February 2024 Whale Sightings

February 29
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Thu, Feb 29 - San Juans - 11:00 - Secondhand report of orcas near the Lopez ferry terminal. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSS

February 28

February 27

February 26
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 26 - Puget Sound (T46s & T124Ds) - Male is T46E Thor - From Southworth this morning. It was quick! And the light was wrong as usual from this side in the morning. I got there just as they reached the ferry terminal. They stopped for a brief hunt, harbor porpoise I think that didn't appear to be successful. The only one I'm familiar with here is Thor. Wake is gone and Strider is off on his own. Link to more photos. -photos by Jim Pasola, February 26, 2024
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T46E Thor - Today was an incredible day as I witnessed the T46s, excluding T46D and 124Ds transient orca families, traveling northbound through Seattle. I put my new camera to the test and I’m still learning but pretty happy with the pictures so far. I hope you all enjoy them too. Link to more photos. -photos by April Janice Basham, February 26, 2024
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16:32 - Kim P called to report the pod is now between Eglon and Pilot Point heading northbound toward Point No Point, very close in to shore. They saw four, including male and little one.
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16:30 - I counted five. About a mile offshore. -Ryan Campbell
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T46E Thor
15:15 - Much closer to Kitsap side now. Others may have caught up.
15:05 - Passing Apple Tree Point west edge of shipping lanes. Male, female and juvenile. Saw a few further behind and trending northeast, maybe at the ferry line. -photos by Sara Frey, February 26, 2024
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14:45 - Thor northbound in Apple Tree Cove/ferry lanes. -photo by Ariel Yseth, February 26, 2024
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T46E Thor - 14:41 - This must be Thor as well! Ferries gave wide berth - I was at the top of Saltair Beach by the ferry. -photos by Deanna Deery-Schmitt, February 26, 2024
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14:30 - Definitely fits the moody weather of the day. T46E Thor passing Kingston northbound. -April Janice Basham
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14:40 - Thor group trailing back closer to Kingston terminal. All steady northbound.
14:38 - One group Ts basically threading the ferries, they are in between the two. Eastbound ferry has slowed some. Orcas continue northbound travels.
14:29 - Update with General location. In two groups steady northbound. Thor in trailing group from my vantage across the Sound at Kayu Kayu.
14:20 - Steady northbound in groups. Just caught a spy hop by a bigger someone in the T124D group (little one in there). They are north of President Point, west side of channel. Should be nice pass at Kingston. 
14:12 - They are moving at medium fast pace now north of buoy about quarter mile.
14:09 - Ts are about at mid channel buoy that is between Kayu Kayu Ac and President Point, Kingston west side of channel. Steady northbound together with some spread [approx. 47.755858, -122.458764]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:10 - They are approaching the Kingston ferry closer to Kitsap side northbound still. -April Janice Basham
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13:47 - Now north/northeast bound heading out of Port Madison toward main channel/Jefferson Head. Viewing from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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13:45 - Definitely moved northeast. I’m seeing Ts grouped up out from southeast Jefferson Head (see map) [approx. 47.741512, -122.472410]. Appear northbound-ish but angle makes it unclear if committed or another hunt? -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:38 - I actually do see them now! They just finished their lingering (maybe a kill) and are now northbound again. Just passing the bluffs north of Indianola. -Joe Olson
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13:28 - Ts are still in that same general area just inside Port Madison midway between north end Bainbridge and Jefferson Head probably hunting/feeding. See map from earlier update. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:29 - Same spot as Alisa’s post. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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13:15 - Now barely visible (with binos). -Jane Christopherson
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13:10 - They do appear to be circling around. Lots of harbor porpoise inhabit that area so maybe they are up to hunting.
13:00 - T46E and others generally just inside Port Madison about midway up. Maybe trend northbound or stalled [approx. 47.725296, -122.482777]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:50 - They have passed Fay Bainbridge Park and are currently westbound towards Port Madison. -Candace Gavin
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12:24 - Reports that they are viewable from Sunset Hill with binoculars. -Wendy Willis Miller
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12:23 - They are across from Golden Gardens on the [Bainbridge] side. -Rachael Green
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12:22 - Across from Golden Gardens by Fay Bainbridge Park. -Bobby Kania
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12:06 - Saw two from Rolling Bay on Bainbridge. Mid channel. There is small boat ahead of them by a little bit. -Charlotte Pyle
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11:55 - Past West Point Lighthouse. Spread out. Northbound. Mid channel. -Candace Gavin
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11:30 - North of ferry lanes. Around Ferncliff. Still northbound. -Taylor Seyl
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11:07 - Pair of orcas visible from Eagle Harbor, straight out toward Alki, traveling northbound mid-channel. One male. Followed by small (research?) boat. -Jim Reitz
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11:06 - Seen headed northbound from Eagle Harbor. Quick clip. Water distortion is making it hard. Viewing from Myrtle Edwards Park. -Taylor Seyl
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11:04 - Past Eagle Harbor line of sight. Moving fast north.
10:55 - Passing Blakely Rocks. Close together. This was viewed from 64th Alki. -Steve Rice
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10:53 - Saw them way across southern tip of Bainbridge. Took a long dive and lost them but they’re northbound. -Alexander Simenstad
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10:40 - Spotted from Constellation Park. Just south of the southern tip of Bainbridge. Headed north. -Steve Rice
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10:32 - Back to northbound closer to Seattle shore coming up on those big condos over the water, then Alki lighthouse next. Viewed from Manchester.
10:26 - Headed due east towards West Seattle, north of the anchored ship.
10:18 - Passing by the two anchored ships going northbound headed toward Bainbridge more north east direction - view from Manchester fuel dock. -Noelle Morris
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10:15 - From Manchester between the near and middle ships. Looks like they're hunting, they were moving north but last seen circling; they're behind the ship now. -Jim Pasola
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10:06 - Right off Manchester fuel dock. -Noelle Morris
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09:56 - They are here between two ships headed west about to pass Blake Island. -Jordan Preston
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09:55 - After moving to Manchester lost them for a bit; just relocated them about in the same area between the green and the red ships that are inside of Blake Island, also a group of harbor porpoises in the same area. They're now moving north east towards Blake.
09:37 - Heading up the west side of Blake Island towards Manchester.
09:20 - They're right off the Southwest ferry dock hunting something, Thor confirmed. -Jim Pasola
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08:55 - Mid channel viewing from Driftwood Cove, just off Peter Point. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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08:15 - In Colvos Passage about approx. four orcas passed by Andersen County Park heading north towards Southworth. They were Kitsap side/mid channel.  -Kyle Buffenmyer

February 25
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sun, Feb 25 - South Puget Sound (T46s & T124Ds) - T46E Thor - From Day Island as they had just passed the Fox Island Pier the first time. -photo by Karen Caldwell, February 25, 2024
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17:44 - Last update for me as the park is closing. They appear to still be southbound headed between Ketron and McNeil.
17:40 - From Fox Island Pier I can still see blows southbound looks to be out from Sunnyside Beach/Steilacoom ferry.
17:22 - They passed the Fox Island Pier southbound again mid channel. They are currently milling between here and Chambers Bay. From the pier [video in FB comments]. -April Janice Basham
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17:19 - Spotted from Tacoma Narrows Bridge off Titlow, mid channel. -Kyle Anderson
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17:15 - A huge breach I saw from Day Island. Looked like it was straight out from the Fox Island Pier. -photo by Karen Caldwell, February 25, 2024
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17:05 - Milling off the Fox Island Pier, slow southbound drift. -David Michael
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16:53 - From Narrows Beach. They may still be milling but are further south now, possibly off Fox Island Fishing pier, looking to be southbound again. Mid channel. -Melissa Bird
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16:25 - Milling mid channel in front of Titlow [approx. 47.239589, -122.578110]. -Delaney Grieve
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16:12 - Passing Titlow, mid channel, northbound.
16:03 - Have passed Fox Island fishing pier northbound at a good clip, at least four, mid channel-ish. -Melissa Bird
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15:57 - Approaching the Fox Island Pier, mid channel, northbound. -David Michael
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15:50 - Saw them from the cliff at Chambers Bay Park. They were in front of the channel marker in Chambers Bay and appeared to be slowly trending north. -Carrie Gelegonya
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15:50 - From Fox Island I have one bull off Sunnyside Beach Park northbound towards Chambers Bay, Tacoma side of the channel. -Melissa Bird
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15:50 - From Fox Island Pier they appear to be northbound again mid channel roughly Sunnyside area. -April Janice Basham
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15:25 - Viewing from the Fox Island Pier. They appear to be in the Anderson Island ferry lines moving towards Steilacoom.
15:12 - [T46s & T124Ds approx. 47.208611, -122.621801].
14:55 - Pod is exiting Carr Inlet down the west side of Fox Island headed towards Chambers Bay. Unsure which way they will go after exiting. -Candace Gavin
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14:11 - Best video I have - wasn’t able to take pictures. Saw one breach and some tail slapping but mostly just moved quickly past me in travel mode leaving Carr Inlet. Last seem heading towards Fox Island [video in FB comments].
13:47 - One male, three others, left Carr Inlet heading towards Fox Island.
13:33 - Just saw a breach in Carr Inlet - no idea how many or what direction it’s going in! I’m just off Horsehead Bay. Close to shore on Horsehead Bay side, heading southbound. -Jennifer Swenson
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08:40 - Four to five orcas between Sunset Beach [just north of Chambers Bay Golf Course] and Fox Island. Went down before I could get a picture. Heading north towards Narrows Bridge. -Kathi

February 24
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sat, Feb 24 - Holmes Harbor/Saratoga Passage (T36, T36Bs, & T137s) - T137A Jack & T137 Loon - T36B4, T36B Tattertip, T36 Flapjack - It was cold and gray but seeing wee T36B4 and many of her extended family warmed my heart. T137 (Loon) is T36B4’s Auntie, and T137A, T137B & T137D are the little’s cousins. Lovely pass at Sandy Point. Link to more photos. -photos & IDs by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 24, 2024
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T137 Loon - T137A Jack, T137 Loon, T137D Wright - Third consecutive days trying to keep up with orcas, starting with the T36s and T137s giving it large with lots of percussive activity, breaching, tail-slapping and high-energy action as they pursued a harbor porpoise in Holmes Harbor, Freeland. After heading north into Saratoga Passage the whales turned south, delighting spectators as they made a close pass rounding Sandy Point before the T36s shaved the shore at Brighton Beach. All whales broke through the Clinton/Mukilteo lanes then continued on past Glendale and Possession boat ramp until disappearing from view.  -photos by Sandy Pollard, February 24, 2024
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T137A Jack, T36B1 Bhotia, T36B4 -photo by RJ Snowberger, February 24, 2024
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T137D Wright in middle & T36B4 leading - Spyhop from when they passed Langley. -photos by Ryan Eatinger, February 24, 2024
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T137B Tempest, T36B1 Bhotia, T36B4 - Fin tip of T137B Tempest, T36B Tattertip, T137A Jack, T36B1 Bhotia -photos & IDs by Rachel Haight, February 24, 2024
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It has been exciting to see T36B4, the new calf of Tattertip (T36B) lately here in Puget Sound! Here are some video clips from trips with Puget Sound Express on Feb 23 and 24 that show the new calf. The first two clips show the calf surfacing right next to mom in the “typical” mom/calf formation. In the last clip the calf comes up for a breath right next to T137B (Tempest) while both pods were traveling together that day. The slow-motion video does not have any sound. Link to video. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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15:41 - Watched them pass Possession Point State Park about 20 minutes ago then lost them, southbound closer to Mukilteo side. -Ryan Eatinger
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14:42 - They just passed Glendale.
14:14 - Spread again. Some through the ferry lanes. Some still behind. Some Whidbey side, some mid channel. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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14.10 - Surprise, surprise! Three orcas have just passed VERY close to Brighton Beach, now heading toward Clinton ferry lane. Steady travel mode.
13.50 - Viewing from Brighton Beach spotted dorsals between Sandy Point and north end of Hat Island, closer to Hat. -Sandy Pollard
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T137A Jack in middle - 13:30 - Sandy Point beach - Langley.  -photos by Michael Rapp, February 24, 2024
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13:30 - From Sandy Point [video in FB comments]. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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13:20 - Four headed towards Clinton now, from Sandy Point. -Autumn Zank
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13:20 - Stunning pass south past Sandy Point, all grouped up. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137A Jack
13:15 - Sandy Point.
13:10 - Nearing Sandy Point southbound. -photos by Marilyn Armbruster, February 24, 2024
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13:04 - Slowly and playfully making their way to Sandy Point. -Trevor Derie
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12:50 - Langley Whale Center staff viewing from Whale Bell Park Langley, last seen southbound nearing Camano Head. -Katie Davis Watkins, Orca Network
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12:45 - Orcas out from Langley Marina southbound Whidbey side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:43 - They are currently in front of Village Pizzeria! -Pam Keller
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12:38 - We’re seeing the three from the Langley dock, mid channel.  -Megan Bryner
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12:25 - T36s and T137s southbound [approx. 48.057865, -122.421857]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:55 - At pin, southbound see map [approx. 48.089846, -122.450705]. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:31 - Three orcas mid-channel off of Camano State Park, heading south. -Janine Morrell
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11:30 - Southbound Whidbey north of East Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:50 - They are past Honeymoon Bay now and headed out of Holmes Harbor. Looked to be about five to six with a baby!  -Missy Main
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10:30 - Northbound passing Rainbow Lane. About midchannel. T36Bs & T137s! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:25 - Friend reports they are viewing from Honeymoon Bay and whales are moving north out of Holmes Harbor. -Emily Wandres
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10:30 - The orcas may be trending north. Difficult to tell from this distance. They seem to have settled down a bit, less activity but still seeing at least five blows.
10:20 - Lots of action! Huge splashes and tail slapping. At least four whales still in same area. -Sandy Pollard
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10:14 - Viewing from Freeland Park. They are mid channel and I believe they are north of the golf course. My binos are busted, so not much help. I think one male, milling. Just saw a breach. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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10:12 - We saw them too! Two miles up on east side seen from west side home. -Jennifer Garber Abermanis
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10:00 - Can confirm Catherine's sighting, mid harbor and milling around. -Cindi Bowen
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09:42 - Pod of about five orcas, including male, hunting harbor porpoise deep in Holmes Harbor down by the park, mid channel out from the Golf Course pier.  -Catherine Drews
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Catherine Drews
Date of Sighting: February 24, 2024
Time: 9:20 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 7
Where seen: South end Holmes Harbor
Direction of travel : Stationary
Behaviors observed: Hunting harbor porpoises
If orcas, any males?: One large north of group near Honeymoon Bay that was traveling with second orca. This pair was moving moving primarily east-west until hunting group joined.
Any unusual markings?: One smaller male has a notch about 1/2 way on the dorsal.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: No evidence of a kill. We did see the porpoise with the orcas several times.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Catherine Drews, February 24, 2024
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T36 Flapjack - T137 Loon -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network -photos by Harold Drews, February 24, 2024
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Sat, Feb 24 - Puget Sound (T46s & T124Ds) - T46E Thor - T124D3 - T46s and T124Ds traveling together south today. High elevation shots from Sunset Hill Park. Low angle shots from Pier 62. The T46s are kids of T46 Wake, who was captured in 1976 to be sold to marine parks but due to public outcry was released and now has these kids. I always choose Sunset Hill (high hill) over Golden Gardens (sea level) since usually whales are so far out that elevation helps. Today I wish I chose Golden Gardens though because they were so close to shore that these breaching photos were taken between whichever gaps in the trees I could find! Link to more photos. -photos by Hongming Zheng, February 24, 2024
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Myself and at least 100 other people were treated to an incredible show from Golden Gardens by the T46s and T124Ds when they hunted down a seal snack and then celebrated their catch! They were SO close to shore, it was amazing to witness!! Don’t turn on your sound unless you want to hear me shrieking in excitement. This was around 12:40, and then they continued down south. Link to more photos. -photos by Abrianna Bell-Towne, February 24, 2024
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Male is T46E Thor - Link to more photos. -photos by Douglas V Mercado, February 24, 2024
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Our friend Thor and the T46s at Golden Gardens celebrating their kill about 30 yards from shore. They gave about 300 bystanders a great show. Link to more photos. -photos by Josh Nutter, February 24, 2024
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On a personal note, in almost 30 years of watching orcas off Golden Gardens I've never seen any this close to shore. Clearly these are transients - it certainly seems there's at least one substantial adult male and other young whales in this grouping. What's amazing about this is that we swim here (off Meadow Point) most days year-round and this water is no deeper than 20 fathoms at its deepest point - but where the whales were on Saturday is perhaps 20 feet tops. I'm not sure what time this video was taken, but the tide midmorning/midafternoon Saturday was somewhere between about five and eight feet at that particular patch of eelgrass. I'm guessing we'll be seeing more of this activity as our harbor seal and sea lion populations increase (we have a good number of male California sea lions hanging out year-round near Ray's Boathouse and the Ballard Locks) but this was still an extraordinary event for the location. Link to video. -Leslie
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[It] was pretty amazing seeing Thor (T046E) and his family in Elliott Bay, Seattle. They spent a couple hours along the waterfront and had a meal directly in front of the Space Needle. I felt lucky to see some breaches and spyhops. This video is long but gives you an idea of what the day was like. Link to video. -AirWaterLand Photography
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17:40 - Clocked them still southbound, parallel with Three Tree Point but on the Vashon side. -Save the North Pacific Right Whale
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17:10 - Viewing from Lincoln Park near ferry dock they’re pretty far out, I’d guess mid channel. Still southbound. Past the ferry lane. -Kendall Spiek
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17:04 - They are moving southbound at a very quick clip. We were cruising along side them at about six to seven knots (from plenty of distance away, of course!). Looks like a pod of five with a very large one and four smaller [video in comments]. So cool!
16:48 - Here right now [approx. 47.543231, -122.445895]! -Katie Rogers
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16:41 - Past south tip of Blake Island, directly across from Emma Schmitz Park. Mid-channel. Moving quickly southbound. -Russ Mann
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16:36 - Quick southbound almost to Vashon ferry dock east of mid channel. View from Constellation Park in West Seattle.
16:33 - Between Constellation Park and Blake Island southbound east of mid channel.
16:32 - From Constellation Park in West Seattle [photo]. -Mary Hartmann
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16:29 - By Constellation Park now!! -Brittany Weaver
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16:35 - Rounded the point headed south. 
16:24 - Moving fast past Alki Beach. -Dan Slagle
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16:20 - Possible fins between Duwamish Head and Alki Point, direction uncertain (from Pier 70 via binoculars).
15:55 - Seemed like end of foraging to me and Conner from Pier 70 (& there were no calls heard through vessel noise during or after). -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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T46E Thor - 16:04 - Moving southwest off Duwamish Head about 300 yards out. -photos by Mary Hartmann, February 24, 2024
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Briellen Crowley
Date of Sighting: February 24, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Off coast of west Seattle
Direction of travel : Towards Queen Anne, slow pace
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?: N/A
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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15:50 - Ts have made some progress west, gulls still swirling around above and scooping in. Trend is west still. Now south of east end Elliott Bay Marina just north of ferry traffic lanes. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:39 - Moving westbound now. -Rose Alita
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15:28 - Looking like they made a stop for a quick meal in the middle of the bay. Tons of gulls and a lot of directional changes with trend west, but they haven’t made much progress since my last update. Still more in north side of bay, north of ferry traffic lanes. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:28 - Lots of seabirds and stalling. -Taylor Seyl
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15:24 - Just saw them from the Bainbridge ferry! They seem to be near the Olympic Sculpture Park. -Benay O'Connell
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15:24 - Lots of gulls under west most TV tower. Possible meal? Have been surface active there.
15:20 - Breach under TV towers. -Mary Hartmann
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46F Loki - 15:19 - Elliot Bay. -photo by Pilar Hernandez, February 24, 2024
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T46F Loki -I’m pretty sure this is that same breach as viewed from West Seattle. It looks like they were definitely a bit closer to you [Pilar] than me at that point. -photo by Steve Rice, February 24, 2024
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15:19 - Breach. -photo by AirWaterLand Photography, February 24, 2024
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15:19 - By Climate Pledge Arena heading towards grain terminals. -Mary Hartmann
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15:12 - All Biggs individuals steady westbound, but one big breach, still tightly grouped, no calls on hydrophone from Pier 70 during last fifteen minutes. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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15:10 - 15:15 - Ts are still middle Elliott Bay, but have come back west. Loosely grouped with some directional changes but generally westbound now north of ferry traffic lanes. See map [approx. 47.616292, -122.381384]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:55 - Right next to the Scarlett Max. Big red tanker.
14:50 - Saw them deep in the bay last ten minutes. Took a long dive. For all I know they could be right under the great wheel [approx. 47.603804, -122.358280]. -Alexander Simenstad
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14:40 - Ts have grouped back up but loosely. Slow resting like pace during the last surface sequence, still eastbound deeper in the bay now about/in ferry lanes [approx. 47.608187, -122.365777]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:37 - Right behind the Wallenius Wilhelmsen. -Taylor Seyl
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14:32 - In front of Anthony’s West Seattle. -Jc Glass
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14:32 - Under the three TV towers heading deeper into Elliott Bay - view from Don Armeni. -Mary Hartmann
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14:30 - Headed straight into the bay. Near the sailboat. -Alexander Simenstad
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14:30 - Ts have continued eastbound deeper into Elliott Bay, still more northern side, north of ferry lanes. They’ve split up a bit, Thor in lead group. Generally here. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:29 - They headed over towards the Port.
14:21 - They are dead center of Elliott Bay, no direction. Almost ferry lane to Bainbridge. -Brian Hollomon
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14:20 - Ts have surfaced again after another long dive. Further east heading deeper into Elliott Bay due south of the marina break water and east of my last report/map.
14:07 - 14:10 - After long dive T46/T124D group surfaced east of last location [approx. 47.625188, -122.401618] with three minute and surface sequence traveling east bit further into Elliott Bay. Thor is so handsome. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:12 - Not quite to the marina yet, eastbound. As viewed from 63rd St Alki. -Steve Rice
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13:58 - T46 group tightly snuggled together traveling slowly south/southeast in resting mode off north end outer Elliott Bay bit southwest of north end Elliott Bay Marina. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:50 - Viewing from south of Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island, they're moving fast southward, line of sight approaching the grain elevator. -Jim Pasola
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13:43 - In view from Myrtle Edwards Park! -Taylor Seyl
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13:33 - Heading east now towards Elliot Bay.
13:23 - Close pass by Discovery Park lighthouse. Heading south and a lot more west now [video in FB comments]. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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We saw them there [Discovery Park] too! -Sarah Scott Davis
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13:21 - Visible from Discovery Park bluffs. -Jane Christopherson
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13:07 - Almost end of Discovery Park heading south now. -Brian Hollomon
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13:00 - Out from Shilshole marina breakwater, southbound, after a kill, close to shore. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:00 - I count six.
12:55 - Viewing from Rolling Bay on Bainbridge Island... They are moving swiftly south towards Discovery Park. -Kimberly Sylvester
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T46E Thor on left - 12:51 - When they came by Blue Ridge neighborhood. -back of camera photo by Kacie Barrett, February 24, 2024
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12:51 - And last one off north end Shilshole Marina they continued southbound and appeared to be moving but inshore off the breakwater [video in FB comments].
12:50 - Continuation directly off Shilshole Marina north entrance [video in FB comments].
12:48 - Pulled up and they were directly off Shilshole north entrance celebrating what likely was quick meal. Was having cell coverage issues. Thanks Rachel Haight for updating. Hundreds of people lined the beach and Marina area had a very nice Saturday visit with the orcas [video in FB comments]. Beautiful!  -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:58 - I’m not a regular watcher, but ran into them at the South Shilshole Marina breakwater. Took me a bit to calm down. That was my first sighting. They came into Shilshole Bay inside the buoys before turning around and heading back out. The sea lions were being super quiet and then suddenly seals were swimming together close to the breakwater and that’s when I saw them. -Joanna Mathews
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12:32 - I can barely make out blows from Faye Bainbridge they seem to have been in the same spot for the last ten or fifteen minutes at the north end of Golden Gardens. -Jim Pasola
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Hannah Heuerman
Date of Sighting: February 24, 2024
Time: 12:30 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: (47.6764000, -122.4293138) [seen from Rays Boathouse in Ballard]
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - Male is T46E Thor -photo by Khye Heuerman, February 24, 2024
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12:20 - At Golden Garden. Just north of the Liberty. -Jeffrey Stander
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12:24 - Now he’s facing inshore. Maybe they are hunting.
12:21 - Thor at least is trailing he just outside the green buoy heading southwest [approx. 47.689939, -122.413986].
12:15 - Surface activity off north end Golden Gardens further offshore than they’ve been, possible this is the others leading, with trend southbound. Maybe hunting?
12:05 - Seeing who presume is Thor facing southwest north of Blue Ridge neighborhood just north of Meadow Point, Golden Gardens. Appear from here will angle around Golden Gardens. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:53 - Viewing them straight out from Carkeek now! About half mile out! -Amy Bogart
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11:50 - They continued south, but we’re getting harder to see from my vantage, distance and them being perpendicular. Unless something changes, last one from me.
11:40 - At least Thor and one other generally around here slowly southbound [approx. 47.742235, -122.389457].
11:15 - 11:25 - Watching the orcas (see Thor) are now off south end Richmond Beach Saltwater Park traveling slowly southbound about quarter to half mile offshore. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:32 - They are now out in front of the dog park, still southbound. Still [seeing] three, I believe one is male. -photo by Stephanie Brenaman, February 24, 2024
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10:20 - Orcas at Edmonds Marina close to shore southbound. -Trevor Tillman
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10:16 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: T/S reports 3 Orca heading South behind vessel in [Edmonds] terminal.
10:12 - Viewing three orca, one male, two females from Sunset [Ave] in Edmonds. Just about to pass the ferry while docked on the Edmonds side! So excited, they are never this close to the Edmonds side! Viewing right now. They are traveling southbound.  -Stephanie Brenaman 

February 23
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Fri, Feb 23 - Saratoga Passage/Possession Sound (T36, T36Bs & T137s - met with the T46s & T124Ds in late afternoon) - T36B4 & T46E Thor - So grateful to get to see the T36/36Bs, T137s, T46s, T124Ds gathered in front of us on Whidbey Island. They got quite active hunting, and the (presumedly T36B’s) baby was so cute and lively. I have many videos in one of which it looks like the baby joining in the hunt, but these photos for now - I think my favorite is the first photo with T46E Thor’s enormous fin with the baby’s itty bitty fin. From shore with telephoto lens. Link to more photos. -photos by Fusako Nozaka, February 23, 2024
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
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Fri, Feb 23 - Possession Sound (T36, T36Bs, T46s, T124Ds, T137s) - Link to FB reel. -Fusako Nozaka
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T46E Thor - T36B4 & T137 Loon - Just a few distant shots of the whales as they headed south, out of Possession Sound. These were taken from Whidbey Island at Glendale Beach. Lots of surface action as all five matrilines met up. For a bit, we had a Tparty! Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 23, 2024
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Although they were super far away from me, but there were super active! -photo by Leo Leo, February 23, 2024
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T36B4, T36B Tattertip, T36B2 Greenfelder - T36B1 Bhotia - Between last night and this morning, I didn’t have to go far to find Bigg’s orcas - right in my backyard! Although mostly distant looks, I did see T137 Jack and his family at the north end of Saratoga Passage yesterday (Thurs), still northbound, and this morning the T36s (and possibly others) heading southbound, with the T137s across by Camano Island, and the T36s were closer to Whidbey. Score! Am happy to say I saw the new calf, Tattertip (mom T36B) and her latest - T36B4 - what a treat. -photos by Jill Hein, February 23, 2024
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T137A Jack - T137A Jack & T137D Wright - All the whales seemed to be in a hurry that day, so I was mostly focused on keeping up with them rather than taking pictures. I started watching the T137s at Cama Beach and followed them to Camano Island State Park (T36/36Bs were also present much closer to Whidbey). After they passed the state park, I was sitting in my car trying to decide if I should go look for grays and suddenly heard a loud blow. I looked up and CRC56 Stardust was directly in front of me! This was also a short encounter since he moved offshore a few minutes after my first sighting, but it was such a lovely surprise for me to see him a second day in a row. Link to more photos. -photos by Serena Tierra, February 23, 2024
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T36B4 in foreground swimming alongside mom T36B Tattertip -photo by Cara Dana, February 23, 2024
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17:45 - They’re heading northwest now up Admiralty side of Whidbey. Two big guys trailing behind. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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16:55 - Southeast of the Possession Point buoy heading south. Some in front of and others in back of the boat in that area. Passing out of my view. Enjoy. -Ed Pearson
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16:50 - May be all together now. Jack and Thor side by side. Believe I saw a juvenile & calf so believe 124Ds might be out there too. So many breaches! From Possession Point State Park. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:44 - Now just passing Possession Point headed south.
16:36 - They've been hanging in front of the Possession Beach Park boat ramp area. Close to Whidbey. -Ed Pearson
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16:25 - On a hunt off Possession Park.
16:15 - Loon & Flapjack together. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:20 - That was amazing [seeing them breach]! -Pamela Shepard Peterson
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16:10 - T46E is following the T36Bs on Whidbey side north of Possession Park. We saw that breachfest way on other side, so amazing. Almost due east of us waaaay away. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:10 - Holy cow they just took something out eight to nine breaches in a row and tail slap galore. 
16:04 - They are about half way between Glendale and Possession Point. About five heading south. One big guy and smaller one swimming east. And one facing north. They all seem to be shuffling around. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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16:02 - Two groups in this area, on a foraging close to Possession shore, one moving north. -Slavica Frljanic
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15:50 - They flipped. Heading north towards Glendale. Whidbey side of midchannel.
15:43 - Between Chennault Beach and south tip of Whidbey. They were all pointing north. Waiting to see them surface again to see if they flipped or milling. About five to six orcas.  -Alice Thuy Talbot
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T137A Jack did that [came up close to a wind surfer] earlier today in Saratoga Passage! -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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15:41 - They’re still milling in the same area.
15:20 - I’m at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo and just saw one breaching across near Glendale. Maybe they caught something! One of them just came up close to a wind surfer! -Delaney Grieve
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15:15 - They are heading south towards Possession Point. -Mary Anna Leppard
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15:14 - They’re passing Glendale headed south but have slowed down. -Jami Cantrell
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15:00 - T36Bs approaching Glendale, southbound fast. Viewing from Mukilteo and haven’t spotted the 137s from here yet. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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15:00 - From the Clinton ferry about ten minutes ago as they went south. -Jami Cantrell
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14:50 - I just saw a couple heading south on the side south of Clinton ferry terminal above Columbia Beach. -/Tiffany Dana Kelly
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14:45 - South of ferry lanes southbound good pace.
14:25 - T137s appeared close to shore Brighton, 36Bs a little further out, southbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:00 - Can see them front Sandy Point far out. Whale watching boat just left them. -Delaney Grieve
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13:40 - In between Langley Marina and Sandy Point.
13:36 - Orcas out from Langley Marina southbound on Whidbey side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:35 - Three seen from Langley Pizzeria! One leading heading south. -Francie L Dailer
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13:00 - T137 and gray whale CRC 53 are southbound at my map spot. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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12:50 - T36/36Bs moving fast, Whidbey side of Saratoga between south end of Camano Island State Park and Fox Spit. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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12:45 - Moving quickly southeast, bypassed Holmes. Approaching East Point. -Trevor Derie
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12:40 - A couple of orcas passed Fox Spit fairly close in. Southbound on a mission. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:26 - T36s milling at the middle of entrance to Holmes Harbor. -Trevor Derie
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12:22 - Seeing distant blows towards Camano Island State Park from downtown Langley! -Steve Smith
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12:18 - Long downtimes between surface intervals. They snuck up on me at Cama Beach and again at the boat launch at Camano Island State Park.
12:14 - T137s passed Camano Island State Park close to shore, now moving offshore a bit just southwest of Lowell Point. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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12:06 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - seeing at least two orca southbound passing Hidden Beach. -Linda Aitkins
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11:55 - T137s went on a long dive and popped up closer to Camano side. Now just south of Cama Beach.
11:44 - Last update was the T36s. T137s are trailing, Camano side of midchannel, north of Cama Beach.
11:42 - Orcas are southbound off the north end of Cama Beach, midchannel to Whidbey side. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:15 - Approx. one and a half to two miles south of Race Lagoon southbound, 137s midchannel, 36Bs still along shore.
10:55 - Continuing southbound, T36Bs near shore, T137s further out. Near Race Lagoon.
10:09 - They are southeastbound.
10:00 - I was out searching and checked Long Point for fun, immediately spotted fins eastbound. T36, T36Bs, 137s. They stalled northeast of Long Point, waiting to resurface. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network 
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Fri, Feb 23 - North Puget Sound (T46s & T124Ds - met with T36, T36Bs & T137s in late afternoon) - 17:00 - We were on our way from Seattle to Langley and came upon a large pod of whales. We immediately turned off engines and waited for them to move away before continuing on. South end of Whidbey. -Dana Greenawalt 
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16:24 - They just finished the most amazing breach fest! Watching from Picnic Point (they are heading south now). -Holly Bailey Aprecio
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15:45 - While waiting Possession Point Waterfront Park for 36Bs & T137s, suddenly T46E showed up! Northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:52 - Watched them from Sunset.  -Heidi Farina
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12:35 - They popped up around the star on my map and have been milling. They took a long down time and I lost them but they seemed to be trending northwest up the Whidbey side. Lots of spy hopping. -Brooke Thompson
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12:28 - I think west, closer to Whidbey now. -Julie Harris Martin
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12:11 - They are out in front of the Puget Sound Express! -Stephanie Brenaman
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12:00 - T46 pod and T124D pod hunting a seal at my map spot.  -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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T46s & T124Ds surround a harbor seal -photo by Cara Dana, February 23, 2024
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11:56 - At least the 46s. -Trevor Tillman, PSE
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11:45 - Lots of us viewing from Sunset in Edmonds! -Julie Harris Martin
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11:36 - Just north of Edmonds now going northwest. -Trevor Tillman, PSE
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10:47 - See them at Picnic Point. -Mark Orr
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10:45 - Saw a few off my bow at this position. Appeared to be heading south [approx. 47.883437, -122.355437]. -Adam Albee [ONCG]
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10:33 - Three on the Mukilteo shoreline one HUGE guy. Three more midchannel. Continuing south into triangle. 
10:27 - Passing Chennault Beach now. Heading south. A few midchannel and at least two hugging Mukilteo shore.  -Alice Thuy Talbot
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T46E Thor - 10:24 - Three orca heading south in Possession closer to Mukilteo side [video in FB comments]. All taken from my deck in Mukilteo with just my phone zoom lens. -photos by Jodi Krause Poissant, February 23, 2024
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09:55 - Four orcas mid channel just spotted from shore of Mukilteo Lighthouse Park headed south. -Jack Bonfiglio
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Melinda Casey
Date of Sighting: February 23, 2024
Time: 9:45 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Off the north side of the ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo
Direction of travel : Headed west toward Whidbey
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes one large dorsal fin
Any unusual markings?: Unknown
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Such an amazing sight to see!
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
This is from the 9:30 am ferry spotted around 9:45 headed toward Whidbey. The ferry was headed towards Mukeltio. -Melinda Casey -photo by Melinda Casey, February 23, 2024
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09:40 - Peggy called at 09:46 to report orcas in Possession Sound. They were on the 09:30 ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo and saw three orcas (dorsal fins) mid channel to the north of ferry, pod was traveling southbound. 
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, Feb 23 - Upper Saratoga Passage - 07:44 - The gray whale is out in front of English Boom Park again this morning. Just feeding in circles. Look for the birds. -Dean Kayler [CWW]
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Fri, Feb 23 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch & CRC56 Stardust) - CRC56 Stardust - All the whales seemed to be in a hurry that day, so I was mostly focused on keeping up with them rather than taking pictures. I started watching the T137s at Cama Beach and followed them to Camano Island State Park (T36/36Bs were also present much closer to Whidbey). After they passed the state park, I was sitting in my car trying to decide if I should go look for grays and suddenly heard a loud blow. I looked up and CRC56 Stardust was directly in front of me! This was also a short encounter since he moved offshore a few minutes after my first sighting, but it was such a lovely surprise for me to see him a second day in a row. Link to more photos. -photos by Serena Tierra, February 23, 2024
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13:52 - Can confirm this was CRC56 Stardust.
13:37 - Gray whale northbound off Camano Island State Park boat launch, still on Camano side but trending offshore.
13:30 - Was sitting in my car at Camano Island State Park and a gray surfaced right in front of me, presumably CRC56. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:25 - CRC 53 is now slowly northbound at my map spot [approx. 48.074915, -122.459855].
13:00 - T137 and gray whale CRC 53 are southbound at my map spot [approx. 48.075147, -122.458017]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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11:05 - Leaving them now, still slowly northbound midchannel south of Mabana.
10:56 - Trending north/northwest, midchannel south of Mabana. I think I see both of them now.
10:45 - Blow seen from Mabana, Camano side of midchannel. South of here, probably off Summerland. Just one so far. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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09:25 - Pebble Beach, Summerland, Mabana, two grays close in heading your way from down here on the southwest end.  -Mike Moberly [CWW]
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08:25 - They are sliding east now - angling towards Camano Head-ish.
08:12 - Christy Grant and Marilyn Armbruster sent message reporting: Two grays feeding close to Whidbey just north of Sandy Point! Back of camera photos sent taken by Marilyn we can confirm CRC53 Little Patch and CRC56 Stardust! -photo by Marilyn Armbruster, February 23, 2024 -photo by Christy Grant, February 23, 2024

February 22
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Thu, Feb 22 - Port Susan/Saratoga Passage (T36, T36Bs & T137s) - T137B Tempest & T137D Wright - Fin tip of T36B Tattertip alongside calf T36B4 - Such a beautiful and busy day around Camano Island! I started off watching T36/36Bs and the T137s at Tillicum Beach before heading over to the other side of the island hoping to see a different group of orcas. That group ended up flipping and going south (one of many directional changes), but the 36Bs and 137s looped around Camano Head into Saratoga Passage. As I was watching them, a gray whale approached the beach and started feeding, so I decided to stay with him for a few hours before catching up to the orcas again on the north end of the island in the evening. Big thanks to everyone who contributed sightings and helped keep track of all these whales yesterday, it is greatly appreciated! All pictures taken from shore on Camano. Link to more photos. -photos by Serena Tierra, February 22, 2024
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T137 Loon - Fin tip of T36B Tattertip alongside calf T36B4 - Today was just wow! Wasn’t planning on going out today but glad I did. It was magical! Taken in Port Susan off of Camano. T137s and the T36Bs. Link to more photos. -photos by Charvet Drucker, February 22, 2024
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T36B Tattertip & T36B4 - T36 Flapjack & T137 Loon - Beautiful day spent with the T124Ds, T137s, T46s and T36 and T36Bs with a new baby born this year. It was SO BRIGHT and sunny made focusing a little harder but what a great PNW day. Link to more photos. -photos by April Janice Basham, February 22, 2024
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Calf T36B4 surfacing alongside mom T36B Tattertip - T137A Jack - I got a call yesterday morning asking if I wanted to go see some orca. I enthusiastically answered, "YES!" before they could get the entire invite out of their mouth! There may even have been an expressive expletive in front of that 'yes'. So yesterday was spent with dear friends, 15 orca, and a gray whale. The weather was absolutely spectacular, cool but not too cold, sunny but not blazing, and calm almost no wind. We saw two groups of orca. The first photos were of the T46s (T122, T46E and T46F), T46D was not present. The T124Ds were hanging out with the T46s (T124, T124D1 and '21 baby T124D3). We watched them hunt and consume a harbor porpoise then admired them as they glided along digesting their lunch and exhaling stunning backlit blows. As the T46s and T124Ds turned to travel south, the 137s, T36 and the T36Bs sans T36B3 emerged from Port Susan. As a refresher, T36 (Flapjack) is T137s' (Loon) mom. The T137s are the matriline I researched and got to know quite well. Honestly, you become attached to the whales, but I digress; T36B (Tattertip), Loon's sister (still with me?) had a wee tot about a month ago. I had not had the chance to really see it until yesterday. Y'all, I squealed like a Swiftie at a Taylor Swift concert! That little nugget just blooped along next to their momma as cute as a button! The family was initially together, but split fairly quickly, so lots of spotting at long distances as they traversed Saratoga Passage spread in small pairs and groups. What a fantastic day! I'm so grateful for good friends! Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 22, 2024
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17:45 - They've continued south, near Race Lagoon.
17:14 - Friend reports 137s at least flipped south. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:55 - Distant glimpse of two a bit south of Long Point... can't tell direction - long down time, but my first black fins since early December! -Bonnie Gretz
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16:28 - The T36s at least are continuing northbound, in line with Crescent Harbor from my perspective.
16:10 - Northbound Camano side of midchannel off Camano Island Yacht Club. I think I hear blows to the south too so others may be trailing. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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16:08 - Friend reports Jack & Wright hugging Whidbey northbound near Race Lagoon. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:02 - Coming toward Camano Island Yacht Club. -Teresa Bara
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Mieke Lee
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 3:56 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Rockaway Beach
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Milling traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Northbound mid channel some grouping closer to the Camano side larger males grouped further away closer to the mid channel. Smaller and females closer to Camano leisurely traveling
Photos available?: No
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15:26 - Teresa Bara, hey thank you for letting us borrow your binoculars - that was an awesome sighting! -Christy Earl
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15:05 - Passed Camano Island State Park. -Teresa Bara
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15:15 - Mid channel headed north bound from Hidden Beach. Going to try and follow on Whidbey.
14:55 - At Hidden Beach. Directly across on Camano side. Can hear them from the beach. I see two with Jack trailing. -Delaney Grieve
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14:31 - They are approaching Baby Island spread all across Saratoga northbound slowly. -April Janice Basham
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14:02 - Jack and the 137s approaching Bells beach. Whidbey side. 36 and the 36Bs are Camano side of mid. All still northbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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13:49 - Orcas are straight out from Mabana, midchannel to Camano side.
13:43 - Orcas are northbound just south of Mabana, Camano side of midchannel. Gray is east of them!
13:29 - Seeing blows from Mabana, northbound Camano side off Pebble Beach. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:30 - Watching from Langley Pier, five heading northbound along Camano shore. -Jaymi Davison Garvett
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13:25 - This group is approaching Pebble Beach Camano side northbound Saratoga headed for Mabana. -April Janice Basham
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13:15 - Rachel called back to relay report this group hugged Camano Head now entering Saratoga Passage heading northwest up the passage closer Camano side. [The two groups clearly avoiding one another.]
13:10 - Rachel Haight called to report: this group (36/36Bs & 137s) has exited Port Susan continuing southbound, just south of Camano Head. Definitely within acoustic range of group one who is east of Sandy Point.
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12:00 - My first sighting, thanks to the Orca Network!!! Incredible experience. At Tillicum. -back of camera photo by EZ Lorenz, February 22, 2024
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12:15 - They sped up quite a bit, now south of Tillicum on the Camano side. Confirmed T36/36Bs with the T137s.
12:05 - Hunting, trending south, still north of Tillicum. T137D is here, also saw a young calf so presume they are still with T36/36Bs.
11:56 - At least one male in this group, not at a good angle for ID yet. Starting to spread out, still slowly southbound north of Tillicum.
11:48 - At least five grouped up north of Tillicum. Can't really see fins yet so not sure if any males/juveniles.
11:41 - Visible from Tillicum Beach, southbound on Camano side. Still far north of here. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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10:33 - Direction change now southbound.
10:24 - Orca between County Club 1 & 2 heading north, 300 yards out. One adult and maybe a juvenile? -PSWW chat
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Thu, Feb 22 - Port Susan/Possession Sound (T46s & T124Ds) - T46E Thor - Beautiful day spent with the T124Ds, T137s, T46s and T36 and T36Bs with a new baby born this year. It was SO BRIGHT and sunny made focusing a little harder but what a great PNW day. Link to more photos. -photos by April Janice Basham, February 22, 2024
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T124D Field - T124D Field, T124D3, & T46E Thor - I got a call yesterday morning asking if I wanted to go see some orca. I enthusiastically answered, "YES!" before they could get the entire invite out of their mouth! There may even have been an expressive expletive in front of that 'yes'. So yesterday was spent with dear friends, 15 orca, and a gray whale. The weather was absolutely spectacular, cool but not too cold, sunny but not blazing, and calm almost no wind. We saw two groups of orca. The first photos were of the T46s (T122, T46E and T46F), T46D was not present. The T124Ds were hanging out with the T46s (T124, T124D1 and '21 baby T124D3). We watched them hunt and consume a harbor porpoise then admired them as they glided along digesting their lunch and exhaling stunning backlit blows. As the T46s and T124Ds turned to travel south, the 137s, T36 and the T36Bs sans T36B3 emerged from Port Susan. As a refresher, T36 (Flapjack) is T137s' (Loon) mom. The T137s are the matriline I researched and got to know quite well. Honestly, you become attached to the whales, but I digress; T36B (Tattertip), Loon's sister (still with me?) had a wee tot about a month ago. I had not had the chance to really see it until yesterday. Y'all, I squealed like a Swiftie at a Taylor Swift concert! That little nugget just blooped along next to their momma as cute as a button! The family was initially together, but split fairly quickly, so lots of spotting at long distances as they traversed Saratoga Passage spread in small pairs and groups. What a fantastic day! I'm so grateful for good friends! Link to more photos. -photos & IDs by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 22, 2024
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17:51 - They are headed out of Everett port area as viewing from Harborview Park and still appear to still be southwest at this time.
17:39 - It appears they made their loop around the Port and are now southwest headed back out. Longer down times. -April Janice Basham
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 5:33 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Just off Everett Naval Station
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
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17:40 - They're heading up north past Jetty Island now. So tranquil!
17:20 - Just passed Harborview Park heading east. -Rubie H Baker
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Deborah Jackson
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 5:20 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Port Gardner Bay, seen from shore at Edgewater Beach
Direction of travel : West to east
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: One male in the lead
Any unusual markings?: Male has a notch on the rear side of his dorsal fin
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I think there was a baby in the pod. They were traveling closely together, but I think I saw four females. The male was out in front in the lead.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - T124D3, T124D Field, T46E Thor - T124D3 & T46E Thor -photos by Deborah Jackson, February 22, 2024
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17:20 - From Harborview Park I can see the T46s and 124Ds headed east/northeast towards the Everett Port. -April Janice Basham
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17:22 - Near View Ridge.
17:17 - They passed me… I think past Howarth now. -Danica Bourne
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17:00 - Ferry into Mukilteo. -photo by LuAnn Wolfe, February 22, 2024
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16:55 - They have passed the lighthouse. They headed east towards Everett.  -Joe Dreimiller
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16:51 - They rushed north to Everett [approx. 47.972863, -122.264053].
16:34 - Great time to come to Mukilteo Lighthouse they are coming back this way! -Crystal Carberry
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Tricia Robinow
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 4:45 PM
Species seen: Uncertain
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Mukilteo lighthouse
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?: Not that I could see
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It was very exciting. Lots of people at the lighthouse watching.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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16:29 - About mid to slightly to east of mid looks to be even with Possession Point. Have been milling for thirty minutes. Lots of gulls around so perhaps a meal. Viewing from Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. -Joe Dreimiller
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16:24 - [orcas approx. 47.941201, -122.327342] -Crystal Carberry
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15:59 - Just had quite the show from the ferry. Southbound past Mukilteo. -Nicole Schleich Abbott
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Sheryl Schmeling
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 3:45 PM
Species seen: orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: offshore from the Mukilteo ferry dock
Direction of travel : south
Behaviors observed: traveling, 4 staying close together side by side, one more to the side appeared and
joined them.
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Both ferries very respectful
Photos available?: No
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15:45 - Clinton ferry is getting a great show right now, between the fishing boat and the ferry. -Alexander Simenstad
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15:41 - Messing around the Mukilteo ferry area. Seem to be hunting. -Lauren McManus
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15:22 - We just saw a pod surfacing from Harborview Park about five minutes ago. At one time I saw four fins at once. -Lisa
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15:28 - Now they’re right around here. Fishing boat nearby [approx. 47.963578, -122.297271].
15:22 - South. They should be off Mukilteo ferry soon. They’re right off the big container ship.
15:10 - Six to seven orcas right off shore [approx. 47.971209, -122.243309]. Big male trailing. -Alexander Simenstad
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: February 22, 2024
Time: 2:25 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Between Hat, Island and Jetty Island and Priest Point
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Two. Orcas in the vicinity of a gray whale.
Photos available?:
*
13:35 - And now have committed southbound again.
Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:23 - This group has flipped back north, now northbound southeast of Sandy Point per Rachel.
13:15 - This group has continued southbound, but in no hurry...
13:13 - Rachel Haight called this group (members of 46s and T124Ds) is now due east of Sandy Point, she thinks southbound. There is some separation between them and group two who has just exited Port Susan and is off Camano Head. These two groups are well within acoustic range.
*
12:55 - Appearing to be heading easterly mid channelish between north side of Sandy Point and Camano Head. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
12:56 - They're booking it east now. That male's fin [T46E] is awesome.
12:51 - Lots of breaching for a few minutes, I thought I saw a seal. Looking from Langley marina lookout. Lots of boats around them. -Rubie H Baker
*
12:49 - On the phone with Rachel Haight who called with now confirmed IDs as: T46s and T124Ds, are now mid channel out from Sandy Point looking toward Camano, making directional changes with southbound trend, but look to be pushing east.
*
12:30 - Lots of gull activity over the water so probably a successful lunchtime hunt. Orcas including adult male still circling and drifting slowly slightly north of Sandy Point. -Sandy Pollard
*
12:21 - Milling around Sandy Point. Lots is surface activity and spy hopping.
12:12 - Just rounded Sandy point heading into Saratoga Passage on Whidbey side. -Luanne Seymour
*
12:10 - Group of four or five orcas hunting harbor porpoise off Sandy Point, drifting slowly north Whidbey side. -Sandy Pollard
*
12:10 - Possibly hunting near Sandy Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
12:01 - They are moving northbound in Saratoga Passage Whidbey side of the channel slowly approaching Sandy Point. -April Janice Basham
*
11:48 - [orcas approx. location 48.013982, -122.344240].
11:25 - I left but did appear to be headed northbound on west side of Hat.
11:00 - Approx. here [47.973858, -122.294865]. Haven't seen since. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
T46E Thor - 10:40 - Steady movement south.
10:24 - Heading south now, closer to mainland.
10:13 - Last sight they were here [approx. 47.993715, -122.259843] but they've been down a while.
09:56 - The orca group is in Possession now, pretty central. Loving my view!
09:31 - Found them! Milling, looks like they're slowly heading southeast [approx. 48.034492, -122.288932]. -photo by Holly Bailey Aprecio, February 22, 2024
*
08:16 - Saw them heading south off Tulalip Bay. -John C Storbeck
*
Male is T46E Thor - 07:50 - Last seen southbound, group of five. -photo by Susan John, February 22, 2024
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06:59 - Orca out from Tillicum Beach, midchannel, northbound.  -PSWW Chat
*
GRAY WHALES - Thu, Feb 22 - Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust & other) - CRC56 Stardust - Gray whale CRC56 Stardust feeding at Mabana. I decided to take a break from watching the orcas and spend a few hours watching Stardust instead. Gray whales are always so calming and peaceful to me, and that was especially true this day with the still water and beautiful lighting. I haven't spent much time with Stardust before, but he is quickly becoming one of my favorite grays! All pictures taken from shore on Camano Island. Link to more photos. -photos by Serena Tierra, February 22, 2024
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16:00 - Two gray whales just passing Onamac Point [Camano]. Heading north, closer to Whidbey Island. -Heather Browning [CWW]
*
15:44 - May just be milling actually. Has been pointed in different directions the last few surfacings, last seen facing north again. I'm heading out to try to catch up with the orcas again.
15:37 - Northbound Camano side of midchannel off Mabana boat launch. Appears to be done feeding for now.
15:30 - Moving offshore south of Mabana, has fluked on the last two dives (edit: make that three). Tide is starting to go out so he may be done feeding. Pointed north.
15:20 - Still trending south while feeding, now south of the houses at Mabana.
14:58 - Trending south now, still north of the boat launch.
14:40 - Feeding off the north end of Mabana.
14:24 - Gray is still trending north and feeding off Mabana, approaching the north end of the houses.
14:09 - Trending north directly off the boat launch now.
14:00 - CRC56 feeding just south of Mabana boat launch, moving closer to shore.
13:53 - Gray is feeding offshore just south of Mabana boat launch. I'm giving up on the orcas.
13:49 - Gray is still south of Mabana, trending north.
13:45 - Facing west south of Mabana.
13:40 - Gray approaching Mabana, northbound on Camano side. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
13:39 - Oh, that fast, he is back to mid channel heading to Mabana. Lots of birds in the water following behind.
13:30 - Left the Camano shore around Summerland. Mid channel but heading northeast quickly. -Jennifer Feldman Spanton
*
12:30 - Gray heading north from us [Camano Head area], very close to shore. Summerland, Pebble Beach coming at you. Also pod of orcas off Sandy Point, looks pretty is like they are feeding, maybe work south. -Mike Moberly [CWW]
*
09:05 - Seeing gray blows just south of the channel marker off of Camano Head. Moved fast from Pebble Beach, but now kind of milling around. -Christy Grant 
*
08:51 - Southbound travel. Nearly to Camano Head.
08:42 - Blow of gray spotted about half mile north of Camano Head close to Camano - presume traveling south. Viewed from Sandy Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
08:10 - Gray whale in Saratoga Passage, south of Summerland, Camano. Appears to be heading southbound. Not moving fast.  -Fran Horvath [CWW]
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Thu, Feb 22 - Possession Sound - 11:19 - Cindi Rausch called to report seeing gray whale at the mouth of Port Susan, Camano side heading southwest. 
*
10:17 - Small gray seen in Possession! Near buoy. Heading towards barge [approx. 47.993153, -122.252794].
09:44 - I'm also seeing a large blow northwest of Hat Island. Hard to tell, but I'd guess it's a gray. -Holly Bailey Aprecio
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09:00 - Possible gray visible from Harborview Park. I saw multiple blows and then it disappeared! About mid channel between Harborview and Tulalip. -Stephanie Brenaman

February 21
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Wed, Feb 21 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - I’ve never captured a spyhop. Let alone two in synchrony. Yesterday [02/21] was beautiful. Congratulations to everyone who got amazing photos yesterday, and to all those who got to see them for the first time. -photo by CT Thompson, February 21, 2024
*
Wednesday was full of little adventures and the sweetest surprise visit from Jpod. Their visits down to the Island have been predictably unpredictable as of late, and what once was certain months I could count on seeing them, seems to be changing as the years progress. This Island pass was a little different than most, they were very, very spread out and traveled in singles, doubles and small groups all the way down East Passage and beyond. They were mostly offshore a bit, only a few came close-ish in, most of them staying mid channel to each side of. I didn't see too much if any foraging, mainly leisurely but purposeful travel as they spent most of the day circumnavigating the Island. They didn't group up until well into Colvos Passage, where their pass was met with a heavy rain squall and whispy mist that hugged the surface of the sea and snaked through the trees above. About as PNW as it could get! This visit was brief, a one and done. They arrived under the cloak of darkness and left the same way. Regardless of their short stay, it was beautiful as always, and humbled to be in their presence. Hoping their travels brings them plenty of food, and safe spaces to be the wild lovely whales that they are. They are so deserving of our advocacy, every ounce of care, and every action we can give, big or small. More than grateful for every second spent with the wonderful whales of Jpod. They are so cherished and deeply loved. Link to more photos. -photos by Marla Smith, February 21, 2024
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J38 Cookie - With only 74 Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales left it's important that we always remember the importance of education and citizen science. The more people that want to be a part of the bigger picture the better. My personal love for these amazing animal is as big as the waters they are swimming in. These beautiful whales travel through Canadian and American waters in search of salmon. We must use our human voices to help protect our Whales and our Salmon. There are many ways to get involved so don't be afraid to ask how, so many of us are willing and ready to point you in the right direction. My hope is the people I'm lucky enough to meet on these adventures gets a spark of interest or inspiration from a picture or story I share and come along beside me for each one that follows. I do believe we can still make a change. March 11th at 11:00 there is a rally in Olympia at the Capitol building for your voice to be heard about breaching the Lower Snake River dams. One BIG change that must happen! Link to more photos. -photos by April Janice Basham, February 21, 2024
*
A surprise visit from JPod. Viewing from Dune Peninsula. Link to more photos. -photos by Cherie StOurs, February 21, 2024
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Here are a few of J Pod. I was at Owen Beach - they were just off Vashon. The photos aren't great as the orcas were far from me, visibility was falling with the rain moving in, and these are cropped, but they are still pretty spectacular to see. Link to more photos. -photos by Alisa Miller, February 21, 2024
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J41 Eclipse - ID by Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute - Today with J Pod, from the Tahlequah Ferry to the Southworth ferry... I count every moment I get to spend with these whales as an absolute blessing. If you are able, consider going to the rally on March 11th at 11am at the Olympia capitol building, support the breaching of the Lower Snake River dams! Link to more photos. -photos by Jolena Tagg, February 21, 2024
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My second time ever seeing the Southern Residents! Not a close pass, I watched from Dune Peninsula as they passed along Vashon heading west then turned north up Colvos Passage, but was still able to see several spyhops, breaches and tail slapping at the tip of Vashon before they turned northbound! Definitely worth standing in the rain for. Link to more photos. -photos by Jennifer Swenson, February 21, 2024
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Viewing J-pod from Dune Peninsula this morning. They were far away, near Quartermaster, but it was so special to be able to see them! -/photos by Lori Cason, February 21, 2024
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JPod today entering Commencement Bay in Tacoma. Link to FB video.  -Ryan Dicks
*
19:09 - 22:58 - Human detections via Orcasound - Listen for Whales app; 23:17 sole detection by OrcaHello AI. Bravo to all the folks who listened last night to the Sunset Bay location. You did a great job annotating the live audio stream and detecting SRKW signals. It's amazing to me that humans are so capable of detecting faint familiar sounds (like calls you've learned) even in lots of noise from the Washington State Ferries and passing trains! Last night your hearing feats are even more impressive since you listened right through the lowest tidal period (21:30) and kept hearing the SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales! Collectively y'all are doing way better than the OrcaHello AI - though it did stay up later listening than most and picked up these clear calls (confirmed by David Bain (after midnight!). -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
21:56 - They’re still audible on the hydrophone. -Jami Cantrell
*
20:51 - I hear them! -Kristine Stevens
*
20:36 - Calls on Sunset. -Breanne Denise Ward
*
17:56 - Straight east from Fay Bainbridge Park. A LOT of breaching/spy hops. -Bre Martin
*
17:50 - I saw a lot of breaching mid channel! I’m near Shilshole and there was at least one or two a bit north in the mid channel. Really cool as I was just out walking the dog and got a surprise performance! -Stephanie Celt
*
17:50 - Just after updating J pod loosened up a bit and at least several (all sizes, even little one) woke up and embarked on a wonderful breach fest! They are east of mid channel out from north end Golden Gardens continuing northbound travels.
17:44 - Having cell coverage issues. J pod continues northbound travels tightly grouped in resting mode. Shallow surfaces. So beautiful. Due north of my 17:23 update transect Golden Gardens and just south of Fay Bainbridge. They are east of mid channel still. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
17:44 - Spotted them from Fay Bainbridge, are on the far side over by Shilshole marina. -Ryan Horner
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17:32 - J pod grouped up traveling in resting mode east of mid channel out from Shilshole Marina/Golden Gardens. Slow steady northbound [approx. 47.679471, -122.438190].
17:19 - Location [approx. 47.664318, -122.455879]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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17:23 - Watching them from Bainbridge Island. -Susan Bavo
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17:15 - Directly west of marker [approx. 47.675569, -122.451328]. Traveling northbound. Spotted from Kingston fast ferry. -Jenny Klis
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16:55 - Seeing them in front of houses on Bainbridge, south of green buoy northbound, seeing from West Point. -Fusako Nozaka
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16:40 - More J pod members, steady northbound, just north of Eagle Harbor. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:33 - They’ve passed the ferry lanes and are continuing north still mid channel hugging Bainbridge side. -Taylor Seyl
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16:23 - Viewing from Discovery Park upper south bluff, leaders are northbound steady, now passing north end of Eagle Harbor. It appears ferries changed course and/or slowed. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:05 - About to pass Eagle Harbor. Viewing from 64th St Alki. Getting very tiny in the viewfinder. -Steve Rice
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16:05 - Approaching east side channel! Definitely needed my binoculars today. Spouts are hitting the sun!
16:00 - Seeing fins and spouts northbound closer to Bainbridge side. Viewing from Myrtle Edward’s Park. -Taylor Seyl
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16:00 - From Don Armeni. Orcas in Elliott Bay, Magnolia in background. -photo by Robin Sinner, February 21, 2024
*
15:55 - Donna Sandstrom called to report J pod is now near Blakely Rock off south Bainbridge all bunched up still heading northbound mid channel.
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15:52 - Approaching Blakely Rock as viewed from 64th St Alki. Northbound. -Steve Rice
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15:50 - Orcas are mid channel northbound approaching Blakely Rocks. -Mary Hartmann
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15:38 - At least five orcas northbound between Bainbridge and Blake. Long down time and I'm wondering if they went to the westside of Bainbridge. Seen from north of Constellation Park. -Patti Waterfall
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15:37 - Here now [approx. 47.569330, -122.460599]. -Amy K. Christensen
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15:29 - East of mid channel northbound approaching south tip of Bainbridge. -Mary Hartmann
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15:23 - Watching from Manchester, seeing fins and spouts just past the big cargo ship but they're closer to the Seattle side now. -Ashley Warner
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15:15 - Not much activity while they were in view from West Seattle, but we saw a few curious spy hops. This was looking toward Manchester from Constellation Park. -photos by Steve Rice, February 21, 2024
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15:07 - Passed Blake Island northbound moving toward Manchester cargo ship multiple fins and blows visible from Constellation Park in West Seattle. -Mary Hartmann
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15:05 - Past the northern tip of Blake Island as seen from Constellation Park. Still steadily northbound. Binoculars needed. -Steve Rice
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15:00 - Far east of Manchester. Northeast of Blake. Closer to Seattle side.  -Cynthia Swensøn
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-photo by Noelle Morris, February 21, 2024
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[video of J Pod from Southworth in FB comments]. -Andrew Stienstra
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14:38 - Seeing them traveling northbound east side of Blake from Southworth-Fauntleroy ferry. -Fusako Nozaka
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14:39 - Blows at southeast tip Blake Island northbound view from Constellation Park in West Seattle. -Mary Hartmann
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14:37 - Looks like at least some of them are heading up the west side of Blake Island as I'm watching from Emma Schmitz Viewpoint. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
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14:23 - Just north of Southworth ferry lane. -Steve Gardner
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14:19 - Pretty large group. Maybe eight to ten individuals? Definitely saw about seven of them all at one time. Two of them spyhopped simultaneously. Great show. At the Southworth ferry dock. -Tom McCarthy
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14:03 - Mid channel, approaching Point Southworth. Tightly grouped up. Not much downtime. Still northbound. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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14:02 - Almost to Southworth. -photo by Chris Drechsel, February 21, 2024
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14:00 - Just about to the Southworth ferry terminal. -Jeff Van Horn
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13:57 - Spotted them south of the Southworth ferry lanes northbound. Midchannel to mainland side. Moving at a good pace. -Candace Gavin
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13:55 - Just approaching Southworth. -Tom McCarthy
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13:53 - Jpod approaching Southworth Heading north. -John Montecucco
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13:45 - J pod just passed [the] house, northbound Colvos Passage, center channel. Two groups about half mile apart. Now approaching north end Vashon. -Tim Ferris
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Sharon Mitchell
Date of Sighting: February 21, 2024
Time: 1:40 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 8
Where seen: Passing Driftwood Cove on Colvos Pass mid channel
Direction of travel : Northbound, traveling rather slowly
Behaviors observed: Traveling with one baby
If orcas, any males?: At least one male
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
13:34 - Spotting them from Fern Cove mid channel. -Mandy Michelle
*
13:40 - They’re just passing Driftwood Cove now, closer to the Kitsap side of Colvos. They have slowed their pace, cruising easily northward.
13:20 - Visible now - just moving north of Point Peter, about mid-channel. -Rob Mosley
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13:08 - Passing Fragaria, northbound Vashon side. -Collin Carnahan
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12:47 - Passing Cove. -Amanda Knez
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12:45 - Orca sighted off Anderson Point County Park. -David Kirby
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12:37 - Just passing Al's. -Tom McCarthy
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12:33 - Eyes on them from Anderson County Park, northbound. -Michael Marthe
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12:30 - At Olalla, northbound. -Stephen Curran
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Passing Lisabuela earlier [video in FB comments]. -April Janice Basham
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12:24 - Passing Lisabuela at a leisurely pace, northbound. Seem a bit more grouped up to me now. Most mid channel. -Grace McRae
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12:22 - Passing Lisabuela still northbound, leisurely but with purpose, more loosely grouped now, mid channel, J16s island side of channel trailing a tiny bit. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:23 - I counted at least four spread apart. Heading toward Ollala.
12:18 - [J Pod approx. here 47.387002, -122.534323]. -Kathryn McMillan
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12:20 - Video of J Pod from Vashon Island - wanted to share this little bit of peace and beauty. Shot with a telephoto from shore, hand held so sorry for the shakiness. Sound removed as it was mostly chatter. Link to FB video. -Jolena Tagg
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12:14 - Northbound Colvos, Vashon side. Just south of Lisabeula. -Lynne Hanson
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12:06 - Leaders now just past Point Richmond now more mid channel to mainland side, but still very spread, still northbound.
12:00 - Seeing fins island side of mid channel, just south of Point Richmond, heading north, visibility challenging with rain squall. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
11:41 - In Colvos Passage... northbound. -Steve Fogard
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11:32 - Raining hard making viewing difficult. There's a group north of Sunrise Beach, south of west tip of Vashon, kind of milling in Dalco Passage. Lot's of spy hops & tail slaps. -Melissa Bird
*
11:26 - They have passed the Tahlequah ferry lines. Trending towards Colvos Passage at a quick pace. -Candace Gavin
*
11:24 - They were really hugging the Vashon shore and creating a lot of splashing. Very fun to see! -Melissa Malott
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11:23 - J pod is passing westbound through the Tahlequah/Point Defiance ferry lanes, some close to Vashon Island side already through the ferry lanes. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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11:24 - Leaders are angling towards Point Defiance in Dalco Passage, others spread across Vashon shore west to ferry terminal. Bull pulling up the rear.
11:21 - Leaders are of west tip of Vashon/Colvos Passage entrance, still westbound. Lots of tail slaps! -Melissa Bird
*
From Owen with zoom [video in FB comments]. -Brianna Aratin
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11:18 - Looks like they are turning towards Owen Beach. Or maybe not. Looks like most are close to the Vashon shore. -Melissa Malott
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11:15 - One active. East of ferry dock. -Corey Kate
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11:15 - Leaders are passing Point Defiance Ferry at Vashon, very active & moving with purpose. All mostly grouped up along the Vashon shore. Not seeing any trailers beyond the southeast point of Vashon. -Melissa Bird
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11:12 - Just past the mouth of Quartermaster Harbor moving towards the ferry. A little spy hop and breach at Neil Point. -K Rachel Keil
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11:11 - Can see them from Tahlequah ferry dock! Westbound. -Candace Gavin
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11:10 - Westbound off east tip of Vashon now, approaching ferry terminal close to shore. -Melissa Bird
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11:03 - Left side of Quartermaster entrance. There's a lot of them! -Melissa Malott
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11:02 - Seven members of JPod head towards Point Defiance. -photo by AirWaterLand Photography, February 21, 2024
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10:57 - Large lead group has rounded Pinner Point & are westbound close to Maury Island shore, towards the entrance to Quartermaster Harbor/Point Defiance. -Melissa Bird
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10:55 - Still southbound [approx. 47.335027, -122.461939]. -Rachael Marion
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10:48 - Visible with binoculars from Owen!  -Brianna Aratin
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10:46 - Multiple orcas heading toward Point Defiance, clustered. -Tami Thomas Brockschmidt
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10:45 - Blows visible from Owen Beach, to the right of the cargo ship.  -Kyle Anderson
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10:40 - Twelve plus blows heading south, hugging Vashon side [approx. 47.355136, -122.438413]. -Mollie Segall
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10:36 - Looking at them directly across from Dash Point! -Courtney Freeman
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10:30 - They've just passed Gold Beach and are continuing south toward Tacoma. My estimate is there are ten in the group. -Burt Miller
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10:21 - Blows visible from old town dock. North of Browns Point still, spread mid channel to island side from my view. Steady southbound. -Brooke Casanova
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10:18 - They're grouped closer to Maury Island but about three quarter of a mile offshore. Fairly active as I've seen a couple tail slaps.
10:05 - Leaders off Gold Beach on Maury Island. Continuing south.  -Burt Miller
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09:57 - Seeing blows from Browns Point with binoculars off Point Robinson! -Marisa Nakai
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09:52 - All have appeared to clear Point Robinson, very, very spread from mainland to island side of mid channel, some small groups but mostly singles and doubles, steady travel southbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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09:47 - From Des Moines Marina [video in FB comments]. -Ariel Ohashi
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09:37 - Passing Point Robinson widely spread across channel. -Amy Carey, Sound Action
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ande Fieber
Date of Sighting: February 21, 2024
Time: 9:30 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Freshwater Bay
Direction of travel : W
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
09:30 - Spotted a few from Des Moines Marina halfway between KVI and Point Robinson, island side. -Mandy Michelle
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09:23 - Some approaching Point Robinson, island side of mid channel, still steady southbound, very spread. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
09:28 - Barge and tug passed them. Seeing some spy hopping behind.
09:14 - Spotted with binoculars from the Des Moines Marina. They’re passing in front of KVI beach now. Closer to the island side. Very spread out. -Marcie Evans
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09:10 - Still very large spread all across the channel, some mainland side, south of Three Tree now, others island side of channel still a bit north of there, surface active, headed southbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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09:08 - Just saw three from Marine View Park in Des Moines, closer to Vashon side of the sound headed towards Point Robinson it looked like to round the bend of Vashon. -Jack Bonfiglio
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08:15 - Shut the front door, it’s Jpod! Very spread out in mid channel, southbound at a good clip past Glen Acres now.
08:00 - Out mid-channel, island side nearing Dilworth, Vashon. No numbers yet, but do see at least one male southbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
07:19 - Thanks to Amy Carey, Sound Action for the report from a Vashon community member who observed orcas traveling southbound off the north end Vashon in the ferry lanes (Fauntleroy/Vashon). 
*
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Wed, Feb 21 - Rosario Strait (T124A2s & others)
14:16 - [Last seen] continuing south!
13:16 - About five orca just passed me on northwest Lummi shore! Headed south in Rosario and now almost to Legoe Bay (on Lummi) continuing south. Average speed, travel mode. -Rose Caitlin
*
Wed, Feb 21 - Saratoga Passage (T46s & T124Ds) - 13:40 - Viewing from Baby Island Heights thru my dirty window - could see five grouped up at marked location on map… looking like north east bound [approx. 48.149907, -122.537579]. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:05 - Viewing from Hidden Beach. They are directly across at Cama on Camano. Definitely hugging Camano side, by the looks of it. Slow trend northbound. -Kat Martin
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12:35 - The 46s have been hanging out in the same general area [approx. 48.112005, -122.524819] for an hour or so now. Generally pointed north, but circling. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
12:23 - Currently facing south in the same area as before, may be hunting or turning into Holmes Harbor.
12:13 - Slowly northbound on Whidbey side south of Cama Beach. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
12:05 - Currently mid channel. Slow north. From Camano Island State Park. -Erica Sutehall
*
11:13 - Continuing northbound between north end of Camano Island State Park and entrance to Holmes Harbor. Midchannel, maybe drifting towards Camano side. I think there's six to seven in this group, have not seen T46D yet.
10:59 - Group of five, including T46E and a juvenile, now between me and north end of Fox Spit. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
10:57 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - seeing at least two fins northbound passing Fox Spit. Midchannel. At least one male. -Linda Aitkins
*
10:53 - About five grouped up northbound, Whidbey side of midchannel off East Point. Pretty sure T46E is in that group.
10:42 - Orcas are northbound on Whidbey side of Saratoga, approaching East Point. Viewing from the bluff at Camano Island State Park. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
10:15 - I’m pretty sure I saw a large dorsal fin heading north up by Bells Beach. Mid channel but closer to Whidbey. -Jennifer Feldman Spanton
*
T46E Thor - 09:35 - Four to five orcas Saratoga Passage between Sandy Point and Langley heading northbound mid passage. Lots of milling and breaching. -back of camera photos by Marilyn Armbruster, February 21, 2024
*
Wed, Feb 21 - Port Susan/Possession Sound (T36, T36Bs & T137s) - 13:12 - Male orca northbound half mile off Sunny Shores; female northbound one mile off shore. -PSWW chat
*
13:15 - At least two, including a young calf, are now north of Tillicum. Northbound on Camano side.
13:01 - Northbound south of Tillicum Beach, Camano side of midchannel. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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T36B4 & T36B Tattertip - 13:00 - T36Bs near Tillicum heading north into Port Susan. -photos by Jennifer Schuld, February 21, 2024
*
12:52 - Left these whales tight to Camano going into Port Susan. -Trevor Tillman, PSE
*
12:29 - Rachel updates possible split: They are only seeing five including little baby heading northbound into Port Susan on Camano side. Thinks likely these are the 36Bs. And appears who we presume is T137s have split and possibly somewhere still in Possession Sound.
12:18 - Group two orcas (probably T36Bs & T137s) off north end Hat Island traveling northwest bound and appear to be aiming toward Saratoga Passage right now but not sure if committed. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
12:00 - Lost them as they were heading south, west of Hat Island.
11:18 - Watching from Howarth Park. At least one male, and two smaller dorsals seen just north east of Hat Island. Milling, slowly surfacing. -Holly Bailey Aprecio
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: M Duvnjak
Date of Sighting: February 21, 2024
Time: 10:45 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Possession Sound
Direction of travel : N to S
Behaviors observed: Travelling, briefly surfacing
If orcas, any males?: Unknown.
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: 2 pods of 3 seen briefly.
Photos available?: No
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Male is T137A Jack - T137D Wright on left, T36B4 on right - 09:30 - In Port Susan. Pics taken from Tillicum Beach looking over to Sunny Shores area, they were southbound. -back of camera photos by Susan John, February 21, 2024
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09:39 - Includes large male.
09:33 - Reporting party says five to six orcas.
09:25 - Rachel Haight relays report per PSWW chat: orcas are in Port Susan heading southbound mid-channel out from Tillicum.   -PSWW Chat
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NORTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Wed, Feb 21 - Howe Sound, BC - Scooted my way up to BC today to see NRKW! A Pod including A60 Fife and A61 Surge. Link to FB video. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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GRAY WHALES - Wed, Feb 21 - Port Susan (CRC53 Little Patch & other) - 12:53 - CRC53 southbound at Camano Head. -Trevor Tillman, PSE
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12:02 - At least one gray whale continued northbound in Port Susan. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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09:15 - Per Rachel Haight update in PSWW chat the second gray made it to north Tulalip Shores and is feeding.
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07:55 - One gray whale off Tulalip Shores with second gray approaching from the south. -PSWW chat

February 20
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Tue, Feb 20 - Qualicum, BC
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Delves
Date of Sighting: February 20, 2024
Time: 12:04 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Qualicum
Direction of travel : In bay
Behaviors observed: Hunting seals
If orcas, any males?: 2
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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Tue, Feb 20 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Other Sighting: ORCA
Sighting Time: Tue Feb 20 11:56 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.36130,-124.44901 [Qualicum Beach, BC] 
Number Sighted: 6-7
Submitter Name: John Ketcham
Whale Alert App
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[Orca Network follow up]: I don't remember entering the number of orcas. There were more like six or seven and I'm sure one was a big male judging by the size of the dorsal. Also there was a bunch of sea lions I'm the area. There were no eagles or seagulls circling the area which made me think they were Biggs rather than the local fish eating orcas. They were probably after the sea lions. I don't believe there were any herring in the area because of the lack of birds. - John
Tue, Feb 20 - Discovery Bay
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Stephanie Miller
Date of Sighting: February 20, 2024
Time: 10:39 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Top of Discovery Bay off Cape George across from Diamond Point
Direction of travel : S-SW
Behaviors observed: milling
If orcas, any males?: no
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Two small calves with three females
Photos available?: No
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Tue, Feb 20 - Port Susan/Possession Sound (T36, T36Bs, T137s) - T36B4 in the middle - T137A - Jack - So exciting to see the baby today - kept missing the close passes but so glad to see orcas back in Port Susan. Link to more photos.  -photos by Charvet Drucker, February 20, 2024
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T137A Jack - T137 Loon - T36B1 Bhotia - T36B Tattertip & T36B4 -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
15:30 - After about one month of not seeing any whales, I made an impulse decision to go to Camano Island to try and see the orca report that came in. The whales were doing a great job at sneaking right under our noses and popping up where we least expected them. Around 15:30, the T36Bs, after not being spotted all day, showed up in front of Tillicum Beach. We got a quick glimpse of the new little baby! Link to more photos. -photos by Kat Martin, February 20, 2024
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14:40 - We can see male from Cavelero now, still a ways out but still appears to be heading north. -Ryan Horner
*
13:23 - Confirmed 137D with 137A. Now north of Tillicum closer to midchannel.
13:16 - Lead group is off Tillicum, northbound on Camano side. T137A and a female, likely T137D. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
12:48 - The rest of the crew is hugging the mainland side, spread out a bit and headed toward Port Susan.
12:36 - Seeing the adult male and one female/juvenile entering Port Susan closer to Camano Head. Watching from Sandy Point, others have not come into view yet. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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12:15 - Heading north/northwest - in front of the small white boat [approx. 48.041689, -122.310144]. -Alice Moyal
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12:07 - The group has continued north and is out of view on the east side of Hat Island. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:37 - We see maybe two whales breaching and active! Viewing from the pier, too far to get photos but an ok view through binoculars [approx. 48.008314, -122.262341]. -Suzy Higham
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11:35 - Seven to nine-ish are generally still at the dropped pin [approx. 48.010663, -122.270927], milling and eating. A large male and at least one more are at the star [approx. 47.996248, -122.306679], circling, sharking, not contributing at all. -Sara Montour Lewis Our Wild Puget Sound
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11:26 - From my perspective at Madrona the group is quite spread from the barge all the way to left of Providence. Generally moving north/west with some directional changes. Surface active. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:20 - Watching a male orca off of Hat (from Howarth). He looks to be heading north now. -Holly Bailey Aprecio
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Calf is T36B4 -photo by Tamara Kelley, February 20, 2024
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11:19 - LOTS of breaching and hunting. Closer to seven to nine-ish whales [approx. 48.009685, -122.265881].
11:10 - There’s a gray and at least one large male on the southeast side of Hat now, but one just popped up that looked like a female. There’s also a group of four-ish way further east, line of sight is Harborview to east of Tulalip.
11:00 - Seeing four to five-ish group up just east of the Hat Island channel marker, milling and generally heading southeast.
10:50 - Can see one male, presumably Jack, southbound off the northeast side of Hat Island [approx. 48.017227, -122.3000082]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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T137D Wright & T137A Jack - A little beyond my camera range as they were heading south in Port Susan. -photos by Susan John, February 20, 2024
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09:40 - They’re leaving my range of sight, about even with Spee-Bi-Dah, closer to mainland side, still headed south at a decent clip. 
09:25 - Orcas are about even with Sunny Shores Road on the mainland side moving at a decent clip southbound. Should be approaching Spee-Bi-Dah shortly. There’s a little one in the group, four to five females, and an adult male.
09:05 - Viewing from Tillicum Beach and the group is between me and Kayak Point, slightly more mainland side than Camano side. At least one adult male, and five to six others - it’s hard to tell from this distance. They’re trending south but also making some directional changes, possibly hunting. -Amanda Marie
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07:27 - Going north and east past Mountain View Beach.
07:09 - Per PS chat five to six orcas reported in Port Susan heading north from Tillicum and Pirates Cove (just north of Tillicum), close to Camano side.  -PSWW chat
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06:58 - This pod off Tillicum Beach Camano Island - taken from a land based PTZ Camera [video in FB comments]. -John C Storbeck
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Tue, Feb 20 - North Admiralty Inlet
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Christina Brinch
Date of Sighting: February 20, 2024
Time: 4:15 PM
Species seen: Orca pod
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: By bright red buoy between halfway from North Beach close to Fort Worden and Whidbey Island
Direction of travel : Both east and west back and forth like searching for seals? Not sure
Behaviors observed: Perhaps hunting. Smaller orcas jumping with lots of tail sightings and splashing
If orcas, any males?: Yes, at least one to three
Any unusual markings?: Too far away but definitely some juveniles
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: They stayed around for quite a while 45 minutes or longer going back and forth
Photos available?: No
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, Feb 20 - Upper Saratoga Passage (CRC2441) - CRC2441
10:25 - CRC2441 still feeding/milling in the same area. 
09:46 - Gray still feeding with lots of directional changes. North/northwest of English Boom.
09:30 - Gray flipped west right after last update, feeding around here again [approx. 48.273432, -122.441382].
09:15 - Gray feeding, trending east now.
09:03 - I'm back at English Boom. Gray is still here, west of earlier location.
07:38 - Definitely feeding, trending southeast. I got a dark and blurry photo of the fluke that looks possible for 2441.
07:34 - 07:37 - Gray whale blow seen due north of English Boom on Camano. Possibly feeding but not super close to shore.  -back of camera photo & ID by Serena Tierra, February 20, 2024
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Tue, Feb 20 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch & other)
15:24 - Now west of Baby Island, moving slowly south towards Rocky Point.
14:57 - Appears to be one gray whale. First spotted north of the Baby Island navigational buoy. Heading very slowly south towards Baby Island. -Martha Poppy Sinclair
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15:20 - I think they are both feeding over there.
15:18 - Friend reports: whale right off the southwest side of Baby Island, heading west!
14:41 - Friend reports: Just heard the second one! Back by me!
14:39 - Friend reports: Saw Little Patch's patch and fluke!
14:38 - Friend reports: [CRC53 approx. 48.106158, -122.529487] big blow and a north/northwest travel from Little Patch! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:10 - At least one gray milling, pointed north across from Camano Island State Park, Whidbey side of Saratoga. Line of sight from the bluff at Camano Island State Park to the south end of Baby Island. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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14:09 - From a friend: two grays traveling north of East Point facing northwest, Whidbey side of midchannel, in line with or south of Baby Island. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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13:43 - Seeing a couple blows come up together just south of Baby Island. They look like grey blows to me but I’m looking from Camano Island State Park. I believe the red pin is where they are at but the sun is right in my eyes so I can’t be certain [approx. 48.102364, -122.505121]. -Kasey Shepard
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05:45 - It’s [gray whale] still in the same area, blows about every three to five minutes. 
05:11 - Listening to a gray off Summerland. Heading north. Frequent blows. -Jennifer Feldman Spanton [CWW]
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Tue, Feb 20 - Possession Sound 
11:00 - There are either two grays or the first one booked it west, closer to Hat Island and westbound now.
10:55 - One gray whale, eastbound off the northeast side of Hat Island. Just east of this marker where I spotted the killer whales [approx. 48.014786, -122.297655]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound

February 19
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 19 - Strait of Georgia (J Pod) - Pleasure to see J19 “Shachi” this afternoon. We spotted a male orca way out in the distance from Galiano Island’s shoreline. We suspected it could be J’s as Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings saw them up their way yesterday. As we scanned we could see several more orcas spread across the Strait of Georgia making their way southeast towards the San Juan Islands. Thank you @brendonbissonnette for ID’ing.  -Salish Sea Orca Squad
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 19 - Puget Sound (T36, T36Bs, & T137s) - Absolutely a treat to get to see them all tonight with Kimberly Sylvester! -Leann Mullender
*
17:50 - Watching from Old Creosote on Bainbridge. The orca have changed direction and are now traveling northeast. -Kimberly Sylvester
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17:38 - At least four orcas moving south past entrance of Eagle Harbor, close to Bainbridge side maybe one mile offshore. One male. Viewing from Eagle Harbor. -photo by Jim Reitz, February 19, 2024
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17:15 - Two pair orcas moving southward close to shore east side of Bainbridge Island. -Jane Rein
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16:53 - Watching from Rolling Bay, They are now south of the Discovery Point lighthouse on the Kitsap side - travel mode. -Kimberly Sylvester
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16:30 - The mountain and orcas from Bainbridge Island.
16:20 - At least three orcas southbound moving quickly. Past West Point now. -photo by Sue Surowiec Larkin, February 19, 2024
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15:56 - I'm seeing at least two, west side of the sound (middle more than edge) across from Golden Gardens. One hundred percent a calf with them with its little sweet self. -Fi NiMhuirgheasa
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15:45 - Viewing from Richmond and saw a male and female headed south [approx. 47.700972, -122.476243]. -Brooke Thompson
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15:31 - Seem to be around Port Madison pier or thereabouts.
15:13 - We are at Richmond Beach and they are south of the ferry now, well on the west side of the channel. -Ryan Horner
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14:49 - Just spotted a small group of orcas on the 14:30 Kingston to Edmonds ferry north of the ferry lane west side of mid channel headed south - at least four to five but too far out for photos or ID’s. -Tony B
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T137B Tempest in middle, T137 Loon on right - T137 Loon - T137B Tempest
14:20 - Sara Frey also called to report the male is further offshore but she just had three females close in shore off Apple Tree Point, Kingston; two about 50 yards off the beach and third maybe 30 yards off the beach slowly southbound at leisurely pace. They've now disappeared, hoping they pop up again. -photos by Sara Frey, February 19, 2024
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14:15 - Approaching Apple Tree Point. At least one large male. Steady, slow southbound travel with some down periods. West of mid channel. -Sara Frey
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13:48 - They're still southbound, some in front of Eglon and another one north of Kingston, closer to Kitsap. 
13:31 - I can see them north of Eglon Beach. -Catherine Alvarado Soto
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13:12 - Viewing from Scatchet Head, see blows and fins distant, southbound, from my view between Point No Point & Eglon. They are Kitsap side of midchannel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137A Jack - 12:56 - Spotted a group of six off Point No Point heading south. This first video clip does not include the one (presumed male) with the tallest fin (see second clip). Was awesome to see so close to shore! -photos by Susan Comes, February 19, 2024
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12:31 - I saw like three fins north of Hansville, southbound. -photos by Catherine Alvarado Soto, February 19, 2024
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08:44 - Spotted them 07:45 circling [off Beckett Point, Port Townsend], I assume hunting for one hour, they’re starting to leave now heading northeast. We saw five up at once, there may be more. This is the first time we have seen them so unsure of their behavior but they were circling for about and hour and kept doing deeper dives, one breached.  -photo by Vic Hannah, February 19, 2024
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, Feb 19 - Upper Saratoga Passage - 11:53 - Just got back from English Boom Park and there's one [gray whale] still feeding thirty five minutes ago... and going back through these recent posts makes it four days in row! -Pet Wilson [CWW]
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11:39 - It’s [gray whale] still there [English Boom park, Camano]. -Jenn McBeath [CWW]
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09:09 - It was just feeding when I was there, but it must be moving west with the tide to deeper water, I’d think. The birds give it away.
09:03 - Grey whale feeding this morning out by English Boom Park. -Dean Kayler [CWW]
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08:16 - I see a gray. Viewing from English Boom. Appears to be heading east or northeast.  -Terese Drummond 
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Mon, Feb 19 - Saratoga Passage (Two grays) - 16:35 - [Gray] just passed us down here on the southwest end of Camano, Gull Way. Very close to shore. Looks like it is heading around the south head, towards Port Susan? Could not get an ID. -Mike Moberly [CWW]
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16:00 - Gray! Mid channel heading south toward Langley/Pebble Beach! Blows about five minutes apart. -Jennifer Feldman Spanton [CWW]
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13:49 - Gray heading into Elger Bay. -Susan John
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12:55 - Viewing from Hidden Beach, spotted three big blows one after the other fair way south of Elger Bay. Appear to be closer to Camano. Could be one gray whale or more. Probably easier to see from Bells Beach. -Sandy Pollard
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11:56 - Friend reports they are Whidbey side midchannel & now aiming northwest.
11:44 - Friend reports two grays traveling together southeastbound approx. hereish [approx. 48.111647, -122.522158]? Very slow trend though, maybe milling. Now sees them facing west. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network

February 18
GRAY WHALES - Sun, Feb 18 - Upper Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust & other) - 16:18 - We are seeing two of them from Maple Grove far away. One mile northeast [approx. 48.273131 -122.492830]. -Tomoko Boerman
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16:19 - Finally seen it! Heading out was directly across from Mariner’s Cove on Camano side heading northeast still. That was my first time seeing a grey!!! So awesome! -Lorena Perezcarlos
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16:04 - 4000 feet due north of Maple Grove heading east/northeast four miles per hour. -Smith Siromaskul
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CRC56 Stardust
16:06 - Currently here-ish [approx. 48.264838, -122.510932]. 
15:40 - Still eastbound in between Maple Grove boat launch and Polnell Point, Camano side. -back of camera photo by Sara Montour Lewis, February 18, 2024
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15:39 - Viewing from Maple Grove boat launch - gray whale half mile northwest of Maple Grove boat launch. Direction of travel northeast. -Linda Aitkins
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15:35 - Gray traveling north from Rocky Point towards Maple Grove boat launch, Camano side. -Emily Wandres
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15:12 - Whale feeding in Saratoga Passage, north end of Camano at Rocky Point. -Karla Myers [CWW]
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14:24 - Change of direction. Back along the east side heading north. Almost to the commissary.
14:14 - Southwest bound and picking up speed [approx. 48.263398, -122.626053]. -Smith Siromaskul
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13:19 - Whale off Polnell is #56 Stardust.
12:46 - Saw a couple blows a little ways off English Bay just now; have another gray off Polnell Point. -Tyson Parker Reed, Island Adventures
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Sun, Feb 18 - Saratoga Passage - 09:04 - Grey whale south of Bells Beach, heading south toward Langley! Viewing from Beach near Strawbridge Lane. -Nancy Feld Leigh
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09:05 - One gray whale feeding in Saratoga passage just northwest of Langley on the Whidbey side heading towards Langley. -Anna Greenwood
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Sun, Feb 18 - Possession Sound - Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Steve Hinton
Date of Sighting: February 18, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM
Species seen: Grey whale
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Mission Beach area, about 300 yards off shore
Direction of travel : Traveling East toward Snohomish River Delta
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No

February 18
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sun, Feb 18 - Gulf Islands, BC (T18s, T30Bs, T117Bs) - T30B2 Capella leaping next to T30B1 Vega - T19 Nootka - T30B Lyra with her new calf T30B3 - Not many orca encounters leave us speechless, but today was one of those days! We left the dock with our friends at Maya's Legacy Whale Watching without any whale reports in the area, but you never know what you'll find unless you go out and look. After a couple hours of searching, we found the T18s heading north in the the southern Gulf Islands. Suddenly, they made an abrupt course change and started traveling at speed. Shortly after saying, "They're acting like they're going to meet up with somebody" we spotted more dorsal fins ahead. The T18s came in to join the T30Bs and T117Bs who were in active pursuit of a Steller sea lion. It was incredible to watch the tactics on both sides, with the whales circling wide and taking turns coming in to lunge at and ram the sea lion, and the sea lion spending a lot of time upside down to look for the next attack. Before we left, the sea lion attempted to take refuge behind the boat. The whales fell back, and as we tried to depart the area, the sea lion was keeping pace right alongside us; what was perhaps most amazing was that he showed no apparent injuries at that point despite the beating he had been taking! The action was incredible and the emotions were running high all the way around. Jason will have an epic video of this encounter to share in the week ahead, but for now here are a few still images of one of our most memorable Bigg's encounters of all time.  -Orca Behavior Institute -photos & IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, February 18, 2024
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One thing that constantly amazes me about Bigg's killer whales is that calves are always right in the thick of the hunt, regardless of their age. A newborn orca calf weighs about 400 lbs - only 16% of the weight of an adult male Steller sea lion! One wrong move during a hunt and a calf could be seriously injured, but that didn't stop T30B Lyra from having her ~1 month old T30B3 participate in the sea lion pursuit we saw last weekend. One thing I noticed upon going through my photos in detail is that the calf always seemed to be on the outside of mom relative to the sea lion, as you can see in the photo (the sea lion is partially visible in the foreground). Imagine the awareness it takes from the mother to maintain that position during the chaos of the hunt, and the discipline in takes from the calf to stay where it belongs! To my human self, it would seem that the risk of having the calf partake at such a young age would outweigh the benefit of having it participate. It's too small to help in any significant way, and too young to be eating solid food. But clearly killer whales think differently: teach 'em young! -Orca Behavior Institute -photos by Monika Wieland Shields, February 18, 2024
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Sea lion hunt with the T18s, T30Bs, and T117Bs. -video by Jason Shields, February 18, 2024
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15:33 - Currently docking at Pender Island, BC from Long Harbour, Salt Spring Island. Small pod of orcas viewed from the ferry just off the east coast of Salt Spring, somewhat near Ruckle Park. Two small crafts and one sailboat enjoying the show. Too far away for pictures, but definitely a good male dorsal fin that keeps popping up! Lots of splashing and tail slaps, etc! -Ashley Meadows
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Feb 18 14:47 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.80908,-123.34160
Number Sighted: 3
Submitted Comments: Off of Salt Spring Island, Beaver Point
Submitter Name: Brigitte
Whale Alert App
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Sun, Feb 18 - Victoria, B.C. (T60D & T60E)
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Feb 18 14:47 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.40959,-123.34239 [Victoria, BC] 
Number Sighted: 2
Submitter Name: Suzanne Crawley
Whale Alert App
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14:22 - For all of you in Victoria, BC today, the T60 brothers are moving east along Beacon Hill Park close to shore.  -George Hamilton [WSSJI]
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DOLPHINS - Sun, Feb 18 - South Puget Sound - 09:30 - We live in Grapeview right across from the north end of Harstine Island… no whales lately but we saw two dolphins in front of our house today. They were with a group of twelve to fifteen sea lions. Sea lions were flopping around on the surface and the dolphins were leaping way out of the water. I didn’t know what type of dolphins they were but we rarely see dolphins in Pickering Passage. -Cammy Malm LaRiviere

February 17
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sat, Feb 17 - Powell River, B.C. (T36, T36Bs, T90s, T99s, T124A2s, T124C, T137s)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Christina Waterton
Date of Sighting: February 17, 2024
Time: 10:16 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 9
Where seen: Powell River, Bc
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Travelling,
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
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Sat, Feb 17 - Rosario Strait (T18s, T60D & T60E) - 11:30 - 12:45 - I was on scene with them from James Island down to Lopez Island T18's with T60 D&E. -Tyson Parker Reed, Island Adventures
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11:44 - Per Serena Tierra, Orca Network relayed from discord chat: “A couple of pods are southbound in Rosario [Strait]. Watching from Washington Park, a couple miles out, almost to Bird Rocks.”
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, Feb 17 - Upper Saratoga Passage  - 07:38 - Whale feeding off English Boom [County Park on north Camano Island] this morning.  -Leah McKenzie Patterson [CWW]
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Sat, Feb 17 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - 16:50 - 17:10 - Spotted the gray whale from the air, right at the last reported location just north of Baby Island! Frequent surfaces and no significant movement, was last headed away from Greenbank towards Camano. -photo by Matt Gilbert, February 17, 2024
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16:40 - Seems to be circling the same spot. Anyone’s guess to which direction he’ll choose. I’m heading out.
16:27 - Zigzagging! Doing 180 turns but trending south/southeastward maybe? Roughly a mile directly north of Baby Island.
16:25 - Direction change again. Pointed back towards Camano State Park. Picked up speed a bit.
16:05 - Direction change. Now pointed west-southwest. Pointed right at Greenbank. Very slow travel, roughly two miles per hour. Shallow surfaces; could be dozing.
15:15 - Still moving against the tide north/northwest. Can’t tell exactly how much west he’s pointed, but travel is slow and steady [approx. 48.118500, -122.519542].
13:55 - CRC53 off East Point trending northwest. Whidbey side. -Sam Wallace
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13:30 - CRC53 milling off of East Point, now on the Whidbey side. -Emily Wandres
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12:40 - CRC53 is circling around slowly at my map spot. Currently pointed northbound [approx. 48.099658, -122.472056]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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CRC53 Little Patch
12:30 - Milling in the same spot as last report, midchannel just south of Fox Spit/East Point.
12:09 - Now just south of Fox Spit, still slowly northbound on Camano side of midchannel.
11:56 - Continuing northbound slowly on Camano side of Saratoga, between Fox Spit and Bells Beach on Whidbey.
11:39 - Trending northwest now [approx. 48.097685, -122.452906].
11:26 - CRC53 now westbound.
11:15 - CRC53 feeding, trending south. The tide is too high to get closer, so he may go out of view for me if he continues around the point [approx. 48.103617, -122.440480].
11:10 - Gray is still in the same area, south of Sara's map from earlier. Only saw one blow as I was walking, not sure if traveling or feeding. -back of camera photo & ID by Serena Tierra, February 17, 2024
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10:25 - One gray milling just south of Elger Bay [approx. 48.115625, -122.460446]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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Sat, Feb 17 - Possession Sound  - Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: February 17, 2024
Time: 1:50 PM
Species seen: Possibly Gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Lat 48.0022 long -122.2928
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Off Hat Island
Photos available?: No

February 16
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Fri, Feb 16 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - J-Pod in the morning, J-Pod in the afternoon! Our day started with a lovely line of backlit blows in San Juan Channel as J-Pod headed north, and concluded with spread out Js heading south down Haro Strait on the opposite side of San Juan Island. Here's J31 Tsuchi under the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. A gorgeous sight, but also a concerning one, with the Olympics having only 30% of their normal snowpack for this time of year. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, February 16, 2024
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20:25 - Clear J pod calls on Orcasound Lab hydrophone (in center of about thirteen minute candidate with many SRKW calls. Replay the candidate with human annotations here. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound [WSSJI]
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19:50 - I heard them too and possible echolocation clicks.  -T.L. Stokes
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19:10 - I heard them! -Elsarape Rodriguez
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18:40 - Still hearing J pod calls through the ship noise in Haro Strait. And a reminder, if you miss the live event, you can go back and listen to clips tagged by listeners as interesting via this reports page - https://live.orcasound.net/reports. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound 
*
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Fri Feb 16 18:00 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.45861,-123.28323
Number Sighted: 9
Submitted Comments: Approximately one mile east of Ten Mile Point in Haro Strait.
Submitter Name: Gerald Graham
Whale Alert App
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17:43 - Peeked in from Iowa - very vocal. -Pixie Lheureux
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17:39 - J pod calls still audible and getting louder. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
17:38 - Still hearing them.  -Joe Dreimiller
*
18:00 - Still continuous J vocals on the Orcasound hydrophone.
17:14 - Calls getting a bit louder, friend at Lime Kiln has a visual on them heading up Haro but far over on the Canadian side. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
17:00 - Calls getting louder again on Lime Kiln hydrophone.  -Orca Network
*
16:35 - Report of possible flip northbound near Beautmont Shoal. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
16:25 - So wonderful to hear J pod calls for so long. Still some audible on Lime Kiln hydrophone/webcam. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:00 - They are still visible on the cam & fairly vocal. The contrast between water & mountains today is so cool! Saw a breach around 15:56 mark. -Melissa Bird
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15:56 - Some spotted southbound towards the Discovery Island lighthouse. Exiting? -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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15:49 - What a thrill to see them live, even if it's via webcam from my living room in Minneapolis. Such joy! Thank you! -Kate Hopper
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15:45 - Thank you for sharing! I popped into the webcam between my lessons and was able to see them. Heart is full. -screengrab from Lime Kiln webcam by Chloe Ross, February 16, 2024
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15:20 - We just saw two orcas by Sunset Point on San Juan Island. They were headed south west. -Diana Rizzo Talley [ONCG]
*
15:33 - Loud echolocation and loud calls. Some of J pod closer to Lime Kiln side. Glassy calms seas, serenely beautiful view via webcam.
15:19 - J pod pretty far offshore as they continue south, but maybe shifting slightly more east. And one male at least just popped up well east of the others on the webcam!
15:15 - Calls and J pod audible/visible still. Such a beautiful back drop on the webcam as they head south, especially when the snow capped peaks in view. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
15:32 - At least one close in just north of Lime Kiln.
15:18 - A couple a bit closer to Lime Kiln just surfaced.
15:12 - Leaders passing the Kelp Reef mark. Southbound. Still on the Canadian side of the strait.
14:36 - On the cam now. Mid haro, westbound. North of Lime Kiln.
14:31 - Faint calls and clicks on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
*
10:40 - Confirmed J-Pod by the Center for Whale Research who is now on scene with them as they head north off the west side of Waldron.
08:35 - Picking up speed now, guessing J-Pod off number of whales but too far for 100% confirmation.
08:15 - Resting line of at least a dozen whales on east side of channel between Reuben Tarte and Jones, still northbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
07:30 - Pod of orcas off Spring Point, Orcas Island. No ID but definitely a male there, three to five individuals. -Joy Hughes [WSSJI]
*
GRAY WHALES - Fri, Feb 16 - Upper Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust) - 13:15 - Gray heading out of Polnell Shores. Heading south [approx. 48.264059, -122.556761]. -Terra Parham 
*
11:13 - Between Mariner’s Cove and Brown Point two grays closer to Camano slowly moving northward. -Paul E. Belanger
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11:08 - Volunteer Paul Belanger called to report seeing two grays southeast of Mariner Cove Whidbey, between there and eastern Utsalady Bay, Camano. They appear to be trending north, approaching Brown Point, Camano, mid channel to maybe closer to Camano side.
*
09:15 - From Mariner’s Cove, I'm watching spouts way in the distance to the east - I can see two grays through my binoculars. It looks like they are heading south toward Camano, but they are not in any hurry.   -Marianne Parry
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Fri, Feb 16 - Possession Sound (CRC2246) - 12:40 - Gray whale CRC-2246 is eastbound from my blue map spot [approx. 48.001477, -122.297148]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: February 16, 2024
Time: 8:50 AM
Species seen: Possibly a Gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Possession Sound
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Between Jetty Island Hat Island and Priest Point
Photos available?: No

February 15
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Thu, Feb 15 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca 
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Rich Jude
Date of Sighting: February 15, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 7
Where seen: Protection Island
Direction of travel : West to East
Behaviors observed: Lots of juvenile tail slaps, spy hopping, breaching
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Lots of exuberant activity. Young juveniles out front breaching and tall slapping.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Unspecified Sighting: [orcas per Orca Network follow up]
Sighting Time: Thu Feb 15 13:05 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.00870,-122.86172 (Discovery Bay)
Number Sighted: 5
Submitter Name: Pamela
Whale Alert App AND Orca Network follow up: Hi there, thanks for the email. Yes, they did look like orcas with the black fins and tails. They were spraying water in the air. There were two whales ahead, and then it looked like the other three were behind a bit of the rest. The front (two) looked like a juvenile or a bit larger whale. The back three whales had a larger one in it. Hope this helps! I was in shock and awe. -Pamela Allain
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, Feb 15 - North Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust) - 21:00 - A quick report now? It's night-time, but I just came in from being outside spending some quality time in the dark with one of our gray pals - 21:00, Mariner’s Cove, southbound. I first heard the puff from inside, so hustled out there to check it out. There is something so magical about a calm, quiet night and hearing a gray just barely off the beach feeding. You can hear the blow followed by the inhale, and gentle (and not-so-gentle) splashing - just so cool! Anyway, I'm going to guess that it's Stardust because of the power of the blow - to me, it seems louder and more forceful than the other grays I've seen, and it's the first thing I've noticed about that particular whale in these last few sightings. Just a guess though since it's dark and I can't see anything. -Marianne Parry
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15:00 - Grey whale close to shore going eastbound very close to Utsalady Point Park. -Scot Sebelsky [CWW]
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CRC56 Stardust - We had this beautiful visitor today in Oak Harbor, WA (Polnell Point). - photos by Greg & Terra Parham, February 15, 2024
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09:51 - [gray] Back here in Polnell Shores.
09:40 - [North Saratoga gray] Whale headed southeast from Mariner’s Cove [Whidbey]. -Terra Parham
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CRC56 Stardust - 08:45 - This gray seems to like hanging out here for breakfast the past few days. Feeding very leisurely at south end of Mariner’s Cove/Oak Harbor, and slowly heading south toward Polnell. -photo by Marianne Parry, February 15, 2024
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08:15 - Good morning! There is one gray feeding right off the beach [by] Mariner’s Cove [Whidbey]. -Tyler McKeen
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Thu, Feb 15 - Saratoga Passage
17:10 - Still moving slowly northwest, now about two-thirds of the way between Baby Island and Hidden Beach.
16:45 - Appears to be one gray whale. First spotted northwest of Baby Island, closer to the Greenbank side than the Camano side of Saratoga Passage. Heading slowly northwest towards Hidden Beach. -Martha Poppy Sinclair
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14:10 - 14:15 - Grey headed north passed Fox Spit. -photo by Amber Noel Conley, February 15, 2024
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12:14 - Doing some deep dives staying about due east of Bells Beach.
12:05 - Langley Whale Center staff watching gray whale off Whale Bell Park in Langley, northbound, but might be looping back south. -Katie Davis Watkins, Orca Network
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08:17 - Per Amber Noel Conley gray whale was still in same general location south side Fox Spit community feeding.
07:45 - 08:04 - Thanks to Amber Noel Conley for messaging earlier and updating now about a gray whale first seen off Fox Spit, Whidbey who then "headed south to Bells Beach. It is still here in between Fox Spit and Bells." 

February 14
GRAY WHALES - Wed, Feb 14 - Possession Sound (CRC2246) - CRC2246 - 12:30 - Slowly eastbound. -photo by Rachel Rodell, February 14, 2024
*
12:20 - Grey whale southeast Hat Island. -Trevor Tillman, PSE

February 13
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Tue, Feb 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T123s) - Excerpt from the Center for Whale Research Encounter #15: “The animal appeared to be milling so Mark trolled Mike 1 slowly in the direction of it it with hopes of another sighting before all light was lost. With another binocular scan he saw a cow and bull appear within 1/4 nm that appeared to be hunting or prey sharing a likely seal. Mark was able to confirm it was the T123s and watched them finish up their prey before the four of them grouped up and picked up the pace on an eastward track. The brief encounter was ended 11 minutes later at 1811 as they made a line for Enterprise Channel at 8.5 knots with the building flood current behind them.” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #15.
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, Feb 13 - Skagit Bay (CRC2441)
15:10 - Last update from me! Upper Skagit gray (we think 2441) has pushed further east, deeper into Skagit Bay. Seems very casual without a care in the world, definitely not on a deadline (basically… a gray whale).
14:20 - Upper Skagit gray has flipped back north, Camano side of midchannel, just north of the Maple Grove boat launch.
13:37 - This upper Skagit gray is pretty steadily west now, midchannel between Mariner’s Cove and the Maple Grove Boat Launch.
1:20 - I think this upper Skagit Bay gray is just one. Still milling in the same general area in between Utsalady & Strawberry Point.
12:49 - Another surfacing a little further south, but still pointing north. Not sure if that was a second whale or the original one doing a big loop.
12:40 - One gray [CRC2441] in between the red channel marker and Strawberry Point, heading north -[approx. 48.285720, -122.509964]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound - CRC2441 -ID by Serena Tierra, Orca Network -back of camera photos by Sara Montour Lewis, February 13, 2024
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10:27 - Definitely two whales [CRC56 by Mariner’s Cove]. Just saw the blow [CRC2441] in about the same spot in Skagit Bay.
09:07 - [CRC2441] blow in same area, so milling/feeding I'm guessing, very high tide right now.
09:02 - [CRC2441] another blow approx. here [48.288079, -122.435822], maybe east trend.
08:55 - Just spotted the blow of a gray whale, looking from Mariner's Cove towards Brown Point, Camano, east of Utsalady Bay. Appeared mid-channel or further away.  -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Tue, Feb 13 - North Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust)
10:32 - CRC56 has made a direction change. Now headed west/southwest. West of Mariner’s Cove. Last update from me!
10:25 - CRC56 is continuing eastbound. Maybe midchannel or slightly Whidbey side. Nearly to out from Mariner’s Cove area.
10:15 - CRC56 Stardust spent time feeding halfway between Polnell Point & Mariner’s Cove, but is now pushing south offshore, slightly trend east. Not in a hurry.
09:40 - Too far for me for photos, appears to be facing east. Last surfacing still had him eastbound towards Mariner’s Cove. 
09:35 - [CRC56] gray close to shore approximately one mile east of Polnell Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network - CRC56 Stardust -photos by Rachel Haight, February 13, 2024
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Tue, Feb 13 - Saratoga Passage - (CRC53 Little Patch) - I finally caught up with my boy, CRC53 Little Patch, feeding at Hidden Beach at sunset. Love him so much! -photos by Donna George, February 13, 2023
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17:14 - Friend reports gray now feeding of north end of Hidden Beach.
16:27 - Friend reports "close to Whidbey shore by the Hidden [Beach] houses - seems to be heading more north."
16:16 - Friend reports "from Wonn - he's crossing Holmes Harbor close heading north." -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Tue, Feb 13 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - Best way to end (or start) the day. Little Patch CRC53 feeding off of Hidden Beach at sunset. Link to videos. -photo by Emily Wandres, February 13, 2024
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15:22 - From a friend - gray whale entering Holmes Harbor aimed towards Wonn Road. Now more northbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
15:06 - Gray is not making much progress northbound at the moment, has been trending west towards Whidbey.
14:45 - Gray continuing northbound Whidbey side of midchannel off entrance of Holmes Harbor.
14:11 - Continuing northbound Whidbey side of midchannel between Camano Island State Park and Fox Spit.
13:47 - Gray is heading north/northwest, Whidbey side of midchannel off East Point.
13:25 - Gray is definitely northbound now (slowly), between Bells Beach and Fox Spit.
13:17 - Gray is trending west near Bells Beach.
12:29 - Still in the same area, I'm guessing somewhere around here [approx. 48.077105, -122.438519].
12:19 - Seeing a gray whale blow far to the southwest of Camano Island State Park, Whidbey side of midchannel. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:24 - Mid channel in Elger Bay, still moving northwest.
10:52 - The gray that was at Mabana has moved north and is heading more towards the Whidbey side and Baby Island. -Thomas McKane
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08:40 - There’s a lone gray feeding right now half way between Mabana and Summerland. -Rob Gee [CWW] 

February 12
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 12 - Active Pass (J Pod) - J Pod in Active Pass. -video by Salish Sea Orca Squad, February 12, 2024
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 12 - Bellingham Bay (T36/T36Bs, T90s, T99s, T137s)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jacob Tully
Date of Sighting: February 12, 2024
Time: 4:30 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 7
Where seen: East shore Lummi Island through Hales Passage
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed: Moving steadily in same direction as a group, lots of surfacing with continuous
group travel heading northwest
If orcas, any males?: 2 adults, unsure of sex
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Specifically wondering if they were southern residents or transients?
Photos available?:
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Patrick Weber
Date of Sighting: February 12, 2024
Time: 1:30 PM
Species seen: orcas
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: 48.7446087, -122.5576451 (Bellingham Bay)
Direction of travel : N, kinda meandering not much room to go north in the Bay
Behaviors observed: milling
If orcas, any males?: yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I'm guessing 6+ ish
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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13:30 - 14:30 - These photos from Bellingham Bay. Shot from Bellingham cold storage. They were milling in the middle of the bay. Lots of breaches in different directions. -photos by Patrick Weber, February 12, 2024
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15:41 - They’re headed up Hale Passage! -Rose Caitlin [WSSJI]
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14:51 - Viewing from Marine Park looking due west. Blows are only visible at this point, but there are two groups about half mile apart from each other. It’s hard to give north or south direction from this distance. Putting pin about here and taking off. Good luck guys!
14:00 - Watching a group of orcas from Boulevard Park in Bellingham! They’re north of Zuanich Point Park and about even with the steam plume coming from the plant to the north. They’re milling and lots of bird activity is happening - likely on a kill. Too far for IDs but at least eight in the group including one big male and a little! -Amanda Marie [WSSJI]
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, Feb 12 - Possession Sound - My friend Steve Price shared this [photo] with me, saw this morning heading south by Mukilteo. That's all the info I have. -Janine Harles -photo by Steve Rice, February 12, 2024
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Mon, Feb 12 - North Saratoga Passage - 11:22 - Gray whale headed southwest from Polnell Shores [48.249283, -122.595001]. -photos by Terra Parham, February 12, 2024
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10:00 - I was watching a gray feeding just off the beach on the south end of Mariner's Cove (north of Polnell Point). It hung out here for a good twenty minutes and then slowly started working its way south toward Polnell. The pec was quite distinctive (but no photo) - it has a thick white stripe down the middle area from tip to body, and another on the edge, so it was easy to spot just under the surface as the whale as feeding. -photo by Marianne Parry, February 12, 2024
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Mon, Feb 12 - Saratoga Passage - 15:58 - Gray whale across from Camano Island State Park, closer to Whidbey, headed northbound. -Charvet Drucker
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Mon, Feb 12 - Port Susan - 16:05 - Got a gray whale heading south at Tulalip Shores per Port Susan Whale Watch messages. -Sam Wallace

February 11
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sun, Feb 11 - Gulf Islands, BC
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Killer Whale (Orca) Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Feb 11 23:55 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.84049,-123.33363 [NW Mayne Island, BC]
Number Sighted: 5
Photos: See below
Submitter Name: Stephen Delaney 
Whale Alert App -photo by Stephen Delaney, February 11, 2024
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GRAY WHALES - Sun, Feb 11 - North Saratoga Passage
11:48 - [Gray whale feeding] Saratoga Passage, by Mariner’s Cove. -Kevin Hall [PSWS]
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Sun, Feb 11 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch)
14:51 - Gray whale passing state park southbound on Camano side.
14:36 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - seeing blows between Greenbank and Hidden Beach. Hard to tell direction with the wind. Whidbey side of mid channel. -Linda Aitkins
*
13:30 - Saw Little Patch between Fox Spit and Baby Island northwestbound close to Whidbey.
13:55 - He's gone out from shore at Whidbey and appears to be mid channel and possibly heading north [approx. 48.114074, -122.515748]. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
11:58 - Still roughly in the same spot but moved a bit more north than before. Still about mid channel. Can only see blows from the shore.
11:23 - Seeing just a blow off of Mabana. I would say about mid channel and looks to be going northbound. -Charvet Drucker
*
10:37 - I don’t think it is still there but have been seeing occasional spouts more mid channel west - that’s my best guess on current location [48.098196, -122.436479].
08:45 - Grey whale very close to shore in downtown Langley.  -Larry Benesh 

February 10
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sat, Feb 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca 
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Samara Cockburn
Date of Sighting: February 10, 2024
Time: 12:15 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: East Sooke, seen from Cabin Point on the East Sooke coast trail
Direction of travel : SE, slow
Behaviors observed: feeding
If orcas, any males?: 1 male?
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Samara Cockburn, February 10, 2024
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Sat, Feb 10 - Rosario Strait (T36, T36Bs & T137s) - T36B Tattertip -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - T137A Jack
16:54 - Continuing south, passing Lummi Rocks.
16:25 - I think the T137s just passed me on west Lummi, I think it’s Jack with the two big notches in the fin! But there were more than four, videos incoming! They’ve continued south in Rosario close to Lummi side [video in FB comments]! -screengrabs from video by Rose Caitlin, February 10, 2024
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Sat, Feb 10 - Puget Sound (T87, T100Bs + new calf designated T100B3, T100E) - T100B Freya & T100E Tharaya - T100B1 & T100B3 -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Just when you think a beautiful winter day couldn't get any better weather wise, some beautiful transient orcas came for a little visit and just brighten the whole day. Today T87 (Harbeson the oldest known male transient estimated to be born around 1962) along with T100E (Tharaya a female born in 2009) and the T100B Freya is a female born in 1997 and T100B1 (not sexed, born in 2010) and a tiny little surprise. Yes, that is an adorable new baby in the group. Presumed to be T100B3 but I won’t say for sure until officially released. Freya did have one more calf born in 2016 that didn't survive and was taken off the census in 2017. Fun fact - they are related to the T101s which makes Freya, Reef’s granddaughter. I can't get enough of learning and sharing about these beauties. Just want to say that citizen science contributes to the bigger picture for these whales we all love. Link to more photos. -photos by April Basham, February 10, 2024
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The experience was shared and captured by many. Enjoy. Link to more photos. -photos by Craig Killer, February 10, 2024
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T100B Freya & T100B3 - Little calf cruising by Southworth earlier. -photos by Mollie Segall, February 10, 2024
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T100B3 & T100B Freya - T87 Harbeson - On Saturday, with no recent reports of orcas inland, it was a sweet surprise to hear a report of orcas down in Dalco Passage. Had just enough time to grab my gear and sprint down to the beach and try and meet whoever this was as they moved northbound in Colvos Passage. Sun on the west side of the island made for some intense glare looking south, but soon, a flash of light caught my eye, mid channel just north of Point Richmond, which turned out to be sunlight bouncing off an impressive giant shiny dorsal. As he got close enough to snap a picture of, I could see immediately that it was none other than the most dapper Silver Fox there is, Harbeson/T087. Harbeson is thought to be the oldest living male in the west coast transient orca population, estimated to be in his early to mid sixties. He is an incredibly impressive male, and sports a small hooked top of his dorsal and a nice sized chunk missing on the trailing edge near the tip, a pretty significant identifiable feature. It’s a sigh of relief to see him still cruising the Salish, and so grateful for each year we get to see him traveling through these waters. As they approached, I could see three others with him, plus a tiny, itty bitty dorsal. Soon, a blunt little rostrum broke the surface with that light peachy pink glow, and could see what appeared to be a very young, possibly new-ish baby. Besides Harbeson, the rest of the group did not look familiar and were fins I didn’t recognize right away, new-to-me whales. After some conversations with our team and other eyes on the pictures, Monika Wieland Shields over at Orca Behavior Institute determined them to be T100E and T100Bs with a previously undocumented baby in tow. A newbie! Being able to see one of, if not the oldest orca in this population, as well as possibly one of the youngest, traveling together, was incredibly special. Wishing this new little babe, which is looking likely to be T100B3, a robust year of health. Welcome, little one! -photos by Marla Smith, February 10, 2024
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T100B Freya & T100B3 -T100B Freya, T100B1, T100B3, T100E Tharaya -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Transient orcas visited central Puget Sound. Pod members were T87 Harbeson, T100Bs and T100E. And they brought along a new baby! Link to more photos. -photos by Mike Maddox, February 10, 2024
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T87 Harbeson -photos by Jim Pasola, February 10, 2024
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T100B3 - T100B1 & T100B3 -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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New baby: T100B3 - from Southworth today! Link to more photos. -photos by Hongming Zheng, February 10, 2024
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18:00 - Found them again right before I left. I was looking slightly to the right from Golden Gardens. Looks like they were continuing to head north [video in FB comments]! -Conner Helms
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17:51 - I just found them. A bit south of Golden Gardens still with non-directional travel. Midchannel. -Grace Haaland
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17:35 - Visible from Golden Gardens. Way out in the middle northbound. -Conner Helms
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16:40 - Floating behind them now! Mid channel coming up on Discovery Park. They were still heading north! -Jamie Smugeresky
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15:58 - Northbound just south of yellow buoy by Restoration Point. -Mary Hartmann
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Per our friends at OBI, Monika Wieland Shields says T100E & T100Bs present [with a new calf designated T100B3].
*
15:38 - Viewing from Pomeroy Park with line of sight to the Space Needle. Pod is completely north of Blake Island. Continuing northeast towards Seattle. Midchannel to Manchester side. -Candace Gavin
*
15:37 - Far west in channel northbound by Manchester fuel depot view from Emma Schmitz Park in West Seattle. -Mary Hartmann
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14:54 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Terminal [Southworth] staff report 6-8 Orca NB from Clovis passage.
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14:48 - Hugging west side of Blake Island, northbound. -David Michael
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14:45 - They passed on the west side of Blake Island close to the island heading north. -Jim Pasola
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14:40 - Northbound far west in channel between Southworth and Blake view from Jacobsen Road West Seattle. Three small boats nearby. -Mary Hartmann
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14:39 - They are now north past Southworth northbound. These videos were from 14:15 just south of Southworth before they cruised up. There is a large one leading and one to two medium sized behind it with a small baby. This was the most surface activity we saw. They are cruising northbound steadily [video in FB comments]. -Jasmine Myers
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14:36 - They are on the west side of Blake Island still northbound. -Candace Gavin
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14:34 - They appear to be heading north rather than rounding the point. Confirmed northbound. -Mollie Segall
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14:25 - Southworth. -Brian Livingston
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14:30 - The females have grouped up - third way across Colvos from Kitsap side. Passed Point Southworth. Still northbound. 
14:20 - At Point Southworth - big male leading, mama and calf trailing. Still headed northbound slowly. Two boats with them. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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14:19 - Just south of the Southworth ferry lines northbound on the Southworth side. -Candace Gavin
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14:09 - Approaching Southworth quickly! Mainland side. -Mollie Segall
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14:53 - Orcas hunting at Southworth. -John Montecucco
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14:13 - Just south of Southworth heading north.
13:43 - They’re right in front of us now [approx. 47.466538, -122.520128]. -Katie Rogers
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T100B Freya, T100B3, T100E Tharaya -IDs by Rachel Haight Orca Network
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13:30 - Baby and two orcas! In Colvos. -photo by Ryan Dicks, February 10, 2024
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T87 Harbeson & T100B3 -T100B Freya & T100E Tharaya in background, T87 Harbeson in the foreground
13:30 - Just north of Olalla. Saw five total, two groups, T87 was west of midchannel with another, and the other three including the baby were midchannel. Link to more photos. -photos by Jolena Tagg, February 10, 2024
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13:26 - Northbound passing Command Point, Olalla side. -Collin Carnahan
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13:14 - They grouped back up about five to ten minutes ago. There’s one large male, three females and a baby. Just past Olalla [video in FB comments]. -Ricardo Aguayo
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12:55 - Split in two groups now, past Lisabuela, three or so on mainland side of channel, at least two on Vashon side of channel, steady northbound travel with long downtimes. Very stealthy. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
T87 Harbeson -photos by Tom Frenock, February 10, 2024
*
12:49 - In Colvos. -photo by Ryan Dicks, February 10, 2024
*
12:39 - Male is Harbeson [T87] , three to four others with tiny baby. Approaching Lisabuela, mid channel, to island side of northbound with long down times. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
12:34 - At least four blows south of Olalla, traveling northbound. -Ashley S Whitman
*
12:31 - Just popped up!! Mid channel, northbound south of Lisabuela. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
12:30 - Seeing blows south of Lisabuela, closer to Vashon side. Viewing from Olalla. -Jolena Tagg
*
12:02 - Last I saw they looked to be around Sunrise Beach area. Still northbound. Long down times. Midchannel to Gig Harbor side. Visibly seeing the male dorsal the most. Hard to tell how many orca are present. -Candace Gavin
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Fred Cassels
Date of Sighting: February 10, 2024
Time: 11:55 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Off of Sunrise Beach Drive Park, Gig Harbor, toward Tacoma, about mid way.
Direction of travel : NE, staying in deeper water, medium pace. South of Vashon, toward east of Vashon.
Behaviors observed: Seemed to be traveling. We had two brief surfaces, then nothing.
If orcas, any males?: Probably males, longer, thinner dorsal fins.
Any unusual markings?: Too far away to tell. When I looked with binoculars, no more sightings.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: My wife and I both made the above observation (the second right after first) just before noon Saturday. We are staying at Airbnb next to Sunrise Beach Drive, had small fire pit fire. From 10:20pm until about midnight, we could hear what sounded to us to be whale breaths (sleeping whales?) with an occasional splash. The sounds were intermittent, mostly singles, sometimes two or three close together, sometimes farther off, sometimes pretty close. Orcas? We had seen a number of harbor seals earlier in day. Do they make that blowing exhale sound?
Photos available?: No
*
1154 - From Dune, looking towards Gig Harbor, closer to Gig Harbor side, facing north at the moment. Includes one male. -Candace Gavin
*
09:30 - Two groups of orca off Maury Island. One closer to Gold Beach side to the west, the other east near Dumas Bay. About four or five in each group travelling south. They stayed under water for extended periods. -Burt Miller
*
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sat, Feb 10 - BC
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Feb 10 13:38 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.13234,-123.80981 [south of Dodd Narrows, BC] 
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Madison
Whale Alert App
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, Feb 10 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - Visit from Little Patch today off of Camano. Taken at Camano State Park. Link to more photos. -photos by Charvet Drucker, February 10, 2024
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Evening with CRC53 Little Patch in Saratoga Passage - I’ve been resting the last few days and finally got out yesterday to look for this gray whale. He was reported passing Camano Island State Park close to shore and rounding the point into Elger Bay in the afternoon, just before high tide. I was hoping he would feed in the same spot as the day before, so I headed down to a beach just south of Elger Bay. He started off feeding where I was expecting before continuing south until he was directly in front of me, where he stayed for the rest of the evening. The water was incredibly calm the whole time and I listened to his blows until it got dark. All photos and video taken from shore on Camano. Link to more photos & videos. -photos by Serena Tierra, February 10, 2024
*
18:15 - He's somewhere to the southwest of me. Has stopped feeding, longer downtimes between surface intervals. Last update from me.
18:08 - I think he's moved offshore, can't see him anymore and the last few blows have sounded further away.
17:55 - Can barely see him but can still clearly hear CRC53 close to shore, feeding and trending south again.
17:41 - Was trying to take a picture of the water and caught his blow.
17:38 - Still feeding right off shore [approx. 48.108686, -122.449279].
16:55 - CRC53 still feeding just south of me, now trending north.
16:14 - CRC53 continuing to trend south while feeding, now south of me (blue dot on earlier map).
15:57 - CRC53 feeding just south of last report, currently trending south.
15:37 - CRC53 milling close to Camano shore here. Viewing from a private beach [approx. 48.113632, -122.458191]. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
15:00 - Little Patch hanging out in Elger Bay. Still kind of drifting south, but might be feeding. -Sam Wallace
*
14:54 - Michelle Smith called to report a gray whale off Lowell Point, Camano Island State Park traveling southbound. 
*
14:47 - Photos from Marie Bird Legters in CWW confirm the gray off Camano Island State Park is CRC53 Little Patch!
*
14:59 - Gray whale is in Elger Bay. We had a very close encounter including a spy hop as he passed Camano Island State Park.
14:28 - Gray whale southbound approaching boat launch at Camano Island State Park.
14:08 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park: gray whale Camano side of mid channel between north end of Camano Island State Park. Saw a nice tail fluke. Unable to determine direction of travel. -Linda Aitkins
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12:44 - Gray off of Hidden Beach, seems to be traveling east/away from Whidbey. -Emily Wandres
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10:52 - Per Emily, location [approx. 48.096296, -122.554352]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:25 - Gray moving west now, from north west of Baby Island. -Emily Wandres
*
10:09 - Emily Wandres messaged Rachel to report that from Hidden Beach she is seeing a gray whale off Baby Island/Fox Spit area, it looks like whale is heading northbound towards Hidden Beach [approx. 48.105699, -122.518625].

February 9
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Fri, Feb 9 - Margaret Bay, BC - 07:45 - Three orcas seen off of Margaret Bay on Vancouver Island. Hydrophone is down so can’t hear them. Seem to be slowly heading north. Lots of breaching. I think they ended up going south. Have not seen them for a while. -Sunshine April [WSSJI]
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Fri, Feb 9 - Boundary Pass - 16:21 - Saw what appeared to be a bunch of blows, coming across Boundary Pass, and now in front of Patos Island on the east side. -Silver Hubble [WSSJI]
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, Feb 9 - North Saratoga Passage - 08:37 - On this Friday morning a gray whale is 75 feet offshore and several hundred yards east of Polnell Point heading west towards Polnell Point. -Steve Rothboeck
*
Fri, Feb 9 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch)
17:23 - I believe it is finally heading out. It’s moving south.
16:45 - Going between that blue dot and into Elger Bay. Back and forth for about two hours now. Gorgeous waters. Hoping I got some great shots.
16:40 - Currently right off the shore at the blue dot here on the Camano side.
15:35 - Right outside of Elger Bay. Between Baby Island and Elger Bay but just a little off the Camano side. Very close to shore.
15:12 - Single whale. I believe grey. Feeding outside of Elger Bay. -Kasey Shepard
*
13:22 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - gray whale moved quickly and is on the Camano side at the point of Elger Bay.
13:00 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park. Camano side of midchannel southbound passing the boat launch.
12:40 - Viewing from Cama State Park. Gray whale is on Camano side between Cama and Camano Island State Park. Appears to be south bound. -Linda Aitkins
*
11:18 - Slowly moving north.
11:02 - Straight out from Hidden Beach. Still moving north.
10:59 - Seeing blows from Hidden Beach. Coming toward us from the south. -Mary Ellen O'Connor
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10:15 - Now passing Cama Beach, still heading north.
09:55 - Appears to be one gray whale. First spotted just north of Baby Island, heading north in Saratoga Passage. -Martha Poppy Sinclair
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09:39 - He's pretty far out now heading towards Baby Island.
09:18 - Grey heading towards Baby Island. He's right in front of East Point across from Camano Island State Park. -photo by Erin McCloskey Flynn, February 9, 2024
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CRC53 Little Patch
09:17 - Also after feeding for about ten minutes the whale is moving on westbound, Whidbey side.
09:11 - I’ve got a gray feeding right off of the shore at East Point [Whidbey Island]. -photos by Mollie Segall, February 9, 2024
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DOLPHINS - Fri, Feb 9 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Bottlenose Dolphin Sighting:
Sighting Time: Fri Feb 9 11:39 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.22848,-123.30891
Number Sighted: 1
Reported Animal Status: Live
Submitted Comments: Heading north facing Horseshoe Bay, spotted east 100m> from vessel
Submitter Name: Lucas
Whale Alert App

February 8
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Thu, Feb 8 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T2B, T41s, & T109Bs minus T109B3) - Excerpt from the Center for Whale Research Encounter #14: “A tight group of exhalations caught their attention at 1114 slightly south of their position abeam of Albert Head, marking the commencement of the encounter. Brendon identified the whales as the T041s, T109Bs and T002B. This provided a total count of eight whales in light of T109B3's absence. The whales maintained a steady pace of 4 knots while in a resting formation. By 1127, the pod veered southwestward, setting a course for William Head. Over the course of the next several surfacings, their movements became more dynamic and the group began to weave between inshore and offshore waters, with dive times averaging six minutes. Prior to one of these dives, the team noticed new rake marks on T041A’s left side and T041A3’s dorsal fin…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #14.

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Thu, Feb 8 - Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Olivia Graham
Date of Sighting: February 08, 2024
Time: 4:37 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: 48.77 N 123.04 W
Direction of travel : NE, relaxed pace
Behaviors observed: Traveling at a relaxed pace south of Saturna Island, seen off the Coastal Inspiration heading towards Vancouver
If orcas, any males?: No
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Could only see 2-3 mature female dorsal fins at a time. No calves or males sighted. Swimming about 500-600m off the ferry’s port side as it sailed towards Tswassen
Photos available?: No
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, Feb 8 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - Whidbey Island kept me on my toes this week. Three days of eagles stealing from the seals, sea lions snacking on skates, to Little Patch feasting at Hidden Beach. Link to more photos. -photos by Mollie Segall, February 8, 2024
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Little Patch (#53) feeding off Hidden Beach again directly in front of the houses and making big sweeps, a little further south than earlier February 6 post.  -photos by Sandy Pollard, February 8, 2024
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15:37 - He's still there as of ten minutes ago. -photo by Mel Nasby, February 8, 2024
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15:30 - Little Patch is repeating much the same pattern in front of Hidden Beach, and keeping the waiting scoters happy. -Sandy Pollard
*
14:39 - He went out, did his lunge, back in now. Last update from me, but tide is nice and high, so presume he'll be here for awhile longer. In front of houses off Hidden Beach.
14:32 - Still here. He seems to prefer the area in front of the houses on south side of Hidden Beach.
14:12 - Still here feeding repeating the pattern of feeding in close, then swimming out doing some surfacing then his head lunge, then coming back in to feed. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:40 - Spyhop! Saw his whole head lunge out of the water! This is Little Patch out from Hidden Beach.
13:31 - [video in FB comments].
13:12 - Little Patch is feeding right in front of Hidden Beach. -Mollie Segall
*
12:56 - Friend reports that presumably Little Patch is here trending west, perhaps returning to his feeding spot yesterday [approx. 48.122485, -122.552186]? -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
11:49 - Still trending west towards Hidden Beach from my viewpoint near Baby Island.
11:30 - I’ve got a gray whale off of East Point [Whidbey Island]. Mid channel between here and Camano. Looks to be heading west. -Mollie Segall

February 7
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Wed, Feb 7 - San Juans - Working on Orcas Island this past Wednesday [02/07], I spotted these orca off the west side of the island. I heard them first! They appeared to be hunting. My first wild orca encounter. I got to pet Tillikum’s tongue when I was a kid. I'm from Appalachia where we have no whales. Made my work day all the better! -photos by Michael Thomas, February 7, 2024
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Michael Thomas
Date of Sighting: February 07, 2024
Time: 10:49 AM
Species seen: Orca pod
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: South West side of Orcas island
Direction of travel : North slow
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: 2
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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Wed, Feb 7 - San Juans (T99s) - As promised, here's is Jason's video of our encounter with the T99s last week! We caught up with them in San Juan Channel on the afternoon of February 7th and saw a little bit of everything: resting, traveling, socializing, and a short but epic harbor porpoise hunt. (Please note that while the video does not contain blood and gore it does contain footage of the porpoise being rammed by the whales.) -Orca Behavior Institute -video by Jason Shields, February 7, 2024
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It was not a good day to be a harbor porpoise in San Juan Channel! The T99s went from 0-60 in a matter of seconds as they broke from resting formation and went straight into a high speed hunt. The pursuit only lasted a couple of minutes before T99C Barakat punted the porpoise a good 15-20 feet into the air. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, February 7, 2024
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15:40 - T99s still moving northwest close to San Juan shoreline between Point Caution and Mineral Point. Good time to run to Reuben Tarte! -Barbara Howitt [WSSJI]
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14:40 - Approaching Friday Harbor northbound on San Juan side of channel.
14:20 - Still northbound off Turn Island heading towards Friday Harbor.
13:45 - T99s now northbound off Pear Point on San Juan shoreline after having porpoise for lunch.
13:03 - Direction change west towards Pear Point. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
[WSSJI]
*
12:27 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:43 to report: 1227hrs: Vessel [SEALTH] reports 4 orca moving in a southbound direction in San Juan Channel, south of Shaw Island. 
*
12:25 - Now more mid channel southbound towards Griffin Bay.
12:15 - Now southbound again, I think San Juan Channel but not 100% committed yet.
12:05 - Just south of Friday Harbor, T99s milling on a possible kill. Still on Shaw side.
11:00 - Orcas seen from the inter-island ferry along the Shaw Island shoreline in San Juan Channel; no direction of travel given. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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GRAY WHALES - Wed, Feb 7 - North Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust & CRC2441)
14:18 - 2441 is trending south, just fluked.
14:14 - Just saw a blow west of Maple Grove, in the same area as earlier sighting of 2441.
13:48 - Was walking back to my car after looking for CRC56 at Utsalady Vista Point and spotted 2441 at the location of Bart's map (just north of his boat for anyone else out looking). I'm heading over to Maple Grove to get a closer look. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:45 - CRC-2441 is still circling at my map spot [approx. 48.261619, -122.563963].
13:00 - Gray whale CRC-2441 is circling at my map spot [approx. 48.248521, -122.544451]!
12:05 - Gray whale CRC-56 “Stardust” is eastbound at my blue map spot [approx. 48.266914, -122.510426]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
11:57 - Don’t know if it is same whale but seeing one mid channel west of orange channel marker between Utsalady Point and Strawberry Point heading east.
10:50 - Spouting midchannel between Strawberry Point [Whidbey] and Utsalady Point [Camano] heading east - think it’s a gray. -Pat Sebelsky [CWW]
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Wed, Feb 7 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - CRC53 Little Patch. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 7, 2024
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As I headed home this morning I stopped along the Saratoga shores looking for the greys. As I was getting near home, I see a blow quarter mid channel out. I saw from Orca Network it was Bart who initially posted Little Patch’s sighting. Thank you Bart. I watched for a bit then relocated across the street from my place and watched Little Patch head a little north and westbound… I kept my eye on him until he was about halfway to three quarters way towards Greenbank and looking like maybe Hidden Beach. I think by other reports he was on path a bit south of Hidden Beach. I messaged Christy that I was heading to Hidden.... she was on her way to do errands and such in Freeland. We met up and she drove us to Hidden Beach. We pulled in to the parking lot and not too long after, Little Patch found us… he was heading from the south of Hidden. It's like WOW. Yes - my heart was full. Christy had thrown on her grey whale necklace before leaving home. I think that is what did it! She and Little Patch were channeling each other. Link to more photos.  -photos by Marilyn Armbruster, February 7, 2024
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Fun to catch up with Gray Whale #53 "Little Patch" as he fed just off Hidden Beach this afternoon. My first gray whale for this 2024 season!  -photos by Jill Hein, February 7, 2024
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16:15 - I saw blows out from Hidden Beach. Viewing from East Point. My first gray whale sighting from land! -Mollie Segall
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16:00 - Grey whale heading north past Camp Grande boathouse. -Karla Kay [CWW]
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15:15 - Pushing off Hidden Beach a bit, but still out here.
15:04 - Still here Off Hidden Beach. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:41 - [video in FB comments]. -Cindi Crowder Rausch 
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14:34 - Still off Hidden Beach. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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13:50 - Little Patch out from Hidden Beach parking lot maybe 300 feet if that. Just right off shore. Feeding.
13:25 - Directly out from Hidden Beach maybe 500 yds? Northbound Little Patch. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:11 - CRC53 still slowly northbound, Whidbey side of midchannel. Between north end of Camano Island State Park and just south of Hidden Beach. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:40 - Now more westbound. Possibly towards Hidden Beach or at least in line [approx. 48.123836, -122.527972]. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:30 - CRC53 slowly northbound off north end of Camano Island State Park, just north of Bart and Marilyn's maps. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:20 - Update on CRC 53 still northbound [approx. 48.119236, -122.513990]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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11:20 - From my vantage point see map [approx. 48.112971, -122.515483]. I'm viewing from Baby Island Heights now. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:21 - Maybe milling out there.
11:15 - Seeing 53s blows from Hidden Beach. Seems like traveling north/northeast. Just a bit south of Hidden Beach, maybe Whidbey side midchannel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
11:09 - Update on gray 53 from Marilyn Armbruster: Definitely moved out north of mid triangle.
*
11:00 - Watching from Camano Island State Park. -Shelley Bateman Mooth
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10:58 - Message from Marilyn Armbruster has gray 53 Little Patch offshore northwest of East Point/southwest of Camano Island State Park currently aimed northish, could be milling too.
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10:40 - Gray whale CRC-53 is northbound off East Point, Whidbey Island [approx. 48.098134, -122.492504]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Wed, Feb 7 - Possession Sound - Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: February 07, 2024
Time: 1:20 PM
Species seen: Possibly a gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Lat 48.01589 Lon -122.2519
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Between Hat Island, jetty, Island and Priest point.
Photos available?: No

February 6
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Tue, Feb 6 - Haro Strait (T60D & T60E) - Excerpt from the Center for Whale Research Encounter #13: “Dave and Michael headed towards the whales, but they went down on another long dive. Next time the team saw them, they were 2/3 mile off shore of the team. Finally, on the next sequence, the whales surfaced just a few hundred yards to their south. The team was able to approach the whales and begin their encounter. The team quickly IDed the two males as T60D and T60E, whales that had been well documented in previous encounters. The whales briefly milled, and then continued swimming quickly to the north. As the whales approached Zero Rock, they split up, with T60D going further east while T60E passed near Zero Rock. The team stayed with the whales until the research vessel Skana was able to get on scene, and then ended their encounter at 10:40…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #13.
*
10:05 - T60D and T60E are now closer to the Vancouver Island side but still northbound, currently near Gordon Head.
09:35 - Two orcas mid-Haro off Lime Kiln heading north. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Tue, Feb 6 - Hawaii (BCY1218 Kata) - Per Happywhale, our lovely humpback friend Kata, who spends time inland Salish Sea, is in Hawaii! This is the first breeding ground match for Kata who was documented on February 6th off the west coast of the big island and observed escorting a mom/calf pair. In 2022 many of you became acquainted with Kata during their extended stay in Central Puget Sound.
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, Feb 6 - North Saratoga Passage (CRC56 Stardust)
16:43 - Seeing just the one, milled a bit at the pin [approx. 48.276539, -122.522396], now headed south/southeast towards Camano. Long downtimes. Last update from me, good luck!
16:23 - One approx. here [48.277791, -122.537412] eastbound, beautiful sunlit blows.
16:20 - Saw two, appeared maybe eastbound east of Polnell Shores, one further ahead closer to Whidbey, the other more midchannel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:09 - Make that two. Moving very slowly northward on the east side of the spit connecting to Polnell Point.
15:50 - At least one gray feeding [approx. 48.271364, -122.556218]. -Smith Siromaskul
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15:38 - On this Tuesday afternoon I just saw a whale spout several hundred feet east of the southern tip of Polnell Point. Perhaps heading towards Mariner’s Cove. -Steve Rothboeck
*
14:00 - Gray whale CRC-56 “Stardust” is circling at the dark blue spot on my map [approx. 48.467501, -122.563064]. Southwest of Polnell Point near Oak Harbor. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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Tue, Feb 6 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - Gray whale Little Patch (#53) busy feeding directly out from Hidden Beach on a quiet, spring like afternoon, close enough to shore to hear blows while providing welcome leftovers for the waiting scoters and gulls. -photos by Sandy Pollard, February 6, 2024
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15:45 - Grey whale directly out from Hidden Beach feeding. Was close enough to hear blows but has now drifted more mid-channel, still northbound. No fluking. No ID. Raft of scoters waiting for leftovers.
15:10 - Heart shaped blow just south of Hidden Beach northbound closer to Whidbey. -Sandy Pollard
*
14:32 - Need to go put my groceries up! Little Patch is SLOWLY making progress up Saratoga. He is northbound. Map is approximate [48.116295, -122.526296]. Last surfacing seemed closer to Whidbey. And now traveling southwest.
13:49 - From my vantage point, (see my first post) it looks like he hasn’t moved.
13:22 - See map for pin [approx. 48.112677, -122.505833]. Seeing blows. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
12:30 - Gray whale CRC-53 “Little Patch” is currently north-eastbound from my map spot [approx. 48.098180 -122.492464]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Gray Whale Sighting:
Sighting Time: Tue Feb 6 9:56 PST
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.09599,-122.50511 [between Fox Spit & Baby Island]
Number Sighted: 1
Reported Animal Status: Live
Submitter Name: Melinda Furrer
Whale Alert App
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Tue, Feb 6 - Possession Sound (CRC2246) - 16:37 - Gray whale CRC-2246 is eastbound at my blue marker in the map [approx. 48.002665, -122.297193]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife

February 5
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Mon, Feb 5 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (J Pod) - J47 Notch on right - A few days ago, a friend and I watched a large group of whales approach from the north skirting down Whidbey Island! When I pulled up my first picture - it was clear that we had our endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales coming for a visit. A few more pictures clarified that it was J pod. Well, they went between central and north Puget Sound for a couple of days, then, they decided they had had enough of us, and they headed back up Admiralty to exit the sound. I caught them from Shore Meadows, then followed to Bush Point, Lagoon Point, and finally Fort Casey. I normally don't bother going to Casey in the winter. That bluff is COLD and WINDY. You can watch from the warmth of your cozy car if you park by the lighthouse. Guess what I did? We observed a common, but interesting behavior during this encounter - logging, AKA, napping! Orca never fully go to sleep. They are voluntary breathers, meaning they must make the decision to breathe. Because of this… half their brain stays active when they nap. Now, we had a group of four take a siesta about 75 yards off shore from us. The logging itself was fairly uneventful… I mean, it is napping, but they startled awake, flipped and sped off in a blink of an eye. Now that was interesting! In my pictures, when the whales are facing left, they are sleeping… right, they are awake. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 5, 2024
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From Bush Point earlier! -back of camera photos by Jami Cantrell, February 5, 2024
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16:54 - Mid channel viewing from Fort Ebey. Quite a few breaches, still headed north. -Bethani White
*
16:31 - Jpod has cleared Casey and continued north! Fair and following! -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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16:25 - Continued north/northwest past Fort Casey Lighthouse. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
16:16 - Audible J pod calls on Port Townsend hydrophone.  -Orca Network
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16:15 - From Fort Casey, watching about 15 whales northbound - most on the east side of the tug boat, spread out but still distant. -Jill Hein
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16:14 - First clear SRKW call, an S01, on Port Townsend hydrophone via Orcasound - Listen for Whales app.  -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:09 - Spread, passing or past ferry lanes now.
16:04 - Groups spread from just south of Fort Casey to more midchannel nearing ferry lanes, northbound. We saw two whales spyhop in sync, soo pretty! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
16:04 - Sighted mid channel straight out from Coupeville ferry terminal moving northbound. -Debi Smith Stapel
*
15:50 - Possible faint calls on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Mon, Feb 5 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - J Pod in Admiralty Inlet. Link to more photos. -photos by April Janice Basham, February 5, 2024
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15:28 - Paula Ratcliff called to report watching at least some of pod pass by off Lagoon Point, and at least one group with large male have turned more towards Admiralty Bay after passing by. They’ve been down a few minutes so unsure which direction they are going at this point.
*
15:25 - They've passed Lagoon Point. Spread east to west. Northbound. This group logged facing south close to Lagoon Point, then suddenly woke up & continued north.
15:05 - Approaching Lagoon Point Whidbey side of midchannel northbound.
14:40 - Believe that was trailing group, all passed Bush Point now. Last group east of mid. Still northbound.
14:35 - J47 Notch in group passing Bush Point now. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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15:09 - I must have been catching them on the way away. One more faint call noted and now quiet for about fifteen minutes. I’ll take what I can get! -Marie Wils
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14:25 - Approaching Bush Point. Mid to other. Still northbound and now spread out.
13:56 - Seeing fins from Shore Meadow. Still south of Foulweather, west of mid. They seem to be grouping up. Still northbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
12:44 - Seeing fins midchannel between Point No Point and Double Bluff, multidirectional, looking like foraging. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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12:42 - Some now in view from Sunlight Beach neighborhood. Some surface activity. Headed north. Approx. here [48.944886, -122.513967]? Hard to tell from where I'm at, weird perspective. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:05 - Passing Point No Point northbound. -David Michael
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11:34 - They were close by the barge. Thank you! And thanks again to the woman that lent me her binoculars. -Jen Holt
*
11:00 - Have slowed a bit but still west side of channel moving towards Point No Point. Maybe a bit north of Eglon now and maybe a bit further east. Only able to see breaches now from Apple Tree Point.
10:35 - Continued steady northbound travel with surface activity. Well past the ferry now. West side of channel. -Sara Frey
*
10:23 - Sara Frey called and updates a nice large group is more on the west side passing through Kingston/Edmonds ferry traffic lanes, with others still south of. While on the phone someone was porpoising/lunging, and someone else breached.
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10:25 - Seeing a couple of large splashes on the west side of the channel near Kingston northbound approaching the sailboat. -Brooke Thompson
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10:24 - Seeing at least one north of Edmonds ferry lanes, about midchannel, northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:18 - And seeing some just north of the ferry… adult male.
10:15 - Saw a breach around the ferry lane, west side of mid channel.
09:10 - Hearing many orca are northbound off President Point [Kingston]. -Sara Frey 
*
09:00 - Thank you to all who posted. I was on my sailboat off President Point this morning when we spotted them heading north. It was a great show, lots of breaching. Very impressive. One of the orca was noticeably smaller so I was curious how young it was? I only saw four orca and they seemed to be traveling in pairs. The larger pair were closer to us on the west side of shipping channel. The smaller pair were closer to mid-channel. -Sharons Husband
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, Feb 5 - Saratoga Passage
14:55 - Still roughly the same area. Has pushed west a bit more but still generally midchannel.
14:23 - It’s still hanging out in the same place, maybe more in line with Summerland. Hard to tell exact location from where I am viewing.
14:04 - Found it again from the state park, mid channel, at or a little north of Mabana. Appears to be going northbound.  -Charvet Drucker
*
10:12 - Spotted a gray whale blow south of the Summerland neighborhood a little while ago from the state park.  -Charvet Drucker [CWW]
*
08:49 - Seeing a blow south of Mabana on the Camano side. Presumed gray whale. Viewing from Camano Island State Park. Unable to tell direction of travel. Might be northbound. -Linda Aitkins

February 4
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Sun, Feb 4 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - From J-Pod's visit in central Puget Sound. Link to more photos. -photos by Mike Maddox, February 4, 2024
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My flight to San Francisco was delayed five hours today. That gave me time to make a very brief 15-minute stop at West Point Lighthouse where I saw J Pod go from trending southbound to northbound, though some were "trending" skybound! -photos by Hongming Zheng, February 4, 2024
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22:13 - Calls Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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17:53 - Nice clear calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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17:39 - Calls on Sunset hydrophone. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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17:36 - Viewing from Sunset at Edmonds. Several big breaches northeast of Possession Point. -Linda Raines Tyner
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17:32 - Active loud calls on the Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Brooke Thompson
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17:30 - Here as the light fades. Had slowed with lots of surface activity.
17:00 - Line of sight Apple Tree Point towards Mukilteo. Still northbound but lots of breaches! Too early to tell if going into the triangle or committed to Admiralty. -Sara Frey
*
17:04 - They seem to be milling around a bit. Lots of splashing!
16:55 - Just spotted orcas from Stamm Overlook they are mid channel. -Jess Beck
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J27 Blackberry - 16:34 - [video in FB comments]. -back of camera photo by April Janice Basham, February 4, 2024
*
16:30 - Passing Apple Tree Point. West side shipping lanes with at least ten to twelve grouped up. Steady pace northbound. -Sara Frey
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16:22 - Only saw a few from the Edmonds to Kingston 15:55 ferry. Are they in multiple groups? -Tyan Schreck
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16:15 - From the Edmonds ferry. -photos by Peter Aikens, February 4, 2024
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16:03 - Lined up at surface north of Kingston ferry. They’re northbound in front of the ferry coming out of Kingston. Both ferries are traveling slowly, keeping space.
15:58 - A lot of surface activity and splashes. Spotted one dorsal with my binoculars. Still northbound.
15:52 - Viewing several splashes south of Edmonds fishing pier. Midchannel traveling northbound into ferry lane. -Linda Raines Tyner
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15:55 - Seeing them from the fishing pier at Edmonds, definitely still far away and near the Kingston terminal. -Alexandra Dolak
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15:43 - Watching from Marina Beach Edmonds, northbound, east side of mid channel, still approaching line of sight with Kingston terminal. Group. -Michelle Goll
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15:40 - I saw them. Been following them from Kayu. There are at least two in front and one behind. Lots of blows and breaching. The splashes make them easy to see. I am using high power binoculars. They are northbound almost to Kingston ferry terminal. Kingston side. -Judie Menz McGee
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15:30 - Way east channel now, northbound approaching Kingston ferry terminal. Viewing from Kayu Kayu. Good luck! -Robyn Riley
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15:25 - Seeing them from ferry back to Edmonds from Kingston, at least one tight group. Mid channel, several miles south of ferry lanes still but traveling steadily north. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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15:22 - There headed for the Kingston ferry terminal now. -Robyn Riley
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15:21 - Viewing from Richmond Beach, still seeing them cruising northbound mid-channel just south of Kingston. -Cameron McNeil
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15:06 - Heading northbound fast, mid channel. Should be visible from Edmonds soon! -Holly Bailey Aprecio
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15:03 - Still seeing them from Richmond Beach but need binoculars or strong camera len. Still heading northbound. -Kobie O'Brian
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15:00 - Mid channel from Kayu Kayu northbound. -Robyn Riley
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14:53 - Several surfacing whales, just south of a line between Richmond Beach and Jefferson Point, mid channel, moving north. -Kara Mitchell
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14:38 - Visual from the Edmonds-Kingston ferry of breaching whales to the west of the channel marker (looking south from the ferry) - whales heading north though.
14:41 - And a line of blows east of the marker (just to get all the directions covered). -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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14:24 - Breaching from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park straight out from first lookout at the park still northbound. -Robyn Riley
*
13:55 - Now viewing at a bearing of 220 from Richmond Beach, mid channel or west of, many blows and some breaches visible with the naked eye (better with binos).
13:35 - Viewing from Kayu Kayu looking south towards Fay Bainbridge line of ten or so blows mid-channel heading north. Well left of all the sailboats from our vantage. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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13:42 - Viewing from Fay Bainbridge, whales are very east of channel now. Active. -Kimberly Sylvester
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13:25 - Have started to work northbound in a couple groups. -Cameron McNeil
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13:13 - Still milling around same area. No real direction. Huge breaches!
13:02 - Viewing from Richmond Beach in Shoreline. Milling in west channel between Fay Bainbridge and Skiff Point. Some breaching! Can only see with binoculars. -Katie Jackson McNeil
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13:12 - So many boats converging with the whales… most whales north of Golden Gardens… lot of breaching!
13:00 - Lots of whales spread between Shilshole and Bainbridge Island, breaching and frolicking mid channel! -photos by Sue Surowiec Larkin, February 4, 2024
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13:21 - Northbound, about halfway in the channel, would guess five plus. Lots of breaching for the last half hour!
12:50 - Seeing them from Sunset Hill! -Jacob Scobey
*
12:40 - From West Point. I’m seeing a group of at least five (I think) traveling northbound with lots of breaches, etc.! Near the white sail boat right now.
12:20 - Viewing from West Point. After some breaches around green buoy, some started traveling northbound. North of yellow buoy now. -Fusako Nozaka
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12:15 - Looks like a flip northbound. Just south of yellow channel marker - surface activity.
12:03 - Viewing at least one orca milling/foraging off Skiff Point Bainbridge, west side of channel… and now a breach. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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11:35 - Seeing from West Point two fins traveling southwest. Hard to say but mid channel? Forgot to say they are still north of West Point. -Fusako Nozaka
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10:35 - Definitely exhalations of someone. Not tall like baleen so presume orca(s). No sense of numbers but not a lot as of yet anyhow. Southbound. Same general location, see map [approx. 47.700491 -122.473911].
10:25 - Would be too far for the Kingston whale and visibility is hazy across the Sound but spotted disturbance and what looked like possible blows transect Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Fay Bainbridge closer west side of channel. Will keep trying to confirm. No boats in or near vicinity so would not be wake or vessel generated. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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09:50 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 09:51 to report: Captain [of KALEETAN] reports one orca SB near KING.
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sun, Feb 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T60D & T60E) - Excerpt from the Center for Whale Research Encounter #12: “They crossed the Victoria waterfront before coming to a stop ~ 2 nm south west of Seabird Point to conduct a scan of the area where the whales had last been seen. With no visual of the reported whales, the two continued ahead along a southeast course with a moderate north wind and two foot chop on their port quarter; at 1125 Mark detected an exhalation in his peripheral vision approximately a quarter mile south of the vessel’s position, signalling the beginning of the encounter ~ 3 nm south of Discovery Island. It wasn’t until several minutes later that the whales reappeared, this time slightly north of Mike 1. Mark turned the boat into the short, now increasing waves and gradually navigated towards their position. The first animal to be photographed was T060D, a 20-year-old bull who is most frequently accompanied by his younger brother, T060E. A few seconds later, the latter also surfaced, his tell-tale notches unmistakable...” -Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #12.
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sun, Feb 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca
09:49 - Was able to see them from a couple different locations and elevations seem to be moving fairly quickly based on that.
09:46 - Possible group of orcas spread out heading north/northwest north of Smith and Minor heading towards Lopez or San Juan? Visible from Deception Pass Bridge but very far out and not very visible for someone not experienced in looking. -Silver Hubble
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GRAY WHALES - Sun, Feb 4 - North Saratoga Passage - We had an early (?) Spring visitor to our neighborhood [Mariner Cove area] waters this afternoon. -photo by Greg & Terra Parham, February 4, 2024

February 3
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Sat, Feb 3 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - We spent the weekend looking for J-Pod in Puget Sound, and they did not make it very easy! Our best look came from the Edmonds-Kingston ferry crossing on Saturday when we caught up with our buddy J47 Notch, who seems to have grown a bit since we last got a good look at him three months ago. At 14 years old, he looks promising to fill out into a male with a pretty tall dorsal fin. Even though most of the whales were further away, the conditions and lighting were sublime to see them in. It originally looked like they might exit Puget Sound after just 24 hours, but we were glad they decided to stay, hopefully indicating they found something prey-wise worth sticking around for. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, February 3, 2024
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From Edmonds on Saturday with J pod. -photos by Janine Harles, February 3, 2024
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The Southern Resident Orcas visited central Puget Sound today. Here's a few pictures of these endangered orcas. Link to more photos. -photos by Mike Maddox, February 3, 2024
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Happy to see the residents today! Not a super close pass at the marina in Edmonds but still amazing to see them! -photos by Charvet Drucker, February 3, 2024
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J59 Sxwyeqόlh & J37 Hy'shqa - J56 Tofino - J56 Tofino -photos & IDs by K. B., February 3, 2024
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17:23 - Slow trend southbound, made very little progress. Long down times.
17:05 - They are continuing south, now seeing some southwest of Scatchet Head. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:29 - They’ve been committed southbound for a good twenty minutes, I’m at Dave Mackie and they’re about mid channel pretty much all grouped together. -Rose Caitlin
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15:30 - I was at Maxwelton Beach watching them with my binoculars since they were on the peninsula side. Frolicking north at a good pace but with lots of tail slapping & breaches, but then a cargo ship came behind them. I left there around 15:30. -Missy Main
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15:43 - Four to six more traveling northwest on Whidbey side.
15:24 - Two males were in the lead, two groups closer together: first group about four, second group about three. Really distant views, even with my binoculars, so difficult to tell exact numbers. Still northwest.
15:20 - Surface activity noted.
15:17 - Definitely appear more grouped up and still headed northwestbound. Approaching Cultus Bay.
15:14 - At least five or six, including two males, loosely grouped trending northwest closer to Whidbey side of channel and mid viewing from Point No Point. Too early to tell if they're committed to Admiralty or if they're just milling. -Ashley S Whitman
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15:13 - Several tight groups between Maxwelton and Point No Point steady northbound mid channel. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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15:04 - Definitely committed to Admiralty Inlet. They are closer to the Whidbey Island side headed northwest. I am viewing from Point No Point looking east northeast. -Kelly Kauffman Wisniewski
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15:04 - Group still in view from Scatchet Head, looking due west of here. Northbound. About midchannel, a few Whidbey side of. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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15:03 - Decent size group steady northbound again.
15:00 - Visual on a group south of Maxwelton, sight line to Eglon, milling - were trending north. Surface active. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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14:57 - Watching from between Point No Point and Eglon, seeing a single heading north circa Useless Bay and a second further south of the island more to the east side of the channel. -Juliana Tadano
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14:55 - Useless Bay area. Lots of splashing, play and blows. -photo by Slavica Frljanic, February 3, 2024
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14:51 - Looks like the front runners of the pod are going north west maybe. Where the red dot is [approx. 47.895217, -122.459793]. At least that’s what it looks like from Point No Point. -Kelly Kauffman Wisniewski
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14:49 - From a friend - they are northbound between Eglon and Point No Point, spread north/south and east/west. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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14:22 - Viewing them from Maxwelton just north of Eglon. Seems to be mid channel. Spread out. Northbound. -Kristin Mackenzie
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14:09 - Viewing from Eglon. Looks like eight to ten milling mid channel between Eglon Beach and Picnic Point. -Mike Maddox
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13:54 - Spread out and milling still off Eglon.
13:48 - Looks like they have flipped north again now.
13:34 - Just arrived at Eglon, looks like at least some have flipped southbound now, approx. in northbound shipping lanes. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
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13:20 - Have maybe slowed but trending northbound still. Been a pleasure craft trailing them for a while. Still east of mid channel [approx. 47.878855, -122.445355]. Can only see blows from Kingston.
13:05 - Able to see males way out mid channel to east, around Eglon area. Northbound. Lots of debris in the water - big logs. -Sara Frey
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12:36 - Viewing from Edmonds - northbound and approaching Eglon. Spread midchannel. Long down times. -Jenny Klis
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12:15 - Equally as many Js keeping east of mid channel, some members are porpoising. Northbound.
12:08 - Large number of Js loosely grouped out from Edmonds, from Sunset Ave sightline north of Apple Tree Point. General location see map [approx. 47.819531, -122.442499]. Those we are seeing are north/northwest bound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:12 - Seeing them from Sunset Boulevard in Edmonds, continuing north, spread from mid channel to the west side. -Charvet Drucker
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12:06 - These the leaders or trailers that just passed? -Rachael Marion
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12:02 - We just saw them! They've passed the dog park still headed north. -Heather Alder
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12:00 - Just passed Marina Beach Park and continuing north. -Charvet Drucker
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11:58 - Large male directly across from Brackett's Landing north, way on the other side, still northbound. -Robyn Riley
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11:52 - From Marina Beach Park [video in FB comments]. -Bee Lorenzen McVicker
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11:40 - A handful are midchannel between Edmonds Marina Beach and Kingston, northbound. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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11:38 - Make that three - one large male? And two smaller one. About to be visible from Sunset in Edmonds.
11:35 - Just saw one dorsal northbound just south of the Edmonds ferry lane! -Heidi Winters
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11:30 - Quite a few Js still streaming by very close to Kayu Kayu northbound loose spread! Dang train coming thru at same time.
11:25 - J pod is wide spread in all directions. Trailers off Kayu Kayu includes mom/young one pair who have been slowly meandering north close in off the park with some direction changes, possible foraging. Have continued north. Can see others spread across the channel and more coming up off the park now too on the east side of channel in super calm seas in this stretch. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:32 - Spread out, some on west side, some on east side.
11:22 - Starting to see dorsal fins from Marina Beach Park in Edmonds. Northbound. -Charvet Drucker
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11:23 - Seeing at least four individuals off Richmond Beach, mid-channel. -Anastasia Nicolov
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11:22 - Heading north. -Jon Rosenberg
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11:18 - On the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston can see blows and fins south of ferry lanes. Still northbound. -Candace Gavin
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11:15 - We're seeing dorsal fins from Richmond Beach! -photo by Human Alicia, February 3, 2024
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11:10 - A trailing group of Js loosely grouped northbound east of the yellow mid channel buoy off Kayu Kayu Ac Park. Includes two males and a little one, probably J59.
11:00 - Lead J pod orcas approaching mid channel buoy off Richmond Beach/President Point spread singles to small groups northbound in calm seas. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:55 - Seeing them pass northbound past Jeff Head. Many have already passed. From Richmond Beach. -Whitney Neugebauer, Whale Scout
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10:48 - Loosely spread group northbound approaching Indianola yellow buoy mid channel. -Brooke Thompson
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10:30 - J pod generally spread Jefferson Head/Carkeek generally mid-channel. Lead group is west of mid, others more mid, and some east of mid. All steady northbound. And at least several dozen harbor porpoise close in offshore Carkeek Park [approx. 47.733717, -122.452653]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:26 - Viewing from Richmond and they are west side of channel approaching Fay Bainbridge northbound. Looks like seven of them grouped up and a male in there. -Brooke Thompson
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10:16 - Viewing from northernmost end of Golden Gardens, far on other side approaching green buoy northbound. -Robyn Riley
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10:15 - Seeing at least ten members of J pod loosely grouped sightline Carkeek to Fay Bainbridge steady northbound mid-channel.
10:10 - Harbor porpoise; while waiting at Carkeek for J pod we are seeing nice pod of at least dozen harbor porpoise milling around about quarter mile offshore southend of the park. -Alisa Lemire Brooks Orca Network
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10:11 - Orcas visible 306 degrees northwest of Golden Gardens. -Collin Gage
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10:00 - Watching them from Golden Gardens now but they are very far away on the other side of the water, still northbound. -Kate MC
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09:57 - Blows and dorsals visible from Golden Gardens, west side of the channel. -Josh Nutter
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Bill Van Buren
Date of Sighting: February 03, 2024
Time: 9:54 AM
Species seen: A group of orcas seen mid channel by Golden Gardens - presumably J Pod
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Golden Gardens
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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09:47 - Orcas spread across channel, approaching Fay Bainbridge sight line, group of three and many singles. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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09:37 - Seeing distant blows and some dorsal fins as I look southeast through my telescope from the Indianola sandspit towards Elliott Bay and Alki. Sorry cannot be precise on location due to my angled vantage point, but look to be midchannel and heading north. Others can target that exact sweet spot! -Deanna Deery-Schmitt
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09:30 - Seeing a symphony of blows just north of West Point Lighthouse northbound. Mid-east of channel! -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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09:15 - Viewing from Discovery. Northbound spread out, around yellow buoy. Mid channel. -Fusako Nozaka
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09:12 - See them from Sunset Park. They are about mid channel heading north. -Tyan Schreck
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09:09 - Some approaching West Point spread northbound midchannel to east of. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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08:35 - Just got a report to Our Wild Puget Sound about orcas northbound off of Discovery Park. Not sure about more details yet. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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08:35 - We could see them behind the ferry en route to Seattle passing Eagle Harbor steady northbound. -Heather Paar
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08:15 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: TACOMA reports they have eyes on one Orca near Tango Bouy.
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Sat, Feb 3 - Haro Strait - 10:45 - Today, just north of Spieden. Eastbound. -William Westrem [WSSJI]
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08:46 - Four killer whales heading up island San Juan Island approaching Henry off Madrona. 500 feet from shore. -Peter Van Deventer [WSSJI]
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08:27 - Three confirmed orcas off of San Juan County Park, one calf, traveling north.  -Cole Phillips
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Sat, Feb 3 - Rosario Strait - 09:00 - Just saw two orcas from the ferry in Rosario Strait, east of Thatcher Pass, northbound. One adult male. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, Feb 3 - Possession Sound - 08:31 - Gray [whale] off of Tulalip Bay this morning. Pretty close to shore here. -Jaime McBroom
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Sat, Feb 3 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - An amazing wonderful morning with Little Patch CRC53 in the hood. I love this boy. First saw him around 10:30 between Fox Spit and Bells Beach/Whidbey Island. He stayed in that general area feeding at high tide for about three hours. He was a joy to watch… it was a serene and calm morning. Even with my hearing disability, I could hear his soothing exhalations. Most photos zoomed and many cropped. Link to more photos. -photos by Marilyn Armbruster, February 3, 2024
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13:15 - He is done feeding and has head out from shore about mid channel aimed south but moving slow (full belly). Line of sight would be north end of Bells Beach and heart of Elger Bay. I hope you'll see his blows out there on this beautiful calm day.
12:40 - Still in same general area, in between Fox and Bells. It is Little Patch. Hoping he is getting lots of eats. Tide is starting to go out.
11:30 - Still in same area but has gone out from shore lunging, I say burping, which Little Patch does. I can't say for sure it is Little Patch as I have not been able to view left side or tail/pec fins.
10:30 - Grey whale in between Fox Spit and Bells Beach feeding. -Marilyn Armbruster

February 2
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) - Fri, Feb 2 - Admiralty Inlet (J Pod) - Admiralty Inlet - welcome back, Jpod. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 2, 2024
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20:43 - Heard a few faint calls on the Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Brooke Thompson
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18:59 - Loud and clear calls plus's echolocation clicks. And a train. -T.L. Stokes
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18:48 - Faint calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Eileen Soskin
Date of Sighting: February 02, 2024
Time: 5:05 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 8
Where seen: South of Bush Point
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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I was lucky enough to catch this spectacular pass at Bush Point on Whidbey Island, this evening. Looks like Jpod has come to visit. Link to FB video. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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17:00 - All orcas passed Bush Point, many many more than six. Southbound close to shore, spread out from. Bush Point to Shore Meadow. -Emily Wandres
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16:52 - Hearing orcas on Bush Point hydrophone. -T.L. Stokes
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16:51 - First human detection via Orcasound - Listen for Whales on Bush Point hydrophone definitely has SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales calls (& seagull cries!). -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:50 - Bush Point, from my front yard. Link to FB video. -Greg Roe
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16:48 - Spotted south of Bush Point, close to shore on Whidbey side, heading south quickly! Spotted three and heard blows, possibly one calf? Hard to say for sure. -Jen Wuest
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16:35 - Whales approaching Bush Point, Whidbey side and southbound.
16:15 - Viewing from the south end of Lagoon Point, whales on Whidbey side of mid - beautiful back lit blows as they continue to fight the tide south bound. -Emily Wandres
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15:50 - Just saw at Lagoon Point. North side of South Beach heading south. I think four. -Cheryl Connor
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15:47 - South of Fort Flagler State Park now.
15:35 - Viewing from north side Lagoon Point and six plus orcas (a few males) are southbound on the Marrowstone side of midchannel - seem to be fighting the tide [approx. 48.093601, -122.667044]. -Emily Wandres
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Amelia Bates
Date of Sighting: February 02, 2024
Time: 12:10 PM
Species seen: orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: North Beach, Port Townsend 48.142457, -122.782410
Direction of travel : East
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?: not sure
Any unusual markings?: n/a
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, Feb 2 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch) - CRC53 Little Patch -back of camera photo by Marilyn Armbruster, February 2, 2024
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15:32 - Northbound midchannel off north end of Camano Island State Park, south of Hidden Beach [approx. 48.124944, -122.530907].
15:12 - Traveling north/northwest slowly off Camano Island State Park boat launch. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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15:03 - Just saw blowhole from Greenbank mid channel. -Kate Sullivan
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14:47 - Continuing northbound midchannel between Camano Island State Park and entrance to Holmes Harbor.
14:35 - Gray continuing northbound midchannel. Between Camano Island State Park and just south of Baby Island. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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14:30 - Line of sight, mid Baby Island Heights and Camano Island State Park, mid channel northwesterly bound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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14:01 - Gray northwestbound between Camano Island State Park and Fox Spit, Whidbey side of midchannel.
13:31 - Gray is milling around the same area as earlier sighting [approx. 48.101044, -122.467917].
13:09 - Gray continuing northbound midchannel, now (edit) east of East Point, Whidbey. Viewing from bluff at Camano Island State Park. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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12:45 - Between Fox Spit point and northside of Mabana. And yes, Serena he is coming northwest bound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:25 - Continuing northbound slowly and I think trending west [approx. 48.093842, -122.460090].
12:05 - Slowly northbound midchannel, just north of earlier location. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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12:25 - Photo taken towards north side of Summerland and south side of Mabana.
12:00 - Now about mid channel between Fox Spit and mid Mabana & Summerland. Just can't tell direction again. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:59 - Another blow in the same spot as earlier, in line with the north end of houses at Bells Beach.
11:48 - Saw a blow just north of Mabana boat launch. Closer to Camano than Whidbey but still far away [approx. 48.089217, -122438818]. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:45 - I think it is one. Caught me off guard with two blows back to back. I have not seen that again. Appeared to be milling back and forth but is south a bit more [approx. 48.081029, -122.420725].
11:25 - Appears to be moving out from shore same area and guessing s/he is about quarter mid channel from Camano side. Possibly a tad northbound [approx. 48.088195, -122.410723]. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:15 - Marilyn Armbruster messaged to report seeing blows of presumed gray whale in Saratoga Passage on Camano side, just south of Mabana.

February 1
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) - Thu, Feb 1 - San Juans (T90s & others) - 17:15 - Passing Point Caution northbound. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network [WSSJI]
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17:00 - We saw one group with two males, two to three female/sub adult, headed towards Friday Harbor in Upright, a second group with one male, two to three female/sub adult and/or calf? Just outside Friday Harbor; second group milling outside Friday Harbor now. -Stephanie Reiss [WSSJI]
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17:05 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 17:14 to report: Second sighting: 1705hrs: SEALTH C/M reports an earlier sighting of 6 orca as they rounded the south end of Shaw Island. No particular direction of travel.  
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16:51 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 17:14 to report: Corrected time of sighting: 1651hrs: Vessel reports via 800MHz they have stopped at the entrance to Friday Harbor due to 7 orca in the approach to FHBR. No particular direction of travel.  
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15:00 - My mom reports many orcas southwest bound in Upright Channel viewed from the ferry. -Justine Buckmaster [WSSJI]
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10:34 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:37 to report: Captain [of ISSAQUAH] reports they have slowed in Rosario Strait for two Orca heading SB.
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, Feb 1 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Riley Logan
Date of Sighting: February 01, 2024
Time: 10:10 AM
Species seen: (Presumed) Gray
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Off the west coast of Whidbey, approx. (48.3480972, -122.6941997). My depth perception
isn't good so they could've been farther out
Direction of travel : SW
Behaviors observed: traveling/milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: If you would like the short videos I have, I can email them but they're nothing special. Please email me if you'd like them!
Photos available?: No, Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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Thu, Feb 1 - Saratoga Passage
13:55 - Gray is still off the boat launch. Possibly trending north but very slow. Has been going back and forth between midchannel and Whidbey side. Last update from me.
13:43 - Drifting west, still off Mabana boat launch.
13:24 - Straight out from Mabana boat launch, around midchannel.
13:01 - Gray has trended northeast, now closer to midchannel. Still south of Mabana.
12:48 - Still milling around here [approx. 48.072963, -122.438148].
12:41 - Whale has drifted a bit south of earlier position. Far away from me, still only seeing blows.
12:34 - Blow visible just south of Mabana, Whidbey side of Saratoga. Also saw a blow at 12:31 just south of current location, so whale is continuing northbound. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:56 - Last spotted heading north and further east. Closer to Camano than Whidbey.
11:41 - Viewing from Whale Bell Park - gray has moved east in the channel and moved south of the location I saw them when I arrived. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:11 - Langley Whale Center staff watching from Langley sea wall one gray is feeding milling in this area about 100 feet offshore. -Christina Lee
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10:40 - Jacqueline Walisser called to really a report from her friend who says there is a gray whale hanging around the seawall off downtown Langley. 
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10:30 - Relayed from a friend: gray whale seen milling off Seawall Park, between Boatyard Inn and Langley Pizzeria, slowly traveling north. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Thu, Feb 1 - Possession Sound -Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Mina Douglas
Date of Sighting: February 01, 2024
Time: 4:40 PM
Species seen: Unsure if Gray or Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Possession Sound between Hat and Tulalip, heading east
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: no
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I saw one tail between Hat and Tulalip, it dove deep then surfaced again with a blow. It continued in that pattern heading towards Everett. It looked like there were potentially 2 whales or the same one quickly surfacing.
Photos available?: No