May 2005 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of May 2005 whale sightings.

May 31, 2005

I would like to report sighting the transients in Hood Canal around 2pm. We were returning from conducting seabird surveys in Hood Canal near Bangor when we observed two female adults, what appeared to be three sub-adults, and one juvenile. The two adults were breaching and moving back and forth approximately 300 meters offshore from the younger orcas that were very near shore off of Tskutsko Pt. The younger orcas were very active, doing flips, rolls, and tail slaps. At first we thought they were just playing but discovered fresh mammal lungs floating on the surface soon after the pod moved north into Dabob Bay and concluded that they had been feeding. This was our first sighting of these whales and much to our dismay no one had a camera on board that day.
Rick Wood
USDA, Forest Service
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Kathy of Seabreeze Adventures out of Steveston, BC reported a pod of orcas, including 1 large male, southbound in Boundary Pass next to Stuart Island at about noon.

May 30, 2005

2:30-3:15 pm, 4 or 5, maybe all 6 Hood Canal Transients, heading south from Twanoh and half way to Union, traveling and then stopped to play/eat
Liza
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My family and I saw a pod of 7 or 8 whales that were black or very dark gray. We don't know what type of whales they were but they looked very similar to a porpoise except they were larger. They appeared to be feeding on fish. We saw them from our back yard in West Seattle looking across to Vashon Island. They had triangular fins on their backs, but not as tall as that of the Orcas. It was small and very triangular. We never could see any white on them. We got out the binoculars but still didn't see white. They seemed like they were "fishing" in the channel, sorta "hovering" in the same place for awhile. We could see fish jumping out of the water in front of them. I'm going to guess that it was either a False Killer Whale or a Pilot Whale sighting? Is that possible? We watched them for about an hour on two separate days - the last being on Monday (May 29) morning about 9 a.m. We saw a school of porpoise on Monday, May 30 as well. They were tiny in comparison.
Lori Branstetter
West Seattle
(I wonder if this might be the pod of transient orcas seen in this area recently? although no white was seen by this reporter.....sb)
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Hannah of Kayak Rentals, Union called to say she had a report that the transients had passed the marina at Union approx 11.30 am heading towards Tahuya.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
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Once again, members of J-Pod demonstrated the "West Side Shuffle". Later in the afternoon the whales were once again going past Low Island heading towards Lime Kiln. Around 9:00 PM tonight, whales still on the west side!
John Boyd (JB)
San Juan Island
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Elaine Wiley of Gypsy Cove reported the Hood Canal Transients heading north at milepost 323, just south of Ayok Pt. at 7:10 pm, traveling in calm waters with the holiday boaters gone.
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Paul at Great Bend Charters in Union called to report all 6 Hood Canal Transients off Potlatch, prowling along the edge of the Skokomish flats in the outgoing low tide.
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About Sister's Point we watched about 4 or 5 Orcas headed out of the Canal..both male & female with at least 2 little guys..it was about 3 P.M. playing & chasing seals right up on the beach on South Shore.
Ron Klemm
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The (Hood Canal Transients) Orca are just passing through Hoodsport at 10:45am. I only saw two.
Joyce Bedingfield,
Hoodsport
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J Pod in Open Bay.
Tom McMillen, Salish Sea Charters
San Juan Island
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Orcas (Hood Canal Transients) sighted at mouth of Lilliwaup River, in the afternoon.
M. Little

May 29, 2005

Nancy of the old Oyster Farm at Beacon Point reported that the transients (all six) had passed going north at approx 12.30 pm.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton Orcas (Hood Canal Transients) sighted near Dewato Bay in the afternoon, five or six of them, eating seals.
M. Little
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Vicki Doyle called at 8 pm to report a single male orca off Deadman's Bay, west San Juan Island. Behind him she saw a Pacific White-sided dolphin flip upside down in the air, so she was wondering if it might be transients out there. She called back at 8:30 pm to report they were now seeing more orcas, but VERY spread out, only 1 or 2 here & there, traveling 1/2 hour apart, heading south. There have been earlier reports of J's spreading out like this recently, so it's likely them?
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J's doing their thing.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
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Three orcas were sighted from the beach in front of the Dosewallips State Park at aprox 4:00 pm.
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0900-1100 Hrs Juvenile Gray Whale approximately 20 ft. in length in Crescent Bay, West of Port Angeles. Great Shore viewing from Tongue Point, Salt Creek County Park (Clallam County).
Tony I. Little
Port Angeles

May 28, 2005

We were at Salmon Bank at 10:30 am when an orca breached. We saw 6 plus fins in the distance forging in all directions. Minutes later, we were treated to 2 mega-breaches not 20 feet off port while in neutral. Some tail lobbing and circular diving. One male in the group and no calves.
Jamie Bails
Mosquito Fleet
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Around 7 pm, my husband and I (along with numerous neighbours!) sighted a small pod of Orcas in front of our ocean front homes. We live in Nanoose Bay, BC, just north of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island's east coast. Latitude? Guessing around 49 1/2 - 50 degrees north. There were at least three females, possibly four, and two males. One male was very large, the other a juvenile, we think. We estimate they were 3,000 feet or less off shore. For at least 20 or 30 minutes, they simply cavorted around - the males staying slightly further off shore than the females. The females were circling a small pleasure craft, as though enjoying the company! Several rowboats and/or small motor boats were also in the area to enjoy and observe the whales.
Susan Constable
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Jim O'Donnel called to report the orcas in Hood canal at Lilliwaup, on the west side, heading south at 5:50 pm.
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Vicki Doyle called again to report orcas off Kellett Bluff at 4:30 pm. She watched from a kayak in the distance, saw some breaching, ~20 boats with the whales.
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Elaine Wiley reported the Slippery Six/Hood Canal Transients at 4:15 pm south of Ayok Pt. at milepost 325. All 6 were present & heading south. There were a couple of boats with them & a jet ski she was keeping an eye on.
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Vicki called this morning at 8:30 am to report a pod of orcas, with one tall fin off San Juan Co. Park, west San Juan Island, heading north 1/4 mile out.
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Orcas, (I assume J-pod) about 8 AM heading north along the west side of San Juan Island.
Helen King, Innkeeper
The Highland Inn of San Juan Island

May 27, 2005

About 11:30 am Mrs. Malpica's 5th grade class from Mary M. Knight School sighted some Orca whales in the water off Twanoh State Park. It looked like they were playing.
Amber Wood, 11 years old
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@ 11:30 am we spotted a pod of 6 Orcas in tahwana state park in near Union. They only came within about 1/4 mile of shore.
Cori Wood
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J-Pod was once again staying south of San Juan Island, probably to meet the huge flood tides that have been coming in. An early evening out on our boat allowed us to distantly view J's heading East towards False Bay, scattered between 1/2 mile to 1 mile from shore. We last saw the whales continuing east as we headed back to the dock.
John Boyd (JB)
San Juan Island
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I felt bad for the six (HC Transients) today. We watched them all day, and the recreational boaters have definitely discovered them.
John Herman
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Hood Canal Slippery Six were sighted across from Hamma Hamma River at 5:30 pm Friday evening. They were moving North and putting on quite a show of coming out of the water and lots of play.
Mina Kyle
Hood Canal
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Mark Davenport reported a sighting of orcas at 2:30 or 3 pm, off Fort Bragg, CA, ~12 miles out, heading north. There were 5 or 6 in the pod including 2 sets of mom/calf, & a mature male further off in the distance.
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We were with J pod this afternoon out pretty far off the west side of San Juan Island. They were exceedingly spread out and spending very little time at the surface, although there were a few breaches and some tail lobbing. J1 spent a lot of time foraging by himself but joined up with Princess Angeline and her family and started back towards the shoreline.
Victoria Kirkland, Island Adventures
Anacortes
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12.51 p.m. the Slippery Six (HC Transients) were Between Sisters Point & Twanoh. I broke out from the Skoke Delta Loop into Union around 2.10 p.m. to see the Six across the canal to the northwest appearing to be celebrating with lots of tail slaps and breaching. The research boat had already caught up with them...the whales were off Holiday Beach at 3.02 p.m. Whales passing Dewatto traveling north probably about 3.45 p.m At 4.20 p.m. They started traveling steadily north towards Holly about 5.35 p.m.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
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Elaine Wiley called to report the Hood Canal Transients passing by at ~4:30 pm, some on the east side, some on the west side at Ayok Pt.
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Carol Fassett called to report the Hood Canal Transients north of Twanoh, heading north at 3:50 pm. There were some breaches. There were four boats with them, one of them doing donuts.
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Once I got to Union, 2:00 pm, I could see that I found them. They were doing their after feeding activity - surfacing, while others did tail flaps. By the time I got back to Hoodsport, (2:30), they were still in their playful mood. I watched them to a short while on the far side of the canal just off Tahuya. Then they started "running" North with the research boat in pursuit.
Harry Louch,
Hoodsport
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Howard Wilson called at 12:40 pm to report the Hood Canal Transients between Sister's Pt. & Twanoh State Park, he wasn't sure of their direction of travel yet.
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Researcher Josh London talked to a boater this morning who reported seeing blows off Foulweather Bluff this morning, no confirmation on what kind of whales or ID's, but it might possibly be the small transient group that's been sighted between S. Whidbey & N. Kitsap this week.

May 26, 2005

At 2 p.m. the Hood Canal "Six" were across the Canal from the Hamma Hamma River. They were headed North and were making good time. I was able to follow them with the binoculars for about 15 minutes and lost sight of them when they were close to Holly.
Mina Kyle
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The transient orcas were spotted here at Cougar Spit about 8:30am today, heading south.
Jennifer Lambert
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J-Pod on their second pass now heading back towards Lime Kiln.
John Boyd (JB)
San Juan Island

May 25, 2005

ID's on Puget Sound transient pod sighted 5/25 (see reports below)
Thanks for forwarding Tom's photos from May 25. If you haven't already had them identified by others, I can tell you that T065A and T137 and possibly T137A (photo quality is not good enough for positive id) appear in the photos.
Graeme Ellis, DFO, Canada
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Tom McMillen called at 2 pm, reporting the "mystery" orcas between Point No Point on northern end of the Kitsap Peninsula, & Scatchet Head, South Whidbey Isl. He sighted at least 3 orcas, but was not close enough to get ID's yet.
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Another report from Tom at 2:30 pm, there are 3 female or non-adult males and one juvenile orca, & they are now heading across Useless Bay toward Double Bluff, Whidbey Island.
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At 1830 hrs, I observed a small pod of (I think ) five female orca approximately 2 miles SSE of the nav buoy off Scachet Head on south Whidbey. I believe there were two full grown females and three smaller ones. The smaller ones were two thirds the size of the larger ones. They were in the process of killing and feeding on a full sized sea lion. The kill technique was butting the sea lion with their heads at full speed. The sea lion was actually tossed in the air 5-6 feet several times. After the sea lion seemed dead the larger whales breached several times.
David Clark
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I just talked to Jim Maya, a little aftter 3 PM, and he confirmed it is J-pod cruising up the west side of San Juan Island just below, headed for Lime Kiln Lighthouse.
Helen King, Innkeeper
The Highland Inn of San Juan Island
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Hood Canal Transients sighted at the Skokomish Delta at approx 9.40 am. 6.15 pm all the Six were there traveling northward toward Tskutsko Pt. on the SW corner of the Toanados Penin. They stayed doing shallow dives. They came right up to the Point but unfortunately went along the west side of the Penin up into Dabob. They were sighted for about 10 mins.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
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11:00 AM, J Pod is near Eagle Point, SW San Juan Island. Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Whale Watch Charters.
San Juan Island
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We received a call at 10:34 am reporting 2 adult orcas & 1 calf by Appletree Cove near Kingston.
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Received a message from George Pederson from the Pt. Whitney Shellfish Lab who was at the Saltwater Park Boat Launch. At least 3 of the Slippery Six had been seen near the Skokomish River in the delta at approx 9.40 am.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
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Adam U called to report seeing J pod while he was doing a bird survey this morning. They were off Iceberg Pt. at 9:30 am, spread out & heading northwest, with no one else around.

May 24, 2005

Martin Oman called to report seeing a few orcas, maybe as many as 7, at 6 pm near Gig Harbor, in the Narrows heading south.
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orca calves, on the whale watch, we saw J and L pods up close to Victoria BC, there was several new calfs, the guide said 2 from L and I know of one from J, J40...
Nikki
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I was hiking on the beach at South Whidbey State park (SW Whidbey Isl) and saw what looked like spouting or splashing out in the distance. We forgot to bring binoculatrs, but it could have been a grey whale.
Deborah Koff-Chapin
Langley
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We received a call from Leanne of Seiku this afternoon that a young, small gray whale (~20') was swimming around in Seiku Bay, 10' offshore.
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Judy Dicksion called to say she had sighted a fin off Hazel Pt. in Hood Canal at 10:25 am, & she just heard from Josh London & Steve Jeffries of Fish & Wildlife that they had met up with the Hood Canal Transients at 11:25 am.
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An Orca pod was briefly sighted from the Kitsap Ferry at 7:20am. The pod was about 200 yards off of the southern end of Bainbridge Island, heading west towards Rich passage. I counted at least 4 and it looked like females with siblings.
Brad Lambert

May 23, 2005

At approx. 1330 Js were heading South passing the Fraser River. Ruffles breached off the park while some swam by within 50 feet of the shoreline. At 1900 they were heading to Rosario.
Peter Hamilton
Lifeforce.
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Lpod out west past Sooke and Jpod off the Fraser this afternoon.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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Elaine Wiley of Hood Canal called to report the transients near Ayok Pt, at 4:25 pm at milepost 323. All 6 were there, rolling, tail lobs, etc. They slowly left at 5:30 pm.
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At the Coal Docks (near Pt. Roberts), just when we were going to give up and go home, who comes to greet us but J-1 RUFFLES! Leading the group, he came by the boat to give us a long, slow pass, and as he got to the front of the boat gave us a nice tail lob to say goodbye. A young juvenile member (couldn't see the patch from the sunlight) did a double breach too! Granny was closer into shore so we just watched her from a distance.
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, San Juan Excursions

May 22, 2005

J & L pod were reported off Eagle Pt. at 12:25 pm, & we rushed down to Hannah Heights just in time to watch them slowly mill by, mingling & feeding & getting to know each other again. We watched from about 1-2 pm, Howie ID'd L41, L57, J1, & noticed some sprouters among the young males. We caught a glimpse of a cute little yellowish spyhop, looking like a possible new calf, also thought caught a glimpse of one of the other mom/calf pairs. Several breaches, lots of tail lobs, upside down-sideways swimming & lots of close passes & likely touchy-feely stuff going on.....with J1's studly dorsal hanging high in the middle of it all.
Susan & Howie, Orca Network
Whidbey Island
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Ron Bates called in a report of his day with L's & J's - sounds like all were having a great time getting reacquainted after the winter. All males were present, L47 appears to have a new calf with her, another calf was sighted, but may have been one of the calves born last fall. The sprouters have sprouted! (young males who are maturing, their dorsal fins showing a growth spurt - sb). L12 was messing around with a young male, and of course J1 was in the middle of it all. Last report had them off Kellet Bluff heading north.
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T61 encountered at 16:55, in Baynes Channel poking around, and slowly heading SSW. J's heading NW along Pender earlier on.
Claire Mosley.

May 21, 2005

The transient orcas were sighted by us and the neighbors at 5:00pm. They were located along the east side of the canal about 1 mile north of Little Anderson Creek. Or straight east of Hazel Point on Toandos Peninsula. They maintained the same location for over a half-hour, but in the rain we had to give up watching them. There were at least four - seen at the same time - but there may have been more. We were thrilled since they had not been this far north all these months.
Edward & Charlotte Roe
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Ron Bates called at 4:22 pm to report that L pod had been inbound for the last hour and were nearing Race Rocks. J pod was heading toward Swanson Channel at 4 pm.
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15.30-17.30hrs. Four Orca. One adult. One sub adult and two juvenile. Judging by size. I saw the largest throw a seal into the air and the other three converge on the spot where the seal landed. Appeared to be having fun playing with the carcass but did not toss it in the air any time thereafter. Continued to stay in the area alternately diving for periods of up to 7 minutes then returned to same area and just playing. Unable to see the final direction of travel due to rain. It was also hard to find marking. They did not stay surfaced or would all surface in some sort of gaggle. Prior to seeing the whales a lot of the seals in the area between Anderson Landing and Seabeck left the area or stayed close to shore in shallow areas between the deep water and themselves. One seal surfaces directly in front or my boat, came completely out of the water before diving. Going a little faster I would have had company. Seen at 47.41.03N, 122.45.18W, .8 Mi SE of Hazel Pt. light, .7 Mi SW of range light at Olympic View, S of Bangor Spit. I was 1.2 miles SW at Anderson Landing. I have seen Orca in Hood Canal before. Some time between 1956-58 Summer in the Hazel Pt. area and around Oak Head.
Don Fadden
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Jpod, Ruffles was close to the ship, also seen the mom and calf pair, J40 is the calf right..I have photos if ur intrested in all the pod..we were not far from Friday Harbor probley about 45 minute boat ride south.
nikki

May 20, 2005

At 8:30 pm, we observed a single Grey Whale off Pope Beach on Skunk Bay just west of Foul Weather bluff at the north end of Kitsap Peninsula.
Kate Higgins,
Hansville Wa.
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Gray whale sighted in the vicinity of the mouth of Ludlow Bay (just west of Hood Canal) - spotted approx. 16:00 around the red 2 nun buoy - was observed until approx 18:00 - during that time it moved towards Tala Point, staying out almost as far as that buoy too so binoculars were definitely required, s/he got kinda inside Tala point - she surfaced as far in as the Mother/Daughter houses on the hill, then s/he gave us the slip, started moving further on dives, then by luck we spotted it back out closer to the 2 nun buoy.
Diane and Terry Allen
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Jpod seems intent on confusing things and doing a good job. Pt. Roberts this morning, top of Rosario this afternoon, some off the west side of San Juan Is. early this evening while the rest were still in Rosario.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
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We were out on the east side of Orcas between Lawrence Point and Clark Island in Rosario Straight`between 2 pm and 3:30 pm and saw 6 - 7 Orcas - spread out generally moving south.
Deke DeKay
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The Hood Canal transients were sighted offshore of the Point Whitney Shellfish Lab today around 11:45
Brian McLaughlin
Fisheries Biologist
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

May 19, 2005

Hood Canal Transients came by at 9pm. They were in very fast travel mode and I only counted three. I think that the three were trying to catch up to the others up north and put it in high gear. They were porpoising out of the water with big splashes headed north around Oak Head, Toanados Peninsula.
Kathy Cole
Maple Beach, Seabeck
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While riding the 7:00 ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton tonight, I saw something huge and gray breach...twice!! -- closer to the Mukilteo on the west side of the boat. A few spouts followed then we were out of viewing range. I assumed I had witnessed uncharacteristic gray whale behavior but after reading your most recent report, I wonder if it was a humpback?
Julie Buktenica
Langley
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Jpod going up Haro this morning and on to Active Pass this afternoon. I was going to go west at 1400 when I got a report of 5 orcas going towards Kelp Reef from Lime Kiln. These whales were not found but I searched all of North Haro. A report of a transient off Otter Pt. just past Sooke at about 1530. Next came a report of 2 transients, both male, 1 large one not so big. These animals were 5.25 miles south of Secretary Island (near Sooke) going towards Race Rocks, this was 1845. I assume the Otter Point whale may be one of these 2 but?
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
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J-Pod decided to head up North towards the Penders (Islands that is). We had a brief but beautiful encounter with the J's as they entered Active Pass and hugged the left shoreline.
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, San Juan Excursions
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saw what looked like three grays heading south between hat island and whidbey island, halfway between the two islands.
wendy from langley
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The Slippery Six were observed traveling south, mid-channel off of Hoodsport at 7:25am.
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit
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I'm new to the Pacific NW, so I'm not sure what kind of whale I just saw. At 7 pm a very dark gray/black mammal going west towards Bremerton by Point White on Bainbridge. Single animal. Surfacing frequently, more frequently than I might expect. Posterior fin looked like a fish, kind of ragged edges, smooth bottle-nose-ish. No white seen, not a glossy black, a dark gray or matte black. Very close to shore of Point White. Could be a dolphin, although seemed much bigger than any dolphin I've seen, and much darker, plus I don't recall posterior fin like that on a dolphin. No huge dorsal fin, I think a small one. We've seen two orcas traveling together in January or so here, same route.
Marsha Madigan
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Socko called at 9:30 am with reports of the HC transients at the 11 mile marker, near Alderbrook, first headed east, milling, then at 10:12 headed west.

May 18, 2005

It was almost 12:30 PM, on Possession Ridge. looking east as usual at south Mukilteo, the train line, and the southern end of Saratoga Passage. A large white circle remained on the surface of the water, directly in the wake of the white boat. It had been a breach, and for several minutes we watched as two whales breached several times, sometimes headed north, sometimes aimed right at us. We knew there were two whales because between the breaches we could make out two distinct blows. I wonder if I witnessed a humpback
Rob Harrison
Clinton
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Great day today. We went west of Trial Island off Victoria to find a transient. It may have been T61, headed west. Then we caught JPod on the way home around South Lopez. We had just enough time to watch them all go bye and even see a couple cartwheels.
Ellen Fortado
Island Adventures Naturalist
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I received a call from George Peterson from the Pt. Whitney Shellfish Lab who was at the Saltwater Park boat launch area. At 11.06 am he saw one orca surfacing in the middle of Annas Bay that appeared to be heading north. At 11.10 am George saw 3 orcas a little more north at the fresh water stream outlet.
Cheers...Judy Dicksion, Bremerton
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We had a single Gray feeding just off Spee-Bi-Dah last night, at 7:10 pm. Too rainy to tell which Gray it was. It continued to feed working slowly north for about 35 Minutes.
Malcolm & Tarry Lindquist
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Jamie in Port Townsend called in a report of a gray whale north of Pt. Wilson, but then wasn't sure if it might be a humpback.
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Carol Fassett called in a report of the Slippery Six heading past Toanados Peninsula in the middle of the Canal, through 10-12 stationary shrimp boats
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Hood Canal Transients passed by Maple Beach again heading north at 5:30pm in a slow travel mode. They wandered over to Oak Head where I lost them in the mist heading north.
Kathy Cole
Maple Beach, Seabeck
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We have seen the Hood Canal orcas 5 days in a row off of Cougar Spit now. I didn't report yesterdays or today's sightings as I have been so busy and they were brief sightings. Today's sighting was in the midst of shrimp season and the boats were running right on top of them probably without realizing they were there.
Brad Lambert

May 17, 2005

Amy Carey relayed a report that Tuesday evening a ferry from Vashon stopped because the captain said there were orcas ahead.
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J-Pod spotted this morning near Discovery heading towards San Juan. They must have had the turbo-chargers on as an hour and a half later they were at Pile Point, heading North. They went by the house heading north fairly quickly, only to turn back around at Henry and go south.
John Boyd (JB)
Naturalist doing errands
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9:43p.m. the telltale sound of a single gray whale feeding below our bluff on the west end of First St, in Langley.
Sharen Heath
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Kathy in Seabeck reported the Slippery Six were giving her a "private show" right in front of their house at Maple Beach, Seabeck some time around 6.30pm. At about 7.00 pm we were there....and the Slippery Six had not slipped away! Again they got into the "piling on" routine with lunges in all directions, a few tail slaps mainly by the youngest (with the white underside of the smallest fluke) and one mature tail slap with plenty of splash. They had generally moved more over towards the mid-channel marker out from Seabeck. We got a few more tail slaps and a spy hop from one Mom and then on NE they went in their usual traveling mode with us losing sight of their fins and blows about 7.35 pm as they turned to head straight north in mid-channel towards Bangor.
Judy Dicksion, Bremerton
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At 3:20 pm Amy Carey relayed a report of a gray or humpback whale near Pt. Defiance, Tacoma.

May 16, 2005

Number of animals seen? 10-12
Where did you see them? mouth of Gualala River, CA (110 miles north of San Francisco)
What direction were they going? north
When did you see them? May 16, 2005, 5:00pm-6:00pm
What were they doing? unknown
Were there any males? yes
we saw 3-5 small fins break on the western (outer most) side of the group, then 2-3 medium size fins would break in the middle of the group, the one very large fin would break on the eastern (innermost) side of the group. There was a 2nd small group of 3-5 medium size fins trailing 100-200 yards behind the main group.
Candy Beutler
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For the third day in a row we watched the Hood Canal Slippery Six from our place on the eastern shore across from Hoodsport on Hood Canal. At 5pm at Cougar Spit at least five of the Slippery Six were observed swimming south about 100 yards offshore. They disappeared from view, but twenty minutes later they returned were very close to shore, only about 50 feet off the beach directly in front of Cougar Spit. The larger Orcas spy hopped a couple times and the smaller ones were rolling and tail slapping. Lots of other activity too, swimming quickly back and forth in a tight group and staying up high on the surface. They eased their way north until they passed Red Bluff and disappeared from view around 5:35pm.
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit
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Jpod a no show in the am but coming down Rosario in the afternoon. Off the west side in the evening.
Ron
MMRG
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Sent at 4:45 pm: The [HC transients] were moving from the Tawanah State park area toward Union. They were on the Belfair side of Sister's Point.
Howard Wilson
Union, WA
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Paul at Great Bend Charters in Union called at 0935 with a report of HC transients at the mouth of the Skokomish River.
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At 3 pm there's a lone gray whale in Possession Sound east of Possession Point, Whidbey Island, wandering slowly northward.
David P. Cauffman

May 15, 2005

At approx 2pm we saw the Slippery Six directly off of Cougar Spit about 50 yards from the eastern shore. They were traveling north. The water was choppy and windy with many whitecaps. The Orcas were surfacing at a steep angle, breathing with very visible blows and submerging for about 5 minutes before re-surfacing. They all disappeared from view towards the north at about 2:20pm
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit
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After a very long day of searching and getting soaked, T14 ( the male transient known as Pender, once captured near Olympia in 1976) appeared in Oak Bay, we left him going North at 1640
Ron
MMRG
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Tom McMillen called at 1140 with three gray whales near Hat Island, in Saratoga Passage four miles from the Everett waterfront, feeding in shallow water.

May 14, 2005

We saw a juvenile Gray Whale at Dodd Narrows (near Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC).
Lori
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At 3:10pm we sighted five [HC transients] swimming north in mid-channel directly off of Hoodsport. There were two boats nearby. The five turned and went went south and the boats followed. But they again changed direction underwater (they got away from the boats) and headed north mid channel on the surface in a tight group. The five occasionally shifted to swimming together side by side in a parallel line. A sixth large Orca was much further away from the five and much closer to shore, directly in front of the Finch Creek hatchery. They (at least 5 of them) traveled casually towards Cougar Spit then north to Red Bluff on the east side of the canal. The Orcas and boat disappeared from view to the north at approx 3:45pm.
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit
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Mosquito Fleet caught up with the stragglers of Jpod at 10:30 at Allan Island, Rosario Strait. Continued with them to Salmon Bank where we left them at 12:30 and headed to Friday Harbor. Id on J14 and calf and possibly J19 and J26. Very spread out and traveling in pairs. A couple baby breaches, tail lobs and close passes by the boat.
Jamie Bails
*
Capt. Jim Maya called in a report of J pod passing Lime Kiln Park, west side of San Juan Island, at 9 pm, heading north. They had passed Lime Kiln at 6:30 going south to Salmon Bank.
*
J-Pod going slow from Cattle Point towards False Bay. J-39 (Mako), spyhopped, tail slapped, and did a very impressive imitation of a flying fish when he vaulted out of the water.
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, San Juan Excursions

May 13, 2005

Carol Johnson, former Glen Ayr owner, said the [HC transients] passed Glen Ayr at 12.30 pm going north. hat would fit with the report of the Lilliwaup Show being at 1.00 pm.
Judy Dicksion
*
Jim Maya of Maya's Charters called to report J pod 4 miles out of Active Pass, at 7 pm, heading north toward the Fraser River. Saw J14 & J40 at Enterprise Reef, playing in the wake of a ferry.
*
Hood Canal Transients passed by Maple Beach in travel mode this evening at 6:15pm. They seemed to be on a mission heading north with just a bit of frolicking. We lost sight of them heading north past Oak Head towards Bangor.
Kathy Cole
Seabeck, Maple Beach
*
Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called to report 1 gray whale (#723) by Camano Head at 2:30 pm, heading toward Hat Island.
*
All six (Hood Canal) transients put on quite a show today around 1pm, near Lilliwaup. We saw over 20 breaches, spy-hopping, porpoising, you name it. Around 2, the hydrophone went silent and the whales gave us the slip, presumably in hunting mode.
*
The slippery six were heading north at a leisurely pace just south of Ayok Beach at 1PM.
Jeni Gray
Hood Canal
*
On the Ebey's Landing bluff (west Whidbey) this am saw what he thinks was an orca, a dorsal out toward Fort Worden.
Rowena Williamson
Coupeville
*
Word from Hannah at Kayak Rentals, Union, that at 10.00 am she saw the six heading towards Potlatch. They were on the surface quite a while doing both pec and tail slaps and appeared to just be in a relaxing mode of travel basically moving to the north. Hannah also said a neighbor had them right in front of his house where they got a seal under his dock! Did not give any more specifics like time/location etc.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
*
Around 8:30, with calm waters, those sneaky J's tried to hug the shoreline past the house again. Well, except for Ruffles, who was tooling along by himself heading North past Low Island (west side San Juan Island).
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist
*
Saw a grey whale feeding about 50 yards from the Clinton dock while waiting for the 730am sailing. The cars were still being loaded and it surfaced on the northeast side. Then about 5 minutes later it surfaced on the south side of boat while it was underway.
Kathy Fritts
Freeland

May 12, 2005

At 11:40 pm tonight -- perfectly calm on the Canal-- could hear the blows from our "gals" (Hood Canal transients) passing below the house slowly (we're above Milepost 333 on Hwy 101, west side of Hood Canal, between Hoodsport and Potlatch). They might have been foraging, because they lingered for a while, submerging, then surfacing, just south of us...seemed to be heading south.
Linda Sheldon
Potlatch,WA
*
Socko from Hood Canal reported seeing the transient pod at 8:15 pm, off the south shore of Hood Canal at milepost 11, heading west at a fast pace.
*
Jpod still in the area of Pile PT. West side of San Juan Island at 1930 tonight.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
*
Hannah of Kayak Hood Canal in Union reported the Hood Canal Transients at 4:10 pm near the Hood Canal Marina, at the 5 mile marker heading toward Alderbrook at a leisurely pace.
*
Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters reported two grays (same as reported at 1:15, below) 1 mile north of Possession Pt. at 2:15 pm.
*
saw three grays off Possession Ridge today, headed south at 2:00 PM. Two of the whales were side by side, and I would take that to be a mother and calf.
Rob Harrison
*
Whale blowing and breeching, at least two gray whales from the Mukilteo/Clinton Ferry this afternoon,
Kathy habel
*
Reported by Jay Burns, Quileute Tribe biologist. At 1320 May 12 he saw 2 or 3 orca traveling south about 1 mile offshore First Beach at LaPush.
Mary Sue Brancato
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
*
Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters reported 2 gray whales in the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry lanes at 1:15 pm, headed south.
*
Jim Maya of Maya's Charters called to report that J's had turned around, & at 12:45 were just a bit south of Henry Island, heading south with J1 in the lead.
*
Here are some other orca sightings that the USCG reported to Mary Sue Brancato at our office. The USCG reported seeing today, a pod of at least 20 orca at 10:47AM this morning while they were on a helicopter flight about 30 miles offshore. Felt they were behaving unusual in that all were in a straight line, (head to tail not side by side). They all dove when they flew over them - at ~500ft in helicopter. The lat/long was 48 05' 0.1N, 125 21 W. Flat seas. They also saw a separate group of 5 orca, including one small one, possibly a baby, at 10:35AM at 48 06' 0.9N, 125 38W. These were acting "normal". Also flew over at 500' in helicopter.
Ed Bowlby
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
*
Yesterday one of our cutters sighted a pod (unknown number) of Orca whales in position: 48-13N 123-43W, approximately 3 miles north of Crescent Bay.
LT Gregg Casad
District Thirteen (ole)
Fisheries Enforcement Officer
(Forwarded by Brent Norberg)
*
Orcas---J-Pod. Early A.M had J-Pod heading North towards Henry Island. Then a few hours later while driving by Lime Kiln, we spotted J8 Speiden near shore and Ruffles way over towards Edwards Point. Later we heard that some of J-Pod was heading towards Salmon Bank while others were near Lime Kiln.
John Boyd(JB)
Marine Naturalist
*
Just saw two (gray) whales in the sound. They looked like they were having a good time feeding. It was 10:15 a.m. and about 1/2 mile west of Langley, in Saratoga Passage.
Bruce Brereton
Langley, WA
*
0815 Bells Beach (Saratoga Psg, NW of Langley) I was treated to two grays They fed near the crab pot bouys, and headed toward Langley.
Peggy Sullivan
Bells Beach/Langley
*
I heard two Grays blowing below our home on East Point this morning, ~ 6:30 am.
Windwalker Well, we couldn't resist going down to see the grays (~ 7 am). There are two and they're heading from East point down to Bell's Beach practically on the beach.
Windwalker
East Pt, Langley
*
AT 0800 HRS, ORCAS, MOST LIKELY J POD, MOVING NORTH AT LIME KILN PK., WEST SIDE, SAN JUAN IS.
JIM MAYA, MAYA'S CHARTERS
San Juan ISland
*
J-pod headed north on the west side of San Juan Island on their way to Lime Kiln Lighthouse.
Helen King, Innkeeper
The Highland Inn of San Juan Island

May 11, 2005

About a mile I up the passage from Langley yesterday at about 5 pm a single grey high-tailng it down the passage towards Langley.
Deborah Koff Chapin
Langley
*
The Slippery Six Hood Canal Transient Orcas at 8:00pm. We initially spotted them almost mid-channel off of Red Bluff (across from Hoodsport to the northeast on the East side of the Canal). A few jumps, many tail slaps, the younger ones were coming up and out of the water a bit and rolling back under. They didnt seem to be in any hurry. By 8:20pm they were directly off of Cougar Spit (across from Hoodsport) and approximately 200 yards off the eastern shore of the Canal. At this point we saw one of the larger orcas taking up the rear about 100 feet behind the others. By 8:30 pm they were beginning to fade from view into the distance, again almost mid channel and just south of Hoodsport.
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit
*
T103 and T104 dropped by for a short visit. They came in as far as Pedder Bay and back west in the afternoon.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
*
Out to Hein Bank we found 2 Minkes!
Jami Rouse, Naturalist
Island Adventures, Anacortes

May 10, 2005

Maria Earhart reported the Hood canal Transients at 10:30 am near Tawanoh State Park, heading to Sisters Pt. Active with spyhops, breaches, tail lobs.
*
We left J Pod around Salmon Bank headed west up island, San Juan Is., at 1900 hrs.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Whale Watch Charters
San Juan Island
*
Around noon there was a pod of orcas in Neah Bay. There were at least two bulls, 4-6 cows and/or juveniles. They were at a distance, so I could not see much in the way of distinguishing marks, but one bull looked like he had a raggedly-notched trailing edge of his dorsal. At the same time, there was at least a half-dozen California sea lions in the marina feeding on halibut carcasses that the recreational fishermen were throwing into the water (in great quantity). The sea lions were really vocalizing. I guess if orcas were transients, they might have come in the harbor to investigate the sea lion activity. Or they were just curious residents.
Andrew Palmer
Council Coordinator
Research Vessel Captain
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
*
Neah Bay Transient orca ID's: the whales were T14, T63 and T65B as far as I could tell from Nate's photos (which were excellent) from near Neah Bay.
Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research
San Juan Island
*
I just got a call from Neah Bay (1:40 pm) It appears there are three orca, 1 male in the Bay at this time.
Fred Felleman,
Seattle
*
My wife saw at least 3 of the Slippery Six Hood Canal Transient Orca pod at 8:50am. This visual observation occurred approximately 300 feet south of Cougar Spit (across from Hoodsport) on the East side of the canal and about 300 feet offshore. She observed three Orcas swimming in a line, they submerged then she saw three Orcas surface again all were heading north.
Brad Lambert
Cougar Spit

May 9, 2005

Two orcas were spotted off near Seal Rock, south of Newport, Oregon. They were milling and less than 3 miles off shore.
Jean Olson,
ODFW
*
A dozen (or so) orcas came through Active Pass today around 4:00 PM. Twice a day we see standing waves for ~30 min just east of Helen Point, but it is rare to see the orcas and the standing waves at the same time. Today there was a rare conjunction of the two, and as the orcas approached, they put on quite a show. Remaining at the surface, there was a fair bit of tail-lobbing, an occasional spy-hop, and a magnificent breach as they traversed the standing waves. Once they made it past this hazard, the current was with them and they floated on the surface, seemingly getting a free ride through the remainder of Active Pass.
Peter Reiner
Galiano Island
*
Judy Dicksion called to report the Hood Canal Transients near Seabeck heading north around Hazel Pt. at approx. 11:30 am. Lots of tail slaps, half-breaches, porpoising.
*
10:30 am this morning the "Slippery Six" were at the mouth of Dabob Bay making their way over to Oak Head, the tip of the Toanados Peninsula. The whales turned into shore towards Misery Point and the Skiers made their way over to the beach at Oak Head. They passed the marker at Misery Point headed north. They were very close to shore. Judy picked them up at Big Beef Creek and said that they were headed up to Bangor.
Kathy Cole
Maple Beach, Seabeck
*
J-Pod is passing my house right now (10:43 am, west San Juan Island) and what a beautiful sight--all the pod is grouped very tightly, moving North past Sunset Point towards Open Bay. They are hugging the shore very closely, in almost a resting pattern.
John Boyd(JB), Naturalist off duty
San Juan Island
*
J pod spread offshore between Pile Point and Hannah Hts (west San juan Island) at ~0830. They grouped up and started to head North by 0940. We left them tight inshore, med travel past the Lime Kiln Light house at 1000.
Jodi Smith
San Juan Island
*
Spotted a lone Gray, just west of Monroe Landing, westbound on the north side of Penn Cove @ 0730 as far as San de Fuca. It was off the pier at the end of the cove about 0800, moving towards the south side of the cove.
Clarke
*
0700 hrs this morning, Orcas going up San Juan Island, at Eagle Pt. Likely J Pod.
Judy.

May 8, 2005

About 2 M. north of Alderbrook resort at 4:50 p.m., the transients were sighted very close in to the shore (E side of channel). They were playing and demonstrating a bit of all the playful behaviors we most love to watch, said the earlier viewers on shore. By the time we got there at 5:00 p.m., the Orcas were directly across on the West side of the Channel. They were surfacing a lot and some tail slapping, spy-hops and other carousing for quite a while as they headed South. We probably saw all 6. My favorite part was seeing the baby jump fully out of the water 3 times.
Lynn Brevig and Len Bordeaux
*
May 7/8 - I was at Kalaloch over the weekend and we thought we saw 3 Orca's. 2 adults and a juvenile. Rethinking this we are wondering if we actually saw False Killer Whales. We saw blows, we did not see any white, and the whales appeared to be feeding.
Lori Salzer, Wildlife Biologist
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
*
Elaine Wiley called to report the Hood Canal Transients mid-channel in the canal at Gypsy Cove, headed north at approx. 8:20 pm. She saw at least 4 of them, the water was rough so she was pretty sure all 6 were there.
*
About 6:30 PM. One large grey no more than 100 feet away, Bell's Beach, north of Langley.
The Ullmans
Langley
*
6-6:25pm A solitary gray whale came to feed below our backyard on upper First St, Langley, then went east toward downtown one block to feed in front of a neighbor's home, then CAME BACK to us to feed again!
Sharen Heath
Langley
*
Sitting on our deck, inside Triton Cove, about 10am, we saw the (Hood Canal Transient) Orcas heading south. They were three quarters of the way across the canal - closer to the eastern shore. Counted at least five. Could have been six. Travelling at a steady pace. No jumping or tail slapping.
Debbie Harrington
Hood Canal
*
Speiden (J8), Blossom(J11), Shachi(J19), Oreo(J22), Samish(J14), Princess Angeline (J17), Slick (J16), and of course our favorite J Pod Mom--Granny (J2). It was a great day in Bellingham Channel as the whales spread out and came together in a random pattern. Lots of percussives--breaches, tail lobs, tail slaps as they headed towards the southern end of Rosario Strait.
John Boyd (JB)
Marine Naturalist, San Juan Excursions
*
(Hood Canal Transient) Orca pod off Sister's Point between Belfair and Union, at 5 pm. They are on the North side of the canal. The whales are staying in the same general area, appear to be feeding.
Howard Wilson
Union, WA
*
Laurie Davidson called to report orcas between Cypress & Guemes Islands at approx. 3:45 pm.
*
1130-1200 - Orcas off Lummi Island again - pod spread way out between Lummi and Clark Islands traveling south into Rosario Strait - mom and baby closer in to shore passing lucky group of kayakers, and distinctive wheezing sound of J8 in the distance - assuming it's J's. Seem to be doing their regular early season loop - they've been spotted at least 5 or 6 times passing Lummi in the last couple weeks.
Penny Stone
Lummi Island
*
We had a call at 9:15 am reporting a gray whale off Bell's Beach, Saratoga Passage (just north of Langley).
*
0845 Bells Beach. Same as yesterday, at about the same time too! Lone gray heading slowly toward Langley.
Peggy Sullivan
Bells Beach/Langley
*
Hood Canal Transients in the canal at 8:30 this morning. It was a joyful morning for them. Lots of breaching, rolling all together, fin slapping and headstands with tails straight up in the air. They were first spotted in front of Pleasant Harbor on the west side of the canal. They moved up to the Dosewallips and spent some time there but then headed back down to Pleasant Harbor and continued south playing all the way. We lost sight of them around 9:40 am.
Kathy Cole
Maple Beach, Seabeck
*
Kathy, from Seabeck, called about 8.45 am the Slippery Six (HC Transients) appear to be fine and were seen probably hunting off near the Dosewallips Delta. It was a good distance so Kathy counldn't verify all were there but their appeared to be enough activity for the entire group.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
*
(Hood Canal Transients)! At 2:40 am this morning, they passed just below my house on the west side of the Canal (milepost 333 on Hwy 101, across from Mesqueti and Bald Pts.), heading north. They made several HUGE splashes (they must have been totally out of the water), several tail slaps, and one noise like the sound of an oar banging against the side of a rowboat. They also twice made a totally unexpected vocalization that is difficult to describe, but was very loud -- sounded like the low, almost buzzing hum of Tibetan monks chanting (okay, okay...I said it was hard to describe). They continued on their way toward Hoodsport at about 3 am.
Linda Sheldon
Potlatch

May 7, 2005

Jeff Powell reported seeing 1 male orca off Bodega Bay, CA while fishing 3 miles so. of Timber Cove, 2 -3 miles off the coast. Also saw at least one orca the week before.
*
6:30 PM About 1/2 mile out. At least 3 Grays... maybe 4... moving at a good clip...it is an assumption on the Gray species...
Cher-
San Juan
*
7PM: Watched a lone grey feeding along the Wilkinson Road shore (between Langley & Clinton).
Ann Morgan Campbell
Peace & Plenty Farm, Langley
*
I saw three of the (Hood Canal Transient) Orca at 6:05 p.m. across the Canal from the Hama Hama River. They were heading South. The water was quite rough so it was difficult to make the count accurate.
Mina Kyle
*
A group of 5-6 orcas, including one juvenile, came through the southwest entrance of Active Pass at about 4:15 PM. They were in very tight formation and moving quickly, and were followed about 10 minutes later by a group of 2-3 of their companions.
Peter Reiner
Galiano Island
*
Had a lone Gray Whale overtake us while paddling south about 2 miles north of Langley yesterday (Saturday) at about 3:30 p.m. About a mile later he moved in very close to the shore and us. He put on a great show feeding on the bottom.
Ed Young
Whidbey Island Kayaking Company
*
Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters reported 2 grays in Saratoga Passage near the entrance to Holmes Harbor, between East Pt. & Mabana, headed NW toward Lowell Pt. & closer to the Camano side at 2 pm. At 2:30 pm they broke up, gray whale #43 did a U-turn & headed SE toward Hat Island, on the Camano side, & the other kept going toward Lowell Pt.
*
0915 Bells Beach (N. of Langley) Gray heading toward Langley, cruising slowly, taking long dives.
Peggy Sullivan
Bells Beach/Langley

May 6, 2005

Gail Craig called in to report 4 orcas at Eagle Pt. in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, half way between Seiku & the Hoku River. There was one large whale, 2 females and a small one, headed west at 8 pm.
*
Tom McMillen of Salish Sea Charters called to report 2 gray whales mid-way between the Possession Pt. & Skatchet head bouys off SW Whidbey Island at 1 pm. By 1:30 pm they were closer to Possession Pt. & sound, heading north toward Clinton.
*
Socko called to report the Hood Canal Transients at milepost 11, 1 mile west of Tawanoh State Park headed east at approx. 2 pm.

May 5, 2005

We have a cabin in seabeck on the water. We have been watching the (Hood Canal) transients regularly. In our kayaks very close in 15 ft of water 4 two females and 2 youth taking out a seal. very interesting and unnerving from a kayak.
Nadine Woolman
Seabeck/Woodinville
*
The Hood Canal Transients passed by Seabeck this evening. Spotted them coming from the south at Quatsap Point on the west side around 8pm. We last saw them heading north into the sunset at the mouth of Dabob Bay at 9pm.
Kathy Cole
Maple Beach, Seabeck
*
Jim Maya called to report J pod at 6:40 pm, headed north near County Park on west San Juan Island.
*
There was a Minke 2.7 miles E.S.E. of Discovery Island who was active today in the noon hour. My news tonight is Humpbacks, the light keeper at Cape Beal (mid west coast Van is.). Called at 1636 to report 12+ Humpbacks breeching as many as 3 at a time, in 29 years he has never seen anything like it.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
*
4:20 p.m. Hood Canal Slippery Six are headed North about 1 mile North of Hama Hama on the Holly side of the Canal. For awhile they seemed to be going in circles--must have been feeding or playing. I believe I saw the baby. I was using my spotting scope and it brought them up close.
Mina Kyle
*
3:40 PM, J-pod just came by moving pretty fast, from south to north headed for the Lime Kiln State Park.
Helen King, Innkeeper
The Highland Inn of San Juan Island
*
J-Pod passed right through the reflection of the setting sun, west San Juan Island, and it was a truly magical moment. Ruffles was traveling towards the rear near Granny (J-2), and it appeared that the back of the group was a tight formation of J-22 and her offspring (J-34 & J-38).
John Boyd (JB)
Naturalist on shore today
*
11:00 AM J Pod on west side of San Juan Island near Lime Kiln State Park.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters
San Juans Island
*
0950 AM The (Hood Canal Transient) pod is about 2 miles west of Towanah State Park, near Sister's Point, but on the South side of the canal.
Howard Wilson
Union, WA
*
Socko called to report the Hood Canal Transients approx. 1 mile west of Towanah State Park at the 11 mile marker, heading west toward Alderbrook, close to the south shore at 9:30 am.
*
At 9:45 am the transients were on the surface cruising by Union heading east towards Alderbrook Resort... according to Hannah of Kayak Rentals at Union. Also the whales were seen in front of Alderbrook at 10.20 am by Nan Paris of Union who could not determine if they were moving in any particular direction.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton

May 4, 2005

Jim Maya called to report J's were at the south tip of Lummi Island headed to Bellingham Channel at 5:30 or 6 pm.
*
Steve Jeffries, WDFW Marine Mammal Biologist, with John Durban & Kim Parsons, NOAA Natl Martine Mammal Lab, Sand Point, spent a morning south Hood Canal. Around 11.50 am I picked up the research boat coming from the south {having seen no sign of the Slippery Six (HC Transients) I was told} and right as they entered in mid-channel south of the Dose delta I picked up the Six coming towards them. The whales moved over towards the Kitsap Penin side heading south with the research boat in tow. I lost them at about 12.45 pm still traveling slowly south. Caught sight of The Six et al passing Eagle Creek then lost sight of them as I moved down the road. About 2.45pm, I picked them all up near Holly, Kitsap Penin. The whales were nosing about the east side of the canal down to Dewatto at about 3.50pm and across from Lilliwaup at 4.10pm... then slowly continued south towards Hoodsport.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
*
At 7pm the "six" (Hood Canal Transients) were in close to shore and acting up near the Union Marina, and heading towards the flats. We rushed to Potlatch State Park, but could see nothing. At about 7:30, in Potlatch, boaters pointed them out to us...down at the flat. At Enetai there they were! Gradually they headed north about 8:15.
Linda Sheldon
Potlatch
*
We left J pod headed south toward Bellingham Channel at 1800 hrs, between the south end of Lummi Is. & the north end of Sinclair Is.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters
San Juan Island
*
8:15 p.m. I was returning from Shelton. The HC Transients were at the mouth of the Skokomish River in an area, I think, named Indian Hole. It is a very deep part of the Skokomish Delta. I counted 5 Orcas. I am guessing the baby was also there. They must have been very active earlier as at least 25 people were stopped watching them. When I got there they were still doing jumps, tail slaps,etc. Their activity after feeding. By about 8:30 p.m. they were starting to work their way North. Since the light was failing I came home. I had also followed them as they headed South from the Dosewallips area about 2:00 p.m. They were swimming South on the far or East side of the Canal from HWY 101. A research boat was following them.
Harry Louch
Hoodsport
*
3:30 p.m. - J pod does us the exquisite honor of passing by Lummi Island (on their way towards Rosario Strait), just as I bring my newly arrived sister who has never been here before down to the beach!! I had just finished telling her all about the legendary Ruffles and his mom Granny and their kin, when they and a few boats appeared out of the fog.
Penny Stone
Lummi Island
*
Encountered a gray whale just north of Victoria at Discovery and Chatham at 15:00, feeding and heading NE.
Claire Mosley
*
While fishing with a friend near the Scatchet Head buoy around 1:00 pm, we spotted some blows to the southeast, probably near the Harbor Pointe area about a half mile north of a tug towing logs. We headed in that direction to get a better look and one gray breached about two miles south of Possession Point/Cultus Bay. They seemed to be heading north and quickly disappeared.
Sharri Schmitz
Sandy Hook

May 3, 2005

At approx 8.00pm, the transients made a seal kill (the Paris' also saw the seal) in front of their house which is on Hwy 106 almost opposite Sister's Point.
Judy Dicksion,
Bremerton
*
That Grey sighting off South Vashon Island yesterday must be the same grey we saw heading north about 8PM. Passed by us in North end of Colvos passage VERY close to shore. Last seen heading north at sunset near Blake Island.
Tim Ferris
*
We came across J-pod today coming round the south end of Vancouver Island, we met them at Secretary Island at 15:30, and had about half of the group in a lovely resting line just off our bow. J1 and J2 beside each other close to shore. We left them at 16:30 just off Clover Point, and they were heading NE round the point.
Claire Mosley
*
It's 11:15 PM, and we have J-Pod traveling North up the west side of San Juan Island. Spread out a bit, but with lots of vocalizations and percussives! Could hear the distinctive sound of Speiden's (J-8) blow as she passed.
John Boyd (JB)
Naturalist, San Juan Excursions
*
Two gray whales off Langley at 10:00 p.m. One more or less stationary between Langley and Sandy Point, the other heading slowly off into the waters between Camano and Hat islands.
Brian Lowey
Langley
*
Derick Whitmarsh of Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island reported a gray whale heading north in Saratoga Passage at 8:30 pm.
*
Kit Turner of Lagoon Pt, Greenbank (W. Whidbey) reported a gray whale heading south past Lagoon Pt. at 7:30 pm.
*
Orcas at Race Rocks at 6:11 PDT. Saw 4 dorsal fins.
Osmia
Okanagan (whales seen from Race Rocks cam!)
*
We saw one very large gray whale off Lagoon Point (west Whidbey Island) between 3PM and 6PM today.
Kathy Pulley
Lagoon Point
*
At 3:20PM off of Delco on South Vashon Island, a grey whale was spotted surfacing, tail fluke as it dove. The whale appeared to be heading Eastbound, about 1/4 mile off shore.
Steve
*
HCTransients again up north. Spotted the six out in front of the Dosewallips at 10:50 am. They were traveling south at a slow pace close to shore, playing and having a great time. These whales are so exuberant! It is so much fun to see them breaching, splashing, lots of white bellies and generally just having a blast playing together. I watched for an hour until I lost sight of them heading down to Triton Cove.
Kathy Cole
Seabeck, Maple Beach
*
Gail Fleming called at 8 am to report a gray whale just north of Sandy Pt, feeding close to shore and traveling slowly south toward Sandy Pt.
*
7:15 AM. There is a single gray whale feeding close to shore in front of Langley and slowly heading to the southeast.
Veronica von Allworden
Langley
*
A nighttime visit from our 6 slippery ladies (Hood canal Transients), from midnight to 12:25 am. Heard them from my deck. They were 150' below us, on the west side of the Canal, close in to milepost 333 on Hwy 101( just north of the last house in Potlatch) They would all blow at once (counted 6), and then submerge for about five minutes, then reemerge together and blow...a few good splashes mixed in. They were heading toward Hoodsport as they finally swam out of earshot.
Linda Sheldon
Potlatch,WA

May 2, 2005

Walking on Edgecliff in Langley around 7:30am, spotted a lone gray feeding. Stayed observing for 20 minutes, no sign of this hungry whale wanting to move on quickly. Seemed quite happy and contented.
Mary Long
Langley
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Spotted the Slippery Six, Hood Canal Transients, up at Oak Head, the tip of the Toanados Peninsula today at 3pm heading south. They passed by Maple Beach and Scenic Beach State Park mid channel and made a possible kill at Quatsap point. The six were mostly in travel mode but we did observe them having some fun with a couple of breaches by the adults and headstands by the younger whales. Great fun. Lost sight of them around 4pm. making their way south.
Kathy Cole
Seabeck, Maple Beach
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Jerry Poundslee called to report 2 gray whales between Stretch Island and the mainland, heading into Case Inlet (S. Puget Sound) at 8 pm.
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T61 found in Oak Bay and I left him going South from Trial Is. at 1240.
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria BC
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Heading out of Victoria we heard that Victor (T61) had been picked up a little to the west of Chatham Island and was heading north. When we arrived at about 1130hrs he was working on a seal that he had just killed, giving us a great view. He made his way north towards 10 Mile Point but doubled back in the middle of Baines Channel. On our return route to Victoria we managed to get a look at T61 again as he headed SW off Trial Island. On our next trip we picked him (T61) up again some 3 - 4 miles NE of Race Rocks (1400hrs) in the heavy mist and rain and followed him for a few miles as he approached Race. Having gone on to check out Whirl Bay we had a good look at him as he rounded the south tip of Race Rocks and headed West past Church Island at around 1600hrs.
Perfect west coast whale watching.
Mike 'Aussie' Randall
POW, Victoria
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We saw T61 today! He was between Trial and Discovery Islands when we met up with him and was traveling southwest at a good clip while we were with him. Just as we were leaving the scene, a minke surfaced near us! We also saw two, maybe three minkes off Salmon Bank earlier in the day where we caught a few whiffs of them.
Ellen Fortado
Island Adventures Naturalist
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I just got a report (12:30 pm) of three grey whales off the south end Tent Island which is off the west side of Saltspring Island (between Crofton on Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island). I have never seen Greys in this area before!!
Simon Pidcock
Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay

May 1, 2005

Suzanne of Langley called in a report at 8:25 pm of a couple of gray whales off Edgecliff, just SE of Langley, spouting a lot close to the shore they traveled to the Sandy Pt. pier, & met up with 2 or 3 other gray whales.
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We left J Pod 17 miles south of Mitchell Pt., west side, San Juan Island, headed south toward Pt. Angles, at 1900 hrs this evening. I would guess about 7-8 miles south of Discovery Is.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Whale Watch Charters
San Juan Island
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7:30 am: Our first Orca sighting this spring: J Pod traveling south along Lummi Island through Rosario Strait. They were moving rapidly, spread out with one adult and calf trailing the others.
Kristin Ogren
Lummi Island
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My Jpod report is short, met them this morning bottom of Rosario St. left them going North towards Iceberg Pt. (Lopez Is).
Ron Bates
MMRG, Victoria
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Around 11AM. Two grey whales breakfasted leisurely in front of our neighbor's house (Saratoga Strait just west of Langley). Then they had dessert just in front of our house about 100 feet from shore.
The Ullmans
Langley
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Once again J-Pod was on the West side of San Juan Island, very spread out several miles between Eagle Point and Kanaka Bay. J-14 & new baby (J40) were slowly moving on their own, and J-1 Ruffles. Blackberry (J-27) was doing his best to imitate a submarine as he cruised by with only his dorsal fin showing for long periods of time. Sporadic vocalizations were faintly heard over the hydrophone.
John Boyd (JB)
Naturalist, San Juan Excursions
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We received a call from Carter Lake reporting a pod of 11 orcas. They were observed from a plane, 1200' above the whales, & said the whales were traveling in a tight, football-shaped pod, off the Sea Ranch Coast, Northern Sonoma County, CA, ~30 miles south of Pt. Arena heading north. They didn't see any other orcas in the area, but had seen some grays during the day as well. He commented that the dorsal fins looked straighter, less curved than resident fins.
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8:20 a.m. Hood Canal Transients were sighted across the Canal from Mike's Resort in front of Holly. They were moving quite fast. It was a calm morning and I could hear them blow all the way across the Canal. They were headed North.
Mina Kyle
Hood Canal
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Sam Cole of Island Adventures relayed a call they received today about a gray whale with something "squarish" on top of it, which could be a possible entanglement of some kind. The whale was sighted off Dallas Bank, north of Protection Island (north of Discovery Bay), SW bound. If anyone sees this whale, please let us know & call Cascadia Research at 1-800-747-7329.
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This morning about 7:00 a.m. heard the whales went out on the deck and spotted the whales (Hood Canal Transients) going north just off of the beach at Ayock.
Elaine M. Wiley
Gypsy Cove
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Wendy at Cascadia Nauticals in Langley called to report 3 gray whales feeding in front of the Dog House in downtown Langley this morning at 11:25 am.
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Tom Berry heard the transients were off Hamma Hamma at 8 am, heading north.