July 2020 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of July 2020 whale sightings.

July 31
Fri, July 31 - Puget Sound (T65As & T137s). -Janine Harles
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20:00 - Small group visible from Seahurst, in between the north tip of Vashon and Blake Island. There is a boat very close in the vicinity. 8:00. -Suzanne Johnson Hagan
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19:15 - We have 2 Orcas just North off of Des Moines Marina, headed towards Three Tree Point Normandy Park. Courtesy of my niece Nicole Bell. -Krissie Carl
[Pods are split in two groups, both northbound. Looks like T65As were on Vashon side passing Point Robinson at 18:45 while T137s were on mainland side passing Des Moines around 19:15. -alb]
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18:52 - Just north of Pt. Robinson Lighthouse. Mid channel. Heading n/nw, moving at a good clip.
18:43 - [orcas] Pt. Robinson Lighthouse, heading N. (about 6 including 1 adult male). -Logan Andlindseymccune Goheen
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17:10 - But when I was at Al's, there were about 6 so they probably split.
16:19 - [orcas] I second this sighting. Last I saw them there was a group of two or three in front of the Shores Acres area. (Christy Armstrong Kanz's last comment) -Jami Cantrell
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16:58 - We've seen multiple spouts basically in the ferry lane but closer to Pt. Defiance.
16:38 - There is another group coming, out by Owen Beach and Vashon ferry.
16:31 - [orcas] We can see more now by Vashon. Heading towards the south end ferry dock area. -Christy Armstrong Kanz
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16:52 - I saw one male and one female head toward the Narrows. Never saw the ones by Owen.
16:30 - Just went by 4:30 PM heading south. -Brianna Schroeder
[Brianna's map indicates orcas Past Point Defiance, toward Tacoma Narrows]
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16:00 - [orca] Off Sunrise Beach at about 4pm. -Mallory Piekarski-Rabinowitz
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16:01 - Moved to mid channel, stalled a bit...
15:50 - [orcas] Just missed them at Lisabuela, but still seeing spouts in the distance, closer to Kitsap side, headed southbound, grouped up. -Marla Smith
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15:38 - [orcas] Passing Al's Market. Still heading south. I counted about between four and six. -Jami Cantrell
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15:12 - Watched 4-6 orca pass by Olalla, they were southbound on the Kitsap side in a hurry. -Brittany Gordon
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14:26 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops, emailed: Mark from SW (Southworth) reports a pod of orca (about 8) moving southbound.
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~15:00 - (Last saw them) just before 3 pm and they were moving south through Colvos, right down the middle of the channel.
14:27 - In Colvos. They are hanging out mid channel right south of the Southworth ferry.
14:18 - Still heading south.... just past the ferry. Two groups. One mid channel and one near the beach.
13:57 - [orcas] Near Southworth ferry heading south toward ferry. -Jessica Goetz Garrett
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13:23 - At least one male maybe two and a female in front of Manchester boat ramp. They were heading south but in no hurry. They looked like they were feeding and staying in one spot for some time then disappeared. -Brian Hall
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12:06 - [orcas] Just heard a Coast Guard call that they're at Winslow. -Eric Morley
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11:18 - Still quickly southbound in line with Magnolia Bluff but, closer to Bainbridge side. T137 in the lead.
11:16 - Just passed by (Port Madison) still southbound.
10:47 - Porpoising south at Port Madison. T65As and T137s. -Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
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10:25 - [orcas] Just south of the Jefferson Point Dock and moving southbound. -Adam Star
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09:50 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, reports emailed report from MV SPOKANE C/M reports 3 orca moving southbound in the traffic lanes. [Kingston/Edmonds run]
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Fri, July 31, - Northern Saratoga Passage - 22:57 - There is a gray (presumably) whale spouting outside my place right now (7/31/20, 10:45pm) - likely 2356 but can't see in the dark to verify. It sounds like it is feeding based on the very slow progress of the spouting sounds down the beach. Sounds like it's heading south toward Polnell. Isn't it just magical to sit outside on a warm summer night and hear whale puffs in the dark?! Awesome. PS - There were two big whale watching boats just out from the northern tip of Utsalady around noon today, watching what appeared to be a gray (in binocs) for quite a long time - maybe up to an hour? It cruised south just a little and then I lost sight of it after the boats left. I'm assuming they send you info as well (hopefully).
~11:00 - I missed this one, but my neighbor says he saw spouting mid-channel around 11am 7/31/20. Hopefully you'll get other reports from the area to corroborate! Enjoy your day! -Marianne Parry
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Gray whale CRC2356 -Janine Harles
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10:20 - Gray whale is again in the area of Polnell Shores heading towards Mariner's Cove. -Terra Parham

July 30
Thu, July 30 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T18s) - T018, T019, T019B&C were on the hunt for easy prey...Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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Thu, July 30 - North Puget Sound (T65As & T137s) 19:40 - 4 (?) orcas, one with much larger dorsal fin than others, headed north between Point Monroe and Jeff Head. -Bill McCoy
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19:00 - From Duwamish Head barely see dorsal fin and blow. Orca was southbound in an area north of the Bainbridge ferry lane, SW of Westpoint. - Robin Sinner
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18:57 - The last time I saw them was from Duwamish Head, north of Bainbridge ferry lane, sw of Westpoint, east of mid channel. Barely see blow between boats.
1847 - Outer edge Elliott Bay near freighter, milling south of Westpoint.
18:42 - Looks to be committed southbound.
18:30 - Near sailboat, group trending southeast.
18:20 - [orcas] Heading west north west out of Elliott Bay near West Point, view from Duwamish Head. -Mary Hartmann
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17:20 - Hey Orca Network, Orcas in Elliot Bay? Just snapped this pic, West Seattle/Alki is in the background. -Justin England
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17:19 - [orcas] In front of grain silos, 5:19. -Steve Rink
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17:09 - Orcas in Elliot Bay!! Straight across from 3rd Ave. pedestrian bridge. Looks like there is a baby? -Win SEA Era @Seattle4Pete
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16:47 - Heading north (out from Pier 66). I spotted 5, at least one large male. -Torrey Hall Volk
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18:00 - They seemed to head out of the bay. Headed in the directed of Eagle Harbor.
17:36 - Groups split. One by the grain terminal and then one further south. 3 were in the middle of bay and scared me because they came up right next to our boat, Obsession.
16:46 - Off of Pier 66.
16:42 - [orcas] In Elliot Bay. -Joey LaMarche
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15:30 - I was just at Discovery Park Beach in Seattle and saw three orcas (I'm not sure which pod) at around 3:30pm. They were pretty far away and headed Southwest towards Bainbridge Island. I was absolutely thrilled to see them. It is so rare for them to pass through Discovery Park! -Ivy Arden
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14:25 - Confirmed ID's via Bart Rulon: T65As & T137s.
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13:24 - Quickly SB midchannel. About to lose sight of them from Sunset Ave. as they're behind the docked ferry. In line with Kingston from my view.
13:18 - [orcas] Viewing from Sunset Ave. toward Apple Tree. Steady SB. Still north of ferry lanes, midchannel. -Ariel Yseth
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12:10 - [orcas] The whales are visible with the unaided eye from Maxwelton so close to Whidbey. Lots of surface activity. -Durand Dace
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11:00 - [orcas] Spotted several southbound on south end of Useless Bay. Spotted from Hansville side. Probably good view from Pt. No Pt. -Thomas Buell Jr.
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12:03 - Lots of splashing, breaches and spyhops! They are south of Point No Point now, heading south.
11:40 - Still milling in Useless Bay. Saw them hunting, lots of splashing and I think I saw them toss a seal.
11:02 - Going to change that to southbound. At least 3-4 with at least 1 male.
11:00 - Distant viewing from Maxwelton Beach. Appear to be milling - no direction. -Donna George
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10:20 - Orcas Mutiny Bay. Southbound nearing Double Bluff. -Helen Shamek
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9:47 - They are about a mile or two away from Bush Point right now, still southbound. Too far away for me to ID from the beach.
9:34 - Killer whales southbound between Lagoon Point and Bush Point right now. Viewing from the beach on Whidbey Island. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, July 30 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 10:40 - One gray heading north from Polnell area. I saw it feeding just a bit as it came into view but then it hustled out toward the middle of the channel and is now parked way over off the northern top of Utsalady. I see spouts but too far to see details. Guessing 2356 but no proof. No photos or video to ID, but I saw a distinctive knuckle pattern through the binoculars as it arched to dive. This is from memory so not exact, but I think it had a large first knuckle, a couple of regulars, and then a valley where you'd expect another knuckle, a couple more regulars, and another valley, and then the last few knuckles toward the tail end. The large knuckle and the two valleys jumped out at me, but I honestly don't know what's typical for these guys so just reporting in case it helps ID. Thanks! -Marianne Parry
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10:00 - Gray traveling East from Polnell Point to Mariners Cove.--- As we walked our beach today, this Gray Whale passed through! We suspect it might be #2356. -Greg & Terra Parham, Oak Harbor, WA
[Yes, that is 2356. -alb]
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DOLPHINS - Thu, July 30 - South Puget Sound - 15:30 - [common dolphin] Between Anderson Island and the Key Peninsula. Drayton Passage. First saw it as it was bow surfing at 25 mph. I immediately stopped. It played around us for 20 minutes. We thought it was gone till we started back up. Bill St. Jean

July 29
Sat, July 29 - Howe Sound - ~20:30 - Saw a pod of at least 3 killer whales in between McNabb Creek and the Little Defence Islands on the North side of Howe Sound at approximately 8:30pm tonight. Pod was headed North East towards Furry Creek / Porteau Cove. Squamish, BC. -Mike Koronko
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GRAY WHALES - Wed, July 29 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 20:00 - I was gazing out at the water this evening and thinking it was about that time when 2356 might be coming by for his daily very-late-happy-hour snack-time, and sure enough, there it was, coming toward us from near the entrance to the marina at Mariners' Cove (just a tad north of me). Yay! Gray2356 swam in from the north, and was in an awful hurry to get to the buffet tonight. It wasn't feeding at all as it approached - just cruising southbound at a very brisk clip, but then it screeched to a halt right in front of our place (yay!). This was right about 8pm. It hung out in one spot for several minutes, pretty darn close to shore (see video), changed direction a couple of times as it was feeding, and then very slowly worked its way south toward Polnell. It took about 25 minutes to go from my place down to the rocks that stick way out in the water (submerged at high tide), so it was definitely taking its time. Lots of pretty calm feeding as it swam into the sunset. It was really beautiful out there tonight, and a whale spout in the distance made it even more magical. -Marianne Parry
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11:30 - Our new regular visitor Gray 2356 made a lunchtime appearance today! It appears to have come north from Polnell - my husband saw some boats drifting and watching something in that direction at 10:50am but it was too far around the bend for us to see. However, by 11:30am it appeared, and was slowly feeding northward. In front of our place (southern tip of Mariners' Cove), it did a loop (couple of u-turns) and I thought maybe it was going back southward, but then it popped up again in the northbound direction and continued on. Once it decided to head north again, it did not appear to feed, but just swam straight-ish, spouting periodically. -Marianne Parry
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Wed, July 29 - Possession Sound - Three gray whales near Everett on July 29 2020. -Dave ? [From video Dave sent: Alie Perez of Cascadia Research could confirm CRC2259 for sure.]

July 28
BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Tue, July 28 - San Juan Islands (T65As and T137s) - 13:15 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed with report: WHALES SAMISH Master reports a pod of orca near Upright Head and has slowed.
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12:46 - Moved a little south off Blakely, trend SW.
~12:40 - Orcas Island, Shag Rock whales out there surrounded by ton of boats. splashing out by Shag Rock, then down. -Leslie Murdoch
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10:35 - T65As and T137s off the west side of Blakely now. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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09:03 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed with report: Master reports a dozen orca west of Thatcher Pass traveling northwest.
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, July 28 - Northern Saratoga Passage - ~19:30 - Wow, this is getting to be a daily event (4th happy hour in a row!), although Gray 2356 was an hour or two late today - lol. It showed up around 7:30pm (7/28/2020), heading southbound past Mariners' Cove, and was moving along at a pretty good clip. It finally slowed down a little and began feeding as it approached the shallow bay I mentioned yesterday, just north of the rocks. I watched for about 20 minutes as it was feeding and slowly moving southward and around the bend toward Polnell. -Marianne Parry
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10:15 - Gray whale is back feeding [Polnell Shores]. -Terra Parham

July 27
BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Mon, July 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T137s) - What another great day off Sooke, B.C. with the T137's right off Sooke waterfront and good to see 18-year-old T137A "Jack" has recovered from last year's injury. Both our morning and afternoon adventures encountered Orcas and at least 20 Humpbacks out west. -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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Tue, July 28 - San Juan Islands (T65As & T137s) - The orcas were milling at the bottom of East Sound not really going in any particular direction. There were many private boats and few commercial boats on scene all of which shut down and well behaved enjoying the view and the sounds as the orcas surfaced. The Ferry responded to our call on the VHF and came to a complete stop to ensure they were clear of the orcas before proceeding. After some decision making the orcas began traveling westerly in the channel together as a group. We hugged the top of Lopez Island watching the orcas in the distance as they traveled mid channel towards Flat Pt. We decided to break off for some fun sailing across the channel over to the rocks south of Turn Island to see the harbor seals hauled out. The orcas followed behind and crossed the channel as well and made their way deep into Griffin Bay close to San Juan Island traveling down the channel. T137A and T65A2 - T65A and T137-David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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Mon, July 27 - Hood Canal - 17:13 - [orcas] Still out there around Misery Point appear to be going south. -Janet Youngdahl
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10:45-12:45 - Orca Pod of 3-5 seen in Dabob Bay off Red Bluff- near tip of Bolton Peninsula - swam to top of bay [north] then back [south] to Red Bluff. Didn't see them after that. -Mark Nowlan
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COASTAL ORCAS - Mon, July 27 - Northern CA Coast - A friend, Ross Taylor (fish biologist) was fishing for salmon off the mouth of the Mad River in 110' depth at 0730 (July 27), texted at 0730 that a pod of 7-8 orcas including one big male passed him by going north. Foggy. Ross Taylor's description, he left from Trinidad: "I was running south and noticed them to the inside of me, maybe couple 100 yards away. At first I wasn't sure what I was seeing. I then slowed down and moved in behind them. Yeah, I didn't try and run ahead of them or get alongside them, kind of trailed them for about 5 minutes and then they went down for a long time. Here are photos that I already cropped down. Maybe two males? There were more than 3 of them, seemed like at least 6 a few times when they all came up in unison." He saw them swimming north at 40.96N 124.182W. -Jeff Jacobsen
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, July 27 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 17:30 - Saw a gray whale near the beach between Strawberry Point and Polnell Point, maybe 3/4 of the way to Strawberry Point. It was rolling around off the beach in shallow water, I bet 10 feet or so. @5:30 pm. -Will Sugg
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17:15 - We're watching a gray feeding its way toward us right now 17:15pm 7/27/20.---As I mentioned earlier, at 5:15pm-ish, I spotted a spout in the distance south of my place at Mariners' Cove and it appeared to be heading our way. It was indeed heading northward, but veeeery slowly, feeding constantly. It took quite a while to work its way up here, and since it was going the opposite direction than usual, it was going to be tough for me to ID it from the left side - it's amazing how this whale really prefers heading southbound through this feeding ground! It got right up to our place (southernmost tip of Mariners' Cove), and then decided to turn around and go back toward Polnell for more foodies. This was a stroke of luck for me, because I could easily ID 2356 on its right side - lol. It headed south for just a few minutes and then made a hard-left turn (before it got to the big rocks), headed out into the channel toward Camano around 6:30pm, and then northward up the middle of the channel until I lost sight of it. -Marianne Parry
[Yes is 2356 pec fin. -alb]
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11:11 - Carol Hamre called to report Gray whale this morning very close to shore near Polnell Point in shallow water (10 feet) moving along. [sounds like typical feeding behavior -alb]
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10:49 - I think we were visited by Gray Whale #2356 this morning! It made the typical stops in our cove in Oak Harbor and then appeared to be heading toward Camano Island. Be well! -Greg & Terra Parham, Oak Harbor
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11:02 - Changed directions. Now Crescent Harbor.
10:43 - Visual [gray] leaving Polnell Pt. Heading south to Camano. -Terra Parham
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MINKE WHALES - Mon, July 27 - San Juan Channel - 12:30 - Minke whale reported milling in Griffin Bay. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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Mon, July 27 - San Juan Islands - Minke whale in San Juan Channel: ... Winds increased from the South but we were able to find the minke whale and follow his swimming and surfacing patterns under sail. It was exciting to see the whale lunge on surfacing. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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Minke whale in Griffin Bay: ... We took our time as we passed the harbor seals with their pups and then moved quickly to cross Griffin Bay. A Minke whale was spotted by a passenger half way across the bay and we were able to watch as the whale circled the area surfacing around us. After picking a bunch of mylar balloons out of the ocean we continued South and tacked across Cattle Pass to visit Deadman Island. ...David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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DOLPHINS - Mon, July 27 - South Puget Sound - 11:41 - Saw your posting on Facebook. Here are pictures and video clips of the common dolphin we saw on July 27 in Drayton Passage. It was amazing experience. We had stopped the boat to look at some charts, and he came over to check us out. -Mimi Knodel

July 26
Sun, July 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - After a few miles we spotted the telltale blow of orcas. They turned out to be the Southern Resident Killer Whales with members from K and L pod present. They were very spread out looking like they were traveling west and feeding along the way near the Elwha River. They seemed to be everywhere we looked as we turned and traveled along with them. We had some really great looks as some of the large males made sure to surface near us before disappearing below the waves. The big males were impressive and we saw a few females and juveniles with some tail slapping and some distant breaching going on. -Lee, Island Adventures
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Sun, July 26 - Hood Canal - 18:45 - [orcas] North end of Dabob Bay heading south. Feeding for a half hour or so. Boats were mostly respectful, but two maneuvered in too close. It was all spectacular! -Tiffany Baack Tanasse
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~14:30 - We just returned home after encountering four in Dabob outside of Jackson Cove. I'd say it was 2:30. They were very playful. They swam up to at least three stopped boats and checked out the humans on board. They swam beside our boat and tilted to the side to look at us. Amazing! Boaters were very respectful. Headed north mid channel. -Robin Lang Schnuit
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14:25 - [orcas] There's a couple headed north to Dabob Bay, seen from Scenic Beach State Park. -Noelle Morris
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14:26 - Off Brinnon again, maybe they split up. See two maybe three orcas.
13:53 - [orcas] They must have headed south again because about 10 minutes ago saw them closer to McDaniel Cove (west side of channel). Elusive buggers, that's what makes it fun!! -Jason Holmstrom
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13:50 - They were in Brinnon headed North, mid channel, 30 mins ago. Moving fast. "12:44P just South of Triton Cove headed North" -Karlyn Louise
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13:43 - [orcas] They are passing Lackawanna Beach area right now. -Sara Jensen
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12:33 - [orcas] Across the canal from Triton Cove in north Lilliwaup/south Brinnon a few minutes ago. Heading north. -Jenni Glasco
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12:35 - Just south of Hood Point, northbound mid-channel.
11:49 - [orcas] Just north of Cummings Point, traveling at 6 knots. All boats on scene are giving appropriate distance. -Christopher Lewman, Puget Sound Express
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10:35 - Found them! West/mid channel now. About 2 miles north of Dewatto approaching Ayock Point. -Alexander Simenstad
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09:53 - [orcas] Northbound at Dewatto, east side of canal.
09:05 - Northbound, East side of canal, 2 miles north of Hoodsport. -Steve Illman
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08:24 - [orcas] Moved past Hoodsport towards Lilliwaup on far shore. [Northbound] -Alicia Larson Teater
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What a surprise to spot while driving down HWY 101 on Sunday south of Hoodsport.....The Bigg's Orca Pod cruising north up the Hood Canal. At least two adults and two smaller Orcas surfacing and spouting! -Johnathan Goodrow
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07:40 - [orcas] Just saw some a little south of the hydroelectric plant. -Tiffany Larsen
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07:00-07:30 - [orcas] Whales near the bend, North shore. Made the turn towards Hama Hama between 7-7:30am. -Erik Edwards
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06:30 - [orcas] They're passing by the Alderbrook heading towards The Great Bend right now. -Caitlin Berry Cable
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HUMPBACKS - Sun, July 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - What a "Fluking" awesome day out west of Sooke with around 20 Humpbacks feeding in one area! Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
photo - MMX0046 Boulder [ID: Alethea Leddy - "We didn't see him at all last year."]
photo - MMX0228 Dancer [ID: Erin Johns Gless]
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GRAY WHALES - Sun, July 26 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 18:16 - 2356 came back southward close to shore right past Mariners' Cove close to shore, feeding as it went by and waving its fins and shaking its tail - lol. He is still out here headed slowly toward Polnell.
17:00 - Another update: 5pm 7/262020, Just spotted some puffs (sorry, "spouts" north of Mariners Cove and way out in the channel. Looks like it passed by Utsalady and is either headed across back here or possibly heading north of here.
15:50 - Quick update: I see it again now. It showed up a little too early for the usual buffet because the tide is pretty low still, so now it appears to be heading north across the channel toward Utsalady maybe.
15:39 - Just got a tip from a neighbor and spotted a gray just south of me, which appears to be heading to Polnell. The neighbor said it was mid channel but by the time I spotted it, it was much closer to shore. Still far enough south that I didn't get a good look though, so can't ID. It's pretty low tide. -Marianne Parry
[confirmed as 2356 by ALB]
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01:00 - My next-door neighbor txtd my hubs this morning that a gray went by at 1am, but obv can't ID. I haven't seen anyone except 2356 from my location in weeks, prob since Patch left. That line on its head is so easy to ID it by. Have a great day! -Marianne Parry
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DOLPHINS - Sun, July 26 - South Puget Sound - 14:01 - July 26 @ 2:01pm between Anderson [Island] and Longbranch. -Courtney Grubb

July 25
Sat, July 25 - San Juan Islands - 14:25-18:45 - Center for Whale Research Encounter #35: "… There was a large gap between the L83s and the next whale. We eventually found a whale off South Beach plunging east toward Salmon Bank. By the time we caught up to the single female, we were on the north part of Salmon Bank. The whale turned out to be L90, one of the whales we could not find the day before. L90 was moving quickly east and was not surfacing regularly so it made it hard to get good shots of her. Her appearance was rather stiff and rigid so there is a chance she may be pregnant again. …" See CWR Encounter #35 for full encounter summary and more photos. https://www.whaleresearch.com/2020-35
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We were so pleasantly surprised when the sub-group of Ks and Ls was picked up this afternoon at Hein Bank, thinking they may have left! They made their way back towards San Juan Island, and interestingly the majority of the group went north through Cattle Pass, which is very unusual for them to do. We were at the Cattle Point Lighthouse to see them head back south out the pass, where I snapped this shot of L55 Nugget and L123 Lazuli. It's been really great to see these whales, some of whom we haven't seen in 10 months! -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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19 L pod whales and 3 K pod whales plus a couple minke whales! Surprisingly the Resident orcas went up San Juan Channel through Cattle Pass at 10 knots on the flood - they stopped abeam of Upright Channel and flipped back south eventually exiting Cattle Pass against the current! -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Sat, July 25 - Hood Canal (T65As) - 20:22 - They're approaching our area again, heading back toward Twanoh (we're several miles east of Twanoh, across the canal on the north shore).
19:24 - I'm hearing that they're down by the boat launch now (west of Belfair State Park).
19:12 - [orcas] They're back! Close to the north shore again, heading toward Belfair, currently about 6-7 miles from Belfair. -Marci Johnson
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18:21 - [orcas] I am closer to Twanoh. They turned around and headed towards Belfair [State] Park about an hour and some change ago. They haven't come back this way yet. -Ryan Richter
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18:08 - Seen almost to the Belfair State Park. -David Pim
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17:00 - [orcas] We saw them at 5pm at the very north part of Belfair, somewhere between Tahuya & Twanoh State Park. They were about mid channel, jumping & flipping. Hanging out hoping they might come back. -Jessica Richter
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16:16 - We have 3+ Orca in Hood Canal this afternoon. We are thrilled to see them. Heading north to the first Sisters Point right now....The Hood Canal Narrows..Liz Corliss-Clark
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15:18 - Just left NE Landon Rd in Belfair. They are mid canal headed towards Twanoh State Park. At least one male, one baby (maybe two) and I think a female. We were on the shore. A number of boats shadowing every move. Thank you Orca Network. I have lived here for six years and finally got to see them. -Cindy Cotter
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15:03 - [orcas] They turned around just before Belfair State Park. -Laura Izzard
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15:05 - Heading back now, probably about 6 miles from Belfair, still along the northshore. Looks like they're closer to the center of the canal this time.
14:03 - [orcas] On the Northshore, heading toward Belfair State Park. Almost to Landon road. -Marci Johnson
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14:45 - We saw I think 7. One or two big males. One little one. And they were toward Belfair - between Forest Beach and Sunset Beach. Super active! So fun to watch. This was at 2:45. Was in a kayak and they came super close to a boat right next to us, tail slapping, and breaching. -Emily Marie
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13:18 - [orcas] Got to see them! They are still heading [east] towards Belfair. Just beyond Twanoh Park. -Emmi Jensen
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Orcas in Hood Canal. Three juveniles and one adult Orca entertained boaters and North Shore residents across from Twanoh State Park on Saturday. -Kelly Hoonan
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12:40-13:15 - [orcas] We were watching them between 12:40 and 1:15 from a spot on the road about half a mile west of Twanoh State Park. They were somewhat active and tail-lobbing frequently and were probably on a kill. The orcas were heading northeast towards Belfair. Super cool to see a WDFW police boat keeping boats responsible! -Connor O'Brien
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12:30 - Five orcas seen in Hood Canal in Belfair. They were first reported to me 1 mile east of Tahuya at 12:30 pm, which is 5 miles from my house. Swam to point near … boat ramp (5 mile marker NE North Shore Road), then headed back west. Seemed to be one large whale, one intermediate and three smaller individuals. Lot of tail slapping, some breaching. -Peter Roberts
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4 Biggs hunting for seals in Belfair, WA. One adult male, one small adult female, a juvenile and a calf. -Allison Youngberg
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12:53 - Slowly moving towards Belfair again.
12:52 - They stopped to kill and eat a seal, short of Twanoh. They were mobbed by boats and jet skis but WDFW police showed up and backed them all off.
11:36 - Steady moving south towards Belfair, one large male, three or four others, possibly younger male.
11:17 - [orcas] Just rounded The Big Bend heading towards Belfair, just short of Tahuya. -Jim Pasola
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11:15 - [orcas] Eastbound off Union mid-channel. T65As for sure. -Bart Rulon
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10:59 - [orcas] Looking at them from Potlatch State Park. They're far out (about dead east of us). Looks like they're between NE Northshore Rd and the town of Union. -Nate Christensen
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10:30 - [orcas] Between Hoodsport and Potlatch, still heading south looks like. -Sarah Jensen
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08:48 - Cindy Sund (manager Alderbrook Marina services & Hood Canal Marina) called to report a pod of orcas in Hood Canal passing Lilliwaup right now near Sund Rock heading southbound, mid channel, towards Hoodsport and The Great Bend.
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Sat, July 25 - South Puget Sound - 14:54 - Letting you guys know that we're watching what looks to be a single male orca get harassed by two jetskis. Watching southwest off of the Chambers Bay skybridge. It's too far out to get a picture. Between Chambers Bay and Hyde Point. It's heading south, towards Steilacoom. It had probably a 4-foot dorsal. I'm positive it wasn't a dolphin. -Johnny Collard
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, July 25 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 22:29 - Gray Whale - Sighting Time: Sat Jul 25 10:29:13 PDT - Sighting Location (Lat/Lon): 48.28795,-122.62538 [Oak Harbor area] - Number Sighted: 1. -Joseph Rush
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~18:30 - I've been away for a few days, but good ol' 2356 [unconfirmed] showed up with another "welcome home". It's moving veeery slowly from Mariner's Cove to Polnell, feeding like crazy, very close to shore. 18:30ish. -Marianne Parry
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18:00 - Gray Whale off Mariner's Cove just south of Strawberry Point heading South in Skagit Bay. -Steve Blackbourn
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12:49 - Gray whale is off Polnell Point. -Terra Parham
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Sat, July 25 - Possession Sound - 11:44 - So many spyhops by 2262 and 2356! I've lost count!! Both at SE Hat Island."---After dropping our crab pots today, we headed over to Hat Island near Everett where we found 2 gray whales (#2262 and #2356 I think). They were travelling together and they spyhopped like crazy! Then after some human shenanigans with some idiots in a pontoon boat, the boat left and the whales continued on towards Everett where they breached about 5 times! My breach shots are soft as we were quite a ways a way. Fyi, I've only seen a gray breach once and that was last year and got no photos. They do breach, but it is rare around here!! These 2 whales are definitely pals! -Janine Harles
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~10:00 - We saw something between Hat Island and Port of Everett Marina close to shore around 10am. Pretty sure I saw a dorsal fin and thought it was an orca, but could it have been one of the grays? Lots of spouting, rolling, and tail slapping- incredibly beautiful! Thanks in advance for your input! (updated: Upon further reflection, and reading of recent Grays feeding by the delta, we're pretty sure it was a Gray and not an orca. The fin popped up intermittently and wasn't "constant" like how an orca swims.) -Janya Veranth
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MINKE WHALES - Fri, July 25 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Minke whale on Salmon Bank. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing GRAY WHALES - Sat, July 25 - Possession Sound - We have seen two Gray Whales feeding in the Snohomish Estuary July 25th late afternoon during high tide. -Florian Graner, PhD, Marine Biologist

July 24
Fri, July 24 - Haro Strait - ~20:00 - Orcas sighted from San Juan County Park Friday July 24th. I want to let you know that we spotted many Orcas heading south in the Haro Strait starting around 8:00 PM. -Justas Vilgalys, Woodinville, WA
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21:20 - Really nice echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Loudest I've heard all evening.
~20:38 - Hearing calls, maybe some S4s in there.
20:29 - Thought was hearing little L pod Lovelies on Lime Kiln hydrophone now.
20:05 - Sounds like kitty (K) calls, believe S17s, now blended with echo. I think of both S16 & S17 as kitty sounds. They are so similar, just didn't sound descending to me so went with S17, but honestly could have been either. Orcasound Lab
20:01 - Little L vocal too. Orcasound Lab.
19:59 - Echolocation on Orcasound Lab.
19:12 - I'm either hearing some SRWK calls (confirmed later) or it's the tanker making noise (which it is, but aside from that...) on Orcasound Lab hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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~17:30 - Hello--We saw several orcas - at least 8 - at Turn Point on Stuart Island on July 24 around 5:30 pm. They rounded the point by the lighthouse and headed south towards Haro Strait. It was wonderful to see so many together. It's been a long time since I have seen a group like that. There were a couple boats following them. One (a tour boat?) appeared to send out a drone to fly over them. So you will likely have reports of same time /place. Thanks for tracking and recoding Orca info. My son and I would love to know what pod it was - if you have that info. Thank you, -Sarah Ogier
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17:05-19:25 - Center for Whale Research Encounter #34 with K and L Pod: "… Our colleague, Jared Towers, had encountered a few K pod whales and a little over half of L pod in Johnstone Strait two days earlier and they had arrived down here more or less when we expected them to. We arrived on scene with the leaders about a quarter mile north of the west entrance to Prevost Harbor at 1705. L105 was the first whale we saw and a couple others were on the Stuart Island shoreline heading west toward Turn Point. Others, like the K16s and the L82s, were loosely spread behind the leaders and a larger group was reported to be behind these whales. ..." See CWR Encounter #34 for full encounter summary and more photos. https://www.whaleresearch.com/2020-34
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We are just returning home from a week of sea kayaking in San Juans. Our last day on the island we went out with Jeff Friedman and saw the mind-blowing return of the SRKW's (L Pod and a few K's). Remarkable! -Steve Smith
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Exciting sailing adventure today when it comes to whales! We got to sail with humpback BCX0870 "Scoop", then some of L pod and K pod, and another humpback MMZ0004 "Zephyr." -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Fri, July 24 - Saratoga Passage to Admiralty Inlet (T46s and T65As) - 20:37 - Saw three orcas under the Hood Canal Bridge 20 min ago! (~20:17)...They were south of the bridge at the time I was crossing. -Megan Barnes
[This presumably means someone peeled off the combined group earlier today. Another sighting on another group had them north of the bridge so they were southbound. - alb]
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~19:45 - At least three orcas were sighted just south of the Hood Canal Bridge midspan today (7/24/20) at approximately 1945 hours. -Alisha Gruszewski
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17:45 - Both groups of orcas a little more fragmented but still heading north closer to Marrowstone Island, as seen from Lagoon Point. -Sandra Pollard
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17:30 - Watching Orcas traveling Northbound mid-channel past Bush Point now. Looks like 4 males with one having smaller dorsal fin than the other 3. At least 6 additional Orcas, with smaller dorsal fins (likely females or young males)...Plus one very small young Orca. Thank you for all you do and your efforts! -Anna & Pip
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16:59 - Directly in front of Bush Point Lighthouse.
16:31 - [orcas] Going north. They are right behind that tug boat/ barge. -Lucy Clack
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16:10 - [orcas] Just got to Shore Meadows. They are booking..straight out from Shore Meadows in line with yellow channel marker, NB. (updated: You know, when I first saw the orcas from Shore Meadows and once I got to Bush Point (They were in line with Foulweather Bluff and Hoods Canal entrance). There were at least 8+ orcas. after they passed Bush Point, I know I was seeing less. Makes sense now. A few most likely did split off?) -Marilyn Armbruster
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3:55 - Now they've group up and turning NW - yikes, impossible to keep up with these guys! They are doing what they did yesterday in Penn Cove, going back and forth.
15:49 - In the time it took for the last post, the first group turned and are now also headed east toward the two males!
15:45 - Two males (at least - T46s?) lagged behind, stopped to hunt, went back south toward Pt. No Point, more mid-channel now; other group kept heading west up Admiralty, coming closer to Whidbey side and nearing south end of Mutiny Bay, traveling fairly fast.
15:25 - Seeing the pod now, viewing from south of Bush Pt., Whidbey Island. They are north of Pt. No Point/Hansville, looking like they may be heading into Admiralty Inlet and coming our way! -Susan Berta
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15:05 - Directly off of Point No Point. Two males in the front.
14:43 - Off of Point No Point, 2:43.
14:29 - Just spotted a large male fin heading Northwest. Viewing from Eglon. -Jim Pasola
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14:29 - [orcas] Second hand info from fisherman at Edmonds fuel dock is they were at Possession Bank going SW. Not sure how long ago. -Renee Chamberland
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17:00 - off Bush Point.
16:39 - Still south of Bush Point but getting closer and still northbound
15:17 - Still both groups together now moving quicker, 7 knots towards Double Bluff.
15:00 - 3/4 north of Point No Point, NW bound at 4 knots
12:50 - [orcas] Off of Browns Bay heading for Edmonds 12:50. -Christopher Hanke, Puget Sound Express
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12:25 - [orcas] Just passed the south tip of Whidbey heading south, likely now in Edmonds area. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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We encountered them again today in a similar location. SW of Possession Bar in the shipping lane. They had just killed/eaten what I was likely a harbor porpoise. Our boat was in idle or with engine off and they were clearly in a celebratory mood. A few spy hops and playful tail slaps. I presume these are T65s (male with notches at top). I definitely saw T46D. -Josh London
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12:10 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Master reports via 800MHz radio 6-7 killer whales midway between MUK & CLIN SB.
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14:49 - Cluster I am viewing is northeast of Point No Point, maybe milling or hunting. Some water disturbance. White pleasure craft stopped and is idle with them. Same general area as previous update.
14:39 - Just spotted a lot of blows south of Scatchet Head and NE of Eglon. Look to be heading west toward Admiralty. From Stamm Overlook, Edmonds
12:06 - They are making good time down this stretch of Possession Sound continuing southbound on course in two groups (mid and Whidbey side) toward Possession Point.
11:58 - Both groups near parallel from my view. One group mid channel, other Whidbey side, well south of Mukilteo Lighthouse Park.
11:52 - [orcas] Looks like both groups loosely split, now south of Clinton toward Glendale on Whidbey side of mid channel. From Mukilteo. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:10 - [orcas] Sighted from Hat Island, heading towards Clinton. -Lori Christopher
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11:00 - T46s and T65s spending time together, moving slowly southbound. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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11:00 - [orcas] Pod seen mid-channel about 2 miles north of Langley Wharf. -Angie Isaacson Forrester
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10:20 [orcas] Seen them north of Langley and they appear to have moved off towards Langley. -Amna Ahmad
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10.46 - Whales resumed their travels steady southbound mid channel. Now passing Sandy Point.
10:11 - [orcas] Whales appear to have stalled out mid channel north of Langley. -Sandra Pollard
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1010 - [orcas] One large group of 6-7. North of Langley, mid-westish channel, mostly southbound but slowly. -Biz Shoe Peterson
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09:32 - [orcas] One group passed Bells Beach going south. Too far away to see how many. -Sabrina Hoeft
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11:40 - I do see Clinton ferry taking very wide turn up to the north.
11:37 - On both sides of ferry lanes. Both ferries at dock. SB. Well Clinton ferry just left. Both have.
11:30 - Viewing from southend Brighton Beach. Orcas just north of Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes, mid channel, may be closer to Muk side. SB.
11:00 - Viewing from southend Sandy Point Bluff. They are spread out 1/4 mile or so looking like T65As in lead...in between Hat Island and Whidbey SB. both Matrilines
9:10 - 2 groups approx. 1/2 mile spread of each other. Travel mode moving somewhat fast. First group out from Bells Beach 2nd group out from Fox Spit with Mabana Shores in line of sight both Mid channel SB.
9:00 - [orcas] Mid channel between Fox Spit and Camano State Park SB. -Marilyn Armbruster
[Can confirm T46s and T65As thanks to photos sent by Marilyn Armbruster. -alb]
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08:16 - about seven orcas, two larger males and several much smaller are heading southbound Saratoga Passage. They are mid channel and off Hidden Beach area. I am too far away to tell if they are heading into Holmes Harbor or continuing down West Camano. -Joan Smith
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Fri, July 24 - San Juan Islands - Exciting sailing adventure today when it comes to whales! We got to sail with humpback BCX0870 "Scoop", then some of L pod and K pod, and another humpback MMZ0004 "Zephyr". -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
photo - "MMZ0004 "Zephyr" left dorsal fin"
photo - "Humpback MMZ0004 "Zephyr" tail flukes"
photo - "Humpback whale BCX0870 "Scoop" -Steve Smith
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, July 24 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 16:31 - Gray whale is heading into Mariner's Cove from Polnell Shores. (Unable to id). -Terra Parham
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Fri, July 24 - Possession Sound - 12:55 - Past 30 minutes been seeing occasional blows and whales just off SE end Hat Island. Viewing from Edgewater Beach Park (Mukilteo/Everett). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:50 - 3 gray whales between Hat Island and the Delta. CRC2356, CRC2262, and CRC2259. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express

July 23
Thu, July 23 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - T068A hunting in the kelp off of Albert Head on the evening of July 23rd. -Mark Malleson
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T068 passes by the Oak Bay Golf Course on the morning of July 23rd. -Mark Malleson
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Thu, July 23 - North Puget Sound/Northern Saratoga Passage to Penn Cove (T46s, T65As) - 20:30 - Orcas still milling and making frequent directional changes between mussel rafts and Coupeville wharf. The T46s and T65As maintained a presence in and around Whidbey Island last week, including time spent in Penn Cove cruising among the mussel rafts hoping for easy pickings of tasty seal buffet. -Sandra Pollard
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~20:00 - Sailed with the Orca last night just before sunset about 8:00 PM. Winds were 8-10 mph from the WSW with dense cloud cover. Hard to tell if there were 4 or 6. They were off Rolling Hills southwest of the racing mark. They seemed to be staying within a very limited area, swimming east then west over and over. They would surface 1-2 X then all dive for 5-6 minutes. 2-3 adults and at least two smaller ones. One male with a dorsal tipped to the right at about 60 degrees, just near the tip. Watched them from a safe distance for about 30 minutes before sailing to the boat launch. -Gary Piazzon PM
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Orcas back in Penn Cove! For sure the two big boys T46D and T46E. Here is T46D right at my feet at the mussel docks! There was another group that came in and they mingled around the wharf for quite a while. Awesome day! Updated: Wonderful day with the T46s and T65As in Penn Cove! Fairly active with some rolling, tail slapping, multi-directional changes, grouping up and then spreading out. Many people watching and enjoying these beauties in our front "yard". Pictures are from shore and heavily cropped. -Bonnie Gretz
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18:23 - Viewing from Coupeville boat launch. Orcas milling somewhat, trending west, and are now about a mile west of Monroe Landing near Blatmann Rd. Closer to that side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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18:00 - Thursday July 23rd. 1800hrs. We counted up to 9 orcas hanging around in Penn Cove during our weekly sailboat races. The pod was located on the north side of Penn Cove hanging out near our weather mark buoy (West of Monroe Landing). Two large males with one male having a slight hook on the end of his dorsal. -Respectful Sailor, Dave Steckman
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16:24 - Orcas Penn Cove. Just west of the wharf. Probably five or six. -Geoff Kappes
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16:13 - Orca sighting right now in Penn Cove. At Wharf at the moment heading west. -Christian Chambers
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16:00 - Yesterday and today. Looks like 6+ including calf(s). 4:00 pm moving west toward the mussel farm. -John @ Toby's
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17:23 - The whole pod just surfaced, all facing different directions! Definitely some good hunting going on over by Monroe's Landing.
17:18 - Looks like they've turned west again, way over by Monroe's Landing.
17:00 - Now we believe there are 5, still trending east, nearing Monroe's Landing.
16:45 - Orcas turned back east, hunting, mid channel, out from Capt. Coupe Park again.
16:00 - Watching from Capt. Coupe boat launch, 4 pm, 5 orcas incl. 2 males, trending west, now off Coupeville Wharf after a stop and direction changes/flurry of activity, looking like they stopped for a snack. -Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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15:54 - [orcas] Near Coupeville wharf. -Nicole Ritter
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15:51 - Orca(s) in Penn Cove now, followed by boats of onlookers. -Jeanette Gewald
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15:31 - Another group? Maybe 4 coming into Penn Cove middish Channel and east of boat launch. (additional info: at around 3:30 or so, is when I saw 2 groups meeting up, middish channel, I was at Coupeville Boat launch with Monroe Landing Beach straight across. The T46 group was just west of Monroe Landing heading east while the other group (T65As) were just east of Monroe Landing heading west, middish channel.)
15:21 - Male now heading east from rafts and a I think 2 others.
14:53 - [orcas] At mussel rafts see 2 for sure. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:10 - Heading back to the mussel farms.
15:28 - Off Maylors Landing heading out of the cove.
14:21 - Back in Penn Cove - heading right in front of Coupeville. -Deb Barge
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12:37 - Ok, we found the rest of the pod. T46s ALL present still on the edge of Crescent Bay pointed southbound now in stealth mode.
12:24 - So far we have only seen T46D, E, and T122 up by Oak Harbor.
11:55 - T46 pod is Just south of Crescent Bay, Oak Harbor, no direction yet. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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Thu, July 23 - North Puget Sound/Southern Saratoga Passage (T65As) - The T46s and T65As. The T46s have been in Penn Cove for 3 days now, and the 65As joined them this afternoon. I wonder if they'll all stay in the Cove tonight? -Jill Hein
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13:51 - [orcas] 2 whales heading north Whidbey side across from Onamac Point. -Marie Heil
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13:50 - Confirmed T65As northbound on the shore of Whidbey Island across from Onamac Point Camano. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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11:41 - Sharp turn south, still Camano side. Will see if they work their way back for photos.
11:27 - watching a group of 4-5 orcas, two tall dorsals, from whale bell park in Langley. They are northeast, Camano side, traveling at an average clip. Spending 3-5 minutes under water at times. -Amanda Colbert, Orca Network
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05:50 - 3-5 Transient whales near the shipping lanes off the south end of Possession Point this morning at 05:50. Heading south. Didn't get any additional looks. There was one adult male. But, not many other details. It was a brief encounter. They were right in the shipping lane. If I had to guess, I'd say they were heading more toward the kitsap side. -Josh London

July 22
Wed, July 22 - Johnstone Strait, B.C. - 17:20 - Watching the Ls head east in Johnstone Strait very quickly along the Vancouver Island shore. The Northern Resident A30 matriline are on the Cracroft Island shore, opposite, also going east. No calls from either. -Helena Symonds, OrcaLab
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BIGG'S TRANSIENTS - Wed, July 22 - North Puget Sound (T46s) - 20:15 - Past 2 hrs. (18:00-20:00) orcas milling back and forth north & west of Coupeville Wharf near north side of Penn Cove approx. between Riepma Rd. and Blattman Rd. Obviously not wanting to leave the Cove yet. -Marilyn Armbruster
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18:19 - They are on long dives in front of Captain Whidbey.
18:10 - They were just at Captain Whidbey [Inn]. Super close and the whole deck saw them.
17:25 - They're deep in Penn Cove now, likely near the mussel rafts.
16:50 - [orcas] Picked them up at Long Point. Lots of surface activity and they have not committed to a direction yet. -Durand Dace
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14:02 - T46d browsing just off shore of Rocky Pt. moving east toward Utsalady. His pod mates are across on the Whidbey side. Very spread, long dives. -Matt Stolmeier
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~14:00 - Hi, as you have most likely heard, Orcas went by Mariner's Cove around 2PM going little further than north to Strawberry Pt. and now have returned an hour later heading south off Polnell Pt. Yay! -Robert Stonefelt
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13:45 - Orcas are 1/2 mile south of Whidbey shoreline, halfway between Polnell Point and Mariner's Cove, probably eastbound. -Steve Rothboeck
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We had an Orca pod in our waters today between Whidbey and Camano Islands. What an amazing sight! -Greg & Terra Parham, Oak Harbor, WA
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13:45 - [orcas] Northbound mid channel east end Polnell Shores Dr. -Suzanne Sewester
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19:32 - As of about 7:29 they were heading west again!
19:05 - Still a bit east of Coupeville wharf way on the north side. Slowly heading east.
13:11 - [orcas] At Long Point, seeing blows and ww boats across at Present harbor?... looking NW from Long Pt. ---Racing from Long Point (Whidbey Island), home, back to Long Point, down to the Coupeville Wharf, over to the Mussel docks, back to the wharf, back to the docks, and FINALLY seeing actual orcas slowly eastbound in Penn Cove....back to the wharf, and then they turned west again...Bonnie Gretz
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12:23 - [orcas] Spotted off Eagle Crest, mid channel heading north. At least five, 2 males, one smaller and two others. -Joan Smith
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12:40 - Still trending north on Whidbey side in front of Camano Island Yacht Club.
11:35 - [orcas] In front of Camano Island State Park heading north. -Shelly Greybeck
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11:20 - Update from Marilyn Armbruster: 5 for sure 2 males and I think a youngster. 11:20 just passing Camano State Park northbound) travel mode but not fast. [confirmed T46s from Marilyn's photos. -alb]
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Wed, Jul 22 - Hood Canal - 20:40 - On July 22nd, 2020, we had 5 orcas pass by at 8:40pm. They swam north towards the Hood Canal Bridge. We are about 3 miles south of the Hood Canal Bridge. We saw four dorsal fins in the air at one time. When they went down, another one came up from behind. We watched them for 30 minutes as they made their way towards the bridge. I've attached a couple of grainy long distance pictures showing three of them. -Mark Beyer, Port
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19:40 - We just saw a pod of orcas off Hazel Point on Hood Canal! Headed north. We think they were hunting just south of Hazel Point. Then they swam north toward the naval base and stopped again circling something about half way between the point and the south edge of the base. It was pretty amazing. We are staying at a friend's place and it was our first time ever seeing orcas. Getting to watch and listen to them was quite the experience.
17:25-~17:50 - It appeared to be a group of 6 or 7 of various sizes. They looked to be hunting just south of Hazel Point and then headed north toward the navy base. -Eric Dalquist

July 21
BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Tue, July 21 - Hood Canal - 19:28 - [orcas] They just passed Holly. May have some photos, but they are a long way away. -Neil Ball
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18:08 - 6 orcas southbound around 5 miles from the point of Seabeck. Very active! Jumping, tail slapping, breaching, and rolling. Southbound. That was my first time seeing them, absolutely amazing! -Brittany Mayes
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16:25 - [orcas] Past Seabeck headed South near Triton Cove. One boat with them staying a good distance away. -Kathy Cole
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15:00 - 4 orcas in Hood Canal south of Dabob Bay close to Seabeck. One big male, female and two juveniles (one was larger than the other). We stayed pretty far since we could see they were hunting. Spotted at 3pm heading south in the canal. -Cari Morgan Chapel
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Tue, July 21 - Puget Sound (T46s) - 20:02 - Pod of at least 5 orcas heading west up Saratoga Passage near Camano. Going past Langley but closer to Camano. -Luanne Seymour
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15:30 - Saw at least 2-3 orcas in Port Madison at 3:30pm heading north towards Indianola. Sailed in Salish sea for 15 yrs, first time. Amazing, two (unless it can swim back & forth 100' in under a minute) large ones with the tall dorsal fins (5-6'?) and a smaller one with a lower aspect ratio fin. -Jan Thijssen
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14:52 - Last seen NB mid Blake Island on East side of island.
14:46 - There are two males in group. FYI at least 4. -Kersti Elisabeth Muul
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14:30 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed: 1430hrs - CHIMACUM Master reports pod of 5 orca abeam of Restoration Point, moving Northbound in the Southbound shipping lanes.
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14:09 - Never saw them surface again. Was viewing from Manchester with binoculars.
13:20 - [orcas] Just saw them at 1:20 at the southern tip of Blake. It appears that they were headed to the east side but haven't been able to confirm yet...Tiffany Dunham
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~13:15 - At least 5 or 6 just swam north past Southworth. 2 males in group. Moving fast. They dove and haven't seen which way they went around Blake. -Jeff Cook
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12:57 - 2 miles south of Southworth Ferry on Kitsap side.
12:49 - [orcas] Matt King They are headed north up Colvos Pass. Maybe a mile south of Wilson Creek. Traveling very fast mid channel. -Matt King
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11:42 - They are no longer in view. Saw a third one. I think 1 male, 2 smaller.
11:21 - Orcas heading north, 500 yards north of Narrows Bridge. I saw 2. Far over on Gig Harbor side!! -Andrea Reubel Walker
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04:30-08:30 - They were very active all around Minter/Henderson this AM from 430-830am while family was fishing. -Dani Nault Kessler
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, July 21 - Possession Sound - 10:00 - We've got 2356 and 2262 east of Hat Island right now. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express.

July 20
BIGG'S TRANSIENTS - Mon, July 20 - Central Puget Sound (T65As) - 16:40 - Have drifted a little east but same general spot. Some splashing, continued directional changes.
16:00 - Seem to have stalled out again halfway between Apple Tree Point and Eglon, west side of shipping lanes.
15:45 - Continuing to slowly trend NB from Apple Tree Point towards PNP. Some directional changes. -Sara Frey
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16:30 - Pretty much same spot. 1.7 NE off Apple Cove Point, in the southbound lane, pointed north but not moving across the bottom.
15:30 - 1.5 miles NE of Apple Cove Point finishing a kill in southbound shipping lane. -Christopher Hanke
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Email received at 13:50 from Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops: KALEETAN-EDM>KING@ 1346. Master reports via 800MHz 3 orca in the SB traffic lanes middle of EDM>KING transit area. [Orca Network presumes still northbound - alb]
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11:56 - Group slowly moving north from Point Monroe on Bainbridge Island. Mid channel. -Laurel Rush Owen
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11:55 - Half dozen? Including a big boy between Pt. Jefferson and Shilshole, middle of the channel. Saw a tail slap....they will be threading themselves between all the boats out there fishing. Great sight for them all!...heading North. -Chris Beamer Otterson
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10:50 - Chasing something else now near West Point, Discovery Park.
10:37 - T65As Northbound after eating a meal straight off West Point now. -Bart Rulon
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10:09 - Headed North mid channel between Murden Cove and Discovery Park.
09:57 - Headed North, there are 5.
09:46 - [orcas] They are in Murden Cove off Bainbridge. -Karen Jones
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08:25 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Same group [orcas] seen by WENATCHEE crews on SEA>BI route heading North now.
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07:19 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: CHIMACUM - Master reports via 800MHz 3 orca frolicking about in-between Orchard and Restoration Point. Direction Unknown.
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06:57 - [orcas] Just saw a baby and mama traveling west towards Bremerton. I was on the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle. They were definitely feeding. Went down for a bit. -RL Rose
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06:56 - Group of orcas spotted on Bremerton ferry run north of Blake Island and east of Manchester. Seem to be hanging around potentially hunting. -Josh Oyler
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05:38 - Jordan Light, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: ISSAQUAH Wheelhouse reports via 800MHz two to three orca off of Point Vashon, heading southwest towards Colvos Passage.
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Mon, July 20 - South Puget Sound (T46s) - 18:45 - Just left Purdy Spit - 6:45pm. South, Key Pen side. -Janey Sawyer Herrera
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18:35 - [orcas] Just passing the southwest end of Purdy Spit heading south by southwest. -Scott Markowitz
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~18:30 - Carr Inlet at all the way into Henderson Bay at the Purdy Bridge. As we were headed back to the boat launch we noticed people standing on the beach and others in their boats all turned in one direction. It was about 3 min before we figured out what was going on. I was piloting the boat about a knot and trying to take a picture of my family when I Noticed a Dorsal Fin to the Right. 4 of Killer whales were seen slowly moving along, 1 was more playful showing the bottom of its Caudal Fin and swimming with its pectoral fin up from time to time. I can't help but think this one was a youth with its mum, as they were following the other two. We noticed one that seemed to be leading had a curve at the top of its dorsal. Spraying water occasionally from Blowhole. They seemed to be leisurely heading back out of the bay. We observed them for about 45 min. as they reached Allen Point in Henderson Bay. Many people were out watching. It was a busy Monday on the water. A great beautiful sight to see. -Mrs. A'Ro
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18:19 - [orcas] Near Purdy bridge! Just saw some dorsal fins as we drove over. -Ann-Marie Gilchrist
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19:02 - [orcas] Left Purdy 15 mins ago headed south. -Janey Sawyer Herrera
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18:17 - Right in front of Purdy couple hundred yards from highways.
18:09 - [orcas] Half mile from Purdy Bridge and heading toward it. -Ken Maxfield
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16:43 - [orcas] Moving south past Kopachuck. I only see one. -Lynn McCormick Radcliffe
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20:45 - It's 20:45 and I got a brief glimpse of the two males in Henderson Bay, just south of Minter Creek and heading north. I watched for quite a while but didn't see them resurface.
16:34 - It's 16:34 and the orcas are on the east side of Henderson Bay, near Cutt's Island and heading south. -Tim Hoffnagle
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16:32 - Hugging west side of Deadman's.
16:25 - [orcas] Heading south. About to pass Deadman's. Towards Kopachuck. -Lauren Beck
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19:05 - At least one headed towards Minter hugging Kitsap side. Wondering if they are split apart since the earlier pod I had seen was 4.
16:35 - Approaching Kopachuck closer to Gig Harbor side.
16:20 - Behind Deadman's/Cutts Island, grouped up
16:15 - Spotted heading towards Deadman's/Cutts Island, moving at a fast pace.
15:15pm - Still in same general area, possibly feeding?? Staying close to Kitsap shore and floating around the same spot.
13:42pm - [orcas] Directly in front of Minter Creek, Kitsap side, seemed to be traveling out of the bay but then lost them. -Anika Blake photo - "from 4:45pm near Kopachuck"
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13:00ish - [orcas] Looks like they turned south on the Key side of the bay. They never made it further north than Minter. -Ashley Whitman
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12:10 - 1 Bigg heading into Purdy. Playing. Taking his time. -Kevin M. Harris
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At about 11:45, I saw the pod of 2 males, possibly two females and one or two juveniles together just West of Raft Island. Taking long deep dives. 15 to 30 minutes later, they must have split up. Two males heading back up north to Henderson Bay/Minter. Females/smaller orca headed south towards Kopachuck. -Barb Horn Hartman
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11:37 - Orcas circling around near north bay in Henderson Bay. -Christie Shane Zakem
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11:36 - [orcas] Group of 3 on west side of Carr Inlet across from Kopachuck State Park. No ongoing direction, swimming around. FYI, reporting from shore on east side of Carr inlet. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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11:10 - Orcas in Henderson Bay, Carr Inlet, near Cutts Island, heading south, July 20, 11:10 am. ---Observed three orcas this morning, first heading north towards Minter and Purdy spit, then at 11:10 they returned heading south at the east shore close to Cutts Island. My view from the west shore looking at Mt. Rainier and Cutts. -Ingrid Shumway
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11:15 - [orcas] Just saw two heading towards Cutts Island, from my house off Rosedale St Bay, boats trailing at a distance. First time I've been lucky enough to see them from the house. -Karen Monson
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11:31 - Across from Glen Cove close to Key Pen.
11:02 - Orcas slowly moving south. Across from Rosedale Bay. Mid channel. -Cari Black
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10:45 - Just saw two orcas in Henderson Bay/Wauna from my bedroom - a few blocks from Purdy bridge on the Wauna Peninsula. They were heading out of the Purdy area. I think they were chasing a seal, which I spotted with binoculars a few seconds later. No good pictures as I had to use my phone. -Martin Loyche
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10:00 - Pod is heading northbound from Minter towards Purdy per Jami Cantrell
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08:45 - It's 8:45 am and I can see the Orca surfacing out by Glen Cove. No splashing at this time. No boats out there. It's good to have nice binoculars
08:18 - Yes, they were here all night and this morning. Lots of splashing, tail slapping. They came past the house toward Purdy slapping their tails as they went. It was interesting since they didn't stop. They went just out of my sight due to trees then turned and came back. I don't see them out anywhere right now.
08:12 - It's 8:12. I see the posts on FB. I was probably looking thru binoculars at the boats reporting in. My neighbor is out fishing and she just texted to say the last time she saw them they were heading towards Lakebay. -Terry Shovlowsky
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06:15-08:30 - I saw the orcas this morning when I was out in Henderson bay heading in towards minter creek on the key peninsula side 6:15am Breaching, tail flapping jumping around until they got about two miles past minter creek then they turned back around and headed back out normally still some tail flapping but not as much we came in at 8:30am and at that time they were in the big water out towards Lakebay. Heading south. -Malissa Hutchings
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06:07 - Just saw an Orca come completely out of the water. Carr Inlet, first time for this 69-year-old. -Bill DeLeo, Glen Cove
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06:00 - I woke up around 06:00 and heard slapping on the water. I looked and saw them moving fast up the bay and doing a lot of tail slapping and cartwheeling. I went down to my kayak and tried to follow them but couldn't 't keep up. My neighbor texted me that he saw them heading south fast along the east side around 7:30. -Tim Hoffnagle
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07:41 - They continued S/SW along the Western shoreline of Henderson, likely now equal to or past Allen Point (as an Eastern reference) by now...
07:22 - Latest update: 4 large orcas now back at Minter Creek, so that would be moving SW along the Western shoreline of Henderson Bay. Hoping to get pics now that husband will have turned off the motors again.
07:19 - They are now (as of text 15mins ago) "deeper into Henderson" (assuming near Purdy). Husband and son are fishing this morning and couldn't figure out why the screen went blank... then the orcas started surfacing.
04:59 - Orcas back in Henderson Bay near Minter Creek as of 15 mins ago. -Dani Nault Kessler
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, July 20 - Northern Puget Sound - 02:08 - So good to have a gray still hanging around! We just watched one (hopefully 2356 but have to check photos) feeding close in here on the southern tip of Mariners' Cove and heading south toward Polnell, but then it disappeared for a few minutes and popped up much further out in the channel looking like it was heading for Utsalady. It now appears to be heading north up the middle of the channel. Enjoy your day! -Marianne Parry
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DOLPHINS - Mon, July 20 - South Puget Sound - 21:00 - He was in Olympia about six weeks ago [July 20]. Would not leave boats alone. He always found one moving so he could play. -Sarah Shaw
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20:43 - July 20 @ 8:43pm - dolphin in front of Zittell’s [Marina] -Courtney Grubb
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Mon, July 20 - South Puget Sound - This spunky guy [dolphin] followed us and played in our wake for approx. twenty minutes on July 20 in Drayton Passage outside of Longbranch. Several times he turned sideways and looked my 6-year-old granddaughter right in the eyes. We felt very privileged.
[“Yes, this is Cinco!” -Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research Collective] Julie St. John

July 19
BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Sun, July 19 - San Juans/Anacortes - 20:20 - I followed an initial report on Facebook of the T37A's off Lummi Island and found them in Cap Sante Marina at 8:20 PM (watching from Cap Sante Head). Their trajectory was towards Guemes Channel, but I only saw the initial sighting and could not find them after (5, maybe 6 individuals). -Trevor Derie
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Secondhand report of orcas between Lummi Island and the mainland near the ferry docks on Lummi side. They think between 5-8, had been eating seals at Seal Rock on north end of Lummi. They headed south in Hale Passage. Message came in at 15:34. -Eric Ellingson via Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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11:57 - Four Orca whales, two adults and two smaller - adolescents (?) sighted moving in a very straight line from south to north, just off the west coast of Orcas Island between Olga and Doe Bay, moving northward behind Doe Island, relatively close to shore. Only second time in 50 years to sight Orca Whales from our cabin. Cabin is located at the end of Shorewood Rd, Orcas Island, for better coordinates. They were magnificent. -Susan Jones
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Sun, July 19 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (T65As) - 20:45 - [orcas] They've just passed the buoy going south. We saw them from 3 Tree Point. We left the beach at 8:45. That was the last time we saw them. Heading south.
20:42 - Long dives, popping up maybe every 5 minutes or so. Trending slowly south. Mid channel just south of yellow buoy off 3 Tree Point. -Alejandra Gonzalez
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20:00 - Saw three more blows heading SB south of Dilworth. One dorsal but too far away to ID.
19:48 - [orcas] One blow moving SB south of Dilworth just past KOMO Towers. I'll watch for others. Viewing from Seahurst in Burien. -Cindy Eckes Waddington
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19:43 - Southbound almost 2 Dilworth point.
19:37 - They keep changing directions but they are still just North of Dilworth on the Vashon side.
19:30 - They turn back towards Dilworth heading Northwest 7:30.
19:22 - It looks like they may be moving South again. They are heading South East.
19:08 - [orcas] They are just North of Dilworth on the Vashon side hunting. Swimming in tight circles and a lot of splashing. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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18:22 - [orcas] They've been holding steady north of Dillworth for around the last 20 minutes. Two boats very respectfully with them. Can't tell how many, but counted at least four blows at one point. Closer to Vashon side. -Cindy Eckes Waddington
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17:47 - There are orcas right now (I saw three) off the Vashon ferry. I'm on way to Fauntleroy, orcas headed to Vashon. -Teresa L. Nauta Tippett
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17:08 - [orcas] Breach south of Blake Island seen from Constellation Park. -Jason Lee Bell
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16:30 - [orcas] Lots of breaches along the northeast side of Blake Island. -Mike Yov
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15:48 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: WENATCHEE Master reports via 800MHz 3 orca frolicking near Tyee Shoal heading South in the South-bound traffic lane.
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17:35 - East side. I left Emma Schmitz, they were south of Fauntleroy Vashon ferry dock about 535.
17:26 - NE tip Vashon, steady sb.
17:15 - Slow sb between Blake Island and Southworth dock.
17:08 - Couple of breaches south tip Blake island.
17:05 - Tail lobs, gulls over, maybe on kill?
17:01 - SE side Blake Island, milling or slow sb, research boat trailing.
16:46 - Right in front of Tillicum Village, research boat trailing.
16:23 - Breach just north of Tillicum Village.
16:21 - Quick southbound N Blake Island, view from Emma Schmitz.
15:46 - [orcas] Just north of Bremerton ferry lane off Yeomalt. -Mary Hartmann
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15:29 - [orcas] Off Yeomalt. -Luke Seever
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14:45 - Orcas entering Mid channel Elliott Bay...passed West Point Lighthouse and Skiff Point southbound. Lots of boats following them. -Sue Larkin
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14:04 - Orca pod Pt. Monroe [top of Bainbridge] moving south. -Jeff N Portia Stanton
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13:56 - They just surfaced, not heading into the cove, just outside it, heading south along the shore.
13:53 - They've been circling around Hedley Spit for about a half hour. I think they might be headed into the cove, but it's hard to say.
13:38 - [orcas] Just outside of Port Madison, 5 or 6 of them, just playing around! -Kristin Luippold
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12:24 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: WALLA WALLA Master reports via 800MHz 3 orca near EDM>KING heading South in the South-bound traffic lane.
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12:20 - Can see the pod way in Kitsap side off President Point area (well south of Kingston dock). Making good time southbound. Look grouped up. From Kayu Kayu Ac Park across the Sound in Shoreline. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:07 - Killed a porpoise, now heading southeast between Golden Gardens and Elliott Bay.
11:57 - [orcas] Group is heading in to Kingston, still heading South. -Janine Harles
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11:45 - Approaching the Kingston Edmonds ferry. 3-4 in front with a male trailing. Steady SB. West side of shipping channel. -Sara Frey
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15:54 - 1 mile east of Restoration Point, southbound, 5 knots.
15:23 - 1 mile east of Eagle Harbor, most boats being respectful.
11:46 - 1.25 nautical miles north east of Apple Cove Point southbound, 5 knots, spread out. -Christopher Hanke, Puget Sound Express
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11:10 - Orcas off of Pilot Point heading south towards Kingston. -Carrie Carson
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11:08 - These 65As are still southbound at Eglon.
10:20 - T65As southbound right at Point No Point. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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10:17 - Hanging right around PnP. Looks for sure 1 adult female (just breached). 2 or more young.
09:54 - There are at least 3 orca just north of Point No Point. -Chris Boucher
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09:13 - Sighting at Point No Point, appears to be one Orca headed east/south. -SueAnn Alexander
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Sun, July 19 - South Puget Sound (T46s) - 18:20 - Seeing them now. 6:20pm. Just north of Allen Point. 5-6 kayakers marking their spot. One speed boat keeping a very safe distance and just floating. West side of the channel. -Nicole Satterthwaite Hicks
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~18:00 - On the afternoon of July 19 around 6 p.m. I was in my 19 ft. ski boat with my 2 sisters and one of my brothers-in-law. We were in Carr Inlet heading south from Raft Island when we spotted them heading north towards Purdy. There were 4 Orca; one being very large with its' dorsal fin having a slight limp. With the large Orca were 3 smaller Orcas. Staying a good distance from the whales we watched them head north for about 15 minutes. -Al Priidik, Resident of Lakebay, WA
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16:50-17:45 - 5 orca - 3-female, 1 baby, 1 male. Northbound along west side of Carr Inlet. From Cutt Island to Minter area. The orcas were casually headed northbound not too far off the shore, no tail slapping or jumping or anything. -Melody Dimaggio
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17:15 - [orca] We saw one briefly 5:15 from Kopachuck. Very west side the bay, west of Cutts Island. -Kayli Ann Breitweiser
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16:35 - West side of Cutts Island. Slowly heading south. Not sure, but I think I'm only seeing one. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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19:41 - They are in the North end of Henderson Bay, near the Purdy Spit.
15:45 - [orcas] West side Henderson Bay, about halfway between Minter Creek and the Purdy Spit. -Jon Fujioka
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15:00-19:30 - The same neighbor texted me that they were heading north past our houses (about 1.5 km south of Minter Creek) at 15:00. I didn't get the text until almost 17:00, when I noticed that there were a bunch of boats to the south of us. Through binoculars, I could see that the orcas were there and heading north. I went out in my kayak and followed them north nearly to Purdy (I kept hoping that they would go under the bridge!). They stayed in the northern part of the bay turning south, then north, then south...until I left them at 19:30. I met some neighbors in their kayaks near our houses at about 20:30. As we talked, we could see the boats getting closer and started to move north but then the orcas turned around and went back north and I left. -Tim Hoffnagle
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16:06 - Terry Shovlowsky called again to report the orcas are now heading back south away from Purdy heading towards Cutts Island slowly. Boats that followed stayed behind and slow. Some now ways away. Boating so much better than yesterday. Yesterday it was very congested. Many boats just out having fun, but in one instance a wave runner sped right up to them then stopped right on top of them.
15:00 - Terry Shovlowsky lives on Henderson Bay on the KP side (between Purdy and Cutts on the other side). She has been watching for the orcas, has seen them the last few days. Saw reports they were leaving, but they are not. They are heading towards Purdy now. Not sure where Carr ends and Henderson begins, but pod has not come to the left of the island (Cutt's) from where I live. She reports there are boats out there and since we've seen so many abusive things happened over the past few days, but just 4 boats out there now. Lost sight of them in the time calling, they went under. She will keep an eye out. (Listened to them in the dark last night (18th) and could see them through binos. They were right under their house)
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14:25 - In Carr Inlet by Green Point 2:25 pm. -Lynn McCormick Radcliffe
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13:49 - [orcas] Still just south of Horsehead Bay. Between Fox Island. Few boats all keeping large distance, as they are moving back and forth a lot. -Keeley Amundson
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12:02 - Orcas across from Horsehead Bay heading towards McNeil. -Courtney Hogan
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~11:30 - This morning around 11:30 Henderson Bay Orca sighting. They were heading out slowly. (In case you were concerned by the distance, We were out fishing, engines off. They popped up pretty close to us. We didn't even know that they were out there.) -Malissa Hutchings
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10:48 - Orcas, 5 in Henderson Bay Slowly milling around. -Jennifer Burton Stolz
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~09:20 - I just wanted to report Seeing 4 Orcas yesterday (Sunday, July 19, 2020) around 9:20 AM, traveling northbound in Carr Inlet. To my untrained eye it looked like one large adult with a mostly straight dorsal fin, accompanied by two smaller ones, and another that seemed even smaller. Hope that's helpful. -Jeff Johnston
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GRAY WHALES - Sun, July 19 - Possession Sound - 12:00 - Gray traversing all the boats, east side of Hat at 12:00, traveling south. -Lori Christopher
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Sun, July 19 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 17:11 - Gray? Spouting at Polnell. I had assumed our big gray friends had finally moved on, but I am dinghy-ing out to a sunny spot for a happy hour and saw three spouts just barely north of the end of the point at Polnell. It appeared to be heading toward shore but then completely vanished, so we'll have to float here alone except for the seals. Excited that a whale of some sort is still here! -Thanks!! Marianne Parry
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11:45 - Whale going towards Polnell Pt. Back and forth in Crescent Harbor. Snacking.
11:30 - GREY WHALE sighted in Crescent Harbor. -Su Searle DOLPHINS - Sun, July 19 - South Puget Sound - 09:30 - This guy [common dolphin] is back this morning. Henderson Inlet. Saw video of it from 9:30 this morning. Riding the side of a small fishing boat. -Kim Merriman

July 18
SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS - Sat, July 18 - B.C. Coast/Tofino - A rare visit from K pod this afternoon. They were travelling up the coast off Tofino. We saw them briefly before the wind picked up. Always a treat to see the SRKW's. -The Whale Centre
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Sat, July 18 - Haro Strait - 14:30 - A few orcas went around Eagle Point to the south. More on their way. But very s-l-o-w-l-y.
13:44 - Orcas spread btwn Pile Point and Eagle Point. -Chris Wilson
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12:10 - [orcas] Watching from Land Bank. The group of 4 appeared to be milling facing southbound around Edwards point/HH. -Tamara Kelley-Woods
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08:23 - There are also some off South Beach. -Laurie O'Donnell
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11:16 - 3 orcas heading north at Land Bank.
08:15 - Relayed shore report that they are now heading south spread out near Eagle Point. -Monika Wieland Shields
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11:25-11:49 - Just south of Edwards Pt., 3 of the 8 turned, spread far out S/SW while another group of 5 arrived from the south at 11:35am. 2 in the second group, J46 Star and beautiful little J53 Kiki stayed together while the rest spread out stalling at north edge of Hannah Hts., possibly hunting.
11:05-11:17 - 1/4 mile south of Edwards Pt. 7-8 northbound towards Land Bank, incl. J16 Slick and J26 Mike.
07:05-07:20 - Southbound from Edwards Pt., J26 Mike led the way this morning with mom J16 Slick, J22 Oreo, J31 Tsuchi and J56 Tofino. 9-12 orcas spread out except for 2 groups of 3, traveling very quickly southbound. 6 breaches. (Photographs taken from shore, cropped and enlarged.) -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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06:50 - San Juan County Campground. I presume it is the J pod coming back heading south. At least a dozen. After seeing this morning, I am convinced some of the percussions I heard from 2-3 am last night, were J56 breaching. Tofino likes to jump! -Dusty DeLange
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06:45 - Heading south past Bellevue Pt. Close in, moving fast. 6:45a.m. -Paul McMahon
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Sat, July 18 - San Juan Islands (T37As and T65As) - 20:24 - Good morning, we saw 4 orcas in Eastsound last night. My friend who lives near Rosario texted me at 8:24 pm to let me know that 4-5 orcas were headed north along the western side of Eastsound. I saw a boat stopped near the entrance to Cascade Bay where I spotted the fins from shore at Thistle Point. The orcas traveled to the east shore of Eastsound near the salmon hatchery then to Madrona Point where they hunted for 30-45 minutes. They then made their way south past Thistle Point on the west side of Eastsound around 9:50 pm. At that point it was getting dark and I lost sight of them. There were 2 fairly large whales and 2 smaller whales. There were very few white markings. Unfortunately I only had an iPhone with me and it was getting dark so I could not get any good pictures. -Gloria Eppig
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17:25 - T37As in Cattle Pass - looks like they're going to head up San Juan Channel.---Earlier in the day we had been following reports of two families of orcas known as the T37A's and the T65A's who had been hanging out on the east side of James Island for quite some time. Eventually the T37A's broke off and traveled down Rosario along the southern coastline of Lopez Island. We met the orcas at the picturesque Castle Rock where they appeared to stop to hunt for awhile. The flood current was moving very quickly between Colville Island and Castle Rock and the orcas moved back and forth between the islands as they were hunting. After a really fun encounter we decided to continue around Lopez where the strong current was in our favor to get a look at the other family of orcas who were now traveling down Rosario… -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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16:52 - Bigg's transient T65 just north of Smith Island. -Trina Pollard Currence
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12:01 - …T65As and 37As up near James Island milling right now. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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10:46 - Lisa Blohm called to relay a report from her husband Jeff Blohm (WSF) who is seeing pod of 5-6 orcas heading east in Thatcher Pass. Pod was there earlier as well heading opposite direction.
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08:35 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Master reports a half dozen orca en route to ANA. Just coming out of Rosario. [Yakima was in Rosario Strait at time email came in -alb]
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Sat, July 18 - South Puget Sound (T46s) - 17:10 - [orcas] Across from Horsehead Bay swimming south on west side of Carr Inlet. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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16:00-23:00 - A neighbor sent me a text saying that the orcas were near the Purdy Spit at 16:00. I went out at 17:30 and kayaked all the way to Purdy without seeing them. On my way back, I ran into them heading toward the Spit. They continued to slowly move north for several hours before turning around about 300 m from the Spit at about 20:15. They then continued south, slowly and remained in the bay for quite a while - I heard them around 23:00. -Tim Hoffnagle
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15:53 - [orcas] Henderson Bay headed south. -Alaina Kitz
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15:44 - Just south of Purdy Spit. Jet skis circling. Still headed north. -Kimberly Wenner
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~15:30 - We saw two beautiful orcas today in Henderson Bay around 3:30. One of them had a really tall dorsal fin. -Lindsey Lewis
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14:49 - Looks like that transient group are still here in Carr Inlet. -Bill DeLeo, Glen Cove
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17:21 - I've lost them but they seemed to be heading more towards Penrose and that's the direction the parade of boats is traveling.
17:10 - Headed south out of Carr Inlet by Green Point. 5:10 pm.
14:42 - Headed north, by Raft Island now....
14:32 - All have backed off except for two....
14:27 - They're in the middle of Carr Inlet by Horsehead Bay. Boats are circling them. -Lynn McCormick Radcliffe
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14:10 - [orcas] I spotted three today going by, around 2:10pm. This is the third time I've seen them this week so I'm guessing there must be some decent food in the area to keep them around! -Jennifer Swenson
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13:52 - [orcas] They are on the Key Pen side of Carr Inlet. Heading towards Penrose Park. -Deanna Sparks Kjorlien
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13:26 - [orcas] We have seen one between Fox and McNeil-seem headed west. -Charlene Welty
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13:21 - There is a pod of orcas around Fox Island right now. They were going between McNeil and Fox headed towards the Fox Island Bridge. My videos and photos are zoomed in. We kept our distance. It looked like there were 6 of them. -Courtney Grubb
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12:56 - 12:56 - they committed to heading west between Fox and McNeil.
12:35 - I have at least 3 Orca, presumably the T46s, heading East into the water's between McNeil, Fox and Chamber's Bay, headed towards Steilacoom from Eagle Island. Lots of boats, and they have gone quiet for now, so not sure how fast they are moving.
12:25 - I have a reliable report from a resident on Anderson Island that orcas are headed East past Eagle Island. Headed to the ferry dock now to confirm. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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~12:25 - At approximately 12:25pm today Orcas between McNeil and Anderson Island heading towards Tacoma Narrows. Possibly hunting around Eagle Island before spotted. -Lisa Elliott
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11:30 - Orcas in the south sound!! McNeil Island and Long Branch. Headed towards Fox Island. -?Christie Shane Zakem?
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10:45 - Orcas on west side of Anderson Island off the southwest corner off McNeil Island at 10:45. -"nrhuffy1"
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AFTERNOON - 16:30 - Still in Henderson Bay. One male and one female at Minter Creek 4:30 PM 7/18. Headed south at a steady pace MORNING - They were still here 9:00 PM 7/17, in front of the spit at Minter Creek. And near Cutts Island at 5:30 AM 7/18. There was a loud tail slap that got my attention at 5:30. They seemed to be milling around. Not heading any one direction. -Gary Furuheim
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HUMPBACKS - Sat, July 18 - Active Pass - 19:30 - Two humpbacks transited east through Active Pass around 7:30 . ID'd by Tasli Shaw as MMY0005 "Phi" and her calf. They did at least 5 breaches near Miner's Bay. First time I have ever seen HB's breach in the Pass. Amazing! Photo taken from the shore of Galiano Island. Did you know that it takes about the same amount of energy for an adult male HB to breach as a 747 uses in take off? -Cheers, Karoline Cullen
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Sat, July 18 - Haro Strait - 12:48 - Humpback northbound. Edwards Pt. - Land Bank area. 3!! One far out, two closer in. -Michelline Halliday
[Speaking to some on scene, this was Phi and her new calf. -Erin Johns Gless]
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13:44 - They headed north past Land Bank and Lime Kiln.
12:45 Two humpbacks fast north 1/4 mile offshore of Hannah Heights. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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Sat, July 18 - North of Admiralty Inlet - 11:12 - The HB westbound off Partridge Bank ended up being Shell MMX0049. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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09:30 - Glacier Spirit has a humpback northbound at Ebey's Landing. -Christopher Lewman, Puget Sound Express
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, July 18 - Possession Sound - Right near Hat Island Everett now. My sister just sent this to me, I am not there so I can't get a good id of them. -Tara Kaestner

July 17
SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS - Fri, July 17 - Haro Strait - 23:30 - Heard whales traveling north from Land Bank at 11:30 last night [7/17]. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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18:00 - Still 2-3 at LK. Slowly southbound. Still pretty far out there. -Kimberly Beck
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17:45 - Three southbound with Elba and Giles at northern most Land Bank turnout. -Lisa Lamoreaux
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17:13 - Just heard some clicking and squeals on LK hydrophone. -Jamie Austad
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16:27 - [orca] At least 1 at Eagle Cove. Just rounded north corner heading south. Milling. -Emily Scarlet
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16:04 - 4:04 still milling around at LK. -Casey Graham
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16:00 - Relayed shore report 1600 of 5-6 slow south off Land Bank including J56. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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15:14 - [orcas] North of False Bay, heading South. 3:14. -Cheryl McGuire
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13:15 - [orcas] Possible flip at county park. Southbound 1:15. -Kevin Culmback
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13:46 - They have continued to pass LK vocalizing intermittently and echolocating - 2 fins SB.
13:15 - Fins passing LK SB at 1:15-1:17 via Desticam [screenshot confirms/southbound].
13:02 - Just heard an S4 call on LK Hydro at 1:02 pm. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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12:54 - At least 4 (no grown males). They turned and are headed back south near the center of Haro Strait.
12:39 - [orcas] There is a group hanging out in Open Bay and by Kellett Bluff ... They've been here since noon. -Mae Cannon
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12:41 - More headed north now.
12:30 - [orcas] One male, one female, possibly one more, headed south out in rip line from the end of County Park. -Nan Yates Simpson
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12:27 - Calls on LK now at 12:27 p.m.! -Stephanie Mclaughlin
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14:50 - They seem to be hanging around Lime Kiln today. More echo location clicking on the LK hydrophone.
13:36 - Whales at LK, they appear on Desticam.
13:05 - Seems to be getting louder on the Orca Sound hydrophone?
12:26 - One for the ages at Lime Kiln just now. 16-20 Whales headed north. -Fred Horn photos - "Taken from shore at Lime Kiln State Park around noon or so."
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13:05 - Just saw another 5-6 at Smugglers heading south.
11:56 - 3-4 orcas spotted off of Smugglers Cove. -Coinín McTavish
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14:12 - Still 2-3 left here at LK. Southbound.
12:20 - Breaches and cartwheels since about noon. Now northbound.
11:45 - J56 and family just passed Lime Kiln. Northbound. -Kimberly Beck
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11:45 - Lots of fun chatter on LK hydro. -Carmen Wolflisberg
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11:41 - Several orcas now passing Bellevue point, spread out. -Kristi Jones
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12:07 - Passing Open Bay.
11:40 - [orcas] Leaders past county park. -Jeff Friedman
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11:38 - [orcas] Calls on the LK hydrophone again. -Tamara Kelley-Woods
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13:23 - Some passing Lime Kiln south now.
11:34 - Trailers northbound at Land Bank including J31 and J56. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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11:10 - [orcas] Several at Lime Kiln, one male, constantly changing direction but trending north. -Kimberly Beck
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13:46 - FINS GALORE! On the web cam....
13:25 - FIN! [on webcam] 1:25 along with sporadic clicks.
10:34 - Louder and more frequent calls on LK hydro. And the bucket of bolts cargo ship sound is fading. YAY for that.
10:24 - Faint clicks (under the sound of a boat) on LK hydro. -Kim Merriman
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10:13 - [orcas] Whales at Lime Kiln. South. -Rick Hedrick
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09:50 - 2 at Land Bank. -Kace Ayres
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09:57 - They turned, might be having a snack.
09:47 - Two Orca off Hannah Hts. Northbound. -Anni Fisher
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17:00 - J31 Tsuchi with J56 Tofino close by her side turned west heading away from the island.
15:05-16:45 - A group of 5 doubled back to 1/2 mile south of Edwards Pt. milling and possibly hunting. J31 Tsuchi with J56 Tofino and I was happy to see J46 Star and J53 Kiki with them. J53 practiced tail lobbing and J56 tried a spyhop.
14:15-15:00pm - Spread out 15-18 J-Pod members began returning from the north over the next 45 minutes, some very far out, many breaches.
10:50-11:25 - 8-10 northbound past Edwards Point, incl. J31 Tsuchi and J56 Tofino.
10:39 - J26 Mike worked the dark blue current line 2 miles south of Edwards Point.
09:14-10:39 - Lead by J19 Shachi 7-8 orcas traveled northbound to 1/4 mile south of Edwards Point, spent time milling then split; 4 northbound and 3 to the south. J16 Slick, J26 Mike, J36 Alki. At 10am, Mike began rolling near his sister J36 Alki and presented his sea snake. (Photos taken from shore, cropped and enlarged.) -Michelline Halliday
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08:30 - Breaching, lunging, porpoising orcas at and off of Eagle Point, SJI. Moving north. -Chris Wilson
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENT ORCAS - Fri, July 17 - Frederick Sound, AK- Tl’uk's pod was up in our neighborhood by Five Finger Lighthouse in Frederick Sound this summer, on July 17, attacking our humpback whales. The humpback adults exhibited heroic efforts to protect their calves, blocking and ramming the killer whales and eventually fending them off with no visible casualties. Besides this one brief appearance of Tl’uk, there was no other sighting of her participating in any of the attacks on the humpbacks. One of our board members, Stephanie, also saw them on July 9th at the northern edge of Kupreanof Island, and she mentioned that someone else reported seeing them as they swam through the Wrangell Narrows around that time. -Kenneth O'Brien M.S., Lighthouse Keeper, Five Finger Lighthouse, Frederick Sound, AK
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Fri, July 17 - South Puget Sound (T46s) - 16:15 - I saw the T46s around 16:15 near Minter Creek and went out in my kayak. I watched them as they casually moved up the bay and about 1-2 km from Purdy, they turned around and slowly headed south along the west shore. At Minter Creek, a motor boat coming out of the Minter Lagoon seemed to scare them further out into the bay, where they found a harbor porpoise. Four of the orcas seemed to be actively hunting it (or playing with it - I would assume that they could have easily killed it quickly) for about 30 minutes and when it would come to the surface, its entire head would come out of the water, gasping for air. Three of the orcas left it alone with one of the young/females (I am not confident in identifying a female from a juvenile). When that happened, the porpoise was often able to stay near the dorsal fin of the orca and wasn't gasping for breath. That continued for another hour and a half in the same area. At about 20:00, the porpoise surfaced right behind my kayak and the younger male followed fairly closely, while the female/juvenile surfaced heading straight toward me - I thought that I was going to get hit but it was able to swerve and missed me (see the attached video - you can see the porpoise surface at the beginning). I left after that, so I don't know what happened to the porpoise (I have to think that they ended up killing it). I did hear them in the bay around midnight. -Tim Hoffnagle
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12:58 - There's been a pod of Orcas East of the Key Peninsula about a 1/3 of the way to Cutts Island due east of Glen Cove….I wonder if they were enjoying some Minter salmon hatchery fish. They were traveling north and south along what looked like a straight line the last 2 days. Our home is 200 feet above sea level at the mouth of Glen Cove. We see a little north of Raft Island to the mouth of Horse Head Bay. -Bill DeLeo
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12:45 - Today, July 17, 2020, saw four orca at 12:45pm off Minter Creek. Looked like the same from yesterday. One male and 3 smaller. No pictures, but males dorsal was curved to the right at the top and had a notch about a third of the way down. They were milling around jumping and slapping their tails. We watched them for 30 minutes until they swam to the south out of sight. This sighting was off Minter Creek, closer to the west shore of Henderson Bay. -Kevin Stroh
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~09:00 - [orcas] Looks like they got a seal in Henderson Bay off of Minter Creek around 9am. -Richard Clos
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07:35 - My friend who lives on the Purdy Spit reports Orcas present this morning, breaching off Minter Creek, 7:35am. He says at least 6, including a Bull & Calf. -Melissa Bird
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HUMPBACKS - Fri, July 17 - Puget Sound - 20:10 - One humpback surfaced very close to Maury, still by the gravel pit. Watching with binoculars from Browns Point. -Meghan Davis
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15:49 - There is a large whale between Redondo and Maury Island. Encountered it Wednesday and today. -Scott Perry
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19:09 - 2 or 3 humpbacks again between Dash Point State Park and Maury Island. Closer to the gravel pit on Maury Island. (Couldn't tell the direction. They were hanging out in the same area for about 20 minutes). -Jacob Taylor
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14:20 - Humpback whale in the East Passage between Vashon Island and BrowN's Point. Traveling south. Closer to Gold Beach on Vashon. Diving deep as I have seen it's fluke several times. Friday July 17 at 1420. -Burt Miller
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Fri, July 17 - Puget Sound - 15:25 - Whale going by Maury Island. Southbound, nearing Browns Point. 3:25pm. -Marlin Black
[Likely the humpback currently being reported in that area. -gs]
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, July 17 - Possession Sound - 19:30-21:00 - At ~19:30 while driving southbound coming down West Marine View Drive, Everett, towards waterfront, happened to see large whale blow off Jetty Island. Later at ~20:30 while up at Grand View Park watched one whale ~1/2 mile off south end Jetty Island for at least 20 minutes heading SW. Shortly after sunset ~20:58 saw who believe to be 2nd whale further north, mid way up Jetty Island, heading northbound. Could be same whale but think two were out there. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Fri, July 17 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 14:58 - Now back to Mariners Cove.
14:51 - Heading towards Camano.
13:47 - 2356 feeding between Mariners Cove and Polnell Shores. Heading towards Polnell. White line right of blowhole. -Greg & Terra Parham
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DOLPHIN - Fri, July 17 - South Puget Sound - 14:30-15:30 - Earlier this afternoon I spent some time in a kayak following the common dolphin in Case Inlet, east off the northern point of Harstine Island. I first spotted at around 2:00 P.M., and I was kayaking with it from 2:30 to 3:30 P.M. For almost the entire time I was with it, the dolphin was following a boat that was moving slowly back and forth east of Hartstene Point. The boaters were fishing and didn't seem to be paying much attention to the dolphin. At 3:30 P.M. the dolphin left that boat and swam off to start following a sailboat that was moving southeast towards Herron Island. That's when I left the dolphin and returned to shore. Honestly, I'm quite concerned for this dolphin. Assuming it is from the same pod of common dolphins that came down to South Puget Sound in 2016, it seems to be the only dolphin left here. Over these past couple months, we've been seeing a pair of common dolphins in this same area, but the two dolphin sightings that I've had so far this month have been of a lone dolphin. Also, I found the behavior of this dolphin to be unusual. While I know it is normal for dolphins to approach boats and play in their wakes, the time that the dolphin spent with the boat (over an hour) seemed to me to be unusual, and when it finally left that boat it went on to follow another boat. I'm worried that it may not be long before there will be no resident dolphins in South Puget Sound, but I'm certainly no expert. [ID notes by Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research Collective: "This is the one we call Cinco, he's a young male long-beaked common dolphin. He is the fifth and last individual we were able to uniquely identify from the group that arrived in 2016. While we were pretty sure he was a male due to his size, it's only in the last year that he developed the post-anal keel (the lump near his tail) that confirmed his sex."] -Connor O'Brien

July 16
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Thu, July 16 - Gulf Islands, B.C. - 07:20 - As of 7:20 they were heading north up Trincomali. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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05:35 - Looks like a round [dorsal] tip to me! They entered Active Pass and exited the pass and possibly went up Trincomali Channel.
05:01 - I have eyes on orcas northbound in Swanson Channel. Behaviour seems like Jpod. -Rachelle Hayden
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05:30 - Sightings from the shore of Galiano Island this morning. Eight members of J pod came into Georgeson Bay around 5:30 am. After some activity there, they exited the Bay and, instead of coming through Active Pass, went north up Trincomali Channel. We followed up the island and had sightings of them from Lover's Leap, Spotlight Cove, and the North End government dock. They swam steadily and speedily. (Thanks to Rachelle Hayden and Gary Sutton for the ID help.) -Cheers, Karoline Cullen
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Thu, July 16 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (T65As) - 14:00 - Just so you know the T65A pod exited the sound and was spotted near Smith Island/ Partridge Bank today. -Bart Rulon
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Thu, July 16 - South Puget Sound/Carr Inlet (T46s) - 20:20 - Spotted two orcas in Henderson Bay at about 8:20 pm. One was very large, and looked like the same as two days ago. Heading toward Carr Inlet. No sightings since then. -Sandy Smith
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18:26 - Orcas in Carr Inlet, by Raft Island, heading south out of Carr Inlet. July 16, evening 18:26. Images from Ingrid's deck in Henderson Bay. -Ingrid Shumway
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13:30-14:30 - We spotted a pod of five orcas in Carr Inlet today 1:30-2:30. One orca we spotted very close to the Cutts Island beach. Surprisingly shallow. The pod moved south toward Anderson island. -Margaret Alvarez
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08:51 - Linda Williams called to report orcas in Carr Inlet. She is on SW side of Fox Island. They are seeing orcas between them and Key Peninsula on KP side, looking toward Lakebay area. The orcas were circling, breaching, and appear to be hunting, feeding.
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07:45 - I didn't get a chance to let you know this morning, but it looks like the same two I saw pass by on Tues evening going northbound came back by us early this morning heading south! It was around 7:45am and there was heavy fog, but I managed to spot a fin through the mist and captured a couple of shots before they went past! Looks like a lone boat was slowly following them which was fun to see in the fog! -Jennifer Swenson
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07:45 - Saw four orcas cruising south out of Henderson Bay between Minter Creek and Raft Island at 7:45 am July 16, 2020. They were moving quickly and not fooling around. No boats were shadowing them like two days ago when a pod swam by the same area. Guess it was too early for humans to be out on a Friday morning. It appeared to be a large male and three smaller dorsal fins. -Kevin Stroh
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HUMPBACKS - Thu, July 16 - Puget Sound - For the last 4 days I've seen a humpback whale, I believe, between Maury Island and Woodmont Beach in the evenings. -Mitzi Gligorea
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, July 16 - Possession Sound - 19:35 - Just saw a grey between Everett Marina and Hat Island. Headed west. -Mary O'Reilly-Foehlich
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10:10 - 2 gray whales feeding on the edge of the Snohomish River delta (at low tide no less!) CRC2356 and CRC2262. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express

July 15
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Wed, July 15 - Haro Strait - 21:55 - Calls on Lime Kiln Hydrophone now!!! 9:55 pm. -Dusty DeLange
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21:27 - 3-5 orca northbound off Land Bank 21:27. -Lisa Lamoreaux
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18:39 - Just flipped southbound again.
18:37 - J16 passing Land Bank 1/2 mile offshore. -Ellie Sawyer
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18:24 - I see 5 north of Eagle Point halfway to False Bay, milling. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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17:42 - [orcas] Received a report of them northbound at South Beach and Eagle Point. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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17:21 - 2 miles aiming at False Bay.
17:12 - 3 miles, split into a few groups. Moving at a nice pace.
17:00 - Heading north from Hein Bank, pointed at Eagle Pt. -Jeff Friedman
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12:40 - Some of them are outside False Bay. -Drew Harvell
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11:49 - Lone orca heading north near False Bay. -Karl Weaver
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10:41 - Seeing at least 4 - a large male and 3 others at Hannah Hts. They were playing on the surface but dove deep. -Anni Fisher
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12:00 - Northernmost whales southbound off Hannah Heights w Straitwatch.
10:48 - A new group of 4-5 working tide rip off Kanaka now.
10:30 - Lone male northbound at Kanaka in growing nearshore flood.
10:10 - Viewing from Cats Cradle catamaran, female and calf trending north off Kanaka Bay, just south of tidal front. -Scott Veirs
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18:01 - Some orcas are at coastline north of Eagle Point. Others also coming in from far out. Were porpoising, chasing, breaching coming in. Now quieter. Some came from south of Eagle point. Everyone that I can see is now moving north. Farthest is about at False Bay. Sun glare makes it hard to see further north.
16:15 - Orcas spread from north of Salmon Banks to Pile Point. All quite far off shore that I can see. No specific direction.
10:43 - Orcas far off shore south of False Bay moving north. At least five.
09:32 - Group that had been maybe fishing are now tailslapping, rolling, one breach. They are moving closer to shore and a bit more south towards Eagle Point.
09:14 - Another group of 5-6 orca north of Eagle Point. A bit further from shore. Circling and chasing something underwater. Looks like catching food. No large male in that group.
08:15-0855 - Orcas at and south of Eagle Point. J56 and the gang. About 7 whales. J56 playing in the big current at Eagle Point. Too sweet! 8:15 - 8:55. Slowly moving southish. -Chris Wilson
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10:00 - Three headed north from Eagle Cove. (They left to the north in a hurry!)
09:30 - Fins sighted moving south from Eagle Cove towards American Camp/South Beach.
07:35 - [orcas] Just showed up around the corner, visible from Land Bank, then turned back south. -Fred Horn
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08:15 - We are still seeing blows from Land Bank, FAR south / SW of Edwards. Unclear direction from this distance.
07:27 - Still visible from Land Bank south of Edwards, nonstop tail slaps. Unclear direction, but possibly south.
07:17 - Looks like they will actually go past Edwards north now, So many tail slaps and a breach!!!!
07:16 - At least one BIG male.
07:14 - More just came into view south of Edwards, facing north. Lots of splashing. Can't tell from this distant what they're doing.
07:04 - [orcas] Blows just south of Edwards Point, facing north. -Cassie Barclay
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06:55 - At 655 it looked like there was a split, some north some south. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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18:43 - Northbound J26 Mike to northern edge of Hannah Hts. then south again, out of sight.
18:23 - 3 north to pass Edwards Pt. and on to Land Bank then flipped south.
10:40-11:45 - A lone male to the south across from Hannah Hts area moved north then south, working the dark blue current line.
07:06 -08:00 - Big breach from the dark water into the sunlight. They're back, returning from the south. 5-6 breaches, 2 belly flops, inverted tail lob, rolling, aerial scan, spy hops; so many activities I didn't know where to look. Stopping south of Edwards Pt., spreading out, they make their way back to the south and out of sight. J19s, J16s.
05:30-6:30 - At first light I heard the blow and saw a large male slowly moving north towards Edwards Pt. All around him rose family and friends joining in a tight resting line drifting north. In unison they headed away from me and as a single entity turned to the south. 14 individuals turning as one. I stood on the shore awe-struck. 14-16+ individuals incl. J16 Slick, J26 Mike, J27 Blackberry, J39 Mako, J41 Eclipse, J51 Nova, J22 Oreo, J38 Cookie, J49 Notch. (Photographed from shore. Photos enlarged and cropped.) -Michelline Halliday
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Wed, July 15 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet - 13:30 - 3 to 4 Orca northbound Admiralty Inlet near Lagoon Point, Whidbey. Thought we saw one male, but they were moving fast and quickly out of view. -Margaret Marshall
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15:10 - I headed to Fort Casey at 2:30 pm, eventually saw one female surface twice, around 3:10, then nothing. She was heading NW and in the shipping lanes, so quite distant. I waited another half hour, but didn't see her again, or any others. -Jill Hein
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Wed, July 15 - South Puget Sound (T46s) - It appears that the T46s were back in Henderson Bay last night. As I was sitting down for dinner, I thought that I saw a male - it was a fair distance out in the bay and coming toward me, so I wasn't positive. I watched for quite a while (5 minutes or so) before I dared to look down to eat but saw nothing, so I started to eat, thinking that maybe I had seen a skier go down. However, as I was finishing dinner, I saw a juvenile in profile, so I finished quickly and went down to go kayaking. When I got down to the beach, there was no sign of the orcas, so I set out toward Purdy. I got nearly there without any sign of them when I came upon some people in a boat who were waiting for them to resurface. I spoke with them for a little bit and continued toward Purdy. A few minutes later, they resurfaced near the west shore of the bay - two males and 2-3 others, now heading south. They took a few breaths and then dove for 10-15 minutes, which seems to be all that they were doing last night. I suspected that they would continue south, so I headed that way and they resurfaced ahead of me, again taking a few breaths and sounding. I continued south but when they resurfaced, they were even further ahead of me - I couldn't keep up. I suspect that it was the T46s, again but never got a good look at them or took any pictures. [July 16] I woke up around midnight and thought that I heard them in the distance. I laid awake, listening and 10-15 minutes later, heard them again, very close. I got up and went onto the deck. It was quiet enough and they were close enough that I could even hear them inhaling. I was able to barely make out a couple of them, about 40 m from shore. Again, they took a few breaths and sounded. I heard them again in the distance 10-15 minutes later. No more sign of them this morning. I assume that staying down (and probably not vocalizing) is a hunting strategy - correct? Do they ever go under the Purdy Bridge? [Yes, Ts have - alb] -Timothy L. Hoffnagle, Ph.D.
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21:56 - [orcas] Off Horsehead/Kopachuck area, saw the one with the curved dorsal tip with a notch in it. -Tally Swanson
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21:41 - There are 2 groups it seems. This group is still heading north, getting close to Horsehead Bay, but on western side. Long dives so hard to keep track. (they were diving for long periods so it was hard to find them.)
21:18 - They changed direction, heading north now.
21:11 - South toward Fox Island.
20:58 - [orcas] Confirming the sighting in Carr Inlet. Saw 4 heading south swimming slowly. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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20:40 - I'm watching one or two heading south in Carr Inlet right now. -Lynn McCormick Radcliffe
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20:30 - Orcas off Kopachuck headed to Carr Inlet. Four together and one big orca separate 8:30. -Courtney Hogan
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19:10 - Orcas at Purdy Spit right now 7:10pm. -Amanda Edwards
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18:00-18:20 - A pod headed west in Hale Passage towards the Fox Island bridge - passed Point Fosdick around 1800, approaching the bridge by about 1820. Sadly, no photos today. They were too far away when I first spotted them. -David Estroff
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17:00 - Arletta Hale Passage (Gig Harbor). Pod of 5. -Cory Garnaas
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11:42 - 4 orca, 1 male, 2 female & calf near tip of North Bay - north of Fox Island. Went under, have not come up again. -Jennifer Summers
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18:30-20:30 - They were back this evening as well in Henderson Bay. They were heading in around 6:30pm towards Purdy, and heading out by Cutts Island around 8:30pm.
13:05 - Orcas were just in and now heading out of Henderson Bay….last I saw they were out by Cutts heading out.
11:09 - [orcas] We saw them coming in near Cutts Island while we were out fishing at 11:09, was when my first photo on my phone was taken, and they went all the way to Purdy and we saw them come back by Cutts around 12:4 ish when we were heading in. (Incase you were concerned by the distance, We were out fishing engines off they popped up pretty close to us. We didn't even know that they were out there.) -Malissa Hutchings
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10:09 - Still slowly hanging out barely in sight. Carr, heading west toward Kopachuck, close to shore.
10:02 - Boat left. There are at least 3 smaller fins and a male.
10:00 - No splashing. But don't seem to be headed anywhere. A boat is there now.
09:49 - Sorry. Turned and coming back toward Carr Inlet. (westbound)
09:45 - Orcas in Hale's Pass heading toward Fox Island bridge. 3 of them. No boats! Close to Fox Island. Almost to Fox Island bridge. Heading East. -Cari Black
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~09:27 - They are heading into Hale's Passage from the north. -Lance Loyd
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02:30 - It appears that those orcas remained in Henderson Bay last night. I got up at 02:30 to see the comet and heard something outside, so I stepped out on the deck for a while - it was a deer munching on some leaves. While I was there, I heard the orcas blowing. It was way too dark to see anything. They were gone when I woke up (late) this morning. I suspect that they were sleeping (I know that they only sleep with half of their brain at a time) but do they hunt at night? Harbor seals would be on land but harbor porpoises would be vulnerable....but even more difficult to find. -Timothy L. Hoffnagle, Ph.D.
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01:45 - Heard Orcas around 1:45 AM 7/15. Wondering which group. I live at Minter Creek. It sounded like one big male and 4 to 6 smaller individuals with some splashing like small tail slaps. We have a salmon run going on and there were a large group of harbor seals in the area, so it could be either J or transients. -Gary Furuheim
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11:42 - 4 orca, 1 male, 2 female & calf near tip of North Bay - north of Fox Island. Went under, have not come up again. -Jennifer Summers
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Wed, July 15 - Puget Sound (T65As) - 21:24 - [orcas] Snapped as they were passing Point Robinson. -Ryan Campbell
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20:39 - Group of orcas headed North through Elliott Bay past Bainbridge Island approx. 8:05. Ferries slowed and you could see several spouts and splashes. Beautiful, lots of people watching! -Melissa Kegler
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20:18 - [orcas] Good job by Washington State Ferry headed to Bremerton. I saw from Alki Pt that they stopped and waited! Those ferry riders got some close up views - safely! -Ann Vine
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20:00 - 8 pm still porpoising towards Bainbridge... Beautiful backlit blows visible from Alki. -Kersti Elisabeth Muul
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20:20 - 8:20, just west of mid channel. Just south of Blakely Rock.
20:13 - Pod continues North. Research boat has broken away. 3-4 getting near the ferry at 8:13.
20:00 - [orcas] Approaching mid channel marker between Alki and Bainbridge with small research boat behind. -Phil Echelman
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19:30 - Maija Holston, WSF Ferries Marine Ops, emailed: Master reports 2-3 orca off Dolphin Point headed NB towards Blake Island.
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19:20 - We were viewing from constellation park about 7:20, research boat following them north. Closer to tip of south Bainbridge. -Alejandra Gonzalez
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19:16 - Nearly to the south end of Blake Island. West of mid-channel.
19:02 - [orcas] Viewing from just shout of 60th and Spokane in West Seattle. Several orca headed north away from Vashon ferry terminal. West of mid channel. -Douglas B. Greenswag
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18:49 - They are headed north. They stopped to feed and came right up close to our boat!! -Kimberly Marzano
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18:44 - They are moving slowly east toward Fauntleroy with the research boat trailing.
18:31 - [orcas] I see them west of Southworth ferry dock-big splashes. Surrounded by many small boats not under power. -Margery Spears
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18:18 - They're right next to the northern Vashon Ferry dock...
18:03 - Finally! I see them on the Vashon side, heading north. My view is from North Three Tree Point, looking North West. They are on the north eastern side of Vashon. -Megan Hansen
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18:00-18:20 - A pod headed west in Hale Passage towards the Fox Island bridge - passed Point Fosdick around 1800, approaching the bridge by about 1820. -David Estroff
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16:22 - [orcas] They are mid channel viewing off of KVI Beach, no boats around them. -Easton Horner
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15:53 - [orcas] Just passed Pt. Robinson. 5 Orcas. Heading North. -Mari McMaster
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14:25 - Just saw 2 Ts slightly south of the Maury Island Marine Park. And also humpback in same general area at 2:25. -Amy Carey
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13:30 - This was from roughly 1:30pm, looking from Owen Beach towards Vashon. I know it's a late comment, but I want to share because this made me really, really happy! Thank you to everyone who updates and shares sightings! -Jill Modell
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13:20 - Orca on Vashon side near Owen Beach.---This was from Owen Beach walkway facing south side Vashon Ferry terminal approx. 1:25pm. I watched them (3) go from the south end of the island till they wrapped around Maury Island heading north. -Cherie StOurs
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13:29 - Heading east towards Vashon ferry dock.
13:20 - Saw 3 near tip of Vashon! -Kiana Weinschenk
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13:02 - Bradley Coombe WSF, Marine Ops, emailed (at 13:10): KITTITAS 1302hrs: C/M reports pod of five to six orca moving South in Colvos Passage.
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13:22 - Literally right by the ferry dock - as if they were about 50 or 100 yards from it.
13:18 - They're still there!!
13:15 - [orcas] Spotted just at the tip of Vashon! JUST by the ferry dock. 3 fins I believe. -Lisa Borkowski
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13:28 - Mid channel moving towards Owen [Beach].
13:00 - They are passing the Vashon Ferry Line, long dives, towards Commencement Bay.
12:45pm today, snapped this pic from a boat in Dalco Passage facing Commencement Bay with the pod in the distance.
12:35 - Still milling around at entrance to Colvos, no specific direction at the moment, closer to Vashon shore.
12:25 - [orcas] Group is still in the middle of Dalco Passage; had not passed ferry line yet. Seem to be circling. -Anika Blake
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12:26 - Seen twice hugging the shoreline just south of Owen Beach. Switching directions back and forth. -Katie Sakai
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12:05 - Confirmed off Point Defiance in between Gig Harbor and Vashon. -Erin Carey
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12:01 - Picking up speed a bit, south, passed the mouth of Gig Harbor.
11:59 - Moving south slowly.
11:49 - Stay in one spot at the moment.
11:46 - [orcas] Spotted with binoculars, between south end Vashon ferry and Gig Harbor in Dalco. -Michaela Kelly Wuelfing
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11:45 - [orcas] In Dalco, just out from Tahlequah. -Michele Riley Campbell
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12:10 - Slowly East bound in front of Owen Beach, Pt. Defiance.
11:51 - I saw 3 or 4. They dove at the south end of Vashon. I haven't seen them resurface yet.
11:38 - Sea lions are scattering from Owen Beach. The group is just off SW tip of Vashon 11:38. -Jason Cook
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11:27 - Just passed Sunrise Beach at 11:27. Closer to Vashon. -Tess Burningham
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11:15 - Spotted north of Sunrise Beach, closer to Vashon. 3 fins but deep dives. (Heading south). -Stephen Curran
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~11:10 - Past Point Richmond. Closer to Vashon side. Saw two. Moving fast. Deep dives. Headed south. -Katrina Flowers-Piercy
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11:59 - Group in front of Ruston Way moving slowly toward Owen Beach. People at Point Defiance should get a good viewing.
11:43 - We're looking at all 5 in Commencement and don't see them in front of Sunrise at all.
11:31 - Going into Commencement Bay now. (They moved pretty quickly from the south tip of Vashon at 11:24 to cross over to Commencement Bay.)
11:24 - Approaching south end of Vashon, hugging the Vashon shore. Still heading south.
11:07 - [orcas] Can see them coming at Sunrise Beach. Still heading south slowly. Long dive times. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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11:01 - Just passed Point Richmond down for a dive. -Sandy Reilly
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10:35 - [orcas] One mile south of Al's [Market]. Closer to Kitsap side. Spread out, 3 in front and two further behind. -Linda Axelson Hollingsworth
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~10:50 - They were way over on the Kitsap side, but this was as they were headed southbound from south of Lisabuela Beach. -Marla Smith
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10:50 - Looks like two or three, heading very slowly southbound. Middle of Colvos Passage just north of Point Richmond. -Chris Friedemann
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10:47 - Just passed Lisabuela going south.
10:26 - [orcas] Heading south along Vashon's west wide, apparently. -Josephine Hutton
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10:06 - [orcas] I just got a report at 10:06 that they are about 2 miles north of Lisabuela still southbound. 2 males spotted. -Kelly Burns Keenan
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09:40 - [orcas] Spotted them off of Cove Walk around 9:40 am. -Liz McDonald Van Norman
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09:22 - 4-5 in total, I think, one definite male and maybe one smaller male. They seem to have picked up speed and are down near driftwood cove now.
09:08 - [orcas] Spotted off point Southworth at 9:08. Headed south in Colvos Passage. There are no boats with them. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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07:01 - Jordan Light, WSF Ferries Marine Ops, emailed: Wheelhouse reports via 800MHz two to four orca south of Bainbridge Island, heading south towards Colvos Passage.
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HUMPBACKS - 13:55 - Humpback spotted just south of Point Robinson, Vashon southbound! -Amy Carey
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GRAY WHALES - Wed, July 15 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 15:30 - Gray 2356(?) heading for Utsalady from Polnell area. I just happened to glance a puff way out in the channel, and it looks like 2356 is finished with lunch at Polnell and is heading across the bay toward Utsalady. I followed as long as I could with binoculars - I can't confirm that it is 2356 but it would make sense that it is. -Marianne Parry
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~14:00 - …CRC2253 came by just before 2pm today, 7/15/20 at Mariners' Cove (yay!). It came across from Camano/Utsalady area and I saw it just as it came directly toward me. It came in pretty close to shore and began feeding heavily, moving very slowly southward toward Polnell…-Marianne Parry
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11:00-12:12 - 2356 is feeding in Polnell Shores. Striped zebra flipper. White line right side of blowhole. (Some characteristics that we have noticed with 2356: He/she likes to blow bubbles while feeding. Also on the 4-5 breath he'll lift his head way up out of the water. -Terra Parham) ---We had a surprise visitor today as we walked our beach. We believe it is #2356, feeding before it heads north. Be well! Greg & Terra Parham, Oak Harbor, WA

July 14
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Tue, July 14 - Haro Strait - We sailed South with news of J pod members of the Southern Residents back in False Bay after returning by way of Rosario Strait yesterday. It's now 11 days straight that they've been in the Salish Sea. With news that the Resident Orcas were Southbound we met them at South Beach. We saw J31 with daughter J56, J37 with son J49. J56 breached airborne at least 8 times. We watched J49 actively chasing a fish. After they all made a synchronized turn up island we left to return by way of Cattle Point Lighthouse. Catching a counter-current close to the forested shoreline off Lopez and a beautiful peaceful sail across to Turn Island, through the pass and back to Friday Harbor. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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18:20 - [orcas] South Beach, southbound. -Fred Horn
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18:00 - [orcas] Some passing Eagle Cove, down island. -Frederick Earl Dowell
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1716 - [orcas] Two just headed back south from Lime Kiln (including one male) and two others are milling at Lime Kiln ...trending south. -Michelle Savoie
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17:06 - clicks and calls heard on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Angela Zylla
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17:00 - Nice squeaks started at 1700. -Vickie Doyle
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16:52 - 2 at LK, one male one female. -Rayne Billings
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17:42 - Some chatter on LK hydrophone.
16:24 - Loud echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Carmen Wolflisberg
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16:18 - Clicking on Lime Kiln, just saw this on Lime Kiln web cam. [webcam screenshot of orca]. -Cindy Bree
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21:00 - Blows and tail slaps heard at Eagle Cove.
19:22 - No whales left at Eagle Cove. They took off to Salmon Bank and Hein Bank.
15:01 - 3;01 more foraging at Eagle Cove.
14:59 - 3-5 south of Granny's Cove. Foraging.
12:15 - Deep dive and poof gone! I can hear tail slaps further north near False Bay. I think they turned around and are heading north again.
11:59 - [orcas] North of Eagle Point, foraging. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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17:20 - 2 heading south towards Hannah Hts. Incl one male. Hard to see. Bright out here! (Additional/updated info: 5:20pm - 5:45pm, 7-9 orcas southbound from Edwards Point continuing past Hannah Hts.)
17:08 - 2 milling Hannah Hts. So I have a conservative total of 11 since 4pm. (Additional info: 5:08pm, 2 orcas milling in Hannah Hts area turned, southbound out of sight.)
16:56 - 2 more north edge Hannah Hts. Total of 4 here milling. Spread out. None close in.
16:48 - 2 orca far out, spread out Hannah Hts. One northbound, the other just turned and is heading back south.
16:07 - 4:07. 3 incl. one lg male approaching Land Bank. Northbound.
16:04 - 4:04. 2 incl. lg male approaching Edwards Pt. Northbound.
16:00 - 2 northbound, Hannah Heights. (Additional info: 4pm - 5pm [16:00-17:00], 11 orcas spread out, none close-in, traveling northbound, past Edwards Pt.)
10:44 - The 4 turned southbound to mid-Hannah Hts. Out of my sight. One of the orcas was J47 Notch.
10:41 - Milling north side of Hannah Hts. See 4. (additional info: 10:41am, J47 Notch and a companion northbound just to the north boundary of Hannah Hts., J47 Notch breached and both turned, southbound.)
07:55 - Leader doubled back to meet the 2nd one. Both southbound and out of sight.
07:48 - [orcas] Northbound Hannah Hts. I see 2 so far. 7:50-One has doubled back. (additional info: 7:48am, 2 males northbound just to the north boundary of Hannah Hts., one breached, both turned, southbound.) -Michelline Halliday
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07:10 - Eagle Cove, several still on south side of point, non-directional, and a few individuals further out breaching! Frisky whales this morning! -Lodie Laurieanne Gilbert Budwill
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22:30 - 10:30 pm, blows north of Eagle Cove.
12:23 - Orca spread from south of False Bay to Pile Point. All very spread apart in groups of 2-3 or single. A few very far out off of False Bay. Milling.
10:31 - Orcas spread out near False Bay. Some a bit closer to shore. Some further out.
07:18 - Others are now at False Bay heading North.
07:07 - Most have stalled north of Eagle Point. No direction.
06:35 - About 20 orca. Slowly traveling all together. At Eagle Point. Heading south. Close to shore. -Chris Wilson
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BIGG'S/TRANSIENTS - Tue, Jul 14 - San Juan Islands - 08:37 - Bradley Coombe WSF, Marine Ops emailed (at 10:49): SAMISH 0837hrs: C/M reports one orca traveling North-East near Upright Head and Flat Beach. Noted. W/S notified vessels via 800MHz.
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Tue, July 14 - Central Puget Sound - 20:03 - Blows visible from Shilshole Marina. Mid channel, heading north. -Kate Hruby
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19:39 - They're still mid channel almost to Carkeek Park heading north. -Kevin Green
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19:02 - Heading north.
18:55 - Orcas spotted across from sunset hill park north of rolling bay on Bainbridge side. Spotted at least 3 orcas with binoculars. -Torrey Hall Volk
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19:10 - Northbound, south Fay Bainbridge and Shilshole Marina, Kitsap side.
18:30 - Orcas approaching Discovery Park/lighthouse. Midchannel. Picked up speed. -Sue Larkin
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16:49 - [orcas] Next to the ferry headed east 4:49pm towards the yellow marker, I believe. -Mitchell Nevi
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18:11 - They are drifting towards mid and more north. I moved so not sure exactly what I'm looking at on BI.
18:00 - Definitely hunting/hunted something. Drifting north with it.
17:40 - Pod has stalled. correcting to Murden Cove off Yeomalt. (not Rolling Bay) Possibly hunting
17:26 - It looked like they took Restoration wide. Maybe they went behind Blake Island they were heading east and then NE and now going N.
17:25 - pod has cleared Eagle Harbor, Kitsap side of mid channel. Steady northbound grouped.
17:12 - Surfaced again, they are actually nearing ferry lanes, grouped steady northbound.
17:08 - Pod is north of Restoration Point heading northbound Kitsap side.
16:48 - Chimacum is coming up on them soon. (WSF has been alerted).
16:35 - Yes, for sure blows and shiny bodies. Kitsap fast ferry just went by them.
16:33 - Pretty sure I am seeing orcas south of Restoration Point. Too far to tell direction. From Magnolia Bluff. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:30 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, called with update: orca (1 female and 1 calf) less than 1/2 mile north of Vashon (northend) Dock loitering.
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13:37 - Just saw a pod of orcas transiting north off the east side of Vashon. -Rusty Lhamon
[video: Reviewed, at least 5 whales including male, maybe sprouter, and young. -alb]
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12:29 - 3 orcas SB, initially. Got near end of Vashon (on Vashon side) close to start of Maury Island and haven't resurfaced for a while. Maybe feeding? -Sandhya Ballal
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12:16 - Passing mid channel marker at 3 Tree Point now.
11:53 - Slowly and steady southbound, approaching KVI, long down times. Mid channel. -Christina Van Wolbeck Fennerty
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11:35 - Slowly southbound, mid-channel, closer to Dilworth. -Cindy Eckes Waddington
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10:43 - Bradley Coombe WSF, Marine Ops, emailed (at 10:49): ISSAQUAH 1043hrs: C/M reports five to six orca traveling South near Dolphin Point. Noted. W/S notified vessels via 800MHz.
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10:40 - [orcas] Still moving South just off north end of Vashon/Dolphin Pt., mid channel. -Stacie Bennett Caughell
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10:30 - Pod of orcas between Vashon Island and West Seattle. -Tim McCall
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Tue, July 14 - North to South Puget Sound (T46s) - 22:12 - [orcas] We got to watch them for close to an hour. They stayed a ways off Deadman's Island [Cutts Island State Park]. They definitely were hunting. Lots of swimming around, tail slapping. Absolutely incredible to see. Boats around us were respectful, cut engines and just sat while they swam around. -Erin Barnes
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21:33 - They are now out of my sight which probably means they are heading into Henderson Bay.
21:15 - I just saw them west of Raft Island at 9:15. They are not moving fast at all. Hope that means they are finding some good food!
21:03 - [orcas] They are near Kopachuck State Park on the west side. Not moving swiftly. Most boats have left. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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20:06 - [orcas] Headed into Henderson Bay just a bit north of Raft Island. Two or three. 13 watercraft but only one is way too close. -Barb Horn Hartman
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20:00-20:40 - Orcas in Henderson Bay, Carr Inlet, this evening between 20:00 - 20:40. Captured from our deck in Henderson Bay. -Ingrid Shumway
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19:38 - [orcas] Yes, in Carr Inlet now, northbound, going towards Kopachuck State Park. On west side. -Sarah Richey Guenther
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19:30-21:15 - There was a small pod of orcas in the lower part of Henderson Bay this evening from at least 19:30 until 21:15. I saw at least six, including two males, but I believe that there may have been some that were behind some trees from my view. There was a large crowd of boats and jet skis near them. They spent over an hour in about the middle of the bay off of Cutts Island. At about 20:45, some of them moved further up the bay to right off of my house, about ¼ mile below Minter Creek and then turned around. They did a lot of tail slapping (especially as they were leaving) and some tail lobbing, fin slapping, and spy hopping. Yesterday or Sunday I saw a big group of harbor seals feeding in the bay, so there's lots of food around for the orcas. -Tim Hoffnagle
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19:11 - Two Orcas just passed by in the Carr Inlet heading north towards Henderson Bay. They passed me about 7:11pm.---Wonderful surprise to see what looks like two Orcas pass us by out in the Carr Inlet this evening! -Jennifer Swenson
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19:00 - [orcas] Passed Fox Island at 19:00, a small group 4-5 porpoising, headed towards Key Penn. -Lynda Henderson-Wasmund
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18:27 - Two males, two females heading west in Hale Passage in Gig Harbor. -Hugh Pratt
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19:01 - Headed towards Kopachuck. They're headed towards Henderson Bay now.
18:25 - [orcas] Viewing with binocs from Fox Island Bridge, trending this way. -Anika Blake
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17:50 - Orca by Fox Island north side. 5:50 pm, looks like possibly 3. -Jennifer Hill
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17:52 - From way far away. They appear to be headed towards the Fox Island Bridge with 11 boats and at least 2 jet skis.
17:36 - [orcas] West side of The Narrows, across from Day Island. -Phil Caldwell
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17:30 - Photos I took from today of the Bigg's T46s while I was viewing from Hidden Beach at Titlow Park in Tacoma. -Sally Milligan-Smith
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17:30 - My husband and I are walking across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge for the 1st time and a pod of 4 or 5 Orcas just went under us a few minutes ago! And I just saw that it's Orca Day!! They're still out, boats are following them. -Jessica Richter
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17:19 - [orcas] Almost to Point Fosdick now. -Rodney Baum
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17:16 - [orcas] Spouts seen just crossing south of the Narrows bridge. -Tammy Stephens Valdivia
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17:11 - Orcas heading south in the Tacoma Narrows. -Dana Miller
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17:10 - [orcas] Almost to Narrows bridge, heading south, favoring Gig Harbor shore. Lots of boats around. -Amanda Van Meter
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17:15 - Just south of bridge, Gig Harbor side... still moving south.
17:10 - [orcas] Still slightly north of bridge, closer to Gig Harbor side...lots of boats that look close... not positive of direction. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
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~17:00-18:00 - This small pod of transient orcas made their way from the Narrows Bridge to the Fox Island bridge from about 5-6 pm yesterday. It was thrilling to watch them, as usual! -Karen Caldwell
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16:50 - We got lucky again sitting on our deck on a gorgeous sunny day today looking at the water and saw a huge dorsal fin with boats slowing around. Grabbed my binos & my husband Richard got his camera as the Orca couple & baby swam by! Looks like they were having a leisurely swim with a little spouting as they headed towards Tacoma Narrows Bridge. A short view, maybe 7 minutes but so happy to see them again so soon after our last sighting a few wks back. Always a treat! -Pauline Proszowski, Gig Harbor
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16:30 - [orcas] Just passed Point Defiance, headed towards Salmon Beach, several boats following too close at 4:30. -Michele Riley Campbell
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16:29 - [orcas] They just passed the point at Point Defiance, SB. -Ryan McGraw
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16:50 - Still north [of] bridge and still headed south. Gig Harbor side.
16:36 - Orcas committed to Narrows. Slowly southbound. Mid-channel to Gig Harbor side.
15:57 - They must be spread out in the channel. I just saw a dorsal closer to the Gig side a little south of Sunrise. I'm viewing from the point at Point Defiance. -Ashley Whitman
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16:00 - Orcas seen going East from the Tacoma Narrows, under the Fox Island Bridge, then on into Henderson Bay yesterday July 14, from 4-5 PM on into 8-9 PM. At least 4 orcas, maybe 5-6. One was really big, with a tall straight dorsal fin. -Marsden Stewart
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17:23 - Yes, heading south near Titlow Beach, it seems. Viewing from Narrows Park.
15:56 - [orcas] Sunrise Beach! Seeing 2 closer to Vashon. -Laura RC
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15:34 - Passing Point Richmond. Saw 4 surfacing for 3-4 breaths every 10 minutes or so. Looked like 3 adults and 1 juvenile. Mid-channel Colvos, but favoring Vashon side. Viewed from Maplewood (just north of Pt. Richmond)-still southbound toward Pt. Defiance. -Stacey Olson
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15:19 - Passed Lisabuela, headed south.
15:14 - [orcas] Approaching Point Richmond, mid channel. Shelby Middling
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15:00 - [orcas] SB past Lisabuela. -Steve Fogard
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15:13 - Only viewed four at best count. Moving slowly. Long dives.
14:40 - [orcas] Approaching Lisabuela, mid channel, southbound. -Linda Axelson Hollingsworth
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14:30 - [orcas] Spotted fin from Al's but very close to Vashon so hard to see. -Diane Swanson Van Auken
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15:22 - Still SB purposefully slow and grouped up STILL visible from Redding's Beach. This was the most peaceful and beautiful of all transient passings I've seen
15:05 - Passing Redding's 3:05, tight group, very slow.
14:32 - [orcas] Watching from Redding's Beach, Vashon, 232 p.m,. heading south east straight towards us. -Kersti Elisabeth Muul
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17:30 - Continuing south on Tacoma side.
17:15 - Almost in front of Narrows Park. Heading south still.
14:32 - Still heading south. Three females, one juvi male, one mature bull.
14:20 - [orcas] In front of Al's in Ollala now. Research boat with them. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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14:15 - [orcas] Just saw fin of a large whale near Lala Cove, heading toward Al's. Vashon side. -Lucas Dambergs
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13:05 - [orcas] Counting four going south down Colvos. (There was a bull mid channel and the rest were on the Vashon side.) -Claire Sprouts
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13:04 - [orcas] Off of Southworth Point, headed south down Colvos Passage. - WSF reports: KITTITAS 1302hrs: C/M reports pod of five to six orca moving South in Colvos Passage.
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12:40 - Now milling just off the north point.
12:38 - Just off the North tip of Vashon. Still Southbound. Not sure yet which way they'll go around Vashon.
12:15 - [orcas] Still headed southbound nearing Blake Island. The research boat is headed down the eastern side of Blake. -Tim Peters
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12:00 - [orcas] Two males in group 3-4, SB, west in channel passing Manchester. -Kersti Elisabeth Muul
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12:30 - Between Blake and Vashon, sb.
11:45 - [orcas] Tightly grouped just north of Restoration Point, southbound, view from 64th and Alki. -Mary Hartmann
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12:26 - They are approaching the south end of Blake Island, research boat is still with them.
11:37 - Viewing from Alki, see at least 3-4 passing the Bainbridge ferry terminal headed south, on the Bainbridge side. -Brian-Nicole Jenkins
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11:20 - Spotted from Seahurst across from Dilworth area of Vashon. At least three slightly north of Dilworth mid channel. Heading northerly direction. -Cindy Eckes Waddington
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11:35 - 11:35 - After much breaching, tail lobs etc. T46s have drifted SW. Sightline from Elliott Bay Marina to Restoration Point. I think mid channel.
11:10 - T46s have stalled. Appear to be hunting same area as my 10:50 report.
10:50 - T46s are skirting Elliott Bay southbound loosely spread. Still north of Bainbridge/Seattle ferry lanes but approaching. Viewing from Elliott Bay Marina. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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09:20 - [orcas] From Richmond Beach. I believe southbound. -Rosa Duarte
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11:22 - They killed a porpoise then celebrated big time!!!
10:46 - T46 pod!!
09:57 - [orcas] Straight out from Shilshole Marina.---Here are some pictures from our experience watching the T46 pod hunt a porpoise yesterday just north of Elliot Bay. During the hunt T46D had a breachfest while his family did all the hard work. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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10:23 - T46D is trailing way behind the rest like he often does.
10:20 - Approaching West Point, still southbound, big spread. 5 knots.
08:37 - [orcas] I see some in front of the Edmonds Marina, southbound. Assume it's the same group. 5-6, one big male. Close to shore. -Brian McGinn
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~07:00 - We saw 3 to 4 orcas heading south towards Picnic Point (near the "shipwreck"). Probably less than 100 yards off shore. We live up the hill ½ mile so couldn't get a good look at any markings. This was just before 7 am today. -Spencer Colby
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HUMPBACKS - Tue, July 14 - Puget Sound - 20:37 - Definitely not an orca, maybe a humpback off Dash Point. Anyone else? -Dean Bushwacker
[Yes, we just got a report bit ago from our friend Amy Carey that a humpback was southbound off Normandy Park at 19:50! -alb]
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Tue, July 14 - San Juan Islands - Onwards to Cattle Pass seeing the blows of a pair of humpback whales who had come down San Juan Channel passing Friday Harbor earlier in the morning. They were ID'd as BCX1068 'Split Fluke' and BCY0057 'Niagara'. We sailed parallel as they exited the channel and headed South towards Hein Bank. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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15:19 - Now at south end of Salmon Bank.
13:00 - Two humpbacks, (Split Fluke and Niagara) headed down San Juan Channel and left Cattle Pass approximately 1 PM still headed south. -John Boyd
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, July 14 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 18:00 & 20:30 - This was a three-sighting day! Way cool. In addition to this morning's report, I also saw gray 2356 around 6pm cruising by Mariners' Cove southbound (I don't think it was feeding), but it veered out into the channel as it moved south. Then, around 8:30pm (7/14/2020), it came by southbound again, quite close to shore and feeding heavily. It's working its way toward Polnell now, but going very slowly. Sure is fun to see that big ol' pectoral fin waving at us. I can confirm that I saw the white line, so it was 2356. -Marianne Parry
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09:10 - As predicted (i.e. hoped for), I spotted some spouts pretty far out in the channel just south of Mariners Cove, and it appeared to be moving northwest and closer to my area. However, I lost track of it behind some trees and haven't picked up any trace since then. My guess is that 2356 was heading for the Polnell breakfast buffet, but I can't confirm. Hopefully someone down there will get a better look, and maybe I'll get lucky and it will cruise by here afterwards. It's 9:10am now and I hear the occasional puff so pretty sure it's still just south of me at Polnell. Have a wonderful day! -Marianne Parry
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MINKE WHALES - Tue, July 14 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca We left to sail to Salmon Bank where we met two minkes with a third nearby. Tricky spotting as they weren't feeding amongst birds but we had great views as we drifted. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing

July 13
Mon, July 13 - Active Pass - 15:40 - Js have indeed been picked up coming down Rosario. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
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15:22 - Just saw a pod of orcas North of Sucia, travelling SE. Seen from East Point so unconfirmed if Jpod. -Lucy Quayle
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12:20 - Deb Wilkowski called to report seeing at least 8-9 orcas (incl 3 males, little one, and tiny one) off Point Roberts for 40 minutes, some surface activity noted: spyhops, rolling. Can't confirm but remember maybe seeing one open saddle. Viewed from Lighthouse Park from 10:15-11:30. Last seen heading southbound towards the islands. [confirmed J pod]
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At 7:15 most or all of J-Pod went north through Active Pass! -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Mon, July 13 - Penn Cove - 19:03 - To the delight of those enjoying a sunset meal at Captain Whidbey, on Monday, July 13th at 19:03 hours, three orca dorsal fins were spotted nearby! They appeared to be one adult and perhaps one to two juvenile orcas, no saddle patch could be made out in the quick appearance. However the breach was substantial, enough so the body and eye patch could be seen. Pod was headed west on the southwest shore of Penn Cove about 30 yards off the dock at Captain Whidbey. The pod then submerged and were not seen again until they were at the north side of the cove off the Penn Cove mussel dock. Photo attached was a bit too late and captured the tip of one last dorsal fin prior to heading under…Eric Cheong, Partner, Capt.
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There was quite the orca show in Penn Cove last night [July 13]! Looked like a group of four with one big fella over towards Monroe Landing. Would this be the same transient family? T46s? I seem to remember that fine dorsal fin from their last visit. Perhaps of note since their visit there have been two abandoned seal pups in Coupeville and a distinct surge in the number of seals hanging out nervously on this side… Meg Olson ["Yes, turns out it was the T46s." -alb]
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Great bonus being on a training sail tonight with Schooner Suva...Orcas in Penn Cove! -Jim Green
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Mon, July 13 - North Puget Sound/Port Susan - 13:10 - I am very excited to have just sighted a group of orcas - at least 5 confirmed! One big male, and at least four females/juveniles. Travel behaviors only: 4 or 5 repeated breaths, then under water for quite a distance before surfacing again. At about 1:10 pm (07/13/2020) they were seen in the Saratoga Passage, moving northward at a good pace along the southern tip of Camano Island. As we watched they appeared to move Northwest, away from the shoreline of Camano and into the center of the channel, still headed north at a good pace. Long live the Orcas! -Susanna, Joe, and Sarah Trimarco
*
~12:00 - [orcas] We saw them off of Camano Head around noon. They headed west, but couldn't see if they went north or south. -Annette Van Dyke
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10:32 - [orcas] Posting from another group, 1030 southbound between Tillicum and McKees Beach. -Rachel Haight
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09:30-10:30 - [orcas] We saw 4 males in Port Susan today between 9:30 - 10:40 AM. -John Storbeck
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09:15 - The 3 orcas were back this morning. They just passed through about 9:15 heading north in PORT SUSAN sound. One is very large one small and the other medium size. They were on the west side of Port Susan sound on the east side of Camano. When we saw them, they were just a tad bit north of us and we are almost at the tip of Camano. Maybe one mile up from the very tip. Have a great day. -Terri and Tom Smith
*
Mon, July 13 - Central Puget Sound (T65As) - 17:45 - Orca Sighting. Viewed from bluff north of Yeomalt Point: 2-3 orcas, mid-channel,headed north; perhaps stalling to eat (lots of activity in one location) So great to see them from our home! -Best regards, Jane Rein
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~15:00 - [orcas] Right by the Southworth Ferry at about 1500. -Jane Dopps
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14:30 - We saw 3 adults and 1 small orca pass by our home today. Here are the details: --3 adults + 1 small orca (small dorsal fin) --Sighted heading north in Colvos Passage 2 miles south of Southworth Ferry Terminal between north end of Vashon Island and Kitsap Peninsula --day/time: MON 13 JULY 2:30pm. -Regards, Scott Bradbury
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14:50 - Research boat went up east side of Blake, assuming they are following.
14:49 - Headed north, I *think* on the east side of Blake Island. I lost sight of them behind the ferry and haven't seen them since.
14:28 - [orcas] Spotted from a rooftop in Southworth, just south of the ferry terminal. Whales are 1/4 mile south. Very close to Kitsap side. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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14:25 - [orcas] North end Colvos at 1425 on 7.13, cruising at good clip northbound. -Tim Ferris
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13:02 - [orcas] at Olalla, northbound in Colvos Passage. -Stephen Curran
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13:00 - [orcas] Four sighted near center of Colvos approx. one mile south of Al's [Market] in Olalla, heading north. -Linda Axelson Hollingsworth
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12:41 - Just south of Lisabuela Beach, Kitsap side, northbound travel mode, long downtimes, lots of boats around them. -Marla Smith
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12:04 - 3 headed North in Colvos, GH side. Sorry terrible iPhone video. [Looks like all 5 of them. -alb]
11:58 - Dalco Passage, North of Pt. Defiance. Seemed to be heading North but didn't surface for long. -Charlene Engelland
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~12:00 - Colvos at around noon today, sighted 4 for sure. -Karen Monson
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11:47 - [orcas] Heading south towards Gig Harbor View Point. Viewing from fishing pier, Pt. Defiance boathouse. -Tirza Hortensius
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11:30 - Saw 2 of them just north of ferry dock on Vashon side. Appeared to be heading north. (NW) -Carrie Gelegonya
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11:05 - [orcas] I lost them by the buoy off the tip of Maury. Very close to shore. I'm watching from Browns Point. Whale watching boat moving slowly towards Dash Point. -Meghan Davis
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7/13/2020 A beautiful day toward the southern end of Puget Sound! We found the T65As near Tacoma, northbound at first, but they nearly gave us the slip when they flipped back south toward the southern end of Vashon Island. We left them on their way shortly after relocating them, and they seemed in a hurry to get to their next destination! -Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
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11:00 - [orcas] Heading north up East passage. -Robert Mccaffery-Lent
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11:15 - Change of direction. They are now headed south in Dalco After a long dive. 10:43 - These are the T65As. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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10:35 - [orcas] Approaching Quartermaster Harbor. -Anika Blake
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11:58 - Saw a male dorsal by the tip of Point Defiance by all the boats hanging out. Looked to be facing north, but I only saw one surface so I can't determine if they're milling or headed a certain direction.
10:34 - Hugging Vashon east of ferry route. Headed east.
10:06 - At least 5. One little. I'm by Anthony's. They're kinda in middle where all the passages meet. No boats near them.
10:01 - [orcas] Spotted in Dalco. 4-5. One male. Headed north towards Colvos. Grouped. Not positive if they're committed. -Ashley Whitman
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08:15 - Several Orcas just went by our place in Prospect Point [Colvos Passage] at 8:15 this morning, going south. Looked like quite a few but seems they were in a hurry. -Jan Cameron Alferness
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Mon, July 13 - Western Strait of Georgia (T36 w/T36Bs) -T036 T036Bs off of Sliammon Village in Malaspina Strait. Nice to see these guys, my first encounter with them for 2020. Calf 036B3 is growing up! -Nick Templeman
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Mon, July 13 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 12:33 - Humpback off Hein Bank heading north. -Chris Wilson
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Bradley Coombe, WSF Marin Ops, emailed at 08:50 - one humpback near Turn Rock heading South: SAMISH C/M reports one humpback whale near Turn Island heading South. [Samish was scheduled to depart Friday Harbor at 08:05, so believe this sighting would have been shortly after - alb]
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Mon, July 13 - Puget Sound - 21:09 - Spent the last hour watching a [humpback] whale between Maury Island and Woodmont Beach right around the Gold Beach area. -Mitzi Gligorea
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Mon, July 13 - South Puget Sound - ~18:15 - Believed humpback passed between by Anderson Island and McNeil Island, heading west about 6:15 pm. -Lane Sample
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14:30 - Dierk Yochim called to report a whale, he thought might be fin whale, but cell photo confirms humpback in Case Inlet, up in Victor across from the Allyn public dock. The whale came in mid inlet then flipped and headed back south.
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Mon, July 13 - Central Puget Sound - 21:48 - Humpback headed NB towards the Narrows bridge. Just below the Narrows airport now.---Here is a video of the humpback breaching, recording from Day Island across the channel at 10 pm, July 13. Not very clear but better than nothing. NB. -Karen Caldwell
- Video: "The humpback headed NB with the Fox Island bridge in the background. Just before 10 pm July 13, viewing from Day Island.".
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19:32 - Appears to be a humpback slowly moving north, just south of Gold Beach, west side of the channel. -Andy Fernando
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19:27 - Single, large dark baleen whale midchannel East Passage. Travelling north at steady pace. Possibly Fin? -Burt Miller, WSF
[confirmed humpback in that area -alb]
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06:50- A lone humpback whale was sighted headed south between West Beach Condominiums, just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock and the Arroyos and about 1/3 of the distance to Vashon. -Philip Cox
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GRAY WHALES - Mon, July 13 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 17:30 - Mariners' Cove southbound, feeding. A gray (2356?) took a wide swoop starting reasonably close to shore from Mariners' Cove outward and south (to avoid boats presumably) and ended up at its usual happy hour spot, just south of here toward Polnell Point. We saw huge plumes of whale puffs (pretty windy out there) in pretty much the same place for a good half hour before we lost sight of it around the bend, so my guess is that it was feeding. I cannot confirm that it was 2356, but it seems like a reasonable assumption since this seems to be its turf lately. Tune in again for "Breakfast with Spartacus" tomorrow hopefully. -Marianne Parry
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09:35 - Newbie 2356 came over from across the bay this time (rather than from the north) for breakfast buffet and is currently just south of Mariners' Cove, feeding heavily, and slowly heading toward Polnell. Omg - that tail is magnificent when it waves it around to keep balance! (OK, it's only half of the tail showing, but still magical - lol!). No photos today, but I can confirm that I saw the white line below the blowhole so I know it's 2356. Neighbors have nicknamed it Spartacus. Have a great whale day!! -Marianne Parry
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Mon, July 13 - Possession Sound - 17:57 - Solo gray between Tulalip and Hat [Island], mid channel, traveling NW. -Lori Christopher
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DOLPHINS - Mon, July 13, - South Puget Sound - 12:30 - Hello. I was asked to share this friendly sighting. Spotted and played with us outside Jarrell Cove State Park while we were on our dinghy. -Mayli Hodak
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UNCONFIRMED SPECIES - Mon, July 13 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 19:07 - Unsure of what type but there is at least one whale off of Maylor point in Oak Harbor. -Jennifer Davis

July 12
Sun, July 12 - Active Pass/Strait of Georgia to Haro Strait - 22:32 - Hearing whistles and calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone right now in the distance. -Angela Zylla
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23:41 - They never made it up to Land Bank but at least they looped back towards San Juan after pushing off shore! [Fingers crossed] for Day 10 tomorrow!
19:50 - [orcas] Blows visible south of Land Bank. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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16:10 - 2-3 orcas at South Beach trending south. -Dawn Fujino Redmond
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15:49 - A couple down here at American Camp at the moment. No boats. -Jim Gizzi
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16:30 - At least 2 at American Camp, now headed north.
16:13 - [orcas] Moving south. -Fred Horn
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17:32 - Seems like everyone has now gone north of Eagle Point.... Very choppy water. Hard to see.
15:40 - [orcas] They made it to Eagle Point. -Chris Wilson
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15:37 - I suspect some of the whales may have split off again - we only saw a dozen fins at Lime Kiln, though it looked like there may have been some more offshore in the chop. I'm curious to hear if anyone got pictures of the J17s, J19s, or J37s today as those are the ones I don't have confirmation of yet! -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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14:45 - Additional 2 southbound. Hannah. So far, my count is 9 (southbound). (added/updated: 2:35pm - 2:45pm, 3 spread out traveling quickly. It was hard to see because of the chop but there were a few more far out, southbound.)
14:25 - J56 Tofino Express southbound Hannah Hts. She's breaching. Looks like J31 and another companion with her. Made my day!!!
14:18 - South side Edwards pt. One southbound. (added/updated: 2:18pm,"The Tofino Express!" Mom J31 Tsuchi, J56 Tofino and one companion in a group traveling quickly. Tofino breached 4 times and practiced porpoising. She swam in little loops, splashing. Tofino is a joy to watch. I so much wish the best for her.)
14:14 - Southbound approaching Hannah Hts. 2 orca moving fast!
14:03 - [orcas] Leader southbound north edge Hannah Hts. Lg male. (added/updated: 2:00pm, Large male followed at 2:16 by three far out traveling fast.) -Michelline Halliday
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13:30 - [orcas] Still coming. Past Bellevue Pt. heading south at 1:30. Spread out. -Paul MacMahon
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~14:15 - [orcas] About 12 ( ? ) have passed so far including J56 (I think) breaching several times. 2:15pm ish.
13:34 - 3(?) Just passed Lime Kiln, southbound. -Kimberly Beck
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13:30 - Echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Carmen Wolflisberg
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14:01 - Calls clear on LK 2:01.
13:19 - Calls are getting clearer on OL and echolocation like crazy 1:19.
13:10 - Echolocation on Orcalab 1:10. -Meg Sellers
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11:45 - Also one solo one just passed East Point just now!
11:10 - I saw a group of SRKWs pass East Point, Saturna, between 9 and 10am this morning. Very spread out but at least 15 seen! -Lucy Quayle
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11:40 - It does look like the leaders are rounding Turn Point.
10:20 - Sounds like Js are indeed coming SW down Boundary Pass.
10:00 - There was a report of a couple orcas near East Point on Saturna Island, BC heading south - no confirmation its Js (yet) but location could be about right! -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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02:00 - I heard and saw in the moonlight Jpod exit Active Pass Northbound at 2am. -Rachelle Hayden
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sun, July 12 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (T46s) - 18:45 - Today while boating from Friday Harbor to Seattle, found group of orcas in Skunk Bay feeding off the tide line, 6:45 pm today. Even with a baby doing a full breach! We were quite far away and did not go closer so pictures are poor! -Laney Gale
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18:00- Approx 3 orcas approaching yellow channel marker near Skunk Bay, Hansville. 1 big male, wavy fin that the top edge curves to the right, sprouted, and possibly one more, headed southbound. -Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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1:28 - It passed quickly by. My wife thought she saw others out further
17:22 - Single large orca just swam past Bush Point. SB about 100 yards off shore. Others possibly out towards midchannel. Swimming at steady clip. Sorry for the slightly out-of-focus shot. It was the only opportunity I had for photo before it went deep-diving. -Greg Roeben
[T46D ID'd from Greg's photo]
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Sun, July 12 - North Puget Sound/Saratoga Passage (T65As) - 20:47 - They are moving back out towards the shipping lanes now.
20:46 - [orcas] They are hanging out between Bainbridge Island Pt. Monroe sand spit and Indianola. -Dana Greenawalt
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18:50 - 6:50pm 2nd hand report.. 2 orcas may have gone into Port Madison Bay. -Sue Larkin
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17:52 - [orcas] Spotted mid channel off Jefferson Point from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. -Cameron McNeil
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17:41 - We can see two off President Point, heading south closer to Kingston side. -Brynn Lewis
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17:00 - Four heading south in the shipping lanes off of Apple Cove Point. -Sherman Page
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16:51 - At least two directly west of the Edmonds ferry terminal midchannel or closer to Kitsap side. -Heather Croteau
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16:06 - I am 1 mile south of Pic. Pt. Orcas are north of Eglon, from my vantage point, slowly moving south toward Eglon. Do not seemed to have turned north into Admiralty but they are at about that area where it's unclear what they will do. From Haines the line of site would probably be Point no Pt.
15:54 - [orcas] Viewing from just south of Picnic Pt. We see them moving south, slightly east of mid channel between Pic. Pt. and Eglon. -John Carroll
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17:54 - In two groups close: T65A and 2 youngsters in lead, just west of mid channel Richmond Beach/Jefferson Head, with 2 bigger boys trailing not too far behind. All steady southbound.
17:35-17:45 - Group was between President Point and Kayu Kayu, just west of mid channel, spread out. Some directional changes but southbound. Been down for long dive but surfacing again now (at least the boys) closing in on mid channel buoy. Steady southbound at 17:45.
16:20 - Pod is grouped up East of mid channel due NW of Edmonds. They currently are staying the southbound line towards Edmonds/Kingston.
16:10 - Mid channel transect Ocean Ave., Edmonds and Hines along west Cultus Bay, South Whidbey. Trend is SW bound. I'm only seeing the two eldest boys. They are maybe a mile south of Possession Point. They for sure are not hugging Whidbey.
15:59 - Seeing fins transect Ocean Ave, Edmonds and Possession Point. Slow sleepy whales grouped up SW bound. Not clear yet which direction they'll be heading (toward Admiralty or Ed/King). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:06 - I am 1 mile south of Pic. Pt. Orcas are north of Eglon, from my vantage point, slowly moving south toward Eglon. Do not seemed to have turned north into Admiralty but they are at about that area where it's unclear what they will do. From Haines the line of site would probably be Point no Pt.
15:54 - [orcas] Viewing from just south of Picnic Pt. We see them moving south, slightly east of mid channel between Pic. Pt. and Eglon. -John Carroll
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15:55 - Much closer to the Kingston side of things at this point.
15:42 - Got em. From Picnic Point, straight out 12:00 looking towards Whidbey. -Kevin H. Doar
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15:03 - Straight out from Glendale beach, southbound, way over on Muk side. -Donna George
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15:28 - Janine Harles called. T65As have now cleared Possession Sound, currently mid channelish, out from between Picnic Point and Haines wharf, southbound.
15:16 - South nearing Glendale.
15:01 - Moving slow, crossing over, trending mid channel/Whidbey side now. Still Southbound.
14:52 - [orcas] South of Mukilteo Beach on Mukilteo side, heading south. -Janine Harles
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14:45 - [orcas] Mukilteo is the place to be. They're close in over there, still moving slowly south. I'm viewing from Glendale. Lots of seals over here if they fancy an afternoon snack. -Debbie Stewert
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15:05 - They are very close to mainland side channel moving steadily south.
14:54 - In line or a little both of Glendale Beach traveling south. Over on the Mukilteo side.
14:48 - [orcas] They are still way north by the Mukilteo ferry dock. On the Mukilteo side. Very long down times. -Danielle Pennington
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14:09 - Mid channel feeding and playing. Moving southbound.
14:08 - [orcas] Passing Muk/Clin ferry now!! -Alina Chris Sherrett
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14:18 - Mid channel of Possession Sound, just south if Clinton Mukilteo ferry route.
14:05 - [orcas] Offshore from Clinton Ferry, southbound. -John Gardiner
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13:14 - [orcas] Just saw them closer to Camano, passing by Langley. -Michelle Saksa
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13:10 - Orcas moving south at speed, mid channel toward Sandy Point.---July 12, 2020: The more whales there are around the harder it gets to keep up with the photo collection, but here we go for starters... We launched ourselves (on land) just in time to catch the T65As passing Fox Spit, southbound, closer to the Whidbey side, and continued to track them as they approached Sandy Point, Langley, moving with purpose in wind-whipped waves. Here they paused momentarily, tightly grouped, as though discussing whether to round the point or veer off in a more easterly direction. Decision made, they picked up the pace again and headed toward blustery Brighton Beach and the ferry lanes, angling toward Mukilteo. Our final scan was from Glendale, where patience was rewarded by sight of them streaming past mid-channel, once more on a mission. Their 15-mile journey south from Fox Spit to Glendale took 3 hours - no surprise that they were reported as resting south of Possession a bit later. We were ready to go home and do the same! (photos and calculus Richard Snowberger) -Sandra Pollard
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13:00 - Orcas out middish channel out about north of Langley, southbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:20 - They are now about 1.5 miles south of East Point on Whidbey, southbound on the Whidbey side. (or 3.5 North of Langley)
12:11 - This is the 65As.
11:39 - Right off Camano State Park, southbound, one male present so not 37As. -Christopher Hanke, Puget Sound Express
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10:44 - Now heading south toward Camano State Parks.
10:31 - Orcas, mid Saratoga Passage. Heading north. 4 or 5. West of Onamac. -Scott Wheeler
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10:20 - 4-5 orcas northbound, Saratoga Passage. They are mid channel and in cruise mode. One big male and one baby sized. We are viewing from just above Indian Beach on the Camano side. (Looks like there are five with one large male.) -Joan Smith
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UNIDENTIFIED ORCAS - Sun, July 12 - San Juan Islands ~18:00 --Watched a pod of 5 orcas for about 30 min, starting just after 6:00 pm. --Not sure exactly where they came from, but we first noticed them from the place we rent at the end of Peapod Lane near Sea Acres on the east side of Orcas Island --First notice them just to the SW of South Peapod Rock. --They swam behind the rock from our perspective, to the NE, then swung back around and swam along the rock in the opposite direction, to the SW. --We think they were hunting (numerous seals were on the rock) --They stayed in that general location near S. Peapod milling around for 10-15 min --Then they swam straight at us, on the move again, coming to within about 100 yards of Orcas Island in front of the property. --They then turned north, paralleling the coastline; we lost them when they moved far enough north to disappear around the corner, which would have been about the location of Sea Acres. --About 6-8 eagles milling around in the area where they were hunting on S. Peapod. -Brian Home
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Sun, July 12 - Holmes Harbor - I just wanted to let you know that I was on a Holmes Harbor night dive last night off our beach at Beverly Beach and had acoustic company by a Humpback whale while at depth for at least 30 minutes - very loud so reasonably close by - and very frequently almost non-stop calling - amazing! -Florian Graner, PhD, Marine Biologist
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Sun, July 12 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (MMX0049 "Shell") - 14:45 - 8-minute down, 4 surface intervals, sounded, full fluke. Still southbound (maybe trending SW) mid channel bit further south from last update.
14:37 - Dive times getting shorter. Down 7 minutes, 4 surfaces intervals, fluke, shallower dive.
14:30 - For the record. Down 8 minutes. 4- 5 surface, sounded, fluke again, shallower. Whale still southbound. Now out from Carkeek mid channel.
14:22 - Up again after 9-minute dive. Surfaced again, few times and sounded, fluke. Same line as 14:13 and still southbound.
14:13 - Just saw the Humpback surface a few times, nice robust exhalations caught my eye finally. Whale is mid channel transect South Richmond Beach/Jefferson Head. Southbound, just now sounded and nice fluke... pretty whale. Viewing from high bluff above Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.
12:50 - Saw several blows then Humpback fluke as they dove. Mid channel in ferry lanes southeast bound. From Richmond Beach. Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:24 - Resighted mid channel out from Richmond Beach, still heading south. East side of channel.
13:05 - Janine confirms whale is still trending southeast towards Point Wells from mid channel/ferry lanes at last dive.
12:03 - Definitely in shipping lanes, still southbound past Eglon.
11:56 - Huge breaches, still heading south now angling towards Edmonds a bit!!
11:26 - Definitely in shipping lanes, still southbound past Eglon.
10:54 - Heading south, past Useless Bay, entering mid channel a bit as it exits Admiralty.
9:40 - [HB] Got it heading South in inlet towards Point No Point on that side of channel. No ID yet. -Janine Harles (Per Janine "UPDATE: Thank you Leah Vanderwiel!! She ID'd this humpback as MMX0049 "Shell"! Yay!")
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07:55 - Kit Turner called to report seeing a lone whale, thinks humpback or gray (not an orca) off the north end of Lagoon Point at 07:55. The whale was traveling slowly and steadily southbound, more on the Marrowstone side of the channel. Whale spouted twice and she hadn't seen it since.
[confirmed as humpback from Janine Harles's photo. -gs]
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Sun, July 12 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 18:13 - Update: the whale made a right turn from mid-channel and headed straight toward the usual feeding buffet between Mariners cove and Polnell Point. It's just around the corner so out of sight for me at the moment, but I'm hoping it decides to head my way eventually.
17:50 - There are some big spouts out in the channel, and it looks like whoever it is, is heading north toward me (Mariners Cove) but pretty far out. Obv no idea if it's gray 2356, but it would seem like a reasonable guess. Yay - still here! 7/12/20, 5:50pm Thx! -Marianne Parry
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Sun, July 12 - Possession Sound - 15:30 - Sunday solo gray whale between Hat and Mukilteo. Pretty much trending SE. -Lori Christopher
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Sun, July 12 - South Puget Sound - ~15:30 - On July 12, I saw at least one common dolphin surface between Harstine and Herron Islands closer to Harstine side. The dolphin(s) were heading northbound quickly and were playing in the wake of several passing boats as this one is doing in the picture. -Connor O'Brien

July 11
Sat, July 11 - Haro Strait (Js) - Yesterday [July 11] we watched as some of the females of J-pod had a little social time with J56 "Tofino". In the mix were J31 "Tsuchi", J36 "Alki", J37 "Hy'shqa", and J40 "Suttles" and they seemed to be having a lovely time rolling around together. It's so great to watch these whales interact with one another and we've been so grateful to have all of J-pod here this past week. -Maya's Legacy Whale Watching
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19:37 - [orcas] I just saw them near Henry [Island] a few minutes ago with a couple of boats out there, and now I hear their breaths near Smugglers Cove. -Denise Guardino Urell
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19:48 - Second group at Snug Harbor.
19:24 - [orcas] Passing Snug Harbor. Rounding Henry Island. -Holly Youngblood Cannon
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19:21 - Orcas headed north just past county park on west side of SJI. -Melissa Fedorchenko
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18:45 - 5 females passed Bellevue Pt. heading north at 6:45, foraging close to shore. -Paul MacMahon
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18:28 - Clicking and calls on LK hydrophone now! -Claudia Lorena
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18:15 - Now heading north.
18:12 - [orcas] 6 whales south of Land Bank. Need binoculars to see. They are milling about. -Shari Tarantino
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17:05 - [orcas] They came almost to Land Bank...3 of them..then turned around and went south again. -Vickie Doyle
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1600 - [orcas] Aiming back towards Eagle Point from offshore of Salmon Bank. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
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14:49 - Moving south fast. way offshore of me now.
14:40 - 3 including juvenile southbound 1.2 miles south of Pile Point.
14:33 - Now eastbound.
14:29 - [orcas] Single male probably feeding 1.5 NM SW of Pile Point. -Todd Shuster
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13:10 - [Js] Sounds like west side whales are aiming south towards Salmon Bank and others at Hein Bank are aiming back towards San Juan. "Today marks the 8th straight day J-Pod has been on the west side of San Juan Island." -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
*
17:10 - I think it's Blackberry, judging from the giant dorsal fin, and his gang are still on this side between Eagle Point and False Bay. Leisurely going to and fro. Fairly close to shore.
13:33 - From my view point I could see small groups and single orca spread from Eagle Point to Pile Point. Most of them not near the shore. One larger group of 5 - 7 quite far off eagle point. One breach. My estimate would be about 15-20 orca. Not a very scientific estimate though........... no single direction.
13:10 - More orcas between closest group at Eagle Point and farthest group out by whale boat. Yea!
13:05 - Also small group of orca quite far off of Eagle Point going northish.
13:01 - Orcas at Eagle Point. -Chris Wilson
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14:15 - 3 going north past South Beach, way out.
13:01 - [orcas] Just saw 2 dorsal fins briefly surface going south past False Bay. -Laurie O'Bryant Orton
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12:58 - Turned back south at Edwards Point.
12:08 - Two offshore southwest of Land Bank/HH, facing south.
11:35 - [orcas] Just saw one female behind Edwards Point, facing north. (Seen from mid Land Bank through binoculars) -Cassie Barclay
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9:55 - [orcas] From Eagle Cove, can now see whales near Salmon Bank, spread out, milling. So many small fishing boats zipping all around (33 in view). I wish WDFW or Soundwatch or PWWA boats were out here. These recreational/fishing boats don't have a clue! -Lodie Laurieanne Gilbert Budwill
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11:48 - Whales passing Eagle Point, spread out, tail flaps, big male Mike? Cruising all northbound.
9:36 - Passed Granny's. Far out. Seemingly heading to Salmon Bank.
09:34 - In front of Granny's [Cove], far out. Foraging.
09:32 - J56 was seen. Five whales. Far out in front of Eagle Cove. One big male. Trending South. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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10:02 - Group split. Some north, some south.
10:00 - Turned north.
9:40 - Continuing south, adjacent South Beach.
9:10 - [orcas] Fins at Eagle Cove. USCG escort. -Fred Horn
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18:13 - 7-9 northbound towards Land Bank [Westside Scenic Preserve].
17:02 - Looks like they are pushing away from shore at Edwards Point. Raining--hard to see.
16:56 - Counted 4. Northbound at Edwards Pt.
16:46 - Northbound approaching Edwards Pt. (added/updated: 4:46pm, Far out, 5 orcas incl. 1 large male northbound towards and past Edwards Pt. J47 Notch was seen.)
14:14 - Leader north side Hannah Hts. milling about.
13:06 - 4 orca southbound at Hannah Hts. Spread out. Moving fast.
12:40 - 2 northbound north side of Hannah Hts. (added/updated: 12:40, Far from shore, 2 members north spread out, 4 members south spread and moving fast.)
12:14 - 4 just went by mid- Hannah southbound. 2 are still up near Edwards Pt.
11:36 - 1 still south of Land Bank. Rest turned south.
11:10 - Direction change. One west away from Edwards pt. Large male, 2 others, southbound towards Hannah.
11:04 - I see 4. Soundwatch present--thank you Soundwatch.
10:57 - Leader northbound. Towards Land Bank. At north edge Hannah.
9:55 - Soundwatch southbound just south of Edwards Pt. (north edge of Hannah Hts.).
07:34 - 7 north side Hannah Hts. southbound. Looks like J26 Mike.
7:27am Lg male southbound. Towards Hannah Hts.
(added/updated: 7:25am - 11:50am, J-Pod was moving as lone individuals or 4-5 spread out; south, north, south, north and south again. J37 Hy'Shqa, J26 Mike and J38 Cookie were recognized.) -Michelline Halliday
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07:30 - No others in sight to the north of LB at 7:30.
07:27 - J16s and J14s so far.
07:15 - 7:15 southbound off Land Bank. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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07:05 - I didn't see any breaches, but according to Jeanne Hyde, this was the J-16s heading south at 7:05 am. -Colleen Moore
["Yes, the J16s and about 3/4 mile behind them some of the J14s." -Jeanne Hyde]
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07:12 - Whales visible on the webcam heading south. Saw a nice spyhop!
07:04 - Burst of calls! Sounds like S2 calls.
06:54 - Just heard faint S4 J pod call on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sat, July 11 - Central Puget Sound (T65As) - 20:15 - Orcas in Puget Sound today. Hello, I was on the ferry from Vashon to Seattle that left at 7:05pm, past midway I saw 6-7+ large blow holes go up in the air 3-4+ feet. Not sure the proper wording. Looked like 3-4 Orcas+, they were north of the ferry within eyesight, so 1/8-1/4 mile away from the car deck headed north. -Thank you, Mike Sander
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19:05 - Saw the pod from the 7:05pm departing ferry from Vashon to Seattle. Pod was heading northbound! -Mike Sanders
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14:15 - Headed southwest off Blake towards Colvos. -Kristin Pederson
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14:05 - Saw 2 off of restoration point. Heading south. -Cameron Haslam
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14:04 - I can see some dorsal fins in the water from my apartment on Beach Drive. North of Blake Island. They were heading south in between Bainbridge and Seattle, just north of Blake Island. -Logan Bowen
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13:42 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops: Wenatchee reports a pod of four orca near Blakely Rock heading southbound.
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13:38 - Email received at 13:42 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops: Wenatchee reports a pod of four orca near Blakely Rock heading southbound at 13:38.
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13:15 - Group of orca southbound off of Eagle Harbor. -Joey LaMarche
[confirmed by Melisa Pinnow specifically as: T65A, T65A6, and T65A4 from Joey's photos]
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12:30 - Saw a pod of orca at 12:30 today [when] coming out of the locks. -Jon Darren Bates
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Sat, July 11 - North Puget Sound (T37As) - 19:53 - [orcas] Seeing them north of the north slip in Clinton, heading south, being lazy. -Danielle Pennington
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18:45 - Straight out from Whale Bell Park in Langley. Grouped up in travel mode, eastbound. Two boats trailing them. -Kat Johnson
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19:30 - Off Witter Rd. and Wilkinson, close Whidbey side. Southbound.
19:15 - Rounded Sandy Point Whidbey side, southbound.
18:12 - Not quite out from Bells Beach, middish channel, leisurely pace. Saratoga had left before Fox. now with a smaller WW boat and few recreational boats. Calm seas but light rain now. Cute young one in the bunch. Southbound.
18:00 - [orcas] Fox Spit, Whidbey side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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18:00 - The transient group in Saratoga just passed Fox Spit at 6:00 pm heading south. -Jim Lovvorn
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17:38 - East of Baby Island heading south. -Gary Schuster
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17:15 - Orcas back in Holmes harbor. 5:15 headed north toward Baby Island. Saratoga with them (four). Small boat came flying in and was buzzing around them. Couldn't get the boat registration but the Saratoga was blowing its horn and people were yelling at them. -Dan Gulden
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17:50 - Still eastbound towards Fox Spit after playing with more crab pots!!
17:20 - T37As are now outside Holmes Harbor, directly out from Baby Island, currently eastbound.
17:00 - After eating a meal and some play time they are still in Holmes Harbor about a half mile away from Baby Island, aiming right for Baby Isl.---…from our encounter with the T37A pod hunting porpoise just north of Greenbank on July 11. During the excitement at the end of the hunt T37A3 revealed, in grand fashion, that he is a boy while he breached a couple of times in a row! I've included a couple porpoise throw shots as well as a pic of little T37A5 spyhopping -Bart Rulon
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16:12 - Saw the same group from Hidden Beach, looks like they were headed into Homes Harbor. Was for sure 3, maybe a 4th. -Nathan Hardester
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15:20 - Just saw a small pod of Orcas heading south. We are across from Cama Beach on Whidbey. -Marie Gill
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12:04 - Just past Greenbank, mid channel heading North.
11:55 - Left the whales still slowly heading North, no boats with them. -Janine Harles
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11:14 - Sally Colt called to report Camano Island sighting of orcas. She is on the west side of Camano, off Onamac Point (Coast Guard mile 6). Pod of 4 (3 smaller, 1 larger) are across, more on Whidbey side of the passage. Lazy up and down, appeared stalled out, moving back and forth. Not currently traveling.
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09:57 - Wrong, they are headed north. Lots of boats flying by oblivious and too close to the whales. 09:53 - A small pod of Orcas milling in front of East Point/Fox Spit, close to shore right now!…slowly heading toward Bells Beach. -Susanne Schnippering
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11:33 - 2-3 private boats on scene with them.
11:31 - Killed a porpoise a while ago and are just milling around eating and playing now, still Very slowly northbound.
10:30 - T37As slowly northeast-bound from Greenbank.
10:25 - We found them off Greenbank, IDs to come. -Bart Rulon
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Sat, July 11 - Port Susan - 07:15 - Today we watched a pod of Orcas go by. Time: 7:15 am, where: west Port Susan Sound. About 150 yards off of the south end of East Camano Island. They were headed south and going quickly. We saw 4 for sure. Possibly more but the sun hampered the sighting. There were 3 large adult orcas and one appeared to be young. It was much smaller and traveled right next to one of the large ones. We are assuming this is the transient pod that occasionally comes in here. It was a good way to start our morning. -Terri and Tom Smith, Camano Island
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Sat, July 11 - San Juan Islands (T36s) - July 11 out on IE5. We found the T36 group just by Cypress Island and watched them be very active, on a kill though no evidence on the surface except gulls with bits of food. We then went and looked at some adorable harbor seals, eagles, turkey vultures, and even a kingfisher! We caught up with T36s again by Obstruction Pass...they were in travel mode in beautiful light. So happy!photo - T36 and T36B1, photo - T36B (1998), T36B1 (2009), and baby T36B3 (2018) -Bonnie Gretz
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13:51 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed again: Yakima updates 7 orca heading North of Lost Rock.
13:38 - Email received at 13:42 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops: Yakima reports YAMIKA and CHELAN have both stopped in Thatcher Pass for a pod of whales EB, along with three whale watching vessels.
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Sat, July 11 - San Juan Islands - 19:38 - Humpback between Jones [Island] and Rueben Tarte heading south. -Justin Mosley
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Sat, July 11 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 18:40 - Our big gray pal 2356 (ID'd by white line below blowhole on right side) surprised some crabbing folks out there tonight and popped up between the boats and the shoreline outside of Mariners' Cove, at around 6:40pm. It was moving southward, but very slowly because it was feeding heavily all the way along. -Marianne Parry
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Sat, July 11 - Possession Sound - We found a couple of grays on Saturday between Jetty and Hat Islands; one of them had some unique scars - can you help identify? (CRC-22 perhaps?) -Michael Kundu
[ID is CRC2262 per Alie Perez, Cascadia Research Collective]
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MINKE WHALES - Sat, July 11 - San Juans - 13:11 Just saw a minke come up into a group of gulls at Salmon Bank by the buoy. -Chris Wilson
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UNCONFIRMED BALEEN WHALES - Sat, July 11 - South Puget Sound - ~11:00 - I have a fairly reliable report from a resident on Anderson Island from about 11am today, if folks in the south Sound want to keep their eyes open. "We have a fin whale going south in the channel, passed Sandy Point headed toward Lyle Point." [Southbound] -Belen Bilgic Schneider

July 10
Fri, July 10 - Haro Strait - J Pod nearly gave me a heart attack at Lime Kiln tonight, but I got some pretty good photos out of it! -Devin Neiwert
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18:54 - [Js] The calls are so loud and clear! Been listening to them for 20 minutes straight! So much chatter! -Stephanie Mclaughlin
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18:14 - [Js] Calls on LK hydrophone! These calls are so great - they sound playful! omg, so much going on! -Jamie Austad
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18:13 - 1813 Clicks and call audible on LK. -Michelle Savoie
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14:45 - Js are reportedly still spread offshore but heading back towards San Juan Island from Hein Bank.
10:45 - Sounds like most or all of them have pushed offshore towards Hein Bank.
8:30 - Js spread from Hannah Heights to Eagle Point, sounds like generally milling. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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11:38 - Taking Rosario south and cutting west toward Cattle Pass, The Salish Sea School came across a tight knit group of Southern Residents at roughly 11:38am just north of Hein Bank. During our encounter, we witnessed lots of different behavior including thrashing and quick directional changes, porpoising and cartwheels, with down times that averaged 4-6 minutes after seeing this behavior. It's our hope that means they were chasing salmon. Intermittently there were a couple spyhops, tail slapping and pec slapping, and at one point a big cuddle puddle with lots of tactile behavior. Members identified in this group from photos I took were: J37 & J40 of the J14 matriline, J31 & J56 of the J11 matriline, J19, J41, and J51 (all of the J19's), and J46. -Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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08:04 - [orcas] One male foraging north of Eagle Point. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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09:26 - There are three males currently milling off of Eagle Cove and Granny's Cove. But they may flip and head northbound with others.
07:52 - [orcas] And several individuals reported at Hannah Heights, close to shore, northbound as well! -Lodie Laurieanne Gilbert Budwill
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07:50 - [orcas] Fins trending up island from Granny's/Eagle Cove area! -Erin Corra
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20:00 - Spread out southbound.
18:00 - J56 and group headed west away from island out of sight. J56 was leaping and breaching, lobbing, just generally amusing herself.
17:42 - J56, J31, 2 others resting and socializing north edge Hannah. Slowly moving south, then north. Many lobs and breaches.
17:07 - J31 J56 + 1 north edge Hannah relaxing. Beautiful. (added/updated info: 4:55pm-6pm, J56 Tofino breaches 8 times! J56 Tofino, J31Tsuchi and 2 companions spent an hour just north of Hannah Hts, resting, socializing slowly drifting south and then north. J56 was wonderful to watch as she amused herself with leaping, breaching, tail lobbing, rolling and swimming in loops splashing.)
16:50 - Hannah Hts. group turned south. 3 still near Edwards, milling.
16:47 - 3 + 1 lg male approaching Edwards. more milling north half of Hannah.
16:35 - Several are milling at north Hannah Heights.
16:31 - Male northbound towards Edwards Pt.
08:41 - The two that turned just south of Edwards Pt. at 8:10 were J16 and J26.
08:10 - Changed direction just S of Edwards Pt. Southbound.
08:02 - 3 orca spread out northwest bound.
07:43 - North side Hannah Hts., northbound-ish. (added/updated info: 7:40am-8:25am, 3 orcas northbound turning south at Edwards Point incl. J16 Slick, J26 Mike.) sorta NW. 2 orcas 1 lg male. I hear more coming from the south. Milling. Generally northbound. -Michelline Halliday
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12:56 - [orcas] Faint calls on Lime Kiln. -Cindy Bree
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Fri, July 10 - North Puget Sound/Port Susan - 17:30 - [orcas] In Port Susan last Friday we saw a pod of 5 or 6 female/younger Orca. This was Friday about 5:30PM. -John Storbeck
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16:41 - Orca southbound approaching Tillicum Beach in Port Susan. [secondhand] -Rachel Haight
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Fri, July 10 - North Puget Sound/Saratoga Passage (T37As) - 20:12 - Southbound nearing Clinton ferry. Mid channel closer to Whidbey. -Tamara Kelley-Woods
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19:32 - I'd say midchannel, approaching south end of Hat Island, it looks like.
19:00 - 7pm, southbound between Sandy Point and Hat Island. -Rachel Haight
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19:05 - They have passed there [Langley] and were about mid channel.
18:22 - [orcas] Approaching Langley, southbound. -Laura Tarasoff
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17:12 - Florian and Gina Graner (out on the boat) called to report update on the Saratoga Transients: They had them, but just lost them off Baby Island on Saratoga side, not sure if went back into harbor or south towards Fox Spit. In general, criss-crossing, mostly socializing. (some of message inaudible due to wind on the water)
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16:40 - Orcas south of Elger Bay appear closer to Camano side as seen from Hidden Beach. Southbound. -Sandra Pollard
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15:29 - 3 Orca heading south mid channel towards Camano State Park. Just passed Onamac. Not sure if this is same group or new group. -Marie Heil
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17:58 - Viewing from north bluff, Sandy Point. If I had to guess, they are mid channel, mid way between Bells Beach and Langley SB.
14:03 - I do see they did head north. From my vantage point off beach and angled they looked south somewhat northly east.
13:40 - Appears to be heading southeast into Saratoga Passage, kind of aimed towards Camano State Park, have rounded Baby Island.
13:30 - [orcas] Mid channel west of Baby Island, northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:28 - They are heading out of Holmes Harbor by baby Island. -Melanie Proden
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13:45 - They are still pointed northbound off Baby Island, midchannel, but don't look committed to that direction. They are still pulling down the occasional crab pot floats as they go!!!
13:20 - Playing with crab pots near Baby Island!!!
13:09 - Still a mile south of Baby Island, heading towards Baby Island [from] in Holmes Harbor.
13:06 - These are the T37As. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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13:04 - Across from Honeymoon Bay traveling North 1:04. -Christopher Hanke
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12:33 - Mary saw spout and splash and tail with eyes. Saw 3 or 4 with 12x36 binoculars from home on Harbor View Dr. Drove to Saratoga Beach private access but zero further views. Here at 1233.
11:56 - [orcas] By Saratoga Beach milling. -Daniel Laszlo
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07:14 - Tim Dale called to report seeing a pod of orcas in Holmes Harbor in front of Greenbank farms. Looked like 4-5, couldn't tell if male/female, but didn't see big fin. They were splashing and looked like heading in harbor on Greenbank Farm side near Baby Island.
[Cell videos reviewed show pod engaging in what looks to be typical predation event: many direction changes and surface-active behaviors including tail lobs, lunges etc - alb]
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Fri, July 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - All Humpback Whales can be identified by the markings on their Flukes...Today we had the pleasure to photograph at least 10 around Sooke with a possible 15-20 spread out a mile or two in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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Fri, July 10 - San Juan Islands - 15:30 - Humpback in Cattle Pass Friday 7/10 at 3:30. Heading towards South Beach now. -Julie Gralow
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13:44 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 13:51 to report: Whale Humpback 1344, 7/10 - A humpback whale spotted 6/10 mile N. of Turn Rock headed NNE. Reported by SEALTH Vessel Master via 800MHz.
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Fri, July 10 - San Juans - 12:14 - In the mix of watching the group of 8 Southern Resident orcas (J Pod), a minke whale appeared at Hein Bank, just south of San Juan and Lopez islands. At times this individual surfaced just yards from the Residents. Down times consisted of 5-8 minutes and this individual was seen roughly half a dozen times, making its way north toward Cattle Pass before I was unable to relocate any longer. -Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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UNCONFIRMED BALEEN WHALES - Fri, July 10 - South Puget Sound - We saw what we thought was a minke yesterday [July 10] afternoon around Salmon Beach and Narrows bridge. -Teri Fields Mattsen
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UNCONFIRMED SPECIES - Fri, July 10 - Northern Saratoga Passage - We received a report on the entanglement hotline of a whale at 48°16'41.3"N 122°29'47.3"W between Browns Point and Mariners Cove at the south entrance to Skagit Bay. RP was concerned it was not moving far and swimming near some pot buoys. They sent some video, but can only see a blow, no body parts to confirm species. Suspect it is a gray whale. It has now moved on. Through binoculars the RP did not see any gear on the whale or moving through the water with the whale, so suspect it is a normal whale, but wanted to give you a heads up. -Best, Doug Sandilands, SR3

July 9
Thu, July 9 - Haro Strait (Js) - Offshore of South Beach we spotted a nice group which included the J22's and J17's. They traveled in a tight group northbound. We spotted a few other whales way offshore closer to Vancouver Island and wondered if they were part of J pod or if they were in fact transient orcas. In shore we spotted J19 hanging out with J39. Soon enough they joined the group and made their way up to False Bay. At that point they flipped direction and turned south and we decided to stick with them. We kept scanning to the north and spotted some fins coming down island very close to shore. This group included J31 with youngest J pod member J56, J41 with son J51 and possibly all the J14's. They swam quickly overtaking the group we had been with and continued down to Eagle Pt. Soon enough another group came down island and these orcas were the J16's. The only J pod whale we didn't see today was J27 who was foraging off Eagle Pt. Incredible day seeing 21 out of 22 J pod members! After a few breaches the group with the J22's, J17's, J19 and J39 flipped back north again. We were hoping to sail with them up to Henry Island, but the orcas stopped to forage south of Edwards Pt. Onwards we went up and around the island by way of Henry Island, Jones Island and the Wasp Islands and back to Friday Harbor. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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23:00 - [orcas] Hearing calls on LK hydrophone. 11:00. -Jan Deccio
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20:34 - Lots of echolocation clicks on LK hydrophone, really loud, too, despite deafening [cargo] ship noise. -Claudia Lorena
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13:07 - Loud echolocation has continued and just now another LOUD S4 call!
13:00 - Loud S4 calls & seriously lovely click trains...
12:58 - Echolocation on LK.
12:53 - Nice loud calls on LK hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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13:10 - J19s now southbound off Land Bank.
10:45 - And someone else just sent me a message of a few heading north off Eagle Cove at 10:45. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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17:10 - At Edwards.
16:30 - Looks like slow northbound between Pile Point and False Bay.
13:40 - Stalled at False Bay.
11:15 - After sliding south along Salmon Bank, (South Beach) they are headed north again. Observed some tail lobs, pec slaps and a few breaches, which was probably J56. Will know more when I get back to HQ and look at photos.
10:20 - [orcas] Now closer to shore off American Camp. Visibly headed south. I see 3-4 right now.
09:45 - [orcas] Unknown number of animals off Eagle Point. More than a mile offshore in fog bank. I can hear them but can't see them. Based only on sound, I'd say they were trending north. My echo location skills do not compare to J Pod's! -Fred Horn
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14:30 - At Eagle Point.
12:06 - 7 orcas have gone past Eagle Point heading north. 5 together including the little one. Large male joins them sometimes. Lots of goofy behaviors. Another large male quite far to the north in front of them. He should be to False Bay by now. I could also hear other whale blows further out. The fog cleared enough once to see three other orca.
08:54 - Cool! Just saw them in the fog. About 4-5 whales headed south to Eagle Point. They are just about there. One tail slap.
08:26 - I can hear whale blows. Too foggy to see anyone. Just north of Eagle Point. SJI Update: 8:39 Whales' blows have moved up island towards False Bay. -Chris Wilson
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08:38 - I lost sight of them about 20 minutes ago, not sure if they are in the fog or if I'm just missing them with my binoculars, but am now hearing repeated boat(?) horns blaring from around where they were. (updated: Big ol tanker came out of the fog, that would be the source of the horns!)
08:04 - [orcas] Very far out, SW of Land Bank. -Cassie Barclay
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20:35 - 7 northbound approaching Edwards Pt. Looks like J11s.
17:10 - 4 incl. one large male, north edge Hannah, heading due south away from island.
16:51 - Northbound heading towards Edwards Pt./Land Bank. (added/updated info: 4:50p, 7-8 J11's, J56 Tofino present, northbound)
15:30 - Made a liar outta me--turned south.
15:28 - Approaching Edwards Pt. northbound.
15:22 - Northbound off Hannah.
13:15 - 3 southbound at north edge Hannah. The one(s) I could hear mid-Hannah went south. (added/updated info: 1:15p-4:40p, 1 north then south, 3 southbound, 7-8 northbound. West side shuffle)
13:03 - 2 still milling north side Hannah Hts.
12:31 - Total 6-7. Northbound towards Edwards Pt.
12:17 - Lg. male, possibly Mako J39?? Northbound towards Edwards Pt. with companion. 2 orca.
12:05 - Milling north side Hannah Hts. see 3. (added/updated info: 12:05p -12:51p, 6-7 individuals slowly north, calm seas, beautiful exhalations, J19s.)
07:00-7:30 - North side Hannah Hts., 2 lg males, female with kid. Moving slow. I saw 6-7. Fog bank to the south. (added info: 7a -7:30a - Beautiful fog bank seeps in and laps at the coast, still seas, absolute quiet. J26, Mike, J31, Tsuchi, J56 Tofino + 1 other. J26 Mike floated on his back for many seconds, lifted fluke, rolled and lifted pectorals, then floated on his back again.) Photos taken from shore, cropped and enlarged. -Michelline Halliday
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14:40 - Heading north from Eagle Cove.
08:02 - Left them at 8:02 in mid Haro about 10 o'clock position off Land Bank headed toward Hannah.
06:42 - Picking up calls on LK Hydrophones right now! -Pat McEathron
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06:47 - A listener using the new Orcasound - Listen for Whales web app "I hear something button" reported orca calls. The detection was a true positive, confirmed as SRKW call S3. So perhaps some of J pod was up near Smuggler's Cove and the CWR this earlier morning. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Thu, July 9 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (T36 w/T36Bs) - 18:00 - Observed four to five individuals heading south at a quick pace, Approx. 50 yards off of Lagoon Pt. on the westside of Whidbey Island. Photos were taken from the beach looking west. -Lachlan Pope
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16:53 - [orcas] They were in Admiralty Bay for the longest time over by Hancock Lake (just north of Lagoon Point), just off shore. Lost them about half an hour ago. (updated: It looked as if there were about six. They were in no hurry and were not far off shore for a long time. Then we only saw two little ones "playing" for about a half hour. No mature ones were seen and then they disappeared. -Dean Kuest
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11:35 - The T36 pod is currently east of Smith Island, aimed towards Admiralty Inlet. -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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Wed, July 8 - San Juan Islands (T36 w/T36Bs, and T37As) - We crossed Upright Channel before making our way over towards the orcas who stopped to hunt at the bottom tip of Orcas Island. As we arrived the orcas just finished eating and began traveling towards Obstruction Pass. Upon first looks we recognized the two family groups - T36 with T36B's and the T37A's. When we arrived in Rosario Strait the colors of the water almost looked tropical today with the lighting. It was a beautiful scene as we sailed along parallel to the orcas. Suddenly there were some direction changes and we think the orcas stumbled on some prey. They stopped to hang out for a bit followed by lots of surface activity. We saw many spy hops and breaches amongst the group. A couple double breaches, too. It was really exciting to watch their acrobatics. photo: "T36's and T37A's traveling up Rosario Strait" photo: "Calf breach with orca spy hop" -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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…we headed into an area we rarely get to during our expeditions known as East Sound. We joined up with the T36B's and the T37A's as they were heading out of the sound and got some amazing views. The lighting and backdrop of East sound we're stunning and the orcas we were with only made it better. As the orcas grouped up and pushed out of East Sound we decided to go explore and see what else we could find. … We took a nice cruise over to Cypress Island and Eagle Bluff to enjoy the scenery before calls came in that our morning orcas were headed out of Obstruction Pass so we headed back over to check them out one last time. It paid off as the orcas had shaken off the sleepier behavior and began to have some fun. We saw multiple spy hops and some breaches as the orcas just hung out swimming against a south bound current. -Tyson, Island Adventures Whale Watching
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~13:00 - We spent a couple of hours watching Bigg's Orcas in Eastsound and Obstruction Channel today aboard the Island Explorer 5. I believe the naturalist onboard identified them as T36a and T37b groups. Here is a video I took of their play around 1300. -David Bieniek video: https://www.facebook.com/dlbieniek/videos/o.79401335600/10220696462653965/?type=2&theater
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Email received 09:38 from Bradley Combe, WS Ferries Marine Ops (sighting would have been earlier): Orca in Upright. SAMISH Master reports a pod of six orca via 800Mhz in Upright Channel traveling in an unknown direction.
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09:08 - [at] 8:20-8:48, we left them near the north tip of Lopez. -Cassie Barcaly
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09:07 - I just got the same report from someone on the ferry of Ts in Upright Channel heading NE 9:00. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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09:06 - Orcas off Lopez (Samish slowed way down). Don't know what pod - but looked like at least two wee ones. Heading north. -Judy Chovan
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Thu, July 9 - San Juan Islands - 10:00-10:30 - [orcas] Sighting today at Rosario Beach around 10-1030 am of what looked like maybe 3, plus one baby while we were snorkeling. Super neat to see while we were in the water! -Amanda Troy
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09:40 - I was snorkeling at Rosario around 0940 this morning and they went by us!! At a distance but it was still amazing. -Tara Kaestner
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, July 9 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 16:10 - Wow, good ol' 2356 is a busy whale lately! He's passing by our place heading south toward Polnell for the second time today! 7/9/2020, 4pm. I saw the white line on its head, so I'm confident it was 2356. Btw - I think I saw two humpbacks? way out in the channel, prob closer to Camano/Utsalady earlier today (7/9 around 1pm). The San Juan Explorer boat was out there going really slowly so I whipped out the binocs to see if maybe 2356 was out there. I've never seen humpbacks before from here, so I'm just going on two brief views through binocs and the photos from the Orca Network sightings email. There were two next to each other, and they had those little dorsal nubbins. I was super excited!! Hope they get along with 2356 ok.
12:14 - I just spotted 2356 passing our place south of Mariners Cove heading southbound. It's feeding a bit but not lingering long. Have a great day! -Marianne Parry
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12:35 - Gray is feeding in Polnell Shores. It's 2356. -Terra Parham
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Thu, July 9 - Possession Sound - One, possibly two grays east of Hat this morning. An islander was crabbing, posted a video, this is a screen grab showing a spot on left side behind dorsal ridge. (update: Just followup on the 2259 sighting yesterday [July 9], there were two whales traveling together.) -Lori Christopher
[Yes that is 2020 newbie 2259 with that left side patch. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network]
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MINKE WHALES - Thu, July 9 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - We thought it would be fun to sail over to Salmon Bank to look for minke whales. We got lucky spotting 3 of them. One of them was our regular that we call "Minke Mouse". Another was distant so we weren't able to obtain the best ID photos. But, it looked familiar to us with its thick, stubby fin. There wasn't much obvious feeding behavior but rather more circling around the bank. After our fun minke encounter we decided to start heading up towards the westside of San Juan Island to see J pod. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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UNCONFIRMED BALEEN WHALES - Thu, July 9 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 13:00 - I think I saw two humpbacks(?) way out in the channel, prob closer to Camano/Utsalady earlier today (7/9 around 1pm). The San Juan Explorer boat was out there going really slowly so I whipped out the binocs to see if maybe 2356 was out there. I've never seen humpbacks before from here, so I'm just going on two brief views through binocs and the photos from the Orca Network sightings email. :) There were two next to each other, and they had those little dorsal nubbins. -Marianne Parry

July 8
Wed, July 8 - San Juan Islands (J pod incl. J11s, J14s, J16s, J17s) - 22:46 - hearing them [percussives] too on LK. [reply to Scotty Veirs re: Orcasound HP] -Claudia Lorena
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21:15 - [Js] faint calls and clicks among loud ship traffic sounds on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Fred Horn
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20:43 - hearing MANY percussives at Orcasound Lab? -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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20:22 - [orcas] A few at Land Bank, 8:22pm, quite a ways offshore. Headed north. -Kimberly Beck
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A few SRKW images from Wednesday night at Land Bank. -Cy Scammell
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18:03 - 5 at Landbank heading south at 6:03 pm. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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17:53 - Lime Kiln hydrophone busy again! Much different sounds than last night. -Lisa Lopez Flores Reese
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22:46 - I'm hearing more whales. Starting at 8:30/8:45 PM PST, I heard echolocation clicks that continued until 9:08/9:10 PM when I heard 1 faint call. After that, I continued to hear more clicks, until about 9:12 when it went silent, only to resume at 9:15. At 9:17 I started hearing calls that seemed to be getting more frequent and might have been louder, but it was hard to tell thanks to the abundance of ship noise. I couldn't hear much after that, again due to ship noise, but at 9:45 PM PST, I realized that I could hear faint calls again through the ship noise. At 9:53, the calls started getting louder and a lot more frequent. The calls seemed to be S01 calls or something that sounded similar (I'm not 100% sure if I'm correct on the call, that's just what it sounded like to me). The vocalizations continued to get louder and continued to stay pretty frequent. At 10:14 PM, they seemed to be getting a quieter, and by
22:40 It went silent and I couldn't hear any more calls.
17:49 - Hello, you probably already know this, but I just wanted to say that I can hear orcas over the LIme Kiln Hydrophones. I'm hearing what sounds like (to me) S01 calls and echolocation clicks. I might be wrong about the exact call, but it's just what It sounded like to me. -Katie McDermott
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17:30 - [orcas] In front of Hannah Heights right now. -Susan Porter Hughes
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17:15 - Calls and clicks LK hydro 5:15 pm. -Laurie Arnone
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16:47 - J26 and two others getting close to the county are going down Island. -James Mead Maya
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16:23 - [orcas] Fred Felleman saw group off Smuggler's Cove. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:16 - I just identified what appears to be some members of J Pod in Rosario between Blakely Island and Cypress Island (J37 & J49). Two had been off east pointed at the Anacortes ferry terminal but quickly cut southwest to group up with several others--J35, J44, J47, and J53 (to note: J46 was not traveling with the J17's, here). They turned northwest as if they might go up Thatcher Pass, but made a quick directional change and were pointed south in Rosario again, approaching James Island, as we left the scene at 16:27. -Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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15:40 - It appears J-Pod is in THREE groups today! More Js picked up heading south in Rosario at 15:40, heading towards the Anacortes ferry lanes! -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI
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15:27 - Blackberry J27 and at least 2 others still off Hannah Heights. J27 slowly traveling SE, others milling off Pile [Point] by False Bay. -Stephanie Reiss
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15:12 - Can confirm they are Js; a couple boats picked them up at Turn Point. -Ellie Sawyer
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17:10 - starting to hear clicks on the Lime Kiln hydrophone.
15:00 - Secondhand report of a small group of orcas in northern Haro near Stuart Island, potentially the J16s, slow southbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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14:25 - I'm currently at Stuart Island Lighthouse. We saw a group of 3-4 Orcas in a loose pod come from directly north, now heading south west down hugging the coast of Stuart Island. An additional very large individual trailed them by a few minutes. He had a very large top fin. The others were smaller, maybe even included a juvenile. -Rebekah Skelly
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13:44 - Very spread out. Turned around at Hannah Heights and are slowly moving along the shore, a ways out.
13:16 - Moving fast... up to Hannah Heights now.
13:10 - Orcas off False Bay. -Mariann Carrasco
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13:05 - orcas here at Eagle Point for a bit but are now slowly heading back north. Leader at about False Bay. -Chris Wilson
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10:56 - FYI: J Pod split last night and some did go north towards the Fraser, so it appears there's only ~7 of them on the west side this morning including the J11s.
10:45 - [Js] They turned south again at Edwards Point. They were in a beautiful resting line, too. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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10:52 - Now turned back south joined by at least two others back toward Hannah Heights again.
10:45 - Two lg black and whites moving north toward Land Bank. -Pat McEathron
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18:27 - J11s mid Hannah Hts., breaching and porpoising.
18:20 - 6:15 J11's southbound. North Hannah Hts. Reviewing photos: some J16s present too. (updated/additional info: 5:30pm-6:10pm, 9-10 spread far out moving south, north and west incl. J16 Slick, J42 Echo, J26 Mike, J31 Tsuchi, J46 Star, J39 Mako.)
17:45 - additional 2 north edge of HH.
17:30 - 3 orca mid Hannah Hts.
15:38 - J11s are just south of me.
10:50 - Changed direction quickly headed south. Out of my sight now. Passing Hannah Hts. (added info: 10:12am-10:50am, 8 orcas incl. all members of J11s traveling in a majestic resting line northbound at Edwards Point. They stall then turn and quickly move down island. Present were J56 Tofino, J27 Blackberry, J31 Tsuchi, J39 Mako, J19 Shachi, J22 Oreo, J38 Cookie, and J40 Suttles. Many thanks to Monika Wieland Shields for identification confirmation.) Video link,
10:32 - 5-6 incl. [J27] Blackberry, [J56] Tofino approaching west side Land Bank.
10:22 - photo of J56 Tofino with J27 Blackberry. Just south of Edwards Pt. (They turned at Edwards and headed back south at 10:45)
10:12 - northbound Hannah Hts. group of 5, J56.
07:15 - orcas southbound, Hannah Hts. - 2 lg males. [More Js were southbound past Eagle Point around the same time. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI] 01:58 - orcas passed southbound 1:58am Hannah Hts. (2 groups heard) [From Michelline's photos: "It looks like you've got J22, J38, and J40 there (along with J31 in the middle of the last shot) - thank you so much for helping to piece together the puzzle! …suspect there may be a couple more in there!" update: "Yes J31 - and J46!! She was the missing piece of the puzzle, thank you!" -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI]. -Michelline Halliday
video (10:12-10:50) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2K20oSbWbg&feature=youtu.be
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Wed, July 8 - Bellingham Bay (T36 w/T36Bs, and T37As) - 19:12 - A pod of approximately 7 orca whales were sighted today, 7/8/20, at 1912 about 0.5 NM from Squalicum Harbor, 48-44.8N X 122-13.0W. They were traveling from the Nooksack River Delta to the East 120 degrees True north. (Additional info via call: Mike MacKay called to report seeing pod of ~7 orcas at 19:12 about 2 miles south of Squalicum Harbor. Pod was transiting the bay from west to east, coming from the delta area toward what they call Boulevard Park, on the east shore of Bellingham Bay. Not sure if Rs or Ts. They have a lot of seals hauling out on Portage Island. Also Spring Chinook salmon run in Nooksack River is doing very well.) -Mike MacKay
[T36s and T37As per Tyler McKeen on SJI WW group -alb]
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[orcas] Bellingham Bay July 8th. Large group heading south. -Ann McQueen
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Wed, July 8 - Central Puget Sound (T65As) - 20:47 - North of West Point Lighthouse, spread out, mid channel, moving north at a good clip.
20:25 - Their current location [map shows just SW of Alki Point, a little closer to Alki side of channel]. Northbound. Our sunset sail guests are getting a treat. -Joey LaMarche
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19:26 - [orcas] They are headed north closer to Bainbridge, barely visible from Alki with binoculars. Only seeing blows. Research boat still following I believe. -Mitchell Nevi
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18:26- [orcas] Directly out from Restoration Point. SE milling. -Becca Tiger Musser
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18:10 - I think I can see them right now from Pomeroy Park. Two or three black fins just north of Blake Island. -Fletcher Sandbeck
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21:01 orcas heading north, spread out, midchannel, out from Shilshoe Marina.
18:08 - East side of Blakely Rock. just south of yellow buoy. Foraging and making directional changes. Research boat still there. -Sue Larkin
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16:31 - I can see them from 63rd and Beach [Drive] in West Seattle! Headed north near the buoy! -Susann Babaei
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17:43 - SB towards Restoration Point research boat trailing.
17:15 - Whales are just south of Cape Ross... Trending East now. Just north of yellow channel marker. >16:40 - Seems that whales have stalled and are now circling/hunting. 4:40pm.
16:30 - [orcas] Watching from BI Rockaway Beach... They are just now in view and passing Coast Guard boat... heading north. Kitsap side. -Kimberly Sylvester
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17:28 - Drifting SE of Blakely Rocks near research boat.
17:22 - NE of Blakely Rocks, northbound.
16:26 - Tail slaps, jumping, splashing, southeast tip Bainbridge.
16:20 - NW of yellow buoy heading north seen from 64th and Alki. -Mary Hartmann
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16:11 - looking from 60th and Spokane. Looking due west just south of the south end of Bainbridge from our perspective. Can see the chase boat. Seeing spray and dorsals. Headed north. -Douglas B. Greenswag
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16:08 - [orcas] Visible from West Seattle. South end of Bainbridge. Kitsap side, northbound. -Kersti Muul
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16:03 - [orcas] Viewing from the battery at Manchester State Park. Just south of Bainbridge, look to be heading north up the east side at a steady pace. -Ashley Nelms
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15:30-16:30 - Watching the transient Orcas just north of Blake Island/South of Bainbridge, along west Seattle and then deeper into the sound between west Seattle and Magnolia before they continued north. -Michelle Welch
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14:57 - Orcas are between the Southworth ferry and Blake Island. -Jeff Lewis
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14:26 - 5 orcas visible at Southworth ferry terminal right now. -Brent Kobayashi
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15:55 - Looks like they are trending north on the move again, mid channel, directly in front of Manchester.
15:28 - Milling in front of Manchester 3:28.
15:12 - Still same place, little action and spy hop.
14:59 - Out on north tip of Blake Island, close to research boat, west side of Blake 2:59.
14:04 - [orcas] Blows coming up Vashon side just about to Southworth Point, northbound. -Noelle Morris
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14:02 - Looks like same Ts that were here last week. NB Colvos Pass at north end close to island, apx 2 miles till they get to Southworth. Thanks, -Tim & Moby (Ferris)
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14:32 - They are north of Point Southworth, between the point and Blake Island. Appear to be heading up the west side of Blake Island.
14:12 - Visible from Point Southworth, moved more mid-channel at this point.
13:46 - [orcas] We can see them from our rooftop in Southworth - they are far south from us, appear to be near Driftwood Cove, still moving north. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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13:27 - [orcas] Out of sight from Al's now, traveling north. Appear to be maybe 5 of them, including a large male. Also appear to be closer to Vashon side. Research boat trailing. -Stacy Gordon
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13:11 - [orcas] Viewing from. Al's. 3 heading north. -Sabrina Ludwig
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12:50 - [orcas] Watching from Olalla. Lots of breaching and tail slapping. 4. Northbound. -Jolena Tagg
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12:42 - orcas in center of Colvos Passage just north of Point Richmond. Between Point Richmond and Al's [market] headed north. -Katrina Flowers-Percy
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13:01 - Been working on a kill for a while, Kitsap side, directly across from Lisabuela Beach, research boat with them.
12:24 - [orcas] South of Lisabuela Beach, should pass me in about 10 minutes, grouped up travel mode, long down times favoring the Kitsap side, going northbound.---Here are a couple pics of the T65a's from last Wednesday the 8th in Colvos Passage. They were pretty far from me, all the way across the channel on the Kitsap side, but oh so nice to watch them stealthily cruise on by. Hoping to catch them tomorrow if they come this far south. Their north-south-north shuffle on repeat is pretty awesome! -Marla Smith
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11:53 - [orcas] Just saw a group of three south west of Vashion by the ferry terminal from Sunrise Beach in Gig Harbor. -Michael Schnitzer
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12:34 - Steady pace north.
12:27 - Just north of point Richmond.
12:26 - 4 in small group.
12:05 - mid channel.
11:51 - Committing to Colvos, northbound.
11:39 - [orcas] Heading up Colvos Passage. -Robert Soden
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11:35 - [orcas] I'm at Sunrise Beach in Gig Harbor and I can see lots of surface activity in Commencement Bay, closer to Owens Beach side. -Tera Uerling
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11:37 - Pretty sure they went on a kill at the entrance to Colvos and are now trending north.
11:15 - [orcas] Viewing from Owen. Southern west tip of Vashon. -Amber Stanfill
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11:09 - [orcas] Passing Dune park westbound. -Steve Fogard
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11:23 - [orcas] A lot of surface activity, Southwest tip of Vashon still.
11:08 - There are at least two or three orcas still east of the ferry approaching the ferry line. Vashon's side. -Ashley Whitman
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10:57 - Orcas at S Vashon. Just past Quartermaster Harbor. -Susan Vestring
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11:40 - Trending north toward Colvos on Vashon side.
10:54 - Saw male orca, Pt. Defiance side, heading east towards Ruston. View from GH old ferry landing. -Diana Frick
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10:40 - [orcas] Viewing from Tacoma Waterfront Park, closer to Vashon from my perspective, just west of Quartermaster Harbor. Headed west. -Ed Rickert
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11:41 - After a good 20 minute hunt, they are on the move again, trending up Colvos. Think they are bringing their meal with them, seagulls following.
11:18 - Mid channel off Owen Beach, Westbound
11:07 - Just watched the Vashon Ferry plow right through them. They took a long dive after that, popped up west end of Island approaching Colvos, but trending south towards Narrows.
10:57 -On the move westbound again.
10:55 - Stalled out just east of Ferry Terminal, maybe hunting. White boat all up in their business.
10:49 - Close to Vashon shore, still trending towards Ferry Terminal, westbound.
10:44 - [orcas] They are at entrance to Quartermaster Harbor, Westbound towards Ferry terminal. -Melissa Bird
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11:31 - Getting harder to see them from Dune Peninsula, still splashing around off SW corner of Vashon, maybe a little closer to Kitsap Peninsula.
11:07 - Crossing ferry path, heading west.
10:49 - 10:49 surfacing again, still.
10:44 - [orcas] Heading NW out of Commencement Bay, mid channel. Viewing from Dune Peninsula. -Andy Francis
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10:44 - Last I saw them about 5ish minutes ago they were just east of the southern tip of Vashon. Much east of the dock.
10:35 - Just saw them east of the Vashon ferry dock.
10:26 - [orcas] Heading from Northern Fish west toward Pt. Ruston. -Sandra Byrd
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10:00 - I saw the T65As again today (7/8/2020) at 10am from shore near Northern Fish on Ruston Way in Tacoma, looking across Commencement Bay. -Zeno Martin
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09:50 - Closer to Cliff House. Near NE Tacoma. [Staying in] One spot. They look to be hunting. Tail slapping. Down for a few minutes.
09:45 - [orcas] in front of Chinese Reconciliation Park. Watching from Cliff House. -Meghan Davis
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Email received 09:38 from Bradley Coombe, WS Ferries Marine Ops (sighting would have been earlier): WHALES orca South of VASH. CHETZEMOKA Master reports a pod of six orca west of route area traveling North East. Noted. W/S conducts 800MHz notification of whales.
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09:15 - [orcas] seeing them in the middle of the west entrance to Commencement Bay, heading into the bay. 2 tugs are also heading into the bay and appear to be keeping a safe distance at the north end of the bay. 1 small boat is at a safe distance with the whales. -Lindsay Walker
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10:25 - Heading back out. Headed towards restaurants on Ruston Way.
09:41 - Very close to Port of Tacoma.
09:13 - [orcas] Looks like they are getting close to Browns Point. Looks like four of them. Heading in towards port [Commencement Bay]. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
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08:33 - [orcas] Pod of three heading east off of Owens Beach at 8:33. -Steve Fogard
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06:29 - Two groups [orcas] going south by Prospect Point now going past Al's through Colvos Passage!!! -Brendan Phillips
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Wed, July 8 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 15:15 - One gray just went by at a pretty rapid clip, heading north past Mariners Cove, not feeding at all. He came by pretty close to shore but then did one of those big-arched-back dives and veered out to deeper water. Time for afternoon nap I suppose. I'm assuming it was 2356 but the white line is in the other side of its head when it's heading north so I can't confirm. -Marianne Parry
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08:40 - Good ol' newb 2356 (confirmed the white mark below right nostril) is back for the breakfast buffet! It cruised by heading south around 8:40am (7/8/20). Appeared to feed a little bit on the way, but slowed down and started feeding more heavily just south of us (big shallow area), but still progressing slowly south toward Polnell Point. [From viewing video by Marianne: "Yep that is definitely 2356!" -Alie Perez, Cascadia Research Collective] -Marianne Parry

July 7
Tue, July 7 - Haro Strait (J pod) - Holly Youngblood Cannon
[photos: J47 ID: Sara Hysong-Shimazu]
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19:59 - [orcas] We are at Land Bank. They are fighting the flood, making some headway, but not a lot. We have at least four. -Ellie Sawyer
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19:05 - They were headed south when I saw them last at the Land Bank [Westside Scenic Preserve]. This was about 7:05. -Fred Horn
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18:51 - Been at LK for 2 hours and have seen about 7 go by. Definitely very slow. Lots of milling. Most pretty far off shore. -Rayne Billing
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18:51 - Others have showed up and direction of travel is hard to tell.
18:44 - Orcas at LK appear to be southbound 6:44.
18:12 - Hearing loud and clear calls and echolocation 6:12 LK. -Meg Sellers
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17:32 - [J pod] Calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone 5:32PM. -Jack Collins
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16:15 - 3 Just past County Park Northbound 4:15pm. -Ali Smith
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16:12 - Val reports one orca now near Open Bay (south Henry Island), possibly leader.
16:05 - Val Veirs at Orcasound Lab reports 5 leaders passing over hydrophone, still northbound. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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16:04 - Hearing first vocalizations on Orcasound Lab hydrophone. -Gayle Swigart, Orca Network
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15:45 - Picking up orcas on the Lime Kiln hydrophone at 3:45 pm PST. -Dawn Lee
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12:45 - Leaders approaching Lime Kiln. -Andrew Harpster
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12:30 - J pod just off False Bay about 12:30pm today. -James Richardson
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~10:40 - [orcas] Milling south of Land Bank. -Cassie Barclay
[Yes, it was J19 and J41 that were closest to Land Bank. -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI]
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09:34 - Awe...some calls too. 0934. -Michelle Savoie
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09:34 - Calls clear now!
09:28 - Echolocation LK 9:28. -Meg Sellers
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10:51 - It's a large pod. Probably minimum 9 whales. Two calves. One very small at hip of mother. All traveling slow north. Last female going north of Cattle Point. 1 large male in the middle but very very spread out.
09:21 - Orca moving north to Lime Kiln. 3 or 4 spread out - calf too About 500 yards offshore west side. -Jennifer Summers
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09:00-09:20 - I believe I caught J56, J31 and another at Eagle Point moving back and forth (looks like they were feeding). Fishing boats way too close. They moved off to the north beyond my limited view about 9:20. -Fred Horn
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08:39 - A few orcas on both sides of Eagle Point SJI. No direction though some are moving a bit up island towards False Bay. Slow. Foraging. Kelping. Close to shore. -Chris Wilson
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20:22 - 4 southbound. Hannah Hts. North side. Including J56 Tofino.
18:24 - Lovely calls on Orcasound Hydrophone.
18:11 - Lg male southbound towards Hannah Hts.
16:00 - Calls on LK Hydrophone.
15:15 - J39 Cookie +1 seen traveling north.
14:43 - J56, mom and friends still south of Edwards Pt./Land Bank. Heading away from shore. (updated/additional info: 1:40pm-2:40pm, 7-8 orca incl. J26 Mike, J56 Tofino and another youngster (?) travel north then turn back to the south, pectoral waves, rolling, spy hop; a literal ball of black and white.)
14:00 - J56 with 4 others north edge Hannah Hts. Northbound then changed. Southbound now. (updated/additional info: 12:10pm-12:59pm, 9 orca northbound. J47 Notch's sea snake was displayed as he interacted in a close group incl. J51 Nova. Behavior included fluke lob, fluke wave, pectoral waves, rolling.)
12:20 - 6 approaching Land Bank from south.
12:13 - 2-3 off middle Hannah Hts. Northbound.
10:52 - 2 approaching Land Bank from the south. (updated/additional info: 9:20am-10:52am, 5 orca northbound incl. J19 Shachi and her daughter J41 Eclipse. Multiple porpoising, lots of splashing.)
10:10 - 3 hunting north edge Hannah Hts. Big fish are jumping too.
09:20 - 2 northbound towards Land Bank.
09:09 - Found the third. Milling about, north of Hannah Hts.
09:08 - They have split. One southbound. One northbound. Lost one. Staying down milling.
08:57 - 3 off Hannah Hts. One is same lg male from previous post. One was J47 Notch.
08:35 - [orca] Lg male southbound. Hannah Hts. -Michelline Halliday
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13:02 - I'm still watching from False Bay! There's still a few milling here at 1:02 PM.
08:25 - Orcas including a large male at False Bay slowly northbound! -Justine Buckmaster
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Tue, July 7 - North Puget Sound - 20:21 - Orcas exited Port Madison Bay. milling midchannel.
20:06 - Orcas heading out of Port Madison Bay. eastbound, midchannel. about 5 of them. Viewing from Fay Bainbridge. -Sue Larkin
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18:58 - Orcas off of Suquamish dock 45 minutes ago. -Mike Jackson
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18:45 - Second-hand report they are at the Suquamish dock. -Sara Frey
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~12:45 - Today there was a pod of 5-6 orcas off of south Mukilteo beach (Waterton Home Development area). They were moving slowly south towards Edmonds and appeared to be encircling fish as they traveled. There was one small orca with them. -Ron Evans
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Tue, July 7 - San Juan Islands - 13:19 - Northeast Sucia [Island] outside Echo Bay! 3 beauties!!! (orcas, heading towards Matia Island). -Anne Shackelford
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HUMPBACK - Tue, July 7 - Puget Sound/Elliott Bay - 18:20-18:23 - Heyo! I'm out on a sailboat in Elliot Bay just outside the marina and we just saw a humpback. It was pointed north-ish and dove right as we spotted it. We are about where we saw the first surfacing. There was another two surfacings at 6:23 and then it dove. Heading out to mid channel. 100% humpback. Didn't get a good photo, but the flukes seemed mostly dark. -Kate Hruby
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Tue, July 7 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - West Coast Vancouver Island with around 20 Humpback Whales! We were able to ID a few while having some fun on tour...BCX1057 (Divot) MMX0081 (Pantera) MMX0084 (Scutttle) MMY0063 (Hornet). -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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GRAY WHALES - Tue, July 7 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 19:35 - I had just finished my last email to you when we saw a gray heading north past Mariners' Cove, but pretty far out. I'm going to assume it was newbie 2356, who likely filled up its belly down by Polnell Point and is heading off somewhere to sleep it off. :) As I said, it was far from shore - maybe mid-channel between Mariners' Dove and Utsalady? It surfaced several times, but far apart, and showed a very arched back that it doesn't do close in with the shallow water (so guessing it's diving deeper maybe?). Have a great evening! -Marianne Parry
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17:30 - Just when I start to think it's moved on, good ol' newbie 2356 pokes his head up - yay!! Feeding heavily and slowly making his way past Mariners Cove heading south. 7/7/30, 5:30pm. -Marianne Parry
["It is 2356 in her 17:30 report" -alb]
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Mon and Tue, July 6 and 7 - Northern Saratoga/Skagit Bay - We observed a Grey whale between Strawberry Point and Polnell Point in Skagit Bay on July 6&7. The pectoral fins are striped like a zebra! -Steve Blackbourn

July 6
Mon, July 6 - Haro Strait (J pod) - 16:45 - Relayed report of Js still off False Bay, southbound at that time.
11:20 - Still J37 and I believe J40 off southern part of Land Bank facing north but going no where against the ebb. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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11:02 - Orcas at Lime Kiln now. -Katie Kirchhofer
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10:41 - Watching about 3? Off of Kanaka Bay. (At first it was S but then they kept going back and forth.) -Audrey Holloway
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10:49 - Two whales in front of Land Bank.
10:13 - At least two coming around the point south of LK. -Ellie Sawyer
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11:00 - 2 foraged north of Hannah Hts. for 35 mins. Southbound now. One male south of me loitering off Hannah Hts. area. Two to the south. ["J22! She was with J37." -Monika Wieland Shields, OBI] (Updated: 11am I watched two forage in big loops for 35 minutes. By 12:30 they had dispersed far out of sight.)
10:18 - Approaching Land Bank, Northbound.
10:00 - Leader Hannah Hts. Male. Northbound.
08:55-12:30pm, between north side of Hannah Hts. and Edwards Point. J Pod came from the south by ones and twos spread out. They went north, then south and every which way except close in. -Michelline Halliday
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09:15 - Watched group head north past Eagle Point. -Fred Horn
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08:40 - At least 2 orcas milling in front of south beach approx. 1.5km offshore. Watching from American Camp. 2 Fs and Juvenile and 2 Males, 1 is Mike and other likely Blackberry. All heading north. -Stephanie Reiss
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09:48 - Leader almost to Pile Point. More whales than I originally saw. More like 15 or 20? small groups of 2-5. Some single. Some close to shore. Some quite far out. Everyone moving slowly north.
08:02 - about 5 orcas at Eagle Point. SJI One playful little dude/dudette in the group/one large male. Male is further out from shore. Others are close to the point going back and forth on both sides of the point. Quiet. A couple breaches. Beautiful morning. -Chris Wilson
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06:34 - SJI, group offshore, direction change? heading North, from False Bay towards light house, on W. Side, not sure if same group.
06:13 - Large group, SJI, Close to shore, South of Westside Landbank Preserve, South of Edwards, traveling in direction of False Bay, down island. -Heide Grace
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~05:00 - Orca made a pass by San Juan County Park this morning at around 5 am heading South. -Nicole Reiber
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT ORCAS - Mon, July 6 - Active Pass (T37As) - ~16:00 - Fighting a strong flood tide, the T037As went west through Active Pass. When they were almost at Helen Point, they submerged. Didn't see them again until they resurfaced back at Naylor Bay (just west of Miner's Bay), and continued westward once again. Travelled slowly very close to the shore of Mayne Island. Sighted from Galiano Island. -Karoline Cullen
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Mon, July 6 - South Puget Sound (T65As) - 20:20 - Orcas heading north towards Gig Harbor passing salmon beach 8.20 pm. -Gill Chard
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20:01 - They are milling around about a half mile east of the Tacoma Narrows bridge. Closer to Gig Harbor side, changing directions as they feed. -Amanda Van Meter
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~20:00 - Hello! Three Orcas swam by us as we were fishing by the Narrows Bridge tonight at about 8 pm. They came from the North, swam to the Bridge and turned around right under the Bridge and headed back north. -Shelby
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19:56 - [orcas] They are under the Narrows heading south. -Holly Johnson Fox
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19:54 - [orcas] Seeing blows going south. Not quite to the narrows. Gig harbor side. -Amber Stanfill
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20:08 - Mid channel northbound, approaching Salmon Beach.
20:04 - They are at the corner channel marker, under power lines, circling channel marker.. think they have a Seal in there.
19:57 - They have turned back north, just north of the Bridge. Lots of tail slaps, breaches.. maybe hunting.
19:53 - [orcas] Coming up to Narrows Bridge, Boats escorting, Gig Harbor side, Southbound. -Melissa Bird
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~19:30-19:55 - Saw them from Old Ferry Landing (Gig Harbor). They were mid-channel, maybe parallel to or just past Salmon beach at the time. Must have made a kill - there was an enormous flock of sea gulls over them. Made them very easy to spot! They stalled a bit & but trended south, continuing towards the Narrows Bridge. Out of my sight now (7:55) so likely will be at Narrows fairly soon.
19:51 - They're north of the bridge. Old Ferry Landing is north of the bridge - across from Point Defiance.
19:39 - [orcas] They're past Salmon Beach now - still trending south but slowly, pretty much in the middle - actually closer to Gig Harbor than I usually see them. -Heidi Armstrong
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18:58 - 2 orcas headed towards point defiance mid Dalco 6:58pm.
18:56 - Spotted a single Orca just now in Dalco. -Charlene Engelland
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19:10 - We saw them moving toward Gig Harbor and then we turned to go other direction toward Quartermaster Harbor.
18:47 - [orcas] We just saw them at 6:47pm just SW of the Vashon ferry dock. -Kelly Cole
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18:53 - Moving towards Point Defiance.
18:43 - [orcas] Between south west edge of Vashon and Owen Beach, further towards Gig Harbor site now. -Ed Rickert
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18:43 - [orcas] Going south, toward Narrows. -Brie Mogan Payne
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18:42 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed: CHETZEMOKA Whale Sighting@1840 - Master reports a pod of Orcas near Point Dalco near south end of VASHON. He could not tell in what direction they were heading.
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18:20 - [orcas] Sighting at Vashon just west of the ferry lane, viewed from Dune Peninsula bridge with binoculars @ 6:20. -Valerie Mogan
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20:35 - Northbound, hugging Point Defiance side.
19:57 - Approaching the Narrows bridge. Saw a few tail slaps.
18:58 - They've been milling, but now look like they're committing to the Narrows... Very very slowly.
18:03 - [orcas] Seeing spouts and dorsals off the southeast tip of Maury. Viewing from Owen [Beach]. Moving slowly. At least 4, 1 confirmed female dorsal, and 2 confirmed male. Between mid-channel and tip of Maury. -Ashley Whitman
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I just barely made it to the beach in time to catch the T65A's as they passed Point Robinson this afternoon, so nice to get there right on time for once! -Marla Smith
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16:55 - [orcas] Passed by Point Robinson heading south at a good clip with a research boat behind. -Jake Conroy
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16:46 - Continuing south, East Channel, much closer to Maury Island side. Perspective is tough, but should be approaching Pt. Robinson. Last I saw, picking up speed and headed that way.
16:31 - Very slowly trending southbound. Still milling/hunting type directional changes. Closer to Maury Island, NOAA with them.
16:08 - Milling, directional changes. In front of Tramp Harbor, Vashon.
16:05 - [orcas] East Channel, headed south steady pace. Just passed 3 Tree Point. -Christina Van Wolbeck Fenerty
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14:49 - Donna, WSF Marine Ops, emailed: ISSAQUAH Whale Sighting@1443 - Master reports a pod of Orcas (possible 6, including juveniles) slow moving, East North East of Vashon Head, heading SB. [southbound]
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11:55 - Trending south now at a good pace. Directly East of Fay.
11:31 -[orcas] Found em from Fay B... saw 5 fins... Male & juvi in group. -Kimberly Sylvester
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11:25 - View from Suquamish Pier...orcas eastbound very close to Indianola shore...east of Indianola pier. -Sue Larkin
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11:20 - Right off Indianola now.
11:00 - Now aiming towards Suquamish.
10:55 - [orcas] About a mile offshore from Fay Bainbridge Park, still southbound. -Bart Rulon
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10:30 - [orcas] Westbound now, heading toward Fay Bainbridge. -Matt McCulloch
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10:23 - Orcas may have stalled, same general area. Was seeing them make directional changes.
10:10 - Pod is steady southbound, mid channel, approx. mile south of Jefferson Head/southern end of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park from where I am viewing. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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08:53 - Sara updates after brief stall out with some tail slaps pod resumed southbound travels. AND a humpback is in the same area heading northbound!
08:40 - ~3-4 orcas (1 youngster, 1 male, female) off Apple Tree Point, Kingston, heading southbound at the time, west side of channel. Neighbor thinks possibly pod flipped (temp stall out). -Sara Frey
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Mon, July 6 (T137s) and Tue, July 7 (T46s, T34s, and T37Bs) - San Juan Islands Hello, thought I'd share some photos I got today at Sucia Island (around Echo Bay and Ewing Cove). There was a group of about 7 yesterday around Patos Island, and three today around Sucia. They were very active and playful today. Here are some photos. photo (6th) -Mari Latimer, Anacortes, WA
"Looks like T137B" -Melisa Pinnow - photo (7th) - "I see the T46s, T34s, and T37Bs" -MP
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Mon, July 6 - San Juan Islands - ~19.00 - [orcas] Pictures taken from Clark Island facing Lone Tree Island. I have seen this before; A couple are swimming around the Island while a few are waiting around the corner. Most likely hunting Seals. -Ruurd Van Slot
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HUMPBACKS - Mon, July 6 - Active Pass - ~08:00 - A lone humpback went west through Active Pass. Sighted from Galiano Island. -Karoline Cullen
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Mon, July 6 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Some Lunge feeding and others slowly feeding on top with no dives and no flukes but a few were doing longer dives and was able to record MMX0045 (Sirius) and MMX0007 (Bond) and one I could not ID...Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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Mon, July 6 - North Puget Sound - Some reports and images related to the pair of humpbacks involved in the vessel-strike incident on July 6th, 2020, are still forthcoming. Also, we are awaiting an official report from NOAA, which we will include in a future Sighting Report when available. -Orca Network

July 5
Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute - photo: "J26 Mike off the west side of San Juan Island this afternoon…"
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19:51 - Whales are on LK hydro. Strong EL and a few calls. -Ariel Yseth
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19:50 - J-56 & co. milling and killin off Deadman's [Cove]. -Eric Eisenhardt
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21:31 - J56 and mom, plus another female passed Land Bank, headed south, and it appears that they plus the southern group all headed west. ["The two northern males were reportedly J27 and J39 - J22 and J38 must have also been among the offshore/in Canada whales." Monika Wieland Shields, OBI] Multiple whales turned from north of land bank and went further north, a while later (presumably the same whales) were entirely across the strait headed south. The only adult male that I saw pass land bank all day was J26, however two males were with the northern group that presumably went northwest to the Canadian side.
20:00 - Northern whales headed south, southern whales headed north (of Land Bank). Looks like they might all meet up at Land Bank.
19:56 - Some that were south of Land Bank came back up and milling.
19:31 - Many more visible from Land Bank to the north, headed south, at least 5, but most likely more! They're almost to Land Bank now.
19:19 - Three females passed, still south of Land Bank headed south, more visible north of Land Bank, headed south.
18:53 - Orca far north of land bank, southbound, close to shore. -Cassie Barclay
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19:32 - More clicks (and whales at Limekiln...still southbound.
18:55 - Some clicks on Limekiln hydrophone....trailers just passing south. -Michelle Savoie
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17:28 - Hearing faint calls again on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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17:22 - Still seeing J's in front of the county park. They were very spread out. -Nicole Reiber
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17:09 - Most went by 3/4 mile out but male, female and juvenile foraging 100 yds out.
17:05 - Looking at what looks like J Pod right now. Just north of Belleview Pt. -Paul MacMahon
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16:59 - [orca] Calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Jack Collins
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16:57-20:30 - 22 members of J Pod traveling to the south between Edwards Point and northern edge of Hannah Hts. Pushing against an incoming tide and strong current, J pod spread out and slowly moved down island. 4 breaches and 2 tail lobs, most members far out from my position on shore. Photographs, cropped and enlarged. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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16:45-17:00 - Four or five orcas swam past Land Bank (SJI) btw 1645 and 1700. About 200 yds off shore, slowly moving down island against a very strong current. -Michael Noonan
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16:25 - Black and whites now north of Land Bank, headed south, almost here! Breach and cartwheels. -Cassie Barclay
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16:22 - Echolocation on LK.
16:05 - Calls now on Lime Kiln hps. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:55 - 15:55 - 2-3 Orcas off Mitchell Point, heading south. -Glen Bruels
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15:20 - Whales on Orcasound hydrophone. -Shari Tarantino
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15:45 - They are trending south outside of Mitchell Bay along the side of SJI.
14:21 - Orcas just passed Stuart [Island] heading to the west side of SJI. -Lisa Stoner
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12:15 - J pod is in Boundary Pass headed down toward SJI. might be on the west side in an hour or two J pod is in Boundary Pass headed down toward SJI. Might be on the west side in an hour or two. -Andrew Harpster
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT ORCAS - Sun, July 5 - Active Pass (T34s, T37, T37Bs, T36, T36Bs, T46s). ~18:00 - Transients went quickly eastbound through Active Pass around 6 pm on July 5. In the group: T034s, T037, T037Bs, T036, T036Bs,T046s. Seen from the shore of Galiano Island. Cheers, Karoline Cullen
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Sun, July 5 - San Juan Channel (T65As) - 20:00 - T65As headed for Cattle Pass, southbound. -Barbara Howitt
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16:16 - T-65[A]'s SB along the east coast of SJI approaching the harbor entrance soon. -James Richardson
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Followed about 4-6 of them on the East side of San Juan Island today... They were heading South from Spieden Island area towards Friday Harbor!!! They were just cruising for a while and decided to play around the rock there just off Friday Harbor. -Sonny Gibson
["Per other reports it was the T65As" -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network]
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14:30 - Directly off Ruben Tarte Park.
14:20 - Activity on the East side of Spieden [Island], headed SE... Deborah Massarat
["These are reportedly the T65As" -Monoka Wieland Shields, OBI]
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Sun, July 5 - Haro Strait (T34s) - T034B checking out the campers at Beaver Point, Saltspring Island on the afternoon of July 5th. -Mark Malleson photo "T034B checking out the campers at Beaver Point, Saltspring Island on the afternoon of July 5th"
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Sun, July 5 - Haro Strait - 00:05 - Transient/Bigg's orca. (lasted only 5 minutes)
00:00 - Loud clear calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Valérie B Messier
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HUMPBACKS - Sun, July 5 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - To all of the fine folks [Jackie Hildering, Tasli Shaw, Doug Sandilands, Kiirsten Flynn, John Calambokidis, Ted Cheeseman, Jenn Tackaberry] involved with the entanglement of humpback whale "Phi" in July of last year. Fortunately, the entanglement was resolved without intervention. What none of us knew at the time was that during the entanglement episode... Phi was pregnant! Our naturalist Lee [Leddy] snapped these shots of Phi and calf north of the Elwha yesterday afternoon. Mom didn't fluke, but Tasli [Shaw] recognized the dorsal right away so big thanks for the ID assist! Such hapy news! [July 2019 update on "PHI" from Marine Education & Research Society - https://www.facebook.com/mersocietybc/photos/a.441003409284276/2533385230046073/?type=1&theater ] -Erin Gless, Island Adventures
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Today with a pair of Humpback Whales south of Sooke, B.C. BCY0409 (Yogi) and MMX0052. Always a pleasure to see these gentle giants! -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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Sun, July 5 - Haro Strait - 20:35 - Humpback heading south in front of Yacht Haven [Open Bay]. -Holly Youngblood Cannon
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17:29 - Offshore of Lime Kiln, now headed north.
17:23 - Humpback off Land Bank. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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17:09 - Humpback northbound towards Land Bank [Westside Scenic Preserve]. -Michelline Halliday
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GRAY WHALES - Sun, July 5 - Gray Whale - Sighting Time: Sun Jul 5 11:53 PDT - Sighting Location (Lat/Lon): 47.98367,-122.26120 - Number Sighted: 2 (Source: Whale Alert App (Cascadia) above is how formatted)
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Sun, July 5 - Possession Sound - 11:42 - 2 gray whales just south of Everett, headed towards Everett. Cruising on the boat--had to shut off engine real quick when we spotted them! Scared me! -Keeley Amundson - video: https://www.facebook.com/keeley.amundson/videos/o.79401335600/10157749033303842/?type=2&theater
screenshot: It's 2020 newbie 2259 per ALB.
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On July 5 there were two Gray Whales about half way between the Port of Everett and Hat Island. They seemed to be slowly heading north and we lost sight with them when they dove. Shortly after that someone announced on the radio that they were there, so they must have resurfaced. -Jesper Johansson
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Sun, July 5 - North Puget Sound - 06:30 - We saw the two humpbacks in Skunk Way west of Point No Point at about 6:30am on Sunday July 5; they were traveling east and sounded after a couple breaths. We were in a power boat so just stopped immediately. Didn't see them after that; seems like one was smaller and I'm sad to read it probably got hit by the ferry. -Rob Fatland
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Sun, July 5 - Possession Sound - ~13:00 - Took this on Sunday, sailing between Hat Island and Whidbey. -Nicole Schoeder
["I can't confirm in all videos, but for sure see multiple grays in a few. One of which shows a white patch which is likely 2020 newbie gray whale CRC 2259. -alb]

July 4
Sat, July 4 - Haro Strait - Center for Whale Research Encounter #33 with J pod: "It took over 5 hours of being on the water, but we saw all 22 whales." See CWR Encounter #33 for more photos and full encounter summary: https://www.whaleresearch.com/2020-33
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Sat, July 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca to Haro Strait (all of J pod). 22:04 - Calls starting up again on Orcasound Lab hydrophone. -Shari Tarantino
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21:52 - If they turned south, they haven't made it to Land Bank [Westside Scenic Preserve] yet as of 21:52. -Cassie Barclay
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21:00 - lots of clicks and vocalization on the Lime Kiln hydrophone right now. -Fred Horn
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20:09 - Some calls and a lot of echolocation on Lime Kiln. -Vickie Doyle
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20:07 - Still slow Clicking on Orcasound Lab hydrophone. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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20:07 - S4 right now on LK hydrophone! -Heitor Crespo
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Just three days after K-pod made a brief visit to the Salish Sea we were graced with the presence of J-pod. They reached the west side of San Juan Island late this afternoon and streamed north as the sun sank below Vancouver Island. It's been nearly three months since they've been seen in our inland waters and we hope they were finding fish wherever they were. The restoration of Chinook salmon and the habitats they rely on are key to the recovery of these amazing whales. photo - "J31 "Tsuchi" and her daughter J56 "Tofino". photo - "J44 "Moby" breaching off of the west side of San Juan Island." photo - "J40 "Suttles" -Maya's Legacy Whale Watching
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J56 "Tofino" doing her thing tonight in Haro Strait. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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20:00 - Trailers just passing Land Bank going north now - we counted 22 whales and only saw Js. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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19:56 - [orcas] great sounds--LK hydro 7:56. -Laurie Arnone
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19:37 - Echolocation on Lime Kiln...Vickie Doyle
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19:17 - [orcas] Oh wait, super faint squeaks! -Rachel Lynn
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20:05 - still hearing slow clicks at Orcasound Lab (5 km north of Lime Kiln) and getting great images from the Marine Monitor radar/camera system of passing non-AIS noise sources (like power boats) and relatively quiet research vessels. Notes here -- https://www.facebook.com/OrcasoundApp/posts/1163896900653088
19:04 - NOW J pod is providing a 4th of July 2020 concert for your enjoyment! Squeaky ship making noise tonight, but have heard S4 calls and a bunch of clicks. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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19:01 - [orcas] Two passed Mitchell Point, heading north, at 7:01 pm. -Glen Bruels
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18:57 - Two or three whales off of Land Bank. Looks like they are milling. -Ellie Sawyer
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18:50 - Jpod leaders passed County Park northbound, porpoising at times. -Brittany Philbin
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18:46 - County Park. North -James Mead Maya
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19:02 - Now on Orcasound hydrophone.
18:12 - Orcas on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. 6:12 pm. -Laurie Barber
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18:12 - Vocals on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Gerald Graham
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18:0 - 2 orca off landbank headed north. -Cathleen Burns
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17:48 - [orcas] Starting to be able to see them from Land Bank with binocs. Heard a few breaths and saw a few tail lobs. -Jenny Mac
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17:32 - [orcas] At Eagle Cove. One came around the point and headed north again. -Andrea Vance
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17:27 - Going north. And just saw another lone one off South Beach.
17:23 - [orcas] 2 just passed South Beach. -Cynthia Smith Jackson
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17:25 - Two of them. They were milling about, feeding I would guess, and now heading north again.
16:55 - [orca] Loner at South Beach heading south with no boats in tow. -Jim Gizzi
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16:42 - J pod and some als [Ls?] coming south around Eagle Point! -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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16:30 - Today at Eagle Point. -Deborah Massarat
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16:00-16:30 - Two or three orcas passed Hannah Heights and then Pile Point (SJI) 16:00 - 16:30 today, slowly swimming down island, about 500 yards off shore. -Michael Noonon
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19:41 - 5 approaching Land Bank Westside Preserve, northbound. They traveled south and doubled back.
19:30 - Practicing lunging behavior, 5 members including J31 Tsuchi with daughter J56 Tofino travel to the south, changing direction back to the north between Edwards Point and northern side of Hannah Hts.
19:15 - Southbound. Lone lg male. Hannah Hts. Doubled back. Northbound. Updated: J39 Mako travels to the south then flips directions back to the north between Edwards Point and northern side of Hannah Hts.
18:24 - 3 incl lg male approaching Land Bank going N. Lg male was J26 Mike!
18:08 - 3-4 at Land Bank. They are moving leisurely.
18:03 - Two more approaching Land Bank Westside Preserve.
17:49 - Large male approaching Land Bank Westside Preserve at Edwards Pt.
17:39 - Across Hannah Hts. heading north. 2 in the lead.
16:07 - Across from Hannah Hts. Southbound.
15:58 - J Pod! 3 orca heading south towards Hannah Hts.J19 Shachi . Likely her daughter J41 Eclipse and grandson J51 Nova as per Ariel Yseth ["J19s"]. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
*photo: "7:30 pm J56 Tofino with Mom, J31 Tsuchi"
*photo - "3:50p, 3 J pod members traveling to the south between Edwards Point and northern side of Hannah Hts., J19 Shachi, daughter Eclipse and possibly grandson J5 Nova. (IDs provided by Ariel Yseth)"
*photo - "5:40pm-6:42pm, 13-15 members of J Pod to the north between Edwards Point and northern side of Hannah Hts., including J38 Cookie followed by J47 Notch and friend, J16 Slick with son, J26 Mike. One spy hop and a few tail lobbing."
*photo - "7:15pm, J39 Mako travels to the south then flips directions back to the north between Edwards Point and northern side of Hannah Hts."
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15:50 - Spread between Hannah Heights and Eagle Point, southbound.
15:33 - The two whales off Land Bank have flipped south.
15:19 - Leaders Edwards Point.
15:06 - Aiming for False Bay/Pile Point, many fins out there.
15:00 - Southern Residents crossing into US waters of Haro towards San Juan Island - several spread groups visible from the west side, sounds like at least some Js. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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The first orcas we spotted were J44, J46 and J27 at Eagle Pt. trending southbound. We continued north on the flood scanning for fins along the way. Drift sailing backwards and sideways from Pile Pt up island we found several groups spread out foraging including J37 with J49, J35 with J47, and the J19's. As we neared Lime Kiln J19 seemed to be hurrying the others along with repeated tail slaps seeming to signal the others to catch up. At that point they consistently moved north and we were able to drift in the strong current parallel. There was more foraging in Mitchell Bay along the way and some orcas foraged within Open Bay. At Kellett Bluff J22 and her son J38 showed up. We left the whales at Battleship as they began porpoising towards Stuart Island. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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Found this guy J26 [ID per Paul] feeding around Sooke, B.C. this morning...one pictures says it all...off to go find other marine wildlife...hopefully they are finding the food they need. -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT ORCAS - Sat, July 4 - Haro Strait (T137s) - A paddle boarder checks out T137A as he crosses Victoria's waterfront on July 4th. -Mark Malleson
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Sat, July 4 - San Juan Islands - These guys came up from Sucia and then around Patos and then headed out towards Saturna. A good show for the 4th! -Jessica Heidemann
["I see the T137s and maybe the T49As." -Melisa Pinnow]
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We headed north this time to the T137s who were much closer, providing an alternative to SRKWs who were close, as well. This matriline (family) is not the most high profile, but has shown amazing empathy in regards to the oldest male Jack (18 year old T137). This big adrenaline junkie has been known to go after baleen whales on his own, needing rescuing from dear mama. Last year he had a severe injury to his tail stock, and the family slowed down for him and kept him fed. Lions, wolves, hyenas would not have done that. He was very surface active after a hunt on the 4th, and it is quite difficult to see any indication of his injury - orcas heal incredibly well! This was a fantastic predation event followed by family bonding, and that never fails to inspire me. -April Ryan
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Sat, July 4 - Admiralty Inlet (T37 w/T37Bs, T34s, T36 w/T36Bs) - Yesterday [July 4] was a Wowser for sure. An early morning Orca Network alert call and I was off to scan the west side bluffs of Whidbey from Fort Casey's bluff. Didn't have to look far, Bigg's whales were about 100 yards off shore, wow, the T34s, and T36s and T37s. What a sight - some of the whales came within FIVE feet of the beach, incredible. They followed the shoreline northbound at least as far as Fort Ebey, with a meal or two in between, and tons of Independence Day visitors had a chance to see them up close. -Jill Hein
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13:30 - [orcas] Viewing from Fort Ebey, moving northbound at a steady speed. Looks like about 10 individuals in 3 groups. -Desiree Sauvé
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13:21 - Off Fort Ebey, mid channel. -Deb Barge
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13:20 - At Partridge Point @1320; off shore. No direction. -Kris Holley
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12:45 - [orcas] Approaching Fort Ebey area, steady northbound. -Rachel Haight
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12:45 - The Bigg's had 4 big boats with them as they passed by us standing on the bluff of Fort Ebey. -Desiree Sauve
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12:25 - [orcas] Passing Ebey's Landing, northbound. -Leegan Koo
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11:38 - [orcas] We counted 7maybe 9? They are past Fort Casey now. Edit-looks Like they've slowed down at the north end of Casey, still heading north. Some spyhopping and tail slaps. -Bonnie Leavitt
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11:34 - [orcas] Seeing them off the lighthouse at Fort Casey heading north. Playful, 5? With baby. Yay. -Jeanne Hamilton
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11:31 - [orcas] Just passing Ft. Casey..were very close to shore and very active!!! -Bonnie Gretz
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11:25 - Patrick Hussey, (Admiralty Head Lighthouse docent) called: They are standing on bluff next to the lighthouse and are seeing at least 5 orcas (grouped) very close to shore, traveling northbound. Orcas are surfacing at regular intervals.
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11:12 - [orcas] They are just passing the Coupeville ferry terminal/Keystone harbor. -Bonnie Leavitt
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10:30 - Kit Turner called: She is seeing the orcas north of Lagoon Point now, still trending northbound. She first saw them at south side of Lagoon Pt. about 30 minutes ago in two groups, 3 in one and 2 in the other. This group was closely followed by another group of 4. Orcas are now currently settled in maybe hunting and/or playing in area North of Lagoon Pt. and south of Keystone ferry dock and appear to be circling around. When they were south, they were leisurely hunting and/or playing, as well.
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7/4/2020 Happy Independence Day! Who needs fireworks when you've got a Transient Killer Whale breachfest? We arrived on scene right after the T36s, T37s, and T34s made a kill and their celebration afterwards was one to remember. They breached, cartwheeled, and lobtailed their way north from Port Townsend toward Point Wilson until we decided to leave them to it and searched elsewhere for more awesome wildlife! -Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
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10:30 - These are T37, the T34s, and the T36s (including the T36Bs). -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express
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10:14 - Now they've turned west toward shore; one individual still spyhopping and tail slapping. Some others appear to be grouped up, resting. Still counting 7-8 fins.
10:09 - Group was spread about half a mile and continued northwest off of Lagoon Point. I'd say they're at least a mile offshore, now. Some spyhopping, tail slapping, and directional changes, though their speed is an average pace. There are at least 10 individuals out here. -Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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Kelly Warner video from Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhmVhg_V5u4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2Mm_1IWwygziVsVpHNTmhhEiuVc2FNKMgDEF48ZEKKs9ewR-_CCGdzu74
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09:56 - [orcas] At least 5 currently right off Lagoon Point. -Kendra Sheedy
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10:00 - Becky Livingston called. She is off north end of Lagoon Point and seeing at least one group of 3, heading north but not very fast.
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09:53 - Still northbound moving slow, two groups. One group by channel in Lagoon Point, other group just south by 500 yards.
09:44 - [orcas] Close to shore in front of Lagoon Point. -Gary Shuster
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09.11 - orcas edging slowly north to Lagoon Point, some milling, circling, tail slaps and breaches. Whidbey side. ---July 4, 2020: No holiday lie-in for us on this day of blue skies and sunshine... Hot on the heels of the early morning Orca Call, we arrived to find the whales already north of Bush Point tail-slapping, breaching and milling as they eased toward Lagoon Point. With so many cultural pursuits off limits at present, along with other whale watchers at Lagoon Point we were enthralled to witness a graceful water ballet unfolding before our eyes just a few yards from shore as the orcas (T34s, T36s including T36Bs, and T37s) took it in turn to spy-hop, log, dive and, at one point, porpoise. Nobody was prepared for the high-speed race along the shore-line, tip of the dorsal fin skimming below the surface of the water, or the sudden explosion of exhaled air as the orcas rose close...breathtakingly close...to the beach, before continuing on their way past Fort Casey and beyond. Many, many photos yet to go through from this unforgettable encounter. (photos Richard Snowberger). -Sandra Pollard
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09:12 - Camille Hartley called again, orcas have moved north towards Lagoon Point and are breaching! Tide is very low.
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09:00 - This pod passed by Lagoon Point at 0900 this morning. It looked like 7 in the group all together. A group of 5 that I took for females and juveniles were in the lead and just when I thought it was over two more came along that looked like males. -Bob VonDrachek
photo: T36 [ID: ALB]
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08:55 - Camille Hartley called. She is at Bush Point and has orcas in front of her. She lives up on the hill and sees at least 3 just to north of the point. Seem to have stalled a bit and are circling around and diving. Have not seen any breaches. She could hear them breathing!
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08:43 - Pat Scott called: 4-5 orcas just passed by Bush Point close to shore (some at 50 feet) and now are on long dive, heading further offshore on their way to Lagoon Point.
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08:15 - Amazing morning, at least six orcas south of Bush Point, 8:15. Looks like at least two males and one smaller. Much splashing, diving, spyhops, very close to shore. -Kate Sheppard
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08:00 - Orcas in Admiralty Inlet, 2 miles south of Bush Point, heading north, very close to Whidbey. -Mike Meyer
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GRAY WHALES - Sat, July 4 - Possession Sound - 20:48 - 1 gray whale seen traveling west, one mile east of Hat/Gedney Island. Traveling fairly quickly! Saw 5 blows and a fluke dive. Unfortunately too far away for a good picture with just a phone. Saw a second gray whale minutes later, feeding in the shallows off the edge of the drop-off. Same location. -Jennifer Huntley
["…that is 2020 newbie 2259 with the left side white patch." -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network]

July 3
Fri, July 3 - Haro Strait (T65As) - 14:32 - Quite far off County Park now. I'd say over a mile. -Monika Wieland Shields
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14:13 - T65As. -Barbara Howitt
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14:05-14:20 - 4-5 transient orcas, including one large male and a little kid, the T65As were far out traveling to the north between the northern edge of Hannah Hts. and Edwards Point. It was dark and raining but I could see the notch in T65A2's fin. The littlest orca was bouncing alongside an elder sibling, seeming to leap along. Very sweet. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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Fri, July 3 - North Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (T37 w/T37Bs) - 17:46 - Heading east towards Haines Wharf.
17:45 - [orcas] Near Possession, group of 5, one young one. [T37 ID's from Janine's photo]---we went through Possession towards Point No Point and they were coming towards us in the distance then we travelled with them as far as Possession Point where they turned towards Edmonds and then we lost them. -Janine Harles
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13:00 - 5+ orcas southbound mid-channel between Marrowstone Island and Lagoon Point. Not sure if this is the same group as before that turned around, but that seems like a possibility. -Margaret Marshall
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11:30-12:00 - We watched a small pod of orca off Marrowstone Island on Friday, July 3rd, from about 11:30 to noon. They were about 1/2 mile to 1 mile off the western side of Admiralty Inlet about midway up the island. Not an expert, but looks like there were 2 or 3 females, 1 calf, and a male in the pod. They weren't staying completely together so it was tough to get a number. We saw two breaches, one spy hop, and two pectoral fin waves. Attached are my pictures, which aren't very good. I was shaking with excitement and my 300mm lens amplified that. I cropped the images to see the whales better. Cheers! -Rick Corlett
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07:06 - My sighting was from a bluff at Fort Worden. A pod of at least 3 orcas were surfacing far off, passing in front of the lighthouse at Fort Casey, heading north. -Donald Mazzola
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Fri, July 3 - North Puget Sound/Possession Sound (T36 w/T36Bs) - Yesterday [July 3] at Hat Island beach, front facing Whidbey, watched a pod swimming in 2 groups playing and hunting. My video followed the first group going south bound. 2 or 3 younger ones lagged behind a little and i wasn't able to capture both. -Rita Chan - video - https://www.facebook.com/leftbrain03/videos/o.79401335600/10158722308283746/?type=2&theater
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15:35 - 3 orcas still at south end of Hat on west side near strip of homes. Spyhops, tail slaps having a good ole time!
15:11 - They are working their way south down Hat Island on the West side.
13:57 - They are over at Hat now along the center of the island. Heading southbound. (viewing from Brighton Beach). -David Haeckel
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15:00 - Southwest side of Hat Island. 4 Orcas (1 baby) hung around for nearly an hour before heading towards Everett at around 3pm yesterday (4/3)…Yes, they were quite close. They just swam up by us as we were out dropping our crab pots. -Emily Palmiter - video schreenshots - Frame grab from Emily Palmiter video of T36s south of Hat/Gedney Island July 3
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13:25 - Group passing Muk ferry now! -Alina Chris Sherrett
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16:02 - They are heading nw towards Port Susan.
15:48 - …heading towards Port Susan.
15:35 - Killed 2 seals, playing with a crab pot, now heading East end of Gedney...
13:03 - Janine Harles just called to report finding 4 orcas in same place doing same thing as 08:52 WSF report! Currently just south of the Clinton dock, slow moving northbound.
--- Took off this morning looking for a group of transients that were seen off of Edmonds, HOURS later we finally found the T36's near Clinton. We watched them kill two seals near Gedney Island! Eventually we lost them so we headed home and then found another group of transients… ("The T36 family had a fascination with the crab pots and buoys and took many of them...not sure where some of them ended up...") -Janine Harles
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08:52 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops, emailed: TOKITAE: WHALES CLIN/MUK - Master reports a small pod of orca (4) moving mid-channel North bound in a slow moving playful fashion.
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06:02 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: There are three (3) orca in the SB [southbound] shipping lanes between Edmonds & Kingston. They're not really travelling in any particular direction.
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Fri, July 3 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - 14:29 - Passed 1-2 Orca southbound 1nm west of Smith Island. -Gabriel Cain
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HUMPBACKS - Fri, July 3 - Haro Strait - 13:14 - He/she is here now just north of Eagle Point. Still going south. Fairly close to shore. -Chris Wilson
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12:25 - Humpback appears to be trending southbound or feeding off shore at False Bay. -Brittany Philbin
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08:43 - Humpback SJI, 8:43am, down island about 50 yds from shore, traveling slow, 3-5 min dives from Hannah heights toward Pile below Edwards. -Heide Grace
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GRAY WHALES - Fri, July 3 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 17:15 - One gray, presumably 2356 (since he went by southbound earlier today), just passed Mariner's Cove, northbound. Loads of crabbing boats out here but it is unfazed. -Marianne Parry
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14:37 - Gray is feeding between Mariner's Cove and Polnell Shores. We didn't have the "good" camera but through binoculars could confirm it's the same whale. 2356. -Terra Parham
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13:45 - Our pal newbie (we need a nickname!) is cruising south past Mariners Cove in Oak Harbor, at 1:45pm on 7/3/20, hitting the buffet pretty hard. Interesting that all the crab pots and boats don't seem to faze it! -Marianne Parry

July 2
Thu, July 2 - San Juan Islands (pos. T49As) - 20:30 - By Broken Point. Shaw Island this evening around 830pm. -Mari Whitaker
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20:10 - Killer whales close to shore passing Mineral Point north bound. (July 3 a.m. update: pretty sure it was T49As.) -Alan Niles
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~19:00 - I'm guessing it's the T37A's. We left them at the top of Crane Island heading NE towards Deer Harbor around 7pm. [reply to Alan Niles] -Barbara Howitt
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Thu, July 2 - San Juan Islands (T37As & T49As) - We left Friday Harbor with our passengers post-haste knowing that two families of Biggs/Transient orcas known as the T37A's and T49A's had come through Obstruction Pass heading inter-island. As we came through Wasp Passage we heard that they'd split. The T49A's turned back in Harney Channel and came down Upright Channel and the T37A's were exploring Massacre Bay at the top of West Sound on Orcas Island. We met the T37A's as they were hunting in a cove just south of the bay. It was a successful hunt - T37A1 surfaced alongside T37A4 with seal intestines wrapped around his/her dorsal fin. After their meal they headed south and stopped north of Bell Island to hunt again. We saw the youngest calf T37A5 playing with its food throwing it around at the surface. The family did some milling outside of Pole Pass as they shared their dinner and socialized for a bit before continuing west in Wasp Passage. After rounding Crane Island the group went northeast towards Deer Harbor and we went west out through Nob Island Pass with a nice sail across the channel towards San Juan Island. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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16:34 - At least 5 orcas just moved through Harney Channel heading west, accompanied by boats. Even the ferry goers got a good look! My shots are with a cell phone, very blown up, so not good quality, seen from shore. -Mariann Carrasco
photos - T37As [ID: ALB]
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16:12 - [orcas] 3-4 between Lopez and Orcas...4 boats trailing. Heading toward Shaw. -Ryan Oakes
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We continued home and just when we were about to wrap things up, Captain Tyler got a call from a friend who saw more orcas right near Anacortes! We decided to investigate since they were right there in our backyard and sure enough, we found two more families of Bigg's orcas, the T37A's, and the T49A's. They were breaching and tail-slapping up a storm - a perfect grand finale to our day! -Erin Gless, Island Adventures
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Thu, July 2 - Clinton (T65As, T37 w/T37Bs, T36As) - 20:30 - We had them by Alki but at 20:30 they just went into stealth mode and popped up mid channel by the TA separation marker. -Joey LaMarche
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19:35 - Orcas from Alki. Right by the Baltic Sea boat. North of Cactus restaurant...[heading] west towards the lighthouse. -Jennifer Farley
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20:25 - Lost sight of them from here in Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge. Last seen slowly SB passing Alki lighthouse sightline, east of Bremerton ferry that went thru short time ago. Some splashing & tail slaps.
19:28 - [orcas] Can see them way distant thru binocs from Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge - midway down Alki, traveling SB. Much closer to Seattle side. -Jim Reitz
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20:49 - Southbound between Blake and Bainbridge.
20:38 - Approaching yellow buoy, tightly grouped. Steady southbound.
20:30 - East of Blakely Rocks from my sightlines, milling.
20:29 - Now I'm at Emma Schmitz and they are still near Blakely Rocks 20:29
19:56 - From 56th and Alki, near Blakely Rocks south bound, east of mid channel, 4 or 5 orcas.
19:08 - [orcas] off Alki and Bonair, some tail slap. -Mary Hartmann
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19:03 - Looks to be south. Steady trend to the left from where I'm standing on northern part of Alki Beach.
19:02 - They're leaving Elliot [Bay] right now. Towards Bainbridge [Island]. Can't tell north or south yet. -Zach Ward
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19:02 - We just docked back at pier 56, but they were definitely resting and swimming slow when we just saw them last.
17:58 - They are 500 ft off of ferry terminal now.
17:44 - They are off of Coleman dock heading towards pier 50.
17:15 - I've got 3/4 orcas heading into Elliot bay. Off of Elliot Bay Marina. -Joey LaMarche
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17:00 - [orcas] They're south of Edmonds. Added info at 17:24: They were mid channel near a small fishing boat probably just north of Carkeek Park. I'm further south so it was a little hard to tell. -Kevin Green
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14:30 - [orcas] Just passed south tip Whidbey and headed south towards Edmonds 14:30. Alice Thuy Talbot
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14:20 - [orcas] Now approaching Possession Point from north. 5 animals, spread out. One adult male. One young male. Two females and juvenile. -Josh London
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14:14 - 2.14 pm, orcas have passed Glendale at speed, southbound.---Once again we arrived just in time at Glendale, Whidbey Island, this afternoon to see T65A and family passing at speed southbound. I never cease to be amazed at how fast I can move when there are whales around. (Photo Richard Snowberger, zoomed and cropped). -Sandra Pollard
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14:07 - On the ferry and saw a few Orcas south of the Clinton Ferry down near Possession Beach. Far away but got to see them. -David Haeckel
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14:00 - Group is approaching Glendale, midchannel, still southbound. Water is rough and binos are helpful. -Durand Dace
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13:27 - Cynthia Berge called to report orca sighting while on the 1pm ferry from Clinton to Mukilteo. Orca surfaced north of the ferry lanes while still close to Clinton, whale was heading southbound. By description sounds like a male.
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13:00 - My neighbor just texted me at 1:00 PM; he's got at least one orca off the Clinton ferry dock. Heading south. 3-4 animals. -Debbie Stewart
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12:34 - Taken between Brighton Beach and Hat Island but very close to Hat Island. -Michelle Armour
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08:28 - There are both Orcas and Gray Whales between Everett, Camano, and Whidbey right now. On Thursday July 2, we saw three (at least) Orca's just off the southern tip of Camano. They looked like they were playing, breaching in about 20 feet of water. They eventually moved west toward Langley. -Jesper Johansson
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6:32 AM - [orca] Seeing at least one male heading north towards Everett from my house in Clinton. Closer to the mainland side and north of the ferry lanes. A little foggy this morning so hard to tell if there are others. -Danielle Pennington
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Thu, July 2 - Saratoga Passage (T36 w/T36Bs) -21:14 - They have turned sb viewing east side of Baby Island Heights at a fast pace.
21:05 - West side Baby Island. Cannot tell if they are committed north or will make the right(so) into Saratoga Passage. -Marilyn Armbruster
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20:45 - Last I saw they looked like they were headed to Baby Island at about 8:45! Good night all!
20:24 - At least 3 Orca on the East side of Holmes Harbor heading North!--- A few pictures from last night in Holmes Harbor. These were taken about 8:10-8:30pm from the Honeymoon Bay side looking across to the East Harbor side. They were deep into the harbor just before I got there. -David Haeckel
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19:51 - orca sighting...there were just 2 orcas in Holmes Harbor towards the boat builders/the end of the harbor just about 10 minutes ago. -Chelsea Willis
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19:40 - Still in Holmes Harbor but turned north, milling around. Too far away to get good pictures from land, but close enough to enjoy! added info: For a while they were in the middle about as far south as the golf course. They turned north after a while and I lost sight of them when they were still south of Baby Island closer to the east side of the harbor. There were a lot of boats around. Most were behaving and got a good show. We were on a high bank and think we saw 3 of various sizes but couldn't see closely enough to give specific descriptions. -Cindi Bowen
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19:21 - Saw one orca headed north out of Holmes Harbor at 7:21 pm. -Virginia Bloom
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19:14 - I see two (at least) orcas in Holmes Harbor, across the Harbor from the old country club. I see dorsal, and blows…Two groups. One in front and a couple behind. -Melinda Faggard Base
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13:55 - Jack Burchard called to update that the Penn Cove group at tip of Penn Cove went straight across, sightline in front of Oak Harbor, then turned right towards Saratoga Passage. He could see at least 3-4.
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After the fog lifted it was good to see - in Penn Cove - Bigg's whales, the T36s traveled west past Coupeville wharf, then turned back east. They appeared to be heading south down Saratoga Passage when I came home. Very distant photos and heavily cropped, but still very privileged to see them. -Jill Hein
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12:36 - [orcas] In Penn Cove, just west of the Coupeville Dock. -Deb Barge
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Lucky day, orcas in Penn Cove! …First saw them in the fog and mist from Long Point just outside Penn Cove, then followed them (T36s) into the cove, with a few whale watch boats. They came in just past the Coupeville Wharf, then turned and headed out. Some activity, looked like lunch. Wonderful to see them, as well as human friends! Mid-cove, so quite distant...pics heavily cropped. -Bonnie Gretz
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13:29 - Correction. Still just inside Penn Cove entrance but heading east.
13:23 - Leaving Penn Cove eastbound mid channel.
12:22 - [orcas] Headed into Penn Cove north side, westbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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…we continued along the Whidbey Island coast where we spotted not one, but two types of whale - Bigg's, or mammal-eating orcas, and a gray whale at the same time! While gray whales can sometimes be on the menu for killer whales, fortunately these whales were contentedly traveling south while the gray whale headed north. We decided to view the orcas first. It was a family of 5, identified as the T36B's. They seemed to be enjoying a leisurely afternoon and after spending some quality time with this family, we left them as they headed into Penn Cove. -Erin Gless, Island Adventures
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update: Was not the T65As, but others present with T36s.
12:00 - They just met up with the T65As and they're heading toward Penn Cove!
11:54 - We have a gray slowly northbound from Pollnel Point and the T36s have now turned southbound out from Crescent Harbor.
---7/2/2020 on Saratoga in Saratoga Passage! The day started out rainy and gray with a Gray Whale at Polnell Point. We also encountered the T36s in Penn Cove and were in for a surprise when they chased a Harbor Seal right under the boat! The seal did not find shelter there, however, and the orcas had lunch near Coupeville shortly after! photo: T36B & T36B3 [ID: GS] -Justine Buckmaster
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11:30 - These are the T36s now westbound off Polnell Pt. 1130. -Christopher Hanke
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10:53 - There are orcas coming from Madrona Beach towards Maple Grove at 10:50am. (secondhand)
10:00-10:30 - An orca just cruised northbound past Eagle Crest in the Saratoga Passage in the fog between the crabbing boats; at 10-10:30am July 2, heading for Madrona. I just saw one. But it's fogged in pretty thick this morning. (maybe northeast towards Penn Cove and Oak Harbor last I saw around 10:30am). -Kristina Trowbridge
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9:30 Camano side, Saratoga passage, we saw 3 right off Indian Beach, very close in! Doing some milling, spyhopping, tail splashing, then turned northbound to meet another group that was more mid channel (at least two in the 2nd group, maybe three) then they all continued north. What a way to start the morning! -Joan Smith
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HUMPBACKS - Thu, July 2 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - BCY0409 (Yogi) was feeding off Church Rock today! -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal Explorations
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GRAY WHALES - Thu, July 2 - Possession Sound - 16:46 - Spotted a grey whale off of Priest Point (south of Tulalip Bay) along the mainland. -Tamara Kelley-Woods
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08:28 - You probably already know about this, but there are both Orcas and Gray Whales between Everett, Camano, and Whidbey right now. On Thursday July 2, we saw three (at least) Orca's just off the southern tip of Camano. They looked like they were playing, breaching in about 20 feet of water. They eventually moved west toward Langley. [Also included in Bigg's section] -Jesper Johansson
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Thu, July 2 - Northern Saratoga Passage - 7/2/2020 on Saratoga in Saratoga Passage! The day started out rainy and gray with a Gray Whale at Polnell Point. We also encountered the T36s in Penn Cove and were in for a surprise when they chased a Harbor Seal right under the boat! The seal did not find shelter there, however, and the orcas had lunch near Coupeville shortly after! -Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
photo - #2261 [ID: Erin Gless]
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We decided to look for the gray whale on the way home, and it was actually a keen-eyed passenger that spotted the spout! Gray whales typically leave the area in May or June, but sometimes linger due to the area's abundance of ghost shrimp. This whale did not appear to be one of our usual "Sounder" gray whales, so was submitted to researcher for further identification and identified as a new whale to the area, CRC-2261, who was first documented in this region in May 2020. -Erin Gless, Island Adventures Whale Watching
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18:15 - A gray just zoomed by close to shore heading north past Mariners Cove, 6:15pm. I'm going to assume it was Newbie but can't confirm. Looked like a whale with a full tummy in a hurry to go take a nap. -Marianne Parry
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15:00 - My new BFF 2356 was feeding in front of our place for about half and hour (3-3:30ish) just now. It is a funny one - it goes in circles/loops more than other whales I've seen here. I'll think it's heading away from me and then it will pull a U-y (sp?!) and mosey on back for a few more bites. It sure is easy to ID this one with that white line under the right blowhole. -Marianne Parry

July 1
SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS - Wed, July 1 - Haro Strait (K12s and K13s). -photo by All Aboard Sailing
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It was a special day today as we welcomed back part of K-pod to the San Juan Islands. This is the first time we've seen them in 2020 and their familiar fins were certainly a welcome sight. - "Captain Sara caught this shot of K20 "Spock" from shore at Lime Kiln this morning!" - "K33 "Tika" breaching." - "K43 "Saturna" spyhopping."-Maya's Legacy Whale Watching
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17:59 - Just saw some very distant KW blows...I'd guess to be about 2+miles SW of Hannah Heights (viewed from Landbank [Westside Scenic Preserve]). -Michelle Savoie
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16:40 - They are just milling in the same area though a bit more off shore. No direction.
15:37 - They have been resting as a group off of False Bay for about 30 mins. No direction.
14:50 - Orcas at False Bay heading south towards Eagle Point, SJI. -Chris Wilson
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14:12-14:24 - K Pod, Haro Strait, SJI. Photos taken from shore, cropped and enlarged. 2:12pm- 224pm. 8-10 members of K Pod traveled south (down island) between Edwards Point and the northern edge of Hannah Hts. They came around Edwards Point in an orderly line and then suddenly began breaching with many lobtailing. This behavior continued for just a few minutes, then they regrouped and continued on to the south. K22 Sekiu, K33 Tika, K43 Saturna, K34 Cali, K38 Comet, K37 Rainshadow were among the group. It's so beautiful. Sometimes, it almost doesn't seem real. -Michelline Halliday
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A big breach from K20 Spock today off Lime Kiln! K12s and K13s off Lime Kiln Lighthouse. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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14:00-14:30 - Lime Kiln between 2 and 2:30 p.m. -David Neiwert
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13:20 - [Ks] They passed Lime Kiln about 1:20, now headed up the west side. -Fred Horn
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12:53 - Orcas abeam Hannah Heights (SJI) now. Heading north with lots of boats. ["Seven of those boats are research and or enforcement vessels" - John Boyd]. -Michael Noonan
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12:48-12:58 - They are wasting no time moving past me to the north (up island) between the northern edge of Hannah Hts and Edwards Point. It was misting slightly but I saw 7-10 members of the K12s and K13s. Photos taken from shore, cropped and enlarged. -Michelline Halliday
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12:23 - K pod are at South Beach heading north now! -Devin Neiwert
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12:27 - Headed back north.
12:08 - [Ks] Off South Beach now. -Cathleen Burns
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10:56 - K pod off Eagle Point. -Chris Wilson
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10:21 - [Ks] Spread out, foraging, heading south from False bay towards Eagle Point. -Karin Roemers-Kleven
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09:49 - Watching above Kanaka Bay. Nice spread. sloooowwwwly. Looks like foraging. -April Ryan
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09:38 - 6 to 8 black and whites, headed toward Eagle point from the north. Going down Island. 0938, right now. Shore report. 100% good. -James Mead Maya
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09:30 - Orcas passing Hannah Heights on SJI at 9:30am (1 July 2020). Six to eight in total, moving slowly down island. -Michael Noonan
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09:15 - Lots of excitement as soon as we woke this morning with news that K pod had arrived to San Juan Island. We'd been expecting them after hearing they were Southbound from Hanson Island at noon on June 29th - 205 Nautical miles away. They passed Lime Kiln at 9:15am - 45 hours later. So they averaged 4.5 knots (5.2 mph) at continuous travel. And good news is that they were foraging at False Bay. -David and Barbara Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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09:12 - Across from Hannah Hts., members of K Pod traveled very quickly past me to the south. I didn't see the entire group only the last 4 members including K44 and a large male. "9:13am, K44 traveling south, Haro Strait SJI" -photo by Michelline Halliday
[K44 ID'd by Monika Wieland Shields, OBI, from Michelline's photo]
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT ORCAS - Wed, July 1 - Puget Sound/Northern Group (T36 and T36Bs) - 20:30 - [orcas] They took their sweet time, but they're at Fox Spit slowly going northbound mid channel. -Durand Dace
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19:30 - Secondhand report: 5 orcas heading west towards Langley Harbor in the Saratoga Passage. Just now. In the middle of the passage. They are in two groups traveling slowly. -Brittany Philbin
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19:20 - Steady pace towards Langley, middish channel, assuming same orcas Danielle posted. 7:20.
19:15 - Rounded Sandy Point into Saratoga Passage 4 to 5 with young one, nb. -Marilyn Armbruster
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18:45 - I took these Wednesday July 1 around 645pm, south of Sandy Point opposite Hat Island. Looked like 2 adults and a baby to us. -Lara Nolan
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17:40 - The captain of MV Squamish announced a pod of orcas off the starboard bow coming into the Clinton dock on the 5:40pm. They were not traveling directionally but more feeding in that one spot! -Danica Gonsalves
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17:53 - Still in the same spot milling with lots of tail slaps.
17:42 - Now counting 5.
17:35 - Lots of forging and splashing with a lot of directional changes. A lot of seagulls around. Right in front of the north slip.
17:26 - Orcas just north of the south slip in Clinton, forging. At least 3 with one male.
17:23 - Ferries captain just announced a pod of orcas pulling into Clinton. -Danielle Pennington
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11:33 - PSE moving slowly north. Saw orcas pop up once...East of mid channel..longish down times. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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12:28 - We left them just like a mile north of where we found them [T36s].
11:06 - message from Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express: we have the T36s northbound off of Shilshole right now!
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Posted 09:44 - A small pod of Orcas in Elliott Bay!! Sighting: 9:40-9:44 off of Myrtle Edwards Park - about 100 yards out, heading north towards Magnolia/the Interbay area! Looks to be 2-5 of them, too far away to get an ID! -Dan Reinert
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Wed, July 1 - Puget Sound/Southern Group - 20:35 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Master reports 4 orca moving 1 mile NW of Edwards Point, south of Edmonds. Both vessels are slowed down.
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18:58 - And now exiting near Hedley Spit (ne corner Bainbridge) eastbound at the point 6:58.
18:49 - Watching 1 Male plus at least 1 female south of Indianola Dock misleads of Port Madison drifting easterly towards the mouth of the bay and just a little closer to us but still pretty far out.
18:40 - Male + 1 milling
18:35 - [orcas] Eyes on - Bainbridge side directly out from end of Indianola pier. No direction yet - just 2 fins. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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19:12 - [orcas] Heading east out of Port Madison Bay. Can't tell where they are heading once in sound.
18:05 - Turned west into port Madison Bay. Close to Indianola.
18:00 - [orcas] 6 pm -spotted at least 3 whales heading north by Hedley Spit. Heading toward Jefferson head. Traveling quickly. -Torrey Hall Volk
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13:00 - [orcas] Just passed Southworth ferry north east side Blake. -Noelle Morris
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12:50 - Approximately 5 orcas slowly moving northbound in Colvos Passage one mile south of Southworth Ferry lane. Favoring Vashon Island. -Noreen Ferris
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15:54 - This pod approaching Southworth ferry lane now. Lots of tail lobs, like 10 in a row! Wonder what he's saying with that!?
12:36 - Orcas N end Colvos trending N now. Center channel. Couple males. Couple females and at least one baby! -Tim Ferris
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11:15 - This morning we saw orcas - looked like 3-4 adults and one baby - on the east side of Colvos Passage off Ollala. They were heading north. -Brenna Sowder, SV Yonder
[w/photos too pixelated to confirm, but is looking good for T65As. -alb]
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10:54 - I am at Paradise Cove on Vashon Island and just saw at least 4 Orcas cruising north through Colvos Passage. -Jan Sandstrom
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10:00 - At least 4 killer whales entering Colvos Passage from the south (heading north) as scoped from Pt. Defiance. 10:00am Wednesday. -Charlie Wright
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~09:30 - [orcas] Watched them go northbound on the west side of Vashon about 930 am. -Brian Jones
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Wed, July 1 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Center for Whale Research Encounter #32: "Mark received a report at 1445 of killer whales near Ogden Point breakwater. The whales were reported as T125A and T128, which he had found the day before off of Sooke and left them heading east along the shoreline of East Sooke Park. …" See CWR Encounter #32 for more photos and full encounter summary. -https://www.whaleresearch.com/2020-32
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HUMPBACKS - Wed, July 1 - Haro Strait - 14:15 - Hb MMZ0004 Zephyr passing Lime Kiln southbound 3/4 mile offshore - 2:25 visible from Land Bank. -Barbara Howitt
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GRAY WHALES - Wed, July 1 - Possession Sound - 12:28 - We're now with 3 gray whales off of Everett! -Justine Buckmaster