Waterfront: I saw humpback earlier by the Ram very close to shore around 1210 heading West. -Sharon Myers Andersen
*
Sat Feb 2 - 17:30 - Gray whale feeding in Polnell Shores, Saratoga Passage. -Photo by Greg Parham, Feb 2, 2019
*
Sat Feb 2 - 09:50 - Gray? Whale Redondo. Appears to be gray whale moving fast to south. Very close to shore, within 100 feet of shore, barely south of of boat ramp. Turned in towards shore south boardwalk appt half mile. I'm not terribly good at identification but certainly not an orca. It wend about mile south. Feeding close in shore. Whirling up water. Birds all around picking up scraps. Spouted several times but could only see its back. Not even tail. Big. I'd guess more than 20 feet long and quite big around. Wasn't really a hump that stuck out to me but as I said I'm no expert. Hardly ever see orcas here. They favor Maury Is which is too far away to see. -Mark Eide
(possibly humpback who was observed 2+ hours later to the south and has been traveling up and down the Sound regularly the past week - alb)
*
Sat Feb 2 - Saw a group of about 8-10 dolphins around 2:00PM. Other viewers saw Orcas over near McNeal Island which may have been why the dolphins were way over near the golf course side. -Terry Murphy
(reported as dolphins, but Terry was unsure. Probably Harbor porpoise seen and photo documented by Melissa Burke - alb)
*
13:48 - ...also have a small pod of Porpoise right off shore at Chambers Bay Northbound. -Melissa Burke

February 1
I sighted a humpback yesterday afternoon, February 1, about 3:00 PM in front of our house on Totten Inlet, about a mile South of the mouth of Little Skookum Inlet. Lovely animal, traveling fairly fast. Hope you are well. -Regards, Duane Fagergren Calm Cove Oyster Co., Shelton, WA