Month Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of Month Year whale sightings.

May 31
We haven't seen J Pod much this spring so it was extra special having them rolling around in Open Bay this afternoon. This is J31 Tsuchi doing her flying lessons. Tsuchi is a 22-year-old female and her siblings are J27 Blackberry and J39 Mako. -Photo by Katie Jones
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Jpod came down the west side very early this morning and it looked like they were going to head west. Turns out they decided to come back in and spent a good portion of the day tucked into Open Bay on the Northwest side of San Juan Island, seemingly waiting out the strong ebb current that was happening. Lots of socializing going on with some spyhops, and then they woke up and started breaching and tail slapping. We saw so many different orca behaviors it was amazing! What a fantastic encounter with Jpod! This family group tucked into a place called Open Bay / Kellett Bluff to seemingly ride out the strong ebb tide that would have carried them south. They were moving rather slowly as they socialized. Rolling on top of one another, sticking noses out of the water. Even vocalizing above the surface! They were also playing with bits of kelp too. A couple times they tried to go around the bluff and head north, but it seemed like the current was not to their liking, so they would tuck back into the bay. Once the tide flipped, they continued on north. Watch til the very end! They get a little more active at the end of the encounter with a couple breaches and surfing too! -Video by Western Prince WW, May 31, 2017
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J Pod enjoying themselves. They were very active. There were many breaches. Magnificent creatures! This was mid afternoon. Photo by Paddy Walls, May 31, 2017
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L87, J27 and J16's - Jpod as they made their way in to the west side of San Juan Island today and then went north. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, May 31, 2017
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J16, J50, J42 - J Pod southern resident (fish eating) orca on Monday...We had the 16's with Blackberry in close and the 22's with J19 and L87 a bit further out. -Photo by James Gresham, May 31, 2017
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They decided to stay! After coming back down from up north early this morning (this shot (below) of J17 Princess Angeline was taken before 7 AM!), J-Pod looked like they were going to go west, but then looped back and went north again. This is more the type of travel pattern we expect from them in the summer, so hopefully they continue to be around on a more regular basis from here on out! -Monika Wieland Shields
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Good morning, J-pod (and nice to see you too, Tahlequah!). What a lovely detour on the way to town this morning. -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 31, 2017
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6:37 a.m. - J pod on OrcaSound hydrophone, Lime Kiln too. -Monika Wieland-Shields
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Juan de Fuca - We started off today with reports of J Pod heading south/west in Haro Strait but thought we would take some time to check out west of Sooke first and we excited to find the Transient Killer Whales - T065a and family traveling east from Muir Creek. We also visited seals, sea lions, elephant seals, sea otter and eagles! -Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal WW
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Possession Sound - Just saw a pod of 6 - 7 orcas at 5:29 pm, heading north from Howarth Park in Everett. Going towards navy yard. Awesome action. Sorry but I couldn't get phone out in time. Traveling. Creating water as they went. Multiple times. Appears to be following coastline. -Bryan Hoeck
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Humpback on 5.31.17 @ 1130 heading north. Now at Southworth ferry lane. Wish I had a real camera, could have shot the breach at the SW point, but mile up and out of my usable photo range. Still a pleasure, but got these shots. -Tim Ferris
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9:45 a.m. - We spotted this humpback off of Point Richmond Beach, Gig Harbor heading north at a slow pace. -Photo by Steve Rees, May 31, 2017

May 30
Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet - 4:45 p.m. - Kit Turner reports the pod is grouped up tightly, off the north end of Lagoon Pt, nearing Admiral's Cove, mid-channel, continuing north in Admiralty Inlet.
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4:00 p.m. - After Pat Scott's report I raced to the north side of Bush Point and was able to see and photograph at least six Ts as they cruised slowly a few hundred yards from shore past the boat ramp, then veered out toward midchannel. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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3:53 p.m. - Now at Bush Point slowly Northbound. -Christopher Hanke, Puget Sound Express
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3:45 p.m. - the orcas are off Bush Point VERY CLOSE to shore! Reported by Patrick Scott.
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2:00 p.m - At Double Bluff now.
1:30 p.m. - Slowly heading northwest from Scatchet Head toward Double Bluff at the moment. They appear to be sleeping. T77s and T75Bs. -Bart Rulon, Chilkat
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1:49 p.m. - A group of orcas off Useless Bay, a little bit off Double Bluff. Looks like they might be heading north. There were 2 whale watching boats watching them. -Donna Krell
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1:52 p.m. - Orca are passing Useless Bay, still heading north, closer to mid channel now.
1:20 p.m. - they are in front of Maxwelton now, still northbound. Long down times and moving quickly on strong ebb tide.
1:09 p.m. - finally found them northbound on the west side of scatchet head. Look to be close to Whidbey Island. -Connie Bickerton
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12:05 p.m. - finally resighted they are further west from my previous report: approx mile south of Scatchet Head/Cultus Bay. Just drifting/ eating.
11:30 a.m. - I just got to Edmonds and see pod, including 2 adult males. They are moving slowly north and/or kind of stalled. Currently approx 1 mile south of Possessiin Point. I just got here so not sure but looked to be resting and trending north. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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10:35 a.m. - Transient killer whales, southbound approaching Edmonds, midchannel. (7, two young and one big male, possibly T77B). -Brian McGinn
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Juan de Fuca - This morning with Transient Killer Whales T077a & T087 and others right out front of Sooke...just minutes from our docks! T087, estimated to have been born in 1962, is one of the oldest male transients known around the Salish Sea...-Paul Pudwell
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Two orcas out front of the house at 1040 heading north. We are located 3 km west of French Beach Provincial Park in Shirley, B.C. on the Juan de Fuca. -Meg Toom
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3:00 p.m. - Two humpbacks for sure, one large and one smaller, heading north just off Point Jefferson, Kingston. Up and down a few times then I see the flukes and down they go for a bit longer. 3PM 5/30 -Chris Beamer Otterson
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7:30 a.m. - Gray whale in Hood Canal, just south of the bridge. Taken from the eastern shore, whale is heading north. -Photo by Carrie Piehl Goller, May 30, 2017

May 29
4:48 p.m. - Just watched Jpod south of Point Roberts headed north. Lots of action. -Clinton Duckworth
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7:52 p.m. - We saw one Orca (adult male) heading south from Lime Kiln Lighthouse a few minutes ago. Traveling. -Dale Robinson
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17:15-18:36 - ...Dave arrived on scene about mid-Boundary Pass a little north of Sandy Point on Waldron Island at 1715. The whales were traveling south fairly quickly and spread out in three or four tight groups. T77A and T87 were traveling together about a half mile to the northwest of the T86As, T124Ds, and T124A1. The rest of the T124As and the T100s (minus the T100Bs who were not present) were a little further to the southeast of this group...-See full report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 39
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T124A's, T124D's, T86A's, T77A, T87, T100's - By our count 21 transient killer whales traveling fast against a flood tide all the way from Java Rocks to Cattle Pass. Just amazing the level of power to travel at speed against a 4 knot current. Why? Because they can. We all passed Friday Harbor and cleared Turn Island at sunset. See full report and photos on ABS blog HERE. -Barbara and David Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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T086A, T086A3, T086A4, T124D and T124D2 - Great day on the water hanging out with the T100's (minus T100Bs), T086A's, T077A, T087 and the T124A's. -Photo by Gary Sutton, May 29, 2017
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Orca spotted off Cape Perpetua Oregon yesterday and orca spotted again today. -Dawn Roll Bailey
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1:07 p.m. - Just saw her/him off President Point - lots of spouting, headed south. -Photo by Ellen Stewart, May 29, 2017
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8:30 a.m.- Saw a whale (humpback), Just south of Kingston/Appletree Cove, just before Presidents Point. It was black, no defining marks. Feeding and traveling northbound. -Sandi Stothers
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7:30 p.m. - I believe I just saw them- two whales spotted south side of Hood Canal Bridge, near the bridge. -Kellie Thompson Robison
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2:30 p.m. - [The gray whale] was swimming Oak Bay (between Port Hadlock and Port Ludlow, Admiralty Inlet) and was also breaching and was as close as 100 yards from the beach. Here's a picture of the tail from today. I wasn't fast enough to get a breach picture. -Jim Carroza
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9:34 a.m. - Two possible gray whales were seen near Pt. Ludlow, in Paradise Bay, south of Foulweather Bluff at the entrance to Hood Canal. -Heather Paar
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Central Puget Sound - 12:50 p.m. - Talked to a kayaker who'd seen them swim right past. He said there were three.
12:05 p.m. - Looks like a pair. They've been going back and forth. Still out there.
11:28 a.m. - Common Dolphins off Alki right now. Straight our from Cactus Grill. -Cara Sorenson
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South Puget Sound - 1:45 p.m. - 3 Common dolphins heading north between Fox Island and Chambers Bay. Closer to the Chambers Bay shoreline. -Jamie Taylor
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9:10 a.m. - I last saw them heading south at around 9:10 towards McMicken Island. Anyone in Olympia might have have some dolphins heading their way.
8:38 a.m. - Lots of breaches and other behaviors, very exciting!
8:24 a.m. - They are still in between Herron and Harstine, just milling about.
8:13 a.m. - Common dolphins heading north in Case Inlet between Herron and Harstine Islands. I've been watching them since 8:00 A.M. -Connor O'Brien

May 28
After Jane Cogan called Dave at home in the early evening to report that she was hearing J pod calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone, Dave, Giles, and Collette met down at Snug Harbor and left in the boat at about 1930. We arrived on scene off the south end of Kellett Bluff at 1938. J pod and L87 were in a resting formation with all the whales being in one tight group moving very slowly north with the tide. We left the whales heading north up Haro Strait off north Kellett Bluff at 2008 still in one tight slow moving group. All members of J pod and L87 were photographed. See full report details and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 38.
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1:30 p.m. - Southern Residents - L55 was encountered east of Secretary Island, Juan de Fuca off East Sooke, BC in thick fog. (Js continued east...not sure which other Ls were out there or where they went). -Photo by Sheila Watson Mansfield, May 28, 2017
(ID by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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Ask and ye shall receive - our patience was rewarded this evening when all of J-Pod returned for a beautiful sunset encounter. It was pretty special to see them traveling all together in one tight group! We left all of J Pod heading north in one group 1 mile south of Turn Pt at 20:45. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, May 28, 2017
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Early evening off San Juan Island in Haro Strait: Jpod just blew on past! Major flood going on and that clearly gave them quite the push! Hopefully, there are salmon here. I have to keep up the hope. -Photo by Traci Walter
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Some Rough Seas and Thick Fog to start our adventure today...around the Victoria Water Front there was reports of Transient Killer Whales in the area...After a visit with them he headed back to Sooke through some pea soup fog when a young guest noticed a few orca. The last two pictures were captured by Sheila Watson Mansell *note Cpt. Dan noticed "open Saddle Patches" and thinks SRKW's (yes see photo of the day & photo below by Shiela Watson Mansfield of L55 confirmed by Melisa Pinnow of CWR; J pod contiued east, making west side San Juan by early evening - ALB) -Paul Pudwell
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Humpback whales - Case Inlet - 11:33 a.m - Just speaking with my neighbors on the beach, evidently that whale was breaching and frolicking on the Pickering Passage side of the island earlier.
10:45 a.m - spotted a large ( humpback?) whale traveling slowly and steadily south on Case inlet. Lost sight of it as it headed toward Herron Island. We are on the beach at Harstiene Pointe. What a season of whales we are having! -Cindy Faker
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North Puget Sound - Humpback off President Point, Kitsap south of Kingston heading North about 8:00pm. Tail slaps. -Joanne Graves
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3:30 p.m. - Humpback in the Kingston /Edmonds area. -Jo Bprchardt
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1:44 - he is in the middle of channel heading towards Edmond. -Cyndee Devore
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Humpback at Kingston ferry terminal today between 12:30 and 1. S/he surfaced multiple times in the area. Didn't seem like it was headed any specific direction. As we were leaving, it showed us his/her tail and we didn't see it again after that. -Photo by Michelle James, May 28, 2017
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12:53 p.m. - just left it. Still near Kingston ferry terminal. -Trecy Bumstead
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12:10 p.m. - Still here... right in front of the Kingston terminal. -Travis McElfresh
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Humpback whale playing off of the Kingston Ferry dock around noon today. -Photo by Kristi Wilson, May 28, 2017
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11:09 a.m - One humpback BCX1251 Orion just south of Kingston ferry terminal. Was feeding so zig zagging in same relative area while we were with it. -Renee Beitzel
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Grey Whale just off the Edmonds Ferry dock. It cruised the pier pretty close so I'm sure some people there got a great treat! -Photo by Kristi Wilson, May 28, 2017
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1:59 p.m. - Grey whale @ Edmonds ferry terminal. Heading north when we saw it last. (3 Facebook videos show gray whale traveling around off Edmonds waterfront - ALB) -Tami Nolan-Adair
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6:30 a.m. - Sunday, a gray whale close in right off Pt. Jefferson, Kingston just now, meandering towards Port Madison. It was down and up every few hundred yards, nothing deep at all, at least while it was in my view. -Photo by Chris Beamer Otterson, May 28, 2017
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Stunning conditions in the Strait of Georgia today with the T123's. -Photo by Gary Sutton, May 28, 2017
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We followed 4-6 Orcas this evening into BC waters...for about an hour as we had captured site of a whale watching boat leaving rapidly up north from Roche Harbor. I believe we caught up with them by Salt Spring Island. Not familiar with the area but this is the lighthouse they seemed to come back together by then proceeded north around 7:30pm. -Jess Whitsett
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T102 and T101 in eastern Active Pass, Georgina Point Heritage Park and Lighthouse, Mayne Island. -Photo by Jess Whitest, May 28, 2017
(ID's by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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T101B - Photo Taken with a 500mm lens by Nishan DeSilva, May 28, 2017
(ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)
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A fresh breeze, brilliant sunshine, blue seas and skies greeted passengers and crew of Mystic Sea as we headed through the islands towards Canada to spend time with transient orcas. The T101s and T102 were traveling in leisurely fashion off Cordova Bay, near Victoria, B.C., initially fairly well spread out before grouping up with no apparent lunch stops along the way. Once again another day of wonderful wildlife and scenery was enjoyed by all. -Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist.
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Several people reported seeing 5 orcas headed south about 6 PM May 28 - sighted off Smelt Sands Park. (Yachats OR). -Sara Moore
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Late post but watched a Humpback from 12-1pm on southwest Possession bar...A friend saw same Humpback about 1030 am on possession as well. Looked to be feeding in area. Lots of herring around. I saw that post about Kingston Humpback and was thinking same thing....must have been two. -Toby Black

May 27
Bigg's killer whales (Transients) - We saw a pod of 4, by west side Whidbey island, around 4pm. We came out of Friday Harbor, towards Port Townsend. Whidbey was on our left and the 4 were hunting there. We saw some pretty great celebratory action from them. -Crystal Ediger
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2:20 p.m. - Orcas just south of Deception Pass right now! Their about 400 yards from shore. Heading south. -Photo by Tammy Bretches, May 27, 2017
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12:20 p.m. - Friday Harbor/Anacortes Ferry: Group of 3 Orcas off Anacortes in Rosario Strait. Large male, female, and a juvenile. Likely transients. -Skookum Galarza
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12:15 p.m. - 5 orcas seen from the ferry. 2 males in a group of 4 and one male traveling outside the group just ahead of the group. Passed behind the ferry moving fast. Beautiful! I was on the ferry Fri Harbor to Anacortes but it left 20 minutes late. I saw the orcas behind the ferry as we approached Anacortes. I was on the outside "back" of the ferry looking to the NW. They swam past the ferry wake heading south. -Michelline Halliday
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San Juan Channel - Last I saw the HB went way offshore
11:16 p.m. - This whale is really moving, already through Cattle Pass.
10:51 a.m. - Humpback heading south in SJ Channel from Turn Island, Actually looks like it's in Griffin Bay already. -Monika
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10:42 a.m. - Humpback right outside of Friday Harbor heading out Cattle Pass. -Debby Giard
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Admiralty Inlet - 1:05 p.m. - Just had a report from the ferry of a humpback ~1/4 mile NE of us on Fort Casey side. Not picked it up yet (suspect it is round the corner from us). Will let you know when we pick it up. No playbacks today. -Cheers Frankie Robertson
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Case Inlet - 7:08 p.m. - Appears to be feeding directly across from the north point of Harstine Island, along the mainland. Single boat watching from distance - lucky.
6:38 p.m. - Single humpback heading north between Herron and Stretch Island in Case Inlet. Watched him surface about 10 times or so across from Harstine Point / Chesapeake beach. Too far out for pics. -Miche Ennis
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7:30 a.m. - Humpback is in Case Inlet, Spencer Cove. Has been traveling north and south between the Cove and HARSTINE Point all morning. Was also doing the same yesterday (Friday) between 3:00 and 8:00pm. Saw approx 8 full breaches (completely out of water) and 3 partial ones. Saw possible bubble netting this morning. -Jerilyn Evans
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1:38 p.m. - WA State Ferries called to report one gray whale off Bainbridge Island near Tyee Light.
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Minke whales - Admiralty Inlet - @ Fort Flagler/Port Townsend We saw a beautiful Minke from 17:00-18:30. It was an incredible surprise. -Suzi Wright
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Unidentified Cetaceans - 7:42 p.m. - whale spraying closer to Whidbey now.
6:41 p.m - There's been a whale spraying for last hour and a half North Puget Sound between Point No Point and Whidbey Island. Not sure if it's circling or feeding or what but seems to stay around the same area kind of in the center of the two. Viewing from edmonds in the far off distance, with and without binoculars. (both humpbacks and a gray whale have been seen in this area - ALB) -AnaLisa Gerbig
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Pod of dolphins in Case Inlet. About 10 animals milling around south end of Case Inlet. -James Lewis
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Harbor porpoise - Porpoises in Shilshole Bay. I saw several (approx 4-6?) harbor porpoises in Shilshole Bay while running along the North Beach of Discovery Park this morning around 7:30 am. I watched one surface quite close to the beach, perhaps 100-200 feet away, and could hear it expel air. My first sighting - thrilling! Feeding I think. -Kate Criss
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4:10 p.m. - Pod of Commond dolphins in Case Inlet. About 10 animals milling around south end of the inlet. -Photo by James Lewis, May 27, 2017

May 26
8:00 p.m. - Just saw minimum of 3 orcas off of the north side of Gabriola Island, heading towards Entrance Island.......perhaps to feast on Sea Lions? -John Richard Frizzell
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Case Inlet - 4:00 p.m. - Case Inlet Humpback heading south in between Herron and Harstine. -Jerilyn Evans
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3:05 p.m. - Humpback whale spotted on the east side of north Hartstine point near Spencer cove. Going back and forth along the coastline. -Allison Walker Wilson
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North Puget Sound - 11:15 a.m. - Chilkat with Humpback BCX1251 "Orion" still southwest of Possession, feeding in current line. -Renee Beitzel
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A report was called in of 6 orcas in the Vashon ferry lanes, at 4:40 pm, between the Fauntleroy dock and the Vashon ferry landing. (They said the orcas weren't headed anywhere, and were just "drifting", which makes us wonder if they were actually rafting sea lions. Sea lions at rest, drifting with their flippers extended straight up above the water, often mistaken for dorsal fins. It seems we would have had other reports by now if there were a pod of orcas in that area on this sunny day - SB)

May 25
North Puget Sound - This is humpback BCX1251 - Orion - he was feeding off Possession Point, Whidbey Island. Long Down Times. There was another humpback nearby but never saw fluke. -Photo by Renee Beitzel, May 25, 2017
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2:36 p.m. - Humpback in Case Inlet appears to be reacting to Taylor Shellfish boat approaching close (video, unable to link, shows 2 minutes of tail lobbing - ALB)
1:11 p.m. - Definitely two
1:00 p.m. - Humpback (one, possibly two) Case Inlet about half mile South of Allyn. Large numbers of Sea Lions feeding frenzies and playing last few days. -Beverly Lunch McCallum
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Juan de Fuca Strait - Humpbacks in Canadian waters today... With clear and calm sailing conditions, it was well worth the long haul to Constance Bank, British Columbia, where we encountered heroic humpback whale MMY0009 trending west against the breathtaking vista of the snow-capped Olympic peninsula. This whale was one of the humpbacks involved in saving a Steller sea lion from the attacking T100 transient orca pod last year. After their intervention, which resulted in the orcas abandoning dinner, the humpbacks escorted the sea-lion away from the scene. Not such a good day for the transients! Shortly after leaving MMY0009 and heading south, another of our favorite humpbacks, believed to be Poptart (sixth calf of Big Mama), kept us company for a while before we headed home after yet another invigorating and memorable cruise. -Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist. (Photo below Richard Snowberger, Crew)

May 24
T137's hunting a harbor porpoise near Moresby Island in the evening. -Photo by Mark Malleson
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Anacortes - WA State Ferries just called to relay a report from the Captain of the Samish Ferry, of one juvenile humpback eastbound off Shannon Pt. (just west of the Anacortes ferry dock), at 1 pm.
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Admiralty Inlet - 5:00 p.m. - The captain of the ferry Salish phoned in a report to WS Ferries about two whales "frolicking," not traveling, close to the Port Townsend ferry dock. (Was humpbacks, see Baumgartner report below - ALB)
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An adult humpback with a little one which I missed filming earlier at the Port Townsend ferry dock. There was a baby too, but I didn't get the video started soon enough. they were gone before we left 10 min. later. It was at the same time as the report was made to WSF Operations I think at 1655. -Mark Baumgartner
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North Puget Sound - 2:00 p.m. - 2 Humpback whales at SW side of Possession Point, Whidbey Island, milling right now. We are leaving the scene now. -Bart Rulon, Chilkat Express.
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6:30 p.m. - (Lunge Feeding) Humpback whale between Vaughn Bay and Rocky Bay, deep in Case Inlet. -Photo by Rachelle Sherwood, May 24 2017
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2:10 p.m. - There was a humpback just south of Stretch Island making incredible leaps one after the other. It started south bound at about 2:20 and was at Harstine Point when we left. -Nick Wenzel
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Birch Bay - Gray whales in Birch Bay since about 2:30 pm, still here currently at 4:35 pm. Look to be feeding. -Sue Matyszak
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We had that pod of common dolphins at the North end of Case Inlet around 12:30 or so. -Bart Rulon, PS Express

May 23
Central Puget Sound - We just saw the humpback north of Blake Island from our sailboat @ 1410. S/he was heading west. -Virginia Anderson
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12:50 p.m. - Saw spray and surfacing. Unable to identify if grey or humpback. Seattle/Bremerton ferry route, mid point. Headed towards Seattle, south bound. -Aena Burrell
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Admiralty Inlet/ North Puget Sound - One of these humpbacks is BCX1215 Orion. We left them about 1:45 nearing Possession Point, still southbound. -Bart Rulon
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1:40 pm - mid channel off Point No Point. Southbound at 5 knots. -Brian McGinn
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We had a 2nd report from Elsa Leavitt at Bush Pt, who was seeing 3 blows close together, headed south, at 11:55 am. We are just south of there and trying to re-locate.
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Bart Rulon sent us reports of 2 humpbacks in Admiralty Inlet traveling southbound closest to Whidbey side currently (11:30) 1/2 way between Lagoon point and Bush point.

May 22
T124A packing a chunk of seal in Haro Strait in the afternoon of May. -Photo by Mark Malleson
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From an encounter with T87 (R) and the T124As off Salmon Bank today. -Photo by Janine Harles
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I was at Lime Kiln Park today around 1pm. A pod of about 6-8 transients passed by heading north moving rather swiftly, deep dives, prolonged underwater time. They were be followed closely (perspective from shore) by a large number of whale watching boats. Appeared to be 1 or 2 males and a baby in the group. -Martha Carlstead
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12:45 p.m. - A pod of 7/8 orcas just passed close to shore on Ruston way in Tacoma @ dukes Chowder House heading Southwest. They were heading out of the bay towards the Narrows Vashon Island. (reported as orcas but we had no other reports on this clear, calm day. Most likely this was been porpoise or dolphins and Katie was uncertain about species- ALB) -Katiedawn Vine
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Case Inlet - S/he was off Jarrelys cove. Inside passage of Stretch island...on the west side of Harstien Island. We spent all afternoon watching this humpback? Feeding and playing. He was hugging the shore for most of the time. When we left, he headed to the North Point Park and was heading east. -Lisa Wiksten
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Watched Humpback May 22 from 10:10 to 12:00 moving north and south (in Case Inlet) three times over the hour in the area shown on Nick's screen shot and a bit beyond. Lots of thrilling action. -Kathleen Tucker
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10:15 a.m. - The humpback has been feeding and jumping around inside Spencer Cove (Case Inlet) all morning. Still here, currently by a large group of gulls. Left it in same area at 11:00am. -Nick Wenzel
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Admiralty Inlet - 1:43 p.m. - Minke whales near Port Townsend, heading North near lighthouse. And 2 other minkes by Partridge Bank. Also, encountered T087 and possibly T124A's by Salmon Bank. -Janine Harles
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Case Inlet - 4:00 p.m. - Minke Whale sighting North Pickering Passage, off Harstine Island. It was a lone Minke, surfacing frequently, traveling in a meandering route first south through Pickering, then turning north and passing close to Dougall Point before heading east to Case Inlet. Once in Case Inlet, it took a series of much longer dives, apparently feeding. I'm pretty confident this was a Minke. I was in my kayak and had a pretty close look at it. It was not a terribly large whale (a bit bigger than on Orca), black or dark grey. When it surfaced, it exposed just the arc of its back, showing a small dorsal fin about 2/3 towards its rear. It never breached entirely or exposed its tail.when it dove. The whale tended to surface several times in fairly rapid succession, then would dive for longer periods. We've seen this whale (or another one like it) around here off and on since late April. I hope that helps. -Paul Murphy
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This morning. No whales....YET! But there have to be at least 2 dozen harbor porpoise in various areas of the bay. Some are feeding. Some are simply traveling from place to place. All of that on glassy water so they look so much larger than the are. And it's so silent, you can hear them not only breathe, but some make a sort of 'squeak' when they surface. -Photo by Kim Merriman

May 21
6:05 p.m. - dont know if it is the same, but orca just breached in Case Inlet, west side of Herron Island. My neighbor who saw it said it was chasing a seal and it breached. Definately an orca. -BrentSuzy Fontaine
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9:42 p.m. - Just encountered orcas on my way back to Seattle from Bremerton ferry! -Inyoung song
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7:30 p.m. - spotted one male between Blake Island and the Alki Point Lighthouse, heading north toward Bainbridge island. -Magggie Gruber
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Two blows seen off Alki Pt Lighthouse about 7:15. -Stephanie Raymond
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7 orcas heading north crossing Southworth Ferry lane 6:25 PM. Appears to be 1 male 3-4 female and two juvenile. -Noreen Ferris
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6:16 p.m. - Watching two orca (1 male 1 female) heading North on west side of the Sound about 1-1.5 mi off SE corner of Bainbridge Island. -Peter Tutak
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5:30 p.m.- Spotted 4-6 Orcas heading north up Colvos Passage...They were about half way up the passage and closer to the Vashon Island side. Traveling. -John Donahoe
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5:15 p.m. - 2 or 3 orcas in Colvos Passage across from Anderson Point, heading north. -Lucas Damberfs
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4:50 p.m. - northwest of Lisabuela park, on the Kipsap side heading north. -Patrick Gould
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4:00 p.m. - headed north up Colvos Passage. -Cathy Baker
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3:35 p.m. - Directly in between Gig Harbor and Point Defiance. Two groups with 3-4 per group. Heading north still. -Josh Hollandsworth
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Approx. 3:30PM observed at least 3 (incl male) orca's travelling northward up Colvos Passage between Gig Harbor and Vashon Island. -Thomas Wittwer
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3:24 p.m. - Two orcas, A large male and another Orca swimming quickly northbound abeam Pt Defiance in the Tacoma Narrows. Traveling. -Randy Woodward
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3:00 p.m. - Passing under Narrows Bridge headed north approx 6 total or so in two groups. -Photo by Karen Nixon Hale, May 21, 2017
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2:55 p.m - Orcas headed north almost under Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Lots of spray. -Mark Hansen
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T87 and a young one. This is the same group that was in the Narrows this afternoon. -Photo by W Pacheco Stuart, May 21, 2017
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2:30 p.m. - 4 orcas sighted. One large three smaller. Hales Passage. -Marilee Lewis
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2:10 p.m. - Hale's Passage at Cromwell Beach headed east! (T87 on right). -Photo by Karen Nixon Hale, May 21, 2017
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1:59 p.m. - Just passed through Hales passage heading towards Fox Island Bridge (eastbound). -Cari Black
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1:35 p.m. - watched pod from Fox Island. Between Fox Island and Key Peninsula. Lost sight of them as they appeared to move north into Henderson bay. -Chris Coovert
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12:11 p.m. - Same groups(s) we had in Saratoga yesterday. T87 and co. Leaving them heading north at McNeil island. Update: I just ID'd through photos T124A's also! Matriarch, 124A with chunk of seal in her mouth. Also looks like she got pretty scarred up during today's hunt! Here is seven year-old, T124A4. -Renee Beitzel
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11:30 a.m. - about four northbound almost in front of McNeil Island prison. Appear to be traveling at a good clip. Close to McNeil Island. As seen from Pioneer Orchard Park in Steilacoom. Jill Clogston
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11:25 a.m. - Coming back north towards Chambers, they are beautiful! -Kirstin Van Houte
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11:18 a.m. - they seem to be trending northish between Mcneil and Fox, closer to Fox. Boats in the general area. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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10:57 a.m. - Chilkat on scene now. Thrive just made a kill and now prey sharing. -Renee Beitzell
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10:49 a.m. - 3-4 orca, One large male (with lots of boats) in the center of Chambers, between McNeill, golf course and Steilacoom. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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10:31 a.m. - Heading south between Ketron and Anderson Islands. -Lisa Wiksten
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10:23 a.m. - In front of McNeil. Viewing from Steilacoom, 3 whales. -Dylan Neene
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10:09 a.m. - They are at Chambers Park. -Lindsay O'Neal
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10:00 a.m. - I count 3 different groups directly across from the Chambers Bay Park. 3-4 per group. Still heading south. -Josh Hollandsworth
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9:30 a.m. - May have split up. Marker on map (between peninsula and Fox Island) shows about four of them southbound.
9:16 a.m. - About 6, including one male. Slowly moving southbound. Closer to Gig Harbor side. Just south of Narrows Bridge. -Jill Clogston (photos below)
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9:10 a.m. - Pod is under the Narrows Bridge now. Southbound. -Photo by Ute Brindl, May 21, 2017
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9:00 am - they are just north of narrows bridge, more on the kitsap side- headed south. -Julie Merriam
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8:50 a.m. - They are headed towards Narrows bridge. In front of the entrance to the train tunnel. -Katrina Larsen
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7:59 a.m. - Sarah Bradford Honeywell reports Orcas at Point Dalco (SW Vashon Island) headed towards Gig Harbor. One large male that was closer to middle of the waterway...3-4 that were together on the Point Defiance side.
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Coastal killer whales - OR - 3:30 p.m. - Yaquina OR, Lighthouse, 5 orcas about 200 yards off the rocks, 1 male, 3 females, one juvenile, traveling north. -Called in by Dawn Bailey.
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I spoke with my friend who also witnessed the Orcas at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings Oregon and had binoculars on them for longer than I did. He felt like the big one was a male and estimated a dorsal fin of at least 5 feet. So I stand corrected. We witnessed two Orcas on May 19th, 2017 just offshore at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings Oregon. We suspect it was a mother and her baby since the one Orca was huge and the other was relatively small. They couldn't have been more than 150 yards from the beach.) -Steve Thompson
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Colvos Passage - At about 1:45 I spotted a humpback whale between Sunrise Beach & the south end of Vashon Island. It traveled north up Colvos passage close to Vashon side. -Heidi Armstrong
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Case Inlet - 8:50 p.m. - lone humpback? East side of Harstine Island side heading south slowly. Hard to see but due to stillness, can hear it. From Herron Island. -Debby Klippert Tropiano
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7:50 p.m. - one humpback off north end of Herron isle about 1/3 the way across to Harstine, I thought he was moving north. -Kathleen Tucker
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7:25 p.m. - Humpback whale case inlet between Harstine Island and Herron Island been watching for 15 minutes. -Michelle N Randy Harris
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2:40 p.m. - Humpback is currently in Case Inlet, just north of Herron Island. -Jerilyn Evans
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8:25 a.m. - Humpback (I think) in Case inlet just off Harstine Point. Appears to be headed toward Stretch Island. -Leslie Blaisdell
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7:30 a.m. - Humpback spotted just north of Herron Island, heading north in Case Inlet. -Jerilyn Evans
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Fred Lundahl reports seeing a gray whale (later ID'd as 22) feeding off northeast side of Hat Island and creating rain blows. Spotted about 9AM while he and Julia Ericsson were conducting aerial surveys of feeding pits for Cascadia Research Collective.

May 20
Haro Strait - Here's T86A spyhopping---an old injury left her with some broken teeth and a deformed jaw. -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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EPIC day with Biggs orcas (T137As, T124Ds, T86As) at Syndey Island, BC...Extremely active, hunting though we didn't see the prey, beautiful warm sunny day and glass smooth water....feeling very grateful! -Photo by Bonnie Gretz
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T137s with T124s Haro Strait. We saw the T100's, T124's and perhaps my favorite bunch the T137's. -Photo by James Gresham
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T86As were off Victoria this morning! -Michelle Rachel
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Puget Sound - 7:45 p.m. - saw breaching orcas down by Possession bar from the Mukilteo ferry. -Steve Smith
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7:11 p.m. - I think they are just still milling around. Now kind of going north.
7:02 p.m. - I am at Possession Beach, never seen them stall so long...I am now a lone with a beautiful h heron watching the orcas slowly trending south through Possession waters. -Marilyn Armbruster
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6:55 p.m. - Several T's still off Whidbey just north of Possession beach zigzagging north. Seems like they're feeding. -Jess Whitsitt
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1752. Slowly SB approaching Possession Beach;
1750 - They haven't moved and neither have I lol;
1723 - I'm heading home now, but blackfish still very surface active mixed with long downtimes. - Looking from Mukilteo toward possession Beach area. They may be on a kill?;
1707 - Lots of activity between possession Beach and Glendale, Whidbey side. Watching from Mukilteo . Milling/nondirectional; 1621 - Stalled out just south of Glendale , Whidbey; 1539 - Passing Mukilteo now, southbound. -Ariel Yseth
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T87 traveling with some companions between Clinton/Mukilteo & Possession Point. -Photo by Ariel Yseth, May 20, 2017
(ID notes by Dave Ellifrit , CWR: "yes, that is T87. The others are too far away and backlit to say anything with any certainty.")
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4:48 p.m. - They are literally circling in the same spot for 30 minutes.
4:35 p.m. - At least 10 orcas off Possession beach on Whidbey right now. Milling around with lots of spyhops and tail slaps. There are two groups. One right near NOAA and one mid-channel. -Nicole Woltersdorf
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More for you - we also saw Transients hunting a sea lion (can you view my photos on FB?). There were a group of 5 - I've ID'ed 2 in this group as T124A1 and T124A4 the others might be too young for the 2012 catalog I have. An hour or so later, 2 others swim past east of the group of 5. One of the two, a big male T087, swam close enough for a picture, but we never saw the other one he was with. ID photos (below) Location 47'55N, 122'21W. -Amy Willoughby
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4:02 p.m. - Lots of breaching and activity just south of the Mukilteo ferry lanes, very close to Whidbey! Someone on a paddle board is very lucky as they're right in front of them! They seem to be playing and may have just made a kill. -Durand Dace
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3:38 p.m. - Just off Mulkilteo headed south, probably more to the north. -Christopher Hanke
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2:30 p.m. - 5-6 Orcas, including very large male, seen traveling south between Hat Island and Whidbey on Saturday around 2-3 pm. They appeared to be hunting. -Wendy OgaardMay
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2:25 p.m. - Update from Marilyn Armbruster: they have passed Sandy Point, Whidbey and look like they are heading towards Tulalip...right now mid channel north of Hat Island heading east.
2:10 p.m. - Marilyn Armbruster updates: the orcas are past Langley heading south. --Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, May 20, 2017
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1:13 p.m. - Transients sighted off Whidbey island just south of East Pt. -Mark Steudel
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10:44 a.m. - 2 pods (at least one male) just south of Rocky Point heading south near Camano side. No IDs yet. -Renee Beitzel
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8:00 a.m. - Orca spotted around Sucia Island - Fossil Bay. This past Saturday morning there were scattered Orca coming in and out of Fossil Bay and the surrounding areas. They were scattered roaming. This included a baby with mother. 6 total. -Franz Krieger
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Bigg's killer whales (Transients) - Just got a report of four killer whales at Hope Island (inside Deception Pass) traveling southbound. This was at 7:45 AM. Anyone in the area may want to peek around! -Erin Johns Gless
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5 or 6 orcas at 11:45, 3-5 miles off Rocky Creek, Depoe Bay OR. And later 3 more were seen one mile off Olivia Beach, Lincoln City OR. -Called in by Whale Research Ecotours
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9:00 a.m. - from Cape Kiwanda OR Nature Area (75 miles south of the Columbia River), orca pod seen between the cape and the offshore rock. -Jason Elkins
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8:05AM - Two whales, possible gray whales or humpbacks, reported by Maia at WS Ferries in San Juan Channel near Government Point. No direction of travel given. (turned out to be two humpbacks)
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Southern Gulf Islands - 6:00 p.m. - Humpback whale close to Portland Island, BC: I saw a humpback whale heading SW, alone, between Portland Island and Salt Spring Island, parrallel with Portland Island. I first saw the whale when he was breathing, directly across from my kayak. It then dove and I saw a little bit of the tail. There was a small BC ferry some way behind it, and it stopped, I assumed to let the whale alone. I saw the whale 4 more times, breathing with the doral fin clearly visible. It was heading towards Cobble Hill, North of Piers Island. Behaviors: He appeared to be traveling. There was no Whale watching boats around until after he was gone. -Nathanael Lisimaque
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Dalco Passage/Commencement Bay - 19:02 - Our final sighting from Browns Point Lighthouse, the Commencement Bay Humpback was Northbound from Commencement Bay passing Dash Point State Park on the Vashon side of the main channel. -Tony Collins
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5:07 p.m. - (Humpback) Showed it's tail a couple times. Looked to be headed west. -Cathy Baker
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16:48 - Appears to be Humpback 400 yards off Browns Point, Commencement Bay. -Keane Sweet
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4:52 p.m. - The humpback went down right in front of the ship. So close!
4:30 p.m. - One humpback mid way between Brown's Point and Ruston. Just went down. Full tail. -Meghan Davis-Van Horn
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16:13 - Spotted again tending South West from Commencement Bay toward Vashon.
15:56 - Unidentified baleen whale West Bound Commencement Bay toward Vashon Island. -Tony Collins
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We Saw a humpback circling off Dalco Pass/Commencement Bay from Browns Point light house 3-4pm had been in the area all afternoon. making a big circle between Quartermaster Harbor, Brown's Point Lighthouse, Commencement Bay. Coming up for air 3-5 time before staying under for 5-8 min. -Desiree Sauve
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11:51 a.m. - There's a whale surfacing now in Commencement Bay. Been hanging out 30 min or so. Can't tell if it's a grey or humpback. Was heading towards the grain elevator at 11:30. Surfacing and showed her/his tail. It looked smaller the the humpbacks we saw earlier this year. -Sarah Marie
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Case Inlet - Humpback in Case Inlet seen multiple times between 3:00-6:00pm. Mainly close to Harstine between Harstine Point and Spencer Cove. Appears to be feeding on school of fish;
3:30 p.m. - Humpback whale heading North in Case Inlet. Towards Harstine Point. Several loud blows, White fins. Appears to traveling north and south over the last hour, near school of fish; 3:00 p.m. - humpback, it's back right now, close to Harstine shore just south of Harstine Point/ north of Herron. -Jerilyn Evans
(quick glimpse in video below shows dot on left dorsal.)
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Admiralty Inlet - On Saturday, May 20, around 1:15-1:30 PM, I saw what I believe to have been a humpback whale. I was at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, looking SW toward Port Townsend. The humpback was near the Port Townsend coast, swimming north bound. -Peter Moe
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Possession Sound - 1355- Two gray whales (one being #22) between Hat and Jetty Islands. No direction of movement, might be feeding. -Photo by Amy Willoughby, May 20, 2017
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Admiralty Inlet - 12:30 p.m. - Lone Grey Whale in Admiralty Inlet near Bush Point. Nice big fluke out of the water. A sail boat went right in its path and we didn't see it resurface so no direction of travel noted. -Sonja Thompson Sackett
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Puget Sound - Noon - A lone Gray just off Point Jefferson, Kingston meandering it's way north, 12 noon, Saturday. I am pretty sure grey, flukes were smaller and shaped a bit different than a humpback there was a definite difference with it's back. -Chris Beamer Otterson
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North Puget Sound - 5:30 p.m. - There are two whales mid channel between Eglon and Edmonds. I can't tell what they are. Not seeing a good dorsal view. Saw tall blows and couldn't ever get a good look at their bodies they were barely coming out of the water. My guess would be between a humpback or gray. I'm used to seeing humpbacks but couldn't confirm a dorsal fine or none. There would be two blows right after each other from one whale then the second whale would follow and sometimes both whales would blow at the same time. -Erin Steinman
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Dalco Pass - 1:48 p.m. - Appears to be orcas foraging in Dalco Passage between Pt. defiance and Gig Harbor. No photos but a couple groups are out there. I'm not definiite on anything. They didn't breach so couldn't truly tell. Maybe wishful thinking. -Larissa Nipper (Reported as orcas but RP unsure and we had no other reports, other possibilities are Harbor porpoise or Common dolphins - ALB)
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Coastal dolphins - WA - I went out on a Pelagic birding trip...About 30 miles west and a bit north of Westport, we encountered a large group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins estimated at 350+ individuals, 150+ Risso's Dolphins and 75+ Northern Right Whale Dolphins. The Northern Right Whale Dolphins decided to bow ride and I got a bit of video. This was the first time the boat operater had ever had this species bow ride. Part one video includes a young one swimming in it's Mom's slipstream. -Connie Bickerton
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It took 3 yrs but I finally got a good shot of the resident sea otter at Race Rocks Ecological Preserve near Victoria, BC, Canada today. Having a siesta in the kelp. -Photo by James Gresham, May 20, 2017

May 19
Sechelt Inlet, Sunshine Coast BC - There has been a Orca a male I believe in the Sechelt Inlet on the Sunshine coast B.C for two days now. He's with out his pod? He's swimming breaching seems fine. But he's all alone is this normal? Breaching, feeding, traveling. -Debbie Reid
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3:00 PM - We witnessed two Orcas on May 19th, 2017 just offshore at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings Oregon. We suspect it was a mother and her baby since the one Orca was huge and the other was relatively small. They couldn't have been more than 150 yards from the beach. Seemed to be feeding \ playing. -Steve Thompson
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I saw a gray whale today at 5 pm from Fort Casey. North bound through Admiralty Inlet. -Jason Wood
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12:50 p.m. - Humpbacks whale in Case Inlet. Slowly heading north towards Harstine Point. -Jerilyn Evans

May 18
Great to go back into Howe Sound today. There isn't many better backdrops than the Sound. T101's cruising in still, quiet water with nobody else in sight. A very peaceful afternoon. -Photo by Gary Sutton
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We ran up north into Canada to see 2 humpback whales eastbound from Java Rocks, BCX1057 'Divot' and BCZ0298 'Split Fin'. Drift sailing downwind on a whisper of a wind with the sound of the whales' deep blows. Peregrine falcon calling from the honeycomb caves at Monarch Head. -Barbara Howitt
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Admiralty Inlet - A humpback was reported by Gary Hammer heading north past Ft. Casey, at the north end of Admiralty Inlet, at 7:30AM today.
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8:40 p.m. - Seen in Birch Bay tonight, group of three grey whales. -Photo by Ruud van Slot, May 18, 2017
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We are watching two grey whales (not sure) leisurely eating in Possession Sound just off SW Hat Island. They are close enough to hear their spouts. No boats following. Traveling slowly north at 2:30pm. -Chuck Howell
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Harbor porpoise, Common dolphins, sea lion - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Wild day in the water of Eld Inlet. Lots of mini mammals. Approx. 3 dozen harbor porpoise just headed south into Eld Inlet. Traveling in various groups and at times, feeding. Can hear them breathe and part the water. AND approx. 6 common dolphins are heading north mid channel toward Squaxin Island. Oh! AND a sea lion. -Kim Merriman
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5:20 - single SEA otter headed south into Eld Inlet and turned around and head back north again once it hit Sanderson Cove. Lost sight after it headed toward Squaxin Island....right near the shore line on a low-ish tide. -Kim Merriman

May 17


May 16
There's nothing quite like flying orcas. T123 "Sidney" was sure showing us all just how it was done. -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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Sometimes, rarely - the curiosity is mutual. After paralleling the T123s for half an hour, they surfaced after an 8 minute dive right behind us. We cut our engines and five year-old T123C Lucky came over to check us out, never breaking the surface of the water. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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T123 "Sidney" (pictured) and her kids, T123A "Stanley" and T123C "Lucky", were showing us humans just how powerful they were as they harassed a Steller sea lion. What a sight it was to behold! -Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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T123 in Speiden Channel today. -Photo by Jim Maya
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This is a family group known as the T123's which consists of a 32-Year-old Mother (Sidney) and her two kids, T123A a 17-year-old male (Stanley), and T123C her 5-year-old daughter(Lucky). They were traveling along when suddenly everything changed when they pursued a large Steller Sea lion. This is the video from that scene. Lots of aerial action today. In the video, you can sometimes see the sea lion. It did not appear that they finished or ate the sea lion and after the attack, they quickly moved out of the area. All three family members got involved in the hunt, but you will notice the 5-year-old gets in there quite a bit at the end. It's always amazing to see how young these animals in to learn the skills to survive. Please note this video was taken with a 600mm lens while abiding by whale watching regulations that can be found at bewhalewise.org. -Traci Walter, Western Prince WW
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After receiving reports of the T123 family of transient killer whales heading down President's Channel, we departed Friday Harbor to meet up with them. When we arrived they were milling for a brief moment before changing course directly towards Green Pt, Spieden Island, where the steller sea lions hang out. Suddenly exploding through the water was T123 charging after a sea lion. The hunt was on as she and her 2 offspring lunged and leapt after it. We think he was one lucky sea lion who escaped close to shore after a dramatic encounter. -Barbar Bender Howitt, All Aboard Sailing
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Single Minke spotted between Stuart and Henry Island at 1330!! Erratic little guy but so awesome non the less! -Alexandra Renee Tice

May 15
Possession Sound - 4 grays between Everett and Gedney at around 1000 this morning. Confirmed #49 and #723 along with two there we didn't see much of so no ID's. None of them were together. -Renee Beitzel

May 14
T124A, T124A6 and a tail lobber. Beautiful day on the water... 3 humpbacks followed up by the T101's and T124A's having a party in the Strait of Georgia. Pretty crazy vocals, lots of rolling, splashing and tail lobbing. -Photo by Gary Sutton
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4:30 p.m. - Humpback whale and calf - Whilst birding from the beach at Little Qualicum estuary (in Georgia Strait about 25 miles NW of Nanaimo BC) I watched an adult and calf humpback cruising down the channel across to Lasquiti Island. They were surfacing and diving together then deep dove, to feed?, and came back up in same general area before fluking and diving again. Traveling when first spotted and pausing to feed. Deep dive then back up in same area twice. -Peter Boon
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Mothering Sunday with humpback whale Big Mama! Not only was Big Mama (BCY0324) present off East Point, Saturna Island, B.C., but also one of her calves, Split Fin (BCZ0298) born in 2006, together with companion Divot (BCX1057). All three whales were in a steady traveling pattern, undisturbed by the growling and groaning of the many Steller sea-lions swimming or hauled out on the rocks nearby. Calm conditions enabled passengers to view local marine life at its best, and witness first-hand Big Mama's explosive exhalations. As the saying goes, "Thar she blows." -Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist.
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Big Mama BCY0324 Strait of Georgia. -Photo by Gary Sutton
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7:40 p.m. - Grey Whales in Birch Bay. The whales are back! I saw two grey whales in the bay on Mother's Day. They were surfacing for air every 2 to 3 minutes. -April Fleming
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Possession Sound - Gray #22 was out there today too. -Renee Beitzel
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3:16 p.m. - Dave Davenport reports 3 gray whales just east of Hat/Gedney Island. Mothers day gray whale sighting just east of Hat. Gray whale #383 surfaced and now goes on a deep dive next to the idle boat. Spotted 3 whales. -Dave Davenport
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Two of the three grays surface in tandem east of Hat/Gedney Island. -Photo by Manya Ralkowski, May 14, 2017

May 13
Southern Residents - "...Ken departed Snug Harbor at 1037 in "Chimo" and immediately encountered J36 and J37 off Mitchell Bay heading southeast very spread apart and taking long dives. Other individual whales were off at great distance and some were ahead, also heading down Haro Strait but they were too far away to identify and not surfacing often..." -See full summary and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter #34

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J36 Alki and her son J52 Sonic this morning off Lime Kiln. We saw members of all matrilines from LK this morning, so I believe it's all of Js and L87 that came back down. All mixed up though with J16s at beginning middle and end. Photo by Monika Wieland Shields

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Today J-pod came back through the area and I got so greet some friends I hadn't seen in what felt like forever. Here is a photo of Eclipse (J41) and her two year-old son, Nova (J51). -Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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11:15 a.m. - Ten-year-old J42 is getting all grown up. He she is passing Land Bank near her mom J16.
11:07 a.m. - J19 leading J pod as Js stream by Land Bank spread out.
11:05 a.m. - At Landbank - Female Passing me now. Matriarch J17 trailing as J pod streams southbound Haro Strait out from Land Bank off the west side of San Juan Island. -Cher Renke
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11:31 am. -medium loud Echolocation
11:11 a.m. - Nice echolocation on Lime Kiln.
11:08 a.m. - over to LK hearing calls.
10:52 a.m. - S4 call..tanker coming turned off.
10:50 a.m. - and loud boat noise and airplane
10:45 a.m. calls louder hearing S3
10:35 a.m - After listening to a lovely doggie barking and some gulls on the stereo air mic on OrcaSound I begin hearing faint J pod calls. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Bigg's killer whales (Transients) - 5:15 p.m. - While sailing in Saratoga Passage Robt. Kotovic saw five orcas heading north past Greenbank on the Whidbey side.
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3:15 p.m. - 5-6 orca traveling fast, northbound, Saratoga Passage off Madrona Beach. My guess is Transients, 1 large male possibly 2, rest were females. Woo hoo, love when they visit! -Michele Sarver
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10:30 a.m. - Lisa Albrecht posted cell video of lunge feeding humpback in northern Case Inlet by Allyn/Grapeview across from Treasure Island.
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12:27 p.m. - Single sea otter mid channel between Budd and Eld inlets. Very active and heading north. -Kim Merriman
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[Gray whales] are still here in Birch Bay as of Saturday, May 13th. -Photo by Connie Jones, May 13, 2017
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In case no one else has reported this, I've positively identified the gray whale seen on May 13 east of Race Rocks, Juan de Fuca as #53 (Little Patch), heading west with purpose. Has had enough of Puget Sound, I guess, and has places to go! -Photo by Val Shore

May 12
Haro Strait - T102 off Lime Kiln this afternoon, heading northbound. -Photo by Monika Wieland Shields
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Puget Sound - 4:18 p.m. - just picked them up again just passing Kingston/ south Edmonds west of mid channel powering northbound. 1 male, calf, female and maybe one more female or young male. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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3:47 p.m. - Orcas south of the Edmonds/Kingston ferry crossing in the south bound traffic lane. I believe 2 or 3 females. -James Greenway
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3:05 p.m. - Saw a female and young few minutes ago middle of channel and now seeing some, with adult male in lead, across the channel in southbound shipping lanes towards Faye Bainbridge heading Northbound. Looks like research skiff with them. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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2:57 p.m. - One or two more, just even now with the The Port Madison spit at the tip of Bainbridge.
2:27 p.m. - line of sight between the ship canal and Skiff Point (Bainbridge), east of mid channel. -Sandra Prow
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1:36 p.m. - They seem to have slowed a little.
1:31 p.m. - they headed out towards the middle and last time I saw them from Anchor park they were about straight out from the light house at Discovery park.
1:20 p.m. - Near south side of Magnolia, heading north and towards mid channel. -David Sontag
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1:17 p.m. - viewing from Duwamish Head, they are skirting north edge of Elliott Bay heading towards and nearing West Point. Argosy is with them. -Jason Lee Bell
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12:57 p.m. - Four just north of pier heading north. -Theresa Rivkin
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12:17 p.m. - Orca Pod in Elliot Bay. .5 nautical mile south of Pier 70. Headed east. Towards WSF dock. -Joey LaMarche
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3:49 p.m. - Gray feeding close to shore north of Kayak Point. -Photo by Gary Lingenfelter, May 12, 2017
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11:30 a.m. - 2 whales seen heading South off of South Camano Pebble Beach area. Traveling. -Robert Viggers
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11:05 a.m. - 22, 383, and one other between Mabana and Camano Head.
10:00 a.m. - Gray whale 53 at Possession Point east of buoy. -Renee Beitzel, Chilkat
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Birch Bay - 7:50 p.m. - Gray whales back in Birch Bay this evening, moving from the south of the bay to the north into the strait and back again. Visible from shore. Day #6. -Carole Murray
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Gray whale #383 going on a dive in the south end of Saratoga Passage. -Photo by Renee Beitzel

May 11
8:20 p.m. - Several dorsal orca fins spotted south of ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton. -Caron McCune
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7:40 p.m. - Tonight while riding the Amtrak Cascades northbound, I was treated to a glimpse of a lone male orca between Mukilteo and Everett,. Seems like it was about the same time and place as the Bigg's/Transients that were spotted on Monday evening. He surfaced twice and then I lost him. What a treat! -Jennifer Tennessen
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By 7:00 pm they had made the turn heading southbound towards Mukilteo with a gorgeous rain squall moving in from the south.
6:45 p.m. - one boy in lead hugging closer to Hat/Gedney still southeast bound approaching east end of island. Mom is a little more towards mid about 3 minutes behind and other two boys are on Priest Point side of mid channel about 1-2 minutes behind her. All southeast bound steady pace.
6:15 p.m. - they passed between Tulalip Bay and northside of Hat/Gedney steady pace southeast bound towards Priest Point and Everett.
5:44 p.m. - 1 male just exiting Port Susan. Southbound mid channel at Camano Head;
5:53 p.m. - female now exiting passing southbound a bit further west at green channel marker at Camano Head;
5:55 p.m. - 2nd male now passing southbound Camano head;
5:57 p.m. - 3rd male now passing the channel marker off Camano Head more east of mid channel
4:45 p.m. - they are south of Kayak Point (to the east) and Sunny Shore Acres (on Camano), together but loosely spread powering southbound in the chop. It's so cold out here! I male in the lead, followed by mom and one son, 3rd male is trailing.
4:25 p.m. - I watched them continue north for about 30 minutes then lost them until now. Thinking they went deep north and maybe west into Port Susan and disappeared on me for about the past hour... they are now southbound about where I last saw them out in middle of the port, mid channel.
2:45 p.m. - on a hunch (in part based on a report they were in here yesterday...) I ventured to Kayak Point Park, Port Susan. I arrived to fairly choppy seas and somehow see big boys dorsals (presuming T101s) in the middle out from my location kind of milling at first trending north at the moment! -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:52 a.m. - Chilkat Express leaving the T101s all grouped up now heading north in Possession Sound toward the ferry lanes. We never saw the other group! Only T101 and her 3 sons. -Justine Buckmaster
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Taken near Mukilteo lighthouse around 11:30 am. As a new resident, this was my very first orca sighting! -Photo by Holly Cook
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11:30 a.m. - We spotted two female Orcas (one could have possibly been a calf) near the Mukilteo ferry. We viewed them from the beach, they came up for air several times then disappeared from sight. The Orca were relatively close to the beach if I were to guess I would saw about 200-300 feet (this distance could be totally wrong). It was low tide at the time of sighting, roughly 11:30 am. Traveling. The two were heading south. -Zoe Denckla
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11:12 a.m. - 2 Orcas traveling South at a pretty good clip about 2 miles south of Clinton/ Mukilteo Ferry. They are between the shore and Whidbey island (closer to shore). -Sonja Thompson Sackett
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10:41 a.m. - 2 Male Orca now at Clinton/Mulkiteo ferry crossing south bound. More to the south. -Christopher Hanke
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9:00 a.m. - Orcas- Morning walk on beach, Camano Head. (7) including (1) Calf and adult male. Southbound. Two males leading. Traveling. -- MJ Sawyer
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8:55 a.m. - Orcas in Saratoga Passage! Looks like two males heading south, closer to the Camano side off of Pebble Beach. -Sarah Malmstead
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Coastal killer whales - 11:46 a.m. - Melanie Davis, a Ranger at Cape Lookout, OR, called to report seeing in real time during the call, 5 Bigg's whales, including one adult male, separating a gray whale calf from its mother close to shore, just beyond the surf line.
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7:00 p.m. - Two grays: 1 feeding in delta off Priest Point; 2nd heading north towards that whale about a mile south of him/her. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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We saw a gray traveling north from Glendale pretty close to shore. This was about 6:30. -Debbie Stewart
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Grey whale seen from the 6 pm sailing to Clinton on the SE end of Hat island. -Danielle Pennington
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5:29 p.m. - While watching for orcas seeing blows between Hat and Sandy point westward movement... thinking those are grays. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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Watched 2 Gray whales from Sandy Pt (Whidbey Island) across at Camano Head from 1:15 to 1:30 pm heading north Camano Island side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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1:05 p.m. - tall blows off SW side of Hat/Gedney Island moving west. AND 1:12 p.m. - tall blows sightline Camano Head (from east Mukilteo) heading NW up Saratoga, Camano side, small boat with. No dorsals and tall blows so presuming grays. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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We did see gray whales #22 and #49 just north of the orcas near the shore of Hat Island. -Justine Buckmaster
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10:05 a.m. - 3 Greys west side of Hat heading south east along shore, one more to the west heading towards Sandy Point (Whidbey). 2 Male orcas following greys! -Christopher Hanke

May 10
J pod off Comox - Could it be possible that SRKWs were up here today? I had 20+ with resident type behaviours. Later ID notes: There were Js > I IDed J27 and Ken confirmed J53 and aunt. -Peter Hamilton
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Sidney, BC - 1PM Trip with Captain Gary: Whales right on our doorstep! We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon with the T018's, a family of four Biggs killer whales. We saw them have two successful hunts and had a big syphon from this huge boy, T019B "Galiano". -Ocean Eco-Ventures WW, Cowichan Bay.
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11:30 a.m. - Orcas off Sidney, BC I saw at least 4 orcas (a male and 3 smaller dorsal fins). They were heading North and clearly visible from land. I watched them for about 5 minutes from inside the Ocean Discovery Centre. They were visible only by their fins, no jumps. The orcas in the pod seemed to come up and breathe all at the same time, or very close to the same time. From time to time, they would dissapear for about 45 seconds to 1 minute and then were up again. They appeared to be feeding on seals or Sea Lions for there was water movement, turmoil about 2-3 meters in front of them (the sea was calm). (T18s, see above report by Ocean Eco-Ventures), -Nathanael Lisimaque
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Puget Sound - Afternoon (May 10) from Kayak Point, we spotted a small group of Orcas, maybe 6 including a young one next to mom. Very far away, almost to Camano... It is extremely rare to see Orcas in Port Susan...-Photo by Gary Lingenfelter
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Female and calf heading northbound Possession Sound, T102 heading towards Mukilteo with WS Ferry. -Photo by Stu Davdison
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Researcher these first two photos by Stu: "Looks like some T124A family members".)
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6:45 a.m. - Group of 12 orcas seen from the 6:30am sailing from Clinton. Mid-channel or closer to Whidbey side. Heading south. 3 large males and 2 babies. -Photo by Danielle Pennington, May 10, 2017
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6:42 a.m. - Pod of 6? Orcas SB seen from the 6:30am Clinton departure. Whales on the Whidbey side, slowly milling around. -Jeff Dodd
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6:40 a.m. - Orcas in the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lanes. Heading south, but milling around. I only saw two, but captain said there were more. -Dori Dace
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Unidentified whales - Harley and I disagree about what but we saw a cetacean about 10-15 minutes ago (3:20-3:25). I saw the blow and saw one orca come up. Out of the water-totally unexpected! We turned engine off man hour ago and have been drifting with current and just main up. Wow! Got my adrenaline going! We've been watching but haven't seen anything since. Harley thinks it was a humpback but he didn't see as much as I did...where we are-south of Possession Point midchannel. Both sails up now and we are heading back north. -Sharon Ann Clark
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1733. gray whale NB about 1-1.5mi NW of Mukilteo lighthouse. First spotted him NB near Glendale at 1645. -Ariel Yseth
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4:55 p.m. - Just saw one going by my house on the Clinton side just north of Glendale. Heading north. -Christina Martin Swan
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On the 3:00 crossing from Mukilteo - soon after M/V Kittitas was under way several people exclaimed "whale!" I, of course, was scanning the opposite side of the vessel. I spoke with a young man who distinctly described the fluking of a baleen whale. He did not see the back. Location was just north of ferry lanes. Possession is glassy and it's beautiful out there so anyone on this crossing the remainder of the day should be on the sun deck! -Debbie Stewart
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10:54 a.m. - 53 and 383 just west of possession point with another further east of us near bouy. No direction. Just logging and hanging out. -Renee Beitzel
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Kingston - Gray whale seen on Kingston Ferry crossing at 3:15. Whale was heading westbound into Appletree Cove. -Emily Duncanson
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1:00 p.m. - A single small humpback was seen today cruising very close to the west shore of Oak Bay (between Port Hadlock and Port Ludlow). Observed for about 10 minutes, it was heading south toward Mats Mats Bay. GPS is 48N, 122.715W. Less than 200 yards from the west shore of Oak Bay, directly across the Sound from Bush Point. -Jim Carroza
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Proof of presence photo of humpback from 1/2 mile south of Bush Point, Whidbey Island, about 11:45 am, at 2.5 miles, heavily cropped. -Photo by Howard Garrett, May 10, 2017
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11:30 a.m. - HB making good progress heading steadily south. Saw flukes a couple of times.
11:15 am - A single humpback off the south end of Marrowstone Island, heading SW. -Sandra Pollard
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Morning kayaking the North End of Case Inlet and Treasure Island with a humpback. Humpback in Case Inlet with dot on left dorsal. (Lisa's report was included in previous Whale Report - You tube video shows same humpback who was in Hammersley Inlet on May 2nd, Case Inlet May 3rd & on this day and later days in May - see above - ALB)
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10:15 - Approx. 12+ common dolphins (spread out) traveling fast south into Eld Inlet. It's flat calm, so the 'swooshing' of the water they are pushing is an incredible sound. No aerial displays. -Photo by Kim Merriman, May 10 , 2017
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From Bellingham bay, saw 2 dalls porpoise around 7 pm! We were researching harbor seals for our environmental science class at boulevard park. -Audrey Long

May 9
North Puget Sound - We got a call at 6:25 pm, from Mark Millard, two orcas 1.5 miles N of Clinton ferry dock, Clinton side, about 1 mile out. At the same time, two gray whales in same area, but within a couple hundred feet of the shoreline. All the whales, orcas and grays, were headed north.
(re 6:25 post- Wondering if that's a separate group. The ones I watched hugged the Mukilteo side south bound at least 1mi from mukilteo beach when I last saw them at around 16:45. Two adult males, two adult females, and 1-2 calves.- Ariel Yseth)
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Message from Trent in Mukilteo at 5:40pm - 3 Orcas heading north through the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes.
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4:25 - near Mukilteo, at least four orcas, an adult male, two females and a juvenile, are heading south on the Mukilteo side past the lighthouse. -Photo by Ariel Yseth, May 9, 2017
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Female and calf. The surf was rolling in heavy while I was kayaking and something caught the corner of my eye. I thought it must've been a black seabird of some sort diving or a harbor porpoise because I couldn't quite see over the waves. I gave up kayaking about 10 seconds later. And once I hauled my kayak up on shore I turned and mom and calf were straight out from where I just was. Realized mama's fin caught my eye then I glanced and must've seen the little one going under. -Photo by Ariel Yseth, May 9, 2017
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3:34 p.m. - Group of 3-5 orcas headed from Everett toward Hat Island. Not sure any of the fins were tall enough to be male. Looked like one smaller one keeping close to larger one. -Mary Dulin
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11:25 a.m. - Orcas in Port Susan. I am sitting on my front deck listening to and watching a group of 4-6 porpoise about 30' off our low tide shoreline and have spotted 1 tall orca fin much deeper out. Feeding? Relaxed movement then dive. I am at the north end of Port Susan on Camano Island facing east in The Camano Country Club beach. -Susan Mackey
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9:23 a.m - They are still milling about between Hat and Camano Head, close to Camano. -Mary Dulin
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9:09 a.m - Just on the east side of hat now!! maybe 2 or 3! -Jason Bourne
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9:00 a.m. - Saw a pod of about 5 (3 large males and two smaller) about 10 minutes ago -- heading NW up Saratoga Passage between Hat Island and Camano Island. Traveling. -Pamela Wascher
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8:56 a.m. - Looks like they are meandering north along Camano. At least 2 large ones (presumably male?) And 1 or 2 smaller.
8:26 a.m. - Watching at least 4 between Hat and Everett, closer to Hat. Sort of milling about, primarily headed more toward Hat. -Mary Dulin
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About 7:25 am. ferry was unloading at the Mukilteo ferry dock, about 10 orcas passed traveling close to the stern of the parked ferry. I think at least one was large and had a large fin. -P Oakley
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7:18 a.m. - Orcas in front of Mukilteo Lighthouse headed towards Everett area. Appears to be a couple of pods. -Photo by Melissa Simmons, WSF, May 9, 2017
(viewed cell video, at least 7 (females, young, and calves - ALB)
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The T124A's in Admiralty Inlet earlier today. -Video by Steve Smith, May 9, 2017
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2:25 p.m. - We finally found them! Chilkat leaving the T124As beading north in Admiralty Inlet abeam of Mutiny Bay. Mid Channel but pointing toward Bush Point! -Justine Buckmaster
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8:50 - Mike at WSFerries reports 2 orcas heading north off Shilshole marina.
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8:24 a.m. - Fay Bainbridge/Port Madison spit. (sightline)
8:13 a.m. - headed north now with more purpose. I see at least one big bull. They stay submerged for a quite a while, look for the birds above them. Still trending north
8:10 am. - 4-5 Mid/west channel, west of ship canal. Feeding, trending northward.
7:59 a.m. - Small northbound single animal (probably orca) due west of Shilshole Bay ship canal, mid channel. Clipper was watching them for a bit. Probably more than one but it's too far to tell. Actually quite a few of them and they appear to be feeding. Bird frenzy above. Milling in a northerly direction. Big breach!!! -Sandra Prow
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Juan de Fuca - You never know! 7 Minutes from our Docks in Sooke, B.C. - Vancouver Island. We spotted T087 one of our large Male Transient/Biggs Killer Whales that visit the Salish sea in hunt for food. We had the pleasure to view him all the way to Race Rocks Lighthouse. -Paul Pudwell
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I was sailing off of Browns Point, Tacoma this evening and we saw what we thought was a single small whale. He surfaced twice in a thrashing motion. -Diana Jutte
(After speaking with Diana based on what was seen and behaviors sounds most likely to be a small humpback - ALB)
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6:50 p.m. - Multiple whales in Possession Sound near Priest Point. Gray whales I think. There seemed to be two groups. Three or four total at least. Couldn't make out a direction of travel. -Dan Tunacik Jr
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We got a call at 6:25 pm, from Mark Millard, two orcas 1.5 miles N of Clinton ferry dock, Clinton side, about 1 mile out. At the same time, two gray whales in same area, but within a couple hundred feet of the shoreline. All the whales, orcas and grays, were headed north.
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Debra Campbell Facebook video also shows #44 feeding off Langley.
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Gray whale #44 Dubknuck feeding in Langley tonight. -Photo by Diane Jhueck, May 9, 2017
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THAR SHE BLOWS!!!! We're sitting on our north-facing deck and it's 5:57pm. We just heard the WHALE BELL a few minutes ago, and now we hear the distinct sounds of the blows of a whale/s close to shore across the street from 417 First St. Simon said he saw it, but I just hear it repeatedly. Wonderful sounds! A healthy WHALE feeding right here in downtown LANGLEY! Robin (Black Callison) & Tim (Mayor Callison) tell us there were TWO feeding whales, and I estimate they hung around 30-45/ minutes at least. Guests at the INN AT LANGLEY had front row seats to this wildlife excitement! -Sharen Heath
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1:30 p.m. - One gray headed north from Everett. No sign of other one that was hanging around Hat Island.
1:00 p.m. - One (gray) sticking close to Hat Island, the other headed toward Everett.
12:40 p.m. - Seeing frequent blows, likely at least 2 grays, off southeast end of Hat Island, headed south. -Mary Dulin
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11:17 a.m. - Larry Nichols reports two gray whales off View Road, between Clinton and Langley, headed south.
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We were just followed by one grey near possession point. Around 11am. -Ruth Rogovoy Berkman
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10:55 p.m. - now southbound.
10:41 p.m. - two grays northbound just south of Sandy Point. -Rachel Haight
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10:13 a.m. - Looks like a single individual. Just hanging near the ferry.
9:55 a.m. - Grey off Elliott point mukilteo. -Ruth Rogovoy Berkman
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8:43 am - Seeing one gray whale slightly north of the Clinton ferry dock. -Angrea Furiosa Brig Fowler
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Kingston - 7:26am - Mike at WSFerries reports a gray whale mid channel on the Edmonds/Kingston line, heading north.
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I live in Birch Bay and follow your blog. More gray whales were spotted in our Bay early this morning and yesterday also. Exciting. Have my camera and hope to capture them. -Gina Olson
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5:30 p.m. - Pickering Passage at the north end of Hartstine Island...large group of barking seals enjoying many schooling fish for dinner right alongside a huge whale... I had been hearing it nearby for several hours...I just looked at several whale id websites and am thinking it may well have been a humpback...with any luck I will get pictures tomorrow if it comes back. -Cammy Malm LaRiviere

May 8
I was so happy to see L87 Onyx off of Lummi Island. He was swimming with Alki J36 at the time. I was on the IE4 from La Conner with Island Adventures. The research boat from the Vancouver Aquarium was also there and flew their drone above the J16 pod. I hope they've got good news about the health of J-pod. -Kristina Trowbridge

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A predation event with a CA sea lion began just several hundred yards offshore by 15+ orcas. This female was one to make first contact. Before and after images in the sequence are below beginning with the sea lion in her mouth. Taken from shore at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline, WA. -Photo by Tom Tully
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: "That looks like T68B I think.")

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8:27 p.m. -viewing from Sandy Point it appears the group is northbound towards Port Susan. -Rachel Haight

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8 pm - Kurt Kassahn reports seeing at least four adult males heading north into Saratoga Passage, between Hat Island and Everett.

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7:59 p.m. - Headed in the direction of port Susan, East side of camano. Saw at least 4 - Watching them between Hat and Everett. Làrge fins, maybe a couple groups. Too far away for details. -Mary Dulin

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From this evening, just before 7:00 p.m: five transients, including a calf second from left, headed north from Mukilteo Beach. -Photo by Erynn Allen

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6:45 p.m. - Passed Mukilteo fishing pier, heading north, closer to Mukilteo side. -Pam Ren

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6:43 p.m. - Got em. I saw 3-4 individuals one male and baby at least. They went north of the Mukilteo ferry. -Melinda Barajas

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6:37 p.m. - they're past. Closer to Mukilteo side so hard to see. Someone with very strong binocs counted 14; 6:35 p.m. - From Glendale Beach as they are about to cross the ferry lanes. They were angled more towards Everett/Port Susan as opposed to Saratoga Passage; 6:30 - Large bull approaching Glendale! -Debbie stewart

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6:13 p.m. - The 2 large males trailing behind made a super close pass to Possession point park. It was amazing; 6:04 p.m. - They are just south of Possession Beach heading north in a resting line. -Danielle Pennington

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Around 6:30 PM 1 (of 2) males that passed very close to Possession Beach heading north. -Photo by Danielle Pennington, May 8, 2017

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5:40 p.m. - Two pods totaling 11(+?) including what believe is T101s (female & 3 adult sons). Other group looks to be 7+ females and calves. Northbound mid channel off Possession Point south Whidbey heading towards Clinton/Mukilteo. 5:07 p.m. - north group of 2 pods (9+) is off Edmonds out from ferry. Males still trailing. Look to be keeping to this side (verses Admiralty) -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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After having a meal to the south in Richmond Beach, this family along with others travel northbound, seen here passing Edmonds Marina Beach. -Photo by Ariel Yseth, May 8, 2017

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4:40 p.m. - north group just south of Point Wells, Woodway close to east side. 9 orcas two groups males trailing. Northbound slow/ med pace. Edmonds is the place to be;
4:07p.m.- one pod of 5-6 including adult male and calf now steady northbound off south end Richmond Beach. Well East of mid channel. And what may be T101s not far behind;
3:30 p.m.- break away group of 5 (+?) females and calves on the move southbound mid channel due west off Carkeek park. Feeding group still north of Carkeek east side channel. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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4:30 p.m. - group of 8-9 north of Richmond Beach, heading north slowly. Can barely see them from the beach anymore. -Kathleen Love

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4:22 p.m. - They're coming back to Richmond Beach! Right now! At least eight!;
4:09 p.m. - Wait! Eight separate spouts just now - just off shore northwest of Blue Ridge Community Beach!;
4:06 p.m. - Now they are playing around the buoy NW of Shilshole Marina - have seen 3 at a time.... Now viewing through binoculars from my Richmond Beach verandah. Wow! -Karen Jean Rutter Weber

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4:23 p.m. - The pod started to swim off slowly! Like they were full. Due northwards;
4:06 p.m - A large pod off the coast near Richmond beach! Wonderful!!! -Ian Aranha

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3:45 p.m. - friend Donna above Golden Gardens reports at least 4 on the east side of the channel. Presumably north of Golden Gardens still. -Sandra Prow
(this is the 1st break away group post kill who headed southbound)

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3:30 p.m. - Group of 5 (+?) females and calves on the move breaking away from where they've been feeding...southbound mid channel due west off Carkeek park. Feeding group still north of Carkeek east side channel. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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2:59 p.m. - watching orcas north of Carkeek park. Research skiff with them. Lots of blows. Several large bulls. Best viewing with binoculars at this distance. Appear to be moving slowly southbound. -Martha Carlstead

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2:18 p.m. - currently off point between Richmond Beach and Carkeek with research skiff. Drifting and circling and presumably eating at this point.
1:55 p.m. - on beach watching them to the south on the kill with Kim Avery who spots more coming from the north. Porpoising southbound off Richmond Beach to join others (40 minutes after the initial contact with the Sea lion). -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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2:00 p.m. - Andrea Massoni called from Richmond Beach in Edmonds to report at least 7 orcas milling in the bay, apparently making a kill and feeding on something. One breached, then they disappeared for about ten minutes, then surfaced in the same place.

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1339 - From carkeek looking toward Richmond beach. Seeing lots of thrashing. -Ariel Yseth

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By 1:00 p.m. - it was clear they were on to something as several were porpoising at high speed directly towards Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. I got down to the Beach and at approximately 1:15pm, rounded the overpass to see flying bodies and churning water 100 yards or so off shore! The tired and injured Sea lion swam along the shore...At some point the T101s joined from the west and at 1:55 the earlier most northern pod joined as well. (see video below) -Alisa Lemire Brooks
Here is a 8.5 minute video starting just after the first contact and ending with them taking the Sea Lion. WARNING: there is no blood or gore but there is closeup footage of the sea lion getting taken under just feet from shore around the 7 minute mark which might be upsetting to some. -Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network, May 8, 2017

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At 12:45 p.m. I moved to Richmond Beach Saltwater park and watched them move south. Seem to have no interest in the gray whale. T101s are on the west side channel and trailing a bit north behind the others.
Approx 12:35 p.m. - The two lead groups joined up are are just resting, convening? mid channel now east of the yellow mid channel buoy between Richmond Beach and President Point. I am in contact with Puget Sound Express/Chilkat who has come upon a small emaciated gray whale who is just 1/4 mile ahead. They are taking photos and keeping track of the whale so that the stranding networks can be alerted. We all of course are wondering if there will be a predation on this whale. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

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The predation event took place in-shore off Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline by several pods. Reports and documentation of the encounter were included in our May 8th Whale Sighting Report Part Two: Bigg's, including a sequence of Tom's photos of T68B who has the sea lion in her mouth. ID notes from these photos and other sent to Dave Ellifrit at Center for Whale Research: "In addition to the T101s, the only whale I can confirm (I'm still waiting for my first T68Bs encounter) is that T124A1 is also in there."

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12:12 - Maia of WS Ferries reports a single "large" orca heading ESE off Apple Tree Point.

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12:00 pm - a small group of half a dozen heading south between Point Edwards and the Kingston ferry terminal, closer to Point Edwards. -Sherman Page

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11:45 a.m. - lead group nearing Apple Tree PT/Edmonds Ferry Dock mid ch. now see 3 big bulls T101s west and .5 miles north of leaders, have not resighted large trailing group.
11:35 a.m. - smaller group of approx 6 (loosely grouped) mid channel southbound between Eglon and mid Edmonds. Much larger group of 10 + (tightly grouped) trailing approx 1.5-2 miles north of them. All southbound steady pace.
11:10 a.m. - large group approx 1.5 miles SE of Possession Point mid channel steady southbound. Looks like some little ones in there. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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10:37 a.m. - One group of 2 males rounding the corner to Admiralty Inlet the rest heading towards Edmonds; 10:33 a.m. - Groups are nearing Possesion, one group lagging by picnic point. They are in 4 groups
10:00 a.m. - Several groups spread out across the channel around the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lanes area: 3 groups are south of Clinton and one group is around the Mukilteo ferry area, close to that side. Traveling southbound first at quick pace then slowed but in general doing 6 knots. ID'd so far are T101s (T102 is with them) and at least 3 more pods not yet ID'd. -Janine Harles, PS Express

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9:55 a.m. - Orcas heading south past Clinton ferry terminal! This must be the pod now heading south between Edmonds/Kingston. -Emily Wandres

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7:57 a.m - Just spotted 4-5+ whales leaping and spouting in Port Susan from our high-bank property on Camano Island. Looked like there may have even been a baby with them. Heading south at a rapid pace. -Connie Johnson

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May 8 - South Puget Sound - 6:05 p.m. - 3-4 orcas, including at least on adult male, milling between the Southworth ferry and Blake Island, per Marie Waterman at WS Ferries.

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2:29 p.m. - Had about five or 6 transients pass my house on the south end of Vashon. Couldn't tell if they are headed towards the Narrows or up Colvos. -Holly Bailey

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May 8 - South Puget Sound - I just got visited by the humpback at Spencer Cove (Case Inlet). It popped up about 25 feet from my anchored boat. 350pm and headed north towards Harstine Point. -Nick Wenzel

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7:10 a.m. - Two to three Grey's heading south towards ferry crossing just off South Whidbey (Clinton). Calm sea makes them easy to spot. -Kathy Schwenn

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Birch Bay - 7:30 p.m. - I spotted three Gray whales 100 yards out from the beach in Birch Bay which is near the Canadian Border. One of their tails was visible when they dove further off shore heading toward Point Roberts. Other folks have reported seeing them for a few days. Apparently, it's been over ten years since we've had such a treat! -Connie Jones

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Around noon today - Gray whale in Birch Bay. -Photo by Bob Christie, May 7, 2017

May 7
"Ken called in the morning reporting that whales were heading east off Sooke. After waiting for the whales to get a little closer, Giles and Dave headed down to Snug Harbor and left at 1145. We found our first whales about a half mile east of Trial Island at 1225. This was J35 along with J47 and J45. J17, J44, and J53 were a little behind the others and quickly caught up and the whales all traveled east in a loose group before turning north once they past Seabird Point. There were other whales well on their way across Haro Strait heading toward the west side of San Juan Island so we moved ahead and briefly saw J40 and J27 spread out heading northeast toward False Bay. Since the leaders had already hit the west side, we decided to move up toward Bellevue Point and let the leaders come to us..." Full encounter summary & photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 33

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J53 "Kiki" showing off some aerials in Boundary Pass! One of those incredible nights. Flat calm, beautiful light and not another boat in sight. We shut down and you could hear a pin drop, it was so quiet. We could hear breaches but couldn't see some of the animals because of the huge spread and then J53 started doing this! We had a pretty epic time with J47 too. -Gary Sutton, May 7, 2017

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We saw members of all matrilines and almost every whale, though some were offshore and unidentifiable. We left them at 16:30 at Turn Point undecided between Swanson and Boundary. Really spread out at the beginning but some closer more playful groups near the end. Really cool to see L87, J38, J45, and J49 all hanging out together playing. J19 was in the lead being very J2-like, for today anyway. All the youngster were very bouncy and looked healthy, to me anyway! -Monika Wieland Shields

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Often J27 Blackberry travels with his younger brother J39 Mako, but on Sunday he was with his sister J31 Tsuchi as J-Pod passed Lime Kiln. Leaders way ahead of where I thought, approaching LB 1300. all north of LK at 1440. -Monika Wieland Shields

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1:40 - 2:15 tuned into Lime Kiln to listen to J pod. S1, S3, S10 calls and echolocation. Watched whales on webcam as well. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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12:37 p.m - Faint calls on lime kiln hydrophone. -Chelsea Lope

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8:30 a.m. - All of J pod inbound past Sooke this morning...should be near Race Rocks now! What an amazing morning to be the first to welcome the entire J Pod clan of the Southern Resident Killer Whales back to the Salish sea... Glad to see some have started to return to our area! -Paul Pudwell

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Good day, I live in Old Town Mukilteo. I have a view of Hat Island, and Possession Sound. On Sunday about 3:00 p.m. I spotted (through binoculars) 2, possibly 3 whales, "cruising," with/next to a south-bound sailboat about a mile south of the eastern tip of Hat. I also own a sailboat, and have had close encounters with Grays in Possession Sound and as such, that is what I was watching for, however the dorsal fins on these whales where, "unmistakably," Orcas... long, tall, "black," dorsals.... I am by no means an expert, but I'm pretty sure it was a pod of Orcas. I have no idea which one. It would be awesome if someone else also reported this sighting...-Patrick R Greer

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Juan de Fuca - About 7:30 pm a lone humpback headed west just offshore about a mile east of iceberg point, Lopez Island. -Tom Reeve, Lopez Island

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Puget Sound - 7:43 p.m. - single humpback headed south into Budd Inlet - and if it headed north, it did so late in the night. I saw it surface 3 times, heard it 4 times. This is just at the entrance to Budd Inlet and that is Cooper Point in front of it. Cascadia Research knows. -Kim Merriman

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Surfaced just four times and lost it around Browns Point, maybe 550ish
5:37 p.m. - just saw a [humpback] whale three times heading Southeast off point Ruston. -Allison Stewart Bishins

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5:40 p.m. - I think we just saw the trail of a [humpback] whale in front of the Point Defiance ferry! He's in the middle of Commencement Bay. -Lori Patch

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4:17 p.m. - Small humpback? South bound Colvos Passage, breached! Pt.Richmond. -Phyllis Macy Putnam

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6:03 p.m. - Whales again in Birch Bay....watching two right now. One in close and another out further and off to the right. -Wendy Wampler

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North Puget Sound - 7:50 p.m. - Whales right off of Langley, slightly north of the inn trailing almost to Bells Beach. -Emily Wandres

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7:49 p.m. - Visiting a friend on the 5t floor at Providence rehab in Everett down by the bayside, watching 3 gray whales. From our viewpoint, 2 are on the east side of Hat Island, the third is over closer to Tulalip. -Pam Ren

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Also had a report from Dena Marie of three Gray whales feeding and having a party at Mabana, Camano Island at 4:05 pm, with lots of birds following them around.

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12 noon - Langley friends... two whales blowing in front of my shop right now. -Marie Lincoln (Chocolate Flower Farm - The Garden)

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10:38 a.m. - Two grays in Everett Harbor, Little Patch and another yet to be determined. 11:34 a.m. - Both Patch and Little Patch are here, east of Hat Island in Everett Harbor. -Steve Smith

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8:11 a.m. - Two gray whales off the southern tip of Hat Island. Blows visible from Clinton/Mukilteo ferry. -Margaret Marshall

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Admiralty/Juan de Fuca - Traveling NNW passing Point Wilson. T86As plus T124Ds. -Photo by Ariel Yseth, May 7, 2017 (ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: " I see T124D the first and second photos")

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9:34 a.m. - Puget Sound Express just picked up transient killer whales at Point Wilson headed west. -Peter Hanke

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North Puget Sound - 11:00 a.m. - 3-4 orcas in Admiralty Inlet, heading north between Bush Pt. and Lagoon Pt. with purpose through the sailboats. - Claudia Mitchell

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7:30 a.m. - Maia of WA State Ferries relayed a report from the Edmonds/Kingston ferry of about ten orcas heading north.

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Afternoon NB groups south of Tacoma to Alki - 8:30 PM - as the crew passed Bainbridge (beyond yellow channel marker) Large bull in the lead, really far west in the channel, in the waning light. What a nice way to end the day. -Photo by Kersti Muul, May 7, 2017

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For the past half hour I have been watching the Pod of Orca's that exited Colvos Passage, near the southend of Blake Island, further east @ 500 yards ...they were hunting, look like 2 big boys as they kept turning directions, ... lots of activity , tail slapping, breaching, thrashing and splashing as they made a kill...I watch them hunt and then catch their prey.. saw lots of activity and Seabirds flying overhead. I watch them for an half hour milling in the same spot , most likely feeding and enjoying their dinner before they moved on traveling Northbound, east side of Blake Island at @ 8pm ....-Kathe Bradly

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8:12 pm - Passing by Blake Is. quickly in West Side of Shipping Channel, heading NE fast approaching Bainbridge;
7:55 p.m. - Orcas just south of Southworth near the blinking tower: The group went North 1/4 of the way past Blake Isl. then turned southbound. They may have killed something, they've been splashing and milling for 30 mins;
7:50 p.m. - the group is now heading North, almost to Blake Island with Large Bull in the group. -Kersti Muul
7:45 p.m. - Report from WA State Ferries: the Ferry Issaquah reports 8-10 orcas northbound on the N side of Blake Island.

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7:05 p.m. - They are headed toward Seattle. About .5 mile from Alki Beach heading North. Must be 12 all together between multiple pods. -Jessi Bailey

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6:59 p.m. - 2nd pod of 4-5 just next to it but closer to the ferry dock northbound;
6:51 p.m. - almost to Southworth ferry more on the Vashon side heading north. -Ryan Sheridan

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6:45 p.m. - Tim Ferris reports 10 orcas rushing fast heading north at the north end of Colvos Passage.

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6:22 p.m. - passing Frageria Rd (north of Al's) in Olalla, two pods met up and continued northbound at a steady pace (8-10 total). -Katie Schmelzer

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6:05 p.m - large pod just passed Lisabeulah beach, closer to the Southworth/Olalla side of Colvos headed northbound fast in travel mode. -Marla Smith

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About 5:30 p.m. - Two large males, Four females (two smaller)Traveling North on the south end of Colvos Passage. Appeared to be traveling and playing. -Becky Sproat

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Moving fast up Colvos passage 5:20 pm 2 groups. 12 -15 moving fast. -Mark Baker

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5:19 p.m. - They are heading northbound. The second pod is joining them. Looks like they are both going to head through Colvos Passage. They just passed between Point Defiance and Gig Harbor. I count 3 pods. Minimum of 3 per pod and one pod has 6. - Josh Hollandsworth

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5:18 p.m. - Heading north in Colvos toward Sunrise Beach and then Olalla. 3 pods. Were moving fairly quick;
5:13 p.m. - 2 pods; 3-5 and 2-4 or more just north of Pt Defiance. Northbound towards west side of Vashon;
4:59 - arrival off Pt Defiance W side. Heading north. Viewing from Gig Harbor old ferry dock. -Danielle Clark

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5:05 p.m. - Looks like they are headed to Colvos Passage now. ..The two pods came together just north of Pt. Defiance today before heading north in Colvos. Two groups of Orcas, about 5 each, came together just north of Pt. Defiance after passing Salmon Beach. We were drifting with motor off when two bulls, massive, surfaced 25-ft from our 14ft skiff. Amazing! Here are a few zoom and crop photos from the skiff. -Zeno Martin
(see photos below and more in Zeno's photo album. ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: from all photos: "It looks like at least the T101s, T68Bs, and T68B1s")

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Around 5:00 p.m. this evening with Salmon Beach, Tacoma in the background. -Photo by Cari Black, May 7, 2017

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4:37 p.m. - Pod now north of Narrows bridge and heading towards Point Defiance very quickly. Two males, 4-5 females. -Jennier McKee-Johnson

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T102 and one of his brothers...Watched these two pass by from the Tacoma Narrows viewpoint at Point Defiance Park. What a perfect way to end the day. -Photo by Jessica Pagan, May 7, 2017

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Us south Sounders sure got a treat today. My wife and I were at the end of the beach bridge at Chambers Bay with binoculars when the orca appeared. We (well they through our excitement) drew quite a crowd. Then we drive up to Pt Defiance and stopped at one of the overlooks by the Narrows Bridge (which is where I figured they were going). Not only the group we saw at Chambers but a few more. Been doing random whale searches for years and this was our first orca success. Seen porpoises humpbacks and grays but our first for our favorites. Blessed. -Jamie Taylor

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One of 2 orca pods that swam beneath the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma this afternoon. (see photo below ) My daughter and I were lucky enough to see them swim beneath us. Also, my husband and I saw what we believe to be a humpback swimming south of the Narrows Bridge as we ran across it at 10am this morning. We saw the back and large tail as it dove. It was an amazing day for whales! -Chris Coover

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4:30 p.m. - several headed north under the Narrows bridge now. I'm guessing 8-10 individuals, maybe. Hugging Gig harbor side.Will have better idea when I can look at my pictures.
4:20 p.m. - taken from Titlow with Point Fosdick in the background. Hard day for photos with lots of heat/water distortion. -Jill Clogston

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4:30 p.m. - Just saw two pods of Orcas passing under the Narrows Bridge at 4:30. Heading to Point Defiance to watch the two pods come together. -Krissie Carl

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4:20 p.m. - Northbound 2 Orcas ! Rest of pod NB along West shore across from Titlow Beach. -Photo by Karen Caldwell, May 7, 2017

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4:15 pm - They are heading through the Narrows, almost to the bridge on the west side. -Lori Patch

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4:11 p.m. - Small pod between Fox island and Chambers bay golf course. Heading north toward narrows bridge. Not sure which pod but a couple of big males. - Jamie Taylor

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4:06 p.m. - Sunday - what appears to be 3 males in the Narrows headed north, just south of the bridge, on the west shore, approaching the park. -Phil Caldwell

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3:55 p.m. - traveling the east side of Fox Island toward Narrows bridge. -Cari Black

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3:41 p.m. - as best I can tell, the first group is now between McNeil and Fox Headed into Carr inlet with lots of boats and the second group is nearing the tip of Fox and headed north towards the Narrows with no one noticing;
3:25 p.m. - New group is now between Chambers Creek golf course and tip off McNeil island, seemingly northbound. Boats still with them, but they are moving a at a good pace. 2 big males, at least one little one. Did some beautiful surfacing as a group;
3:14 p.m. - new group 5-6 orcas came up around west side of Anderson island. Between McNeil and Anderson now, closer to ferry dock on AI and headed north. Boats with them. There were 2 big males and one really tiny baby - still looked pink in the photos - and another young one as well. They went and had a party in the middle of Chambers Bay, which was too far for me to get good shots of, but it sure looked like a hopping shindig!-Belen Bilgic Schneider

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A huge super-pod of transient (Bigg's) orca left the deep Sound in 3 groups. This was just part of the group of the last group to come out, passing to the west of Anderson Island and heading out into Chamber's Bay. -Photo by Belen Bilgic Schneider, May 7, 2017

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4:12 p.m. - A second pod went through as well. 2 large males with them also. Would have posted sooner but didn't want to miss anything;
3:43 p.m - They are headed north through the Narrows. About 6 of them;
3:12 P.M. - South of the fisherman's dock on Fox Island. Saw a few surface. Not sure how many. They were headed towards the Narrows close to the tacoma side. -Andrea Brereton

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2:36 p.m. - from my vantage, it looks like they are in the water halfway between McNeil and Steilacoom, headed toward the Narrows. I'm changing location;
2:29 p.m. - there was a big male in front, followed later by another group. Later group is still along Ketron shore northbound. Nearing the tip;
2:17 p.m. - passing between Anderson Island and Ketron, visible from from Riviera dock in the island;
2:09 p.m. - from Anderson Island FB: "Just spotted three or four orcas heading north from Lyles Point!." (SE Anderson Island) - I'm watching from the next viewpoint north on Anderson Island, waiting to spot. -Belen Bilgic Schneider

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Case Inlet - We left the Case Inlet pod at 3:20. They were still in Taylor Bay and looked like they may have had a kill, as there was lots of activity and no real direction of travel;
2:43 p.m. - Orcas are milling in Taylor Bay. Hard to tell how many from where we're watching. It was hard to tell, but we thought 5 or 6 with 1 big male. -Jessica Pagan

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2:18 p.m. - Anderson Island side. Def didn't continue down Nisqually reach though, think they turned north;
2:03 p.m. - Saw pod of six heading towards South Point of Long Branch about 5 minutes ago, then disappeared (Nisqually Reach);
1:43 p.m. - 3 southbound towards Puget Marina (Olympia, Nisqually Reach). -Aletha McGee

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1:12 p.m. - they passed Joemma Beach state park! (southbound) My first time ever seeing these creatures in the wild! Beautiful tall dorsal fins! Couple blows! Life is good! Thanks orca network! -Ian Aranha

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1:05 p.m. - Southbound possibly in direction of Dana Passage at Wilson Point (Hartstine);
12:57 p.m. - Some heading towards Jemma;
12:55 p.m. - Southbound south of Fudge Point;
12:47 p.m. - Approximately 6 spread between Fudge Point and Mcmicken SB;
12:43 p.m. - 6 southbound Case Inlet at Mcmicken Island. -Doug Olson

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12:10 p.m. - Same pod (only seeing 2-3 Orcas) seem to be heading south along the main land shore toward Herron Island, or may be along Herron already. -Miche Ennis

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11:22 a.m. - They seemed to be after a pod of porpoises, hence the shifting directions. -Mia Bosetti

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11:15 a.m. - Correction.. they just turned around;
11:12 a.m. - They are heading south toward Harstine Bridge now from Harstene /Chesapeake beach. Beautiful!;
11:04 a.m. - Seeing the same pod (~ 6 orcas) now at 11:04, from North point of Harestine island. The are playing or feeding just south of Stretch Island (east end). -Miche Ennis

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10:53 a.m. - Harstine Island pod northbound near Grapeview. Feeding activity.
10:30 a.m. - Pod with multiple tiny babies off of Harstine Island Pointe. Separate pod from Budd Inlet. Southbound. -Mia Bosetti

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8:20 am - Orca sighting. 3-6 orcas seen at quite a distance, NE of McMicken Island going north in Case Inlet. Feeding. -David Miller

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Budd Inlet group - 11:45 a.m. - 5+orcas Johnson Point headed South. -Kelly Ockerman

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11:40 a.m. - Group of about 4 headed south. Just passing Johnson Pt. and milling around between Zittle's and Anderson Island. One boat persuing them but I can't get an id. -Joan Ahre

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11:00 a.m. - still trending north. Slowly. Cannot tell which direction they will go (toward Hunter Point/Steamboat Island or up Dana Passage) other than that.
10:10 a.m. - Budd Inlet orcas (maybe 2 bulls) are somewhat stalled. Staying in same vicinity. Moving very slowly trending north with outgoing tide but lots of splashing and aerial moves. Gulls overhead;
9:40 a.m. - At least 4 (with large bull) heading north out of Budd Inlet just passing Boston Harbor. Can hear them surface clear across the bay(s) and see their blows lighting the sky like crystalline fireworks. Too far away for decent photos. -Kim Merriman

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8:00 am sighting: Pod of 6 or so Orcas traveled south through Pickering Passage at Jarrells Cove at close to 8am. -Teresa Saunders Westcoat

May 6
Case Inlet split to Tacoma - 8:32 p.m. - watching from Southworth ferry dock - 3 including a baby just passed still northbound looks like they are headed northeast towards the Seattle side. -Brittany Gordon

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8:30 p.m. - Pod of 3 with little one exited Colvos Passage traveling northeast of Blake Island at a fast pace...lost them fading into the darkness of the sky. -Kathe Bradley

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7:54 p.m. - Whale Sighting. 6-7 Bigg's, now passing Cove (neighborhood northern Vashon) with beautiful sunset to boot! -Mark Timken

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7:31 p.m. - adding to my last comment. Now seeing 2 breaches and a spyhop
7:20 p.m. - viewing through binoculars from 1/2 mile north of Al's store-Olalla. Seeing six or more(orange color on baby) traveling northbound in Colvos toward Southworth. Steady pace. Appear closer to Vashon side. -Katie Schmelzer

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Here is a track of the Case Inlet break away pod. Starts at 2:22, ends at 7:00. I watched from start of track to point 6. 7 through finish are estimates from posts. -Map/Photo by Doug Olson, May 6, 2017

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6:57 p.m. - they've arrived at Olalla. -Danielle Clark

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6:25 p.m. - heading fairly quickly into Colvos. Viewing from Dalco Passage at Point Defiance. -Jill Clogston

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6:25 p.m. - Northbound through the Colvos passage headed toward Olalla. Between Vashon and Sunrise Beach. -Gaby Kinner

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5:50 p.m. - We just saw 3-4 Orcas heading northbound in the Narrows, mid-channel, going pretty fast, one half mile north of the Narrows bridge. All boaters keeping good distance and we were treated to one spy hop by the large male. One youngster in the bunch. We have been on a staycation for the last two weeks here at home and what a treat this has been. -Susan Dynes

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5:40 p.m. - Right at the Narrows Bridge, west side. There is a teal and white boat that can't be more than 10 yards from the pod, with several other boats racing towards them. It's heartbreaking to watch. We watched this pod from the east end of Fox Island to the Narrows Bridge and this boat full of people almost on top of the pod at times. Sounds like people at the Tacoma Narrows Park witnessed it too? -Phil Caldwell

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5:42 p.m. - counted 4 (1 little one) No big males. Traveling fast. Going under bridge. Just saw a breach before the train tunnel;5:28 p.m. - seeing them between Fox Island & Gig Harbor (Point Fosdick). Heading east. -Heidi Armstrong

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5:10 p.m. - Looks to be southbound for the moment in front of the Fox Island pier. -Gaby Kinner

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4:28 p.m. - at least 5, northbound, north of Ketron, headed toward Steilacoom ferry dock.
4:15 p.m. - passing Anderson island on the east side, close to Ketron, boats in heavy pursuit according to AI FB report. Northbound, don't have a count yet, but getting to the water now. -Belen Bilgic Schneirder

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2:50 p.m. - group of 7-8 cruising past Devils Head towards Anderson Island. -Kelly Ockerman

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2:42 p.m.- Zittles toward Nisqually;
2:38 p.m. - Pretty sure they are heading east of Johnson Point;
2:22 Pod of at least 6 southbound Case Inlet mid channel approaching Wilson Point. -Doug Olson

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Squaxin and Pickering Passages - 8:55 p.m. - 3 HUGE Orca in Pickering Passage heading north to Jarrell's Cove. -Gretchen Stewart

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6:00 pm. - Sighting of five killer whales unknown if resident or transient heading west by Hope Island -Bill Bryant

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May 6 - larger pod Case Inlet - We saw them about a hour ago (approx 8PM) entering into Vaughn Bay and and then heading back out. There were two groups each with two babies and a mature whale. -Kaitlyn Goodeve

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5:10 p.m. - They were headed north to Victor when we saw them last and that was about 15 minutes ago.
4:10 p.m. - Group of about 15 orcas west of Stretch Island point heading north towards Vaughn. -Izzy Edwards

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Found them mid channel right at the mouth of Fair Harbor 3:30 then they went under and I lost them. -Steve Nieto

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3:15 p.m. - They are heading South past Treasure Island / appear to be heading out.
3:00p.m. - Orca in Case Inlet just North of Treasure Island. Many directional changes. -Beverly Lynch McCallum

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2:41 p.m. - 10-12 Orcas NW side of Herron Island. 2-3 little ones. Breaching spy hopping and slapping in the water. We were suddenly surrounded in our jet ski. Please note we slowly backed the jet ski to the shore of Herron and took these pictures standing in 2-3 feet of water to not disturb them. -Kathy Edwards

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T124D in Case Inlet on the NW side of Herron Island. -Photo by Kathy Edwards, May 6, 2017
(ID confirmation by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)

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2:30 p.m. - They were just hanging in the area for quite awhile and now heading north.
2:00 pm. -Watching about 6 orcas north of Herron Island, we are at Herron Ferry Landing Dock looking west towards Harstine Island. -Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, May 6, 2017

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2:15 p.m. - We live on very southern tip of Herron Island. A pod of Orcas - approx 6 - moving quite fast - just came into view (2:15 PM) on the west side of Herron Island moving south heading 155 degrees. If you are on the east side of Harsteine - south of Herron Island they are coming your way!!! -Karen Dorans

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1:58 p.m. - Pod(s) have been between north ends of Harstine and Herron Islands for last hour. Now due north of Herron. 1-2 minute down times, perhaps longer - hard to track at my distance. A couple of boats being respectful.
12:42 p.m. - Large group NW of Herron Island in Case Inlet. Too far to count or to determine direction; seem to be hanging in that area, with surface activity and splashing visible. -Dave Berliner

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11:18 p.m. - seen heading towards Northbay. -Garrett Aries

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10:17 a.m. - Orcas heading north in Case Inlet. Past Herron heading to Harstine Point. At least 10 of them. -Jerilyn Evans

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9:26 a.m. - We just counted about 10. We think. They are heading south towards Herron Island. Lots of splashing and some breaching by the mid sized Orcas. (as viewed from top of Harstine Island)
8:50 a.m. - We are sitting on the Northern tip of Harstine Island on the beach. Using binoculars and a long lens we are watching at least 6 orca outside the mouth of Vaughn Bay. They seem to be just hanging out. -Cindy Faker

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8:03 a.m. - They are still down South by Rocky Bay/ Vaughn. -Beverly Lynch McCallum

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7:05 a.m. - Orcas sighted just north of Treasure/Reach Island in Case Inlet. There was at least 10 seems like 2 groups they were heading south. Also saw what I thought was a humpback...we are about 1.5 miles south of Allyn. -Lisa van Dam

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Budd and Hammersley Inlets - 7:10 p.m. - Pod of 6+ orcas headed towards Oakland Bay Hammersly inlet lighthouse road. -Shantelle Silva

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7:08 p.m. - slow approach into Shelton, long dives...easily missed, this pod appears different than the one that we observed earlier in the day...more and varied sizes, though this group wasn't one for picture-taking. They stayed under the surface as they traveled.
7:02 p.m. - Orcas at Church Point, Hammersley inlet, deep dives traveling towards slowly Shelton 5-7 individuals. -Jodi Johnson Pardi

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6:59 p.m. - Just spotted entering Hammersly Inlet west bound towards Oakland Bay. -Dawn Shaver

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6:35 p.m. - Saw at least 3 heading up Hammersley Inlet towards Shelton (Westbound). -Sheila Bayard

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6:30 p.m. - 4 large orcas heading to Steamboat Island from Hunter Point. -Jim Chamberlin

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4:15 p.m. - The Budd Inlet group was spotted briefly (north of Boston Harbor) heading north. I only saw a few of them surface once. And then they disappeared. LONG down times. -Kim Merriman

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3:15 p.m. - Two maybe three orcas Hunter Point toward southern tip Squaxin/Harstine island. -Jim Chamberlin

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2:45 p.m. - Group of 5-6 orcas east of Hope Island traveling fast with deep dives. -Mary Jordan

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Can anyone ID this little one? He/she has freckles on their eye-patch! Photo taken at 2:40pm at Arcadia. -Photo by Izzy Edwards
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR "It's one of T68Bs kids")

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2:30 p.m. - Just watched the Orcas come out of Hammersley Inlet, 4 Orcas headed south at slow pace. -Photo by Norma Herrera, May 6, 2017

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2:13 p.m. - Spotted three (could be more) heading out Hammersley Inlet. Traveling out of the inlet heading east. -Sheila Bayard

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2:00 p.m. - passed Libby Point eastbound. -Pamela Burger

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1:38 p.m. - 3-5 individuals passing Church Point leaving Hammersley very relaxed pace, some deep dives. -Jodie Johnson Pardi

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1:16 p.m. - Hammersley Inlet Old Arcadia Rd, pod of about 3 medium sized orcas heading eastbound toward Libby pt moving slow. -Patricia Lambert

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Approx 1:00 p.m. eastbound Hammersley. -Photo by Larry Majercin, May 6, 2017
(ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR - "looks like T68B for the adult female" "probably one of T68B's kids again.")

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12:38 p.m. - Looks like three of them just west of Walker Park in Shelton. They have been stalled about 20 minutes. -Brian Winkler

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12:05 p.m - 4 orcas just passed Libby Point, Hammersley Inlet, headed into Oakland Bay. -Jody Johnson

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11:50 Passed Church Pt heading west toward Shelton. Taking very long dives between surfacing events. -Bill Pardi

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11:00a.m. - 5-6 heading west into Hammersley. They are doing long dives and a few short surfacing series. Dove between Hope/Steamboat islands and came out on the north end of Steamboat Island before heading into Hammersley. Distant photo w/ people who missed seeing them. -Photo by Kim Merriman, May 6, 2017

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10:30 - 5-6 orca heading north out of Budd Inlet toward Dana Passage. Slowly surfacing. I thought I saw them heading east about 30 minutes ago and then lost them. Resighted just now. -Kim Merriman

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9:20 a.m. - Hunter Point (Olympia) - 3 orcas heading toward southern tip of Squaxin island. -Jim Chamberlin

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Saratoga Passage - 6:46 pm - Unknown whale headed from South Camano over to Langley. It's about 1/2 the way across the channel. -Bob Viggers

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May 6 - Central Puget Sound & Admiralty Inlet - 6:26 p.m. - Spotted a whale at Maxwelton beach today. Lots of blows! Pretty sure it was a humpback. - Jessica Cavalcante

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Driving over Agate Pass bridge about 4:40pm today, so lucky to have looked down when I did--saw a large whale slip back under the surface. Looked to me like a humpback, heading east. I kept thinking, "What are the odds of that?!" -Lynn Batson

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11:30 a.m. - Bremerton ferry just now. I don't know if this is the same one or different. It looked to be alone. Lots of tail slapping. Bremerton ferry just as we started toward Seattle. -Joanna Wedding

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NOON - Course correction. - just spotted at the mouth of the inlet, looking to be headed up Port Orchard Passage - which is just where I'm going. S/he's about a quarter mile ahead and I'm going about 1 knot, which is making for a very slow trip, but very worth it!
11:41 a.m. - update: Right now heading toward Manette bridge, Bremerton
10:15 a.m. - Sinclair Inlet - Just outside the Port Orchard Marina, so a little more than midway up the inlet heading east. sitting at still on the boat here and the sucker scared the stuff out of me as it came up for a breath ten feet away! -Rhonda Rader Jundgquist

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South Puget Sound - 7:02 a.m. - Also saw what I thought was a humpback we are about 1.5 miles south of Allyn. It was definitely a whale lots of surfacing and blowing just a bad photographer he stayed out in front for about an hour dorsal fin was small and very straight with no curve. -Lisa van Dam

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Georgia Strait - Big Mama BCY0324 taken at 2:00 PM just off Tumbo Island, just north of East Point. She was milling and not really traveling in any particular direction. -Jeff Friedman

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A family of Grays up here in Birch Bay! What a rare treat! -Joel Fletcher

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Puget Sound - 4:30 p.m. - Just saw a gray whale go by Maxwelton Beach, Whidbey Island! Heading south. Amazing! -Cindy Essex

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6:46 pm - Whale headed from South Camano over to Langley. It's about 1/2 the way across the channel. -Bob Viggers

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Gray whale, identified as #44 Dubknuck, 1.2 nm east 1/2 north of Foulweather bluff seen traveling north from Schooner Adventuress around 12:45pm today. Surfaced a few times and did two big dives for us! -Jennifer Smith, May 6, 2017

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2:45 p.m. - Gray #383 at southern end of Port Susan.
11:45 a.m. - 2nd whale is 44 Dubnuck. Between Hat and Camano (came from Port Susan)
11:18 a.m - #22 looking good. Eastbound between Hat and Camano now.
11:07 a.m. - #22 Off Langley. northbound. -James Gresham

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9:35 a.m. - Looks like a single gray whale in Mukilteo/ Clinton ferry lanes on Clinton side. There are a few small boats near it. Looks like a slow pace heading north. The ferry heading to Clinton looked like it stopped to let the whale pass through. -Trent, Mukilteo

May 5
Bigg's/Transients - Orcas were seen coming out of Hammersly inlet and playing out in front of Squaxin Island at around 4:20pm. Stayed in sight for approximately 1/2 an hour. Appeared to be playing. 2 small Orcas kept flipping out of the water and splashing with their tales. 2 large males, 2-4 females, and 2 small infant whales noted. Headed up towards Harstine Island after playing. My husband and I saw them this morning in front of Steamboat Island and counted 9 in the pod. This was around 10:15 am. They then headed down into Totten Inlet. The pod came back around 11:15 and headed to Arcadia Point and then into Hamersley Inlet. -Monica Gray

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7:07 p.m. - pod in front of Joemma, all on course for Taylor Bay. Also large male bringing up the rear.
7:00 p.m. - Male @ Joemma, pod just North of Mcmicken.
6:51 p.m. - Big Male .5 mIles ahead of pod southbound.
6:40 p.m. - Southbound 1 mile north Mcmicken Island. -Doug Olson

*
7:00 p.m. -Pod of orcas off Harstine Island. We are on the very south of Herron Island and they are heading south away from us. They were moving north and south down the east side of Harstine!! It was hard to keep up with them, must have been hunting!! -Karen Dorans

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6:10 p.m. - rounded the north point of Harstine Island into Case Inlet. Heading south now between the Harstine and Herron. Moving quickly and hard to spot at times with the white caps. I think six of them. What a treat. iPhone only. so no good pics.
5:50 p.m. - just passed us at the North point of Harstine. We are watching them from beach. They are traveling swiftly towards North Bay/Allen. Spectacular! At least 6. So happy to see them!! -Cindy Faker

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5:30 p.m. - Pod of 3 passing Jarrell's Cove Harstine Island heading toward Case Inlet. -Teresa Saunders Westcoat

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5:20 p.m. - they've passed Walkers Landing northbound Pickering Passage!!! Beautiful! Large group in the lead with adult male and calves. Smaller group in the middle and another with 2-3 adult males (probably T101s) trailing about a minute from leaders. All Powering northbound in mild chop.
5:00 p.m. - They went on a long dive just south of the bridge and surfaced well north of it, pods now a bit more spread but in general together. Now a little more east of mid channel, steady northbound in travel mode.
4:50 p.m. - Made it just in time to see them in Pickering Passage approaching Hartsine Bridge from the south, loosley group in pods, mid channel. steady northbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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The T86As, T100s, T101s, T124As & T124Ds have been traveling together in South Puget Sound for the past week. I'm not sure who all was in this group as they came north through Pickering Passage, went on a long dive just south of the Harstine Bridge and surfaced pretty far north of the fridge, by-passing all of us on shore at the boat launch. Still breathtaking. 2nd part is from shore further north in the Passage, even more breathtaking. Little babes in their backdropped by gorgeous Harstine Island. -Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network, May 5, 2017

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4:07 p.m. - We just saw a pod going around Steamboat Island bridge area. -Jordan Owen

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2:55 p.m. - They were 8-12 of them. They split in two for a few min. Then they joined again. We saw them from Arcadia point heading south heading into Totten inlet. They were cruising. -Rachel Glenn Rygiel

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2:00 p.m. - 10 orca pass Libby point heading east toward Acadia point. -Debbera Coker

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1:20 p.m. - (Flipped) heading east from Walker Park in Hammerlsey Inlet.
12:50. Just passed Walker Park heading west toward the marina in Shelton. Oakland Bay. -Rachel Glenn Rygiel

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12:32 p.m. - At Church Point now, At least 12 individuals traveling at a relaxed pace towards Shelton. -Jodi Johnson Pardi

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12:25 p.m. - westbound Hammersley Inlet. West of Skookum point. Just passed Skookum point westbound. Looks like 5 or 6. -Pamela Burger

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12:11p.m. - Heading west into Hammersley Inlet right now! -Renee Beitzel

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12:02 p.m. - Headed past Steamboat toward Arcadia. -Thomas Laxson

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11:26 a.m. - Chilkat currently with them south of Steamboat Island/Totten Inlet, northbound. Same group from yesterday. (Including members of T086As, T100's, T101's, T124A's and T124Ds). Fairly spread out with some traveling close together. -Renee Beitzel

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10:45 a.m. - Orca pod off the tip of Steamboat Island. Looks like 7-9 of them. A couple small ones. Heading towards Totten Inlet. -Monica Gray

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10:50 a.m. - They are currently heading south in Totten Inlet. They passed between Hope Islands and Steamboat Island and circled around Steamboat and into Totten. can't tell how many. More than a dozen. Split in two groups but surfacing in tandem. Very windy and rainy here so there is lots of chop.
10:15 a.m. - Just saw them. They have exited Dana Passage and are heading west between Hunter Point and Squaxin Island...(added 11:45) They were headed south when I left them. Spread out clear across the inlet with tide going out. T86As and T101B in fore. -Kim Merriman

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9:29 a.m. - Orcas spotted in Case inlet heading south to Dana passage looks like 2 pods of maybe 5-6 orcas / pod. -David Pierce

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Juan de Fuca - Humpback BCY0160 "Heather" in 3 - 4 foot seas at Middle Bank this morning. -Mark Malleson

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11:00 a.m. - Gray whale spotted off south end of Camano Island in Saratoga Passage by Ms. Callahan's 5th grade students from S Whidbey Elementary. -Jim Lovvorn

May 4
Bigg's/Transients May 1-4 - What a lovely evening...in between some of the most glorious hours of stormy weather, to hear and see this super pod. I saw a seal very close to shore once the thunder and lightning and rain had moved north. Wondered why. It wasn't 3 minutes later when the calm turned to a chorus of blows punctuated with rows of whales moving with a purpose into Eld Inlet....It was the most FABULOUS storm. EVER. I loved all 6+ hours of it. After the orca left during the break in such wildness, the storm started all over again. It seemed totally magical that they showed up in this carved off hour of magic...Here are a few other images as they were heading north out of Eld. There were so many of them it was hard to tell where to shoot. These are all from my beach. The only sounds were of a few way off squeals and the 'Oh My God" from others. Then the beginning sounds of water and breath breaking the surface before it blasted through the silence with such force and stuttered fashion. Each whale bursting forth. So incredible. After the swam off into the misty fog bank, we were greeted by failing light and another round of fireworks in the sky. But they were off traveling somewhere into northern water. -Kim Merriman (see photos below)

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Orcas coming out of Eld Inlet about 6:40pm. -Photo by Kim O'Farrell, May 4, 2017

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7:30 p.m. - They went into Eld as 3 close together groups! 2-3 very large males in the group! This group was actually more like 14!
6:34 p.m. - Just saw them come out of Eld Inlet. Possibly 8 Orcas.
6:30 p.m. - Eld Inlet...very large pod of Orcas! -Lynette Fox

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5:00 p.m. a pod of eight orcas (inclu 2 males) were seen traveling in Dana Passage, heading south along southwestern shore of Hartstein Island. -Pam Rhubart

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3:43 p.m. - huge pod heading south from the north end of Stretch Island probably 15 couldn't get pic because of thunderstorm. It was amazing there were at least 15 that went through. Looked like two separate pods. I saw them cruising past the state park on stretch. -Garrett Aries

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3:15 p.m. - Several Orcas Case Inlet off N end of Stretch Isl. Lightening bolts. Thunder, Rain. Heavy rain. Heading south. -Pamela Jarrett Berger

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2:55 p.m. - directly across from Vaughn bay heading south. -Kathleen Brown

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2:20pm - The same group of Orca are in Case Inlet. Heading North slowly to the town of Allyn. Truly spectacular. Flying breaches and tail slapping. All with bolts of lightening all around. They are down by Rocky Bay / Stretch Island. -Beverly Lynch McCallum

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2:15 p.m. - Just saw a few heading south in Case Inlet just south of Victor. -Shirley McNeil

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1:40 pm. - The pod is back north of Stretch Island heading towards Rocly Bay. -Garrett Aries

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12:30 p.m. - This afternoon 5 or more Orca traveling northbound through Pickering Passage adjacent to Jarrell's Cove. Two of them appeared to be juveniles and atleast one bull. My neighbors tell me this is the third day in a row they have cruised through Pickering Passage! -Michael Hunter

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12:30 p.m. - They about faced before bridge. Now going north.
12:05 p.m. - We found them! Pickering Passage heading south toward bridge. -Renee Beitzel

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Found a group of at least 20 transient orcas in Pickering Passage in the south sound. Members of T086As, T100's, T101's, T102 (part of T101's) and T124A's and T124D. -Janine Harles

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11:56 a.m. - Just left. They are headed south, prob 15 of them.
11:48 a.m. - Found em. On the west side of Harstine in Pickering passage. -Photo by AJ DeBeck, May 4, 2017 (I'm up in a helicopter)

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9:30 a.m - Pod of at leas 5 Orcas (incl. 2-3 adult males) currently in Purdy at the spit, out mid channel. (north end Henderson Bay/Carr Inlet). -Amy Burnson

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I saw them cruise past my house on Pickering Passage about 7:20am headed towards the Harstine Island bridge. They moved by quick but there were 5-6 or so including a large male. They were maybe 50 yds offshore. -David Coates

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6:20 a.m. - approximately 7 orcas splashing around in fog at hunter point heading towards Steamboat island/Hope island. Jim Chamberlin 4:05 p.m - Grey whale just north of the Mukilteo Clinton ferry lanes heading east. -Danielle Pennington

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Gray whale #44's fluke tip while feeding between Fox Spit and Bell's Beach, Whidbey Island. 3:30 p.m. - Moving slowly towards Bell's Beach. 3:15 p.m. - Watching 2 grays between Fox Spit and Bells Beach feeding. -Marilyn Armbruster

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11:53 a.m. - we received a report from Trent: "Single gray whale spotted from Langley heading north up Saratoga Pass on Camano Island side.

May 3
6:00-7:30 p.m. - Orca Sighting - Pickering passage, N end of Harstine transiting northbound towards Allyn, east side of Stretch and treasure island. Large group of 12 to 16 Orcas Northbound at the north end of Pickering Passage. Group went north towards Allyn near mid channel eastside of Stretch and Treasue Island. Orcas observed from approx 6pm to 7:30. Last seen North of Treasure Island. -John Murray

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We enjoyed an awesome drive-by today at Stetch Point State Park around 2:00pm. Looked like 9 Orcas, breaching, splashing, and enjoying life in this placid inland sea. The "whoosh" sound of their breathing was unreal and could be heard a mile away. -Mike Benson


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Biggs killer whales (Transients) - Puget Sound - 1830 -north end Hartstine close to east side of the island. -Susan Freiler Mendenhall

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6:15p.m. - Heading down the east side of Case passage near Heron. -Boomer Pawkette

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6:14 p.m. - We counted 6 Orcas past us about 5 minutes now they are in the middle of the inlet between Hartstine Point and Herron island. -Mark Lemon

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6:00 p.m. - Killer whales in Case Inlet. We just watched a pod of killer whales (7-8) - several babies in Case Inlet. Looked like they were herding fish into a ball. They were "shoulder to shoulder". A little spy hopping & breaching. No adult males seen. -Julie Lasnetske

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5:52 p.m. - Just south of Vaughn Bay shores very active and jumping. -Garrett Aries

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5:45 p.m. - Orca sighting Case Inlet. We have the pleasure of seeing 6 orcas in Case Inlet down from Vaughn Bay. Feeding. Lat: 47.2675°NLon: 122.57611°W. -Mary Lemon

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5:28 p.m - Heading south. They are just past Vaughn Bay.
4:53 p.m. - In Rocky Bay. -Brent Kobayashi

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5:11 p.m. - Looks like they are headed back out of Case Inlet
5:05 p.m. - they are across from Vaughn Bay spit in the middle of the inlet. -Cheryl Burnett

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4:11 p.m. - We are sitting at the Boathouse in Allyn and see them off the point. Maybe 3. -Paul Vicha

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Approx 3:55 p.m. - They were still heading north for Allyn.
3:18 p.m - Nine or ten just north of Stretch Island! Very active, lots of tail slapping and spyhopping. Males and small (babies) noted! -Danielle Vance

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2:58 p.m. - At Stretch Island now. -Garrett Aries

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1:45 pm - They just went back past our place on Pickering Passage. At least 9 in the pod. Northish bound toward Stretch Island. Probably past Jarrell Cove by now. Lots of tail slaps and breaching. -Katje Hansen

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1:45 p.m. - Approx 6-8? heading north up Pickering Passage across from Jarrell Cove. -Allison Walker Wilson

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12:45 p.m. - They are heading toward Harstine Bridge headed south towards Pickering Passage. -Troy Hansen

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12:08 p.m. - Heading down west side of Harstine now. Into Pickering passage. (we have T100s, T86As, Bart has also ID'd 124As, Possibly 101's.) -Renee Beitzel

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11:21 a.m - Currently at the North end of Stretch island, slowly southbound. -Brian McGinn

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11:15 a.m. - heading south. Case inlet, between Reach Island and Vaughn bay. -Pamela Jarrett Berger

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11:10 a.m - they are across the bay from Vaughn Bay. I counted 5. -Cheryl Burnett

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Bart Rulon IDs: we definitely had the T86As, T100s, T101s, T124As, and T124Ds with us today on Chilkat down south. They just spent the whole time socializing!!

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11:05 a.m. - Found them! Large group heading south in case Inlet just north of Stretch Island! So far looks like 3 groups. 100's and others. Super playful and surface active. One really small calf with lots of energy! -Renee Beitzel, Chilkat

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10:42 a.m. - They at Rocky Point.
10:26 a.m - They are headed South out of North Bay. About 7 or 8 of them. Beautiful.
10:19 a.m - See them they are right off of Allyn. -Steve Nieto

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10:10 a.m. - North Bay, Case Inlet Orca Sighting: The pod of orcas that has been seen in south Puget Sound lately is now in North Bay near Allyn. We have counted at least 10 individuals (including at least one adult male). The pod was here yesterday, too. Playing ad traveling and possibly feeding. -Pat Karman

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10:39 .m - Heading back South past Treasure Island.
10:13 a.m. - they are down by Allyn just South of the dock. Same group as last night. Large male. Spy hopping, tail slaps and breaching.
10:08 a.m. - they are getting close - North Bay area towards Allyn. -Beverly Lynch McCallum.

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9:58 a.m. - Orca sighting in North Bay, by Allyn. We sighted about 10 or more Orcas near Allyn WA in North Bay, just north of Case Inlet. Stayed there for around 30 minutes or so. Very cool to see from shore! 1 big male for sure, maybe 2. They seemed to be playing, several spy hopping, tail splashing and breaching. -Martha Wells

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Sighted in North Bay, Case Inlet, Allyn, WA. Came from the south, arrived 9:58am, stayed until 10:28am, then traveled south. Most I could count at one time was 7. -Shirley McNeil, May 3, 2017

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9:07 a.m. - They are heading towards Allyn
8:56 a.m. - They are currently out off of stretch island looking out toward Vaughn bay. -Garrett Aries

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5:23 p.m. - Small Humpback just breached just north of Chambers Bay. -Ryan Johnson

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1:20 p.m. - Small Humpback headed south toward south Anderson Island from Johnson Point (south end Case Inlet). -Robin Matthews

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12:15 p.m. - Humpback southbound north of Jemma Beach in Case Inlet. -Doug Olson, May 3, 2017
(same humpback in Hammersely Inlet May 2nd per dorsal match)

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5:23 pm observing blows from south mabana beach, closer to whidbey. At least two Gray whales. They are southbound, so Langley folks, heads up. -Krista Paulino

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8:55 am - Mary Pacher in Greenbank reports "a couple of gray are rolling and feeding" in the mudflats north of Greenbank beach.

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Single Gray whale mid channel 8:00am Mukilteo ferry. -Ginger Miller

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7:30 a.m. - Sea otter on Hammersley Inlet eastbound. -Pamela Burger
Sea otters are not at all common but show up periodically in south Puget Sound. What a magical little hot spot Hammersley Inlet has been the past 2 weeks; rarely seen orcas, a humpback, and now this little being - ALB

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In the morning we had a possible smaller Gray Whale hanging around the point in front of our house. Our house is on Camano about 1.5 miles up Saratoga Passage from the South tip of Camano. It was right next to the beach. It was popping up for breathing about every minute. It sure looked tome like it was feeding. We are kind of across from Langley. This is the 4th whale sighting in about days. -Bob Viggers

May 2
8:45 p.m. - Puget Sound - Orcas just came through by Herron Point (ferry on mainland) on way north up to Vaughn in Case Inlet. Beautiful!!! -Bambi Lynn Fegley

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7:59 p.m. - Pod of Orcas off Johnson Point heading south toward Harstine. -Robyn Enders

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6:23 p.m. - They seem to have stalled between Zittle's and Anderson Island. They are circling there, perhaps feeding.
6:15 p.m Passing Johson Pt. heading south. Appears to be the same group as yesterday, males, females with calves. I could count 8 up at the same time. -Joan Ahre

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5:46 p.m. - @ Wilson Pt. and out of my visual range now.
5:36 p.m. - Hugging Hartstine shoreline just north of Wilson PT southbound
5:31 p.m. - Approximately 10 between Joemma and Fudge Pt.
5:23 p.m. - Southbound mid channel .5 mile SE of McMicken Island. -Doug Olson

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5:18 p.m. - Orcas heading south in Case Inlet. Were traveling slower than yesterdays sighting going north in Case inlet. Group was more separated than yesterday. -Debby Klippert Tropiano

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3:50 p.m. - At least seven Orca in Case Inlet down by Treasure Island bridge just milling around. -Beverly Lunch McCallum

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3:10 p.m. - They are by Stretch island and still headed north rapidly. There were at least 8, maybe more. We were too far to get a better count. This group had the little one in tow. They came from Pickering Pass. -Nick Wenzel

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3:10 p.m. - Orca whale sighting in Case inlet all morning and @3:10pm off the south end of Stretch Island headed north toward Allyn. 8-10 Orcas (incl 3 large Males) about 200 hundred yards of the beach, really, really COOL!!! Feeding. -Mark Knauss

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1:10 p.m. - Orcas, Pickering passage, west side of channel across from Jarrel cove. 3 or more adults plus 2 juveniles southbound in Pickering passage. -John Murray

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About 11:00 a.m. - Pretty large group off the north point of Harstine Island. Moving northeast, some leaping and splashing. -Kathleen Tucker

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11:00 a.m. - I saw a pod near Allyn, WA (Case Inlet). At least one adult male...just off Treasure Island. I saw at least five but there may have been more. They were about a half mile off shore. -Suzanne Scuderi

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Between 6:30 and 7:30pm headed west past Walker Park hung out in the bay (Oakland) for while and headed east past the park around 7:30. -Becky Harrington Adams, May 2, 2017

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7:15 p.m. - The humpback is in Oakland bay. -Daen Shaver

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4:52 p.m. - humpback just passed Channel marker #4 on Hammersley inlet heading east, again. -Becky Meadows Groom
3:00 p.m. - Single humpback whale in Hammersley Inlet at channel marker #4, Libby Point now heading west. Also came by an hour earlier. -Becky Meadows Groom, May 2, 2017

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Lone humpback passed Libby point westbound 3:15pm

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10:47 a.m. - Arcadia point heading heading west at the moment.
10:10 a.m. - Eastbound Hammersly Inlet. -Kristeen Anderson

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7:50 a.m. - Lone humpback Hammersley Inlet westbound. He only came up once. -Pamela Burger

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Approx. 10 Common dolphins heading north out of Budd Inlet. Mid-channel. Feeding and then traveling. Joined by gulls. -Kim Merriman

May 1
12:40 p.m. - Old Arcadia Rd, 2 orcas leaving toward Arcadia Pt direction.
12:25 p.m. - Old Arcadia Rd, Hammersley Inlet, pod of 4 orcas heading toward Walker Park Shelton. Swimming slowly no breaching or slapping. -Patricia Lambert

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12:34 p.m. - Just turned around - heading east
12:31 p.m. - In front of Walker Park, across the bay, heading west. -Becky Wilson

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12:30 p.m. - Whale Signtings around Anderson Island - Ray Mohr, Anderson Island, took this picture as the whale went by his location after Noon on Monday rather fast. You see see a Baby Whale following. This was taken off the South end of Anderson island. He said they were moving too fast but others count between 6 to 10. Traveling. -Robert Lyden (see photo below by Ray Mohr)

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Bigg's female and calf around Anderson Island. -Photo by Ray Mohr, May 1, 2017

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Hammersley Inlet - Libby Point heading east toward Arcadia point at 1 pm. -Debbera Coker

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NOON - 2 Orcas traveling in Hammersley Inlet heading toward Shelton. Observed between Libby Point and Church Pt. at noon. -Debbera Coker

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11:00-Noon - Orca sighting in Hammersley today! 5 Orcas in Hammersley! We were about 2 miles up the Inlet from Arcadia Point. They cruised past us going west, up inlet against tide, 11am. An hour later, we saw them coming back toward us, headed east with tide back out toward Squaxin. Not sure if they hung a left north up Pickering or a right south toward Dana Passage. Definitely one large male, maybe two smaller males, then perhaps two females..? Travelling, on a mission. Moving fast up inlet against tide, then cruised past us on way out with tide. Breaching (surfacing) only to breathe, no playfulness at all. -Adam Stocks

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9:00 a.m. - Orca whale sighting - We followed a pod of Orcas out of Hammersley Inlet, they headed down Totten (Inlet). -Susan Morgan

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8:52 a.m. - They came quickly through the inlet into Shelton...stayed a short time - did some "celebrating" (breeching / tail slapping) and slowly headed back out the inlet. (Looked like 2 females, each with a baby alongside.) I'm near Walker Park...-Becky Wilson

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7:50 a.m. - Three (maybe more) orcas in Hammersley Inlet. Westbound towards Oakland Bay. -Pamela Burger, May 1, 2017
(Melisa Pinnow, CWR, ID notes from looking at several of Pamela's photos: " I see T68B1 for sure. Maybe the rest of the T68Bs are still there")

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7:59 p.m. - Tacoma/Olympia - Looks like they're just hanging out at the north tip of the island. Must be having a good dinner.
7:35 p.m. - Orcas off the north tip of Harstine Island in Case Inlet right now. Heading south I believe. -Bambi Lynn Fegley

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6:28 p.m. - headed northbound along east side of Harstine Island. Headed towards Dougall Point. -Brian Farver

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6:04 p.m. - They may have split around Herron Island. Some appeared to be going on W. side of Island NB
5:52 p.m. - Pod (8-10 with at least 2 males) is between Herron Island and Key Peninsula (In Case Inlet).
5:37 p.m. - northbound Case Inlet mid channel @ Fudge Point. -Doug Olson

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4:58 p.m. - At least 8, looked to be probably 3 little ones. Yes, at least one male traveling in the group. Couldn't count the females. They are headed back north still on the far side of the bay.
4:25 p.m. - Much larger group now in front of Taylor Bay. They have gone to Devils Head and back. -Joan Ahre

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Taken from southern end of Dana Passage as the whales were still heading southbound. Shortly after this, they turned around and headed northbound through Dana Passage again. -Chris Hamilton
(Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research looked through all of Chris Hamilton's photos (some included below) here are her ID notes: "I am thinking it was at least the T100s, T124Ds, T86As, and the T101s. Maybe some T124As are in there too but I am not sure yet.")

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1:43 - at least 8. Maybe 10. Just turned around and headed north again, entering Dana Passage with Harstine Island on their left/west. Long dives. Just traveling.
12:30 p.m. - Approx. 5 adults and a few juvenile orcas passing in front of Henderson Inlet, heading south into Dana Passage and toward Boston Harbor/Budd inlet. -Kim Merriman

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11:53 a.m. - Watching 6 heading northbound past Johnson Pt., Olympia. We are on the east side of the point. -Joan Ahre

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Approx 11:45 a.m. - I was out on a boat there were about 30 heading south on the east side of Anderson island... they were everywhere it was amazing. It looked they split into a couple groups right after Anderson island (pin drop shows split at south end Harstine) I was shocked to see how many there were it was beautiful. They had at least 2 babies in their pod...I'm pretty positive I saw jigsaw super long jagged dorsal fin (probably T86A3) ... When they split the group that went left had a baby, two HUGE males, and a couple females all close together. The other group also had a baby maybe two, and more females than males. They started gravitating closer to shore by Anderson island. I didn't see which way the one that looked like jigsaw went. They were moving pretty quickly. -Jami Cantrell

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9:49 a.m. - Orca off Steilacoom, heading southwest towards Anderson. I saw 2, not swimming close to each other. -JJ Davern

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10:30 a.m - AI FB page reported that they were still headed south and folks who saw them from the Riviera Marina on Anderson Island counted about 10 in all.
9:40 a.m. - they just passed the Anderson Island ferry and are headed south around the east side of Anderson Island. 2 groups - 3 and 2 (5 total) - update 6...there is one straggler still north of Ketron.
9:30 a.m. - Bob Wagner from Fox Island reported to the Anderson Island (AI) FB page that they just left Steilacoom ferry dock and are headed toward Ketron right now. -Belen Biligc Schneider

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9:17 a.m - Just spotted them at Chambers Bay heading south. -Jamie Taylor

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8:35 a.m. - Southbound towards Chambers Bay from West shore of Day Island. Larger pod towards Fox Island Bridge moving swiftly Southbound along North shore of Fox Island. T101's big boys: T102, T101A & T101B south of Day Island, south of Tacoma Narrows. -Karen Caldwell

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8:45 a.m. - 7+ including adult male, southbound seen from Titlow Beach...then out of sight.
8:24 am - 4+ heading southbound, mid channel still north of Tacoma Narrows bridge. And a spyhop! -Jill Clogston

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We just saw the orca pod of at least eight maybe up to 10 orcas midchannel southbound through the Narrows. We saw them 1/2 mile north of the Narrows Bridge at 8:15 AM. The whale at the head of the pod was huge, assuming a male but any other detail was impossible to see from my house. They were making good time. There was a nice variety in size and this time, no harassing boaters! -Susan Dynes

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8:13 a.m. - They are just north of Narrows bridge. Southbound. There was at least 10, two large males in the lead. An adorable calf in the pod as well
8:00 a.m. Orca's north of Salmon Bay, heading south towards Narrows Bridge. -Lisa Durbin Charbonneau

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Orca photo with zoom from my deck at Salmon Beach this morning looking south. Around 8:10am today. Tacoma Narrows bridge above. So much surface activity. I suspect they might've been feeding. -Zeno Martin, May 1, 2017

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About 7:45 this morning about ½ way between Owen Beach (Pt. Defiance, Tacoma) and Vashon. Five or 6, headed west-southwest (toward the Narrows). -Stuart Bancroft

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7:30 a.m. Just saw a pod of 4 orcas swimming north out of Commencement bay off of Brown's Point. (possibly the T101s who appeaerd behind larger group in the Narrows- ALB) -Hannah Gottschall

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Orca on the 6:45am Point Defiance/ Tahlequah ferry. Captain said they were out west towards Gig Harbor. A frantic seal was out there too. I didn't see the whales- stealth mode for breakfast? Transients? No idea of direction of travel. -Vanessa VanGilder

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May 1 - Juan de Fuca - It was a long haul but in the end it paid off with a humpback whale and the T46Bs south of Sheringham. It's been a couple years since I'd seen this family and the kids had all grown quite a bit since then! The rolling swells way out west made for some interesting shots, including T46B2. -Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 1, 2017

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Gray Whale feeding just off shore at Spee-Bi-Dah. 9:25 to 9:45 am May 1 2017. Definitely Patch. (#49). -Malcom Lindquist

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I only saw two common dolphins by Fox Island that was around 930. I didn't see which direction they were going. -Jami Cantrell