May 2016 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of Month Year whale sightings.

May 31
Sailed South onto glassy waters south of Lopez Island and changed course for Hein Bank with news of transient orcas. We sailed back towards Lopez with the T46Bs alongside as the sun was setting. -Barbara Bender, All Aboard Sailing

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2:00 p.m. - A group of Orcas in Port Angeles, they seemed like they were fishing. I tried to get picture of them, but they weren't surfacing...was able to see dorsal fins of about 5 or 6. It was around 2:00pm they came in and circled around the harbor starting by the Coast Guard station and down to the mill where they lingered for sometime and then back out. I am not to familiar with the area I was on the spit though. My first time actually seeing them in the wild. I was so excited. I guess they were traveling north, Iost site of them on the other side of the harbor behind an anchored ship. They seemed to be diving deeply, as they were heading out. -Kathleen Barker

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We received this message which sounds like could be a humpback: 9:44 a.m. - Just briefly spotted a whale hump about 200 yards off of the north end of Johnson point headed SE towards Nisqually. No fin noted. Black. -Tina Davis

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8:13 a.m. - Just drove across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and saw blows beneath can someone please confirm if there is a whale there? -Beverly Varela
(above May 31 humpback reports are unconfirmed, but most probable- ALB)

May 30
Newbie alert! Little un' with T100B, fresh with fetal folds, at most 7 days old. We saw T100B on May 22nd with no baby, and today in the Strait of Georgia she was with her new little one along with the rest of the T100s and the T123s. -Tasli Shaw

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We saw breaching orcas from the Nanaimo ferry, close to shore as we pulled away from Vancouver Island, this morning at 11 AM. No ID's but at least one big male, very active breaches as the pod (about 4-5 I think) travelled along the Strait of Georgia. A lovely surprise encounter. -Steve Smith

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Calm seas were back for our Memorial Day trip, yay! We headed south, then west, towards Discovery Island (almost to Victoria, BC) based on reports of a humpback whale and Transient/Biggs killer whales! Unfortunately the killer whales turned west and headed out past Sooke, BC, but the humpback turned our way and we had some excellent views as the whale (no ID yet) slowly headed towards San Juan Island. We watched several tail flukes before heading back east, enjoyed all the Steller sea lions at Whale rocks, and found some very pregnant harbor seals near Castle Rock (seal pup season is fast approaching). An awesome Memorial Day trip! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

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10:30 a.m. - a gray whale spouted, surfaced, rolled a bit, and then dove with a huge fluke display just 150-200 yards offshore at Lagoon Point on Whidbey Island. It was headed south and seemed to be "en route" somewhere beyond us. Magnificent! Traveling and we assume eating as there is good supply off our shoreline! -Dianne Bratz

May 29
Flying upside down orca pretty much made my day. Out with the T75Bs & T77s zig-zagging Hein Bank - Juan de Fuca Strait, seas very rolly. I also got to "meet" T77's newest kiddo - T77E, and T077 surfing along a swell. Sunday off Port Angeles. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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T077 tail lobbing with her oldest offspring, 16 yr old T077B. Sunday morning off Port Angeles. -James Gresham

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Spotted a whale (smaller and it had a small dorsal) traveling north west through Port of Washington Narrows passage into Dyes Inlet at 0630 am. -Will Grindstaff

May 28
2:30 p.m. - Good afternoon, we were blessed on the water today with a small pod of Transients swim past us. My first time seeing them so close, they just swam up to us. Thought I would share with you. This was at Freshwater/Crescent Bay near Port Angeles. Lots of whale boats coming out of Victoria/Canada trying to catch up to them. Was a Blessing to us today to see these Majestic animals. They were heading out west. (Photos include T137s, T125A and 128 - ALB.) -Sandy Thompson Watne

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We had the 7 orcas with the T77s and T75Bs way up in Canada heading north today up by Sidney Island. -Bart Rulon, Island Adventures

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One Male Orca in the Siuslaw River, Florence OR. Saturday, the 28th, about 1730 hrs, sighted male Orca breaching in river. Small fishing boat 'escorted' it at a distance until it went back over the bar and back into Pacific. Was sighted by someone else (before my video and sighting), about 30 minutes earlier about a mile or less up river, just south of the Siuslaw River Coast Guard Station. -Debbie Heldt Cordone

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4:30 p.m. - Saw a whale swimming up the Washington Narrows and under the Manette bridge from the Boathouse restraunt. This one had a small or irregular fin, couldn't tell which. What caught my eye was the lack of the large dorsal fin common to the Orcas which make periodic visits to the area. Also much larger animal What caught our attention was the large blow that towared 15 feet or more when he surfaced. -John Lorimer

May 27
Seal hunting orcas at the west entrance to Active Pass, late afternoon. -Peter McAllister

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Puget Sound (two groups northbound, miles and hours apart)
5:30 p.m. - Orcas sighted in front of Apple Tree Point heading North. Three (3) Orcas swam by our house located on Sandy Beach Lane/Apple Tree Point in Kingston. One had a VERY large dorsal fin. They were a great sight to see. -Thyra McKevlie

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3:38 p.m. - now straight out from Faye Bainbridge park. Mid channel moving steady north, pretty long dives Looks like T137s, T125A & T128. Thanks to the sharp eyes of my niece, we got to watch T137s, T125A and T128 pass north by Fay Bainbridge this afternoon
3:24 p.m. - Orca!! line of sight between Faye Bainbridge and Shilshole marina. Isaw one male, one female probably more. -Connie Bickerton
(Thanks to Sara Hysong-Shimazu & Melisa Pinnow for ID help & confirmations)

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4:00 p.m. - they are now north of Fort Flagler crossing across Admiralty Straits toward Fort Casey and Ebeys Landing I'm at Lagoon Point heading over that way.
3:10 p.m. - spotted orcas across from Bush Point north of yellow channel marker closer to Marrowstone island side. (this group is the T75Bs & T77s). -Marilyn Armbruster

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2:15 - on a tip from Sandra Pollard I found a small pod heading north in Admiralty Inlet just north of Hood Canal on the Olympic Peninsula side. -Howard Garrett

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1:00 p.m. - north group is definitely into Admiralty mid channel. Too far for me to say how far. Good luck!
12:20 p.m. - Edmonds they very much appear to be trending Northwest directionally towards Admiralty Inlet.
11:40 a.m. -Approx. 8 orcas (including adult male and wee little one) steady northbound now passing south Edmonds/Apple Cove Pt. Kingston. More east of mid channel.
11:26 a.m. From Edmonds Marina Beach spotted the pod northbound (T75Bs & T77s) steady medium pace mid channel passing Kingston/south Edmonds. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Saw the T077's and the T075B's today between Edmonds & Kingston! -Janine Harles

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10:15 a.m. - Several orcas off Point Jefferson, Kingston mid channel heading north quite rapidly. -Chris Otterson

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9:55 a.m. - Report from Karolyn of a pod of orcas heading south near Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island, seen from the ferry.

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9:42 a.m. Orca spotted off the Point White, Bainbridge Island! Headed toward Bremerton. (this may have been humpbacks, we have not received any photos of orcas in Rich Passage, only humpbacks) -Caron Anderson

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9:20a.m. - update from John Rogstad, WSF "Just got a report from the KALEETAN on the Seattle Bremerton route; three orca northbound just west of the Tango buoy. One of the whales had XL dorsal fin"

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9:15 a.m. - Three Orcas sighted off of the Bremerton/Seattle ferry, heading towards Seattle, near the buoys, on the right side of the Kaleetan. Ferry personnel very kindly announced their presence so riders could watch the whales. Lots of oooohs and ahhhhs from the crowd! -Mary Klein

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Log entry 0640 hours from the Wenatchee sailing Seattle to Bainbridge Island- "Crew reports five orca whale steaming southbound at Wing Point (abeam Eagle Harbor). Orcanetwork notified." -John Rogstad, WSF

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6:22 a.m. - Three orca, appeared to be leisurely feeding near Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island. One female and possibly two young...feeding, lots of shallow dives. -Brynn Keith

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Call today from McKenzie who saw three killer whales, with no adult males, this afternoon, (she said others reported 10-12) south of Newport, near Lost Creek State Park, less than a mile offshore, moving north to the jetty at Yaquina Bay. She said there was also a small gray whale in the mix for a short time, with pecs and flukes up, but no sign of blood and only for a few minutes.

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4:11 p.m. - Leaving now. Last I saw there were possibly two (with a nice breach!). I was at pier 70 looking north.
2:57 p.m. - I'm still watching. From where I'm sitting, it was skirting in front of the cargo ships near downtown, but headed away from downtown.
2:26 p.m. - Just saw the briefest of glimpses of what looks to be a single humpback from the Olympic Sculpture park. Headed south. -Madelyn Gilbert Aman

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2-3 Humpback whales spotted on Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry run around 1:30. In the main channel, south in the main channel, closer to West Seattle than Bainbridge. At least two, maybe 3, based on frequency and spacing of whale spouts, but only clearly saw two backs and dorsal fins at the same time, and only two dives with flukes visible at approximately the same time. Traveling, diving, spouting. -Michael Pollock

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Today at 1:20 a Humpback came through Rich Passage at Orchard point, Manchester. Went deep and didn't see the direction of travel after that. -Noelle Morris

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12:07 p.m. - Just saw a humpback in Rich Passage. Midway on south side. -Tina O'Brien

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Humpbacks in Port Orchard Bay this morning. The first few seconds of this video the humpback is between the boat and light post. At 15-17 seconds you can hear/kinda see both the humpbacks at once. I'm bummed I didn't get video from the other side of the marina, it swam right next to the fuel dock but I was way too excited to think about video then. -Brittany Gordon
11:30 a.m. - The 2 humpbacks are exiting port orchard bay right now at a fast pace heading NE.
11:19 a.m. - There are 2 humpbacks. I got a video of it swimming right past the dock so close to me. I'm still shaking. They are headed northeast now in ferry lane.
11:10 a.m. - there is a humpback very close to Port Orchard marina. -Brittany Gordon

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9:05 a.m. - Got a call from David Wartez, who saw a whale in Elliot Bay from the viaduct. He didn't know what it was but from the description it sounded like a humpback.

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Before I took the watch here in the operations center at 0600 my predecessor Mike Boldt got a report at 0554 from the Cathlamet down at Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth. The log entry reads "crew reports three humpback whales approximately 3/4 of a mile off of the Fauntleroy dock". -John Rogstad, WSFk

May 26
We saw (almost) constantly the kind of thing in this picture. They were slapping their tails and porpoising. Delightful. -Iris McDonald
(This photo from Admiralty Inlet with southbound T75Bs & T77s)

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2:20 p.m. - Passing Windmill Heights and into Mutiny Bay, still heading south. -Mike Meyer

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1:45 - 2:10 - From just south of Bush Point. -Howard Garrett

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1:50 p.m. - Just coming up on Windmill Heights. (Mutiny Bay) -Dennis Allen

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1:25 p.m. - Just passing Bush Point.
1:15 pm - Transients are past Lagoon Pt, now approaching Bush Pt, and are mid-channel, maybe a little bit closer to the Bush Pt. side. -Pat Scott

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12:22p.m. - 9 transients at Lagoon point inlaced the T77s and T75Bs heading south still. I saw another male also w/ the T77s and T75Bs but it appeared to have departed sometime early on in my viewing. There was possibly another female with it, but I never saw them again after the first 5 minutes of the encounter. -Bart Rulon, IA

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11:55 - Kit Turner at Lagoon Point just called in a report of at least four orcas, just north of the cut at Lagoon Point, about 100' from the Whidbey Island side of Admiralty Inlet, circling and milling and slowly trending southward.

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11:36 a.m. - Another group just north of Lagoon point. Heading south. Looks like T077's. -Renee Beitzel

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Puget Sound T137s, T125A & T128
5:35 p.m.- pod has been drifting south I imagine with their meal. South end Port Madison.
5:00 p.m. - one group (approx 6 with 3 large males, looking like T137s and 125A & 128) is still out from Port Madison/Suquamish west of mid channel...southbound shipping lanes. Look to be on a kill. Some breaches.
4:25 p.m - one group is currently mid channel south of Jefferson Head/Indianola and Richmond Beach. Sightline RB Saltwater Park and Faye Bainbridge park. Milling. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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3:39 p.m. - Onboard the Victoria Clipper, we are passing Orcas south of Kingston (47.44N, 122.27W). It looked they were just milling about. Not really headed in any direction. -James Geenway

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10:51 a.m. - pod (T137s, T125A & T128) south of Possession and Scatchet heading tending in a direction towards east side Kitsap. -Stu Davidson

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10:19 a.m. - With them now. T137's with T125A and T128. -Renee Beitzel, Chilkat

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10:17 a.m. - Spotted them off Mukilteo, at least 5. -Melissa Negretti

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9:48 a.m. - 4 orcas heading South at Mukilteo. -April Bosley

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0937hrs - Chief Mate reports 4 killer whales making way southbound in between Mukilteo and Clinton. Whale Hotline notified. -John Rogstad, WSF

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Puget Sound 3rd unidentified group.
1323 hours - Master reports the 4 killer whales are abeam of Dolphin Point (the north end and east side of Vashon Island) and headed southbound. -John Rogstad, WSF

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1138hrs - Master reports there are 4 killer whales off of Duwamish Head in the traffic lanes making way in a southbound direction. -John Rogstad, WS Ferries

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Big Mama and Junior at East Point, Saturna Island. -Mark Malleson

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7:00 p.m. - I went out to look for the humpback about 7pm and found two! They were at the very southern end of Colvos passage between Gig Harbor and Vashon. I think they were very similar sized adults. -Michelle Riley Campbell

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5:15 p.m. - Single humpback right off the shore at Browns Point headed south towards Ruston surfacing often and moving pretty quickly. -Meghan Davis van Horn

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12:30 p.m. - probable humpback between West Seattle and Blake Island, west channel. A couple blows and shallow dives followed by a deeper dive with visible flukes, all before I could grab binoculars or camera. Haven't seen it since. It appeared to be moving south or southwest. -Jason Lee Bell

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0800 - Gray whale South side of Southworth dock - it well could have been the humpback. It just surfaced 3 times while I was waiting at the dock, all in the area between the dock and the northern tip of Colvos Passage. A couple of people said it was a gray, but I didn't think it had the tail of a gray when I saw it, the back looked more like a humpback to me but I'm no expert, so I took their word for it. One of the ferry dock workers, Nicole I think, said it was hanging around the south end of the dock, seemed to be more when the tide was turning. She said usually they hang out between the north end of Southworth Dock and Blake Island. -Kristie Paylor

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5:30 a.m. - Lone humpback whale east side of Duwamish Head heading slowly NNW very close to shore at shallow depth. -Charlie Piston, NOAA

May 25
T124A in front of the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia. T124A with T124A2-A surfacing next. -Heather MacIntyre, May 25, 2016

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This is late, but I saw 6-8 orcas traveling south from Pebble Beach, Puget Sound, around 4:30. There were at two babies with them. -Sarah Malmstead

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3:00 p.m. - Orcas coming by Langley heading north, now! Reported from Village Pizza in Langley. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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2:20 p.m. - fins disappearing, they look pretty committed to Saratoga Passage.
2:10 p.m. - At Mukilteo Lighthouse park, found the orcas well north of Clinton ferry, look to be aiming towards Saratoga. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Netowrk

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12:56 p.m. - Watching the same group north of Possession Point at 12:56 from lighthouse park in Mukilteo. Five sighted. -Bryant Mitchell

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12:23 p.m. - orcas heading north along east possession towards Clinton (at the moment).. Following close behind a gray (723). -Stu Davidson

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11:53 p.m. - T137's, T125A and T128 now off Possession Point. Gray whale #723 also feeding in area off Possession. -Renee Beitzel

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11:28 p.m. - Now pointing towards Edmonds.
10:46 a.m. - Now heading for Possession Point.
10:30 a.m. - Now with these T's and we are just north of the Kingston Ferry Terminal closer to the Kingston shoreline. Northbound. 5kts. Heading now for Point No Point. -Rob Sanderson, Chilkat

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Bigg's/Transients passing Apple Tree Point, Kingston. -Sara Frey

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9:15 a.m. - several orca kind of close to the middle of the channel off Point Jefferson, Kingston, milling around with slow movement northbound. -Chris Beamer Otterson

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0715 - Ferry between Bainbridge Island and Seattle watched several orcas swimming northwards in the shipping lane. Too far for pictures...in the Northbound lane (east of mid channel) just off Discovery Park. -Tim Cuddy

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8:45 p.m. - surprised to see a humpback pass by close to shore (north Edmonds) initially heading due south. It then veered more south westerly. Last blow and dive was still north of Edmonds ferry. -Stu Davidson

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Hello lovely whale people! I wanted to let you know that I just spotted what appears to be a youngish humpback whale off Edgewater Beach in Mukilteo! Watched from 1645-1750 then he was heading towards Lighthouse Park. -Danica Gonsalves

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Took the 5:30 ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton. As we were loading we saw a huge gray whale (was a humpback) north of the dock and close to shore doing what I call "flaps" with his HUGE fins. Excuse the layman terms, but it was quite a show - heading south. -Kathy Stevens Hitsemann

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After only living here on Vancouver Island for just over a year, I spotted from our back deck, what I think is my first Humpback in the Satellite Channel, near Artbutus Ridge at 10am. He was fluking, spy-hopping and breaching before heading down past Mill Bay. Behaviors: feeding, playing, traveling. Surprisingly loud when they blow. -Deirdre Zlomanchuk

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2:00 p.m. Haven't yet seen the orcas but gray whale traveling northeasterly past Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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11:53 p.m. - T137's, T125A and T128 now off Possession Point. Gray whale #723 also feeding in area off Possession. -Renee Beitzel

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11:33 a.m. - a gray south of Scatchet Head heading towards Possession Point. -Stu Davidson

May 24
About 3:45pm I was about 3.5 miles SW of Cleland Island, off the coast of Tofino. I spent an hour and a half with them. As they continued down the coast SE. The largest male, the one you guys ID'd, J27 rolled around on one of the females and we saw his dork at least three times. (photos show J27 and K22 Sekiu and her son K33 Tika, & K34 Cali). -Shaun Parniak, Shamrock Photography

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J Pod was off Tofino heading southwest from Cleland Rocks about 3 miles offshore. Shamrock Photography has photos including 2 of J27. Lots of beaching, tail lobbing and dork action We went out but the boats couldn't hold them for us and we lost them. Heading your way though! The last boat with them said they were travelling at 3 knots and stopping every 10 min to mill about. On a south west track though around 7 pm. -Marcie Callewaert

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5:42 p.m. - long dives. Just saw a humpback on a dive heading north towards Scatchet Head. From sunset it should be line of sight with South Double Bluff. -Stu Davidson

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4:30 p.m. - pulled up to Sunset Ave Edmonds and spotted a humpback diving in southbound direction few miles out and approx 2 miles south of Possession Point. Sightline western half of Double Bluff. Water like glass...beautiful. Ten minutes later it flipped and continued northbound in same general area with shallow surfaces. By 5:05 pm it flipped again and was southbound when I left. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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5:44 p.m. - Whale at Point Ruston, Tacoma. -Erin Keene

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5:15 p.m. - Humpback now off south end Vashon nearing ferry lane.
4:46 p.m. - Stunning!!! Just passing Camp Sealth on west side Vashon. Should be in Dalco Passage/Point Defiance area soon. -Amy Carey

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4:23 p.m. - Whale is just south of Redding's Beach. Heading south fairly quickly. -Lark Pelling

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2:45 p.m. - Humpback southbound in Colvos just south of Fern Cove near Vashon shoreline. -Noreen Ferris

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2:40 p.m. - Just saw what looks like a humpback from the Southworth ferry terminal. Traveling south on the west side of Vashon. -Heather Paar

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2:05 - Call from Charlie reporting a baleen whale with a dorsal fin, so probably a humpback, between Vashon and Blake Islands, heading NW toward Yukon Harbor.

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2:00 p.m. - Just saw an whale off west side of the ferry between Vashon and Blake not 10 minutes ago. -Katherine Steen

May 23
...Followed them southbound from Boundary Pass into Haro Strait from 12-1:30pm...Three youngsters were playing a lot, and the main group was shadowed by two males and a female at about 200-300 yards the entire time. -Jessica Alexander Doyle (May 24 report included Katie Jones encounter who says the following were present: T36A's, T65A's and B's, T99's, T101's, and T123's)

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Orcas in Steilacoom tonight. 5-6 adults and maybe 2 baby's!! Right in front of my house! It was crazy watching them split up and hunt! We think there was 2 babies in that group. -Lisa Witsken

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This group (with T125A) came through Pickering Passage 6:30 Monday. -Mary R Larson

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Boundary Pass/Haro Strait - Bigg's/Transients tuck into and cruise the shoreline of Wescott Bay, San Juan Island. For the first time since my parents bought their place on San Juan (10+ years) and the stars aligned so that we were up there, we had 4 transients in our bay today. We stood onshore as they cruised in and around for a bit probably looking for seals, then left out to Mosquito Pass and Haro Strait I would presume. We are on Westcott Bay and look into Garrison Bay. We didn't get any real good ID shots in the few photos we got, but here is one of the better pictures. Let me know if anyone else reported T's and if we know who they might be! -Kalley Genther

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Big group 6-8 transients, three young and one big male, and a second group of two males and a female heading south on Boundary Pass! We first met up with them west and south of Blunden in Canadian waters, then they followed the border and turned south at Stuart. 1:30 p.m. Left them still heading south/southwest down Haro Strait. I think the male with the big group was T123A, also think we saw T65B and T65B1 and some other youngsters and another two females, and then the two large males and solo female traveling a few hundred yards behind them. Looked like a kill at 12:30, then lazy traveling with playful youngsters. Lots of lobtailing, spyhopping and some porpoising! -Jessica Alexandra Doyle

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T-Party again today with the T36A's, T65A's and B's, T99's, T101's, and T123's - About 20 whales total! -Katie Jones

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8:35 p.m. - Saw 3, maybe 4 orcas in Hammersley inlet heading west towards Oakland Bay about Millers Point, my first sighting! -Glenda Palmer

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Orcas (2 large) cam through Hammersley Inlet at 8:15 p.m. off Agate beach. -Brenda Rix

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This was just South of the Narrows bridge from Day Island. This was just South of Boathouse 19 and they stayed for about 30 minutes! A humpback came along the West side and they all went under the bridge Northbound at about the same time! We could still hear them. Wish I had been able to get photos of the humpback too. -Karen Caldwell

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8:00 p.m.- Live in Steilacoom, WA and for first time saw a small pod of 3 Orcas by Ferry dock, and not sure why they were in our bay. They headed to Narrows Bridge. FIRST time ever seen them here!! -Ricardo Adrian Guzman

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8:00 p.m. - Saw these orcas straight out from downtown Steilacoom. (cell photos too distant & blurry for publishing but show at least 3 orcas- ALB) -Jacqueline Parkes

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3:14 p.m. - 5 or 6 Orcas north end of Harstine Is Case Inlet. Milling around. No direction of travel. -Chris Hamilton

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1:21 p.m. - Orcas off NE corner of Harstine Island. A pod of orcas is headed east into Case Inlet from Pickering Passage between Grapeview and Harstine Island. -Tim Perry

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Orcas in Henderson bay 10:50 am. 2 adults and a juvenile, maybe another adult. Headed south from Purdy. Feeding behaviors. Tail slapping and breaching. -Kayleigh Bee

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Humpback BCY0324 Big Mama adorned with kelp - Eastern Bank around noon. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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4:00 p.m. - Seemed every time I looked out across the water today I spotted this Humpback Whale in Possession Sound (North Puget Sound - South of Useless Bay). Earlier I watched as it surfaced for a few blows then it arched into a deep dive showing off it's huge flukes as it dove. It must have been feeding. Later this afternoon, when I again spotted the Humpback, it was at the surface for some R&R time seemingly just enjoying a few sun breaks! Filmed from North Edmonds shoreline. Whale was ~5 miles out.
12:20 p.m. - huge whale (humpback) heading west - deep dive fluke was BIG ! Line of sight mid channel of Admiralty Inlet. Would be east of Point No Point and South of Scatchet Head. Line of sight reference was from North Edmonds. -Stu Davidson

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(See Bigg's Report) This was just South of the Narrows bridge from Day Island, sunset ...just South of Boathouse 19 and they stayed for about 30 minutes! A humpback came along the West side and they all went under the bridge Northbound at about the same time! We could still hear them. Wish I had been able to get photos of the humpback too... -Karen Caldwell

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1:30 p.m. - Spotted a Humpback whale in between Herron Island and the mainland in the South Sound. Was headed South at a good clip. Whale Identified via obvious hump and size. -Casey Pruitt

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10:47 a.m. - Humpback passing headed north in front of Zittels Marina (Olympia). -Robin Matthews

May 22
Trip report - a nice surprise when Sunday turned out to be such a beautiful day. We left the dock with no reports of whales in the area ...until somebody spotted two transient orcas known as the Twins T093 (born in 1963) and T097 (born in 1980)by Partridge Bank , west of Whidbey Island. These 2 whales have been travel companions for many years, and in amazing calm conditions we watched these two, leisurely milling back and forth. When we finally headed north towards home, we found 3 Minke whales near Smith Island, tons of seabirds - including Tufted Puffins! On towards Lopez Island we had great views of harbor seals, bald eagles, and a California sea lion in Guemes Channel. What an exciting day. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

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9:30 a.m. - "some" orcas milling about ~2-3miles offshore from Partridge point. Whale watching boat nearby. (T93 & T97). -Al Lunemann

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7:04 p.m. - They just turned into the entrance to Carr Inlet, west of Fox Island. -Jeannie Majercin

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Report: These photos were at quite a distance (not detailed shots, even with a 600mm), but the orcas were so active, I wanted to share. It's a rare treat to get a pod that is in play mode, rather than travel mode, and from 5:15-7pm, these guys just toured around the the waters mid-channel between Steilacoom, McNeil and Fox. We spotted them from the Anderson Island Ferry Dock around 5:15pm in front of the Chambers Bay/Steilacoom waterfront, and watched breach after breach, tail lobbing, and lots of splashing. The ferry was coming in, so we jumped on the 5:40 ferry to Steilacoom and they continued to be pretty active until the ferry got closer. At that point, they went dark and swam further out into the water toward McNeil. At the dock in Steilacoom, we saw them again in front of the prison and the cliffs north of the prison dock. Amazingly, they stayed put in the area for another 20 minutes while the ferry loaded, and as we headed back toward them at 6:30, they meandered around the waters between McNeil and Fox. They became very active again, with lots of breaches. There was one small dorsal that mostly stayed close to an adult female - a baby or young juvenile. In one photo in the album, it appears that there might have been 6, but there were 5 for sure
6:46 p.m. - Between McNeil and Fox island, trending west southwest
6:18 p.m. -They are just north of the McNeil ferry dock, pretty stationary and milling.
6:07 p.m. - They are headed toward McNeil and Anderson from Steilacoom.
5:21 p.m. - 3-5 orcas, south of chambers bay golf course, north of chambers creek re bridge. Saw a full breach, very active. Heading south, close to Steilacoom shore. -Belen Bilgic Schneider

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3:56 p.m. - Orcas just north of Tacoma Narrows Bridge heading south. -Zeno Martin

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Saw a few traveling very quickly south through the Narrows past Titlow. This was about 3:50. -Jennifer Rand

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2:15 p.m. - 2 orcas seen from upper Sandy Shores, Vashon Island heading south toward Manzanita Beach. Called in by Dennis Clouse.

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7:21 a.m. - WSF Ops reported 4 - 5 orcas off the Fauntleroy dock in W. Seattle, no direction of travel given.

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This morning a small pod of Orcas was seen from the ferry departing 7:10 Vashon/Fauntlaroy sailing. The Orcas were seen off the port bow about half way into the ferry ride, heading south down the center of the sound. Was not clear how many but there was at least two. I'm sorry it was the north end. They stopped the ferry for about 10 mins to let them pass by. -Dustin Prestridge

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2:00 p.m. - Lakebay orca sighting: 3 total, cow and two calves came through today. Feeding and played for a short period. First sighting we've in years. -Larry Cooper

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11:20 a.m.- Three orca heading south out of Henderson Bay in South sound. Midway between Raft Island and Minter Creek. Appeared to be one bull, large dorsal and two smaller orcas. One medium and one smaller. They were heading at a good clip up the bay breaching and tail slapping. -Kevin Stroh

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9:05-9:20 a.m. - They are in Henderson Bay! Just saw 3 of them right by Raft Island - they were right by two small boats! hey were going back and forth being playful about 30 yards from the 2 boats, we left the house at 9:20am and they were still there, but we did not see which direction they ended up going after that. -Anne Mae Anderson

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8:48 a.m. - "Eric Bean Just saw 3-4 headed south. Crossed in front of the ferry coming into Steilacoom" (distance and time dictates this is different group than 9:05 a.m. Henderson Bay group above - ALB) -Belen Schneider

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Approx 6:00 a.m. - Saw 5 orcas near Otso Point, Anderson Island. They were heading west. They were travelling and moving swiftly...Looked like they were heading south, as if to go around Anderson Island, or maybe towards Olympia, but not north. They were too far enough away get a close look or photos. -Susan Cammon

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8:28 p.m. - Pretty sure I just saw humpback in Poverty Bay By Woodmont Beach (Des Moines). -Mitzi Gligorea

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Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists having our dress rehearsal were treated to a sighting from Golden Gardens park of a lone humpback heading south along the shoreline. First sighted at about 12:20 pm. Kept a pretty steady pace surfacing 3-4 times and then fluking, last seen still heading south about 12:45. -Darcie Larson

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7:44 a.m. - Humpback whale just passed by Salmon Beach, north of Tacoma Narrows bridge, about 150 ft from shore. Traveling north. Saw its fluke but no photos. -Zeno Martin

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...When we were finally headed north towards home, we found 3 Minke whales near Smith Island... -Jill Hein

May 21
I attached some photos of Transient orcas passing Friday Harbor heading down San Juan Channel. T93 and T97 were in the lead by a couple miles. We also saw the T65A's and B's, T36A's and T99's. They were bucking the flood and basically going nowhere as they hung out right outside of Friday Harbor! Eventually they turned around and headed north just before the ebb. Great day! -Barbara & David. All Aboard Sailing

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6:14 p.m. - Washington state ferries reported 6 - 8 orcas west of Wasp Pass northbound in San Juan channel.

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5:00-5:30 p.m. - South end of San Juan island looking off of cattle point by the old light. 800 to 1000 yards off. 2 transient Bulls. Transiting from left to right (south to north). -Jefferey Davis

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4:00 p.m. - Other T's (93 & 97?) may have killed a stellar now Whale Rocks
3:50 p.m. - This big group still hasn't got past Turn rock! It's been about an hour in the same spot! Going against the current. -Barbara Bender

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Very cool to watch a group of 15-20 transients head right past Friday Harbor this afternoon! This photo was taken from shore at Point Caution looking out into San Juan Channel - you may recognize that buoy from taking the ferry into Friday Harbor.
2:00 p.m. - Passing Friday Harbor southbound.
1:34 p.m. - Now speeding south down east side of SJ Channel.
1:25 p.m. - Now they've crossed back and it looks like going around north side of Shaw.
Scratch that boats just turned back west again, they're zig zagging all over the place (the large group)
1:14 p.m. - Wow huge group right off Yellow Island -Monika Wieland

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Transient/Bigg's around Jones and Yellow Island, and into Cattle Pass today. The two whales in the lead are (left to right) T65B1 and T65B. The three whales behind them look like T99 with T99B behind her and T99D in the foreground. -Bonnie Gretz
(ID's by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

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They were around again... Approx. 12 were reported to me heading south past Blake Island around 7 pm. My other Ranger also saw them headed north very close to shore on the west side of Blake Island around 10:30 p.m. The campers got a really nice view! -Paul Ruppert, Park Ranger

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5:03 p.m. - They are off President Point, Kitsap, moving south. -Joanne Graves

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4:11 p.m. - I see 5 south of Kingston ferry on Kitsap side heading south and ahead of the white boat. -Michelle Goll

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3:59 p.m. - They are just out from the Kingston Ferry port. -Anouska Willett

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3:54 p.m. - Just passed Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Lots. Around the ferry now. Heading south. -Sara Frey

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3:46 p.m. - the pair of orcas are now east of Apple Cove north of Kingston still heading south.
3:26 pm. - see a couple orcas just north of Eglon heading south.. Near shipping lanes Kitsap side. -Stu Davidson

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3:06 p.m. - They just past Eglon headed south towards Kingston mid channel. -Anouska Willett

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2:38 p.m. - They seemed to have grouped up and moved mid channel, moving steadily south. Saw spy hopping and a few tail slaps. They appeared to be heading towards Edmonds/ Kingston ferry lane.
2:19 p.m. - At Point No Point now. They are visible without binoculars, close to Kitsap side, heading south past PNP. -Martha Carsltead

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1:21 - continuing south toward Skunk Bay on the Kitsap side after grouping up for about a minute.
1:09 p.m. - now angling toward Foulweather Bluff, or possibly Hood Canal? Seems to be about ten total. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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12:45 - Elsa Leavitt reports seeing a small pod of orcas, at least one male and a baby, from Bush Point, Whidbey Island, heading south with purpose, about 1/4 way across Admiralty Inlet, on the Whidbey side.

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11:44 a.m. - Moving closer to Whidbey now. Some mid channel.
11:40 a.m. - Mid channel now. Fort Flagler. T77s too.
11:28 a.m. - Just IDd T137's, but more just joined and two adult males yet to be ID'd. It's a T party in Admiralty Inlet!! They're moving south with purpose!
11:08 a.m. - Transients at Point Wilson. Heading slowly south. -Renee Beitzel, PSE Chilkat

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We saw BCY0324- "Big Mama" and her calf on Sat and got to see "Big Mama" lunge feed. South East of Constance Bank. -Andrew Lees

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10:11 a.m. - One humpback just north of Double Bluff! Feeding in the area between Double Bluff and Bush Point. Surfaces twice and then sounds. -Renee Beitzell, Chilkat

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Humpback that was encountered in Admiralty Inlet just north of Double Bluff while aboard Chilkat. It was last seen heading south. -Justine Buckmaster

May 20
7:40 pm - we made it to Bush Point, Whidbey Island, just in time to spot the Puget Sound transients heading north with purpose, no milling, no foraging, passing Lagoon Point and continuing onward towards the glow of the setting sun. What a way to end another glorious day in the Pacific Northwest with nature at its best. -Sandra Pollard

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7:08 p.m. - One male dorsal coming north to on Mutiny Bay, Whidbey Island now. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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7:01 p.m. - Orcas spotted just north past Double Bluff. Victoria Clipper had slowed down to watch them. -Martha Carlstead

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6:00 p.m. - Patricia Ohoma reported 5 orcas at Maxwelton Beach, SW Whidbey Island headed north towards Double Bluff.

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Day report T137s, T125A & T128. Awesome day on Puget Sound today! Spotted a pod of Orcas in Elliott Bay (between Seattle and Bainbridge Island) heading north. Paralleled the pod as I made my way back to Edmonds Marina (Homeport). A number of times the pod dove deep and for a long time only to come up and close in on me. I always stopped the engines and raised the props from the water! I soon found out why the Orcas were zig zagging and double backing / "stalking" me! A sea lion was apparently using my boat as refuge / hiding place. At one time I had the sea lion trying to get on my transom while up to six Orcas were surrounding my boat! These photos represent a sample of the encounters - I also have some video I'll post (YouTube) of the Orcas pursuing the sea lion.n
3:04 p.m. - still shaking! Sea lion hiding under my boat. Orcas all up to the sides and under. I haven't seen the sea lion since and the orcas have continued north. WOW -Stu Davidso

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2:50 p.m. - they've stalled most likely on kill south of Kingston. West side of mid channel.
1:40p.m. - Stu found them further north. Currently mid channel north Richmond Beach and south of Kingston.
1:15 p.m. - They went stealthy on him. Stu was not able to relocate pod after long dive. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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12:30 p.m. - 4-5 ORCA (1 large male was observed) passed by Blake Island around 12:30 heading north. They were going by slowly, probably feeding and mid-channel between Blake and West Seattle. -Paul Ruppert, Park Ranger

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11:00 a.m. - About 6 whales in the pod with little baby orca staying close to mamma. Right by the shore of South beach, Bainbridge. Traveling, possibly feeding. Sea lions in the area as well. -Leann Ling

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Here are a few photos from today's transient superpod in Rosario Strait. The killer whales present included, at least, the T11s, T65As, T65Bs, T93, and T97! T11 and T11A were very active! They both tail slapped over and over again. T11A got the acrobatics started with a breach, followed by a double breach with his mom, T11, and then she followed it up with a couple solo breaches of her own. After a break of a few minutes T11A breached another 4 times in a row, and T11 cartwheeled at the same time!! 4 of the photos attached are of big T11A breaching, and one is of his mom, T11, breaching. -Bart Rulon

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First double breach of orcas I have ever captured! And, it's in front of Orcas Island! T11A and possibly T11. -Renee Beitzel

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12:10 p.m. - Orcas still milling in Rosario Strait west of Burrows Island.
11:15 a.m. - Orcas traveling north just west of Williamson Rocks. 4 whale watching boats observing from reasonable distance. I'm high bank on Edith Point, too far for count or ID. Edith Point is west side of Fidalgo Island above Burrows and Langley Bay. -Anne Hazen

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T002C's off Victoria, BC. We also got to see T002C2, an eleven-year-old male that has scoliosis. -Heather MacIntyre

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T10B and T077A male bonding in Cowichan Bay. -Mark Malleson

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Sorting oysters in Deep South Sound and sighted either a gray or humpback about 10:30 AM today in Totten Inlet. It headed up the bay into Oyster bay and then about 11:30 returned, headed North toward Steamboat. -Duane Fagergren

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8:50 a.m. - Orca Network received a call from Michelle Auseth reporting a gray whale between Hope Island and Arcadia, heading toward Steamboat. She saw the whale blow as we spoke on the phone. (Timing and location would indicate probable humpback)

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7:00 a.m. - Humpback whale Hammersley Inlet, Shelton, WA. traveling east out of the inlet to the Sound. -Pamela S Burger

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2:25 p.m. - Something Big off Whidbey see from Mukilteo Lighthouse beach. -JJ Davern
(When zoomed in, markings look like fluke of Gray #723, but cannot confirm- ALB)

May 19
Large group of Bigg's/Transients just north of Patos Island, San Juan Islands, WA -Capt Jim Maya

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At about 7:10 this evening there were two Orcas off the starboard side of the ferry Kitsap! Near an orange channel marker/buoy a ways before Rich Passage. They were heading towards Bremerton. -Mary Klein

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After departing Seattle to Bremerton tonight at 6:45 PM, the Captain announced Orca on our starboard side, about 25 minutes from the City. There they were! This was the first time I've ever seen whales, in person. At least 2, I saw two black fins, one pretty big. Gently swimming along in the waves, dipping just above and below the surface. They headed back behind the boat toward W. Seattle. -Martha Dalbeck

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5:52 p.m. - Pretty close to the Bainbridge side now. The should be going past skiff point in about 5-10 more minutes if they keep up the pace.
5:42 p.m. - just spotted them off Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island. West of mid channel and pointed south east. -Lynn Batson

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4:55 pm - pod has stalled out and moved bit to the east so more mid channel, but drifting back and forth. Maybe on the hunt. Sightline Saltwater Park, Richmond Beach and Faye Bainbridge or there about.
4:30 p.m. - midway between yellow mid channel buoy and Jefferson Head/Indianola still southbound. At about 4:10 they stalled north of the yellow middle channel buoy south of Kingston, circled for a few minutes socializing or as if on a hunt, but then resumed southbound travel.
3:58 p.m. - still steady southbound, they about to pass just out from Kingston ferry dock. Viewed from Kayu Kayu Ac park Richmond Beach. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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4:05 p.m. - 4-6 Orca south of Kingston/Edmonds Ferry. Northbound on west side of Channel. -Mark Cassidy

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3:49 p.m. - Orcas just north of Kingston - Kitsap side heading south. -Stu Davidson

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3:42 p.m. - they are just north of ferry close to Kingston side. -Lee Sollito

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3:30 p.m. - pod is just north of Apple Cove Point steady southbound west of mid channel. 2 males (T125A &T138?) in the lead with family (T137s?) or some config of following not far behind. As viewed from Sunset Ave Edmonds. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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2:22 p.m. - I am at Point No Point, they've appeared to have passed but they are taking longer dives and I only saw one tall fin in the distance south towards Kingston, mid channel.
2:04 p.m. - At Point No Point, they are mid channel still heading south. -Martha Carlstead

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1:35 p.m. - Male southbound in Admiralty around Mutiny Bay. -Molly Kathryn Daly

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1:05 - now between Foulweather and Useless Bay, trending toward Hansville. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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12:25 p.m. - 4-5 Orca (including 1 large male and 1 young) in rip at Bush Point south bound heading farther out in passage but still visible from Whidbey side. Traveling with purpose. -Jan Bell

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12:12 p.m. - Renee has ID'd the T137s. And from Renee's photos (in post by visitors) Sara Hysong-Shimazu ID'd T125A , with confirmation on T125A & T128 by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research.
11:06 a.m. - Playing ping pong now. Mid channel, still heading south. Two to three males, a juvenile and one or two females.
10:40 a.m. - Chilkat has group of orcas heading south off Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island. No ID's yet. South of Port Townsend around Fort Flagler. -Renee Beitzel

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My husband spotted a whale (he thinks a gray) heading north on Case inlet past McMicken Island. Couldn't see if there were others. Anyone else see it. All the neighbors along the beach watched quite a while. Last dive under water was by McMicken and we didn't see it surface again. (Unconfirmed gray, possibly the humpback that was seen the next day in Hammersley Inlet). -Patsy Glaser Gibson

May 18
4:00 p.m. - Bart Rulon called with a sighting of orcas heading south past Bush Point. Just south of Bush Point, when T125A and T128 were swimming in with the T137s. There was plenty of interaction between the three big guys, T137A, T125A, and T128. David Ellifrit (Center for Whale Research) tells me that T125A has been photographed off Point Reyes, California two years in a row. -Bart Rulon

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2:55 p.m. - My friend saw orcas from the 2pm Pt. Townsend to Coupeville ferry today. -Dori Dace

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1:20 p.m. - Sighted a grey from south Camano Island. In Port Susan heading south. Lovely! -Jen Hennig

May 17
Whale watching aboard the Washington State Ferries at it's finest. "Transient orcas chasing Dall's porpoise. When you get back on the ferry to go home and you are met with sights like this right before you enter the harbor of your tiny island paradise!" -Katie Jones

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I had a delightful sunset encounter with the T75Bs and T77s tonight in San Juan Channel, just outside of Friday Harbor. -Traci Walter

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6:52 p.m. - still there, line of sight Double Bluff from Brackets Landing North in Edmonds, several miles away. -Sherman Page

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6:31 p.m. - pod on kill (looks like!) line of sight middle of Admiralty Inlet between Point No Point and south Whidbey. Lots of thrashing.. Breaches.. Etc. After spending most of the day cruising the far reaches of Puget Sound, taking in this beautiful day - And, all the while keeping an eye out for reported Orcas - It wasn't until we returned home that I spotted an Orca Pod many miles west in Admiralty Inlet. Spotted this Pod of Transient Orcas this evening line of sight well east of Point No Point and South Of Useless Bay (South Whidbey Island). The behavior of the Orcas seems very likely they had made a kill and became very active! Long distance video from north Edmonds shoreline to subjects 4-5 miles out. -Stu Davidson

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5:58 p.m. - 1 orca passing Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Was out towards the shipping lane, northbound. Only saw 1 and only surfaced one time. -Sara Frey

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1:34 p.m. - At Alki light house. See 3 dorsals between me and Southworth through binocs. Can't confirm orcas. They were slowly making their way south then vanished. -Charles Vednley

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12:37 p.m. - Orcas Southworth, northbound slowly , some milling, one large male wavy dorsal, two smaller whales and one juvenile. Inside Blake and Port Orchard. (Photo of unidentified Bigg's/Transient with a Harbor porpoise near Southworth ferry terminal.) -Wayne McFarland, WSF

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12:20 - Charlie on the Sealth ferry from Southworth saw at least three orcas go after a harbor porpoise about 1/4 mile from shore near the ferry terminal. They seemed to leave then suddenly they were back and the porpoise got hit. They were slowly trending northward.

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10:36 a.m. - One orca just seen going north from Reddings Beach. -Lark Pelling

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9:37 a.m. - Seeing sprays off Owens Beach...still in Colvos, closer to Gig Harbor side (with location help from Melissa Burke). -JJ Davern

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8:01 a.m. - Southbound. Just passed Reddings Beach, we saw 3. One might have been young. Seemed smaller than the others. They were diving quite a bit but moving steadily down the passage. -Lark Pelling

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5:50 a.m. - I saw three orcas entering Colvos Passage, between Vashon Island and Kitsap Peninsula (Southworth) just before 6am. Traveling south. At least one juvenile. -Kelli Gracia

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10:16 a.m. - Gray #723 still hanging around just north of Possession Point about midway in the channel. Spotted from the Chilkat.

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Caller Kate McDonald reported seeing 4 orcas from the trail between Otter Rock and Depot Bay OR on May 17 about 3:30 pm. The whales were only 30-40' from the rocks, heading north, seen from about 40' above them, from the Otter Crest trail loop.

May 16
6:30 a.m. - Report from the ferry of 2 orcas off Turn Rock, just outside Friday Harbor. -Michael Hughes, WS Ferries Ops Supervisor

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We had the T36As, T65As, T65Bs, T93, T97, T99s, and T123s, in San Juan Channel and then Speiden Channel. From about 12:30-2:45. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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Bigg's killer whale encounter! It's such a humbling experience sharing this ecosystem with some of the most sentient beings on this Earth. We spent the day with nearly twenty mammal-hunting Bigg's killer whales and watched as they made predation event after predation event, and entered into a period of very social bliss towards the end of the day. Watching that many individuals, listing to the phonemail vocalizations through our hydrophone, and witnessing that kind of tactile behavior from this eco-type of killer whale is incredibly rare!! They're usually very quiet, inconspicuous, and stealthy to exploit their intelligent marine-mammal prey ...Pictured here are the T036A's, T065A's, T065B's (sisters who were also seen here exactly a year ago to the date), T093, T097, T99's, and the T123's. -Heather MacIntyre

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8:22 p.m. - Puget Sound - four rounding north corner north at lighthouse.
7:47 p.m. - Two orca between Dash point pier and ferry. Close to Vashon side by barge. -Meghan Davis-Van Horn

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7:28 p.m. - they are right next to the barge off Maury island headed north still. -Brittany Gordon

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7:00 p.m. - 2 at least heading east between south end of Maury and Ruston Way. -John Troup

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6:54 p.m. - they are right around this spot (google photo shows south end Maury Island)... lots of thrashing and tail slapping. Sharing meal (s) with multiple Eagles.
6:28 p.m. - milling/feeding still near ferry lane trending towards Quatermaster Harbor. -Melissa Burke

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6:28 p.m. - looks like they are heading back up the east side of Vashon Island heading north.
6:18 p.m. - at the ferry landing three Orcas close to Vashon moving towards Tacoma sort of. -Bill Clogston

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6:09 p.m. - milling directly behind ferry inbound for Tacoma. Looks like they made a kill. Small boat with them at respectful distance. -Melissa Burke

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6:00 p.m. - Elizabeth called from Dash Pt. State Park in Tacoma reporting a small pod of orcas heading east very close to the pier.

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5:25 p.m. - Amy Carey relayed a report of orcas traveling back and forth in the ferry lanes off the south end of Vashon Island.

May 15
T99s in Georgia Strait. Gorgeous eye patches! -Gary Sutton

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T99C, T99, and T36A3 Georgia Strait. -Tasli Shaw

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Around 2:00. Found these guys inside the Sound, north of Kingston. I saw 3 adult males, at least 3 little ones, 2 juveniles and a lot of adult females. Was 3:30 when they quit and headed back to Admiralty Inlet. -Mike Potts
(Yep thats T137A, T137, and T137B - Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research)

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North Puget Sound Transient Orcas visit today. First spotted heading north between Eglon and Point No Point - nearer to the Kitsap Side (although east of Shipping Lanes). The Pod then crossed and went more north and in the direction of Useless Bay (South Whidbey Island). Half way through this viewing the pod again turned and went back towards the Kitsap Side and headed south. -Stu Davidson

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2:30 p.m. - Saw a small active pod of orcas (3) off Whidbey, we were heading towards Edmonds. Swimming- tail slap, breach, 6 in a row. -Russ Glaser

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2:51 p.m. - they seem to be back in a "on a kill behavior".. Lots of breaches, tail lobs, air twists, back-n-forth'ing etc. They are still well south of Useless Bay between line of sight to Point No Point from north Edmonds. -Stu Davidson
2:19 p.m. - Orcas breaching and tail slapping etc. Line of sight now between north Edmonds and double bluff. I would say maybe five. Saw large dorsal
2:00 p.m. - they are now north of my line of sight of Point no Point from north Edmonds. They are well east of Point no Point. Maybe on a kill.. Stalled and lots of gulls overhead. Got long distance video going
1:36 p.m. - Got Orcas (seen a couple so far) between Eglon and Point no point... Moving north towards Point no Point. Going to try long distance video. -Stu Davidson

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4:48 p.m. - They're still there. North of Salisbury Park - Hood Canal. You can see them in the distance just hanging out off of Point Hannon. -Pat Johns

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3:43 p.m. - Still off of Salsibury Park can see them in the distance from the dock. -Jenny Williams

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1:54 p.m. - Just passed Salisbury point park. Heading north. -Stacey Smith McCracken

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11:00 a.m. - Orcas in Hood Canal today, I observed 4. Off the Spit south of Bangor, heading north towards the bridge. -Randal Kimball

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1:00 p.m. - We are located at 29000 block of Beach Dr., Poulsbo just 2 miles south of Hood Canal bridge. Spotted pod, large momma with two small calfs. They were heading North out towards bridge. -Todd Hellmers

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Listened to Transients vocalizing on OrcaSound from 9:35-11:25 a.m. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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9:35 a.m. -Transient orcas vocalizing on OrcaSound hydrophone. Thanks to Melissa Howes for posting (9:17 a.m.) and Ed Brooks for the heads up.

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Gray whales in Saratoga Passage and Possession Sound ID'd by Renee Beitzel who was on scene as Grays 723 and 21.

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9:53 a.m. - Stu Davidson reports seen whale blows, surfacing, and flukes. South of Scatchet and Possession Point - Chilkat nearby.

May 14
T93 and T97 hanging out in the Straight of Georgia. -Tasli Shaw

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5:00 p.m. - This was taken about 1/2 mile due west of Golden Gardens...I'm sorry that we couldn't better capture the feeding frenzy which was taking place right before our eyes! We estimate 4-5 orcas. -Jaimeson Keegan
(From Dave Ellifrit, Center for Wahle Research: "The male looks like it could be T137A but it's a little tough to confirm.")

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7:15 p.m. - I wish to report the sighting of at least 4 orca at approximately 7:15pm across from Sisters point about 200 yards off the south shore of lower Hood Canal past the heading rapidly in the direction of Twanoh State Park. I assume these are the same Transient Orca which were observed Friday the 13th south of Dewato. They were fairly spread out and appeared to be hunting. -Mark Dennison

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6:13 p.m. - Just spotted 4+ orcas (including what appeared to be a large male) during a walk on the beach, approximately 3 miles south of Dewatto Bay. Orcas were a couple hundred yards offshore, and heading south. -Tristan Peter-Contesse

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4:50 p.m. - Saw them heading south past Ayock Point. -Lindsay Plethe

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1:55 p.m. - Triton Cove heading south. -Josh Cihak

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1:20 p.m. - Orcas, 5 including 1 male-long fin, 2 med size, 2 smaller. ... One would separate, then slap flukes or tail with others in group 100-150 ft away. First saw off Lofall. Group proceeded slowly up to Hood Canal Bridge. Much blowing and huffing. Male had very long, skinny dorsal with no droop at tip. -Caroljean Mitchell

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We had a great day on the Chilkat Express, heading into Hood Canal to find the group of Transients that have been hanging out there. We found not 4 (as reported) but 6/possibly 7 orcas! T75B and her one year old T75B2 were there, but so was another smaller calf (with a different female, I think T77)! Could it be a new one? Thanks Sara Hysong-Shimazu for helping me ID the T77s. -Justine Buckmaster

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Chilkat Express, Puget Sound Express, with the T's in Hood Canal just south of Hood Point in the middle. 1200. Heading north at 4kts. -Rob Anderson

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We saw three orcas in Hood Canal at noon off the girlscout camp (mile marker 317) about half way up the canal. They were heading north. Two females and a small one. -Debbie Harrington

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11:48 a.m. - Just saw 3-4 come up for air across from Triton Cove, Hood Canal closer to the Kitsap side. -Paul Nelson Jr

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For the past several weeks, Bigg's Killer Whales or Transients have been hanging out in the Southern Hood Canal area. Well, we were finally able to get a peek at them. Unfortunately, we were at Triton Cove, and they were on the opposite side heading North between Frenchmans Cove and Hood Point. The distance across the water is greater than two miles at this point, which made it difficult for my wife to get any shots, even with her 600mm lens. But even so, here's a couple of the best she could get, even at that distance. -Paul Nelson Jr

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10:00 a.m. - Passed Ayock Point heading north. -Jourdan Bates

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8:30 a.m. - Orca sighting on Hood Canal. Saw at least four Orcas near the public dock in Hoodsport. Playing. -Kenneth Conrad

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8:30 a.m. - Group of 4-5 spotted near western shore of Hood Canal between Potlatch and Hoodsport headed north just before opening of shrimping season 2016...so many boats around. Some splashing and feeding, but mostly in direct transit north. One large male, several smaller females. -Daniel Nye

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6:15 a.m. - We saw 6-7 orcas, three adult size orcas (one male very large) and three dolphin size babies, three miles west of Twanoh State Park/boat launch in Hood Canal. Heading northwest. Playing with three small babies. Very small. Please note that is opening day for Hood Canal shrimping and boat traffic will be very high in the area today. -Mike Sly

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10:00 a.m. -Whale sighting off the coast of Oregon. 4-5 orcas (possible male as one bigger than the others). North end of Heceta Bank 44*11.779'N 124*48.721'W. Birds and seals were feeding on a bait ball. Then the Orca's showed up and were eating the bait. Some of the seals left immediately. When the bait was gone the whale turned their attention to the seals. Most of the seals were able to get away except of a group of 25. These the Orca's seemed to be teaching the baby's (2) how to herd the seals into a tight ball. Then one of the adults would come out of the water and land on them. Then the seals would run and it would start all over. We didn't see the whale eat or bite any seals. There was no blood in the water. We were about 1/2 miles away halibut fishing. -Larry Smith

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Received a call this morning from Dane Monell reporting a sighting of two killer whales attacking a gray whale calf off Bodega Bay CA. He was fishing off Carmet when he saw the gray whales and the orca predation. He has video of the event.

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1:09 p.m. - With a large gray whale moving north at Camano Head. -Peter Hanke

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Spent part of the evening on the water with my family & the humpback Split Fin BCZ0298 (2006 calf of Big Mama BCY0324) at Eastern Bank around 6:00p.m. -Rachel Haight

May 13
Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter 44 Summary: The morning started before 9am with Jane Cogan calling to relay an earlier report of 20+ whales coming in off the Victoria waterfront and that she was now hearing them on the Lime Kiln Hydrophone. Mark Malleson got out on the water and found the whales in Mike 1 and then reported to us that the K12's and K13's were present along with J pod and L87...

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Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca as many J's and a few K's foraged and socialized between Salmon Bank and Hein Bank. So great to see them having some down time with each other! Southern Resident Killer Whale, J19 Shachi, born in 1979, decided she was going to give us a really close "swim by" off our stern! Sometimes, these animals are just as curious about us, as we are of them. Moments like this are so short lived. -Renee Beitzell

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Exciting to see the Js and the Ks today off the south side of San Juan Island. Good to see that Scoter, K25 is doing well, despite having been tagged by NOAA. Note scar on side of his dorsal fin. -Capt. Jim Maya

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K33 & J34 north of Discovery Island headed for San Juan Island in the morning. -Mark Malleson

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10:47 a.m. - Some of our favorite black n whites are heading towards Salmon Bank past Eagle Point. -Erin Corra

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9:10 a.m. - some S4 calls.
8:50 a.m. - Begin hearing distant calls and echolocation on Lime Kiln hydrophone, along with approaching cargo ship. -Gayle Swigart

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On the 9:40 Kingston to Edmonds ferry and we passed at least three to four orcas a male female and a calf. North of the ferry lanes headed towards Kingston side. -Kendra Baird

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Gray #723 east side of Gedney Island around 4:00 p.m. -Ron Reeves

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8:41 p.m. - Just saw them passing Ayock point - Hood Canal, heading north! So happy they are still here. -Jourdan Bates

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7:14 p.m. - Several orcas in Hood Canal observed from Cougar Spit to Dewatto bay heading north at a solid clip. Looks like a male and family(?) with at least two small ones. Defiantly orcas. Not Dolphins. -Brad Lambert

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5:35 p.m. - Large pod enjoying a family dinner together viewed north from the Seattle Bainbridge ferry! What a treat! -Chelsea Morgan Ramsey

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A friend on the 4:40 ferry from Seattle to BI saw at least 3 orcas near Blakely Rock, heading south. -Amy Fowler

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Orcas just spotted from the 4:40 Seattle to Bainbridge ferry..can't say which direction they are traveling..lots of birds enjoying the scraps. -Sue Surowiec Larkin

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Just got an email from a birder friend at Richmond Beach. At least four Orcas headed north at 10:45. -Josh Adams

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On the 9:40 Kingston to Edmonds ferry and we passed at least three to four orcas a male female and a calf. North of the ferry lanes headed towards Kingston side. -Kendra Baird

May 12
6:30 p.m. - Two orcas in front of Orcas island on the Lummi Bay side, I'm watching them from Sandy Point shores.
6:10 p.m. - Orcas in front of Sucia heading south. -Canda LePage

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Orca pod spotted off South side of Point Roberts Heading NW early this morning and heading SW around noon. -Tami Everly Podelick

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Admiralty Inlet - The whales ditched us between Lagoon and Bush Points - totally disappeared. I rechecked Keystone on the way home too. Here's a photo from Lagoon Point - rumored to be T077's? There were at least 6 whales...where did they go? -Jill Hein

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1:20 p.m. - Ts passing Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island southbound close to shore. -Rachel Haight

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1:10 p.m. - Sighting: about 6 to 8 big and small orcas swam across Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island. -Sarah Thome

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12:05 p.m. - Greg Davis saw this group passing Seacrest, just south of Admirals Cove and north of Lagoon Point, still heading south, accompanied by two whale watch boats.

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12:03 p.m. - T77s sans T77A...they are heading southeast in to center of Admiralty Bay. North of Bush Point.
10:45 am - Transients at Fort Casey entering Admiralty Inlet, T077B and the rest of them were up against the shoreline. One male, females and a few juveniles. Very close to shore. -Renee Beitzel

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Possession Sound - Orca family heading north - 2:10 - Cascade view beach. The end of Columbia beach, Clinton WA. Looking at Mukilteo ferry in background. -Tim Andersen

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10:17 am - Sailing toward Point No Point and just passed two orca heading south toward Kingston mid shipping channel. Breaching! Maybe about 3-4 nautical miles north of Kingston. Saw them about halfway between Point No Point and Apple Cove Pt., they were closer to the west side of the channel (southbound/mid shipping channel). -Trent DesChamps

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Transient orcas passing Lagoon Point, looking over towards Port Townsend and Marrowstone Island. -Marilyn Armbruster

May 11
Afternoon to sunset sail. We went north and into Haro Strait to find Big Mama humpback and her calf ambling towards Turn Point. We left them to double back toward Battleship Island to meet the transient orca family, the T123's. They stopped for supper north of O'Neal Island but supper got away from them. Luckily our supper was cooking in the barbecue. They crossed the channel, slipped around Jones Island and rode the flood up Presidents Channel through the sunset. It was a beautiful evening.
7:38 p.m. - Found em! Going up Spring Pass along Orcas Island shore.
5:50 p.m. - T's on shore looking to be heading towards Speiden channel. -Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing

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6:41 p.m. - They ended up zipping past super fast! Heading down SJ Channel now.
5:11 p.m. - T123s middle of Haro northbound. Just leaving. -Monika Wieland

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Well, that was fun. The beauties went thru mid channel (Speiden) and sped up. I made it in time to Reuben Tarte for the finale as they headed East. -Peggy Mauro

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5:59 p.m. - We just left the Humpback whales BCY0324 Big Mama & calf, right outside of Snug Harbor Resort heading north still. -Barbara Bender

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Big Mama and he 6th known calf. BCY0324 big Mama in Haro Strait again today! Lots of playing and rolling at surface again from the calf as we sat with engines off just north of Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island. -Renee Beitzel

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1710 - we spotted a solo gray that surfaced a couple of times near the Southworth Ferry dock Heading south down Colvos Passage. -Verbena Kempton

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11:32am whale (living) surfacing / and blows east of Scatchet Head moving east toward Possession Point. (South Whidbey) Guessing Gray. -Stu Davidson

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Coastal Grays - Grays breaching just off the beach at La Push early this morning, on the filling tide. Right in front of the cabins this morning we were greeted with four groups of grays. One appeared to be younger and playful, and kept breaching just off the beach. Amazing to be in the presence of these creatures. -Mike Poor

May 10
T100, 100C, 100E, and 100F made a stealth appearance at Lime Kiln about 6:45pm as some harbor porpoises and sea lions were feeding. No attacks noted. This was supposedly a different group than the group of Ts that initially passed by and were tracked down by CWR. About 75 yards offshore. -Ariel Yseth

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12:34 p.m. - Baby humpback whale by itself heading north at coordinates: 47.37.38 by 122.27.14 in Puget Sound near Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island. -Ryan Danforth Downs

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5:34 p.m. - A gray whale close to Camano shores is milling around by Pebble Beach. It's swimming close to the surface and diving occasionally. A very distinctive white patch is on its tail. -Sarah Malmstead

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9am-10am - Grey Whale encounter today off east side of Whidbey Island at Bells Beach in Saratoga Passage. We had a grey whale come by feeding on the ghost shrimp close to shore while we were out in our kayaks. It was rolling and showing us its pectoral fins and staying in shallow water to feed. It came within 40 fee of our kayaks while it was feeding. What an incredible experience. We were not able to get any pictures up close as we were focused on staying out of it's way and we were not able to identify it as it was too shallow to dive and show us its fluke. I will never forget this unexpected gift. In gratitude. -Kristin Carlson

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7:19 a.m. - Kristi Schaeffer called in a report of one or two gray whales feeding off Whidbey Shores, Whidbey Island, she believed they were heading south.

May 9
Slick (J16) and Scarlet (J50) today near San Juan Island. The J16s spent the day doing the "west side shuffle". -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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The J16's off the west side of San Juan Island at sunset. -Traci Walter

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9:22 p.m. - Orcas vocalizing on Lime Kiln. -Alethea Leddy

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7:05 p.m. - hearing them on the Lime Kiln hydrophone now! The J16s have been shuffling back and forth in front of the Center for Whale Research for the past two hours (5 - 7 pm), now heading south. -Susan Berta, Orca Network

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5:50 p.m. - Left the scene ...whales southbound from Open Bay. -Barbara Bender

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5:30 p.m. - I saw the J16's traveling south past the Center for Whale Research, spread out over several miles, with J16 and J50 in the lead, J26 much farther out in Haro Strait, and later J36, J42 and J52 came within 200 yards of shore past the Center. A half hour earlier the J16s had gone past the Center going north, and 20 minutes later they came by again heading north again. While scanning for the J16s I noticed one or two very tall blows probably two miles off Lime Kiln, and through the scope saw the back of a humpback as it dove. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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3:55 p.m. - Foraging off Lime Kiln park and to the south. Heading north. Just saw Mike out from the northernmost pullout at Land Bank, northbound.
3:30 p.m. - Js approaching Lime Kiln. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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Another delightful day with a great and amazing lady, J16. Slick. Today, off the southern side of San Juan Island. -Jim Maya

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Started hearing faint echo location on Lime Kiln at 6:23 am, then one faint call. Getting louder and more frequent now at 6:40. S4 calls. -Selena Rhodes Scofield

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7:20 p.m. - Watching 3 orcas at Whisky Spit just north of Hood Canal bridge. They are far off from us as we are opposite Port Gamble, but they appear to be actively feeding. Tribal canoe was out practicing and was very close. Hoping the crew had phone cams at least and that they post pics. -Paul Hebert

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6:02 p.m. - Just spotted at least 4 Orcas moving north in Hood Canal right across from Lofall about 3 miles south of Hood Canal Bridge...we live on the water and we were able to see them clearly. -Sandy Lyon

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9:47 a.m. - I'm a mile north of Jorstad creek. They are straight out mid channel northbound. -Rachel Haight

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9:34 a.m. - I see them! At least 4 individuals hanging around in the rip current. Couldn't get a good pic with my phone as they were pretty far off the shore. I'm on Hwy 101 at Jorstad Creek (Hood Canal). -Rebecca Samuelson

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Approx 7:30 a.m. - I have seen them everyday since my last email including this morning. The pod was 3 miles north of Hoodsport East shore (Tahuya side), they were heading north. There is an ORCA buoy roughly 2 miles north of Hoodsport mid channel, they were north of that about 1/2 mile or so. Time was 730am or so. -Cindy Sund

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5:30 p.m. - ...While scanning for the J16s at Center for Whale Research I noticed one or two very tall blows probably two miles off Lime Kiln, and through the scope saw the back of a humpback as it dove. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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Melanie Serroel reports a Gray whale in Saratoga Passage at 5:20 pm: One large adult gray headed southeast toward Camano Head on the east side of Camano Island. My location is Port Susan Terrace beach. It was passing ang stopping now and then to eat ghost shrimp. Watched for about 15 minutes.

May 8
This evening from 5:30-6:30 we watched the J16s head south from Kellett Bluff to San Juan County Park. At first they stalled out to forage near Open Bay, and then booked it south. -Monika Wieland

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J16 Slick, 16-month-old J50 Scarlett and her 13-month-old nephew J52 Sonic, powering southbound Haro Strait off Kellet Bluff. -Barbara Bender

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What a delight to spend some time with the J16s on Mother's Day! Here's a peek at J26. Boundary Pass, BC. -Capt. Jim Maya

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8:00 p.m. - Saw them from the Skokomish Park boat launch around 8 p.m (Hood Canal). Sounds like they are following the same pattern as yesterday. -Kelsey Browne

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7:53 p.m. - They are directly north of Port Gamble, active. -Anouska Willett

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6:52 p.m. - And then of course the draw bridge went up and there was loud honking. They're traveling in a group.
6:40 p.m. - they've crossed under Hood Canal bridge... -Rachel Haight

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6:25 p.m. - they are starting to move south at a faster pace now. They look to be around Dewatto.
6:05 p.m. - still across from eagle creek saloon, slowly headed south. Making lots of kills it looks like. Very active still on the east side of the channel.
5:45 p.m. - directly across from eagle creek saloon. Birds still hovering, looks like they are hunting. Breaches tail lobbing and throwing stuff out of the water. East side of the channel. -Brittany Gordan

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11:30 a.m. - Saw them passing Ayock point over on east side of Hood Canal. -Jourdan Bates

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9:15 a.m. - Orcas passed by Hoodsport, close to shore, this morning heading north. Later (10:30-ish) they were on the east side of the canal opposite Octopus Hole. -Harry Louch

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There were reports of whales as we left Anacortes, so we took the scenic route through the San Juan Islands, then checked out Whale Rocks to see visiting Steller sea lions, and lots of harbor seals. Aha - received a report of Minke whales, so off towards Hein Bank we saw two of the elusive Minke whales, surfacing fairly frequently, in nice calm seas! As we headed back towards Lopez Island, several passengers caught sight of a blow and tail fluke behind us - YAY a Humpback whale!! So we turned around and caught several nice views of this whale (possibly 2 whales) .... before ultimately heading back to the dock with happy passengers. -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist

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There were reports of whales as we left Anacortes...received a report of Minke whales, so off towards Hein Bank we saw two of the elusive Minke whales, surfacing fairly frequently, in nice calm seas!... -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist

May 7
7:38 p.m. - Skokomish Park boat launch in Potlatch. Mid channel...Staying in the area. Beautiful.
5:32 p.m. - They are across from Eagle Creek still Steady southward. Amazing!
4:17 p.m. - They are now just south of Mike's Beach Resort. Still heading south on the east side of the canal. We saw five. They were split into two small groups
3:56 p.m. - Heading south. Boat out there chasing them. Speeds ahead of them and then stops to wait. When they gun their engines and speed past, the whales five under. -Jeannie Majercin

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3:27 p.m. - Right now. At Williams Court. Just north of Triton Head State Park. On east side of canal. Looking east from Skokomish Park boat launch out towards North Shore Road near Tahuya. -Larry Majercin

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11:40 a.m. - They are currently on the east side of the canal at Cummings Point. Heading north at a normal pace. Possibly 4 in two small groupings. -Jeannie Majercin

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11:30 a.m. - When I left them at 11:30'ish (5/7), they were heading north. Their pattern for the last two days was passing Hoodsport around 8:30 a.m. heading north. When the orcas were in in the early 2000's, they had a predictable pattern - working north with an outgoing tide. I never figured out their return pattern....A beautiful morning for watching Orcas swimming North, with the out going tide in Hood Canal... -Harry Louch

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11: 38 a.m. - ORCAS just passed the Jorsted Creek area, on the east side of the Canal heading northbound toward Holly, AWESOME! -Tamara Cihak

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11:20 a.m. - Just saw the Hood Canal orcas passing Ayock Point heading north. -Jourdan Bates

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10:00 a.m. - At least 3 Orca Whales were sighted by many tourists in the lovely town of Hoodsport,WA on the Hood Canal,located 28 miles North of Olympia. -Lucy

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9:30 a.m. - Transients in hood canal heading toward Dewatto.. They are being harassed by a fishing boat, can't identify from my location. Repeatedly passing the pod within 50 feet and stopping in their direct path. -Cara Alferness

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9:00-9:25 a.m. - Saw a pod of at least 4 orcas in Hood Canal 2 miles north of Hoodsport traveling north this morning from about 9 til 9:25 am. They were on the Kitsap Peninsula side of the canal. Traveling slowly, slapping flukes on water. Unfortunately there was a motor boat in the midst of them (but it's motor was off) and it was just floating. -Beth Rose

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9:05 a.m. - I have spotted at least 3 orcas, maybe 4 ( possibly one male) in lower hood canal yesterday May 6 and again this morning May 7. Currently they are on the Tahuya shore north of Hoodsport heading North. It seems there are maybe two young ones. Traveling, playing, tail slapping. This is the second day in this area....There seems to be a plane up doing a fly over. -Cynthia Sund

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8:30 a.m. - I saw five and maybe six Orcas in Hood Canal. They were traveling North, on the East side of the Canal, just before Hoodsport. At Ayock Beach, two hours later, (10:30) I saw one large male way ahead of five orcas all heading North. I gave up at Hama Hama River. There were two large ones, (males?), for sure, then two "normal" size and two juveniles. The best sighting was a Lilliwaup Tide Flats parking area around 10 a.m. just north of the Lilliwaup River. At this point they broke from their normal northward travel and turned toward shore, (west). Here the five started circling really close to shore in 10 to 12 feet of water for about 3 - 4 minutes. Close enough that you could hear their blows and see their movement under water. Amazing! No seals, fish or octopus seen. Then they just started swimming north again. A lot of people observed the Orcas as they traveled north. One car would pull over and 10 would follow. A great day for whale watching on Hood Canal. -Harry Louch

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A couple of visitors just came into Langley Whale Center and said they saw whales on the 10:00 Mukilteo crossing. A pic from their phone looked like a gray whale. It was south of ferry lane by Clinton docks. -Debbie Stewart, LWC docent

May 6
8:30-9:00 p.m. - 2 marine mammals black and white with fins. They are breaching, tail slapping, making lots of noise out in the middle of Dabob Bay. There are two that we can see. Didn't have time to run and get binoculars to make better identification. To me, from this distance, looks like orca, but there are only two that we can see. Feeding. One went almost completely out of the water. Lots of tail slapping and heavy respirations. They were sort of apart, maybe 40 feet from each other, and then very close to each other and heading southeast as the light of day disappeared. -Kirie Pedersen

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7:00 p.m. - 4 Orca sighted , north end of Dabob Bay Hood canal. 2 very large and 2 lesser, but still big whales. They moved rapidly south down the Hood Canal. They alternated swimming underwater and on top , spouting large plumes as the surfaced. -Todd Daugherty

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10:30 a.m. - just north of Hoodsport. Spotted 5 orcas on the far side of the canal - at least one appeared pretty small. Watched them for 30 minutes - breaching, spyhopping, thrashing around (apparently hunting). They were moving north at a leisurely pace. Saw them again 3 hours later north of the Hamma Hamma River - still on the far side. The water was getting too choppy to see them well. - Sherrie & Tom Michalski

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8:30 a.m. - The Orcas (10 including adult males) are in the Hood Canal. It might be time for another seal feed; It's been quite a few years since I've seen them in here. Playing, jumping. They were near shore and in the middle of the canal (two groups) Nick Cecil

May 5
Humpback Whale encounter of the season today with BCY0324 "Big Mama" & her new Calf! Baby breach. We were just a few miles south of Constance Bank on our afternoon tour when this took place. -Andrew Lees

May 4
1:16 p.m. - Gray whale 723 heading toward Gedney Island. -Michael Colahan

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Captain announced a couple Grays off the starboard bow side of the 12:30 ferry out of Mukilteo. Couldn't see them as they had submerged. -Ginger Miller, Possession Shores

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We had the good fortune of hanging out with a couple of Humpback whales! This is BCY0160 "Heather". The wall you see in the background is Monarch head on Saturna Island, BC. -Traci Walter

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I watched this pod of 6 kill a sealion. This individual mostly hung out, with occasional tail slaps while the smaller whales beat the sealion to death. Teaching the young orcas to kill a sealion. One large, and possibly another small male....They moved off northward with the body, which may have still been alive, but when I re-acquired them at Malaspina Galleries, I didn't see it any more. I did see the body drift past my location (McConvey Rd, Gabriola, BC) an hour or so later. (The answer from Dave Ellifrit at the Center for Whale Research is: T19B in the first pic and T19C with the long scar on his back in the second.) -Alan Daley, Gabriola, BC

May 3
This evening from 5:30 to 6:30 we were on scene with the J16s in San Juan Channel. First they were heading south, but then they did a big arc around, aiming momentarily for President's Channel before finally heading north past Flattop towards Boundary Pass. They were all traveling in a tight, slow-moving group. -Monika Wieland

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The J16's had been found off the west side of San Juan Island in the morning. By 1305, the J16's had moved slowly north past CWR about a quarter mile off the reef. Ken and Dave left a while later to see the T's in Boundary Pass (Encounter 38-1). We ended that encounter at 1613 and decided to briefly check out the J16's who were reported to be heading east in Spieden Channel at that time. We arrived on scene at 1634 about a mile east of Battleship Rock. The J16's milled some and went on a long dive before coming up on the north side of Spieden Channel just a little east of Sentinel Island. We left the J16's soon afterward at 1652 as they moved closer to the Spieden Island shoreline and headed slowly east in a tight group. -Center for Whale Research Encounter 39

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Half day sail with enthusiastic friends. Met the J16's in Spieden Channel. Close to shore swimming against a strong ebb. Steller sea lions grouped together and the J16's were acting like transients... silent underwater with a 180 degree direction change. Beautiful crisp blows and reflections in placid waters of Minke Pond. Clearing north of Flattop we headed home in the evening light. -Barbara Bender/David Howitt, All Aboard Sailing

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3:35 p.m. - We are out on a boat and spotted the pod north of Lime Kiln! Including at least one baby. -Kim Sharpe Jones

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1:05 p.m. - S4 calls & echolocation on OrcaSound hydrophone.
11:55 a.m. - just tuned in to Lime Kiln and hearing J pod, loud vocalizations and echolocation. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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Spent some time with the J16's on the west side. J26 and J42 were bringing up the rear, south of Lime Kiln, while J16, J50, J36 and J52 lead the way, being very active and social, were heading north past Lime Kiln. -Renee Beitzel

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A large number of transients had been found in the late morning off East Point. Since the whales were still in the Patos Island area and seemed to be pointed toward Boundary Pass by early afternoon, Ken and Dave decided to go out and take a look. They left aboard Orcinus at 1355 and arrived on scene just a little southwest of the Patos Island Lighthouse on Alden Point at 1435. The T86A's, T100B's, T124A's, and the T101's minus T102 were in a fairly tight group heading slowly southwest pointed down Boundary Pass. The whales were active and were being social. A group consisting of T124A2A, T86A3, and T86A's newest calf T86A4 lagged a little behind... -Center for Whale Research Encounter 38.

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17 Biggs killer whales being incredibly social. Started off with tons of tail lobbing and breaching from the kids, then they all got together in a big group and were almost stationary at the surface, rolling around on one another. We shut down and watched for a while and after a long dive they popped up right beside us! We got a really good look at T86A's overbite on her lower jaw and got to see one of the newest calves, T86A4. Won't forget that one anytime soon! -Gary Sutton

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There was a T-party out in the Strait of Georgia today---and it included T86A4, the newest kiddo of T86A.-Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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8:00 p.m. - Orcas in Hood Canal? I just saw from the shore what looked to be about 4 Orcas just out from Potlatch (Hood Canal), feeding. -Travis Hultquist

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7:10 a.m. - I saw two just North of Hoodsport. Absolutely amazing!!! The first I have seen in the wild! -Chelsea Sendzik

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Transients in Sansum Narrows about noon, we encountered what looked like a family of 3 Orcas travelling south towards Burial Island and beyond: Papa, Mama and Baby. I only had my lumix camera but managed to get one photo of the male. -Tamar Griggs

May 2
After the J16's were found in Boundary Pass, Dave left Snug Harbor in Orcinus at 1345 and arrived on scene off Bedwell Harbor at 1415. J36 and J52 were heading southwest toward Turn Point about a mile south of Tully Point on South Pender Island. J26 was another three quarters of a mile to the east of J36 and J52 also heading slowly toward Turn Point. The other three J16's were reported to be much closer in to Bedwell Harbor...-Center for Whale Research Encounter 37.

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From today during our sail with the J16's. One of J36 breaching in front of the Center for Whale Research. They traveled rather quickly southbound with the ebb tide with occasional stops for fishing.
5:30 p.m. - We left the J16's off Pile Pt - heading for home. We had the hydro in many times throughout the day. Very little talking - a few faint squeaks and echo.
4:04 p..m. - Passing Lime Kiln. -Barbara Bender

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1:15 p.m. - T18 and 19B's in Haro today going north. Transients, aka "Bigg's Killer whales" (marine mammal eating ecotype)... Two humpbacks were feeding the area but the T's ignored them entirely.

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41 year-old, T018 She travels with the T019's with humpback 1/4 mile (if that) in background. We were with them today as they traveled north in Haro Strait. -Renee Beitzel

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I took this on Monday from my Kayak:) I think there are 4 of them 2 big ones and two smaller ones. They were eating a seal, so I am assuming they are transient whales. They are so incredible!! They were at the mouth of the Duckabush river between 2:30-3:30 on Monday. They headed up the canal toward Union about 3:40. -Jennifer Nehr

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9:40 a.m. - There are actually four. Saw them northbound off Ayock point. Gradual movement north then chased a seal. -Mitch Bogrand

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3 orcas at Ayock Point (between Lilliwaup & Eldon) at 9:40 am. Feeding on seals. They were heading north, cannot see them now (10:10 a.m.) but I hope the hang out for the summer. -Teresa Bogrand

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Just saw two killer whales at 46 15.33 and 124 06.75. (just SW of Ilwaco) Appeared to be one male and one female. -Paul Kujala

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8:30 a.m. - Two Grays seen between Camano and Sandy Point heading west, slowly, about the middle of the channel. Playing or traveling very slowly. -Mary Ann Mansfield

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8:06 a.m. - Gray whale blows visible from 8am Clinton ferry on this beautiful sunny morning. N of ferry, SE of Hat Island. -Rachel Haight

May 1
8:15 p.m. - 4 orcas. I was out paddle boarding on Bellingham Bay and was surprised by a pod of whales. They appeared to be casually traveling. I was paddle boarding, they surfaced near me (about 15-20 yards away). There was a young whale, 2 medium sized, and 1 large female. They seemed curious of me and were surfacing nearby. A powerboat approached approximately 200 yards away and they headed south. I then observed them approach a slow moving sailboat and surface near it. It appeared as if they were showing instructing the small whale. -Sam Stoner

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8:00 p.m. - 5-7 orcas (including 1 adult male) spotted in Hood Canal off Triton Head, maybe feeding. -Jim Messmer

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4:00 p.m. - Pod (4 confirmed w/ at least 2 males) sighted in Hood Canal south of Brinnonn, just south of Stavis Bay heading south. Traveling slowly. -Joy Jarvis

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A friend who was off Neah Bay had a surprise visit of a single large male orca. This is the only photo I know of, no identify marks and he was all alone. -Sandy Thompson Watne

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Midnight - Whales are still off of Hat and Clinton. I could hear them very clear tonight while I was photographing the Northern Lights. -Holly Davison

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7:30 p.m. - Spotted some type of spray from whale in Mukilteo where ferry crosses to Whidbey. -Julie Schaefer Bridwell

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Gray whale #723 south of Hat Island. Lots of ferry passengers saw him today. -Jill Hein

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1:00 p.m. - We saw 723 in Saratoga Passage south of Hat Island, and 44 and 49 together just west of Possession Bar. Everyone doing a good job of being whalewise. -Steve Smith

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11:55 a.m. - Waiting to catch the ferry in Mukilteo seeing blows right in the ferry lane. Gray whale - we see Mystic Seas on scene. -Dori Dace

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Big Mama and her calf were at it (breaching) again today between East Bank and Smith Island, backdropped by the Olympic Mountains in background! -Renee Beitzel, May 1, 2016

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Hey we found Big Mama and her calf (humpbacks) off of Smith Island on board the Red Head and Chilkat Express. Spectacularly beautiful and calm. -Peter Hanke

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8:25 a.m. - Elsa Leavitt of Bush Pt, SW Whidbey Island, reported a single whale: I think a minke, heading south at a fairly good clip. It's about halfway out in the sound. Long and slim. One smallish dorsal fin. I see no white on it. (could possibly have been a humpback as well? - SB)