March 2019 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of March 2019 whale sightings.

March 31
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Sun Mar 31 - ~ 17:40 - Sighting of Killer whale - 31st of March - I went out to sea last weekend and we saw some killer whale pods. the East coast of Orca Island (N 48°41.727 W 122°48.382). We identified J27 but not sure for the other. Could you tell me who is who ? J16 Slick, J35 Tahlequah and J42 Echo, J26 Mike, J49 T'ilem Inges, J27 Blackberry, J27 Blackberry. Photos by Laurène Trudelle, Mar 31, 2019
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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Sat Mar 31 - L Pod Monterey Bay, CA Newest SRKW calf L124 with her/his family in Monterey Bay, Caliornia. (L124 was first seen in Puget Sound on January 10th and confirmed by CWR on January 11th in Juan de Fuca Strait.) -Photo by Kate Spencer, Mar 31, 2019
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"These calves are among the ~40 critically endangered Southern Resident orcas that we are watching today! They are 32-year-old L77 Matia (open saddle, often seen in these salmon-eating resident orcas) with her 3 month old newborn L124...and 24-year-old L91 Muncher with her 4-year-old son L122 Magic.So fantastic to see these very active young calves: hope they feast on salmon! Our crew were first to spot them, over two miles away through binocs." -Photos by guest Nicene Shimotomai, and our naturalist Kara Hall, Mar 31, 2019
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11:30 - ORCA ALERT (updated!) Southern Residents in Monterey Bay, right now! Our vessel Blackfin is on a very rare encounter with over 40 critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, including adult female L72 Racer, pictured below! Our Capt. Scott Charlan spotted them first, from over two miles away (through binocs): very active, with lots of breaching! Our Marine Biologist/MBWW owner, killer whale researcher Nancy Black, was the first to encounter and identify them here in January 2000; we have not seen them here since 2011! Photo: naturalist Kara Hall: More later! -Monterey Bay Whale Watch
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"We found and identified the Southern Resident Killer Whales in Monterey Bay today!! and observed them possibly feeding later in the day. They had been traveling in a tight group for a while and then spread out and milled over a mile plus area in mostly singles. We saw one whale circle and leave a distinct small slick in the water. We also found the new calf, L124 that was born in December and good news the calf is still alive! Many people have been asking us that. Kara Hall our naturalist on the Blackfin this morning noticed right away that some Killer Whales had open saddles and they were not our regular transients. She sent the photo to me right away at 10:30 am. I called Ken Balcomb of Center for Whale Research to alert him and Alisa Schulman-Janiger had the latest guide book from up north to ID a few whales from a shot taken from back of Kara's camera They quickly were confirmed as L Pod. Shortly after we confirmed the new calf From a photo taken by Nicene Shimotomai, with Tomoko Shimotomai, was still with them by sending the screen shot of mom and baby directly to Ken Balcomb. We hope they are finding salmon to eat here and stay safe as they are foraging all around many crab traps in Monterey Bay. I first sighted L and part of K pod in 2000, 19 years ago and have identified them just a few other times, the last time we saw them was 2011 in Monterey Bay although they are known to travel down the west coast in the winter searching for salmon." (See Nancy's Facebook Video HERE) - Sightings For: 3/31/19 -Nancy Black, Monterey Bay WW
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These endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales were last in Monterey Bay in 2011, and our Captain Kate saw them then too. Today's sighting of over 30 of them, traveling northward, was a rare and exciting treat. The newest calf, L-124, is alive and thriving! These salmon hunters are the subject of intense concern in their home waters of the Salish Sea, where it's clear that their numbers are dwindling in large part due to lack of large wild Chinook (king) salmon to eat. We hope they are finding California Chinook salmon on this apparent foraging journey. The clothing company Patagonia has funded a new film that faces the solution for both wild salmon and these orcas that depend on them: tearing down river dams, and reducing farmed salmon. Watch the trailer, learn more, and take action here: https://www.patagonia.com/artifishal.html Read about an earlier 2008 sighting, on a very rough windy January day back when our Captain Kate was a naturalist with another company: https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Puget-Sound-orcas-feeding-in-California-again-1262889.php We expect more sightings of California transient/Bigg's killer whales, the mammal hunters, in April and May. L77 Matia, L124's mama. -Photos by Captain ©Kate Spencer, Fast Raft
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Sun Mar 31
15:20 - Js still milling near Patos, potentially trending SE now (so maybe Rosario?)
14:07 - Js coming DOWN from East Point, may aim President's channel.
13:01 - Js picked up heading north, north of East Point. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Mon Apr 1 - Orcas off Thormanby Island, B.C. On April 1, 2019 - We were hiking in Smugglers Cove so didn't expect a sighting and were slow to get photo but there were 7 Orcas heading south. -Colleen Andrew, Sechelt, B.C.
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Sun Mar 31 - ~15:20 - Sighting of Killer whale - around 3:20 pm in front of Vancouver, BC. (N 48°58.076 W 123°16.055) Laurène Trudelle T36A1 and T36A3 T100F and T100 T100E and T100C Photos by Laurène Trudelle, Mar 31, 2019 (IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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GRAY WHALES - Sun Mar 31 - Penn Cove - 11:23am. Grey whale 100 yards off the green buoy that marks the entrance into Penn Cove. Can't tell direction of travel. -Erick Anderson
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Sun Mar 31 - Possession Sound - 18:05 - I just saw 3 (grey?) whales just north of Hat Island, W/NW of Tulalip Bay. Appears there were two adults and one small juvenile. -Paul Kelly
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16:30 - Gray whales between Hat Island and Camano today at 4:30pm. -Sarah Joplin
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Best friends - gray whales #21 Shackleton and #22 Earhart. These two were the first gray whales to be documented in Puget Sound by Cascadia Research and have been regular visitors ever since. Part of the Sounders group. Photo taken east of Hat/Gedney Island 3/31/19. -Photo by Jill Hein, Mar 31, 2019
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09:46 - 2 Grays off south end of Camano, viewing from Langley! - Photo by David Haeckel, Mar 31, 2019
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OTHER SPECIES - Sun Mar 31 - Hi Alisa and folks at the Orca Network, Fun day on Whidbey today. Started off at sunrise (really fogged in) at Hidden Drive Parking Lot where I saw a family of 3 otters, then Langley Lookout at around 9am when we started to see 2-3 Gray Whales on the South end of Camano Island heading South. I then went to Possession Point State Park where I was treated by 2 Harbor Porpoises about 25 yards off the shore. Enjoy the pictures. Sorry the Gray Whales pictures weren't better, they were pretty far away even with my 500mm. -David Haeckel
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Sun Mar 31 - South Puget Sound - gray whale off Steilacoom. -Photos by Chris Hamilton, Mar 31, 2019
(Alie Perez, Cascadia Research: "Took it through the CRC catalog but didn't find it and it is a different mystery gray from the one seen the day before further north".)
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18:49 - I'm seeing a (I think) gray whale off of Fox Island last seen about 25 minutes ago headed south. -Desiree Sauve
~ 17:55 - Looking out towards Mcneil Island from Chambers Way around 5:55 headed south at a good speed. -Photo by Desiree Sauve, Mar 31, 2019
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UNCONFIRMED SPECIES - Sun Mar 31 - (Possible/probable some/all these reports are the gray who was confirmed off Steilacoom late afternoon -see Chris Hamilton images in gray whale section -alb)
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15:20-15:25 - Humpback (Not certain on species. All sightings were from a distance) observed from Salmon Beach 3:20, headed south toward narrows bridge on west side of channel. 3:25 update, now appears under the narrows bridge near mid span. -Zeno Martin
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12:48 - Humpback/grey? 200 yards out from Al's in Olalla still headed south. -Photo by Robyn Dally, Mar 31, 2019
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11:45 - Large whale headed south in Colvos Pass. Just south of Southworth. Kitsap side....it seemed to be moving south slowly but steady. We are about 1.5 miles from Southworth. It was very large and appeared to dark colored and looked like a humpback. -Kristi King
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11:20 - Colvos pass humpback southbound close to west shore 3.31 at 1120. Apx 1 mile south of Southworth ferry terminal....It had a dorsal on its back is why I thought humpback and its blow was not heart shaped like a gray are but straight up. The whale watching here this week has been fabulous! And Moby (pup) here has been doing a great job letting us know the whales are coming, he lives for it! -Cheers, Tim Ferris

March 30 Sat Mar 30 - J Pod and Active Pass. It felt a little bit like the good ol' days. The J16s and J19s arrived at the mouth of the pass first, and waited patiently for the rest of the whales to catch up before they all made their way through the pass together, just as J2 used to do. -Stunning VIDEO by Tasli Shaw
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J19 "Shachi" spyhopping (see image below) on the south side of Active Pass as she, her family and the J16s waited patiently for the rest of J Pod to catch up before entering the pass. The moments while they waited were absolutely incredible. Watching them lay almost motionless at the surface looking at one another, touching, rubbing and playing is one of those moments that remind of you of how lucky you are to spend time with such an incredible sentient being and how important it is to do everything you can do to protect them. J 19 spyhops in Active Pass while waiting for the rest of J pod. J27, J41, J40, J19 and J36. -Gary Sutton
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Js went back north at some point today, and here they are in Active Pass this evening - just gorgeous! (Salish Sea Orca Squad Facebook Video). -Monika Wieland Shields
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We left them (Js) heading north past Moresby at 1420. -John Boyd
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Very rare event today on the west side of San Juan Island: southern resident killer whales surfed up Haro Strait on a rare oceanographic phenomenon called an undulatory tidal bore! We heard a couple S4 calls over the ship noise before the whales surfed over the northern horizon...Orcasound - Listen for Whales FB page
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. -Direction change! 9:13am - 9:24am 5-6 orca including J42 Echo, J37 Hy'Shga, J47 Notch with his Mom J35 Tahlequah traveling N/NW between the far northwest edge of Hannah Hts Edwards Pt. J35 Tahlequah rose from the surface, twisted to her side and gave a resounding pectoral slap before gently slipping back under. Too cool Tahlequah!
0721-09:13 - Hi Alisa! I have attached photos very enlarged and cropped, with my best guess IDs (IDs confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)....Observed and photographed from shore. 3-30-19 Haro Strait SJI:
7:21am at first light observed 3-4 orca, very spread out, traveling S/SE between Edwards Pt and the far northwest edge of Hannah Hts. 1 male.
8:10am 2-3 orca including J26 Mike, spread out traveling S/SE between Edwards Pt and the far northwest edge of Hannah Hts. Beautiful glassy sea. J35 and J47, J37, J42, J26. -Michelline Halliday, SJI
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10:22 - Just tuned in to Lime Kiln hydrophone hearing sweet vocals of J pod...Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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10:01 - Hearing them on LK and saw a couple on the webcam right in front of the lighthouse. -Tami McEathron
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J Pod was on the west side of San Juan early this morning heading south - does anyone have eyes on them now? -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Mar 30 - hi, Attached 3 long distance shots of small group of presumed transients taken around noon on march 30th. Location off S Saturna shore roughly midway between monarch head and E point. Only merit of photos is lively action of baby orca. Any id possible? -Photo by James McLarnon, Vancouver BC
("T36As. Yep! And the new calf and T36A3." ID by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sat Mar 30 - 19:50 - Approx 5-7 mature with baby, entrance lighthouse to Snake Island (Nanaimo area). Small boat, open aluminum like, with 4-5 people harassing them, following very close and not making an attempt to steer away...boat is heading towards Nanaimo now. -Thanks, Alex Noel
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Sat Mar 30 - Penn Cove - 14:28 - Grey whale spotted in Penn Cove, headed north! -Josh Hattie
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Sat Mar 30 - N Saratoga Pass - 16:04 - I got a phone pic of a grey from my niece over on base in crescent harbor just now, feeding close to shore. -Marcie Goldberg
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Sat Mar 30 - S Saratoga Pass - ~ 12:15 - Near bells beach. Whidbey Island. They were traveling south very close to shore. My husband took the picture from shore with a cell phone. -Mary Ann Vachher Elbert
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08:30 - Elizabeth Steele reports gray whales, possibly 2, Saratoga Passage mid channel of heading northbound out from Langley Park.
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Sat Mar 30 - Hi, if correct, looks like we have 4-5 harbor porpoise North end of Case Inlet milling around just South of Allyn. -Beverly Lynch McCallum

March 29
BIGG'S TRANSIENTS KILLER WHALES - Fri Mar 29 - ~18:00 - Jeffrey Stites sent video via Facebook of orcas (at least 3, inc male & calf) in Port Alberni.
(Melisa Pinnow, CWR reviewed video, IDd pod as T123s)
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Penn Cove - 13:40 - There's a gray travelling slowly west on north side of Penn Cove, 200 yds west of Rolling Hills pier. General direction is towards Grasser's lagoon. Diving for 5-10 minutes then coming up for 3-4 blows. -Brian MIller
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Fri Mar 29 - N Saratoga Pass - 07:30 - 2 greys headed South mid-way between Whidbey and Camano, Saratoga Passage. South of Coupeville now. One is significantly smaller. -Nancy Fryhling Sinnett
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Fri Mar 29 - S Saratoga Pass - After seeing at least 4 whale watch boats stop, then leave, just south of my house, I was able to spot the 2 gray whales feeding on the ghost shrimp beds in VERY shallow water. By the timing and location, I assume they were #21 & #22 as reported earlier by Jill Hein. One was much lighter color. After all the commericial boats left, the whales spent a long, leisurely, time feeding in very close proximity to each other and moving slowly north to Mabana. The calm water and sun reflecting off the whales made for some absolutely beautiful whale watching. You could see them below the water, then barely breaking the surface and hardly blowing. -Barbara Brock
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A few photos from Friday of gray whales in Saratoga Passage. #21 Shackelton and #22 Earhart were feeding along the shore just south of Pebble Beach, Camano, and #723 Lucyfer and friend (s) were spotted mid-channel between Pebble Beach and Langley, heading south-westerly towards the Delta. We also spotted many Brant geese - spring migrants in the area, getting ready to head to Alaska and beyond for breeding season. -Jill Hein
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Today was my first day ever working on the Glacier Spirit out of Langley. It was a really fun trip and the wildlife was quite cooperative! Just moments after I announced what to look for passengers shouted "A blow! Three o' clock!" Sure enough, we found Gray Whales #21 Shackleton and #22 Earheart feeding in the shallow waters near Camano Island right across from Langley. They were accompanied by a Harbor Seal and a number of birds. Later we spotted two more Gray Whales out in the deeper part of Saratoga Passage along with some Harbor Porpoises. While we never managed to ID the third whale, we were happy to see the fourth was none other than #723 Lucyfer! As far as I'm aware, today was the first day this fan favorite was seen back in Puget Sound this year. -Justine Buckmaster
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12:40 - Jill Hein aboard Glacier Spirit called LWC to report: Grays 21 & 22 feeding near the shore of Camano across, slightly south of Pebble Beach, back and forth. Also gray whale 723 and 1 or 2 others midway between Camano and Whidbey southbound trending towards Evetett. Total of 5 on the trip. This would be first confirmed sigting of 723 and 21.
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12:18pm. Gray Whale. Veiwed with binoculars from the waterfront park in Langley down the little hill from the whale bell. The whale is hugging the shore line of Camano Island. So exciting! -Amber Limb
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12:30 - Another (gray) appeared over towards Whidbey about 12:30. I think heading south.
11:10 - 2 gray whales passed north close in to Camano and paused to feed between Pebble Beach and Summerland. -Don Sandnes
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Fri Mar 29 - Port Susan - 09:02 - Three Grays had breakfast at Tillicum Beach Camano Island Port Susan and are heading south along Tyee Beach within 200 yards of shore. -John Storbeck
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Fri Mar 29 - ~08:45 - I saw minkes in Holmes Harbor this morning. Maybe 3 or 4 of them? by Freeland Park....Yes, a friend told me they were actually harbor porpoise. 4 of them! They were about the size of a super large salmon, with rounded dorsal fins that were angled. -Elizabeth Steele

March 28
14:55 - Saw some dorsal fins from afar at Overlook Park in Edmonds. Stamm Overlook. They were straight West from the viewpoint. Several boats in the area. Mid-channel. -Ellesa Hunter
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14:30 pm viewing from Scatchet Head. Appears to be out from North of Edmonds or maybe out from Edmonds a few miles or so. Southbound...too far to ID. -Marilyn Armbruster
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14:25 - 2nd group: just when I moved to higher ground pod of 4 w/ calf came by super close to Picnic Point Southbound. Long dives by both groups. So further offshore must not have been the new calf. (T86As)
14:05 - finally spotted the orcas, at least 5 w/youngster, south of green buoy off Possession Point southbound grouped in flat clam seas, but distant. From across Sound at Picnic Point. (probably T124As). -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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13:56 - Orcas South of Possession boat lunch now
13:47 - I'm at Possession Beach and see them heading y way! -Donna George
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Coastguard boat and whales just beyond Clinton and Mukilteo ferry lanes with Cascade Mountains in the background. T86A3 Possession Sound off Glendale, Whidbey. -Photos by Sandra Pollard, Mar 28, 2019
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13:40 Orcas have passed Glendale heading south. 3-4 whales. Will I D later.
12:30 look as if they have turned back south as seen from Brighton Beach. Still Mukilteo side. -Sandra Pollard
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12:10 -A small group has been milling just north of ferry lane for awhile. -Alex Ho
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Saw the Orcas for the first time today. I was standing on the doc Next to the Mukilteo Ferry and they were just north of Clinton. Not the greatest photos but still excited to be able to see them. -Kathryn Everett
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11:43 - Two orcas off north side of Clinton bound ferry. Captain said there were some off Edmonds also. -Sue Ellen White
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11.40 - Seeing sunlit orca dorsals still more over Mukilteo side but heading north in ferry lanes. From Brighton Beach, Whidbey. -Sandra Pollard
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11:27 - T86As and 124As just made kill on a harbor seal. Mid channel between Mukilteo and Clinton. -Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga
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11:15 - Orcas stalled out a bit, moving toward mainland side. Viewing from Mukilteo. -Alex Ho
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11:00 - T124As and T86As northbound approaching the Clinton ferry lanes from the south. Spread out on the Whidbey side to mid channel. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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10:47 - Directional change, now heading towards Whidbey near Possession Beach boat launch while actively traveling northbound.
10:25 - viewing from Glendale Beach, Whidbey Island: from my vantage point orcas are on mainland side of mid channel and across from Possession Beach boat launch moving quickly...northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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09:00 - Mike from WS Ferries called to report 4 orcas 1/2 mile west of the Edmonds ferry dock transiting north.
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Thu Mar 28 - T019B "Galiano" spyhopping in Sansum Narrows today after multiple seal kills. -Photo by Gary Sutton
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Thu Mar 28 - ~13:30 - I spotted a pod of 5 Orcas while on Galiano island. They were in the Trincomali Channel at about 48.976058, -123.570571. We were on the shore and they were about 50 meters out. They were heading north-west. There was one male, three females and what looked like a tiny baby orca. -Matteo K
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Thu Mar 28 - ~ 17:00 - Outside my house today, Howe Sound, BC. There was a baby with them!! Instagram video. -Lori Payne
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Thu Mar 28 - Penn Cove - 15:00 - Smallish gray in Penn Cove, seems to be hanging around Toby's. It's been here for the past several days. Any idea who it might be? -Lee Fritsch
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Saw a gray whale in Coupeville at 1500, very slowly headed east. Maybe 800 yards from the marina. -Felicia Merkson
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11:28 - Gray whale near Zylstra Rd, Penn Cove. 2nd hand. -relayed by Jill Hein
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Thu Mar 28 - N Saratoga Pass & Skagit Bay. - 13:37 - Gray is heading across to Whidbey side (pin drop approx. 48°13'37.5"N 122°34'10.4"W (48.227094, -122.569550). -Terra Parham
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Noon - Just had a grey go by mid channel heading east between Whidbey and Camano (at a fast pace for a grey). I'm in between Polnell Point and Mariners Cove on Whidbey (Saratoga Passage). -Marcie Goldberg
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10:42 - We've got two Gray Whales in Skagit Bay feeding off Utsalady Point, Camano this morning. Same exact spot that one last year spent all Summer in. -Dean Kayler
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Thu Mar 28 - Mike French wrote to report seeing a gray whale off the docks at Captain Whidbey Inn. He also attached a short video clip, too distant for ID.
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Here are some photos from Thursday in Utsalady Bay and north Saratoga. There was a whale out in Saratoga that had a much larger blow...Photos by Chris Miller, Mar 28, 2019

March 27
Wed Mar 27 - T86As & T124As - 19:18 - Viewing from browns point. Mid channel north of browns point. Too far away to tell how many. Appear to be south bound still. 7:18 *looked like two or three at most. -Ashley Whitman
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18:48 - We saw two or three closer to vashon. From Maury overlook..We saw a little more but fin was what I got. There were two (possible mom and youth?) in this group. Possible third. -Photo by Caroline Martin Matter, Mar 27, 2019
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18:47 - Seeing them from Redondo pier. About 2/3 of the way across. Saw 2 maybe 3. Beth Selthofer
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18:42 - I just saw them (orcas) at Saltwater State Park (Des Moines) heading south. Mid-channel heading slightly more towards the Vashon side. They surfaced a couple times very briefly. -Maddie Perry
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From 18:00-18:15 I watched several orcas from Marine View Park. They were moving steadily southbound mid-channel with long dives. -Photo by Connor O'Brien. Mar 27, 2019
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18:13 - Just saw a couple of fins off Des Moines fishing pier, still heading south. -Robin Olson
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17:55- Orcas moving south towards Federal Way. -Sandhya Ballal
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17:40 - Pod (s) are on the south side of Three Tree Point heading SSE with Point Robinson as backdrop (line of sight) very slow pace and very long down times.
17:30 - Steady travel, rounding Three Tree Pt close and slow!
17:15 - We Came back to N side of Three Tree and Brittany Noelle spotted them...must have found a snack or just circling or different group? (same last place we saw them at 16:30). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:51 - Popped up really quick right in front of Three Tree Point then vanished. -Alexander Simenstad
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16:30 - Arrived at Three Tree Point and spotted blows. We (Brittany, Alex and I) watched the orcas to the north of Three Tree coming our way. Seemed to be steady southbound then they just disappeared before reaching the point. Brittany did spot an Elephant seal.
16:00 - Presume same group of 5+ just passed in front of Fauntleroy ferry dock, very slow southbound.
15:45 - Nice tight group of 5+ orcas w/calf just passed Lowman Beach close to West Seattle just on outside of weather buoy. Steady southbound
15:37- The orcas I am seeing, including calf, are east side of channel south of south end Emma Schmitz Park, still north of and heading towards Lincoln Park. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:24 - Approaching Blake Island (sightline) mid channel watching from Constellation Point...view was spectacular. -Photo by Kersti Muul, Mar 27, 2019
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15:40 - Now getting closer, east of middle channel approach Lowman Beach
15:23 - Orcas @yellow channel marker east side Bainbridge viewing from West Seattle Emma Schmitz Park southbound. -Mary Hartman
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15:21 - appear to be ~3 traveling southbound near channel marker due west of Constellation Park. Viewing from Constellation Park in West Seattle. -Shannon Donegan Saam
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4:01 - 3 individuals south of Fauntleroy terminal southbound. -Robyn Dally
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16:00 - 5+ orcas just passed in front of Fauntleroy ferry dock, very slow travel southbound.
15:45 - Nice group just passed Lowman Beach, just off weather buoy. Steady southbound grouped.
14:48 - seeing at least a few orcas mid channel out from north end of Elliott Bay, steady southbound. Look to close to crossing Ferry lanes of Seattle/Bainbridge run. Others including the calf east side of channel. From Elliott Bay Marina. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:17 - I just saw them approaching Discovery Park Lighthouse (West Point). -Alexandre Simenstad
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14:10 - At least 2, no tall dorsal fins, still SB off Discovery Park Lighthouse. East of yellow channel marker. -Brittany Noelle
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(Notes: Orcas did slow, but not completely sure which whales I was looking at any given moment due to choppy seas. Initial group I saw at 1:30 was grouped heading inshore by never saw them across length of park...after that (1:45 on) I was Primarily seeing blows, occasional dorsals as they continued south. Still visible from Carkeek at 1:55. - alb)
13:45 - Long dives! Orcas cleared the length of from north of to the south of Carkeek park! Spread from south end of park to east of mid channel, now slow progress southbound.
13:30 - pod off north end of Carkeek Park now, steady southbound on east side of channel.
13:15 - at least some are traveling at high speed, some porpoising, southbound out from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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1239 - Orcas on a kill... looking north off the end of the Point Wells pier, drifting south with the current. I'm at Kayu Kayu Ac Park (Shoreline). -Ariel Yseth
positive ID for T86A3 for the nearshore group at Kayu Kayu at 13:00
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12:21 - we are still seeing blows in same area. Alex Ho saw a mammal above surface so we are thinking they are stalled hunting since they appear to be in same location.
12:15 - They traveled fast...got to Edmonds Marina Beach, seeing blows to south between Edmonds Marina Beach and Point Wells, Woodway. Not sure which group this is.
11:42 - 2nd trailing group of orcas now off Ocean Ave closer inshore to Edmonds. Tightly grouped while southbound.
11:30 - seeing blows and shiny bodies in rough seas, (& biting breeze) approx .1/2 -1 mile offshore Edmonds from Ocean Ave. Steady southbound travel, 2 groups short distance apart. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:00 - At least 5 orcas just went by southbound near Picnic Point followed by passenger boats. -Katie Volz
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Email rcvd11:02 - My dad just told me he saw some orcas heading south past Mukilteo. Maybe two or three. Too far for pictures. He saw at least one breaching. He only saw them because he had been watching a vessel going north that changed track toward the orcas. When he saw the orcas there were three vessels trailing At a distance. Glacier Spirit, Saratoga, and Island Explorer. His house is up on the bluff with a view of the southern tip of Whidbey Island. -Jennifer W
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10:44 - Yep, we have the T124As too. Two groups, one closer to Whidbey the other closer to the mainland.
10:30 - Glacier Spirit had T86A pod at least southbound from Mukilteo ferry lanes. Maybe others too...Bart Rulon Glacier Spirit
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10:00 - group of sea pandas just north of Clinton Mukilteo Southbound. (T86As, T124As). -Christopher Lewman
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08:55 - Hi, Sighted four (4) Orcas off the north end of Hat Island from the 98260 zip code, View Rd. -Larry Nichols
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Wed Mar 27 "...By 1730, all of the groups had trickled back into the same area outside of Thatcher Pass. The T46s had arrived from the east and T46D had apparently re-joined the rest of the family at some point. The T49As, T99B, and T99C arrived from the north first, then T36, T99, T99D, and T137A. The T36As and T36Bs brought up the rear and all the whales slowly meandered west toward to the entrance to Thatcher Pass. The T49As then split from the other whales and headed into Thatcher Pass. When this happened, the rest of the whales turned around and headed south in Rosario Strait, hugging the James Island shoreline as they went. The encounter ended at 1805." -Full report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 24.
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12:35 - T137's, T036A's, T036B's & T099's northbound off of Whidbey Island 2 miles off shoreline. Quickly heading towards Rosario. Also 3 other orcas reported in mid Rosario. -Monika Wieland Shields
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11:37 - They just covered an insane amount of water in a short time. They are moving fast!...they are well north of Minor Island and aiming towards Iceberg Point, still in a hurry.
11:22 they are now porpoising in a hurry northbound.
10:05 leaders look to be aiming for San Juan Islands. Nearly out of my sight now.
09:44 looks like some starting to track NE now. Still far away and tiny specks but I can see blows and dorsals without binos now.
09:29 they're spread out. One group is about 1/2 mile offshore of Fort Ebey. N/NW bound.
09:15 whales are just specks through my binos, viewing from Fort Ebey... Currently tracking northbound. -Rachel Haight
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8:10 am Large group of sea pandas (20+) northbound at Port Townsend all grouped together. -Christopher Lewman
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On March 27 after finding the T86A pod and T124A pod near Mukilteo on Glacier Spirit we cruised over to look for gray whales. #22, Earhart, stole the show from the orcas by spyhopping 5 times along the northeastern shoreline of Hat Island! - Photos by Bart Rulon, Puget Sound Express, Mar 27, 2019
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#2246 was feeding in the chop, right along the edge of the Snohomish River Delta. -Photos by Renee Beitzel, March 27, 2019
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Wed Mar 27 - 18:30 - While watching the T86As and 124As coming towards us at Three Tree Point we watched an Elephant seal for several minutes hanging out head above surface about 1/4 mile north of the public beach access on the northside. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

March 26
"Ken called Dave at home in the late morning to relay a report that J pod had been found heading slowly down Boundary Pass. Dave grabbed his gear, headed to the boat, and left Snug Harbor around 1145ish. "Orcinus" got to the general area in Boundary Pass around 1215 but the whales were so spread out that it was 1230 before the first whales were seen and encountered. The first group encountered was J36, J41, and J51 and they were about halfway between Blunden Island and Johns Pass. J17 and J53. The threesome were socializing as they fast traveled east toward White Rock..." -Full report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 23.
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16:30 - We left them north of Jones heading back north towards Waldron...Looked like all of Js
14:15 J-Pod currently heading south from between Waldron and Johns Islands. L87 Onyx in San Juan Channel this afternoon.. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Tue Mar 26 - T36 and T36As new calf - Colvos Passage on the epic day dozens of Bigg's traveled inland Puget Sound. -Photo by Chris Hamilton
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BIGG'S PUGET SOUND - Part 4 - Tue Mar 26 - (Mid afternoon merge of remaining southern most groups including a Henderson Bay/Carr Inlet break off group, the Case Inlet group, and others. This large tightly grouped beautiful mass of orcas moved NB up the Tacoma Narrows in the late afternoon and through Colvos Passage early evening. IDs various photos from earlier Narrows and Colvos Passage include individual IDs & members of: T36, T36As, T36Bs, T46s, T101s, T137s - alb)
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20:18 - Orcas crossing in front of Southworth...Katie Brizkin
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20:00 - Wow! Our 3rd pod of the day just passed north end Colvos at 20:00. Orcas everywhere today. -Cheers, Tim Ferris
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19:51 - Orcas are coming up on Driftwood cove (N colvos), Kitsap side...make that Fern cove, Vashon side. -Rozane Jackson Johnson
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T101B, T46E, T101A, and T46D - Northbound Colvos Passage. T102 - Colvos Passage. T36A1 (w/dorsal notch new in 2017). T137D - Colvos Passage. -Photos by Chris Hamilton, Mar 26, 2019
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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19:05 - 9-12 just north of Al's Market in Olalla @ 1905. -Robyn Dally
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Hi Alisa! Wow! You had a very busy day yesterday, thank you for being so diligent to update the threads! Here are some pics from the two groups that came up Colvos Passage yesterday as viewed from Vashon shores. The daytime pics are from the smaller pod that came up around 2ish, and the evening ones are when the others came through around 7ish. The were much closer to the Kitsap side, so the pics are not that great and heavily cropped, but oh how beautiful they were to watch! Especially the huge merged pods that blazed through in the late evening with the gorgeous backlit blows, making them look even more magical than they already are. -Marla Smith
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18:55 - viewing from just south of Lisabeula (Vashon), looks like pods have merged, all in tight formations headed north quickly, mid channel but more towards the west side. Beautiful backlit blows, too many whales to count. -Photos by Marla Smith, Mar 26, 2019
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18:46 - viewing from Al's in Ollala, the first group of two is coming north mid channel. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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18:50 - pod between Point Richmond and Al's Market in Olalla. -Anika Blake
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18:33 - They are starting to up past sunrise beach in gig harbor and if they keep going north they will be by southworth vashon. Look at the thread that earlier was Tacoma. I think they made a circle. -Andrea San
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18:13 - Large pod split into 2 groups just crossed through Dalco and currently heading North through Colvos. 6 or 7 whales each in 2 groups a couple hundred feet apart.
18:09 - Pod split in 2 groups now....I've counted at least 12 total. Heading North up Colvos.
18:00 - Large pod of orcas right now heading north in Dalco off tip of Point Defiance. -Charlene Buckland Engelland
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18:10 - milling off Sunrise Beach area, closer to Gig Harbor side, drifting north. -Melissa Burks
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18:00 - Gig Harbor - Each group was sticking together so tight and uniformly in a straight line. Very cool to see. -Photo by Gaby Kinner, Mar 26, 2019
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~18:00 - Orcas northbound through the Tacoma Narrows this evening. -Photo by Kala Escobar, Mar 26, 2019.
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~17:50 - From Point Defiance (hiked quite a ways west of Owen-to the point). There's a calf in two of the photos. -Photos by Ashley Whitman, Mar 26, 2019
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17:55 - orcas headed north past Point Defiance now headed towards Colvos. -Jami Cantrell
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17:45 - I saw a couple groups, at least 10 or more orcas heading north. (from Narrows viewpoint at Point Defiance). -Amber Stanfill
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~ 17:40 - Orcas going through the Narrows taken from Salmon Beach. Looks like around 15!! -Photo by Gill Chard, Mar 26, 2019
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17:30 - Orcas still close to Salmon Beach, I've counted 12 dorsals. -Gaby Kinner
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17:15 - Lucy Geppert called in report of 8 orcas heading north under the Narrows Bridge.
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16:56 - Hello, we saw over 10 orcas today going through the Tacoma Narrows Strait at 4:56PM. -Email by Rainie Richmond
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16:45 - What looks to be anywhere from 12-15 orcas are currently making their way under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, very close to shore on the Gig Harbor side. -Heather Pereira
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16:40 - 8-10 Orcas heading north towards the Narrows bridge! -Anita Frenchl
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16:35 - 5 orcas headed North, towards Narrows Bridge, North of Fox Island Pier. -Sarah Cardinal
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16:24 - 7 orcas NE side of Fox Island headed towards the Narrows (at the pier). -Phil Caldwell
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16:25 - Orca preschool field trip today! So many little ones! All taken from our house towards Fox Island at about 4:25, as they moved briskly northbound and went under the Narrows Bridge by about 5. What a treat! -Photos by Karen Caldwell, Mar 26, 2019
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16:00 - group of orcas breaching between Steilacoom and Fox Island. Moving north towards the Gig Harbor Bridge. -George Holzer
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15:50 - 16:15 - watched a group of 7-10 orcas move north from the northern tip of McNeill Island towards Fox Island and Chambers Creek from 3:50 to 4:15 from my home on Leschi Drive in Steilacoom, above Sunnyside Beach. Impressive breaching and lots of churning water. A delight to see! -Tari Poe Norris
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15:52 - 5 or 6 at the north end of McNeil Island. Took a turn to the west. Very spread out.
15:39 - 2-4 orcas heading north on the east side of McNeil. Jumping out of the water. -Lisa Wiksten
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14:45 - Here are some photos taken by a friend who came over to watch the 5 orcas today at 2:45 in Carr Inlet near Gertrude Island!
14:42 - Watched 5 as they headed southeast in Carr Inlet close to McNeil. I think these could be same ones I saw earlier on east end of McNeil heading south-maybe they went around McNeil? At one point when they were near Gertrude Island they were feeding and breaching! Spectacular!!!
13:40 - Just saw 5 orcas headed south past eastern tip of McNeil! -Charlene Welty
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~13:00 - I took these photos around 1:00 pm today. My camera date was off by one day. It has now been fixed. When I saw the orca they were behind my house on Henderson Bay. (47.3680034, -122.6770985) My neighbor saw them coming in East toward Purdy and when they left. I saw them heading west only. They seemed to stay in a circle a good distance out in the bay. They were circling something when I first saw them. I could hear them as well. I did not see a large fin (male ?). There were 5 together with a young one, and two more just behind them. They were not in a hurry. -Terry Shovlowsky
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BIGG'S PUGET SOUND MARCH 26 - Part 3 - Tue Mar 26 - (Includes T90s & T124Ds) - ~ 17:45 - viewing from south of Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, we saw about 7 whales. I would guess one adult male & 2 young ones in the group. Traveling steadily north bound. Taking long dives in between surfacing. Gorgeous night and super flat/calm water. Easy to see them, well, when they are up! -Kimberly Sylvester
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17:02 - Research boat with group just passed yellow buoy north of Alki point...I'm watching from Manchester and one just spyhopped in front of research boat outside Elliott Bay! A few minutes later I saw the same group headed back out of Elliot Bay...Initially looked EB into Elliot Bay and then backtracked WB but then they dove and I lost them. -Noelle Morris
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16:53 - dorsals, north of Blake Island. Looks like they're circling, sighting from Alki. -Chris Ramirez
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16:26 - See blows east side of Blake island northbound to Tillicum village viewing from West Seattle Emma Schmitz Park. -Mary Hartmann
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16:11 - Orcas, east side Blake island mid channel research boat still with them slow move north
15:52 - Orcas out in front of Southworth ferry now circling. -Noelle Morris
ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: "T90, T90D, T90C, and T90B. There is also a calf and if the T124Ds were the only ones with them than it would be T124D2, though it looks a little too small. Were the T124A's around?" (T124As went north in the morning w/86As - alb)
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14:56 - Orcas at end of Cove Rd, Vashon, toward Vashon side, but still out in the middle. Saw one male, one female and I think calf, but that was all I could see from up on a bluff. -Molly O'Brien
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14:36 - Orcas passing Al's going North slowly. At least 7, no adult male present but a very young calf is present. -Amy Bliss-Miller
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~14:35 - I drove over to Al's after this post about the sighting at Al's was made and I was there about 30 minutes, so these were about 1435 I believe. -Photo by Jolena Tagg, Mar 26, 2019
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14:34 - 6 orcas, including a calf, closer to Vashon side headed north. Viewing from Als in Ollala. -Anika Blake
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14:32 - Another six heading toward ALS now. -Donna DiGiacomo Green
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14:30 - Small pod number unknown on northwest side of Vashon Island east of Olalla Bay. -Randy Ladrido
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14:15 - Orcas are mid channel moving north up Colvos, viewing from just before Lisabeula, on the move swiftly with a boat that has been chasing them way too close all the way up Colvos. -Photo by Marla Smith, Mar 26, 2019
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14:00 - Coming north on west side of Colvos. Visible blows from Lisabeula, Vashon. -Caroline Martin Matter
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13:48 - At least 5 orcas coming north up Colvos.

Viewing from Al's in Ollala. -Amy Bliss- Miller
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13:11 - Orcas. Mid channel seem to be heading toward Sunrise Beach, Gig Harbor (Colvos Passage). -Jordan Faker
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13:11 - T90B and T90C, T124D and T124D1. Orcas mid channel past

Gig Harbor

Viewpoint Northbound trending towards Colvos. -Photo by Melissa Burks, Mar 26, 2019
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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13:03 - Orcas, seems like they're moving north from Salmon Beach towards the tip of Point Defiance. They are on the go!
12:51 - Orcas are across from Salmon beach now on Gig Harbor side. Hard to tell #'s, maybe 4-5? -Christina Finn
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12:39 - Orcas in front of Salmon Beach...they were going northbound so fast and from what I assume rounded the corner towards Pt Defiance. Viewing from Narrows Beach. -Gaby Kinner
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12:39 - Watching them head north under the Narrows Bridge. -Kala Escobar
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~ 12:15 - 5-6 orcas moving fast toward the Narrows Bridge on the Tacoma side. -Pat Conley Jack
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12:06 - About 4 of them heading north (in Narrows)...watching from Titlow Beach. -Melissa Moss
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11:33 - 4 orcas heading north on the east side of Fox island. ..they were moving fast. -Lisa Wiksten
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10:25 - Trending west now, more mid channel. 2 big males in the group surfaced at the same time.
10:13 - There's 3-4 right about here (pin drop approx. 47°14'56.5"N 122°40'51.5"W) trending southwest, getting closer to McNeil. Tail lobbing and breaching happy cuties. One large male with a crooked tip of dorsal fin, Seem to be milling around. In no hurry. -Jami Cantrell
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9:52 - Two orcas continuing northwest mid channel between Fox and McNeil. Some breaching!
9:32 - Two orcas spotted so far, mid channel between Fox Island and McNeil headed west! -Charlene Welty
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09:00 - At least 3, headed west into Carr Inlet. -Sarah Cardinal
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08:51 - Breaching by the mid Chanel buoy between Fox Island and McNeil Island.
08:42 - mid channel north of McNeil Island, heading south from the north end of McNeil on the east side. -Lisa Wiksten
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08:43 - Orcas, several heading south between Steilacoom and Fox Island ...watching from Steilacoom park. Different group. -Karen Marie Leetch
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08:41 - East of Fox Island past the pier and headed south. I lost them a few minutes ago
08:22 - Appears to be a group of about 6 approaching the Fox Island pier.
08:15 - They moved quickly through the Narrows, already down to Hales Passage and look to be headed east of Fox Island. -Rodney Baum
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7:54 - Six or so orcas traveling south towards Narrows bridge. -Zeno Martin
(Zeno's FB Video shows at least 10 including calf - alb)
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BIGG'S PUGET SOUND MARCH 26 - Part 2 - Tue Mar 26 - Case Inlet - (Includes T36, T36Bs, T46s, T137s)
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T36B and new calf T36B3 - Case Inlet - (T36B3 was first seen in Puget Sound in early January 2019), T122 - Case Inlet, T137 & T122 Case Inlet, T137B - Case Inlet, T46D, T137D, and T36B - Case Inlet. -Photos by Chris Hamilton, Mar 26, 2019
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13:47 - I'm at Joemma Beach State Park and can see the orcas. Are about mid channel. I'm counting at least 8 Southbound. -Valerie Dansey Aspee
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13:40-13:45 - 4-5 whales south end of Herron Island, Case Inlet. Soutbound. -Frank Lee
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13:10 - heading South in Case Inlet, mid channel by Herron Island. -Jerilyn Evans
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13:05 - Group headed southbound now off northeast tip of Harstein. -Danielle Saybrook
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At about 1pm, we spotted two pods of about 6 and 4 orcas East of Hartstene Island traveling north past Heron Island toward Hartstene Point. They were on the other side of Case Inlet when they eventually turned and headed toward us on the Point and came in very close to a large group of very nervous seals who were gathered close to shore. They continued south past Hartstene and toward Olympia. We also had a pod of porpoises go by. It was quite the show! -Jennifer Tom
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12:00 - Approx 5 seen heading north just past Herron Island in Case Inlet. -Jerilyn Evans
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12:03 - Not as small as I thought, count around 8. Long dives nearing northern tip of Harstein island.
11:55 - Seeing a small group northbound mid channel now past Herron island, Case Inlet. -Danielle Saybrook
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11:47 - 4-5 whales south end of Herron Island, Case Inlet. SB Here are a few stills. Again, photos were taken at 11:47, as these two groups headed north through Case Inlet. -Photos by Frank Lee, Mar 26, 2019
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11:10 - they are at Wilson Point going north into Case Inlet. At least 6 orcas and maybe 8, spread out in 2 groups. -Nick Wenzel
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We spotted Orca today about 10:45 along Key Peninsula between Taylor Bay and Whitman Cove, last heading toward Case Inlet. They were quite spread out so it was difficult to get an accurate count. There were two mature males and three appeared to be babies. We estimated about 12 in the group. Two boats were harassing them, but we were not able to get the numbers for identification because of the distance. -Charlie & Pam Rhubart
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10:25 - They dove. He lost them. I'm looking now for them to be south of Dana. Hopefully.
09:56 - They (the south South Sound group - at least 8) are currently near Johnson Point and the north end of Dana Passage. -Per Chris relayed by Kim Merriman
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7:55 At least two orcas mid-channel south of McNeil westbound. -Rick Womack
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BIGG'S PUGET SOUND MARCH 26 - Part 1 - Tue Mar 26 - T86As & T124As - 17:45 - We observed a pod of Orcas just north of Langley approximately 1/3 of the way across. The pod was very active and at least one came straight up out of the water. There were at least 4 whales in the pod. They were heading Northerly up the Passage. -Jeff Libby
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About 5:40 several orcas also passing north. Pebble Beach. I only saw one fin, but I wasn't really looking. (I was trying to call a neighbor.) My wife says there were 5-6. They were mid channel and moving fast so it's hard judge sizes. It was very busy out here yesterday. -Don Sandnes
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16:00 - Saw two Orcas off of Edgewater Beach in Mukilteo/Everett yesterday around 4 pm . They were heading north toward Jetty Island. -Dona Fretz
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~15:00 - Saw several pods moving north near Mukilteo ferry today, Tues. March 26, 2019...I have a video that my daughter took which is delightful. I don't usually get on Facebook but tried to share after talking to a woman who told me about an orca website. You can actually see it on my daughter's Facebook page unless you would like me to text you with it. Her name is Kelly Nolan. -Sandy Fiacco
(I see the T124As in that VIDEO for sure. - Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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14:30 - 2 pods passed very near shore, Mukilteo Lighthouse Park heading east towards Port Gardner Bay. I did not see them cut across, followed them to Edgewater Beach, still close to shore. Calf was along with them. T86A3, maybe T124A3 and the new calf. The new calf (surfacing) and T124A4. Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach Park, Mukilteo. -Photos by Mary Ann Macomber
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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12:54 - Orca (I believe 2) heading rapid pace north from Edmonds pier....I didn't have my binocs so it was hard to see except yes large dorsal. They were definitely on the Edmonds side but a bit Too far to photo or video and they were heading north rapidly I was at the end of the pier. -Karen Sziel
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11:08 - Friend rpoerts orcas just passed Yeomalt close in to Kitsap sidee, she watched them round the Yeomalt point from her very clear view. They were close in, then swam straight out to mid channel and headed north. ...5 (two groups of 2 plus a single) no males seen. Close in initially, then headed straight out to channel marker and headed north. -Chris Merritt
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10:32 - WS Ferries reports 5 orcas northbound across the Seattle Bremerton ferry lane at the Tango bouy.
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09:11 - Just coming past Vashon west on Colvos watching from Southworth ferry...They were very fast...taken from Southworth ferry headed to Seattle. -Noelle Morris, Manchester WA
(Melisa Pinnow reviewed many images of Noelle's: "I think T86A1 is in the first photo. T124A and T124A6 in the second. T86A4 may be in the third photo. The rest of the photos are a bit harder to tell. T124A in the fifth photo too.")
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08:34 - Kelly Keenan relayed report (and shared video) of at least 6-7 orcas, at least one male. Orcas in Colvos Passage near Cove Road (N Vashon) heading northbound.
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07:15 - Small pod orcas, Tahlaquah and in ferry lane, 3-5 miling in ferry lane slight west direction. -Wayne McFarland, WSF
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Tue Mar 26 - Penn Cove - 08:30 - I saw one gray whale in Penn Cove this am at 8:30 across from Coupeville while exiting my driveway...a great big blow and swish. -Susan Frosolone
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Tue Mar 26 - Saratoga Pass - 19:12 - Two greys moving gracefully through Saratoga Passage Madrona Beach headed to Oak Harbor right before sunset, beautiful. -Dena Marie
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18:45 - 2 grays just passed in front of Eagle Crest on Camano, very close to shore, spouting and diving; I didn't get any photos, sorry. 6:45pm northbound towards Rockaway Beach. -Kristina Trowbridge
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18:40 - 2 grays northbound in front of Woodland Beach camano. -Krista Paulino
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17:00 - Ok, this time we know they're Grey's! At 5pm we saw 2 Gray whales traveling north past our Breezy Point, Camano location (between Cama and Camano State Parks). They were closer to the Whidbey side, near Baby Island. -Best, Janett Wingett
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17:15 - Several more grays sighted mid-channel above Pebble Beach Point, about 5:15 pm., heading north. (Around the same time 3 grays were around Langley for awhile, then moved to mid channel before moving further south. Could this be the same group that passed north at 2:30?) Don
14:30 - Three gray whales (one a calf) passed north close in by Pebble Beach point, Camano Island, about 2:30 pm, Tuesday, March 26th, 2019. -Don Sandnes
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Tue Mar 26 - #383 was our fluking superstar today! We also saw #49 Patch, #53 Little Patch, #44 Dubnuck, #185 (All SE Gedney Island )! Pretty rough out there today, so not as many pics as I would have liked. I will add a few more to the album this week. -Janine Harles
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Tues Mar 26 - 17:23 - whale north of the orcas at the southern end of Colvos.
16:48 - whale gray/humpback mid channel south of Point Dalco (Vashon), slowly moving toward Gig Harbor. -Steve Fogard

March 25
BIGG'S PUGET SOUND - March 25 - Admiralty Inlet - Large group of incoming Transients
18:05 - 19:10 - 6:05P report. Read orca pod heading towards Hansville - south of Light House saw huge white water out there 300 meters+. Two minutes later another huge white water high in the air. Starting running towards it - heading 1/2 mile down beach. Then I saw them - Orca pod out about, guesstimate 275 meters to 400 meters - 6 harbor seals were 5 meters off shore. The pod then started diving and swimming south - I ran with them for 2 to 2.5 miles south of Point No Point. Viewed them for 1 hour - unreal!!! (3rd experience) They stayed down underwater for around 3 to 4 minutes. Couldn't identify exact number - minimum of 3 ... to 6 in pod. They were diving. Appear at different times. One or Two in pod / males bringing up rear of pod. Pod then stopped / paused for about 6 to 10 minutes / 2 to 2.5 miles south of Point No Point. Started swimming back North very briefly - stayed in deep water. 5 to 6 harbor seals 5 to 10 meters around me - 2 mile south of Point No Point. One piece that surprised me - often the seals would swim in same direction of Orca Pod swimming / deep diving heading south. I figured seals would get all the way up on shore and or swim opposite direction / North. New at this (seals always stayed 5 to 10 meters off shore) - guessing seals knew orcas were a solid 300 to 450 meters out. Seals were monitoring them ... and or orcas had one of their friends for dinner / earlier during all of the high in the air white water breaching. Unreal x 10 ... again 5 different times breaching (my first breaching experience!!) Does Orca Network have idea of which pod or pods this was? T137s? T46s? Another pod (read something about 86A)? Strongly sense it was the pod that came across from Whidbey Island / Mutiny Bay area folks posted about! Grand experience #3 !!!! -Andrew Muehling
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17:08 - Watching them for a few minutes. They just passed the south end of Mutiny Bay. -Photo by Cathy Sparks, Mar 25, 2019
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16:26 - 16:44 - upon reports of 6-8 heading south I got to the bluff and first saw a smaller group with a calf but no adult males mid channel but more on Whidbey side. 1635 - saw two males close to Whidbey side. 1639 - they all bunched up mid channel headed toward Hansville. T90s and T124D and T124D2. T101A and T102 Admiralty Inlet off Bush Point, Whidbey.-Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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~16:30-17:00 - whistles on Bush Pt hydrophone between 4:30 and 5 ish ...accountant had just stopped by to talk tax stuff so we watched them for a few minutes...couldn't give it my full attention...two or three times we both heard what sounded more like dolphin whistles on the Bush Pt Hps - just single whistles, maybe 10 minutes apart? I had heard one, then awhile she said she heard one, and I may have head another - this is when the Ts were out front of us, maybe a little bit south, so ~1 mile from the Hp. It looked like they were on a kill but I coulnd't tell what - I know Howie got a lot of photos as well. Anyway, wanted to report that possible "hearing" today, that I forgot about earlier! -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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16:30 - Orcas Bush Point. Southbound, 3 groups of 3? Moving fast. -Jan Bell
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16:30 - Look to be 15+ transients. Passing bush Pt now (Looks like it's possibly the big group that came down from Nanaimo yesterday T86A3 was in her photo and looked like T124A3s new kiddo. -SH-S) (Yesterday's group coming south was T18s, T86As, T124As, and T124Ds - 16 whales I think? Will be interesting to hear if they are all still together! MWS) -Rachel Haight
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16:00 - Pod of Orca heading south, 1/2 mile west of Lagoon Pt on the West side of Whidbey. At least one Male and at least two females, one juvenile. -Photos by Lachlan Pope, Mar 25, 2019
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15:55 - Kit Turner reports another 4 orcas behind the first group, more mid-channel.
15:50 - Kit Turner at Lagoon Point sees 3 orcas coming south across Admiralty Inlet.
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15:13 pm - WS Ferries called with a report of 6-8 orcas heading south into Admiralty Inlet across the Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry lane.
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Orcas!! I went to Point Wilson Lighthouse after work on a whim. And while I was watching a cormorant hanging out with 2 seals in the water, I heard something familiar. I heard an Orca exhale. I saw a boat in the distance, closer to Whidbey Island's shore, and a few Orcas surface in front of it. I snapped off a few shots (12) and sprinted to the car with the intention of racing (not literally) to Point Hudson for a potential better view. Lucky for Shannon I'm an awesome husband, and had the foresight to swing by and pick her up...So we headed down there together amd she was able to catch a few glimpses through my camera, before they slipped out of sight. These shots were from Point Wilson where they were much closer. -Sam Black Photography IG
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14:30 - Orcas heading south into Admiralty Inlet, from Point Wilson. -Photo by Samuel Carroll, Mar 25, 2019
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March 25 - T46s and T137s
15:45 - I can see T137A and T46E pushing more west. I can't tell if they'll head south or change up and go to Admiralty. I'm leaving now.
15:38 - Orcas did NOT follow Whidbey shore. Headed due south now. Southeast of Possession marker. East side, midchannel
15:31 - T46s T137s are all grouped up together rounding Possession Point now, close to Whidbey.
15:05 - Amazing close pass southbound all members (T46s T137s) at Glendale.
14:55 - Northmost group appears to be on a kill. Middle group is T137A &T46E. T46D still far south.
14:41- viewing from Glendale. Orcas spread into 3 groups. One group turned around, northbound. Second group south of them but also turned north but not moving in a hurry. Then you have T46D alone southbound at Glendale. Very spread out and we can no longer see northmost group. -Rachel Haight
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...it's been another 'whale of a day' with the T46s and T137s. Not only that, but after the T46s and T137s honored us with a close encounter at Glendale there was just enough time to get over to Bush Point as a large pod of transient orcas (around 15), to include various matrilines, breezed past. Too quick for good photographs, but no matter, it was yet another inspiring sight of power, speed and sheer magnificence. -Sandra Pollard
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~15:00 - This was today at Glendale, Whidbey Island. -Photo by Holly Husom Davison, Mar 25, 2019
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14:35 - Viewing from Mukilteo beach, they are south of Clinton ferry terminal on whidbey side. -Alex Ho
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~ 14:15 today - 4 Orcas sighted from Clinton ferry. Looks like T's milling and slowly headed NE past Gedney Island. -Ginger Miller
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On the 2:00 Clinton/Mukilteo 2:00pm sailing...just had them pass in front of us. Luckily, I had my camera in my car! -Photo by Cara Hefflinger, Mar 25, 2019
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13:55 - orcas approaching Brighton Beach area steady southbound still.
13:25 - orcas 1/4 mile off Whidbey shore steady southbound now south of Sandy Point. -Rachel Haight
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13:00 - Orcas passing Whale Bell Park, Langley steady southbound more on Camano side. -Sandra Pollard
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12:40 - T46s & 137s midchannel southbound in calm waters. Halfway between Bells Beach and Langley. -Rachel Haight
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12:08 - Midchannel (slightly WI side) south of Fox spit. Trending SB but some milling behavior. T137s & 46s. -Ariel Yseth
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11:36 - Orcas headed out of the harbor now, just south of Baby Island.
11:26 - orcas were headed north and just turned back south...appear to be hunting. They're spread out and just milling around
11:15 - three orcas in Holmes Harbor! Between Saratoga Beach and Dines Pt...closer to Saratoga beach. Headed out of the harbor. -Dan Gulden
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08:38 - two animals deep in Penn cove. No id on if they're gray or orca. Just had a report the larger group of orcas headed east out of the cove. -Rachel Haight
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08:17 - And now about 5 Orcas just east of Monroe Landing on south side.
08:01- 2-3 orcas and a gray whale in Penn Cove heading west. Now. Just west of Monroe landing. -CeCe Celia Aguda
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Mon Mar 25 - This afternoon (Monday) about 3 pm there were Orcas well off the south end of San Juan Island (Hein Bank?), accompanied by a few whale watch boats. I didn't have enough cell signal to post. Does anyone know who they were? Thanks. -Breck Tyler
(T49As per Monica Wieland Shields)
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Mon Mar 25 - 13:05 - Grey whale headed east closer to Camano side .. I'm on the beach near Polnell point 1:05. -Marcie Goldberg
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11:25 - gray just off Maylor Point (Oak Harbor). No clue if same whale, but don't think so.
10:45 - gray whale 5 miles south of Oak Harbor eastbound. -Rachel Haight
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10:00 - Jill Hein reports one of the grays in Penn Cove is #56, and the 2nd one is unconfirmed ID at this time. She didn't get a good look at the 3rd for ID. They were heading out of Penn Cove (possibly towards Crescent Harbor/Polnell) at 10 am.
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09:45 - Three gray whales made their way out of Penn Cove...looked like they were heading south but hard to tell. -Bonnie Gretz
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09:00 - Two, possibly 3, Grays south shore Penn Cove near mussel rafts.
08:50 - gray whale close to South shore near mussel rafts.
08:38 - two animals deep in Penn cove. No id on if they're gray or orca. -Rachel Haight
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08:01- 2-3 orcas and a gray whale in Penn Cove heading west. Now. Just west of Monroe Landing. -CeCe Celia Aguda
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Mon Mar 25 - #56 and unidentified in Penn Cove this morning, not sure of the 3rd as no pics of that one. We missed the orcas...Photo & crop of by Jill Hein, Mar 25, 2019
(gray turned out to be a 2019 newbie assigned CRC2249 by Cascadia Research)

March 24
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES (OUTSIDE INLAND PUGET SOUND) - 13:12 - T49As in Boundary Pass. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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Sun Mar 24 - ~ 9:30am - We were leaving Fossil bay at Sucia and motoring towards Matia. At first I thought they were actually Dalls porpoise as they seemed so small to me and the fin on the one didn't look right. They must have been hunting fish as the birds were circling them the whole time. I'm guessing from our photos there were 4 of them? We never saw more than 3 at a time but the one fin again is different and isn't in the shot of the three whales together. The biggest thing that struck me again is how small they seemed. Is it possible that one was a baby? I hear about transient pods - do you think this would be a transient pod because of the location? I've attached three photos of the whales and a map with a circle where we saw them. They probably hung out for about 10 minutes. -Jessica Heidemann
(Supplemental photos sent by Jessica Heidemann from her March 24th sighting previoulsy included in our March 25th Part One Whale Report. T49A3 is present in one of her images per Melisa Pinnow, CWR. - alb)
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - MARCH 24 - Sun Mar 24 - 19:28 - Orcas ~ 10 traveling fast just north of Langley 2 minutes ago...going south, I live on the bluff just south of Bells Beach. Funny, I don't hear the sea lion that's been very vocal lately. -Susan Matthews
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18:53 - They just passed Bells Beach heading towards Langley. About 5 of them. -Melanie Porden
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18:22 - Orcas about to pass by Fox Spit; two groups with the lead group well ahead heading steadily SE toward Langley. This group is angling for what may be a good pass by the spit. -Durand Dace
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17:00 - seeing them from Hidden Beach mid channel southbound. -Sandra Pollard
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16:57 - Orcas are heading towards Hidden Beach, just saw 2 of them breach. -Moises Sanchez
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16:10 - Orca sighting. 5 orcas South bound Harrington Lagoon. -Jim Wiedman
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15:52 pm im sitting high bank above Longpoint. Orcas south of here abd heading south. Whidbey Side...near Kineth Point (between Long Point and Snakelum Point). -Marilyn Armbruster
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15:47 - T46s a couple miles outside Penn cove moving south. 137s also south bound. -Matt Stolmeier
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The eternal struggle. Predator vs prey. A doomed harbor seal fights for it's life during an intense predation event with the T137's in Saratoga Passage yesterday. The seal tried to reach Island Explorer 5 and use the boat for cover. It was cut off about 15 feet away and the battle took place at intimate close range. T137D ramming a harbor seal during an intense predation event in Saratoga Passage yesterday. -Photos by James Gresham, Mar 24, 2019
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A near identical moment in time... Predation with T137s. Amazing to see the seal put of one last fight before getting tail slapped. Between Oak Harbor and Camano. From IE5. -Photo by Clinton Duckworth, Mar 24, 2019
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14:45 - Orcas...other group off Scenic heights.
14:40 - Three orcas off Polnell Point now westbound (T137s per Matt Stolmeier). -Rachel Haight
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14:05 - At Long Point, see at least one male mid channel. -Bonnie Gretz
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13:35 - Orca heading northwest into (towards -alb) Penn Coveoff Harrington Lagoon...3 or 4. No pictures no ID. 1 smaller one. -James Wiedman
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13:15 - Orcas, group along Whidbey shore and other on Camano side. Slowly northbound long down times. North of Shangri La Shores now.
12:13 - whales in two groups. One closer to Camano, one group mid-channel. Group mid-channel looks to include one of the male T46s. Too far to tell which one - that group is north/Northwest bound. -Rachel Haight
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12:10 - Orcas! Heading north slowly just off Camanao State Park at 12:10pm. -Denise Joines
(video show 3, presumably T137A, T137D who were huggig that side earlier along with either T137B or one of the T46s. T137 was with group off Whdibey side with T46 -alb)
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12:08 - Linda Aitkin called back to update us: the orcas were at first 30 feet offshore, south of the boat launch at Camano Island State Park, then went on a long dive, now are mid-channel heading north toward Cama Beach. She saw at least two, including one male, took some photos. 12:04 - Linda Aitkins called to report the orcas offCamano Island State Park at noon heading north - they were surfacing right in front of her as she talked so she hung up to take photos!
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12:00 Orcas pretty much north northwest now, mid-ish channel and about 5 miles+ north, losing sight of them now. Viewing from Fox Spit.
11:30 - orcas passed Fox Spit with a few mid channel and at least 4 close to Fox Spit. Most traveling westerly towards Greenbank. Matriarchs T137 and T46 (and another) pass so very close to shore and human at East Point, Fox Spit, Whidbey Island. -Marilyn Armbruster
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T46E - Some of the Ts passing Fox Spit very close to shore. -Photos by Allie Hudec, Mar 24, 2019
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11:14 - Can confirm T46D and E were with the group; T46D closer to Camano Is and T46E with several other whales closer to Whidbey. -Stephanie Raymond
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10:44 - Orcas off Langley...I could see 3 from land...Tori Mauro
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10:25 - Saratoga Passage at least 3 orcas off Langley heading northbound. -Fred Lundahl
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09:50 - mid passing Hat island at a steady pace, northbound, two groups one closer to Hat the other closer to Whidbey. -Lori Christopher
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Youngest of the T137s, T137D off Pebble Beach Camano Island. T137A (T137Ds older brother). Three orcas just went by Pebble Beach about 30 minutes ago (9:30 am) heading north. Traveling fast. A wonderful way to have our Sunday morning coffee! -Photos by Peg Boley, Mar 24, 2019
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Orcas we saw in Saratoga Passage this morning between Whidbey and Camano. I went into to Whidbey Whale Center and Wendy suggested I email these videos and pictures to you. Let me know if they don't come through. We were on kayaks when these were taken. Such an incredible morning! -Photos by Melanie Proden, Mar 24, 2019
(Video and photos shows who looks like members of T46s at least - alb)
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9:33 - Orcas currently between Whidbey (north of ferry dock) and Hat Island. They have really picked up the pace and are moving fast now. Traveling north.
09:20 - Orcas are still basically in the same place. Straight out from the Clinton ferry dock. They seem more committed to traveling and are currently heading straight towards the southeast corner of Gedney Island.
09:02 - I currently counted 8 orcas with 2 males...Oh my gosh. It's so amazing. They have all grouped up and are surfacing at the same time.
08:55 - Orcas must have made a kill. Lots of bird activity. They are now grouped together in what looks like a resting line pointed between whidbey island and gedney island. Currently straight out from the south Clinton ferry dock heading north.
08:37 - Update. I am now seeing 4-5 orcas. Directional changes. Just north of the Clinton ferry lanes.
08:33 - Good morning, one male orca heading north of the Clinton ferry lanes towards Everett. Currently searching for the rest of his party. I will update when I spot the group. -Danielle Pennington
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08:21 - 4 orcas, 1 is a bull, l right off the Mukilteo ferry, headed towards Everett...Actually 2 groups, 1 group mid channel can't tell how many...Is there a male with a crooked dorsal fin?...2nd group has at least 3, and another male trailing the group. -Melissa Simmons, WSF
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Sun Mar 24 - Hi there! A small pod of approx five orcas passed very close to shore along the north and east side of Piers Island (Sidney, BC), heading south, yesterday (March 24) around 6:00pm. An earlier pod (or portion of this pod...) passed by a little further out between Piers and Portland around 5:30pm. Also headed south. I've been told that they are likely transients based on their fin shape. Also, there appeared to be a young whale in the group. Please let me know if I can provide any further information. Photos attached - they were taken from my deck. This is the first pod I have seen go past our house in a awhile. ..Jake Clark (email)
(T18s and others. IDs by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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s Sun March 24 - The last two or three days have been chaotic keeping up with whales. When Glacier Spirit Puget Sound Express departed Langley at 11:00 am on Sunday, March 24, we anticipated encountering transient orca pods the T46s and T137s in addition to a number of gray whales - and were not disappointed. A short time after leaving the marina we came across the orcas, somewhat spread out, heading towards Fox Spit. A quick turnabout to the Camano side of Saratoga Passage led us to Saratoga gray # 22 (Earhart) before we continued south past Hat Island where more gray whales, including #49 (Patch) and #53 (Little Patch) were socializing and feeding. If there's such a term as 'whaled out' then we were - happily so! (Photos Richard Snowberger, zoomed and cropped). -Sandra Pollard
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GRAY WHALES - Sat Mar 24 - 13:57 - Just spotted a gray whale between Gedney and Camano. -Ryan Wright
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10:45 - gray whale very close to shore passing Sandy Point on Whidbey. -Hanna Ory
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09:31 - Swimming right now just off the north end of the Navy base. Ironic that the whale watching boat is docked with passengers waiting to board. They just need to look across Jetty and they will see him.
07:28 - The grey whale is off off Jetty Island again this morning. -Sandra Volkert-Honeycutt

March 23
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Update on J-Pod for end of the day (Sat. Mar. 23): after milling in Haro for much of the day, it sounds like they did all go north into the Gulf Islands this evening. -Monika Wieland Shields
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16:33 - About 15-20 minutes later a pod of three! Looks like two large and a smaller along side :) headed the same direction!
16:14 - Happy Weekend! Single Orca sighting San Juan Island 300 yards off Mitchell bay headed North to Snug Harbor! -Mallory Rose
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Observed and photographed from shore (2 photos attached) J-Pod!
13:51pm - At the far north edge of Hannah Hts, 3 orca following J27 appeared behind a crab catching sea lion. One of the trio was a youngster. It seemed like they were traveling in slow motion, reaching Edwards Point a full 15 minutes later. The sea was calm and silvery and they moved with such beautiful grace.
13:37pm - 1:47pm, J27 Blackberry traveled ever so slowly N/NW along the far north edge of Hannah Hts approaching Edwards Point and continuing past. -Michelline Halliday, San Juan Island
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11:27 a.m.- Just turned on Lime Kiln hydrophone and heard some faint calls. -Jill Clogston
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10:26 - been hearing vocals and echolocation since 08:51.
08:51 - start listening, hearing echolocation...Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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09:00 - I've got J17 SB off LB ...Others spread far out and towards Kelp Reef. J53 here too..These 2 quarter mile off, haven't seen any others yet. J-Pod has been in Haro Strait yesterday and today, and this morning we were lucky enough to see J17 Princess Angeline from shore at Land Bank's Westside Preserve. At the end of last year J17 was showing "peanut head", a sign of undernourishment, and there were concerns about her making it through the winter, so it was especially heartwarming to see her! -Monika Wieland Shields.
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08:19 - I am hearing calls on the lime kiln hydrophone right now. -Alissa Elderkin
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SRKWS heard briefly at 2 a.m. (local time, Sat 3/23) in Haro Strait on the Orcasound Lab hydrophones. -Scott Veirs
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Sat Mar 23 - 11:30 -11:54 - Hello we are volunteers for the Whale Watching Spoken Here program. We are stationed at Don and Ann Davis Park in Newport, Oregon. We have been watching a pod of transient orcas approximately a mile offshore headed south. We first spotted them at 11:30 am. Update, we are still seeing them at 11:54. We've seen dorsal fins and breaching. -Edith and Kent Hitchings
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Sat Mar 23 - 7-year-old "baby" of the family, T46F gets air off Brown's Point where the family spent many hours of the day. Photo by Chris Hamilton, Mar 23, 2019
(ID by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - MARCH 23 - Sat Mar 23 - 21:00 - Orcas. T46s and T137s Can't see them but I can hear them at driftwood cove kitsap side, Heading north towards southworth ferry. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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20:02 - I could just hear them breathing by Al's in Olalla. Too bad it was too dark to see them...it sounded like they were almost straight across from Al's but since I couldn't see them it was fun just to listen to them. -Pat DeVore
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19:26 - Orcas, just passed Paradise Cove (Vashon) heading north. -Bergitta Trelstad
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19:07 - Heading north mid channel Colvos Passage, just passing Camp Sealth. -Joshua Cunningham
(Joshua posted video, which shows blows and dorsals of enough individuals would indicate both pods grouped - alb)
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18:56 - Six or so headed north slowly up Colvos. East side. -Zeno Martin
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18:56- Orcas Passing Camp Sealth, Vashon northbound. Wow. We just emptied out the chow hall. -Durand Dace
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18:32 - There are at least 4 orcas, including one male, between Vashon and Gig Harbor. Cannot tell if they are heading North or South yet. Viewing from Owens Beach. -Heidi Armstrong
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18:32 - viewing from Vashon viewpoint looks to be some are headed northbound Colvos. They're at the head of Colvos Passage now. -Jami Canterll
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18:15 - I saw a large one pass in front of the Vashon terminal about 615 or so. Went west then back east, and then disappeared. -Danielle Clark
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18:15 - orcas passed right in front of Vashon ferry terminal, seen from the dock. Heading west. We felt lucky that we just missed the 6pm ferry! T46E -Photos by Lucas Dambergs, Mar 23, 2019
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18:05 - Pod heading towards Ruston, Tacoma side. -Mary Hill-Woodworth
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18:00 - 3 orcas heading west off Neill Point, Vashon south end. -John Troup
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17:47 - I see two adult males together now. I think both groups have joined, unless there's 2 adults in the 46's group? (yes there are, but merge still possible - alb)
17:40 - from N. Stevens, they are mid channel east of channel marker, westbound towards Maury Island. Lots of tail/pec slaps. -Meiissa Burks
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17:33 - I now count 6 milling back and forth the same spot. -Jami Cantrell
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17:26 - I'm seeing second group I think, just north of the group at Browns Point very close to shore off Vashon. -Kourtnee Marr Lindgren
(T137s caught up to T46s about this time, at least in the same general area - alb)
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Sat Mar 23 - T137s while trailing (by 15+ miles). 16:42 - Beautiful close pass by Point Robinson shore, traveling swiftly southbound. T137A's gorgeous dorsal slicing through the glassy waters off of Point Robinson, Vashon yesterday evening and some more photos of him and the rest of his family. T137As little sister 13-year-old T137B off Point Robinson. Saturday bliss! -Marla Smith
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16:28 - Confirmed the group heading south just north of Point Robinson. -Joe Matter
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15:02 - Just saw 2 mid channel between Vashon and west Seattle about halfway between Dilworth and Vashon ferry. Staying down for long periods of time. -indsey Clark
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14:40 - Seeing two whales crossing the Vashon ferry lane heading south, midchannel between Vashon and West Seattle. -Mike Yov
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14:18 - Orcas just south of Blake now. Heading south...closing in on the ferry line. -Brian Nygren
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14:09 - Orcas heading south faster, now at the southern tip of Blake Island.
14:00 - Orcas. Just spotted on the north tip of Blake, can be seen from Mee Qwa Mooks! -Terri McAllister
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12:10 - 5 total Orca spread out directly East of Rolling Bay/,Valley Street on Bainbridge. Gorgeous day. Super calm waters. Warm sun. Easy to spot.
12:05 - 3 others about 1/2 mile south of the male. Trending south. Kitsap side of mid channel. -Kimberly Sylvester
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T137A Northern Puget Sound. T137s off Bainbridge Island with Shilshole Marina across the Sound.
12:03 - they are still southbound, passing West Point Lighthouse, mid channel.. should be able to see them at Rolling bay. -Photos by Sue Larkin, Mar 23, 2019
(IDs by alb)
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11:55 - Counting 2 now. South of blue sailboat, Kitsap side. Trending south.
11:45 - Scanning from Rolling Bay, we see one male slowly moving south. Looks to be parallel with Fay Bainbridge Park. A few hundred feet from Kitsap shore. -Kimberly Sylvester
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11:00 - They are mid channel between Pt. Jefferson Kingston and Shilshole slowly meandering south. -Chris Beamer Otterson
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09:00 - orcas had passed Apple Tree Point, Kingston - one male, female and youngster. Southbound at steady pace. -Sara Frey
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~07:30 - Hi... I saw a whale between Hansville and Whidbey Island this morning. A bit far away but think it was an Orca. Tall thin fin. Couldn't see any white from the distance. Approx. location 47.945, -122.52 Not sure if there was a second one with it or not. Moving east/south. -Brad S.
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06:38 - WS Ferries reports 6 orcas heading south past the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane toward Edmonds.
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Sat Mar 23 - 17:33 - T46s while leading...Off Dash Point - post meal breach. I now count 6 milling back and forth the same spot. -Photos by Jami Cantrell, Mar 23, 2019
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17:10 - Orcas still right off the Browns Point lighthouse, just north of it. -Justin Foster
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17:09 - Watching from above Ruston...the group headed toward Vashon (milling around more than traveling) is the group that has been by Browns Point all afternoon. No sign of the northern group yet...at least from this vantage point. -Kala Escobera
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16:54 - Viewing from Dash Point, seem to be headed west towards Tahlequah Ferry. There's about 4 of them out here. (off Brown's Point). They don't seem to have merged yet, I've got my eye out. -Jami Cantrell
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16:30 - Tail action at BP lighthouse around 430pm. -Photo by Amber Stanfill, Mar 23, 2019
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15:28 - Orcas...Trending north now moving slowly. -Kelly Pedotto
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15:09 - Taken from Brown's Point, Tacoma today. -Photo by Glen Jones, Mar 23, 2019
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15:01 - From Stadium High with binoculars I saw one orca surface right off Browns Point Lighthouse about 10 minutes ago. Haven't seen one since. Think they are tucked in this area. -Melissa Burks
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15:00 - Three - possibly four - spotted in Puget Sound just north of Browns Point in Tacoma. This was about 3 p.m. on March 23rd. At least one boater was spotted shooting video. -Maralaina
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14:15 - Orcas moving into Commencement Bay, hugging shore on Browns point side. -Kourtnee Marr Lindgren
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14:13 - Two hanging out right off Dash Point for the last half hour. -Richard Staehli
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T46s hunting an elephant seal off Brown's Point, Tacoma. T122. Brothers T46E and T46D Brown's Point. -All photos by Chris Hamilton, Mar 23, 2019
(Ts may have only played w/Elephant seal, Chris could not confirm they killed/consumed her/him. All photos zoomed/cropped)
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13:50 - 4 Orcas directly between Brown's Pt and Maury. -Emily Scannell Mruk
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13:40 - orcas 1 mile South of Dash Point. South bound, turning into the Port of Tacoma.
13:15 - About 4 orcas, 4 miles North East of Dash Point. -Jesse Magruder
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12:47 - Still heading south, southern end of Maury. -Julie Martin
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12:39 - still southbound mid channel off Saltwater State Park.
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12:24 - Orcas. Point Robinson mid channel. -Patrick Gould
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Who looks to be T46 E off Point Robinson, mid-channel. -Photo by Jake Conroy, Mar 23, 2019
(ID by alb)
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11:31 - Orcas. At least one male and 3 other individuals headed south bound steadily, spread out with no directional changes mid-channel. Across from Dilworth, Vashon. -Christina Van Wolbeck Fenerty
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I last saw them at 11:05 am still slow southbound pace off northern Vashon parallel to Seahurst on east shore of Sound. I viewed from Brace Point area of West Seattle. -Carolyn Duncan
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11:04 Southbound almost to Dilworth, Close to Vashon side. -Lindsey Clark
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11:00 on the east side of channel spotted heading fairly fast south 1/2 - 1 Mi south Fauntleroy dock. (Must be spread out- the Orca we spotted were on Seattle side.) -Jan Kubat Staehli
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10:46 - Orcas southbound off of Vashon ferry dock. One male and two females. Slow and steady southbound close to north end of Vashon. -Carolyn Duncan
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10:36 - Orcas. Mid channel, just past Fauntleroy ferry. -Michael Taylor
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10:07 - Watching from Emma Schmits - they are right in the middle of Blake. -Gergana Mouteva
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10:00 Orcas are heading south mid channel at Blake Island. -Keith Croney
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9:45 - watched them pass Alki. Pretty far out from the beach. -Sarah May
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09:29 - Carol Knight reports 4-6 transients in Puget Sound skirting Elliott Bay mid way, east side of channel. (presuming still southbound so aiming for Alki Point) --
09:25 - 5 East of the traffic lanes - no boat traffic...T46. -Jason Mihok
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09:00 - 4 orcas southbound, navigating lots of boat traffic, mid-channel past Elliott Bay.
08:39 - 4 orcas, southbound east of channel passing Discovery Point Lighthouse. viewing from Rolling Bay, Bainbridge. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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07:06 - Looked like 1 male and 2 females south bound at SF buoy. (SF buoy is south of Kingston between Richmond Beach, Shoreline/Presidents Point, Kitsap) -Ryan Johnson
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - 18:30 - One male and possibly two female orcas sighted headed up the Georgia Strait towards Baynes Sound! Sighting on Saturday, March 23rd at 6:30 p.m. -Terry and Mark
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Sat Mar 23 - 15:00 - Orca sighting off East Point. We saw 5 to 7 Orca travelling west from the channel marker off East Point along towards the outside of Tumbo Island. This was approximately 3 pm March 23. There was one with a large triangular dorsal fin, a group of three travelling behind (smaller with smaller curved fins) and possibly two others which seemed to be smaller travelling with them (one near the front and one near the back). We watched for about 15 minutes but it was hard to get an exact count as they were moving and not surfacing at the same time. -Don Knox
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Sat Mar 23 - 17:30 - Just closed Langley Wahle Center and we have a single gray about 100 feet off of Whale Bell Park! Heading south down the shoreline at 5:30. Haven't been able to ID, pictures to follow! (gray 531). -Amanda Marie Colbert, Orca Network
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Sat Mar 23 - Gray Whale party between Everett, Mukilteo and Hat/Gedney Island! We encountered a total of 6 whales, #49 Patch, #53 Little Patch, and #531 were all resting separately SE of Gedney while #21 Shackleton, #22 Earhart, and #383 were all swimming quickly and close together a bit further NW, apparently socializing. Lots of great views of flukes from most of the whales today, too! -Justine Buckmaster
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10:07 - Just spotted what appears to be a gray blowing slightly west of Hat/Gedney Island at the southern tip... Too far for further identification...Craig Weiner
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UNCONFIRMED WHALES - Tue Mar 23 - 15:38 - if anyone is following this little one, it is now traveling between McNeil & Anderson Island. Still going south. I've been watching from Chambers Bay. Blows were heart shaped. I saw it breach once (do grey's breach? I rarely ever see them). It was small...I tried getting pictures but it was always ahead of us and pretty far away. I will look when I get home & see if I got anything at all. Hope someone does get decent photos!
14:38 - I think it may be a gray whale. Looked like a heart shaped blow. At the north end of Fox Island, traveling south. -Heidi Armstrong
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13:53 - Baby? humpback passing under Narrows Bridge heading south. -Mark Schurer
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10:00 - Humpback (not certain. Could have been a gray. The fluke had a white underside.) south bound mid channel Colvos Pass just south of the Southworth Ferry. -Kristi King

March 22
Great news. J17 is alive and has even improved a little in body condition since December/January. However, her breath smells awful so the CWR will remain cautiously optimistic that she will survive. "At about 1132, whale watching boats found J pod southbound in northern Haro Strait. Dave and Melisa headed to Snug Harbor and left the dock at 1230 aboard "Orcinus". At 1240, "Orcinus" arrived on scene about two miles southeast of Mandarte Island. J pod was very spread out in small groups and still slowly heading south...." -Full encounter with photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 22. 14:32 - Tuned in and am hearing echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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14:25 - Currently seeing them off of west side, north of Land Bank. Spread out through Haro strait, some close to land some further out.
13:15 - J Pod! Near Kellett Bluff, wide spread, trending south. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Mar 22 - 05:51 Transient calls over the Lime Kiln hydrophones now. -Jeanne Hyde
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Fri Mar 22 - Hi there, Was at Whytecliff park in West Vancouver this afternoon and saw 5-6 orcas, including a young one (still slightly yellow). They were heading south towards Vancouver and were very close to shore. No large males. They were being followed by a boat that was definitely closer than 100 meters. -Iva Matousek
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Fri Mar 22 - Pod of orcas (2 large finned and 2 small finned orcas) seen at Clam Beach Bay heading east along/between Pender and Main island around 1:15 today. Fishing boat heading west at full speed almost hit them didn't slow down or divert path...conditions clear water calm. -Lisa
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Fri Mar 22 - 14:50 - They are still in Possession. Visible from the ferry. -Amanda Holloway
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11:46 - 6 grays east of Gedney #22, #383, 185, 53, 49 and possibly 2246...What an amazing day! We found 6 gray whales East of Gedney Island today! #49, #53, #185, #383, #22 and what looked like #2246! We shut off the engines with Chilkat across from us doing the same and we floated with 6 grays surrounding us! On the way home, we stopped and checked out the Steller Sea Lions on the navigational marker at Possession and then found #44 Dubnuck not far from there! 7 Grays! On a side note, we also saw a Rhino Auklet and Brandt's Cormorants! 2018 Newbie to the NP Sounders: PCFG CRC 185 off Hat/Gedeny Island. -Janine Harles
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Brighter than bright sunshine on the water today made for challenging photographic situations and IDs, BUT, when all was said and done, we counted at least 6 gray whales surrounding us out there. It was literally WHALE SOUP!! #22 made a momentary appearance just before we left, #53 was anything but shy today, #49 headed straight for us a few times, #383 who, of course fluked the best of all, #185 hung out at the surface doing who knows what and another further off who we could not confirm (possibly #2246) and THEN on our return trip, Chilkat alerted us to another gray at Possession which happened to be #44. -Renee Beitzel
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We had a whale hanging out just off Jetty Island this morning around 8am. He was there for well over an hour. We could see him from our office on the waterfront. I have video but cant get it to load. He would come up out of the water just far enough to blow and then back down. -Sandra Volkert-Honeycutt
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12:30 - a gray is blowing perfectly beautiful illuminated heart-shaped blows while milling less than mile south of Cultus Bay.
12 Noon - a gray whale, presuming 44, west bound off Cultus Bay, South Whidbey.
11:16 - gray (44 Dubknuck per my video and Marilyn's images) has passed Possession Park Boat launch steady southbound approx 1/4 mile off shore Whideby side, heading towards Possession Point.
10:50 - gray whale southbound south of Glendale Whidbey side. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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NPS gray 44 Dubknuck off Possession Beach Waterfront Park. -Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, Mar 22, 2019
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10:12 - Looks like a gray whale mid channel at Mukilteo/Clinton ferry crossing headed south. -Melissa Simmons, WS Ferries

March 21
14:16 - faint transient vocals over the LK hydrophones. Ship noise but I could hear them. -Jeanne Hyde
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - MARCH 21 - Thu Mar 21 - Good Morning, Yesterday (3/21) around 11:45 AM I watched two orca whales near the lighthouse at Fort Casey. I attached some photos that I took of the two whales and despite the poor photo quality, I hope they can be of some use. Are you able to identify the whales from my photos? One of them appeared to be quite smaller than the other whale. Thank you! ...Thank you for the amazing response. Yes, I believe we were only watching the two you mentioned. However, it did appear that the Pt Townsend ferry was taking a different route than normal so maybe the others were closer to Port Townsend. Anyway, yesterday was my first time actually seeing the whales. I have spent hours chasing them based on posts from your awesome FB page. I will make sure and post when I see them again.
Just a bit about their behavior. They appeared to be diving and milling around in front of the lighthouse for about 20 or so minutes by the time was saw them. At on point, I captured the male swimming sort of erratic and his dorsal fin was laying sides ways. Maybe a catch? It was just a short time after that behavior that the two started moving at a faster rate toward the northwest. They made their way further from the coastline and headed towards the Victoria/Lopez Island area. -Sincerely, Casie McClellan
T137A and his sister T137B off Fort Casey, Whidbey. Westbound exiting Admiralty Inlet. Photo by Casie McClellan, Mar 21, 2019
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Pec fin of NPS gray whale 531 is extended above the surface as she rolls on her side while feeding off the downtown Langley waterfront. -Photo by David Hartze, Mar 21, 2019
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Thu Mar 21 - 5:45 - 6:15 - took a drive up north to Oak Harbor and watched a gray whale moving back and forth outside the mouth of the harbor, basically in same area as morning report, just out from the Scenic Heights neighborhood. Too far for ID. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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12:41 - Krystle Steingiesser shared video (visitor post) of who appears to be 1-2 gray whales moving around in the Oak Harbor area off Scenic Heights, north of the entrance to Penn Cove.
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Thu Mar 21 - 17:52 - Robert Harris reports two gray whales 100 yds from shore at Whale Bell Park in Langley. They were apparently feeding at high tide and are meandering southward.
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My wife and I were staying at The Inn at Langley on Thursday March 21 and I got a few pics of a gray whale right off of your deck. When I showed Wendy at the Whale Museum and she said it could be #531 based on the look of the left pectoral fin that was above the water, and that I should send my best pics to you. Attached are the 2 best pics I took using my phone thru my binoculars...so I could get some really closeups. Hope you like them, and that you can use them for anything you need. -Regards, David Hartze, Everett, WA
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15:03 - Two Grays in Saratoga Pass. Just North of the south end of Camano....Just milling around mid channel. Looked like they were spending most the time just laying on the surface. Watched for about 15 minutes then left.
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On a side note, we went into Port Susan and saw 5 or 6 small pods of porpoises they were all over. -Dean Kayler
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16:46 - Just looked through intern whale watch photos and they saw CRC22 today! (between the Delta and Hat Island) -Alie Perez, Cascadia Research
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15:45 - 14:53 - Little Patch (or 383?) (right side spot clearly visible) just cruised by the east side of Hat, lingered near marina then continued south, se. -Lori Christopher
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11:37 - 531 and 383 together off southeast side of Camano Head.
11:17 - One gray just north of Camano head, southbound. Too much glare for ID. One quick look at right side, possibly #21 but not confirmed. -Renee Beitzel
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10:45 - Two grays along the east side of Hat island, this one near the marina entrance, 150 yds out, traveling north. Second one is further south, close to island no direction indicated. -Lori Christopher

March 20
7:46 PM - Between Entrance Island and Gabriola, six adult large Orca and one juvenile, were seen circa 6 pm this evening, march 20, feeding on A sea lion. Visible less than a kilometre offshore, for about 15 minutes,circling and breeching repeatedly,seemed to head off towards Departure Bay. -David Boehm
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - Wed Mar 20 - 19:35 - There are 5 orcas moving slowly south along Saratoga Passage. They just passed through between Penn Cove and Camano. Led by two very close together then a third some distance behind followed by two more together more toward the Camano side. I wasn't close enough to see any markings. -Wendy Nelson
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18:50 - Orcas heading back south now. -Terra Parham
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18:15 - The pod we've been watching is moving north towards Maylor point. 17:15 - We've spotted 2 mid channel between camano, and Whidbey at the entrance to penn cove. There just hanging out....Looks more like 4. Someone mire experienced tells me they're hunting. -Ruby Vance Hall
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16:55. For the past hour Ts on a hunt and presumably killed the little creature approx 1-1.5 miles NE out from Long Point, sightline all happening under Mt Baker and Polnell Point area. A lot of surface activity, lunges, etc. Can hear their blows... stunning.
15:55 - 3 females northbound Harrington Lagoon, close to Whidbey. 2nd group midnchannel northbound. Big boys have been on Camano side. All northbound slow pace, some circling...cute spyhop off Jill's house earlier. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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T137 spyhops - Another treat today to see the T46s and T137s in front of my house, and to have some orca-dork friends watching too!!! The whales were spread into 2 or 3 groups, and quite far away ....Photos by Jill Hein, Mar 20, 2019
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15:16 - appx 4 orca northbound mid channel in saratoga passage. Viewing from woodbluff/woodland beach area camano. -Krista Paulino
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14:21 - orcas just passing Greenbank....I just got one look on my way to Seattle. -Bonnie Gretz
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14:00 - A sea lion, who was being vigorously pursued and physically assaulted eventually must have escaped. The sea lion was flapping like mad further offshore, orcas went on a dive, disapperared then suddenly orcas surfaced close in shore moving away and went right into travel mode, lined up heading Northbound.
13:34 - T46s and T137s have stalled. Two areas of action, surface activity north of Fox Spit. Makes hanging wide mid channel. Females and young north of Fox Spit, males off to mid channel circling. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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~ 13:15 - T46s and T137s pass by Fox Spit today. Another day spent in the sunshine and with friends. Matriarch T137. -Photos by Rachel Haight, Mar 20, 2019
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12 noon - Ts have entered Saratoga Passage on Camano side. Currently grouped up steady northbound in semi scratchy seas off Pebble Beach (south end Camano). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:30 - T46 pod and T137pod pod northbound at the south end of Saratoga Passage. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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11:15 - It is confirmed both pods. 137's and 46's! -Renee Beitzel
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11:00 am - Janine Harles called to update: Large pod of orcas still between Hat Island and Sandy Point, Whidbey heading towards Saratoga Passage. T46E has been confirmed by Bart Rulon, presumabley it is the same two families (T46s & T137s) who have been in but that is not confirmed yet.
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10:00 - Orcas. Spotted west side of Hat Island northbound...angling Saratoga Passage. -Lori Christopher
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Posted 09:35 - Orca (we think 3, 2 together, 1 seemed to be following at a distance)...sighting from Mukilteo ferry 930am departure. Two distinct, large dorsals, one smaller dorsal, 200yds north, heading towards Everett. -Shelley Schwinn
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~ 08:00 - This must have been that group, but earlier- seen at the end of Whidbey before 8am...Right off the southwest corner of Whidbey Island on Possession Bar. -Jody Moran
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Wed Mar 20 - 16:15 - Gray whale in Penn Cove again! Towards the end of the Cove....viewed close to Three Sister Market. -Stephanie Sims
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15:03 - Grey whale in Penn Cove out in front of Monroe Landing. Just one....towards Coupeville pier. Pretty much dead center of the water. -Michelle Schrader Krieter
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13:00 -15:00 - I spotted a lone Grey Whale in Penn Cove Weds March 20th. Spotted 1 p.m. thru 3 p.m. -Russ Schulz
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08:15 - just had one of our grey whale friends go by headed west towards Polnell Point...looked like #44 dubnuk we didnt get to see him long tho! 815 am 3/20 Happy spring! -Marcie Goldberg
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Wed Mar 20 - 16:22 - Leaving heading north... Only one
16:00 - Gray whale off Tulalip Bay. -Audra White
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12:37 - 5 Grays SE Gedney Island #49, 53, 383 2246 and one that we didn't get a good look at. -Janine Harles
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Went out in search of gray whales today and on the West side of Gedney Island we found 9 transient orcas the T046's and T137's!! We even got a close pass by a few of them!! Then we turned right and just a short distance away we found gray whales #49 Patch and #383, they were very close to shore socializing with each other. Then we found #2246 #53 Little Patch! Off in the distance we could see a 5th gray but did not get any shots for ID purposes. An amazing and beautiful first day of Spring with Puget Sound Express!! All photos are heavily zoomed and cropped for detail. All whale watch guidelines were followed. -Janine Harles
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Tue Mar 20 - ~ 17:25 - I was at the Browns Point lighthouse about an hour ago (17:25). A couple sea lions had stuck their heads out near the beach. While watching for them to re-surface I saw something farther out, between BP and Pt Defiance. There were 6-8 of them, with distinct Fins on their backs! I've seen enough sea lions to know they Don't have fins. The group turned towards Vashon/Maury and got too far for me to see. Any chance they were whales? -Cheri Carlson
(No other whales reported, possibly Harbor porpoise - alb)

March 19
...After ending Encounter 19 off the north end of Saltspring Island, "Morning Star" continued north through Dodd Narrows and into Georgia Strait to search for more killer whales. At 1500, a report came in of killer whales, possibly J pod, outside of Porlier Pass. Luckily, "Morning Star" was not too far away and arrived on scene at 15:15. The whales were spread out across Georgia Strait as they traveled south a few miles east of Valdes and Galiano Islands...Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 20.
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(Also from Camano WW: There was a pod of 3 Orca's spotted in the center of Port Susan this morning ranging between Tyee Beach on the South and a bit north of Kayak Point. May have been feeding grays or T46s and T137s maybe split in the morning - alb)
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - MARCH 19 - Tue Mar 19 -
18:20 - Two orcas last seen headed west between Anderson and McNeil toward Eagle Island.
17:58 - Two orcas mid channel between McNeil Island and Steilacoom.
17:49 - At least two near eastern tip of Gertrude Island next to McNeil (as seen from Chambers Bay). -Rick Womack
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17:10 - 2 orcas off south side Fox Island mid Carr Inlet. Headed east! (moving at a good pace in southeast direction)I saw them from our deck on Leschi Way. -Photo by Charlene Welty, March 19, 2019
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17:08 - They are off west Fox island...headed south. -Heather N Stonecipher-Short
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~16:50 - We saw 3 orcas in the Carr Inlet, past Fox Island heading towards Chambers Bay. -Dawn Morris
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16:12 - orcas headed towards Fox Island...they seemed to be moving with a purpose, we lost them so we just headed over to Fox Island to try from there. -Mike Boginski
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T137A under Mount Rainier. T137A and T46E side by side in Henderson Bay. Members of the T46s and T137s in Henderson Bay.
~1530 - Henderson Bay, taken from my deck. It was an awesome day, blessed to view such beauty of nature! -Photos by Ingrid Shumway, Mar 19, 2019
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15:59 - (orcas flipped) southbound towards Fox Island now.
15:53 - Orcas close to Deadman's now (close to Cutt's Island, Kopachuck SP)
15:14 - Orcas just left Glen Cove (just north of Lakebay) heading towards the Purdy spit again. Very close to the Key Peninsula side. -Ann Webb
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12:45 - Just saw orcas from Kopachuck Ridge, mid channel headed towards Fox Island. Small boat trailing closely. (map screen shot indicates orcas just to the south of Kopachuck Park). -Anika Blake
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12:45 - Orcas headed South toward Home about 20 minutes ago. -Heather N Stonecipher-Short
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Posted 12:07 - I was kayaking out there... saw several orcas heading southbound (out of the bay), then it looks like they headed towards Glen Cove. -Chris Reed
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11:49 - They are still in Henderson Bay. They have not passed Cutts Island toward Fox Island Bridge. They are moving slowly....The group was separated so I didn't get a group shot, I did not get a picture of the young one...they were spread way out and moving South slowly and seemed to stay on the surface. There were maybe 5. -Terry Shovlowsky
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11:37 - pod of Orcas heading north from Glen Cove on the Key Peninsula - towards Purdy spit....saw 2 heading back out. -Sarah Feagin Anderson
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11:14 - Neighbor called just now and they are heading slowly out of the Bay.
11:00 - Orcas in Henderson Bay and large pod of porpoises....they were heading in towards the Purdy Spit. -Malissa Hatchings
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10:30 - Orcas on east side of Henderson Bay heading north.
9:00-10:00 - About 10 whales (orcas) playing in Carr Inlet(Henderson Bay) off Minter creek. Mar 10, 9:00 to 10:00 AM. Tail slaps and some breaching. 2 big males apart from the main group of 6 to 8. Headed south. I haven't learned to identify groups yet. -Gary Furuheim
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Orcas in Henderson Bay, Carr Inlet, 09:30 - Orcas in Henderson Bay, Carr inlet, almost north in the Purdy Bay! -Ingrid Shumway
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Tue March 19 - March 19th was a busy day! - T2Cs, T123s; and T49As in Trincomali Channel. -Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 19.
T101s, T36As, T36Bs, T99s, T124A1 in President Channel. -Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 21
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There were at least 11 different transient/Bigg's killer whale matrilines in the area, and one of them (the T36As, pictured in this photo by sara Hysong-Shimazu, had a brand new calf with them! As Sara said: it's amazing what ample food will do for a population. There have been at least three births into this booming population in 2019 alone. A new phrase is catching on in the Salish Sea: "Biggs are the balance". While fishermen are illegally shooting seals and sea lions on both sides of the border over perceived competition for fish, these expert predators are a far more effective, efficient, and natural population control. -Monika Wieland Shields
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The Bigg's baby boom continues. Amazing what ample food will do for a population. New kiddo in the T36As. -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Mar 19, 2019
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Tue Mar 19 - 18:50 - 7:30 - Sunset at Long Point with 44 and 56! We made it to Long Point in time to see them still exiting the cove. Just before reaching the point, where we stood, they went on a dive and surfaced just to the right of us...close in. They moved back and forth together for about 10 minutes just feet off the point before heading eastbound towards the super moon rising in the east. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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NPS gray 56, his human friend, & Mount Baker at sundown on Long Point. Spring Equinox eve: sunset/moonrise w/grays 44 & 56 (pictured) off Long Point, Whidbey. -Photos by Marilyn Armbruster, Mar 19, 2019
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18:28 - We watched them heading out stopping for a while to mill around east of the pier and with 56 heading out to mid channel while 44 stayed closer to shore. They have just now passed Monroe Landing eastbound grouped up together, north of mid channel. Penn Cove
17:45 - The Penn Cove grays 44 Dubknuck and 56 are now about .5 miles from pier on NW side Penn Cove. Now trending eastbound slowly after milling deep in the west end of the cove. Left side NPS gray 56 as he travels now eastbound near the pier on NW end of Penn Cove. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Warm sunshine and gray whales #44 and #56 in Penn Cove for nearly 3 hours today. They were right off Highway 20 and caused quite a commotion. I loved the way their blows lit up, the way they sounded, and even caught a couple of whiffs of stinky gray whale breath! Beautiful day. -Rachel Haight
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Heart-shaped blows by 44 and 56 in the west end of Penn Cove. Last image is 44 Dubknuck on their way back out, eastbound on the north side of Penn cove with Coupeville in the background. -Photos by Rachel Haight, Mar 19, 2019
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I was thrilled to find my favorite gray whale #44 Dubknuck tonight in Penn Cove!! He was traveling/feeding with #56 right beside Hwy 20/Juan de Fuca - tons of cars and people watching them. #44 spends a good amount of time at the north end of Saratoga Passage, so glad to see him back again! Thank you Orca Network and Alisa Lemire Brooks for the heads up! #44 Dubknuck - male - his presence has been recorded in Possession Sound for 23 of the past 27 years! -Jill Hein
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16:28 - The two grays are now west of pier NW end of Penn Cove milling, both of them after making some directional changes while slowly moving westbound.
15:55 - 2 gray whales westbound in Penn Cove just east of the pier heading towards it. Close to north side of the cove. (CRC#44 "Dubknuck" can be seen in this video! First I've seen this season, Alie Perez, Cascadia Research). NPS gray 44 Dubknuck sparkles and shines as he travels westbound along the north side Penn Cove. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:20 - There are 2 grays in Penn Cove. East side heading into. -Randi Simms
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14:00 - last saw the pair drifting east towards Crescent Harbor.
11: 55 - milling outside of Oak Harbor. Blows very visible from hill above Walmart in town.
11:45 - pair of grays now steady eastbound. Approaching Maylor point.
11:28 - 3rd gray spotted another mile or so SE of the other 2.
11:25 - two gray whales milling in that area. Slowly working back north.
11:20 - gray mile or so off Scenic Heights area, slow southbound travel. -Rachel Haight
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8:35 - Jeff Humphry reports 2 Grays Polnell Point.
8:45 - Marcie Goldberg reports at least 2 grays, possibly 3, around Polnell Heading towards Crescent Harbor.
08:20 - Terra Parham reports another gray whale is up in the Oak Harbor area again this morning off Polnell Shores.
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Tue Mar 19 - 17:52 - heading north now. - 17:05 - 2 grays feeding just north of Tulalip Bay...They were here yesterday too! -Audra White (posted video in comments)
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I didn't take many photos this day either, but it was the first time I saw Gray Whale #49 Patch fluke (kinda) this year! Lots of other great wildlife around, including Brandt's Cormorants and Steller Sea Lions. -Justine Buckmaster
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08:30 - aboard WS Ferry Tokitae seeing at least one gray whale milling around in Possession Sound SE of Hat/Gedney Island. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Tue Mar 19 - Hello, Around 2:30 today I was walking on the beach near my home in Port Madison on Bainbridge Island and heard a loud exhale and looked to the water and saw air and water spraying up from the back of what I believe was a gray whale. It's back was barnacled and it was mottled gray, looked defined, maybe skinny. It was moving very slowly from in the channel of Madison bay out to open water. I did not have my phone on me to take a photo unfortunately, but watched it for some time as it slowly made its way north. My neighbor saw it too. He says he recalled seeing a gray whale about 20 years ago in the bay, but never since. -Thank you, Piper Thornburgh

March 18
I am currently a volunteer lighthouse keeper at New Dungeness, Monday March 18, 2919 at 7:40pm I could hear blowing from the Keeper's house porch, and upon scanning the waters of the east side of the Spit towards the outer tip of the Spit we could see the fin of an Orca. I only saw one even though I went tearing off to the beach in search. We will be on alert tomorrow! -Connie Reitzug
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PUGET SOUND BIGG'S - MARCH 18 - Mon Mar 18 - 19:27 - Orcas, heading south away from Purdy Spit. Been up here for about an hour now. Amazing!! 3-4 of them w smaller one. -Audrey ML
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~ 19:15 - I finally got to see them for my first time down at the Purdy Spit about 40 minutes ago (~ 19:15)! Such beautiful creatures.They were too far out for my camera to get really great pictures of them but I love this shot I got! -Photo by Jaycee Conti, Mar 18, 2019
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18:44 PM - Four or five orcas in Henderson Bay. Right now. Close in. Feeding. Being followed by dolphin. -Molly
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18:30 - At least four directly in front of Purdy Spit, They're heading down the bay (southbound). -Jennifer Burton Stolz
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18:44 - Orcas in the Purdy spit right now, Pretty active and playing. Pretty decent sized pod. Wish I knew how to identify them
17:44 - Orcas in the water between Purdy Spit and Raft Island. -Kenzie Adara
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Noon - 1 orca WSW of south tip of Ketron, They were headed west.
11:55 - Orcas. Male heading west from Solo Point area into Nisqually Reach gonna pass south of Anderson Island...SSE of Thompson Cove/Lyle Point. -Sam Kaviar
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Facebook Video of Whales heading south on the east side of Anderson Island in South Sound around 11:20 AM this Sunny Monday morning. -Robert Lyden
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10:55 - Orcas now heading between Andersen and McNeil in ferry lane
10:40 - Steilacoom ferry stopped...(orcas) jumping in Steilacoom Ferry lane in front of McNeil. -Karen Marie Leetch
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10:37 - I just saw several (orcas) heading south past the buoy out in chamber's Bay...That's quite a ways north of where I saw the gulls feeding so maybe they're in two separate groups
10:21 - Orcas. Looks to me like a kill NE of Anderson island. From Chambers Bay, Lots of splashing and gulls. -Gevan Marrs
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10:01 - 2 pods of orcas headed south just off Fox Island and Day Island. -Larry Capps
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10:02 - Orcas...approaching Fox Island Pier. Very close to that side. Southbound. Nice consistent dives.
9:56 - mid channel. Heading south past Day Island. At least 4-5. Big male. -Dawn Dewhirst
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09:53 - Orcas passing Day Island, very close to shore. -Hannah Dewhirst
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9:52 - Heading south mid channel at the north end of Day Island. -Teri Fields Mattsen
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9:47 - Orcas still around Titlow appear going south. 2 of them. 1 male and 1 female. -Katie Crepeau
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This is the male as it passed Hidden Beach at 9:37. Zoomed in phone photo. Through my binocs I could see he had 2 notches in his dorsal. -Photo by Heidi Armstrong, Mar 18, 2019
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T137A and T137B. T137A and one of the T46 males. T46s - From Titlow Beach at 09:30. -Photos by Kala Escobar, Mar 18, 2019
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~09:30 off Titlow Beach. -Photo by Amber Stanfill, Mar 18, 2019
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9:27 - Orcas. Heading south right under Narrows bridge. Viewing from Hidden Beach. -Jennifer Schweizer Johnson
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08:44 - Orcas. The group is very spread out now though. I believe there are more than 5. They are moving vigorously!...I'm pretty far away, but I did see one very large dorsal in the group.
08:42- Orcas are currently milling between Vashon and Pt Defiance, slowly headed south now. Towards Narrows. -Gaby Kinner
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08:30 - Four orcas, Tahlequah ferry dock. (South Vashon). -Steve Fogard
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08:20 - Seeing 5 orca between Vashon Island and Pt Defiance. Traveling west it appears. Viewing from Gig Harbor. -Gaby Kinner
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Mon Mar 18 - 18:46 - Hi I think I spotted a whale in the water from my backyard . I can see the water spout. Seems to only be one. Photo by Jolene Aviles, Mar 18, 2019 (gray was off Scenic Heights neighborhood, Oak Harbor)
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Mon Mar 18 - We had #49 Patch, 53 LP and #383 all near Gedney but not together, as they have been lately. -Renee Beitzel
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Mon Mar 18 - 3:35 - It seems to be veering east toward Possession Sound, and the blow looked V-shaped, so maybe a gray whale?
3:20 - Sim and Kate Shepherd called in a report of a big bushy blow (humpback?) off Mutiny Bay, headed south, either toward Point No Point or Possession Point, or in between, mostly on the Whidbey side.

March 17
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - 17:55 - Transients in San Juan channel right now in front of Friday harbor; Male, female and young one, eastbound. - Mariann Carrasco
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17:15 - Second day in a row T2Cs are near Friday Harbor slowly southbound in San Juan Channel. -Monika Wieland
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Itty bitty one peekin out...~17:00 - T2Cs Deer Harbor area westbound with some direction changes and milling thrown in. Confirmed kill (blood in water + prey in mouth.) -Photo by Cassie Barclay, Mar 17, 2019
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14:30 - WS Ferries reports 3 orcas westbound in Harney Channel.
14:30 - 3 orcas spotted from Orcas island ferry...They were headed west...it was magical. -Rachael Kloek
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12:30-12:50 - Greetings - Rare sighting today of 2, or possibly 3 orcas in Eastsound, just south of Rosario. One larger Orca with a very large and upright/vertical dorsal fin, and either one or two smaller whales traveling with the larger one. First spotted about 12:30pm on 3/17, traveling south along the western shore of Eastsound Inlet. By 12:50pm, the whales were at the southwest end of Eastsound. Not much more to note. -Craig Doberstein
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - Sun Mar 17 - Georgia Strait - Hi today I saw one orca here 49.119204, -123.494200. Did not obtain any photos of the male transient orca. -Melissa Hafting
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Sun Mar 17 - My family and I driving east on 104, passing the Hood Canal into Port Gamble when we sighted two Orcas to our right (facing Bridgehaven). At first we saw a fin rise up from the water and disappear and then another fin appear soon after. At first we did not believe our eyes until we saw them AGAIN! IT WAS AMAZING - against the evening sun. We could not take pictures or stopped because we were trying to make the 7pm/8pm Kingston to Edmonds ferry. This happened at 6PM. Our state is so beautiful! -Trinh Nguyen
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GRAY WHALES - Sun Mar 17 - Saratoga Passage - 1145 hours - (Whidbey Island) Lone grey whale spotted outside of the Oak Harbor channel, near the R2 buoy, heading north towards Crescent Harbor. -Dave Steckman
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Sun Mar 17 - Possession Sound - 15:57 - spouts just off of the jetty, looking towards Hat Island from Legion Park. Closer to the jetty side. -Mara Patton
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15:29 - can see spouts between Clinton ferry dock and Jetty island, viewing from Legion Park (Everett). -Dave Hendler
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14:34 - spotted another grey whale by the green channel market at the south west tip of Hat Island. -Danielle Pennington
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...We later went up to see #2246 who was on south side of Gedney. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, Mar 17, 2019
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11:15 - gray 49 Patch is off east side of Hat/Gedney Island. -Alan Lacy
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11:00 - Gray whale 49 Patch and CRC 2246 near Hat Island 11:00 AM. Video is 2246 slapping tail. -Steve Smith
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Sun Mar 17 - Puget Sound/ Possession Point - 14:25 - 2 grey whales swimming north just north of the Clinton ferry dock...swimming in between Hat island and Whidbey. They are just north of the north dock. Moving slowly. -Danielle Pennington
(maybe 53 & 383? - alb)
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11:15 - 2 grays, 53 Little Patch, and 383 (pictured) are off Possession Point. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, Mar 17, 2019
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Sun Mar 17 - One humpback here 48.8949, -126.6036. -Photo by Melissa Hafting, Mar 17, 2019
(Many miles out in the Pacific off west coast of Vancouver Island)
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DOLPHINS (PACIFIC) - Sun Mar 17 - (Coastal southwest of Tofino) - Hi, today I saw 4 Northern Right whale dolphins here 48.8939, -126.6710 and 30 Risso's dolphins here 48.8916,-126.5926. I have attached two photos of the risso's and can provide right whale dolphin photos if needed from my friend who took those... it was an incredible weekend for me for rare animals as I also saw Short Tailed and Laysan albatross! -Cheers, Melissa Hafting

March 16
San Juans - 15:35 - T2Cs southbound San Juan Channel, currently near Friday Harbor. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Mar 16 - Look who's back in town: the T2Cs! We got a quick look at this remarkable group of whales right outside Friday Harbor late this afternoon. All 5 of them were right together, including T2C2 Tumbo, who has scoliosis and is cared for by his family. The one-of-a-kind dorsal fin of T19B Galiano today in the southern Strait of Georgia.-Monika Wieland Shields
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Not exactly sure how this works but wanted to let you know that we saw four orcas heading south between the west coast of Orcas Island and Spieden Island. This is a picture of three of them and then a fourth (I think) came cruising by about five minutes later. This was taken about 2:30pm on March 16th. T2Cs southbound heading towards San Juan Channel. Gorgeous!!! -John Felton
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Sat Mar 16 - Strait of Georgia - 14:00-15:30 - Hello All, Just wanted to thank Carl, Erin and Nomi for an amazing day yesterday. We all got a little nervous about seeing any Orca as the day went on however Captain Carl and the incredible network with other captains out there saved the day. We went up to Canadian waters where we were able to see Vancouver and had one of the best shows I can remember. The total count was difficult to be sure of however double digits for sure, including a few big males and some younger ones. They were the T's and early thoughts on some are T49A1, T49 Family (verified as T49As - alb), Brothers -T19B, T19C, etc. Please verify. I attached a picture of my Google Maps of the area we saw them (~1 mile N of Tumbo Island, BC). All around 2-3:30pm. Enjoy the pictures and once again, great time out there! T49As (T49A3 in forefront)...T91B and T19, T19C and T19B. -David Haeckel
(ID confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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Sat Mar 16 - Skagit Bay - 07:30-08:00 - John Agen called to report a probable gray whale in north Skagit Bay, about 6-7 miles SE of Deception Pass, 50-60 yds off a reef in shallow water, heading SE toward the Swinomish Channel.
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Sat Mar 16 - Are you sure it's March? More beautiful weather today and another encounter with 3 Gray Whales. We spotted #49 Patch first and had a fleeting close look as he cruised past us SE of Hat/Gedney Island. A bit further E we found #53 Little Patch socializing with #383 with a beautiful view of Mt. Baker in the background. On our way home we stopped to see some Steller Sea Lions and Brandt's Cormorants hanging out on the Scatchet Head buoy. -Justine Buckmaster
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~13:00 while aboard Puget Sound Express. Newbie NPS gray 2246 right side. -Photos by Ignacio Torres, Mar 16, 2019
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Saturday, March 16: Perfect day for a boat trip with glassy seas, blue skies and crystal clear mountains - and whales. After leaving Langley Marina we headed south where Saratoga grays #49 (Patch), #53 (Little Patch) and #383 were feeding between Hat Island and the Delta around noon. One of the whales decided to check us out before making a directional change towards the shoreline of Hat Island. Although there were other boats around, engines were cut and distance requirements well maintained, making for a peaceful encounter broken only by the whales' powerful exhalations as they surfaced. (Photos Sandra Pollard - zoomed and cropped). -Sandra Pollard
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10:15 am approximately....Gray 383 goes on a dive off Hat Island. Gray whale 53 Little Patch left dorsal ridge. Possession Sound, mid channel off Hat Island to the southeast. San Juan Clipper. -Photo by Alan Lacy, Mar 16, 2019

March 15
San Juans - 14:45-17:45 - I watched a KW group mill about/sleep? in Bellingham Channel and Rosario Strait for 3 hours -today from 2:45-5:45 PM - viewed from WA Park-stopped watching them on the south side of Blakely, they were headed NW but made many directional changes over those three hours. -Amy Eberling
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14:30 - KWs off Anacortes ferry terminal. At least 3 kws - 1 or 2 males - off Anacortes ferry terminal at 230 heading E into channel. Were behind the ferry as we pulled out and of course I left the binoculars in the car! -Brad Hanson, NWMFS/NOAA
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Fri Mar 15 - 18:35 - I am on the Sunshine Coast just north of Vancouver, British Columbia. On March 15, 2019 at 18:35 hrs., I spotted a pod of orcas swimming just offshore along the beach at Hopkins Landing in Howe Sound. Unsure of the number but did see 2 surface at the same time. They were heading west towards the Georgia Strait. -Kerry Jess in Hopkins Landing
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Fri Mar 15 - ~16:30 - we watched this grey feeding just north of Pebble Beach today. He/she fed for about 20 minute then headed south. Wondering if anyone can ID it? Photo by Peg Boley, Mar 15, 2019
(gray 383 left side - alb)
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16:00 - 1-2 gray whales heading south of Pebble Beach Point, Camano Island. -Sharri Sandnes
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15:40 - Spotted single gray spouting close to shore at south Mabana Beach, Camano. Appeared to be heading north. It's been down for 20+ mins, so can't provide more details. -Krista Paulino
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We encountered 3 gray whales in Possession Sound today! We first found #49 Patch at his normal hang out SE of Hat/Gedney Island mostly resting waiting for high tide to feed on the Snohomish River delta. On the N side of Hat/Gedney we found 2 gray whales socializing and fluking high on each deep dive. They turned out to be #383 and #531! This is my first encounter with #531 this year and it's nice to welcome her back as she and other Sounders continue to arrive back into Puget Sound. -Justine Buckmaster
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12:15 - NPS gray 49 Patch is alone on east side of Hat/Gedney Island. Grays 383 and 531 were together on NW side of Hat/Gedney, just south of Sandy Point last seen angling towards Camano. -Renee Beitzel, Puget Sound Express
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08:45 - Three grays feeding off Jetty Island. -Lori Christopher

March 14
"Orcinus" arrived on scene around 1220 where the T10s and the T2Cs, minus T2C2 and T2C3, were traveling slowly north tight to the east shoreline of Moresby Island. Several whales from this group stopped and briefly logged at the surface. After a long dive, the whales moved more into the middle of lower Swanson Channel and began to wake up a bit. T10 did two big cartwheels and T2C did one. A whale appeared from the north and this turned out to be T2C3. T2C3 logged briefly at the surface about a quarter of a mile north of the other whales when all the whales went on another long dive. When the whales came up again, T2C3 had re-joined the group and everybody continued north. -Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 16
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Thu Mar 14 - San Juan & Canadian Gulf Islands ..."Orcinus" arrived on scene around 1220 where the T10s and the T2Cs, minus T2C2 and T2C3, were traveling slowly north tight to the east shoreline of Moresby Island. Several whales from this group stopped and briefly logged at the surface. After a long dive, the whales moved more into the middle of lower Swanson Channel and began to wake up a bit. T10 did two big cartwheels and T2C did one. A whale appeared from the north and this turned out to be T2C3. T2C3 logged briefly at the surface about a quarter of a mile north of the other whales when all the whales went on another long dive. When the whales came up again, T2C3 had re-joined the group and everybody continued north...Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 16.
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Thu Mar 14 - Puget Sound - 18:40 - Lone orca observed from of Point No Point, between PnP and Double Bluff. Mid-channel, moving westward in straight line. 6:40 PM on Thursday 3/14. Tall straight dorsal fin. Too far away to note any other features, even with binoculars. I thought it was odd because I've never seen "just one" orca....he was heading out Admiralty. -Van Bergen
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17:45 - Just saw a few headed northbound in front of Apple tree point....North of Kingston. Kitsap side. Northbound orcas. About a mile north of the ferry terminal....They were making pretty good time. -Andrew Dempsey
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17:15 - I am seeing at least one male and couple others north of Meadow Point, Golden Gardens.. probably out from Carkeek ...mid channel. Not sure if traveling or milling. Long down times. From Sunset Hill park, Ballard (above Shilshole Marina)
16:10 - T46s and T137s and T49C. They are currently northbound north of Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge on west side of channel. Looked to be grouped up. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:50 - Last seen from Constellation Park, orcas headed northbound on Bainbridge Island side.
15:35 - Seeing orcas from Constellation Park...they seem to be milling around just south of Blakely Rock. -Brittany Noelle
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~15:30 - Just got off the Bremerton ferry. We saw a pod of about 7 orcas were headed west toward Bainbridge at about 3:30. -Katie Bradshaw
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14:12 - Orcas. Looks like they're just north of Vashon. I can pick them up from Alki point. -Chris Ramirez
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14:00 - Orcas crossing the Vashon ferry lane on the Vashon side heading north. -Mike Yov
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13:40 - Orcas. Passed Dilworth and heading quickly North towards Vashon Ferry. Close to Vashon side. Saw at least 3, possibly 4. -Lindsey Clark
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13:30 - Just passed Dilworth still heading north...most were midchannel, a large male popped up very close to our beach, he is huge! T137B and mom T137, big boys T46D and T137A, T46E (r) and others. Found T46's and T137's at Dilworth Beach this afternoon. We got a very surprising close pass by the big boy T49C (pictured). He scared the crap out of a couple guys out fishing when he surfaced out of no where right next to their small boat. -Kelly Keenan
(confirmed by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)
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13:12 - Ts are have now grouped up in two groups maintaining steady northbound travel mid channel now between the north side of Three Tree Point and Dilworth, currently on long dive.
12:50 - Several of us stayed and watched the Ts for hours as they finished their meal and the sun warmed the atmosphere. The Ts have now finished their meal and are heading northbound, grouped up with several porpoising at high speed! Groups are mid channel and east of still south of Three Tree Point. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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This was the best I could do from Three Tree Point today...had to zoom way in lol. Anyhow, great fun seeing them even that far away. -Photo by Brian Nygren, Mar 14, 2019
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Orcas were active on a kill it looked like just north of KVI for quite a while. I left around 1pm. From Point Robinson. -Photo by Caroline Martin Matter, Mar 14, 2019
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12:46 - Update and ID confirmation from Bart Rulon: Saratoga has T46s and T137s on a kill a few miles north of Robinson point Vashon Island milling
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12:28 - orcas still breaching, spyhopping, diving etc off of KVI (beach, mid Vashon). Lots of circling birds. -Jake Conroy
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12:12 - pod that had split north previously have returned South again and rejoined. They are now all spread out still North of KVI (Point Heyer on Vashon) close to the Vashon shore, and have stalled. Looks like lots of predation activity.
11:40 - pods have split some headed north hugging the Vashon shore nearing Dilworth, some just north of KVI, milling south but not committed direction yet. -Marla Smith
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11:00 - Approx 8-10 orcas (2-3 bulls) have drifted a little bit south (of 10:30 report) with their meal, spread out. Presuming larger prey (like sea lion) since spread apart and dozens of gulls swooping in for scraps at every location. Orcas are staying around for the time being. Still a lot of surface activity: breaches, lazy tail lobs and logging for extended periods!
10:30 - Definitely on a hunt, a lot of surface activity (breaches, lunges, directional changes, tail throws, etc) At least 2 bulls, so probably two groups.
10:25 - just spotted them again, same place as 10:15 (between S side Three Tree Pt, Burien and Tramp Harbor, Vashon) looks like orcas may have stalled, maybe on hunt/meal. Lots of directional changes and no forward progress.
10:15 - orcas are south side of Three Tree Point, Burien mid channel heading southbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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08:30 - Kelly Keenan relayed a report of orcas (3-4 with one big male) off Fauntleroy Ferry dock (West Seattle) heading southbound.
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Thu Mar 14 - 12:39 - 5 unidentified orca off Sandheads, mouth of the main river. They made a drastic course alteration and moving fast towards the jetty, likely on a kill. Lots of rock sausage and a few stellar chilling on the jetty. -Scott MacLeod
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Thu Mar 14 - 13:00 - Hello, Wife and I Spotted 3-4 Orcas off Lighthouse Point on Mayne Island. They were heading west between Mayne and Galiano Islands. Sighting was at approximately 1pm from the 12pm Swartz Bay - Twawwassen Ferry. Another smaller boat was on course to intersect their path, but that boat was seen to stop and turn off its engines once they saw the Orcas. We were only able to get this clear photo of one of the Orcas. I have attached the photo. If there are any other reports of which Orcas these may have been, we would appreciate that information. -Regards, Cody Tornow
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One of the as of yet unidentified orcas westbound eastern entrance Active Pass. -Photo (and crop of) by Cody Tornow, Mar 14, 2019

March 13
Members of the T46s and T137s surfing a cargo ship wake in Admiralty Inlet while passing Bush Point, Whidbey. -Photo by Richard Snowberger, Mar 13, 2019
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Wed Mar 13- Admiralty Inlet - 7:20 - Orcas, saw them from Shore Meadow Rd - traveling steady southbound mid channel. -Emily Wandres
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7:08 - Orcas, 4-5? southbound mid channel surfing freighter wakes off Bush Point. -Jan Bell
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Not only do we have the bonus of an hour of extra light, but this evening brought the added bonus of orcas in Admiralty Inlet. At 6:20 pm orcas were seen off Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island, heading south. With perfect sea conditions and a soft sheen on the water, along with Howard Garrett we watched a group of at least six whales pass Bush Point at 6:57 pm, exhilarating in surfing a freighter wake. The encounter was fast and brief as they porpoised at high speed, kicking up a spray before plunging into a dive and rapidly surfacing again. Our last sighting of them, in fading light, was as they passed the entrance to Hood Canal and Foulweather Bluff. What a lovely way to spend an evening! -Sandra Pollard
18:57 - Bigg's orcas in Admiralty Inlet passing Bush Point, Whidbey southbound along with a cargo ship. Wake surfing in Admiralty Inlet. "T137A - Looks like him! Looks like maybe the 46s with them!" -Photos by Richard Snowberger, Mar 13, 2019
(ID notes by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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Anna Singh'Deo called to report the pod of orcas off Bush Pt. - at 6:55 pm they had just passed the lighthouse. It looked like two bulls and 5 - 6 others, mid channel swimming south.
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Kit Turner called from Lagoon Point about 6:20 to say the Clipper had slowed and there were orcas across Admiralty Inlet. I got to Bush Pt. by 6:25 and scanned and scanned some more and didn't see anything until Sandra and Dick [Duck] showed up whereupon they appeared, way off on the Marrowstone Island shore bunched up nicely heading south. We saw at least four females and young followed by two males. A huge southbound container ship passed, prompting the whales to hitch a ride on the bow wake and surf at speed while porpoising at full race, like leaping gazelles. It sure looked like fun. -Howard Garrett
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Wed Mar 13 - San Juans - After a series of phone calls from Jane Cogan relaying reports of a group of transients heading up San Juan Channel, Dave and Katie met at Snug Harbor and left in the boat a little after 1500. We arrived on scene at about 1530 in Spieden Channel. The whales, already identified as the T90s and T101s, were traveling slowly west near the southeastern shoreline of Spieden Island. T90C Spyhops. Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, Mar 13, 2019. Full summary report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 15
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Wed Mar 13 - Hello! I believe I saw/heard a gray whale last night (Wednesday 3/13/2019) at 7:49pm. I was on the beach right by Lover's Bluff on Lummi Island (48.714009, -122.699765) when I heard three blows total over the course of about 1 minute. I started recording a video right after the first blow (attached). It was very close to shore....It seemed to be traveling North, and a few minutes later I heard it blow again seemingly near Village Point. I got in my car and headed to a beach a little North of there. At 8:15 I heard it blow again twice, and then about 2-3 minutes later I heard another blow, still traveling North. (I have an audio recording where you can hear at least one of the blows, it's not great quality though). I hope this is helpful, and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can provide any other information. Thank you for all of the work you do! -Very Best, Kelsey McLane
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Wed March 13 - Saratoga Passage - Aw, springtime. Love is in the air. This grey was feeding off Polnell Shores. -Terra Parham/Photo by Greg Parham, Mar 13, 2019
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Wed Mar 13 - Possession Sound - From there we made our way out toward Hat island where captain Tyler found gray whale #53 Little Patch. We got some great flukes from him before heading to the shallows off of Hat island. Here we watched as #383 spy hopped multiple times, some of which were very high out of the water. -See full report/photos at Island Adventures March 13 blog post.
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I just looked at the photos the CRC interns took on yesterday's (March 13) whale watch trip and 531 has arrived. I hadn't seen any other confirmation of this yet so wanted to pass that on. It was sighted with CRC383....CRC531 was on the edge of the river delta when sighted on the 13th. -Alie Pérez, Cascadia Research Collective

March 12
Rosario Strait...out into Rosario strait where captain Tyler found us a group of orca whales right off of Burrows island. It turned out to be the T90's and we got some amazing looks at them as the were heading out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. -Encounter report/photos at Island Adventures March 12th blog post
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Tue Mar 12 - Puget Sound - 17:21- 18:40 - T137 and her son T137A, T137B and her older brother T137A. T137s. T137A off Point No Point. Following up - with pics from earlier post. 5:21 PM - heading out to run "Point No Point" beach. Couldn't believe it - Transient Orcas trolling right off the shore (30 to 40 meters out). Two big harbour seals were also in very close - 2 meters. Transient Orca pod then moved out - guessing 120 to 150 meters out - stayed there for 35 minutes diving (appeared to be feeding at times, unsure exactly, they'd all circle up at times - pod stayed in exact same spot - diving, every 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes- then appearing - avg sized orca / notch dorsal, 2 side by side oracs / always stayed close together / then massive male Orca, notch fin). After 35 to 40 min in same diving location (directly out from light house) they "slowly" trolled towards homes - toward Hansville grill. Then turned out into the abyss ... heading towards Whidbey Island!!! I pointed them out to many along beach - others also snapped pics & observed. Two big harbour seals stayed within 2 to 3 meters of water the entire time / they stayed along beach (2 meters of water) for over an hour. Possible the Transient pod had dinner earlier at 100 to 150 feet out - again they stayed in same location for 35 to 40 minutes - appeared to be feeding a few times. Unsure, best guess when they'd circle up/very close to each other. New at identifying orcas, feeding, etc. Second unreal experience off "Point No Point"!!!!! -Andrew Muehling
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15:00 - Last report from me...seeing entire family, now grouped together. T137s now well south of Possession Point heading southwesterly out from Picnic Point, still east of mid channel but moving further away from mainland. Slow steady pace.
14:50 - I think they went on long dives...after losing them from sea level, I walked back up the ramp over the railroad tracks and with the assist of elevation spotted T137A further west out from Picnic Point and south of Possession Point heading slowly southwesterly. Ive not seen others yet.
14:13 - Orcas surfing the wake of a tug that is passing northbound! And now milling around mid channel south end Possession Sound...After surfing can see T137A milling making many directional changes, not in any hurry.
14:05 - Orcas are spread out: T137A is about mid channel milling back and forth, the other three spread in ones mid channel to east of mid while traveling slow/med pace southbound. I think T137D is closest to me.
13:55 - I relocated to the beach at Picnic Point Park, Lynnwood... I can now see dorsal slicing through glassy calm water to the north (out from Shipwreck) heading my way, soon to disrupt some resting thermoregulating sea lions if they stay on course.
13:20 - After regular surface intervals, T137A is on long dive, have not seen him, but just now caught glimpse of 2 of his family members dorsals to the south, more inshore towards Mukilteo than last sighting, both heading Southbound
13:11 - T137s made fast time. I arrived Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach, alerted others on site and those about to leave...immediately we spotted the large dorsal of T137A traveling on his own further offshore east of mid channel, Clinton ferry terminal line of sight. His family had already passed, looking south soon after spotted someone else surface past south end of park (closer inshore than T137A) angling toward mid channel.
12:45 - 13:00 - Arrived at Harborview Park, Everett in hopes to see the T137s, looking over the bluff short distance west could see dozens of gulls swooping in on glassy seas on what clearly was the location of the meal, but no orcas. I figured they must have flipped so I headed back west and on my way to Mukilteo as I was coming over the hill in the distance I spotted at least one of the T137s just east of Mukilteo Ferry dock heading west at 13:00. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Today we encountered them while they were northbound just between Everett and Mukilteo. The T137's is a family of 4 consisting of T137 (36 yo) and her 3 kids, T137A (17yo), 137B (13yo) and T137D (7yo)...When we arrived we could tell they were in pursuit of something. Was it a harbor seal or harbor porpoise? Not long into the predation event, we saw a seal head pop up amidst the chaos! This harbor seal wasn't going down without a fight and lasted quite a while before it all went silent. Depending on the size of their prey, how many are in the pod, and who is leading the hunt, it can take minutes to hours to take them down. Techniques need to be learned and skills perfected and today we got to see the learning process in action as the two youngest lead the charge with help from mom and big bro only when needed, They were distant for most of the encounter so max zoom and cropped where needed to show detail and/or the seal. 12:30 - It's the T137s, they are hunting a harbor seal, 2 miles east of Mukilteo ferry dock. T137A, T137 and youngest T137D-Renee Beitzel, Puget Sound Express
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We had another double header today! With glass calm seas, we quickly found 3 Gray Whales between Hat/Gedney Island and the Snohomish River delta. We were able to identify #49 Patch and #53 Little Patch but the third whale was a little too elusive to ID. Not far from the Gray Whales, we also encountered the T137s hunting a Harbor Seal just north of Mukilteo. The young bull T137A Jack gave the poor pinniped several slaps with his curled flukes. They seemed to finish the hunt and began feeding just as it was time for us to head back to the dock. Another great day on the water! -Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
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11:47 - 4 orcas at Mukilteo, milling around and slowly working their way North towards Everett. -Photo by Tyler Graham, Mar 12, 2019
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11:33 - Orcas just off Mukilteo ferry dock headed north 3-4 of them...They were going to Everett definitely. Riding the shoreline. The bull popped up right next to the ferry. -Melissa Simmons, WSF
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07:49 - Just saw 3 orcas near North Beach (just north of Golden Gardens, North Seattle) heading north. Looked like a male, a female, and a young one. -Amanda Salov
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We had another double header today! With glass calm seas, we quickly found 3 Gray Whales between Hat/Gedney Island and the Snohomish River delta. We were able to identify #49 Patch and #53 Little Patch but the third whale was a little too elusive to ID. Not far from the Gray Whales, we also encountered the T137s hunting a Harbor Seal just north of Mukilteo. The young bull T137A Jack gave the poor pinniped several slaps with his curled flukes. They seemed to finish the hunt and began feeding just as it was time for us to head back to the dock. Another great day on the water! -Justine Buckmaster
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...three gray whales around Gedney island. They were fluking like crazy and showing their tales off on almost every dive. They turned out to be 531, 383, and 56 and it was amazing to see them feeding around the Possession sound...See full report/photos at Island Adventures Mar 12th Encounter blog post.
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RISSO'S DOLPHIN (Georgia Strait) - Sat Mar 9 - Risso's dolphin Deep Bay (upper Georgia Strait near Denman Island). Lone Risso's dolphin off Deep Bay, BC. - Facebook link
These notes from the sighting last Saturday at Deep Bay from Jessica Torode-Scott: Hi Deborah, "I thought I would share some more info with you about inshore Risso's! I spoke with one of my colleagues, who told me that there was a lone Risso's spotted almost exactly 4 years ago near Salt Spring. At the time, we didn't have any confirmed sightings of Risso's in inside waters in our database, but Dr. John Ford said that there have been confirmed records in the past including a group of about 10 Risso's seen on four occasions in the Strait of Georgia in the summer of 1978. Plus there's quite a few stranding records from inside waters. The Risso's near Saltpring never stranded to our knowledge, just hung around for a few days...and was mistaken for a sick killer whale and a shark. Her reply to my question of why do they think it was there..."Honestly we aren't really sure...it's a mystery! Hopefully we will have some more sightings so that we can track its whereabouts and behaviour. Feel free to share on Facebook! "You can contribute to research and conservation by reporting your whale, dolphin, porpoise, and sea turtle sightings to the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network. Download the WhaleReport app, visit their website at wildwhales.org, email sightings@ocean.org, or call 1-866-I SAW ONE." So please share away...Deborah Freeman

March 11
Mon Mar 11 - Hello, Today I saw at least four orcas from Fort Worden in Port Townsend. Orcas entering Admirlty Wilson off Point Wilson.. I watched from the bluff as they came around from the straight towards the bay. At one point, they were quite close to the shore near the lighthouse. Here's the best photo I got. Just amazing. Brought me to tears. This was the first time I've ever seen orcas in our waters in my 28 years of living on the sound. Thanks for all you do! Any idea of which pod this might have been? -Alexis Arrabito
(Video shared shows bull in the group. This is possibly T137s who showed up in Puget Sound the next morning - alb)
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Sat Mar 9...Dave and Melisa headed to Snug Harbor and left the dock at 1430 aboard "Orcinus". At 1503, "Orcinus" arrived on scene with the T123s and T124As off of Foster Point, near the east entrance of Harney Channel. The whales were all grouped up and zig-zagging their way toward Obstruction Pass. Surfacing beside T124A3 was a new calf, likely born at the beginning of 2019. T123's calf that was born in late 2018 was also present....Full encounter report/photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 14.
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GRAY WHALES - Mon Mar 11 - 1:49 - Just saw my first gray of the year in Port Susan near Warm Beach. -Gary Lingenfelter
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12:10 - Renee Beitzel reports #49 Patch and #53 LP (Little Patch) are off SE Hat/Gedney Island AND #383 is in Saratoga Passage offshore Elger Bay, Camano Island.
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Mon Mar 11 - Today was a bit colder and more overcast than the past few days, but sighting conditions were still fair and we encountered 3 Gray Whales. SE of Hat/Gedney Island were #49 Patch and #53 Little Patch. Later we continued north into Saratoga Passage to see if we can spot any of the other Grays in the area. We found #383 in Elger Bay heading south. Despite the clouds, the mountains were still showing including Mt. Rainier making for some nice photo opportunities. -Justine Buckmaster
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UNCONFIRMED SPECIES - Mon Mar 11 - My coworkers were at the Olympic sculpture park around 1pm and thought they saw orcas. -Erika Kathryn Frank
(we had no other reports of orcas in this area, possible it was rafting sea lions or maybe dolphins - alb)

March 10
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Matriarch J17 Princess Angeline swims with her family in the upper Georgia Strait near Campbell River, BC. -Photo by Nick Templeman, Mar 10, 2019
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Sun March 10 - Upper Georgia Strait - We had an amazing surprise today... Southern Residents... passing Campbell River southbound. We were able to ID the J17's plus L87 as they made their way southbound into the Gulf. J17s eldest daughter J35 Tahlequah, J35's son J47 Notch, J17's youngest offspring, daughter J53 Kiki, J17's granddaughter J46 Star, L87 Onyx who travels with J pod, currently w/the J17s. -Photos by Nick Templeman, Mar 10, 2019
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sun Mar 10 - After an amazing display of coordinated hunting tactics, 6 yr old T137D applies the coup de gras to a harbor seal with support from mom T137 in the background and sibling T137B in Lopez Pass. Although it can be difficult to see at times, the calves must learn to hunt and T137 is a great teacher. -Photo by James Gresham, Mar 10, 2019
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T137s were in Lopez Sound. Here is T137A traveling and spy hopping...Photos by Ariel Yseth, Spirit of Orca, Mar 10, 2019
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Sun Mar 10 - Possession Sound (Snohomish Delta) - 16:54 - Seeing two whales from Howarth Park headed west towards Hat island (closer to the island). -Brian-Nicole Jenkins
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14:30 -16:15 - Watched heart shaped blows and bodies of at least 3 grays between Hat/Gedney and Jetty Island, Everett...milling back and forth feeding, spread out from south end Hat to mid way up north side mid channel mostly, on occasion two whales fin to fin diving together. Sun is out, so is the tide, water calm...Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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14:11 - One maybe two whales south of Hat island. We are spotting them from Harborview park in Everett. -Jerald Russell
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11:31 - Sounds like #383 is back! Island Explorer 4 on scene with 5 whales SE off Hat Island. Welcome Gray whale 383!. -Erin Johns Gless, Island Adventures
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...Welcome back #383! We were thrilled to witness the return of another one of our Sounders today. It seemed we were not the only ones excited about 383's return, as every gray we've been seeing over the past couple of weeks was present in Possession Sound today, and quite social at that. Little Patch (#53), Patch (#49), CRC-185, and CRC-2246 were all in attendance....See full encounter report on Island Adventures March 10th Blog Entry.
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These two were all about each other for a minute today...New arrival, "sounder" #383 approached kindasortagettingoldnewbie PCFG #185 and put his head on top of 185's back. Always fun to watch their interactions! They are anything but mindless feeding machines. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, Mar 10, 2019
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Mar 10 - Saratoga Pass (Oak Harbor area) - 11:55 - Grey is off Polnell Pt. I think it's heading east. -Terra Parham
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09:00 - Large, single grey whale about 1.0 mile SSW of Crescent Harbor, heading SSE. I'm viewing from my scope from Harrington Lagoon...It was a ways out from my perspective and headed slightly toward Polnell Pt. -Erik Anderson
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Sun Mar 10 - We encountered a total of 5 Gray Whales on the SE side of Hat/Gedney Island. We first arrived on scene with #49 Patch and then #53 Little Patch, though we could see other Gray Whales surfacing a bit further out. We found out that they were #383, #185, and #2246! We even saw a sweet cuddle session between #383 and #185! I didn't get photos of the bromance since I was inside the cabin when it happened, but it was sweet to see. -Justine Buckmaster

March 9
T123s - Took the 12:40 ferry to Lopez island and a couple [orcas] were spotted just 5 min before docking. -Photos by Jayce Lemmer, Mar 9, 2019
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13:15 - Just received a call from Marie Waterman, WS Ferries who reports two orcas seen off Frost Island (east side Lopez) heading westbound.
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12:40 - another group of orcas on the same ferry ride! SW of Blakely Island heading west. (T123s) -Monika Wieland Shields
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T123D and T123 "Sidney". -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Maya's Legacy, Mar 9, 2019
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Sat Mar 9 - T124As - There were multiple groups of transient/Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea today - just another sign of spring! OBI's Sara Hysong-Shimazu encountered the T124As in San Juan Channel, and they had a new calf with them! It was mostly seen surfacing next to T124A3. -Monika Wieland Shields
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T124A6, T124A3, and T124A3A (presumably). Today's trip brought meet ups with two different families of our Salish Sea Bigg's killer whales---the T123s and T124As. With the T124As was a new calf with 13-year old, T124A3. Here's a photo of the new baby swimming next to the (presumed) new mom. -Photos by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Maya's Legacy, Mar 9, 2019
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12:50 - T124As -Jeff Friedman
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12:05 - Orcas Turn Island San Juan Channel southbound, seen from ferry. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Mar 9 - Gray whales!!! CRC49 Patch! PCFG CRC185 off southside Hat Island today. CRC 53 right side, 49 Patch, 53 Little Patch and a spy-hopper 185! South end of Hat/Gedney Island. -Photos by Jill Hein, March 9, 2019
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Out on Saratoga today, found 4 gray whales near Everett! #49 Patch, #53 Little Patch, #185 and #2246. CRC 53 (Little Patch) left side. Beautiful whale face...CRC53 Little Patch! which I could see in the distance but did not get close enough for pics. Papa Eagle was waiting for us back at the dock in Edmonds! Great day on the water with Puget Sound Express! All whale watch guidelines were followed. All photos taken with zoom lens and cropped for details. -Photos by Janine Harles

March 8
15:07 - Possibly the T123s coming down Swanson...confirmed T123s, including the calf! -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Mar 8 - (Later reports have orcas/blows in two areas several miles apart heading in opposite directions, it is possible a 2nd group was in other than the T99s -alb)
17:35 - Viewing from Maxwelton. See blows between here and Point no Point northwest bound. Hopefully some folks at Pt no Pt can see them....Marilyn Armbruster
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17:22 - I swear I saw them south bound closing to the Edmonds side but only saw them once and can't find again... 3 and heading south at a good clip about 10 minutes ago from my kitchen table. -Michelle Goll
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16:35 - Last I saw blows they looked to be 2-3 miles south of Scatchet Head heading NW toward Admiralty Inlet at about 16:25. I then moved to Stamm Overlook could not relocate them as of 16:35
16:09 - I finally spotted blows (3-4 in succession) to the west of Edmonds a few miles and south of Whidbey 1.5-2 miles (sightline from Haines Wharf with some elevation is just north of Point No Point at horizon). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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15:39 - Spotted group due west of Picnic Point mid Channel...I'm using binox and they're at the horizon line, so far away, but lots of activity, stationary...they seem to be due south of the nearest landmass which is Whidbey....There looks like 50 gulls swarming above what appears to be a very productive hunting site. -Alex Ho
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14:45 - orcas nearing Shipwreck (Lynd across from Possession Beach park still Mukilteo side of mid channel southbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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14:30 - whales have passed Glendale heading south still on Mukilteo side.
13:40 - Whales south of Hat Island heading towards Everett grouped up. -Sandra Pollard
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14:17 - 4 total seen heading south from the ferry lanes. Mid west side of channel. I made sure to point them out to anyone who would listen to me on the ferry. -Danielle Pennington
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13:45 got em. Will be crossing the ferry lanes soon. Viewing from my living room on extended lunch (don't tell the boss!) -Debbie Stewart
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...The excitement didn't end there, though, we also had a brief encounter with Killer Whales! The T99s were also in a social mood after sharing a kill near Sandy Point on Whidbey Island. I hope this is a good sign for the rest of the season. -Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Mar 8, 2019
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From today- Part 2: Killer whales: Gray whale trips aren't always only about grays. We got super lucky today with a pod of killer whales reported further north, but southbound, earlier in the morning. We were running short on time, but when we realized how close they actually could be, we went for it! Upon our arrival, there were 4 whales that I was able to identify as the T99's -T99B's narrow, notchy dorsal is a dead giveaway. Birds were flying overhead and the whales were already heavily into prey sharing with head stands, moon-walking and converging in one area. Just when it looked like they were about to move on, they continued feeding and we were treated to a spyhop....which I saw but failed to get a photo of (boo). Despite that, it was a pretty amazing first day back. -Matriarch T99 (born 1984), T99B (born 2007), Siblings T99C and D are carrying the kill while T99B trails behind, likely picking up pieces. -Photos by Renee Beitzel, Mar 8, 2019
12:45 - ID'd as T99s, pod of 4 is stalled out on hunt/meal south of Sandy Point, Whidbey. -Renee Beitzel
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12:16 - A pod of 3 Orcas are heading south towards the ferry from Sandy point in Saratoga passage. -Debra Rack
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10:30 - ...my family is on vacation in Langley and we saw three orca this morning. One went ahead and two were behind. We're on Bells Beach. It was at 10:30 this morning and they were heading south. -Erin Taylor
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Fri Mar 8 - Pax were fun, weather was mostly sunny, albeit chilly, and whales did not disappoint! Part 1: Grays - We started with gray whales #49 Patch who was resting by himself near Gedney Island while #53 Little Patch and #185 were off on their own, having some kind of "bromance" off the edge of the Snohomish River Delta...that is a very technical term (see sarcasm) for when the males of a species are associating so closely and spending all of their time together but away from everyone else who may be in the area. Also, we know dolphins (like killer whales) like to engage in that sort of behavior, but it is not likely that is what these two were doing. They were VERY closely socializing while waiting out the tide near Everett. Prominent dorsal ridge and knuckles with small white patch on #53 Little Patch (I call him LP for short) and then #185 with more subtle dorsal ridge and knuckles, comparatively. #185 - I noted last season that his blowhole surface is much more flat than the rest. Its one way to tell these two apart when you can't see anything else. They are both on the darker side of gray, but have very different markings on their backs and flukes. Even the fluke shapes are different! Top fluke of #185 showing "flared" edges, another unique attribute. After all, he is not truly a "Sounder"...yet. -Photos by Renee Beitzel, Mar 8, 2019
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First day of the season! I think it's safe to say our first Gray Whale trip of 2019 was a success! We saw three Gray Whales resting and socializing between Hat/Gedney Island and Everett; #49 Patch, #53 Little Patch, and #185. It was interesting to see #53 Little Patch and #185 closely associating and likely socializing with each other since they are technically from different populations of Gray Whale! The excitement didn't end there, though, we also had a brief encounter with Killer Whales! The T99s were also in a social mood after sharing a kill near Sandy Point on Whidbey Island. I hope this is a good sign for the rest of the season. CRC49 Patch right side! CRC53 and PCFG CRC185 fluke tops. 53 (L) and 185 (R) fluke undersides. NPS Gray 53 (Little Patch) left side. Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) Gray CRC185 (male) left side. -Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express
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DOLPHINS - Fri Mar 8 - 11:45 - I believe what I saw this morning at 11:45am was maybe a Bottlenose Dolphin? Saw the same thing about a week ago. The photos are not great because they are very far away with my telephoto lens....Saw off Apple Tree Point near Kingston, heading south at quick rate, just cruising. -Photos by Mark Vigna
(ID notes Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research: "It's definitely a dolphin, best guess is bottlenose, but can't be certain that it's a bottlenose, much less Stump. The dorsal fin doesn't look right for her, but it could be the angle". )

March 7
T122 swims past a canoe along the shoreline of Victoria's waterfront (T122 was traveling with the T46s). -Photo by Mark Malleson, Thu Mar 7 - Calf sighting in Cowichan Bay this morning March 07, 2019 Photo by Cam McCubbin on Arbutus Ridge on Vancouver Island. -(Forwarded by John ML Kendrick)
(as of yet the pod in Cowichan Bay has not been ID'd - alb)
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Thu Mar 7 - 17:48 - BIG NEWS: Orcas just reported off Newport area this hour. Four of them. UPDATE on the Orcas: there was four or five of them spotted by the head of Surfrider Foundation's Newport chapter, seen heading north. -Oregon Coast Beach Connection
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Thu Mar 7 -GRAY WHALES - we got a good look at 2246's flukes. Has clearly been through some ordeals! -Photos by Island Adventures, Mar 7, 2019
(Report and images provided by Erin Johns Gless)

March 6


March 5
Tue Mar 5 - Admiralty Inlet - 17:35 - Gray whale, Bush Point, southbound, just past rip, three blows, and then tail fluke up and down dive. In sun so couldn't see underside of fluke. Welcome to another Sounder!!! -Jan Bell
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Tue Feb 5 - Possession Sound - 16:30 - I am leaving; All 3 grays that I can see are currently now trending southbound, all in same general area, between Jetty Island and Hat/Gedney Island. Heart shape exhalations illuminated by late afternoon sun. Pretty.
16:04 - Lead gray now just out from mouth of Snohomish River, in the Delta south of Priest Point. Other two still spread south of her/him.
15:40 - Distinctly seeing at least 3 grays, all on the move north. Lead whale north end Jetty Island steady travel NB, 2nd whale little south of & more inland towards Jetty Island from lead whale, 3rd whale further south from 2nd and further out in the channel than the first two.
15:15 - I left for a while, came back to Legion Park, Everett and still see blows of at least 2 grays out in Possession Sound, between Jetty and Hat Islands. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON
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14:15-15:15 - My son and I watched them from American Legion Park in north Everett. They were active between Jetty Island and Hat Island. (Between 2:15pm and 3:15pm. Some were big blows! -Kathleen Lawson
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13:15 - I moved locations and maybe 1-2 of the grays did too: Now looks like 4th (and possibly 5th?) gray now closer in off Jetty Island, just out from Naval base/shipyard.
12:50 - Now seeing at least 3 grays out here, currently SE of Hat, and West of Jetty. 2 hanging close together, 3rd just bit SW of them. Too far from land viewing at Legion Park to ID individuals, but can see blows, bodies and occasional fluke.
12:25 - Now see blows of 2nd gray whale to the south; between SE of Hat and south end of Jetty Isl.
12:15 - Seeing blows of at least one gray midway between northern end Jetty Island and SE Hat/Gedney Island. Viewed from Legion Park, Everett. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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We found whales quite early on in our trip, which meant we had ample time to visit with them. It turned out to be three grays: Patch, Little Patch, and CRC-185....On the return trip home we found that a fourth gray whale had joined the fray. It turned out to be CRC-2246. -Naturalist Sam, Capt. Carl, and Brittany, Island Adventures
(See IA's March 5th blog entry for report/images of encounter w/49, 53, 185, 2246)
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Tue Mar 5 - ~ 12:00 - Our Bottlenose friend? Came by at 12:00 pm today. Was sort of playing around and going back and forth. It is really hard to capture as fast as it comes up....She looked like maybe some feeding activity? A bit of splashing, direction changes, etc. Last times I saw the dolphin it was traveling fast. -Photos by Sara Frey
(ID notes by Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research: "That is definitely a bottlenose, and probably Stump, but it isn't clear enough to be certain of the ID".)

March 4
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Mon Mar 4 - 14:45 - Fort Casey may may be good place to go. We at Lagoon Point and from our line of sight they are half way between Fortt Flagler and Fort Casey mid channel.
14:26 - Bro Gary spotted 4-5 from Lagoon Pt nearing Ft Flagler mid channel northbound...Marilyn Armbruster
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13:30 - Orcas Just passing Bush Point headed north. Think there were 3-4 and now near Flagler! -David Haeckel At least 3 orcas rounding Bush Point, Whidbey around 1:30pm heading north, closer to the Marrowstone Island side. They were moving pretty fast and lots of sun glare. So enjoyable seeing them. I never get tired of it. -Photos by David Haeckel, Mar 4, 2019
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12:36 - Orcas past yellow marker northbound heading towards Foulweather Bluff.
12:30 - Seeing a couple of blows and rise and fall of dorsals, Kitsap side heading to yellow marker north of Point No Point. As seen across Mutiny Bay from beach. -Sandra Pollard
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~ 10:15 - Photo I just received from a friend whose a biologist for the Tulalup Tribe and out on the water at the right time!!. Orcas off Possession Head - South tip of Whidbey, he reported about an hour ago (~10:15). (see photos below by Max Lundquist) -Tony Bahnick
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T46s rounding south Whidbey off Possession Point. -Photos by Max Lundquist, Mar 4, 2019
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09:19 - Saw a beautiful pod of orcas on the 9:00 Clinton-Mukilteo run this morning! They are heading towards Whidbey it looks like. I counted 5!...I was going towards Mukilteo and they were on the port side of the boat. Looked to be heading towards the Clinton dock or further north. -Shanna Barrett Dumke
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UNCONFIRMED SPECIES - Mon Mar 4 - Just got this text from my coworker this morning (She was commuting to Pt Townsend over the bridge so I'm sure she saw them from the car while driving. She has a science background I think powers of observation would exclude little harbor porps. But dolphins or otherwise unobserved orcas are a possibility!): "At 7:53am there was a pod of whales just north (less than 500 yards) of the hood canal bridge, just before midspan. I saw five dorsal fins. I am guessing pilot whale, but ? and I couldn't stop." -Donna Green van Renselaar
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UNCONFIRMED: GRAY OR HUMPBACK - Mon Mar 4 - Saw one (reported in gray whale post - alb) Monday morning at about 9:45 am off of Three Tree Point (Burien). Saw the blow and waited for it to come up. Tide was high so it was in close, spectacular!...headed north to go around the point. Just off the public beach on the south side of Three Tree Point. Also known as Point Pully on navigation maps. Could have been a humpy..thought that's what it was at first. Quick look before it rolled back in. -Alfred E. Newman

March 3
It's March, and it's no surprise that sightings of mammal-eating transient/Bigg's killer whales are beginning to pick up! We had a double-header today encountering the T46s in Saratoga Passage and then the T90s and T101s heading into Cattle Pass on the way home. Pictured here are T101 and T101B under Mt. Baker with Lopez Island in the background. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sun Mar 3 - ~18:00 - T46s exiting Saratoga Passage heading east...backdropped by Camano Head, entrance to Port Susan, Tulalipt, and snow capped Cascade Mountain foothills. -Photo by Marilyn, Armbruster, Mar 3, 2019
~18:00 - a little after 6pm, they had angled over towards Camano Head, could not tell if they were still heading south, or east or even possibly north up Port Susan? they were defintiley on long down times, at times up to 10 minutes. Lost track of them after this point...
17:46 - Orcas out front Langley Pizzeria Whidbey side mid channel southbound....From Fox Spit to Langley almost 2 hrs. -Marilyn Armbruster
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17:34 - Cama Beach sighting from Hidden Beach. Orcas are still heading south. -Brittany Brickzin
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16:00 - the orcas passed Fox Spit Whidbey side of channel quickly, but they did stall out a bit once they were out from Bells Beach and a little south of there. Possibly on a kill or 2. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:00 - Orcas mid channel viewing from Camano State Park, heading south.
15:00 - Viewing pod from Sandy Beach, Camano. They were mid channel, milling, diving, lots of blows. All down now. Waiting for another sighting to determine direction. -Krista Paulino
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15:00 - Ts milling on a seal kill (mid channel between N of Cama Beach Camano and Hidden Beach), T46D and T46E in Saratoga Passage this afternoon., Whidbey. -Monika Wieland Shields
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14:20 - yup! (orcas) Southbound in front of my house across from Race Lagoon, but too far for photos, about the same as yesterday. IE5 still with them. -Kristina Trowbridge
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14:15 - Ts SE bound now, Camano side of channel probably even with Race Lagoon maybe? Steady pace still.
13:52 - Orcas southbound passing Harrington Lagoon Whidbey side.
10:37 - Orcas still traveling steady West halfway across Crescent Harbor.
10:22 - Orcas steady travel westbound. Now about to Polnell Point. -Rachel Haight
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14:15 - Ts have angled over towards Camano, southbound. I'm viewing from Shangri La Shores, Whidbey.
13:50 - Ts got a wild hair and are booking. Now at Harrington Lagoon. Southbound
13:17 - Orcas are now out from Scenic Heights, heading south and closer to Whidbey.
12:30 - Orcas very slowly trending south at turtle pace, just southwest of Polnell Point.
11:35 - if i had to make a guess i would say they are 1/4 way from Polnell Spit to Maylor Point milling back and forth. Im still at Scenic Heights
11:00 - For the past half hour been watching from Scenic Heights (south Oak Harbor), orcas milling back and forth west side of Polnell Shores. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:58 - Orcas now West of Polnell Point, Whidbey. -Photo by Terra Parham, Mar 3, 2019
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10:22 - Small pod off Polnell Point. Seem to be big males and some young ones. Headed into Penn Cove now. -Dean Kayler
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09:20 - Orcas...On the move now headed northeast still mid channel. (N end of Saratoga Pass). -Marcie Goldberg
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09:07 - We are seeing them (orcas) mid-channel in between Camano and Whidbey just milling in circles. (N end of Saratoga Pass) -Kristina Trowbridge, Eagle Crest, Camano Island
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08:07 - At least 3 orca northbound in Saratoga Passage passing Woodland Beach, Camano. -Krista Paulino
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Sun Mar 3...The T46s are such a cool family for many reasons. One is that T46 Wake was part of the last killer whale capture in Washington State in 1976. She was released and is still plying the same waters as one of the most successful mothers on record. As we discussed on the boat while we were on scene, if she had been taken into captivity as many other whales were in the 1960s and 70s, there would be nearly 20 fewer transient killer whales in the region, because that's how many living descendants she has...Monika Wieland Shield
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Fri Mar 1 - (email received Mar 2) - Good morning Alisa, 3 days ago spotted 2 whales between Everett and Hat Island. 2 days ago there were 4 again, same area. Yesterday (March 1) there appeared to be many more than 4. If I had guess, somewhere between 6 and 10....It's possible there were only 4 yesterday. They were very active blowing and surfacing in the same general area I have not seen that kind of behavior before. I've attached the best pics from the other day. Not very reveling. Hope they are of some use....I'm not sure when they arrived in the area. I spotted them in the early evening, 6:00ish.They were southwest of Hat Island in deeper water several hundred yards south of "the dolphin". I'm making an assumption you know what "the dolphin" is. (wood tepee looking structure on the edge of the delta,west of the southern tip of Hat Island). Have you heard of any other migrating grays arriving to PS this year? -Jim Quintel

March 2
15:15 - After a seal snack outside Penn Cove the T46s are now southbound toward Onamac Point, Camano Island. -Matt Stolmeier
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Lovely view from across the passage from Kristina's deck at Eagle Crest, Camano of the T46s while northbound Saratoga Passage on the Whidbey side. -Photos by Kristina Trowbridge, Mar 2, 2019
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13:50 - Orcas are past Shangri La Shores, semi heading northwesterly towards Oak Harbor and possibly Penn Cove.
13:45 - Per Monica Carr and Cara Ernst the orcas are out from Shangra La Shores heading north again. -Marilyn Armbruster
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13:20 - Orcas in view southbound approaching Hidden Beach, mid-channel. IE5 appears with them. -Durand Dace
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13:06 - Orcas. T46E in Saratoga Passage with the Cascades as a backdrop. A straggler just passed by Shangri La Shores at least 10 minutes behind the group, all southbound.
12:56 - Whales southbound, now south of Shangri La Shores.
11:51 - Ts appear to be on a kill off Race Lagoon (Whidbey).
11:08 - Orcas approaching Shangri La spread out. Couple closer to Whidbey side, the few others more mid-channel. Northbound.
10:34 - After going quite slow for awhile, orcas now have picked up the pace and are north of Hidden Beach northbound.
10:08 - Orcas northbound off Hidden Beach mid-channel, long down times. Also - possible gray whale feeding in shallows at Cama beach. I can see a large single blow fairly close to shore and what appears to be people on shore observing. Too far for me to confirm but heads up to anyone on camano to check out.
09:49 - (orcas) blows and dorsals between Hidden Beach and Fox spit. Appear to be steady northbound. Appear to be aiming more toward Whidbey side currently. -Rachel Haight
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12:33 - We can see them (orcas) across from Race Lagoon, but nearer to the Camano side now. -Stephanie Smith
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11:06 - Just seeing dorsal now Harrington Lagoon north fairly close to Whidbey...from Jill Hein's. -Bonnie Gretz
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11:00 - whales still pushing northbound mid channel in line with Polnell Point as seen from Hidden Beach. -Sandra Pollard
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10:30 - I am sitting high bank at Baby Island. Orcas are directly north, mid Baby Island/Cama Beach/Hidden Beach Triangle, longish downtimes heading northerly somewhat angled towards Whidbey. -Marilyn Armbruster
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09:50 - T46E while over NW of Camano State Park heading northwesterly. Back of camera photo by Marilyn Armbruster ID'd as T46E by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research.
09:30 - Marilyn Armbruster reports 4 orcas (incl 2 males) off Fox Spit, Whidbey Island right now. (presuming still northbound, will get more details once she's done with encounter
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07:20 - Good morning - I wanted to report seeing 3, possibly 4, orcas several 100 yards off Sandy Point Beach and heading north up Saratoga Passage. Time was today, Saturday, 02-Mar-2019, at about 0720. Sorry no photos. I watched for 6-8 minutes, but the dog was more interested in the smells up along Wateredge Drive so had to move on....At least one was a male, I would guess, as the dorsal was visibly taller than the other two. A second might have been further across the channel (towards Camano Island), but I only glimpsed it once (thus the note regarding "3 or 4" in the group). -Jeff Rice
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GRAY WHALES - Sat Mar 2 - EVERETT: The return of gray whale #49 -- Patch! We had beautiful sunny skies as we left the dock for our 3-hour tour. It was an incredible day topped off with our first sighting of one of our all time favorite whales, Patch. Photos of Patch and blue skies to come soon! -Capt. Carl, Brittany, and Casey, Island Adventures March 2 Blog Post
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Spotted Patch today in Possession Sound around 1 p.m....Captain and naturalist on board Island Adventures ID'd him for us - they said it was his first sighting this year. ...I was using a cell phone and we were appropriate distance away, so the quality of my photos is not great. -Melanie Carver-Cox
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10:05 - Huge grey between Everett Marina and Hat Island. We're on our way to Orcas and he breached a few times right along side us! -Julie L. Dirks
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Sat Mar 2 - 10:08 - Possible gray whale feeding in shallows at Cama Beach (Camano). I can see a large single blow fairly close to shore and what appears to be people on shore observing. Too far for me to confirm but heads up to anyone on Camano to check. -Rachel Haight

March 1
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES - (presumably Bigg's T46s who showed up in Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage early morning March 2 - alb)
17:25 - Orcas, still hanging out in the area, mid channel, slowly heading north. At least 4 maybe 5, and one large male.
~17:00 - At least 2 orcas straight out from North Beach (N Seattle neighborhood) viewing area (just north of Golden Gardens). Lots of blows and are swimming around in the same area - can't tell which direction they are headed. One seems to be large male. Is a small sailboat nearby for reference. -Sir Winston
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13:25 - Yes! Just saw another spout, looks like orcas are between mid-channel and Whidbey side, can't tell exact location due to distance but down off SW side of Whidbey now...
13:20 - I believe I just saw an orca spout and fin now closer to the Whidbey side, further south, perhaps off the Double Bluff/Useless Bay area, but visibility is fading and I only got one look and could not get another sighting to confirm.
13:05 - orcas are headed over toward the Kitsap side of the Inlet, toward Hansville and Point No Point. -Susan Berta, ON
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12:49 - Two male orcas and at least two others headed south-east in Admiralty Inlet toward Puget Sound, now roughly between north Mutiny Bay and north Skunk Bay, mid-channel. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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12:40 - Our neighbor Kate Sheppard just texted there are 3 orcas out front just south of Bush Point, Whidbey Island...Thanks so much to Kate's sharp eyes and quick reporting of these orcas! Howie is out looking...Susan Berta, Orca Network
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DOLPHINS - Fri Mar 1 - 15:00 - A likely Bottlenose dolphin just went by, close to shore off Apple Tree Point (Kingston)) going NB. Neighbor thinks he saw it yesterday too. Was moving fast. No pics. -Sara Frey