June 2015 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of June 2015 whale sightings.

June 30
Onyx (L87) was a rockstar today! He breached many times as he passed East Point, Saturna Island, BC with members of J-pod (group A) and the K14s. It was nothing short of an amazing day! -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
7:30 pm - Lots of calls on Lime Kiln! -Angela Barrat

*
7:17 pm - Orcas approaching Lime Kiln! -Cayley Coulbourn

*
7:21 pm - sweet and loud vocals of Js and Ks.
7:11 pm- our orca friends are near the hydrophone... echolocation on Lime Kiln. -Alisa, ON

*
Onyx (L87) at East Point, Saturna Island with members of J-pod (group A) and the K14s. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
Hey Guys! We were out today with Group A of Jpod (without the J16's) along with the K14's as they made their way towards East Point (Saturna Island, BC). J49, T'ilem I'nges just couldn't stop breaching out of the water!! Then everyone got in on the action. -Cheers, Ashley Keegan, Wild Whales Vancouver

*
Gorgeous day today! Winds have been a real pain for us this month but today gave us a little lull in the big northwesterlies to get out there to enjoy group A of J pod and the K14's. They were heading for East Point but took their time getting there fighting a 7 knot current near Boiling Reef! -Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

*
Lobo, K26...One of many, many breaches today along the south shore of Saturna Island, BC! -James Maya

*
June 30 We saw four [Bigg's/Transient] orcas where we hang out at the beach at Cormorant Pass (between Steilacoom and Ketron Island, Puget Sound). We have been at this spot for 30 years and never have seen them this early in the season. -Cindy Prusso

*
Minke whale "Nick Jagger" came cruising past us while we were listening for killer whales in the fog at False Bay in the morning. -Mark Malleson

June 29
As we headed west in Spieden Channel we got the word---there were whales up ahead! Behind those two came the towering fin of Lobo (K26), which told me we had members of both the J14s and the K14s...As we followed the whales we realized they were heading somewhere they don't normally go---they were pointed right for the topside of Spieden Island where they got serious about foraging. CWR (Center for Whale Research) says they haven't been seen in that spot for over 15 years!...We left them still on the north side of Speiden and later I heard they continued north towards East Point through Boundary Pass. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
We saw behavior from member's of J Pod's Group A and the K14's that has never been witnessed by researches before! The Southern Resident's went through the Cactus Islands! It's been seven years since researchers have seen them on the east side of Spieden Island, but they've never actually seen them go through the Cactus Islands. It was very interesting indeed. After they passed through, J2 seemed to circle the J14's, J19's, and K14's back around to forage some. They formed a lineup and seemed to be foraging as the North Atlantic whales would! It was incredible. -Heather MacIntyre

*
Residents busy doing the west side shuffle. Spotted them at San Juan County park mid channel heading south around 4pm. Were still mid channel going south past Lime Kiln slowly around 4:30 then did a close pass by porpoising past Westside Landbank around 5pm. Baby in tow. Currently approaching Grandmas Cove very spread out at 6:38pm. -Ariel Yseth

*
4:43 pm - I'm hearing a lot of calls on the hydrophones. Lime kiln. -Lore Borras

*
Been hearing quite a bit of vocalizing on OrcaSound hydrophone this morning since about 1:45am (PDT). -Cydnie Simons

*
8:16 pm - Its been long time since I had a report but we just had two minke whales at Hannah Heights- they came south and turned north again. Rather close to the shore- nice to see them around! -Sandy Buckley, San Juan Island

June 28
12:30 pm - Just reporting a sighting at Pender Island, Thieves Bay. There were 2 main groups (9-10 orcas) with babies heading north along the shore. Just traveling. Scott Pickwell

*
J42 Echo breaches just off East Point on Saturna Island, BC. -Traci Walter

*
J2 (Granny) and her granddaughter J14 (Samish) in the lead this morning at 9:15 at the Center for Whale Research, heading north a mile north of Lime Kiln park. They were spread out for miles. The J16s didn't pass Lime Kiln until 10:30. -Howard/ON (See the Center's full report Encounter #57)

*
We've had a week of amazing mornings on the water and today was no exception. We met up with J-Pod Group A and the K12s, K13s, and K14s at Pile Point heading north at 8:30 AM. They were very spread out; by the time we left them at 11 AM the leaders were well north of Kellett Bluff and the trailers were off San Juan County Park. -Monika Wieland, Orca Behavior Institute, San Juan Island, WA

*
We found those amazing T075s today - here's a photo of T075B with calves T075B2 (left, born in April) and T036A3 in back. Between Waldron Island and Doughty Point, Orcas Island. Lots of breaching, and they had seal for lunch. -Jill Hein, ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

*
It's been a crazy few day's lately! On Sunday we saw the T075B's play with a harbor seal, carry it around, but not eat it! These Orcas have been notorious lately for playing with their harbor seal prey. -Heather MacIntyre

*
I spotted a group of three orcas in the San Juan Channel near Mineral Point around 11am traveling north toward Waldron. Looked like a male female and calf but I could not id them. I would be curious to hear if anyone else living on the channel saw them and was able to id them. They were in no great hurry and seemed to be finding food but they were also spyhopping quite a bit. -William Radcliffe

June 27
This evening from 5:45 - 6:45 PM I watched as Js and Ks went south past Lime Kiln. Present were the K13s, K14s, K12s, J19s, and J16s in that order, with the J2s/J14s offshore towards the end. -Monika Wieland

*
Big spyhop from K33 Tika this evening off Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park, San Juan Island. -Monika Wieland

*
6:30 pm - While on the road along the west side of San Juan Island at the West Side Preserve we saw orcas out a half mile or so moving generally southeast. Upon disembarking the car and scrambling down the hill I applied binocs to eyes and was able to tentatively ID J16 and her baby J50, which made sense since they had been seen earlier that day a few miles north. Other orcas were seen fanned out across Haro Strait in various modes of traveling and splashing. -Howard/ON

*
5:43 pm - I hear them now! Lime Kiln. -Susan Wickland

*
6:05 pm - Loud echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
5:25 pm - echolocation and calls, sounds like some Ks on OS
5:15 pm - start hearing SRKWs on OrcaSound hydrophone. -Alisa LB/ON

*
4:30 pm - Maia of WA State Ferries reported 6 orcas headed south in Haro Strait near Mandarte Island.

*
Four-year-old K44 Ripple (L) with mom K27 Deadhead in Boundary Pass. -James Gresham

*
11:00 am - ...What a sight to see! I was on tour with Sooke Coastal Explorations. All of J pod & some L pod. Heading West! Spanned out from Vancouver Island and across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. -Deanna Brett

*
At 8 AM this morning we picked up the K12s and K13s heading north just north of Pile Point. (While it sounded like more whales than this were headed "in" last night, I believe the others were westbound out the strait again.) Over the next 2+ hours we followed them slowly north, leaving them at Kellett Bluff still going north at 10:45 AM. For the most part they were spread out and in slow travel mode, with occasional stops to forage. -Monika Wieland

*
9:36 am - Echolocation & faint calls on Lime Kiln. -Jill Clogston

*
1:13 am - Tune into Lime Kiln now! Great vocals! -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
1:12 am - Hearing vocals on Lime Kiln. -Casey Fitzgerald

*
12:41 am - sounds like J Pod on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Connie Bicketon

*
WARNING: June 27th PREDATION EVENT PHOTOS (and ID NOTES)
The next part of this section includes many photos submitted by several people of a female carrying around a Harbor seal she had killed. It is not bloody but we understand is upsetting to some people and out of respect wanted to give notice.
There was some confusion circulated about IDs and which pods/individuals were present, here are ID notes by Melisa Pinnow (Naturalist and volunteer with Center for Whale Research): "T077A is a loner male and hangs out with other matrilines instead of his family. I think people assumed it was the T077s because of T077A but really it was the T075Bs and T036As. That spy hop there with the freckles on her chin is T036A. The female with the seal in her mouth that has the eye patch with freckle like dots at the left end side is T075C, who is not the mom of anybody."

*
7:20 pm - One orca being followed by boats on north side of Lopez island, across from Orcas island. Does anyone know which one it is? -Forest Chick

*
5:15-5:30pm - Between Shaw and Orcas Islands. I saw her (T75C ID by Melisa Pinnow) come up four different times w/this seal. Lots of spy hops, tail lobs... -Cathy Miller Scott, June 27, 2015

*
We had a very memorable encounter with transient orcas near Shaw Island in the afternoon on the Island Explorer 3. T75B, T75C, and two family calves chased and caught a harbor seal while T77A swam about a quarter mile away. The orcas played with the seal by throwing it around like a rag doll at times and spyhopping with it in their mouths over and over again. It was an experience we will never forget! -Bart Rulon

*
...An incredible whale-watching excursion (w/Outer Island Expeditions) I went on in the San Juan Islands of Washington state! ...We watched and gently followed this pod of transient Orca whales between Lopez and Orcas Islands in the San Juan islands...there were about seven whales, plus a very large male (T77A) in the distance...The portion of the pod we were following were the adult females with their calves...We saw them play with each other: tail slaps, jumps, spy hoping, belly rolls, back flips, so incredible! As a nature photographer its very rare to witness wildlife acting like this, and I will never forget what an incredible experience we all had on the water on this day! -Jim Stiles

*
T75C with a harbor seal she had just killed near Lopez Island ferry terminal. Members of the T36As and T75Bs were cruising inshore along Blakely Island in a beautiful, peaceful prelude to an incredibly intense predation event we were to witness a few minutes later. -James Gresham

*
T075B with her calf T075B2, born in April of 2015. -Melisa Pinnow, Naturalist

*
We had at least 5 humpbacks in the waters north and east of Race Rocks, (MMY0006 'Windy' (left) and BCX1068 'Split Fluke' (right) swim in tandem past Race Rocks) and then Big Mama out by Beecher Bay. MM20004 (ID by Boat Naturalist) -Connie Bickerton

June 26
9:00pm - Orcas just passed Point Roberts. Approximately 10 whales heading north and moving quickly. Some breaching, charging, and feeding behaviour. At least two large males and one calf. So exciting! -Sandra Scott

*
Evening of June 26th we saw a number of Orcas heading north in front of Lighthouse Park in Point Roberts. -Ronald Hansen

*
K & L Pod at sunset, here, at Lime Kiln. Mmmmm...mighty fine. -James Taylor

*
8:50 pm - the chatter is starting up again - really fun conversation! -Susan Berta, ON

*
8:23 pm - I was about to give up as I didn't hear anything for a while except boat noise but now they're back and lovely! -Debbie Stewart

*
8:10 pm - Hearing great calls on Lime Kiln hydrophones - Southern Resident orcas off west San Juan Island! -Susan Berta/ ON

*
We headed off to the west side of San Juan Island again today, where members of J-pod were spread along the coast line for several miles, from False Bay to Battleship Island! Almost a carbon copy of Thursday's report. We saw some breaching close to shore - a lot of foraging - and J-2 Granny, matriarch of J-pod - gave us a close pass by. A few harbor seals checked us out as we headed back to port, another incredible day in the Salish Sea. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

*
8:10 pm - hearing a variety of vocalizations, S4 calls and sounds like some typical Ls calls in there too.
7:48 pm - hearing echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Love the sounds of SRKWs. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON

*
9:30 am - A group of at least 10-12 orcas were seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Tail slaps, pec waves, and one breach. Adult males present. Viewed from the Victoria Clipper. -Lauren Ryan

*
12:11 pm - Minke headed north towards Lime Kiln on SJI west side just now. -Mary Ann Rice

June 25
Another beautiful sunny day with the lovely J-16 resident orca group and others, around Andrews Bay north of Lime Kiln state park. Some great close passes by big Blackberry, J-27, the J-16 group, J-16 Slick, J-36 Alki, and two of the calves,and most likely the rest of the that family group, plus J-19 Shachi and J-31 Tsuchi. Some big breaches, a spyhop, and some intense porpoising and fishing behaviors. Great encounter, with a few bald eagles for good measure! -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist

*
Being a mom isn't easy, and it must be a little extra tough when you're a first time mom as in the case of J36 "Alki". Her little boy, J52 seems to be quite the curious little guy and lately I've seen him do all sorts of strong willed behaviors and actively watch mom correct or guide him in another way. He also has some rake marks now, not sure when these happened but it's the first I recall seeing them. These are likely marks from play or even mom making a corrective statement to kiddo. There is so much to learn for a new Killer whale calf, and their mothers are essential to that learning process. J52 spyhopped several times to check us out before mom came by and guided him back to where she was fishing. Beautiful encounter with wonderful evening light! -Traci Walter

*
J50 tail slaps beside her mother, Slick J16. - Melisa Pinnow

*
12:32 pm - Hi all, Calls and echolocation on OrcaSound right now. -Lori Robinson

*
Echolocation on LK, starting at 11:22...and again at 12:17. -Gayle Swigart

*
11:15 am - Orcas heading north on SJI west side just past Edwards Point, moving slowly. -Mary Ann Rice

*
We continue to have amazing whale encounters almost every day. Even better, the pod associations are constantly changing so we're getting lots of opportunities to make hydrophone recordings of unique groups of whales. (One thing Michael is hoping to look at for his thesis is how call types change with different social associations.) This morning, however, we had one of more most magical encounters yet. We were off the south end of San Juan Island with members of J and K Pods. We were the only boat with the whales in glassy calm waters when they started breaching - 10 breaches in a row by different whales! Photo 300mm zoom and about 100-150 yards, decently cropped here. We were shut down making a hydrophone recording when they started going off breaching. Most whales were about 200-250 yards off but K26 Lobo, the whale shown here, came a bit closer. -Monika Wieland

*
This is J14 Samish breaching along the shoreline of South Beach on San Juan Island. It was a truly magical morning with glassy seas and orcas scattered everywhere. -Katie Jones

*
Saw pod of 5 orcas at 8:25 pm off of the Langdale ferry terminal in Gibsons, B.C. -Dave Norton

*
4:21 pm - I see the orcas now. North of Fort Flagler and south of Port Townsend in ferry lane. -Marilyn Armbruster

*
1:45-2:00 pm - they were in Admiralty Inlet heading west at a good clip, Whidbey side, east of Double Bluff. -Janine Harles

*
12:35 pm - I saw breaching and tail slapping a bit north of where I first saw them ( about 3-4 miles south of Cultus Bay, I think) No general direction of movement, as I see some swimming to the right and others to the left.
12:05 pm - I see 3 or 4 orcas NW of Edmonds and east of the shipping lanes. Just milling about. -Sherman Page

*
Candice Emmons of NOAA NWFSC emailed: My co worker reported 3-4 whales off Mukilteo (no direction) at 10:15.

*
10:00 am - This morning 2 groups of Orcas (3 babies,4 adults in) swam south past the ferry terminal at Mukilteo. They were fantastic to see. The first group was about 2-3 adults and 2 babies, then a little behind them, another adult with a baby swam past. The ferry was close but they were past before it docked. They were traveling, but not at a fast pace, just up and down. -Susan King

*
Minke "Johnney Rotten" northbound in Haro Strait on the way to Lime Kiln. -Janine Harles
ID by Jonathan Stern, NE Pacific minke whale project

June 24
We were the only two boats with the J14s and J16s through Active Pass yesterday, and as usual, they really ramped up the action in there. It seemed the babies needed some help through some of the currents, but the orcas all went nuts playing around in and surfing the wake of ferries and yachts, rolling, breaching, propoising - just having a great time. -Andy Scheffler

*
8:00pm - 5 or 6 orca. Spotted the first orca as it breached less than 50 meters away from 10 mile point. Then watched as the remainder of them breached further off shore as the traveled towards Discovery island. -Ryan Key

*
Open Bay to Kelp Reef. With some Ls... L110 with his old lip injury. His lip folds back and exposes his teeth a little. -Capt. James Maya, (ID description by Melisa Pinnow)

*
I spent the day on San Juan Island and had some fabulous orca sightings. After arriving at Lime Kiln in early afternoon, several Southern Residents traveled by between approximately 2 and 3PM and were spread out. The last group that I saw was the K-7s (K13s) with the fabulous K-44 Ripple (one of my personal favorites). Many people enjoyed the passing from the rocks and also several kayakers watched from the near shore kelp beds. Later in the day I went out with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching and we encountered the L-4s, L-47s and L-95. They were in a resting line heading north on the west side of SJI. When they got to the north end, one of the lead whales spyhopped at which time all in the group promptly did an about face. They stayed nearly stationary for a very long time doing dozens of spy hops, rolling, tail slapping, and playing in the kelp. The spy hops were a little unusual in that the whales were staying above the water for very long looks. They eventually broke up into two groups moving back south down Haro Strait. One group stayed closer to SJI and the other group west in Canada. Several made their way down to Kelp Reef and did more spy hops and tail slaps. We watched this behavior under beautiful skies and soft light while a great blue heron contemplated his evening meal perched on a kelp bed. The waters were calm and the air was still with backlit blows hanging in the air like a spider web on a dewy morning. Both groups joined back up and gave indications they were possibly headed back out to open sea. It was a magical day. -Debbie Stewart

*
5:06 pm - Now calls on Lime Kiln. They can even be heard with the passing of a huge freighter. -Kim Merriman

*
4:20 pm - we began hearing calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone! -Susan Berta, Orca Network

*
Saturna K43 pokes her head out of the water with her mouth open! She continued to swim around like this for about half a minute.
Sequim K12 lifts a small piece of kelp out of the water with her rostrum. -Melisa Pinnow

*
11:07 am - They all headed north.
10:14 am - Pod on west side, south of Lime Kiln, we can see boats but they haven't reached us yet, looks like they are milling around in one spot. -Mary Ann Rice

*
We had a stunning early morning visit with J-Pod Group A, the K14s, and L87 traveling north in Haro Strait today - here's K26 Lobo and K36 Yoda off of Spieden Island. Monika Wieland

*
6:42 am - hearing S4 calls on Lime Kin hydrophone, some near. some distant. Went for about 5 minutes then quiet. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
Great day with the T36's (minus the T36A's) and the T99's (minus T99A). Got to see the newest addition to the family, T99D!! Here are a few shots. They were right in our backyard in beautiful Howe Sound traveling along Gambier Island. -Gary Sutton

*
7:20 pm - Orca sighting from Columbia Beach (Clinton, Whidbey Island). -Tim Anderson (ID'd as T34 (left) by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Naturalist)

*
6:17 pm - Just saw them along the Mukilteo ferry route. They were breaching roughly midway along the route. -Manfred Barts

*
5:00 pm - They are still in the Clinton area north of the ferry dock south of Gedney Island. Seem to be heading south. Saw them on the 5:00 pm ferry sailing to clinton. -Danielle Pennington

*
1500 hours, Clinton, Whidbey Island. Orcas headed northwest. -Jenn Babs

*
9:50 am - (on the water) passed a pod heading east north west of Point No Point moving at a good pace. At the time we were rounding Double Bluff when we intersected with the Pod. -Stu Davidson

*
2:30 pm - Minke slowly moving west to east, Flint Beach, south end of Lopez. -Sally Reeve

June 23
Se-Yi-Chn (J45) with the Whidbey NAS in the background. They were doing some serious foraging and salmon chasing when we were on scene. I hope they got a belly full! -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
Some encounters are so very special, and get ingrained in your memories that even if you pass a certain location over and over again, those memories come back. I think whenever I see the Whidbey island bluffs, I will see this little girl playing and breaching on a sunny calm day. What a treat. This is lovely little girl J50, Mom is Slick J16. I particularly think this female calf holds so much hope. We need more females to continue breeding to help bolster the population. So when I see her, I can't help but he hopeful she will help bring a brighter future for the Southern Resident Killer whales. -Traci Walter

*
We just saw a couple orcas at Cliffside campground on NAS Whidbey. They were quite a ways out so we couldn't get any kind of a decent pic, but that might have been the most exciting thing ever! (turned out to be members of J pod). -Janna Harmon

*
2:30 pm - From Biz Point (Rosario Strait, Anacortes) Maybe 6-7 orca including 2 large males and a few smaller ones, with one much smaller than the rest. Guess is they were feeding because of lots of fast circling and "darting" while leisurely heading south. Only about 300 yards from shore. No boats around them! Seagulls where gathering on the water where they were. -Cheryl Buchanan

*
Nigel (L95) exhaling little diamonds in the air! .He was heading south on the west side of San Juan Island off shore from Nugget (L55) and her crew. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
12:30pm - 1:45pm - We were at the roadside lookout approximately 1km south of Lime Kiln. Approx 15 orcas approached from the south spread out in a long line. Probably 30 minutes from the first to the last orca to pass by our view point. Then they eventually turned around (I think near Lime Kiln) and returned south again. All within a 1 1/2 hour span. -Randall Collins

*
10:30 am - 6 Orca sighted off my back deck. I just moved to the NE side of Orcas Island and I don't know the name of the two little islands to the NE of us between us and the mainland but they are in between Orcas Island and those 2 islands. (good chance this was J pod who was in Rosario hours later, see above reports/photos-ALB). -Stephen Hohman Transient/Bigg's orcas

*
3:12 pm - leaving with them in general area at the south end Useless Bay still northbound, researchers still on scene.
2:45 pm - from Point No Point: they have moved even further out and are heading towards Admiralty but aiming towards Whidbey. They've crossed past mid channel yellow buoy that is between Pt No Pt and Maxwelton/Useless Bay.
2:00 pm - from Eglon boat launch/beach I can see they are still a bit south porpoising along northbound at a good clip. They have moved out from shore and are now approx one mile out. Some surface activity. Research skiff with them since Kingston.
1:05 pm - just pulled in to Kingston on the ferry. The pod is north of the ferry off Apple Cove Point/Kingston. Nice group of folks young and old who had not seen orcas before. Moved up to bluff and watched until they rounded the point out of my sight. They appeared to act like on a kill then move on, they were doing this earlier. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

*
T075A toting around a harbour seal by the hind flippers in Oak Bay. -Mark Malleson

*
1:30 pm - A pod of at least 5 orcas (including one of the largest I've ever seen) passed by Oak Bay (between Oak Bay Marina and Oak Bay Beach Hotel). -Barb Floyd
ID notes by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whaler Research: "The bull is T75A and the group looks like it may be the group we had up here recently of T75, T75A, and the T73A's."

*
1:13 pm - Orca pod spotted near Apple Tree Cove from the Kingston / Edmonds ferry boat. Appeared to be a decent size pod - maybe 8 or so orcas? One obvious male dorsal & several females. Very cool to see them on such a beautiful day! -Evelyn Daniels

*
12:50 pm - I was at Richmond Beach and saw 2 from the shore with binoculars heading north. -Joni Barnes Pollino

*
11:35 am - from Shoreline see lots of churning water and a lot of gull activity in same general area as earlier report. Thinking they must have found some food.
11:15 am - they are making good time. From north Seattle/Carkeek area caught a glimpse...they are west of mid channel out from about Faye Bainbridge. -Alisa, Orca Network

*
Captain Ana heard about 6 transient orcas heading North near Colvos Passage, so we took the Chilkat down to Seattle and found those 6 T's! THEN 4-5 more T's come up on the other side of us, and THEN 2-3 more pop up in front of us!! We were the only boat with them for quite some time, killed the engines quite a bit so we could watch and listen, breaches, tail slaps, spy hops and an eagle. We stayed with them to Kingston and then made the long trek back to the Edmonds Marina, LOL. -Janine Harles

*
T37B (on the right) leads the way as another spyhops. -Janine Harles
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

*
11:59 am - Across from Kayu Kayu and Richmond Beach now. On a kill!
11:44 am - Came back together now and looked to be hunting. Heading towards Richmond Beach. Others still closer to Bainbridge side.
10:50 am - Still heading north just south of Shilshole Bay Marina now. One group mid channel and a few closer to Bainbridge side.
10:12 am - Two groups in Elliot Bay heading north closer to Bainbridge side. Right now. Both groups look to have calves or at least a juvenile. No adult males yet. One group has at least 5 and the other has about the same. -Renee Beitzel, Naturalist

*
Approx. 7:45 a.m. a pod of 6 orcas were heading north in Colvos Passage between Vashon Island and Kitsap Peninsula. These orcas were 2 miles south of the Southworth ferry terminal when spotted earlier. We watched until they passed the north tip of Vashon. -Sharon Yale Mitchell

*
My sister said there were 20 orcas spotted just north of Gig Harbor where she lives. -Nancy Masner-Whiton

*
While kayaking thought Colvos passage in the morning we encountered this pod of Orcas as they headed north. -Dennis Caines

June 22
5:00 pm - We caught up with K's and L's at Limekiln last night at about 5pm as we were sailing northbound is a stiff southerly breeze. The whales were in tight to shore traveling at less than 5 knots before they stopped for a rest and some play south of Henry Island. We left them before 7pm as they took off north around Kellet Bluff. What a great place to live and play! -Keith Provan

*
J pod (group A), K pod, L4s and L95: video (below) of the whales passing Lime Kiln on Monday. I set the vidoa camera down for the first part and just let it record, thus the crooked horizon. Jeanne (Hyde) reminded me that it's just another way to show that the whales are going "up island" (Also please excuse the mad dash down the rocks part way through, I just had to get a bit closer!) -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
Man, I just can't get enough of the J16's. The orcas made a big circle out on the banks then headed straight back for San Juan Island, trending north up the island. And who did we find at the north end of San Juan? None other than the group that headed north last night that had already come back down south. They must have heard each other in the large acoustical corridor and wanted to join up (which I saw on my evening trip)! It was a blustery day out there, but it was nice to see the orcas socializing. Finger's crossed for higher levels of Chinook moving through these waters! -Heather MacIntyre

*
12:22 pm - Members of all three pods went south. -Connie Bickerton

*
Black n whites off Eagle Point... such cute lil babies!!! Presumed super pod that just passed lighthouse [about noon]... cruisin'! -Erin Corra

*
11:48 - GREAT calls on Lime Kiln. -HG, Orca Network

*
10:45 am - Kitty cats (indicates K pod calls). Lime Kiln Hydrophone. - James Gresham

*
Hey Orca Network! We just left a group of about 5 transient orcas just north of Point No Point (Kitsap) at 6:14 pm. One group of 3 was close to shore on the Kitsap side, and a mother and calf were mid channel...They were heading south. -Justine Buckmaster

*
T65A's near East Point, Saturna. -James McLarnon
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

*
I had the day off today...I got a text that whales were in the Vancouver Harbour! T65A2 looking huge! Thanks to Granville Island boat rentals for the boat! -Gary Sutton

*
1:00 pm - I witnessed orcas drowning a grey whale around 1pm on 6/22/2015. This took place near Westport, around Twin Harbors State Park. I was surf fishing and observed this happening for 10 minutes. They were about 200 yards offshore. I took crude photos and a video with my cell phone. Not sure if they were successful. I think I spotted an orca calf. I also saw two large air releases. Everything ended as quickly as it started. -William Burlison

June 21
We watched Group A of J Pod (including K26 Lobo, J37 Hy'Shqa, L87 Onyx) and members of K Pod head north to the Fraser River. -Heather MacIntyre

*
5:00 pm - Just observed 30+ orca moving up from Lighthouse Point Roberts to west to get around Tsawassen Ferry Terminal. Many were close to shore, some breaching and front grouping included a calf. Great sight. -John Gates

*
2:30 pm - About 7 or 8 have just headed south again at a leisurely pace. (West side of San Juan)
2:18 pm - I have been watching from the shore just south of Lime Kiln and have seen several "passes" The first was J pod (reliably identified!) and there seemed to be a lot of whales. Since then they have passed in smaller groups heading in both directions. (probably just some Js and Ks). -Linda Horton

*
12:26 PM - WA State Ferries, 6 orcas northbound near South Cod Reef (north Haro Strait).

*
We got on scene with the Residents just north of Lime Kiln State Park just after 11:30am heading northbound. Film (video link below) begins with K35 surfacing and J34 just after him out from County Park. There's a nice sequence with the Center for Whale Research in the background midway through. We continued northbound with them left as they were approaching the entrance to Mitchell Bay about 12:30pm. Also ID'd were the J17s, J22s, J19s, J11s, L87 and possibly the J14s who L87 was traveling with earlier. Possibly more K too since members of all three pods were around San Juan Island earlier in the morning and shuffled up then down the island. Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
11:30-12:30 - Out with Puget Sound Express watching Js and Ks traveling northbound in Haro Strait. -Janine Harles

*
...After spending the night off the south end of the island, I heard them on the Lime Kiln hydrophones at 7:30 AM. When we got on the water, we encountered our first whales - L82 and L116 - heading south just north of Pile Point at 8:45. Shortly thereafter all the whales turned north again and we followed the lead group (J2s/J14s, J19s, K12s, K13s, K14s, L4s, L47s, and L95) all the way up Haro Strait to Spieden Channel where we left them at 11:30. They were active and very vocal the whole way. This group continued north, while I heard that J-Pod Group B along with the K16s and K21 went back south. The J16s went rogue and I heard from a friend they were milling off Spieden Channel well after all the others had gone north/south respectively. -Monika Wieland

*
10:11 - Orcas on the orca sound microphone now. -Dani Marie

*
10:09 am - On San Juan hydrophone (Orca Sound) now - along with a ship. Lots of squeals. -Kim Merriman

*
9:59 am - They headed south and have turned around and now back at Lime Kiln. Breathtaking! -Linda Horon

*
J52 and J50 in the early morning passing very close to the rocks at Lime Kiln State Park. -Gayle Swigart

*
9:44 am - They are on Lime Kiln right now...clear as all get out! -Vickie Doyle

*
8:46 am - J Pod on the West side of San Juan Island, headed north towards Lime Kiln then turned around and went back the other way. -Linda Horton

*
7:30 am - hearing J pod vocals and echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
7:27 pm - We just landed at Southworth via Fauntleroy on the ferry. The Orcas literally went in between the dock and the ferry. Capt slowed down... -Ann Cordova Wilson

*
7:25 pm - 4 orcas in front of Southworth ferry dock moving fast ..northbound 5 min ago. -Wayne McFarland, Washington State Ferries

*
5:05 pm - Just watched 6-7 orcas in the Saanich Inlet for the last hour. They are heading towards Cowichan Bay or Samson Narrows. -Karen Gray

*
The T69s and 36Bs were on a seal rampage near Sidney Island, BC. -Clint Rivers

*
5:00 pm - About 8-10 orca off point Richmond in Gig Harbor. A few breaches. Appeared to be females and a possible juvenile. Heading north. -Kelsi Burkhart

*
3:40 pm - spotted 3 adults and baby near Boeing Creek, south of the Richmond Beach (city of Shoreline) and north of Shilshole Marina heading south. -Kristen Hardwick

*
2:36 am - 7-8 orcas headed south off Pioneer Pt, Maury Island (Vashon area). Name not provided.

*
2:30pm - 5 female orca seen off Gold Beach on the east side of Maury Island. Stayed in one area for about 45 minutes, circling and diving. They then proceeded south. A jet ski, then a boat sped toward milling whales, then stopped 50 to 100 yards away and watched them. I was observing from the hillside of Maury Island Natural Area and was not able to ask them to stay at least 200 yards away. -Burt Miller

*
10:58 am - April Martin from Mukilteo called, reported 3 or more orcas, and possible calf between Mukilteo and Clinton.

*
8:15 am - Victoria Clipper 3 just left two southbound transient orcas off Shilshole Marina, just east of the shipping lanes. -Stephanie Raymond

June 20
Observed a very large pod (25 plus)of orca whales between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m. today, June 20th at Point - No - Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island. They were headed south. There were too many to count. It looked to us as if there were a few young ones because of the small fins swimming along side much bigger whales. Watched through binoculars. Not sure if they were transients or residents? They were moving quickly. Not feeding. There were many sizes of whales. No photos, sorry. -Patricia Johnston, Victoria BC

*
In the evening J-Pod, K-Pod, and the L4s, L47s, and L95 made their way in to Haro Strait. -Monika Wieland

*
3:00pm - I got to spend some time with Jpod as they came past Sooke! -Deanna Brett,

*
I was on the west side of San Juan Island looking for the incoming resident orcas when I spotted some blows on the west side of Haro Strait near Discovery Island. With no sign of the residents yet, I hopped in the boat with some friends and we headed out to investigate. We met up with the T125s, T46Cs, T127, and T49C just north of Kelp Reef at 7:15 PM. They were clearly in travel mode, moving quickly as we followed them around the west side of D'Arcy Island. When we left them at 7:45 they were heading north between James and Sidney Islands. -Monika Wieland

*
On Saturday passengers about the Legacy got spoiled on our evening trip because on our way to see the inbound Resident orcas we actually ended up finding some of the most iconic exotic orcas that have been documented here- the T125's!! As soon as I saw T127 I knew exactly who those whales were can't mistake him! They were traveling with the T046C's, who I've also never seen before. We followed the T125's and T046C's north up Haro Strait, and if you can believe it, actually found T049C milling on his own as well. Not surprisingly, he continued to travel on his own as the larger group of Transients went north. -Heather MacIntyre

*
8:30 pm - from Ebey's Landing, 8-10 orcas seen feeding and traveling. -Bob Kruger

*
7:41 pm - We estimate there were 10-12 Orcas swimming by Fort Casey on Whidbey Island. We believe there were two extremely small individuals in this pod as well as at least one enormous individual. We know for a fact that there was at least one very small whale, but again, we think there were two. The large whale breached clear of the water on at least two occasions and there was also tail slapping and head bobbing behavior. We believe a cruise ship altered it's north bound course to better view these whales. The whales were close to shore and headed north. Lots of other people saw them. -Robert Gray

*
9:07 pm - They're back! Mid channel headed south quickly off Lagoon Pt. (Whidbey Island).
6:15 pm - Northbound from Lagoon Pt now. -Ted Webber

*
T65A4 with a group of five orcas in San Juan Channel, evening. -Robert Dash
ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research.

*
6:38 pm - T65As and T77's in San Juan Channel. West bound. East of Friday Harbor. -James Gresham

*
T077B inshore along Shaw Island -James Gresham

*
5:20 pm - Pod of at least 5 orcas (including large male) are southbound in Admiralty Inlet. Last seen mid channel out from Lagoon Point (Whidbey Island). -Patricia Prochaska.

*
We saw 2 orcas today near Port Townsend, feeding in the late afternoon. It looked like they were headed to Puget Sound. Beautiful sighting. -Joanne McCoy

*
4:25 pm - Victoria Clipper just spotted them at Admiralty Head. -Stephanie Raymond

*
3:45-4:30 - Marilyn and I saw them 5? plus a large male, from the Ft. Casey Lighthouse going south, then right around the ferry lane, they headed toward Ft. Flagler and disappeared from our sight. -Bonnie Gretz

*
4:15 pm - Now just south Fort Casey and just north of ferry and ferry taking big wide turn toward mid channel now.
4:00 pm - They are just now passing lighthouse heading south. -Marilyn Armbruster

*
1:30 pm - T65A's and T77''s northbound off Burrows Island (Rosario Strait). -James Gresham

*
12:33 PM - 3 to 5 Orcas Including a large male traveling in Shoal Channel, In-between Gibsons and Keats Landing. -Jane Ashworth

*
T069C, T036A and little T036A3 west of Smith Island. These whales are typically seen in the ocean west of Victoria Island. It was my first time seeing them. This 20 yr old is truly massive. -James Gresham

*
Went out with Puget Sound Express, found the T069's (as they have been ID'd so far) near Smith Island. The male with the group was huge! There were also 2 little ones. I have a few shots with 6 in the shot, notsu re if there were more. We left them heading SE into Admiralty Inlet. -Janine Harles

*
11:54 am - Large group of Ts, possibly 069s's, one large male, several females a juvenile and a calf. North of Smith Island, heading towards Admiralty Inlet right now. -Renee Beitzel

*
10:15 am - Large group of transients on north Smith Island. -Robe Sandreson

June 19
T65A2 sporting his new nick and scars while swimming with his family near Sucia Island. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
With beautiful T065s and T077s just north of Sucia Island. Lots of breaching, tail slapping, baby activity (the calf (ves?) was small but not tiny. Never never get tired of seeing these beautiful orcas! -Bonnie Gretz

*
On Friday we saw the T065A's who were still traveling with the T077's down Rosario Strait. They were being very sporadic, zig-zagging as they hunted for marine mammals cooperatively in the straits. The T065A's are the "social butterflies" of the Transient orca community. It's so interesting to see who they've team up with day to day! It was also nice to see the T077's since I haven't seen them much! -Heather MacIntyre

*
Another fantastic encounter with the T65As this afternoon. This fun little family group rarely disappoints. They are always up to some kind of antics. When we first arrived on scene with them, they were heavily harassing a harbor seal with the help of another family group, the T77s. They could have easily eaten the seal at any moment, but instead decided to play with their food - not unlike a cat with a mouse. It may seem cruel and it can be hard to watch these sorts of interactions, but it is necessary for the younger whales to learn hunting skills and techniques. After they were finished with the seal, all kinds of other above-surface antics commenced. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
8:53 am - Two minke whales just swam super close by Eagle Cove... YAY!!! What a gorgeous day already! -Erin Corra

June 18
Quintessential Pacific Northwestern days to watch the T065A's and the T077's near Maple Bay, BC northwestern Salt Spring Island. It was uncharted waters for Captain Spencer and I, but it sure was worth the extra time. Just the scenery alone would have been worth it for me! The rock formations that were shaped by the British Columbian continental ice shelf, and the thickly lined Douglas fir forests that shadowed us the entire way north were beautiful! When we got on scene the mammal-hunting Transients had already made a kill and were working on prey sharing the kill. Then they continued south and made another kill, engaging in lot's of social activity! As if that wasn't enough adventure for us, we also went back out on a second trip in the rain and mist to watch a lone Transient, T049C traveling north just south of Sidney, BC. -Heather MacIntyre

*
A couple of beautiful days with the T65A's and T77's. We had them around Crofton today and they were moving very slowly and taking down seals every chance they got. It was pretty incredible. -Gary Sutton

*
Today, a cool, rainy day, near Maple Bay, BC...T77B. It was that kind of a day. -James Mead Maya

June 17
T127 heading west out the Juan de Fuca Strait, -Mark Malleson

June 16
A little bouncy out there today but great to see group A of J pod in the Strait of Georgia! J51 peeking up beside mom and J49 trailing right behind. -Gary Sutton

*
J26, "Mike" a split second before his massive pec fin hit the water. Gorgeous afternoon up near East point on Saturna, BC with part of J Pod! We spent time with the J16's and J26 "Mike" just couldn't stop doing pec fin slaps! -Traci Walter

*
Tonight we had the most amazing encounter with the J16's traveling south through Boundary Pass. However, it's no surprise that the one claiming all the attention was none other than little six-month old J50. I've never seen a baby orca breach so much!...Her sister, J42 Echo was also carrying on with her, breaching with J50 as she babysat...Likewise, J52 has also started breaching and engaging in lots of social activity. Those two are going to have so much fun growing up together. -Heather MacIntyre

*
Here's a shot of the K12s from this afternoon at Lime Kiln, when an interesting mix of members of all three pods came by...it looked to be about 15 whales from L-Pod and I think half of J-Pod in there with all the Ks. -Monika Wieland

*
1:08 pm - A couple Calls on the Orca Sound.
12:15 pm - Hearing loud calls on Lime Kiln. -Nathan Harrison

*
Around 8 PM we watched a group of transients head north in San Juan Channel from Reuben Tarte county park. It turned out to be the T65As and the T77s. They turned into Spieden Channel and from a friend's house we watched them milling around right off the rocks for almost an hour. They nailed one, probably two, harbor seals in that time. Just as it was getting dark around 10 PM they finally decided to move on, heading northeast out of Spieden Channel. Since it was too dark for photos, I took video instead, and I'm glad I did, because I think it captured the essence of the encounter even better! As if orcas close to shore aren't enough, the background landscape and sunset were the icing on the cake. -Monika Wieland

*
T65As and T77s in Spieden Channel off the north end of San Juan Island, WA at sunset. -Monika Wieland

*
7:02 pm - The two I saw (T128 & T125A) looked to be angled towards Whidbey Island. I never found T127 or T125 from Point No Point. When I saw them from Kingston those two were ahead and closer to mid channel.
6:32 pm - heading north east out of Admiralty. Just north of Point No Point lighthouse. Only two males so far. Only saw T128 and T125A from Point No Point.
6:22 pm - one just south of Point No Point, milling at this point. -Connie Bickerton
4:43pm - T127 passing further out towards mid channel in front of Apple Tree Cove in Kingston. -Connie Bickerton

*
6:24pm - watching one staying in pretty much in one spot, southeast of Point No Point, east of shipping lane.
6:09 pm - cruise ship past one just barely to the west of the orca. Looks like another orca in the lead. Point No Point (Kitsap) people should be seeing soon! -Stu Davidson

*
4:55 pm - from Edmonds Marina Beach seeing blows just north of Kingston, still on Kitsap side of channel. They are grouped in twos a little spread out continuing northbound at a steady pace.
4:33 pm - I moved north to Richmond Beach. 4 orcas. I can tell it's T127. Chunky disfigured dorsal. 3 males, one female. Just south of Kingston, on the Kitsap side.
3:45 pm - Picked up a 2nd and possible a third male that looks to have a dorsal like T127.
3:00 pm - from Carkeek Park (north Seattle) I see one male mid channel moving steadily northbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
2:55 pm - Albert Furst called from inside Ediz Hook at Port Angeles as he watched 4-6 orcas churning up the water while apparently catching a seal about 100 yards off the beach and 1/4 mile or so inside the hook.

*
1:30 - Maia of WA State Ferries reports one or two orcas in the traffic lane between Bainbridge Island and Seattle, heading east.

*
7:25 am - I'm watching 2 orcas from Luhr Beach boat ramp. They are off the mouth of the Nisqually. A male with a notched fin (brief video clip showed T127-ALB ) and a smaller (female?). Heading north towards Steilacoom. -Chris Warlow

June 15
Blissful day aboard the M/V Sea Lion with J (J16s & J19s) and K pods along the west side of San Juan in the afternoon and just north of East Point in the evening. -Sarah McCullagh

*
This morning Js and Ks headed east from Victoria towards San Juan Island. At 12:30 PM they approached Lime Kiln from the south, heading north. The J16s were in the lead, followed by the K14s, J19s, then J2s. They stalled out at this point, seemingly waiting for the others the catch up - and around 1:30 they were joined by the K12s. Others (presumably the rest of them) were offshore, and by 2 PM they had all turned south again. -Monika Wieland

*
Today was the first day Whale Scout and SSAMN (Salish Sea Assoc. of Marine Naturalists) had volunteers out at the Westside Preserve (San Juan Island)...The goal of this new program is to provide land-based whale watching experiences leading to stewardship of the marine environment. J and K pod hung around the entire afternoon... -Whitney Neugebauer

*
Another hot, sunny day here in the islands and I spent it relaxing on the west side of San Juan Island. While I soaked up some rays, I soaked up some orcas in the process as J and K pods wandered up and down the coast with the tide. -Katie Jones

*
Many, many orcas off Lime Kiln today around 2:00 this afternoon, some just right off the kelp beds. -Shelly Turne Greybeck

*
An amazing day with a very social family group, T65As (Close up on T65A2's dorsal wounds.) When I watched them on Friday (6/12) they were quietly traveling through Agate Pass (Kitsap County). Today in the wind and waves they were incredibly playful. Approx. mid channel Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC. -Connie Bickerton

*
T065A, 065A4, and 065A5 headed south west in the Juan de Fuca Strait. -Mark Malleson

*
4:00 pm - today halfway between Secret Cove and Pender Harbour about 2 miles offshore, a single large Orca heading south at a leisurely pace, breaching about once per minute. -Ralph Gorby

*
1:45 pm - from Steilacoom ferry at least 3 mid channel slowly moving south on east side of Anderson Island.
1:00 pm - watched 3 or 4 from Titlow traveling south, hugging Gig Harbor/Fox Island side. At least 3 orca pass by around 1:00. Now just out of sight behind Day Island.
12:46 pm - Southbound south of Narrows bridge close to Gig Harbor side. -Jill Clogston

*
1:00 pm - T127 passed Fox Island Fishing Pier steaming hard south...4-6 of them. -Glenn Hansen

*
12:20 pm - Out from Salmon Beach and rapidly moving south toward the Narrows.

*
12:11 pm -3 to 4 Orcas off of south Vashon, between Gig Harbor and tip of Point Defiance. -Michele Riley Campbell

*
10:45 pm - Brian Owens called to say a male orca and a couple of others were about 300 yards off Owens Beach heading toward the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

*
9:30 am - Orcas in Port Angeles Harbor. I have photos of at least 5 dorsal fins visible at one time. The group seemed to consist of several very small whales and one much larger than the rest. I only saw markings which indicated they were Orcas on the largest of the pod. The whales would only breach occasionally and did not appear to be moving quickly or hunting. They did not seem to be playing. I did see seal shortly before and after the sighting so I doubt they were feeding. -Carlton Chastain

*
8:00 am - Lone orca hunting off Cadboro Bay/Jemmy Jones (off Victoria) for 40 minutes. Judging by grey saddle patch, might have been T012A (unconfirmed). Left for Haro Strait afterwards. -Glenn Barker

*
7:05 am - Today I saw a male T127 and female Orca feeding at Three tree Point near the Des Moines Marina. -Peter Madonna

*
5:55 am - 1 Male orca traveling south off Fauntleroy (West Seattle) ferry terminal terminal. Distinct notch or bend on tip of dorsal fin. -Burt Miller

*
5:50 am - Lone male orca, with hooked dorsal fin, on 0550 Fauntleroy ferry from Vashon. -Kevin Silis

*
9:45am - saw a pod off shore while walking in the Chinese Graveyard (Victoria). About 8 dorsal fins in total (maybe more). They were pretty far out towards Trial Island. At least 2 whale watching boats stopped. It looked like they were circling and feeding.

June 14
Another beautiful day. Orca reports indicated all long distance trips, our closest option being to Whidbey Island and Admiralty Inlet. There we found 4 Transients, T127 with a very distinguished dorsal fin, and he travels with T125, T125A and T128. They were slowly heading north - we found them just north of Lagoon Point. A super day with lots of amazing views of these beautiful mammals as they appeared to be foraging, with lots of tail slaps. It was a long trip, but so well worth it. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

*
10:10pm - hearing faint J and possibly K calls. Been hearing intermittent calls the past hour. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
In the evening we headed out to look for Js and Ks, and found the leaders (the K13s and K22s) rocketing southbound from Henry Island at 6:30 PM. We continued north as they continued south, and we encountered most of the rest of Js and Ks just south of Stuart Island. We followed them as they made their way to Lime Kiln at about 8:30 PM. As we headed home, we encountered what may have been the trailers (at least the J16s) off the north end of San Juan Island at 8:45 PM. -Monika Wieland, San Juan Island

*
10:27pm - Squeals are back on Lime Kiln! Just started, pretty faint. -Danielle Vance

*
9:16 -Orcas at Land Bank. -James Mead Maya

*
8:50 pm - Echolocation and calls of orcas live on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Orca Network

*
Today was awesome! I saw a Harbor seal munching on a very large octopus and one bald eagle knocked another into the water! Luckily the other eagle was able to get airborne again, but 2 things I've never seen on the water here! Here's one image from today! We saw Js, Ks, and one of our passengers spotted some transient Killer whales on the way home! -Traci Walter

*
Headed west and encountered L12s, L85, and L25. Whales were very spread out heading west, and we spent time with the trailers. -Connie Bickerton

*
T125A and T128 were the two adult males in Admiralty Inlet. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
6:00pm - quick stop at Lagoon Point on way to ferry. Spotted their dorsals and blows Kitsap side mid channel just going in circles...sightline northside Lagoon Pt and south end Fort Flagler. Was 5:00 before Ed finally saw them again...still out from Lagoon, Kitsap side of mid channel. And now we must leave. Beautiful day on bluffs above Admiralty.
2:50 pm - Ed and I came to Fort Casey for much needed day out...orcas are just hanging out north of Lagoon Point probably fighting the tide says Naturalist Jill Hein aboard Mystic Sea confirms T125s. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
10:45 - Two adult male Transients heading north in Admiralty Inlet just south of Bush Point, on the Whidbey island side, in the northbound traffic lane. -Howard Garrett

*
10:26 - Small group of transients in Admiralty Inlet, trending north south of Bush Point. -Renee Beitzel

*
I saw them at 10:20 am in Mutiny Bay, south of Bush Point and Lagoon Point, heading north at a fast lick with no sign of stalling. The tide was then on the turn. -Sandy Pollard

*
We saw the T124A's today. The whales were pushing straight into a vicious flood tide off Eastpoint where Boundary Pass meets the Strait of Georgia. At one point the whales turned directly into several whale watching boats requiring a quick stop to give them room. -James Gresham

*
First Humpback about 30 min out of Port Angeles.
Found Big Mama on our way home, about an hour west of Port Angeles. -Connie Bickerton

June 13
Saw 4 orcas south of Tacoma Narrows Bridge Saturday night, traveling north. 3 boats with them near Toliva Shoal. -Chris Maxwell

*
The L12 Matriline. From left to right: L41, L086, L077, L25*, L94. *L25 Ocean Sun is the presumed mother of Tokitae (also known as Lolita) who was captured in 1970 and now resides at the Miami Seaquarium. -Michelle Rachel

*
L121 was tail lobbing like crazy this evening. What a spunky little whale! -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
8:06 pm - started hearing resident orca vocals on the Lime Kiln hydrophones - word is it's the L12 sub-group. -Monica Wieland

*
9:45 pm - 2 Orcas just swam by Salmon Beach (between Pt Defiance and the Narrows bridge) heading north, on the east side...simply stunning! -Asher Beckett

*
Near Sidney Island, BC...T065 and T123 transients made a kill directly in front of the boat! -Bonnie Gretz

*
Orca in Dana Pasage off Brisco Point, Harstine Island. A group of 4 led by the male Orca. They were not rushing too fast and seemed to be enjoying a calm, north-eastern trip heading toward Key Peninsula. We are enjoying May/June sightings almost every other day going both South & North. So exciting! -PJ Yocum

*
4:20 PM - Just saw between 3 and 4 Orca traveling north through Dana Passage heading towards Johnson's Point, consisting of 2-3 adults and one juvenile. -Erik Anderson

*
3 pm - In the past hour I have sighted an orca whale breaching close to shore in Budd inlet near Cooper point. -Grace Brewer

*
2:48 - The Orcas have been in Dana Passage just north of the Boston Harbor Marina for the past couple of hours. I am dismayed to report boats following along side of them with feet not yards and many boats just speeding toward and around them. I think there needs to be some support in the South Sound area for the whales safety and perhaps more awareness outreach. -Greg Bell

*
Saw three of these guys off of Pt. Wilson, Harstine Island. This photo was taken at 10:35 AM. They stuck around for about 15 minutes before continuing south! -Katie Steinhoff

*
I was lucky enough to see what I think were three different pods last weekend off Pickering Rd., across from Harstine Island. -Maria N Chet Nelson

*
12:50 - Now heading north. Slowly. Along the eastern shore. At least 3 males, including T127. Two smaller ones.
12:22 - 4-5 whales currently heading s. past Boston Harbor Marina toward Budd Inlet. Moving very slowly. At least two large males. I was hoping they had headed out and way north of this zoo area. -Kim Merriman

*
8:21 AM - 1 male and at least 2 female Orcas traveling westbound near Ediz Spit (still east of the spit, the Black Ball Ferry was moving towards Victoria. The pod of whales would have been approximately 1/2 mile east of her starboard side.) Winds were CALM in the area of the sighting. -Tony Little

*
12:25 PM - 3 Orcas mid-channel between San Juan & Vancouver Island. Mid-channel, west of Smugglers Cove on SJI. Some rolling but most traveling. Three whale watch boats maintaining a respectful distance. One moved well within 100 yard limit. -Debra Westwood

*
7 pm - A first for us -- seeing a humpback travel eastward through Active Pass. -Karoline Cullen

June 12
8:17-9:55 pm -Thanks to Connie Bickerton for alerting me the T65As had exited northbound Agate Pass (west side of Bainbridge Island) Once I arrived at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (Shoreline) I immediately spotted blows across Puget Sound in the north end of Port Madison near Indianola. The pod then turned south directionally towards Bainbridge Island. I lost them for a bit and short time later (8:45) I spotted them to the south porppoising towards Faye Bainbridge park. At least one made it to the park while the others hung just to the north lazily circling. I thought they might be on a kill but a short time later they all huddled up, turned and began traveling at a steady pace northbound, which they continued into darkness. With just enough light lingering, I last saw them passing Appletree Cove, Kingston still northbound at 9:55 pm. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
7:45-8:30 pm - Spent all day trying to find the Transients reported in the Bremerton area. I was waiting for them at Old Man House in Suquamish (Agate Pass), and was getting ready to give up, when I took one last look around - and there they were. It was quiet, and I could hear them breathing - the most perfect sound in the world. At 7:45 hey passed me at Old Man House in Suquamish heading east, a boat came in very respectively, but they dove and disappeared. About 8:00pm they were hugging the north shore and it looked like they found the Harbor porpoise, then I lost them again. At 8:12 they appear to be heading east and north. Perfect conditions. (ID'd as T65As. Connie's photos included in June 14 report) -Connie Bickerton

*
4:26 pm - Orcas are now straight across from Illahee. Headed toward Poulsbo slowly. I didn't see them again after I posted this. They went under and I'm not sure which direction they went! -Megan Rogers

*
A glorious day with Ts in Admiralty Inlet from the north end of Marrowstone Island to Pt. Wilson at the north end of Admiralty. Several probable predations were followed by exuberant breaches at all angles and tail slaps right side up and up side down and other contortions followed by directional swimming, followed by a disappearing act, rinse and repeat. -Howard Garrett

*
Old Man House State Park, across Agate Pass from the north tip of Bainbridge Island. -Connie Bickerton
ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research as the T65A's.

*
4 pm - Passing Evergreen Park (entrance to Dyes Inlet), headed into Sinclair Inlet.
11:14 am - They are splashing in the middle of Dyes Inlet. Bunch of folks watching and photographing from Tracyton boat launch. No boats anywhere nearby. -Patrick Kerber

*
Sailing south around the southern tip of McNeil Island (ten miles south of Tacoma) yesterday I sighted two Orcas swimming south alongside our sail boat. -Grace Brewer

*
Thanks to Karl and crew of the Island Explorer out of Port Angeles we were able to see U039 patrolling on the inside of the Juan de fuca Strait. -Mark Malleson

*
I was in my son's small boat in Dyes Inlet today when the Orcas passed us. There were 5, one of them was a baby. It was so cool. Then about 5pm they went past my sister's house between Illahee and Bainbridge Island going toward Brownsville. -Debbie Hinds

*
An amazing day in the NW. We were awoken as the ferry went by the house and we heard the captain announce on the PA that there was a pod of orcas approaching. That's all I needed to fire up my spirit. I spent the day in bliss following 3 adults and 2 juveniles as they toured the area. -Larry Sagan

*
3:07 - Have them now directly across from the park.
2:30 - I have them near Tracyton shore from Chico Way. -Elyse Margaret

*
3 pm - Scott called to say the Ts have passed Bush Point heading north at a rapid clip.

*
2:45 - Five transients seen circling a kill in Mutiny Bay, southwest of Whidbey Island. -Morgan Kalani Dipo

*
2:52 pm - They are still in Dyes Inlet. They have been moving around all afternoon and are alternating patterns of being very active and then not so active. They are closer to Erlands Point. Binoculars are necessary. They are closer to two paddle boarders.
2:32 pm - they are in the middle of Dyes Inlet now - between two paddle boarders and a jet ski and two smaller boats.
2:02 pm - at least five orcas off Tracyton in Dyes Inlet, Silverdale. The water is very calm and you should be able to see them quite well from Silverdale Waterfront Park.
1:43 pm - in the middle of Dyes Inlet heading towards Waterfront Park - no boats around!
1:34 pm - still heading towards Chico. Heading away from the shore and more towards Silverdale Waterfront Park.
1:26 pm - heading back towards Chico in Dyes Inlet.
12:25 - They are in the middle of Dyes Inlet! -Diane Russell

*
2 p - Just left Dyes Inlet about 15 min ago maybe more. Boat on their trail too far for identification.
1:15 - I just saw about 6 orcas from my office window. Dyes Inlet Silverdale /Bremerton. -Maria Teresa Gonzalez

*
12:57 - Across from Tracyton boat ramp on Chico side. -Rachel Caitlin

*
12:20 - They are mid channel in Dyes Inlet. -Spencer Biggs

*
11:25am - There are at least 9+ in this group, we just left Redhead on scene with them northwest of Point No Point, one baby, two males. -Janine Harles

*
11 am - Orcas in Kitsap! Saw them in Bremerton moving fast heading toward Silverdale. 4 or 5. -Lori Miska Burt

*
10:35am - We just heard that the orcas have been spotted heading toward Dyes Inlet. Kitsap Sun

*
At 10:30 a.m. today, saw a pod of four Orcas in Bremerton, traveling north under the Manette bridge. I was standing almost under the bridge on the Manette side. -Barb Horn Hartman

*
10:20 am - Directly in front of the Bremerton Ferry terminal right now!!! -Sara Lyn

*
10:00 AM - 4 orcas seen by foot ferry in Bremerton. Swam toward Port Orchard then turned around and went up Port Washington Narrows. Looked like maybe 4 Orcas. -Ann Lieseke

*
Per Port Orchard FB page, around 10AM a mama and baby were seen outside slaughter county in Port Orchard. Comments on post say they headed under the manette bridge at 10:30AM. -Brittany Gordon

*
8:53 - - Admiralty Inlet - T46s and T137s. -Justine Buckmaster

*
This morning in Port Orchard Bay between Bainbridge Island and Illahee State Park in East Bremerton from 8 to 8:30 AM: four Orcas, appeared to be 2 adults and two juveniles, maybe even one of the new babies. Orange spots on lower jaw of baby.........nick in dorsal of adult. -Bob Jayne
ID'd by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research as the T65A's.

*
A pod of 5-7 Orcas were sighted at approx 8:30 a.m. in Port Orchard Bay and were last seen moving toward Silverdale via Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet. -Glen Davis

*
8:38am - at least two large and three small orcas slowly heading north toward Kingston Edmonds area. Victoria clipper still following.
8:26 - at least two orca off President point heading north toward Kingston north of channel marker. Victoria Clipper following. -Joanne Graves

June 11
There were orcas off the 4:40 ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge. I wasn't able to discern if they were residents or transients and have seen no reports. -Mary Nieman Meier

*
4:25 pm - Saw 5 to 6 orcas traveling north close to shore in Colvos Passage just South of Point Richmond. -Randy Hill

*
6:45pm - Got some good close ups of J-Pod passing our place on Galiano Island this evening. I got sprayed in the face from their blows twice while shooting the video they were so close! Saw at least two of the babies, one can be seen quite early and close up in the video. Some good underwater views as well as a few were looking for rock fish in the bull kelp along the bluff shoreline. -Gary Cullen

*
J and K pods head north up Active Pass. -Karoline Cullen

*
6:20 - Eileen Solomon reports 8-10 orcas very spread out, heading NW past Mayne Island toward Active Pass.

*
Yep, K Pod was here, at Lime Kiln! All of them! -James Taylor

*
7:15 AM - Heard some faint resident orca vocals on the Lime Kiln hydrophones. -Monika Wieland

*
9:15pm - Small pod of four orcas swimming southwest in Eld Inlet, spotted by Colin and Anders from Flapjack Point, Steamboat Island. Three mature, one small calf. Three skinny tall and pointed fins, one shorter rounded fin. Rainbow sunset all around, a beautiful and peaceful wild encounter in the south sound. They appeared to be simply enjoying the sunset and the good company of friends. -Anders Rodin

*
8:15 - John Miller of WA State Ferries relayed a report of 2 small orcas heading west in Rich Passage toward Sinclair Inlet.

*
8:15 - Craig Stenegal saw four orcas in Eld Inlet, one with a gashed up dorsal fin.

*
7:50 pm - Saw an Orca breach in southwest Olympia off of Cooper point road. -Jennifer Susalski

*
7:00 pm - 3 orcas just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock- headed south. They seemed to be hugging the shoreline. I didn't see any sign of them on the 705 crossing to Vashon. -Aimee Demarest

*
My husband just saw a pod off the Bainbridge ferry, hanging out off the east shore of the island. -Chelsea Morgan Ramsey

*
Three or four small orcas (appear female) Colvos Pass, two miles north of Olalla. Observed from 17:35-17:52 transiting slowly northward. -David Reed

*
Orcas spotted right in front of Anderson Point in Olalla! -Samee Kovarnik

*
Two Orcas spotted at 5:05pm on the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge ...just outside Eagle Harbor. Milling around ... no direction of travel established. - Tim Cuddy

*
Three to four orcas eastbound, seen north of the Bainbridge-bound 4:40 ferry. -Amy Fowler

*
5pm - Fred Michelson called in a report of 2-3 orcas mid-channel traveling west between the south tip of Anderson Island and the Nisqually delta. He said they have been covering the same route almost every afternoon since June 6. He says one male has a distinctive dorsal fin. He writes: "2-3 orcas were in front of our home during late afternoon June 6 and 7 swimming in mid channel between Anderson Island and south shore of the Nisqually reach moving east to west. Watched them for about 30 minutes till they went out of sight to the west heading toward Johnsons Point. The same occurred the next day June 7. Another sighting was made on late morning of June 8 off the southeast tip of Anderson Island and they moved toward the DuPont shoreline and toward the Nisqually Delta but didn't see them again." 8:40 am - We believe these are the same whales I reported today from the weekend and this week which I reported earlier today. Now they came again today (it appears 2 and I am thinking one is young) but not a new born. They seem transient because no pod is seen. They are on the same course and same exact spot and heading the same direction. It is as if they like the chances of catching prey so the cycle that brings them back here everyday is productive. It is in the Nisqually Reach from the outer Delta of the Nisqually River Delta traveling east to west past the south shore of Anderson Island toward Johnsons Point or Devils Head. We lost sight of them as they moving westerly about 2-3 miles from where we live on 52d Lane NE Olympia Wa. -Fred Michelson

*
3:49 - Chainsaw and crew spotted at Lyle pt Anderson Island. 3:40pm - Orcas off Lyle pt. Anderson island. -Peace Corey

*
3:30 - Three orcas south of Kingston/Edmonds ferry route, mid channel, behaving like Ts and circling around a possible mammal for dinner. Announced by captain. -Dianne Dee Iverson

*
2:34pm - I'm at Steamers and am spotting Orcas off Fox Island. -.Soun Nonthaveth-Moffett

*
10:15am - Pod of about 6 in Nisqually. -Miranda Ries

*
Saw two large orca dorsal fins in Henderson Bay from Purdy Spit at 8:10 am Thursday. I was driving so can't give any more info than that. I wish I could have stopped and admired them, but work awaited. -Kevin Stroh

*
4:45 - Marilyn Deroy called while watching a whale that sounds like a gray whale heading north close to shore between Eglon and Point No Point.

*
Around 8:15 am. Sinclair Inlet, near Lighthouse point. Spotted a Gray whale, it spouted twice, it's back breaking the water surface on it's second spout. It had no dorsal fin and was a mottled dark gray and whitish color. Heading out toward Rich Passage. -Lynn Precht

June 10
We had a female traveling with 4-5 animals along the backside of Meares Island (by Tofino BC) then she showed up again, separated from the fleet. The next morning she was on her own with this calf with a still wrinkly and moderately folded fin. -Rod Palm, Principal Investigator, Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society Photos by John Forde

*
9:05 pm - spotted 3 Orcas heading north in Carr Inlet. Probably north of Kopachuck State Park by now. -Sarah Richey Guenther

*
4:23 - Small pod just south of Lime Kiln State Park right now. Appears to be fewer than five whales. -Jessie Hunter

*
Hearing calls on Lime Kiln (beneath the current giant ship noise). Began at 3:15 PM. -Justis McLaren

*
9:05 pm - spotted 3 Orcas heading north in Carr Inlet. Probably north of Kopachuck State Park by now. -Sarah Richey Guenther

*
5:54 - watched them round the tip of McNeil, heading northwest between Fox and McNeil. Lots of tail slapping, breaching and spy hopping, they don't seem to be in a hurry. They were pretty far for even my 600mm lens, but hopefully someone on Fox can get some lovely shots of their evening!
5:47 - very close to shore at the southern tip of McNeil island, likely traveling between Fox and McNeil.
5:21 - seem to be heading toward the south end of McNeil, with some nice beaches.
5:19 - They are moving slowly north, but still on the north side of Chambers golf course from my perspective. I have confirmation that they came up theeast side of Anderson island around 4pm, and I have 4.
4:58 - from Anderson Island, I have 3-6 Orca in 2 groups on either side of the chambers golf course. One set near a small stationary boat, the others north of that. Seem to be milling with no direction of travel, or maybe headed slightly north of the chambers golf course. One set near a small stationary boat, the others north of that. Seem to be milling with no direction of travel, or maybe headed slightly north. -Belen Bilgic Schneider

*
3:31 - At least 3 orcas in Nisqually, enjoying there afternoon seal snack. All the crabbers are gone so they are just hanging out not being bothered. -Miranda Ries

*
1 pm - We saw three groups heading west toward Shelton, Hammersly Inlet, about 2 hours apart - never saw them coming back out heading east. -Jana Walters

*
12:30 - Family of Orcas sighted traveling north from south end of Harstine Island. -Dianne Ramsey

*
10:45 - Ts were out there for 3 hours in Budd and Eld Inlet. They played and breached a lot in front of Dana Passage. -Kristin Boberg Susalski

*
11 am - The orcas headed east through Eld Inlet on the south side of Squaxin and Harstine islands. Then they headed north into Dana Passage and kept going. There were 6. These image were taken with a long telephoto lens and are cropped. And, within whale watching/boating guidelines. -Kim Merriman

*
The whale is out in the middle between Erlands Point and Tracyton 4:35 pm. I'm out in a 22' Boston Whaler, drifting about 300yards away from him/her (I don't know how to sex a grey whale and it seems rude to poke down there). -Katnip Sun

*
3:14 - Gray whale update: A caller to our newsroom just now reported that it's in Dyes Inlet, visible from Silverdale Waterfront Park. -Kitsap Sun

*
2:12pm - So apparently there's a grey whale somewhere in the vicinity of Sinclair inlet. Last report I saw was that it was headed away from Silverdale and somewhere toward either Port Orchard and Gorst, back out toward Seattle. Could have turned around but the people I saw at Evergreen said they didn't see it turn around. -Matthew Scheer

*
10:37 - Something breaching under the Warren Ave bridge in Bremerton. Trying to get at better look. At Evergreen Park. -Ann Haines

June 9
11:35: Hearing them on Orcasound now.
11:14 am: Activity on Lime Kiln. -Jill Clogston

*
it was so sweet to see J51 socializing with some other youngsters (J47 and J46) today in Rosario Strait. Tsuchi (J31), Lapis (L103), Nugget (L55), and the tip of Oreo's (J22) dorsal fin.They were rolling around and over each other. It was beyond sweet to watch. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
J-Pod and part of L-Pod in Haro Strait. -Monika Wieland

*
A group of transients were seen near Allen Island. They were ID'ed as the T137s and T046s. Here's T137 and her kiddo, T137D. The Ts grouped up together as they pushed offshore in the late afternoon light. It was striking. I later saw them from shore at Washington Park as they continue north towards Bellingham Channel before I lost sight of them. -Sara Hysong Shimazu

*
There have been four Orcas in Hammersley inlet and Oakland bay at various times of the day, both early morning and mid afternoon. One has a high straight fin with no markings, one has a high straight fin with a notch in the back side about half way down. The third has a fin that curls over to the left at the tip and appears damaged with a notch at the top. The last has a shorter fin with no markings. First sighting of Orcas here in some time. -Thomas Pearson

*
2:15 pm - There are 4 whales in Hammersley Inlet now... most of the day but I have been hesitant to post because we don't want boats getting close. We think 3 adults and 1 baby. -Penny Walden

*
2:13 pm - Just saw 3 orcas in Hammersley Inet, Shelton heading to town. -Lori Shipman

*
11:25 am - John Gore reports seeing four orcas, including two adult males, a female and a juvenile, in Hammersly Inlet at Libby Point.

*
8:05 am - Orca Pod fishing south of Herron Island in Case Inlet this morning. Last I saw they were moving west toward Harstine Island. -Karen Dorans

*
5 or 6 Orcas this morning (06:00 to 06:45) between Vaughn Bay and Dutchers Cove, Case Inlet. We watched them slowly head south toward the Heron Island ferry dock. Looked to be two adult males, two adult females and a youngster? Amazing! -Jeff and Kim

*
At 6:15 AM Orcas were sighted on the outgoing tide in front of my house on Hammersley Inlet in Shelton. Saw 4 large whales leaping andt raveling out on the tide. AWESOME!!! -Barbara Hinck

*
This is one of the orcas that was in Hammersly Inlet today. They were heading in toward Oakland Bay (Shelton) around 5:45 this morning, then came back out around 6:15 or 6:30 then about 6:45, they were going back in again. -Opal Singer

*
5:00am - Three Orcas in Hammersley Inlet this morning! We live about midway between Oakland Bay and Arcadia point. Around 5:00 am my husband woke me to report that Orcas were swimming past our house. They have been back and forth three times now, and were probably hanging out in these waters last night too. -Rebecca Suhre

*
T46E and T137A traveling north in Rosario Strait. T46's and T137's (T46, T46D, T46E, T46F, T122, T137, T137A, T137B, and T137D) in Rosario Strait and Bellingham Channel. (See Center for Whale Research Encounter #42.) -David Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

*
7pm - Gray whale in Sinclair Inlet. Sighted this approx. 35ft gray whale in Sinclair Inlet off Kitsap Marina and Elandan Gardens near Gorst, WA. -Ronald Miller

*
A mighty humpback cartwheel in Rosario Strait. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

June 8
We enjoyed a spectacular evening with J-Pod, including J27 Blackberry and L95 Nigel, and part of L-Pod in Haro Strait. The whales were in a roly-poly mood, and it was fun to watch! Here's a few of them in front of Mt. Baker. -Monika Wieland

*
We had another amazing trip today - whales reported out by Cypress Island, so close to home! What a great surprise to find J-Pod almost in our back yard. We had some wonderful views of them before heading south towards James Island where we found 2 Humpback whales, wow! Our passengers then had a choice - and voted to head back north to see J-pod for another short look, our special treat for doing so was a TRIPLE spyhop from members of J-pod! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

*
9:47 am - Maia of WSF called to report 10 orcas in the middle of Rosario Strait, feeding, possibly northbound.

*
We saw orcas on two different dates. We saw one group of 7 to 9 orcas on the seventh and then the next day on the eighth, both in Eld Inlet. -Andrew Edwards

*
T101A from tonight's encounter with the T101's. They were traveling north through the Strait of Georgia as per their normal routine. -Heather MacIntyre

*
This is one impressive orca! T102 is simply massive! Every time I see him I'm impressed by his size ... Here is the thirty-one year old bull orca with a spyhop just after making a kill in the Strait of Georgia. -Heather MacIntyre

*
7:15 pm - We saw a smalll pod of about five orcas, with one male. Appeared to be hunting off Protection Island, neighbor thinks they are seal hunters, not local pod. -Paul King

*
Beautiful Orca seen from our deck on Eld Inlet late afternoon. This pod was heading to the Port of Olympia. We live on Salty Drive off Hunter Point road in the steamboat community. -Kristin Susalski

*
A group of Transients was sighted in Newport OR on Monday, June 8. Unfortunately I didn't get to see them, but several folks around town have reported seeing them swimming up into Yaquina Bay. Here are two posts that I've seen on Facebook, including pictures. -Jim Rice

*
Orcas in Yaquina Bay OR, what a #WorldOceansDay treat! They've headed back out to sea, be on the lookout for this crew as they head north and likely visit a few more deep ports and bays along the way! -Photo courtesy of Oregon Marine Reserves

June 7
Some whales came through Active Pass about 1:45 this afternoon. -Mary Greenwood

*
8:00 PM - Baby orca traveling with what looked like three other juveniles. Had seen all seven on Saturday (6th) by Harstine. Photo of calf taken with a telephoto lens by Harstine Island. -Dan Beaudoin

*
2:00 pm - On a whale watch tour with my family, and the captain got a report of minkes off of Cattle Point. Went out and spent quite awhile (an hour, maybe?) on the water with at least two minkes. -Beth Schivitz

June 6
I was lucky enough to see what I think were three different pods, here is one of them. Off of Pickering Rd. by the bridge in Pickering Passage. -Maria Nelson

*
We spotted a pod of at least 8 orcas in Puget Sound around Harstine Island just under the bridge, they were traveling south to Steamboat Island, then turned around and headed back towards the bridge at about 3pm. There were several boats escorting them but keeping their distance. -Jeri Sevier

*
1:30 PM - Orca Sighting in Pickering Passage. Saw a pod of at least 5 but probably 6 Orcas in Pickering Passage between Harstine Island Bridge and Northern Tip of Squaxin Island this past Saturday. Calmly traveling South intially just to double back 20 minutes later. They were trailed by quite a bunch of boats. -Carsten Eisenbarth

June 5
7:15-ish am - Orcas traveling south, passing under the Narrows Bridge. Counted five (?) total. There were a handful of boats sitting under the bridge fishing as the Orcas approached, all kept their motors off. -Beth Blankenship

June 4
There were some orcas just off County Park (San Juan Island) about +/- 2 Pm. Super pod of J's & L's? -Peggy Strickland

*
1 pm - got a call from the WA State Ferries of about 6-8 orcas heading west in Spieden Channel, just north of Roche Harbor.

*
Saw a lone dolphin while kayaking at Dick Gilmore park, Tacoma/Browns point area around 8 pm tonight. Very close to the shore. Wasn't very active. Maybe lost/sick. (There have been several sightings of two, and now a lone Pacific White-sided dolphin in the south Puget Sound for about a year). -Tim Larson

*
8:39 - Headed back north. But still south of Kingston. I couldn't even begin to tell you who it was but there was probably at least 10-15. I lost them after they turned north. 8:23 - Kingston - Edmonds Ferry riders... Orcas are on your right! Looks like they're just milling around. Just south of the ferry lane. -Laura Finch

*
8:28 pm - Pod of at least 6 individuals heading generally south off of Jefferson Point in Kingston. Going forward, then sometimes heading back close to other individuals. Maybe cruising (or feeding?) -Teri Munter

*
2:23 pm - Just saw a pod of 4+ orcas while on the port Townsend ferry...Looked like they were headed west, maybe slightly northwest. -Jason Weigner

June 3
L's came back in today! Just a quick clip of the L55's off Edwards Point on San Juan Island. We had the L4's, L47's and L95 on the west side of San Juan Island. Encounter #40 Video by Center for Whale Research

*
7:52 pm - still hearing them and getting louder
7:33 pm - Hearing some clicks and a couple calls on Lime Kiln Hydro! -Nicole Soulodre

*
Great day (and even better evening) spent with the L4's, L47's, and L95 Nigel! They were very social tonight, as opposed to this afternoon where they were very serious about foraging. It was lovely to see them socializing before sunset. So grateful to have seen some of L Pod today, it's been a while. -Heather MacIntyre

*
12:38 pm - Off Pile Pt and Hannah Heights following Nigel, L95, and two more whales. Possibly Fluke and Racer? -Chris Grams

*
11:58 am - There they are! L pod on Lime Kiln. -Gayle Swigart

*
9:20 am - Some L pod members were seen off the west side of San Juan Island this morning, their first appearance in the Salish Sea this year. More later as info comes in. -Howard Garrett

*
Surprise! L-Pod showed up on the west side this morning! June 3rd is the same day the first Ls came "in" last year, too. Here's L27 Ophelia with L82 Kasatka - L116 Finn was with them too. It's just like catching up with old friends to see these guys after so many months! -Monika Wieland

*
Very unique T encounter yesterday. At least 20 whales, including the exotic Ts and fan faves T65As and T137s. PLUS!!! The T124As, T86A1, and T100B. Their behaviour was very cool and perplexing. Social milling is the only way I could describe it. They barely moved a quarter mile the entire time we were with them, they were basically all in one clump, but not necessarily touching each other like you might expect from social KWs. Very little surface activity like spyhops or tail slaps. They were just spinning around each other in a big clump. Maybe somewhat of a cautious greeting/inspection toward the T125s? Lots of playful speculation that the ladies were drawn in from far and wide to meet these handsome strangers from Alaska to help maintain a strong gene pool down here if you know what i'm saying~ -Tasli Shaw

June 2
It was that kind of evening! T127, Strait of Georgia. -James Maya

*
So so exciting to see the nearly-mythical T125s finally! Them and the T65As were on form chowing down in nearly the same spot for the whole encounter. Lots of activity and great vocals on the hydrophone! -Andy Scheffler

*
I am beyond stoked that I got to see these guys! T128 and T127 near Saturna Island today. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
11:04 am - A pod of orcas is just swinging by our place now, Boundary pass, South Pender. -Jennifer Conkie

*
Izzy Menendez who works for the Quilieute Tribe reported seeing 2 orcas about 100 ft. from the mouth of the Quillayute River this afternoon around 2 - 3 pm. Visitors at the resort there got some good photos.

*
About 6 pm Tuesday there was another sighting called in by Ronald Lindbelom of probably the same three orcas, about 2 miles north of Klaloch Lodge, again about 100 yards off the beach. That's about 20 miles in about 3-4 hours.

*
5:30 pm: West Beach Rd, NW Whidbey Isl. between NAS Whidbey & Partridge Pt, John Hartley reported one whale heading south, with a light colored small dorsal fin, possibly a Minke.

June 1
L Pod was reported traveling South off Blunden Island (off Tofino BC, west coast of Vancouver Island) around 2:15 pm today. They were off Wilf Rocks an hour later. Around 4:15 pm they were off Frank Island. When we caught up to them just after 5, they were past Cox Point. Despite their fast travel they were having a blast in the chop and were breaching, spyhopping, tail lobbing and cartwheeling. L121 was sighted and was even seen in the care of L41, Mega. Also identified with the pod was L25, the presumed mother of Lolita, who is in the Miami Seaquarium. We left the pod as they reached Long Beach, around 6:20pm. -Marcie Callewaert/VMSC

*
Photos of J Pod traveling north through Boundary Pass, heading for Active Pass. J50 sandwiched in between her sister J42 Echo and mother, J16 Slick. You can really see the rake marks on her tiny little fin here, which is why I cropped it so close. I'm so grateful she survived whatever experience she had to go through to be brought into this world. -Heather MacIntyre

*
Spent some time with J pod in Canadian waters which was very spread out, very choppy so hard to get nice clear shots, but confirmed J27, J28, L87...also got 2 babies, possibly J50 and J52....not 100% on that yet. Looks like they were all up there, I think I got Granny, too, she was leading the way with Onyx a little way behind her. -Janine Harles

*
A good start to Orca Month - off we went to find orca. We traveled in between the San Juan Islands out towards Stuart Island, and found J-pod! They were spread out in small groups - our first whales were the J16's with 5 month old J50. Even though the seas were a little choppy, we had great views of them, and also caught up with Granny, Onyx, Doublestuf, Princess Angeline and many other whales. What a privilege to see these amazing whales, and the light rain we encountered didn't faze our enthusiastic passengers. A great day again. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

*
A couple of shore based shots from encounter with J Pod. All J16 matriline whales, but pretty cool that you can see these guys up close from the beach! -Jeff Hogan, Killer Whale Tales

*
I played a hunch today and caught the early ferry over to San Juan Island and caught Big Mama (see humpback section) and J pod at Lime Kiln. Then I headed out on the water in the afternoon and saw J pod again. It was a lovely, lovely day---if a bit damp. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

*
11:14 am - Just heard some calls on Orcasound. -Jill Clogston

*
10:40 am - Freighter fading into the distance and silly J Pod calls on Lime Kiln. -Connie Bickerton

*
S4 calls at 10:38 and whistling starting at 10:40. Intermittent echolocation starting at 10:23, along with approaching cargo ship. -Gayle Swigart

*
11:06 am - echolocation now on OrcaSound hps.
10:39 am - Loud S4 calls on Lime Kiln hps.
6:05 am - turned on Lime Kiln and pretty sure hearing distant J pod calls. Heard them for about 15 minutes. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

*
3:20 am - I heard them (orcas) pretty loud on Orca Sound. -Connie Bickerton Received a report from Nadja Baker - Deception Pass tours boat was with two humpbacks (mother and calf) a few miles south of Deception Island, heading south around 2:30 pm, then seen milling around Lawson Reef buoy.

*
The big surprise of the day. BCY0324 Big Mama from Lime Kiln around 12:30! I was sitting at a bench eating breakfast when I heard a very loud blow and ran to the rocks to find her close to shore and cruising south. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu