October 2018 Whale Sightings

Click here for Map of October 2018 whale sightings.

October 31
Alert Bay - Just as we were getting ready for Halloween, Tasli noticed some tail lobbing right in front of our place up here in Alert Bay! We walked outside the house and T049C started breaching right in front! We walked along the beach watching him cruise in and out of the kelp beds along the Cormorant Island shoreline. Happy Halloween!! -Gary Sutton
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Tue Oct 31 - South Puget Sound - 15:35 - Beth Swanson submitted this report: 2, possibly 3 orcas heading west spotted south of Anderson Island. Just now. Crossed in front of the ferry. 1 male for sure. 1 or 2 females. Unable to ID as they were too far off in choppy water. Traveling fast.
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3:04 - They went into Carr Inlet and I lost sight of them. There were 4-6 I think, hard to count. One big male and then maybe 3-5 smaller fins.
2:38 south end fox island headed toward McNeil! -Lissa Brod Anderson
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from Anderson Island, we briefly saw them close to Fox shore around 2:10 westbound, but nothing since. I strongly suspect the may have headed between Fox and McNeil toward Carr Inlet. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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13:57 - My dad lives on the South End of Fox Island (facing Steilacoom), the orcas are currently in front of his house, headed towards McNeil Island. -Gaby Kinner
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13:54 - Orcas past us almost at McNeil...we were at Chambers Bay Pier Walkway and they were about 1/4 of a mile out going towards either McNeil or Anderson Island.
~ 13:35 - Just passed Chambers Bay headed south to McNeil Island. -Bryan G
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13:23 - T46C1 and T46D across from Fox Island Fishing Pier now, far side heading south. -Sarah Cardinal
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12:40 - T46 family viewed from Fox Island Fishing Pier. Photos by Sarah Cardinal, Oct 31, 2018
(group image ID notes by Sara Hysong-Shimazu: "Looks like probably (and I can't confirm from this distance and resolution) but left to right: T46, T46F, T122, unknown youngster, T46C, T46C1, and T46D surfacing.")
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~12:45 - Orcas as viewed from Titlow Park today. -Photos by Katie Forsythe, Oct 31, 2018
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12:40 - Brian Owens sees at least four orcas trending south in front of Steamers at Titlow Beach.
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12:12 - Just saw 5-6 of them South of Narrows bridge. -Mark Hansen
(distant video shows large male - alb)
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12:10 - They (orcas) are foraging here (south of Narrows close to Kitsap side). No apparent direction of travel. -Karen Caldwell
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11:59 - the orcas are south of the bridge now - tail lobs. I think they may have been hunting. Mostly milling. But tending south currently...Definitely at least 6. One tiny one. Still trending south. (This video (not including in this report - alb) is from my phone, so poor quality, but I'm sharing it because I was capturing the orcas and the humpback together, so you can see how close they were. This was at 11:41 this morning. The orcas are to the right. When I panned to the left, the blow was from the humpback. Amazing morning!)
11:36- They (orcas) are milling under the bridge. 4 for sure.
11:30 - THERE ARE ORCAS UNDER THE BRIDGE!!! 4-8 heading north!!' -Heidi Armstrong
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At about 11:30am today saw 4 or 5 Orcas just south of Tacoma Narrows bridge on Gig Harbor side. They were heading south. -Stephanie Slon
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11:31 - Definitely orcas, watching from Narrows Park now. Look to be about 8 of them.
11:10 - From the bridge viewing area at point defiance, looking at the narrows bridge, appears to be 3 or 4 orcas swimming south. -Robert Miller
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11:00 - 4 Orcas under Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Watching with binocs from Salmon Beach. -Zeno Martin
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T46E and mom T46 from Tacoma Narrows Park. -Photos by Sara Cardinal, Oct 31, 2018
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We received a phone call around 11 a.m. about a possible humpback in distress across from Narrows Park. When Science Specialist Stena Troyer and Communications Specialist Carly Vester arrived, the humpback was okay and steadily moving through... and a small pod of orcas were coming in! The pod swam under the Narrows bridge around 11:30 a.m. and stayed in the area until at least 12:15 p.m, potentially later. There were at least 6 orcas, including a juvenile who was splashing, flipping its tail, and at one point rolled in the water! Meanwhile, near-shore, several sea lions and harbor seals were staying safely away from the orcas. Check out the video in the comment section as well of the orcas passing by. Members of the T46 matriline southbound at Tacoma Narrows Bridge. What a Halloween treat! -Harbor Wildwatch
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T46E & T46. -Photos by Stena Troyer & Carly Vester, Harbor Wildwatch, Oct 31, 2018
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Wed Oct 31 - 14:12 - Humpback whale North of Point Defiance. -Steve Fogard
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13:40 - Brian Owens reported the humpback off Owens Beach, Pt. Defiance, milling mid-channel.
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~13:30 pm - Sighted a humpback whale from Owens Beach slowly heading to Dalco Passage. He would gracefully came up and spray and about every 4th time he would submerge and give us a tail wave. -Cherie St.Ours
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~13:00 - Humpback images from the Bridges Viewpoint in Pt. Defiance. -Photo by Kala Escobar, October 31, 2018
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11:25 - (Humpback) He's moved south of the bridge & seems to be traveling & surfacing now.
10:44 - I thought the whale (Humpback) would have moved on by now but he is still under the bridge - very active. Lots of splashing, tail throws. Residents who live nearby say this behavior has been going on for 2 hours & are concerned- wondering if this is normal or if something might be wrong. -Heidi Armstrong
(all was well with Vivaldi, there was some concern about the prolonged surface activity until it was sorted out there were orcas in the same area on a kill - alb)
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11:50 - Orcas hanging out just south of bridge. Humpback just north.
11:33 - Orcas now sighted under Narrows. Humpback still here as well.
10:53 - (Humpback) Still hanging out under Narrows Bridge. Lots of action!! Breeching and tail flips seen from Narrows Park. 10:00 - Vivaldi tail-lobbing under the Narrows Bridge once again...-Sarah Cardinal
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08:15 - The Humpback is back!! Playing under the Narrows Bridge!! -Andrea Reubel Walker

October 30
Juan de Fuca Strait - One of the T046B's with a seal on the afternoon of October 30th in the Juan de Fuca Strait. Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018
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Tue Oct 30 - 19:45 - Orcas spotted in Discovery Bay, just south of McCurdy point on the Ohympic Peninsula from Cape George Colony. (looked like a small pod or family, 3-5 of various sizes). They were headed North by Northeast. -Llewellyn Bezanson
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Tue Oct 30 - North Puget Sound - 15:31 - My husband is working south of Faye Bainbridge on Bainbridge Island and just saw a humpback from shore....He couldn't tell how far exactly since he was up on a hill above the shore... but he thinks about 100 yds... whale kept changing direction... did one lunge breach.. one deep dive.. sorry no pics! -Lorraine Doerr
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Tue Oct 30 - South Puget Sound - CRC-15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi ~1700 - I missed photographing the breach around 5pm but got lots of tail lobbing. -Photo by Kaelee Schoenneman, October 30, 2018
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16:35 - (Humpback) Still there, quite an amazing stretch of sightings! -Mitch Kent
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Another report of the humpback, viewed from the Dalco Passage viewpoint by Ben, who has been watching it since about 2:05, surfacing and milling in the same area for the last 20 minutes.
12:27 - Humpback in Dalco! Big Fluke! -Photo by Amber Stanfill, Oct 30, 2018
(CRC-15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - alb)
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11:28 - Humpback spotted from Owen Beach...Headed East along Vashon side towards ferry. CRC-15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - Dalco Passage. -Sarah Cardinal
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)

October 29
Wandered down to the harbour here and saw 3 orcas: one adult female and two young orcas from 16:30 to 16:45 in the Sidney harbour between the two large fishing piers. Saw three sequences; last sighting was within 20m of shore in front of a small beach right in town, with all three surfacing. Saw the tail fin out sideways so unsure if feeding or playing. Expected them back up and stayed till 17:30 but no luck. Seemed like Southern Resident dorsal fins but I'm out of practice - I had thought Residents traveled in larger groups, so wondering if these were transients. In close to shore too. No other marine mammals visible. -Cheers, Brian McHattie
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Mon Oct 29 - South Puget Sound - 10:23 - (Humpback) Spotted just north of Pt. Evans a few minutes ago. (Pt Evans is in the Tacoma Narrows north of the Bridge, Gig Harbor side - alb) -Peter Glein
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9:00 - Whale Sighting currently heading north from Narrows Bridge. Thanks for all of the information. We are so happy to see him/her, just Beautiful. Through the binoculars the tale is AMAZING!! -Andrea Reubel Walker
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07:43 - Karen Caldwell reports: a humpback right in front of Salmon Beach (west of Point Defiance) right now. I see him through binoculars from Day Island! No apparent direction. Might be circling.
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GRAY WHALES - Mon Oct 29 - 08:03 - Gray whale heading east out of Hammersley Inlet, rounding Church Point. She's big and I got out just in time to see her breach! Sorry no time for photo.....More than half her body out of the water and then she flopped on her side. Plus (sorry I'm not sure of terminology) she showed her full 'tail' twice. -Carolyn Lockmom
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Mon Oct 29 - North Puget Sound - 20:15 - humpback out front just off Point Jefferson Kingston. Been watching through the binoculars in the dark and it has been lunge feeding and rolling around. -Chris Beamer Otterson
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Mon Oct 29 - South Puget Sound - 17:53 - (Humpback) it just passed one of the 5 mile drive outlooks and is still headed south toward the bridge (Tacoma Narrows). -Ashley Whitman
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17:10 - the people on the ferry to Point Defiance just got really lucky! Just watched the humpback doing a number of tail slaps/tail throws right as it passed by. -Heidi Armstrong
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17:10 - Little east of south Vashon ferry dock. Lots of tail slaps, fins, and a breach! -Ashley Whitman
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14:58 - Just saw him (humpback) at the Dalco Viewpoint at Point Defiance Park. -Jill Sagers
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Tue Oct 30 - 18:21 - Grey whale just passed Libby Point westbound towards Walker Park. (Hammersley Inlet) -Pamela S Burger

October 28
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - 3 orcas seen just off the ferry terminal from Orcas Island at 4 pm. Looked like a mom, a baby and one other whale. Very peaceful passing across the harbor. One even spyhopped....(traveling) Northwest! Swimming towards west sound/ Deer Harbor...It was so magical. Had to report it to orca network. I'm always so thrilled to read reports from your site! Thanks for all you do. -Lauren Haehnel
(possibly T65A2, T65A4, and T49A2 who have been traveling together -alb)
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Sun Oct 28 - 16:13 - (T123s) Near Monarch Head headed up Boundary Pass. -Sara
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13:45 - Orcas picked up just west of Sucia...The T123s, no direction given yet. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sun Oct 28 - South Puget Sound - 16:50 - Followed him (humpback) around the Point (Defiance) towards the Narrows on 5 Mile Drive, at the south end of the last view point he breached twice and then turned north again at a slow pace. 16:25 - Breaching humpback off Point Defiance. Photo courtesy of Jenn! -Beky Harris
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Humpback - Spotted multiple times between Vashon and Owens Beach this afternoon between 2:00-3:30pm. -Photo by Rachelle Craig Kautsman, Oct 28, 2018
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14:22 - By Vashon ferry dock...milling around but headed east right now. -Lissa Brod Anderson
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13:56 - (humpack) Middle of Point Defiance - Tahlequah 1:40pm ferry crossing. -Andrew Casad
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13:53 - (humpback) Just north of the Vashon ferry dock. Blows and tail flaps. -Jeannie Majercin
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13:50 - humpback seen from Owen beach over by ferry dock on vashon island. -Julie Strey
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Sunday about noon we were taking a hike through Pt Defiance and stopped at Dalco passage Viewpoint "just in case" the juvenile Humpback was still hanging around and to our delight it was, with the same energy and delight it has been showing folks down near Owen Beach, Vashon Island ferry dock and Dalco Passage for the last 10 days. It has been a wonderful added treat to a glorious autumn. I have ventured down to the beach every 3rd day or so to check and it appears to have a similar pattern to the comment below on the gray whale near Olympia. 3-4 loud blows and then a deep dive, then we patiently wait for what seems forever before we hear and see the water spray again. I love this site which keeps us updated on when and where our magnificent creatures remind us of this big glorious world we live in. BTW on Friday, as we followed the travel of this Humpback from Owen Beach toward the Narrows Bridge, we came up on a huge pod of seals or sea lions below the cliffs. The water was so clear and you could see them playing under the water and enjoying the day. They were very close to shore about 20-30 of them. -Monia Janek Herlocker
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11:13 - (Humpback) Swam North under the Narrows. -Laura Schwan-Meade
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10:40 - (Seems that he is a Humpback) is circling in front of Day Island. He's still here.
10:26 - (Humpback) Right now, has switched direction and heading south.
10:15 - He's (humpback) heading north in front of Day Island right now. -Shannon Hooson Rojecki
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Humpback CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi in front of Day Island, Tacoma. -Photos by Shannon Hooson Rojecki
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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10:15 - Tail lobbing humpback under Narrows Bridge, taken from Fox Island Fishing Pier. -Photo by Sarah Cardinal, Oct 28, 2018
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10:15 - Bill is leaving Titlow after watching humpback spyhop several times as it swam south. Last seen southbound nearer the Fox Island side.
09:25 - Humpback southbound under Narrows Bridge playing.
09:17 - see spouts Gig Harbor side heading towards the Narrows bridge. South bound. Very wet. From Titlow Beach. -Bill Clogston
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Humpback CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - Tacoma Narrows. -Photos by Bill Clogston, Oct 28, 2018
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08:36 - Just saw a very playful humpback making it's way south down the Narrows toward Salmon Beach area. -Jessica Hill

October 27
17:39 - Sounds like they (T65A2, T65A4, and T49A2) reached Friday Harbor and then turned back north.
14:30 - Another small group of Ts passing Reuben Tarte heading south. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Oct 27 - With the end of our field season just a few days away, we had what may likely be our last official research encounter of 2018 this evening off the north end of Orcas Island. It included two new groups to us - the T35As and T38As - plus the T123s with a new calf in tow. We'll share some end of season thoughts next week, but for now, a moment of Zen. (See OBI Facebook VIDEO)
18:53 - Left on the NE side of Orcas, heading towards Rosario Strait
17:30 - These Ts (T35s, T38s, & T123s) heading SE between Orcas and Matia. So thankful to have met the newest little munchkin on the block this evening - T123D, first seen earlier this month. Also check out the unique white pigmentation spot on the dorsal fin of T38A, another new whale for me. -Monika Wieland Shields
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13:49 - T35s, T38s, & T123s at Skipjack now. -Lee Connally
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Sat Oct 27 - Central Puget Sound - Late report but I believe I saw a humpback do a vertical breach this morning around 11:30 am, looking NW from Seahurst Park it seemed to be about 1/4 -1/2 mile or so, west of the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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Sat Oct 27 - South Puget Sound - My husband Jeffrey Ritter got this amazing photo of the whale kicking sideways today. It did it 3 times in a row! He also captured a great shot of its tale! -Tracy Ritter
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Tail throws, waterfalls, and fluke. -Photos by Jeffrey Ritter, Oct 27, 2018
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15:00 - Humpback or gray whale spotted off south Vashon ferry, possibly foraging. -John Schmidt
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13:25 - (humpback) hanging out between Vashon/Point Defiance ferry landings, closer to Vashon side. -Beky Harris
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13:08 - Humpback just off Point Defiance, Tacoma. -Photo by Dan Crooks, Oct 27, 2018
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We saw it (humpback) from Point Defiance park around 10:30. It was headed back towards Tacoma. -Brian Kelly
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09:45 - a likely humpback was seen in Tacoma Narrows, first heading north, then back south. -Reported by Donna Sighurst (sp?)
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Sun Oct 28 - ~2:50 PM - From across Oakland Bay from Shelton Jeannette Lewis saw a large whale exhaling with a loud whoosh. Then the tail came up and there were two more blows. (possibly gray whale #2234 who was seen in Hammersly Inlet day before)
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Sat Oct 27 - 14:15 - Standing on my deck. It (gray whale) was heading north out of Eld Inlet. This is the second surface of a three surface surfacing series. Then a long dive. Next surface was way north, heading toward the southern tip of Squaxin Island. In the rain. Where I lost sight of it.
13:55 - I have not seen it - yet - and I am looking south at Fry Cove/Eld Inlet. It is almost certain to be CRC2234 (gray whale) who has been in this area for over a month. It was in downtown Olympia (Budd Inlet near the port) yesterday late afternoon. -Kim Merriman
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14:15 - Still shot. Standing on my deck as she/he (CRC 2234) headed north out of Eld Inlet. -Photos by Kim Merriman, Oct 27, 2018
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10:00 - Whale in Eld Inlet. Looks to be a gray. Near Frye Cove Park. Looks to be headed out of the inlet now. So cool. -Keri Aspelund
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DOLPHINS - Sat Oct 27 - I am emailing to report two dolphins seen in the Hood Canal today. Probably the same two that were spotted earlier this week. I don't know what kind, but I have seen them (this type) before. Dark color and large. Two seen at 9:15 am Saturday, Oct. 27th about two miles north of Lilliwaup, heading north in the middle of the canal. Looked like they were traveling out at a pretty good speed. Sorry, no photos. ON staff sent Jeni some info and photos for comparison: Thank you for the photos! Very helpful. I'm thinking bottlenose because of the well defined, bigger fin and longer body. I have seen this type of dolphin in the canal before (like I saw Sat.). The pace they move at, fin and body size....Surely someone else saw them that day? I hope so, and that they can identify them! -Jeni Gray
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Oct 27 - Juan de Fuca Strait - One humpback surfaces as BCZ0155 Manta goes on a dive....on Saratoga brought us back out to Race Rocks where we found a large gathering of 13+ Humpback Whales and then hundreds of Sea Lions (both Steller and California). It was a bit choppy out, but overall a nice day. -Justine Buckmaster
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)

October 26
South Puget Sound - (presumed to be CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - alb)
12:38 - I can see blows - much closer to Owen than Vashon. Possibly a bit east of Owen right now.
11:37 - I can see the hmpback from Sunrise beach. Still between Point Defiance and Dalco. Looks to be heading towards Owen beach at this time. -Heidi Armstrong
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10:47 - he was heading north in Colvos. Big Blows!
10:36 a.m - He's still here! Right off Pt. Defiance. -Amber Stanfill

October 25
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Brothers J27 Blackberry (born 1991) and J39 Mako (born 2003) sticking close to one another while traveling Juan de Fuca Strait in search of chum salmon. -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Oct 25, 2018
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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Thu Oct 25 - What a very special day to have J Pod of our beloved Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales, Matriarch J19 Shachi (born 1979), J19's daughter J41 Eclipse (born 2005), J47 Notch (born 2010), around Sooke waters heading east through the Juan De Fuca Strait feeding on Chum Salmon this time of year. Southern Resident meets humpback...Photos - Paul Pudwell
(IDs by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research)
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Thu Oct 25 - San Juans ~13:00 - I'm pretty sure I saw a humpback in Guemes Channel, heading east. -Andree Hurley
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Thu Oct 25 - South Puget Sound - (presumed to be CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi)
16:21 - He's (humpback) right in front of Owens Beach in the middle. -Susan Monroe
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~16:00 - I saw it (humpback) breach!! A flying whale.. no pic, just a splash..right in from of Owen beach. -Amber Stanfill
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12:48 - Been watching from the Vashon viewpoint and it seems to be making its way back up to Owen Beach. -Liley Storm
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11:46 - Humpback off Owen Beach. -Paul Stanfill
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While at Owen beach at 10:25 we spotted it (humpback) to the west of the Vashon ferry terminal appeared to be heading east toward the ferry. And at 11:02: It is now quickly moving west away from the ferry terminal. -Leah Elaine

October 24
T123A in the early stages of a steller sea lion hunt off of Pedder Bay on the afternoon of October 24th. T035A taking her turn in ramming a steller sealion on the afternoon of October 24th near Race Passage -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018
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Wed Oct 24 - San Juans - 14:26 - We left him outside of Open Bay, still headed up. Think it's Divot. -April Ryan
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10:49 - Beautiful Humpback at Eagle Cove, close to shore, slowly moving north! -Lodie Gilbert Budwill
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Wed Oct 24 - North Puget Sound - CS631/CRC16017 Two Spot on Saratoga we were very happy to see the fog gone! It was cloudy and cold, but the whales didn't care. Especially not Two Spot! After lunging through a bait ball near Possession Bank, he turned north toward Useless Bay. After apparently eating a big breakfast, he came over to the boat for a bit of "mugging" with some enthusiastic rolls at the surface and some eye contact with the passengers and crew. After he had enough, he continued toward Double Bluff and we moved on to Eastern Bank, where we found lunge feeding Minke Whales! Of course, I can't forget the lovely Steller Sea Lions at Whale Rocks. Another wonderful day with the wildlife of the Salish Sea! -Justine Buckmaster
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Wed Oct 24 - South Puget Sound - CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - 18:20 - Found him! North of the narrows bridge, close to the east shore. -Abby Albright
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~17:30 - After hearing and seeing multiple full breaches from a distance here's some photos of Humpback MMX0128 Vivaldi today just north of the Tacoma Narrows bridge taken from my paddleboard with my zoom camera, out with Pam Baker....Took photo attached today just north of Tacoma Narrows bridge around 5:30 pm. Photos today are of same whale I took video of on 10-18-2018 from my deck at Salmon Beach, that I understand was confirmed to be MMX0128 Vivaldi. -Zeno Martin
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17:35 - He (humpback) is still in the same spot just North of the East end of the Narrows Bridge, very close to shore just South of the opening of the train tunnel.
16:49 - Looking from Day Island, he (humpback) is splashing around South of Salmon Beach possibly headed towards the Narrows Bridge.
16:42 - Just saw him (humpback) through binoculars from Day Island. He is Southbound just off I Salmon Beach headed towards the bridge. -Karen Caldwell
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I saw it (humpback) briefly from the 3:10 ferry to Point Defiance, only because 2 dozen middle schoolers were pointing and yelling 'whale'! -Richard Rogers
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15:25 - We just saw one (humpback) just southwest of Point Defiance heading towards the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. -Spring Courtright
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14:15 - (humpback) surfacing right in front of the Tacoma yacht club, pretty close to shore, headed east. -Marla Smith
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14:10 - humpback still out there. 12:00 - (humpback) Still in the same spot! So pretty!!! Between Owen and Vashon. -Photo by Amber Stanfill, Oct 24, 2018
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10:56 still midchannel Owen Beach headed east. -Lissa Brod Anderson
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09:45- Humpback mid channel between Owens beach and Gig Harbor. -Marla Smith
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MINKE WHALES - Wed Oct 24 -...we moved on to Eastern Bank, where we found lunge feeding Minke Whales! Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Oct 24, 2018

October 23
16:45 - Transients outside Friday Harbor heading north. Reportedly T49A2, T65A2, and T65A4. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Tues Oct 23 - South Puget Sound - (presumed to be CRC 15936/MMX0128 Vivaldi - alb)
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16:10 - just watched him (humpback) breach at least 6 times and slap his pectoral fins over & -Photos by Heidi Armstrong, Oct 23, 2018
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15:38 - He's (humpback) still there. Closer to the Vashon side near the ferry dock headed Northwest. -Abby Albright
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13:05 -14:40 - While at Owen Beach, spotted one humpback traveling back and forth across the length of Vashon, east/west. I was surprised that he changed direction so many times. He was mostly milling at the surface, but I saw the fluke and knew he was diving down a few times. He breached twice (once right in front of the Vashon ferry!), and a significant amount of tail slapping! He travelled over to the middle of Dalco Passage, still milling around. What a sweet sight to get to watch him for so long! -Erin McCoy
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12:45 - Humpack super close to the south end Vashon shore. Milling back and forth. -Amber Stanfill
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~11:35 - Humpback headed east bound - Dalco Pass. -Photo by Wayne McFarland, Oct 23, 2018
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10:44 AM - A humpback was reported from Point Defiance heading west, by Brian Allen.
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Tues Oct 23 - Gray whale 2234 in Hammersley Inlet, Puget Sound. -Photos by Pamela S Burger, Oct 23, 2018
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON - last photo crop of 2nd)
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14:40 - Gray whale eastbound towards Arcadia Point, Hammersley Inlet. -Pamela Burger
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12:22 - Hammersly Inlet, a gray whale near Mill Creek, heading west, reported by Sarah O'Neil.

October 22
Mon Oct 22 - 16:11 - Grey whale, Hammersly Inlet. now heading to Walker Park westbound. (per Pam gray had flipped and headed east by 17:16 - alb) -Pamela Burger
(Presumably gray CRC 2234 - alb)

October 21
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - October in Sooke! Went for a RIP with some friends for Lunch in the Victoria Inner Harbour today....awesome food, friends, weather and WHALES...Humpback whales everywhere and my favorites the Transient Killer Whales (T11 & T11a) our "Locals" were in Sooke Harbour but to our surprise we found them just off Secretary Island as we made our way home which brought many a smile to us. Mama matriarch T11 and her lovely large son T11A.- Sooke Harbor, BC...Paul Pudwell
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Sun Oct 21 - Rosario Strait - Had a larger group off Lawson Reef at 4pm today (West of Deception Pass). T35A, T38A, T123s. We searched far and wide for that smaller group before seeing this group. -Matt Stolmeier
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Sun Oct 21 - Rosario Strait - Please identify this pod of orcas, encountered first in Rosario strait, followed to Skyline Marina and out to Washington park when we lost them. Two adults and a juvenile. They played around with our dinghy for about 20 minutes. They came right to our boat. Sighting was between 10 am and noon today. -Elena Sera Jose
(These look like the T065A kiddos!! They have been on an adventure away from their momma for the last few days! - Sarah McCullagh)
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Sun Oct 21 - Admiralty Inlet - A call came in just after dark reporting a sighting of a single orca seen by Deborah Wright from the Coupeville ferry about noon today. The ferry veered to the left to avoid it. No direction given and no photos available.
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Sun Oct 21 - October in Sooke! ...awesome food, friends, weather and WHALES...Humpback whales everywhere...Photo by Paul Pudwell, Oct 21, 2018
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Sun Oct 21 - North Puget Sound - We saw two humpbacks off of Point No Point yesterday at around 1pm. They were breaching and slapping their tails for a while. They seemed to be following a fishing boat. I got this video from the beach on my cell phone. Not the greatest, but you can see their big splashes. -Kaitlyn Goodeve
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Thanks to some eagle-eyed passengers on MV Saratoga, we were able to watch Humpback Whale "Masquerade" (BCY0349) and a Minke Whale in Admiralty inlet! Masquerade was southbound, heading back toward Possession....We left Masquerade near Mutiny Bay, closer to the Whidbey side, but she may have crossed over... I think it was around 10 am. -Justine Buckmaster
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UNIDENTIFIED WHALES - Sun Oct 21 - 13:21 - 2 large (blues) just spotted off Point No Point light house Hansville (Kitsap Peninsula) ...Have seen humpbacks out here. These were huge. Headed east. From spout to fin too far. Dark in color. Came out of water very far. Myrna has been here decades and these were different according to her too. -Dennis Sutton
(Note: We and CRC have not seen or heard of blue whales in our inside waters, humpbacks were reported at different times through out the day -alb)
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Sun Oct 21 - South Puget Sound - (For sake of space, we will not include all the many brief reports posted to our Facebook page which record that this humpback, presumed to be MMX0128, spent the day traveling back and forth in Dalco Passage which has been the case all week. Some videos posted to our Facebook page show the whale today breaching on occasion. - alb)
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17:22 - Mid-channel between Point Defiance & Vashon. West of Owen beach. Seems to be milling around. -Heidi Armstrong
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Saw a humpback this afternoon looking out to Dalco Passage from 5 Mile Drive (Point Defiance). So exciting, I have been here so many times looking for humpbacks, this is my first time seeing one. Wish he was closer...he was closer to Vashon. Made my day. -Tira Will
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15:07 - Humpback righ in front of Owen Beach, Point Defiance, Tacoma. -Photo by Geri Garrett, Oct 21, 2018
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Humpback (presumabely MMX00128) breaches in a foggy Dalco Passage. -Photo by Heather DePree, Oct 21, 2018
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12:05 pm - Rachelle Kautzman reports seeing the humpback south of Vashon, near the ferry dock.
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MINKE WHALES - Sun Oct 21 - Couple Minke whales just off Fort Casey next to the Keystone ferry. -Christopher Spjut
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Sun Oct 21 - Minke Whale in Admiralty Inlet between Port Townsend and Keystone, south of the ferry lanes. -Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Oct 21, 2018
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DOLPHINS - Sun Oct 21 - I was out this morning (Sunday 10.21) around 7:30 and heard the sound of air coming out of a blowhole about 200(?) yards off the old ferry dock in Gig Harbor. I managed to isolate the area as I kept hearing the air through the blowhole sound. I managed to get a few so-so shots of the animal and I was wondering if you could help me identify what type of dolphin (I assume it was a dolphin) it was. It was swimming alone. After about 5 minutes or so, it did not come back up anywhere near where I was watching. I have attached the photo(s) for you. -Thanks. Jeff Hurdus
(That is almost certainly a bottlenose dolphin. I can't be as certain that it is Stump, because the trailing edge of the dorsal fin isn't clear enough. It is roughly the right shape for her dorsal, and she was in the South Sound last week, so there is a good chance that it is her. -Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research)
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PORPOISE - Sun Oct 21 - Keep seeing two things surfacing with dorsal fins in the Hood Canal by Lilliwaup. I got a closer look at them today and it looked like dolphins. Is that possible? Do you know if there are dolphins in the canal or who I should ask? Thank you! From what I recall the dorsal fin looks like the harbor porpoise photo. -Holly Stender

October 20
The rest of the group from today was up by Alden Bank when we left. We also had a minke not too far from the smaller group of Ts (the group you mention). -John Boyd
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Originally reported as the T65As, this was later reported to be just three whales: T49A2, T65A2, and T65A4 who have been seen together periodically over the last week without the rest of their families. -Monika Wieland Shields
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17:24 - Capt Alan Niles updates the Bigg's are at the top of Jones Island.
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16:30 - Small group of transients coming south down President's Channel aiming for San Juan Channel. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Oct 20 - South Puget Sound - (Presumed to be MMX0128, comments on our Facebook page had him/her in Dalco all day again - alb)
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18:00 -18:45 - (Humpback) Spotted multiple times between 6:00 pm & 6:45. Multiple spouting & dives. Owen Beach to Dalco Passage. Gig Harbor view to the east again. Last night also. Seems to be hanging around all day. Very exciting! He kept moving from viewpoint to viewpoint. We walked along the trails next to the edge. He was just below...Hearing the breathing was amazing. -Laureen Claggett
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12:57 - spotted it (humpback) from Dalco Viewpoint going on a deep dive mid channel towards Owen Beach. Several boats nearby. -Connor O'Brien
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09:45 - humpback between Owen Beach and Vashon, West of the ferry lane. Saw a few spouts and some dorsal show. Just saw the fluke for the first time at 9:53. No photos (yet). -Melissa Lovejoy Goldman

October 19
Fri Oct 19 - North Puget Sound - 03:45 - Hi there - just want to let you know that there are whales going past Point No Point this morning. I have been hear blows for about the last 20 minutes. Don't know number or direction of travel as it is kind of dark this early in the morning! Hopefully you will have some sightings once it gets light. -Thanks, Patty Michak
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Fri Oct 19 - South Puget Sound
(Humpback MMX00128 Vivaldi - alb)
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18:26 - Whale is just below the viewpoint south of Owen's beach. -Phil Caldwell
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17:20 - Humpback is very close to Owen Beach. -Cora Reuter Foster
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Humpback MMX0128 Vivaldi - Dalco Passage. -Photos by Cora Reuter Foster, Oct 19, 2018
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16:43 - It's (humpback) still out here. Going back and forth between Dalco and Vashon viewpoints. So awesome!! -Shelly Rosenberg
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15:28 - (Humpback) off Vashon View Point - Point Defiance. Closest to Vashon side, -Ed Steph Klingelhoffer
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We saw the humpback off Pt Defiance at 1:30, he was making big circles of the area. We watched him for an hour in the same general area. Awesome experience. -Photo by Pat DeVore, Oct 19, 2018
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12:12 - (Humpback) You can still hear it (them?) in the dark and fog! -Michele Riley Campbell
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09:55 - 2nd hand report: Humpback reported again off the south end of Vashon Island, by Brian Holmes. Seen from Tacoma. -Jeanette Dorner

October 18
Received Thu Oct 18 - Juan de Fuca Strait - Thanks. Saw five humpbacks last week in Clallam Bay...Terry DuBeau
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Thu Oct 18 - North Puget Sound - 14:00 - (humpback) still just E of Skunk Bay feeding. It's Zephyr! -Justine Buckmaster
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12:55 - (humpback) definitely feeding. Was here a few hours yesterday and has been here for a couple hours today. Midway in the channel.
12:28 - Humpback again today in Admiralty inlet east of Skunk Bay. -Lora Davis
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Thu Oct 18 - South Puget Sound - 18:32 - can still see him (humpback) from Owen Beach, close to Gig Harbor now. -Kari Anne
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18:00 - Humpback by Owen Beach heading south. -Cassy Suratos
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Humpback MMX0128 Dalco Passage. Screen grab from video by Karen Caldwell, Oct 18, 2018
(ID from video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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15:30 - humpback heading east between Pt. Defiance and Owens Beach.
14:36 - humpback still between Point Defiance and Point Dalco. -Steve Fogard
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12:37 - Humpback whale in Tacoma Narrows, swimming north, away from the bridge to Gig Harbor towards Owens Beach. Seen from our hike in Pt. Defiance! -Darcy Hutchinson
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12:24 - Single Humpback whale spotted off of the Clay Banks in Tacoma. The Clay Banks is an old timer term for the area from Owens Beach out to the Point at Point Defiance. There are clay banks that are eroded away more and more each year. -Sam Rutledge
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11:52 - Now more mid channel between Point Defiance and Gig Harbor still headed north
11:39 a.m. - Humpback seen at Gig Harbor lookout at Point Defiance just now! Fairly close to shore headed North away from bridge. -Kourtnee Marr Lindgren
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Minke whale near Dallas Bank...Photo by Justine Buckmaster, MV Saratoga, Oct 18, 2018
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Thu Oct 18 - 15:16 - Dolphins???!!! There were Witnesses this time, too!my pictures were still crap, I was literally getting ready to leave and had to throw it back in park and jump out....Thank you for the clarification, they were definitely some small dolphins. I was just very excited, before this week I didn't know that we got humpbacks or dolphins over here. Never even seen a whale or dolphin in real life. The last 4 days have been very exciting for me. -Johnny Collard
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Reply later in the evening: Johnny Collard you likely saw a porpoise/dolphin it was swimming around there and in front of Owen beach...about 2:00-2:30 today (Thursday) very close to shore. Swimming west...It first appeared by showing it's dorsal fin. It did the dolphin type bobbing up and down. Grey. -Monica Janke Herlocker
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13:44 - There's something with a large dorsal fin swimming around, maybe 30 feet away over by Anthony's. Is there anyone that can attest, and maybe shed some light on what I saw? It popped out of the water twice, and it was a darker grey I believe. I wasn't able to get my phone out fast enough to get a decent picture. Just kind of a blur..Johnny Collard

October 17
North Puget Sound - 12:27 - Now they (humpbacks) are in Admiralty inlet between Skunk Bay and Useless Bay. -Lora Davis
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10/17 on Chilkat Express with our 3rd whale trifecta in a row!! We encountered 2 Humpback Whales apparently having an intense social interaction near Possession Bank. It was "Two Spot" in hot pursuit of "Zephyr" who trumpeted loudly with every breath as the two sped toward the Kitsap Peninsula. Then, we found a Minke Whale near Port Townsend (not pictured) then spotted two more off in the distance from Eastern Bank. To top it off, we met up with Gray Whale #185 feeding in shallow water near Mabana Beach on Camano Island. Beautiful weather, and lots of smaller critters as well, but I didn't manage to get any pictures of them. -Justine Buckmaster
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10:18 - We left them (CS631/CRC16017 and MMZ0004) heading quickly toward Eglon. Zephyr was trumpeting as Two Spot pursued her, both moving fast.
09:50 - Humpbacks Two Spot (CS631/CRC16017) and Zephyr (MMZ0004) feeding at Possession Bank. -Photos by Justine Buckmaster, Oct 17, 2018
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Wed Oct 17 - South Puget Sound - 18:35 - seeing blows just between Owen Beach and the point (Defiance). -Amy Carey, Sound Action
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17:00-17:45 - Watched him (humpback) with a small crowd at Dalco Passage this evening from. Magnificent! -Laura Edgar
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16:22 - Humpback is off the south tip of Vashon Island and moving slowly west. Lots of people watching from Owen Beach. Orca Network bumper sticker spotted in parking lot. -Angela Batie Carlin
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The humpback whale did a roll and my daughter caught this picture! It happened so fast, but it was amazing to see! - Tracy Ritter
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We had such a fun day at the beach watching this humpback. -Photos by Desiree Sauve, Oct 17, 2018
(All three photos: MMX0128 in Dalco Passage - alb)
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Point Defiance, Dalco Passage, Point Ruston, Vashon Island...one of the most beautiful fall days ever...I got to meet Vivaldi (humpback) for the first time. The fall colors were incredible!... I never thought the fog would ever lift but I think around 1 pm it finally did....it was cool, seeing sun rays coming thru and watching fishermen down at the boat house...anyway, my soul so so needed this....fog, boats and fisherman...hearing the kingfishers at pier and herons and other nature calls. Seals and sea lions out like crazy...water so -Marilyn Armbruster
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~ 14:30 - whale has been milling back and forth - Dalco Passage. -Photo by Amber Stanfill, Oct 17, 2018
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14:55 - Tentative ID is MMX0128 Vivaldi who is currently west end of Owen Beach mid channel. Basically just foraging back and forth in Dalco Passage again today.
14:20 - a humpback traveled east in regular dive/surface intervals and circled back. Currently on a dive east of Owen Beach, now closer to Tacoma side.
13:50 - Fog has lifted and humpback throwing her/his tail!!! One minute of tail lobs, first heard percussives from Owen Beach then spotted the whale out from the Vashon Ferry dock throwing lobs. Now on a dive. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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08:49 - Humpback off Point Defiance. Hard to see with all the fog, but he's out there. -JJ Dav
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GRAY WHALES - Wed Oct 17 - North Puget Sound - A gray whale passed the west side of Camano Island about 5:50 PM, on Wednesday, October 17th. It passed the point at Pebble Beach heading south. It was fairly close in to the shore. -Don Sandes
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13:30 - (Gray whale) CRC 185 feeding very close to shore at Mabana Beach, Camano Island. -Justine Buckmaster
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My greyhounds and I sighted a whale this morning close to shore off Bells Beach around 7am. But we aren't sure what kind! It hardly surfaced unlike the the numerous gray whales that we saw this summer which would surface much sooner. But we were awed none the less to hear its powerful exhales. Very dark. Humpback? It was on its own. -Robin Reich
(presumably gray whale 185 who was seen later further south - alb)
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Wed Oct 17...Then, we found a Minke Whale near Port Townsend then spotted two more off in the distance from Eastern Bank. -Justine Buckmaster, Chilkat Express

October 16
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS...then J and K pods out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Race Rocks, and a Minke Whale near Point Wilson. So wonderful to see all of these amazing creatures, especially the Southern Resident Killer Whales. -Justine Buckmaster
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Residents surfing in tanker wake - One of the males starting surfing as the wave came towards us on the IE3 and then more kept joining in the surfing fun with some of the big males chasing after the tanker. -Photos by Lee Leddy, Naturalist, Island Adventures, Oct 16, 2018
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Tue Oct 16 - North Puget Sound - 15:58 p.m. - We've had 2 Humpbacks here milling back-and-forth in front of Eglon for the better part of the last four hours. -Melissa Peterson
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We also had Two Spot (humpback CS631/CRC16017) this morning, feeding on west side of the bank again, not interested in anything but food. -Renee Beitzel
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10/16 on the Chilkat Express with another whale trifecta! Met up with "Two Spot" CS631/CRC16017 the Humpback Whale at Possession Bank in the morning, then J and K pods out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Race Rocks, and a Minke Whale near Point Wilson. So wonderful to see all of these amazing creatures, especially the Southern Resident Killer Whales. -Justine Buckmaster
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Tue Oct 16 - South Puget Sound - Just before sunset (5:00-6:50pm) we saw a Humpback MMX0128 Vivaldi off of Dalco Passage viewpoint, moving nice and slow coming up every few min. My light was not the best but I was in good company with a few other people and my Family. -Desiree Sauve
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Humpback right off Pt Defiance at around 6:00 pm tonight! -Photo by Gay McCray, Oct 16, 2018
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17:30 - I watched the humpback for an hour or more from the second overlook west of Owen Beach. He moved slowly in a large area mid-channel between Point Defiance and Vashon, surfacing a lot and blowing. When I left he was heading very slowly east toward Owen Beach. Such a great encounter! -Ranell Nystrom
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16:40 - (Humpback) Spent the last 20 minutes watching one near Pt Defiance in Dalco Passage... No boats were under power or coming within the minimum distance. The whale came to investigate each boat that was out there at the time. Such an amazing encounter. -Cynthia Olekszyk
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16:06 - Thought I was crazy for seeing 2 humpbacks, but nevertheless there are 2 still hanging between Vashon and Point Defiance. Viewing from Gig Harbor. One appears to be making its way north into the Colvos. -Gaby Kinner
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(Humpback) Appears to be closer to the Narrows. Spouts visible from Point Defiance ferry, 3:40 sailing. -Andrew Casad
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13:40 - (Humpback) Still out there in Dalco Passage milling between Point Defiance and Vashon. -Amber Stanfill
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Humpback MMX0128 Vivaldi - Dalco Passage. -Photos by Cora Foster, Oct 16, 2018
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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12:39 - (Humpback) One still hanging out near the Ferry on Vashon side. -Jason Cook
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~11:00 - I saw two from Owen Beach! My first time seeing humpbacks, and my first time seeing whales in the South Sound. I'm so happy! -Steph Parke
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10:30 - Sitting at Owen Beach watching him (humpback) across the water, maybe close to Dash Point. -Emma Ootkin-Candler
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09:37 - (humpbacks) Still out there. In the past 1/2 hour it's traveled from Vashon ferry dock to mid-channel towards Point Defiance. -Heidi Armstrong
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08:06 - (Humpback) Whale mid channel...off of Tahlequah ferry. -Steve Fogard
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Tue Oct 16 - North Puget Sound - Gray whale spotted at Mabana heading south while feeding at 4:45pm today. -Photo by Kerri Jones, Oct 16, 2018
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Tue Oct 16 - South Puget Sound - Gray just went by on Pickering and turned up Hammersley at 9:15am. -Chad Queirolo
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Minke whale near Point Wilson...Photo by Justine Buckmaster, Chilkat Express, Oct 16, 2018

October 15
...interesting group of transients heading east off Dungeness Spit. Along with the T35As and T38As, a male known as U57 and several other unknown whales were reported to be with them...Along with the six T35As and T38As, there were four new whales other than U57...Besides U57, Jared says the other male is known as U56 and both are the probable sons of a two nicked female known as U36. A medium sized juvenile present was U36A. The second unknown female sized whale who was present was U137. U137 seems to belong to the U36 group but his/her relationship to the others is unknown. Jared says DFO only has a few records of this group from near the shelf edge off northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.
See CWR's full report and photos at Center for Whale Research Encounter 90.
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U056 passes by a very tired seller sea lion in the final few minutes of its life near Eastern Bank on the afternoon of October 15th. -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018
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Started our day in the marina with a bald eagle, a seal and some other birds which I will add later. Five minutes off the dock we found our friend Two Spot the humpback, then we saw another humpback named Masquerade/Cyclone and then a third HB named Zephyr!! We were fortunate to be able to watch Two Spot lunge feed into a bird pile before we left to find more wildlife! Out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Captain Brian was looking for whales and about 3 and 1/2 miles away he saw some!! Turned out to be appx. 10 transient orcas including T38A's, T35A's and U56, U57, U36, U36A, U137. The "U's" have never been recorded or photographed in this area before, so we actually got the first photos of them here as it was our Captain that found them! The other whales do not visit here very often so it was an amazing encounter to see all of them!! There was a minke whale in the area as well so we got to see the trifecta!...Janine Harles, Puget Sound Express
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10/15 on the Chilkat Express!! Wow, what another amazing day! As if it wasn't already awesome enough that we saw 3 Humpback Whales at Possession Bank, "Two Spot" showed us his fantastic lunge feeding technique, scattering a large bait ball! Our journey continued north where we found at least 10 Transient Killer Whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Not just any Ts, these are infrequent visitors to this area. My first time meeting the T35s, T38As, U57, U58 and others(?). Thanks to all who helped us ID these new to us orcas! -Justine Buckmaster, Naturalist, Puget Sound Express
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U137 tail lobs next to U57. -Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, Oct 15, 2018
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Mon Oct 15 - North Puget Sound - 10:23: Two Spot (CS631/CRC16017), Zephyr (MMZ0004) and Masquerade (BCY0349) all feeding with an occasional lunge on west side of Possession bank. (South Whidbey Island). -Renee Beitzel
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Mon Oct 15 - South Puget Sound. Humpback MMX0128 Vivaldi - Dalco Passage around noon today around noon. -Byron O'Neal
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network)
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16:39 - Just made its way toward Owen Beach and Commencement Bay.
16:30 - just saw a humpback spout three times between Vashon Island and Pt Definance. -Gaby Kinner
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15:30 - 16:15 - Humpback whale still north of Point Defiance - west of the ferry route at Dalco Passage. Closer to Pt. Defiance than Vashon Island. Spotted at 330 and still in same area at 415p....It's just circling. A couple of unaware boaters have gotten too close. -Melanie Carver-Cox
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14:38 - Definitley two, in the middle of Dalco, they were just milling around. -Amber Stanfill
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13:00-14:00 - we watched them (I think it was one?) for an hour from 1-2pm...Humpback - Dalco Passage, between Vashon Island and Pt. Defiance, Tacoma. there was def a pattern... came up for 5-7 quick breaths before deep diving for 5 mins. -Cora Reuters Foster
(ID notes: Looks like MMX1028 Vivaldi - Alisa Lemire Brooks)
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Humpback whale in Dalco Passage. -Photo by David Earl, Oct 15, 2018
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12:50 - whale is still hanging out in Dalco Passage, south of Vashon ferry. -Michaela Kelly Wuelfing
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11:40 - Just spotted (humpback), heading north up west side Vashon. -Pat Scott
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11:18 - Jan Barnes sees a humpback off Dalco Pt., about half mile west of the Tahlequah ferry dock. She says the whale has been there since Thursday.
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10:45 - Beautiful blows in the sun and tail fluke, traveling south towards Owen Beach/Ruston just east of ferry channel about a quarter of way between Vashon and Tacoma. -Michelle Riley Campbell
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9:58 - Brian Owens reports a whale off the south end of Vashon Island, near the Tahlequah ferry dock.
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9:28 - Humpback reported by Marie at WS Ferries milling, no direction, just off the Tahlequah ferry dock.
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Oct 15 - North Puget Sound - on the Chilkat Express!! Wow, what another amazing day! As if it wasn't already awesome enough that we saw 3 Humpback Whales at Possession Bank, "Two Spot" showed us his fantastic lunge feeding technique, scattering a large bait ball! Our journey continued north where we found at least 10 Transient Killer Whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Not just any Ts, these are infrequent visitors to this area. My first time meeting the T35s, T38As, U57, U58 and others(?). Thanks to all who helped us ID these new to us orcas! -Justine Buckmaster

October 14
Sun Oct 14 - North Puget Sound - 18:30 - Saw at least 2 humpbacks from north Edmonds as the sun was setting. They were northbound, closer to Edmonds side but out a ways. -Michelle Goll
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14:05 - (Humpback) Just south of Whidbey again...south of Scatchet Head, across from Pilot Point, just caught a quick glimpse! -Jenny Lynn Wickersham
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Humpback MMZ0004 fluke from 1pm today, about 3 miles south of Scatchet Head (S Whidbey). -Photo by Andrew Malinak, Oct 14, 2018
(Photo ID'd by Alisa Lemire Brooks, made possible by and thanks to Bart Rulon & Renee Beitzel, MV Saratoga for IDing the whales earlier in the day)
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12:59 - (Humpback) Just south of Possession now. -Luke Seever
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12:24 - Humpback north of Edmonds ferry...heading north. -Cari Morgan Chapel
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10:43 - It's humpback ping pong out here today! We had the unidentified again (no flukes) and now Two Spot (CS631/CRC16017) who was breaching as a tanker passed close to him. (ID notes later by Renee: Other whale is BCY0349 Cyclone aka Masquerade.)
10:04 - (Humpback) MMZ0004 "Zephyr" feeding on Possession bank. -Renee Beitzel
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11:25 - we also found Two Spot (CS631/CRC16017) south of Possession Point too. So we currently have 3 down here this morning.
10:13 - Actually, we have two (humpbacks). One is the unidentified whale we took through all the guides and didn't find a match.
9:45 - (Humpback) MMZ0004, Zephyr, south of Possession Bar. -Bart Rulon, MV Saratoga
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Sun Oct 14 - South Puget Sound - We saw this humpback too Sunday evening about 6:00. It came by the south west side of Fox Island. It was close to shore and magnificent. It then headed west toward McNeil island then turned south toward the South end of McNeil. -Julie Gonsalves
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17:17 - Humpback close inshore off the Fox Island pier, Puget Sound. -Photo by Sarah Cardinal, Oct 14, 2018
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16:55 - (Humpback) Nearing Fox Island pier, mid channel. -Heidi Armstrong
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16:45 - (Humpback) Just south of the Tacoma Narrows bridge...headed south. -Rachel Fratnz
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~16:45 - Perfect tail shot, sun in my eyes and camera to low to capture the full bridge (Tacoma Narrows)! Two humpbacks, we left them as they headed south long past the bridge! -Photo by Gay McCray, Oct 14, 2018
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14:44 - (Humpback) Whale headed north towards Narrows Bridge! Seen from Lemons Beach Rd. Out of sight now. -Dawn Dewhirst
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15:06 - (Humpback) Leaving pier now, blows hard to see with eye, whale kept north and under Narrows bridge. Will post pic from home. (Too far away for a clear pic when it showed the underside of fluke.)
14:24 - Humpback whale spotted off of Fox Island pier now, headed north towards Narrows bridge. Past Day Island more towards west of channel. -Sarah Cardinal
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Humpback off Fox Island heading northbound up the Tacoma Narrows. -Photos by Sarah Cardinal, Oct 14, 2018
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GRAY WHALES - Sun Oct 14 - South Puget Sound - At the intersection of Pickering and Hammersley Sunday late afternoon. Screen grab from video by Chad Queirolo, Oct 14, 2018
(confirmed gray whale per short Facebook video - alb)
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WHALES; SPECIES UNCONFIRMED - Sun Oct 14 - 15:29 - Just came into Bremerton dock, the bartender said they just saw a whale breach out here just off the pier. -Jenny Lynn Wickersham

October 13
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Sat Oct 13 - 12:20 - Now northbound at Kellett Bluffs.
10:30 - T65A2, A3, and A4 milling in Spieden Channel. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Sat Oct 13 - Haro Strait - Humpback headed north past Lime Kiln around 11am... sorry for the delay, busy day out here with all this sunshine! -Erin Corra
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Sat Oct 13 - North Puget Sound - 16:07 - Looks like at least two, doing a big circuit between Point No Point and Whidbey.
15:34 - Just saw a humpback at Point No Point heading south. 500 feet or less from shore. -David Mullbock
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11:35 - Humpback four nautical miles south of Scatchet Head,..Seas too rough to photo. Heading north. Confident it was a humpback. -Michelle Barnes
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Sat Oct 13 - South Puget Sound - 17:30 - It is a big humpback traveling (south) toward the Tacoma side of the S. Vashon ferry lane, frequent blows! -Michele Riley Campbell
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16:55 - (humpback) just saw a spout & tail pretty near ferry dock on Vashon. -Heidi Armstrong
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16:15 - (humpback) Heading towards Vashon again!
15:59 - I think it's humpbacks, possibly three. Heading towards Pt. Defiance.
15:39 - Whale in Dalco Passage near Vashon. I'm just a little too far to identify if it's humpback or gray. -Michaela Wuelfing
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13:19 - Humpback going North headed towards West end of Narrows Bridge. -Karen Caldwell
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Sat Oct 13 - Saratoga Passage, North Puget Sound - Thanks to sharp eyed, and eared, neighbors I just had a chance to see our overwintering? gray whale. Just south of Mabana, Camano Island, close to shore at 9 AM high tide, heading south. Interestingly, I had noted a flock of Scoter feeding in front of the house yesterday and had thought it was strange they were there this time of year. They were acting just like earlier in the Spring when the the gray whale are feeding and they follow along for the feast. The neighbors say the whale has been around most of the week. -Barbara Brock
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07:32 - Whale off Mabana Port, Camano Island heading south. (Thank you. I was kayaking off Mabana on Thursday (11th) afternoon and saw probably the same whale. Very exciting! -Lonnie Kaufman
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Sat Oct 13 - South Puget Sound - Newcomer Gray whale CRC-2234. - Gray whale in Pickering Passage. Just south of the Harstine Island Bridge. Today. VERY close to shore. Long telephoto lens and highly cropped. -Photo by Kim Merriman, Oct 13, 2018
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14:15 - Two whales blowing between Harstine Island and north end of Squaxin Island - visible from Harstine Island Bridge. Too far away to see what kind of whales, but LOTS of bird activity circling above blows. It was blowing rapidly, so we assumed two. Could have just been a very active single whale. -Mia Bosetti
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Sat Oct 13 - San Juans - Two shots of humpback taken from Saturna Island, vicinity of East Point. -Photos by James McLarnon
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October 13 - South Puget Sound - I was just able to get this shot Saturday 10/13 near the south end of Fox Island. -Photo by Dave Stahnke, Oct 13, 2018

October 12
uan de Fuca Strait - Great to sea the new calf again with Transient Killer Whales (T123's) minutes from our docks off Sooke this morning! -Photo by Paul Pudwell, Oct 12, 2018
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Fri Oct 12 - San Juans - Transient Orcas T65A2, A3, and A4; today at Henry Island! 2-5PM. -Photo by Capt. Jackie Cowan, Oct 12
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12:55 - Looked like T65A2, A3, and A4; passed Land Bank northbound
12:05 - Transients near False Bay heading north. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Fri Oct 12 - North Puget Sound - on MV Saratoga...I didn't even work today, I rode along with family. We were so lucky! ...We saw 3 Humpbacks, part of the T65A pod, and Gray Whale #185.
re: humpback encounter; We were south of Possession Bank, about half way between Edmonds and Kingston. It was for sure Two Spot and Masquerade, and while it's probably safe to assume the 3rd was Zephyr, he/she stayed a bit too far away to confirm ID. Humpbacks CS631/CRC16017 Two Spot and BCY0349 Masquerade off Possession Bank. Engines off while whales were curious or whatever it is they are up to when they interact with boats. -Justine Buckmaster
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Fri Oct 12 - South Puget Sound - 13:58 - Bob Wagner just updated the Anderson Island post that the humpbacks are still where he saw them this morning at the south end of Fox Island. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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10:47 - finally spotted, looks like a single humpback.
10:05 - Humpbacks off the south end of Fox Island. Right in fish haven and very close to shore. -Bob Wagner
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Fri Oct 12 - Saratoga Passage, North Puget Sound - 13:54 - gray whale #185 feeding close to shore at Lowell Point - entrance to Elger Bay! -Renee Beitzel
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PCFG Gray whale CRC 185 in Saratoga Passage. -Photo by Justine Buckmaster, Oct 12, 2018
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13:30 - gray in between Fox Spit and Camano State park northerly direction. (a bit later: my friend Duane and I walked with this gray from the southend of Fox Spit to the point...he then angled over towards Camano State Park and then headed into Elger Bay as it changed directions and headed south again). -Marilyn Armbruster
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October Grays! Pacific Coast Feeding Gray CRC 185 is still feeding in Saratoga Passage - here he is offshore from Fox Spit, Whidbey Island. -Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, Oct 12, 2018
(ID made on scene by Renee Beitzel)
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Smaller gray whale feeding in Elger Bay in 10 feet of water this morning. Not as big as the one I saw in July and August. -Roger F. Clark
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07:50 - I assume gray whales feeding in Elger Bay now -Tami Fifield
(confirmed gray per Tami's Facebook video - alb)
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Fri Oct 12 - South Puget Sound - Gray was still off Squaxin Island (northwest end) as late as 4:30, just south of Harstine Island bridge. -Kim Merriman
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BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN - Fri Oct 12 - 1:15-1:30pm - Stump, one of the bottlenose dolphins from Coastal California, was hanging out by herself fishing just south of Sunnyside Beach in Steilacoom. We were driving along Chamber's Creek Road toward University Place when we spotted her just off shore, and were able to pull into the parking lot of Sunnyside and enjoy watching her. She was surfacing a few times in a row and then flashing her tail as she did deeper dives. It was a beautiful day to enjoy this unusual visitor to the Puget Sound. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
(ID confirmed by Dave Anderson, Cascadia Research)
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I saw a lot of activity down there, but I believe they were dolphins. That was at 13:03. -Jennie Martin

October 11
Stunning day in the San Juans today. Flat water, sun shining and hanging out with the T090's, T087 and T002B. Here is a post kill spyhop from T090. -Photo by Gary Sutton, Oct 11, 2018
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Thu Oct 11 - We started our tour near Possession, just 5 minutes off the dock with 2 humpback whales! We didn't get any looks at flukes so no ID's. Then we headed up to the San Juans where we found the T123's near Henry Island. They have a new baby, also! T123s with new calf T123D (R) first seen early October. Lovely big brother T123A (born 2000). We were able to watch a scat sniffing dog being trained on a research boat, and then on the way home we encountered 2 minke whales near Port Townsend! While watching the minkes, I saw a disturbance in the water, turns out it was a group of salmon that were porpoising through the water! -Janine Harles
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~08:40 - 2nd hand shore based report: transients at Point Caution heading north in San Juan Channel. (This was the T123s and they ended up on the west side of Haro by early afternoon - MWS) -Monika Wieland Shields
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WSFerries called at 08:17 to say the Samish captain saw a single orca off Reid Rock, (Rosario St.)heading west.
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Thu Oct 11 - Juan de Fuca Strait - 15:00 - Humpbacks lunge feeding at Race Rocks. -Photo by Jackie Cowan, Oct 11, 2018
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Thu Oct 11- Gulf Islands - It's Frank, from Parks Canada. We were out today and sighted a humpback whale off Bedwell Harbour, South Pender Island at 1430 today. It was about 300 M off the shore. No pics of the tail; the sun was behind the whale. This whale seemed to be particularly large, compared to some others I have seen. The whale surfaced unexpectedly, quite close to us (less than 200M; no indication it was in the area as we had a couple kms of clear view). It took 3 breathes and then dove. It resurfaced off Gowland Point as it moved east along Boundary Pass. We were headed west. -Frank Gee, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
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Thu Oct 11 - San Juans - 18:23 - Two humpbacks moving down San Juan Channel from Limestone Point. -Alan Niles
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Thu Oct 11 - South Puget Sound - Spotted spouts from 1 or 2 large whales in the ferry lanes on the the 5:30 run from Pt. Defiance to Vashon. Too far to capture an image. Looking towards Vashon, just in front of the ferry slip I saw a single whale start a dive. About three minutes later looking towards the southern shore I spotted a large spout and a smaller one right afterwards, just to the west of the ferry lanes. The dorsal fins were small and the backs broad. Definitely not orcas. I did see the tail flukes but the distance was too great to note any details. (unconfirmed but sounds like humpbacks - alb). -Mitch Kent
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09:50 - 2 humpbacks between Edmonds and Possession. No ID, one closer to North Edmonds. -Photo by Janine Harles, Oct 11, 2018
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Tue -Thu Oct 9-11 - South Puget Sound - There has been a whale just off the west-facing shore of Harstine Island, in Pickering Passage, about halfway between Squaxin Island and the Harstine Island Bridge. I first saw it right in front of my house Wednesday afternoon (10th), but my neighbor said he had seen it the day before (9th). The whale was still swimming in the water in front of my house when I left for work about 7:00 pm last night (Thursday - 11th). I do not see/hear him this morning (report sent Oct 12th). He was truly a magnificent sight. Although he/she never lept completely out of the water it would come to the surface and blow water about every 15 seconds 3 or 4 times and then dive for about 5 minutes before surfacing again. It seemed to go on all day and all night. I will never forget the distinctive sound of the blowing whale. I feel so lucky to have seen this. -Karen Jensen
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Thu Oct 11 - North Puget Sound - ~15:00 - One Gray feeding and heading north on Camano side just south of Mabana. Watched for an hour...I am very lucky to have seen him. I was the only one around and I walked along the beach with him for about an hour. Here is a picture of the fluke and pec fin, but I don't think it will help with identifying markers. -Kerri Jones
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MINKE WHALES - Thu Oct 11 - 13:30 - ...we encountered 2 minke whales near Port Townsend! While watching the minkes, I saw a disturbance in the water, turns out it was a group of salmon that were porpoising through the water! -Photo by Janine Harles, Oct 11, 2018
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"Spotted this Minke heading east into Admiralty Inlet at 10:30am." -Photo by Annette Huenke, Oct 11, 2018

October 10
Strait of Georgia - Recent images of the T2C's...They were east of Cortes Island, circling in and around that area. -Photo by Martin Ryer, Oct 10, 2018
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Wed Oct 10 - North Puget Sound - ~16:30 - There were at least two Humpbacks (Together, at least at that moment. ) between Edmonds and Point No Point this afternoon. One breached maybe half a dozen times and did some fin slapping. Within maybe 2-300 yards from what I could tell, although at that distance things get tricky. -Josh Adams
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11:50 - I just saw a humpback off the Kingston Edmonds ferry this morning on the 11:05 ferry. The orca was north of the eastbound ferry and enjoying himself. -Christine Johnson
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11:20 - humpback flapping its flukes a mile off of the Edmonds marina, pointed north when I last saw it. -Sherman Page
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09:08 - Hi I live on West Beach, Oak Harbor, I just saw what I think is a Humpback heading South. -Tammy Thompson
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Wed Oct 10 - 16:40 - Just saw a humpback or grey breach three times on the east side of Blake Island! Majesty! It was traveling northeast, away from Blake Island. I couldn't see the dorsal fins, just the underside as it was breaching. It must have been a gray as I didn't notice the pectoral fins. Thank you for the lesson! I remember the humpback breaches in Maui and their pectoral fins were very visible. Thanks again Alisa! I love you peeps! -Julie Aoki Nardi

October 9
Tue Oct 9 - South Puget Sound - North tip of Squaxin Island, 3:20 PM. A gray whale (Thanks Alisa!) milling and not traveling in any direction consistently. -Nick Wenzel

October 8
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Members of J pod frolicking south of Race Rocks on October 8th. -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018
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SOUTHERN RESIDENTS - Oct 8 - J-Pod was reported westbound in Strait of Juan de Fuca this afternoon. -Monika Wieland Shields
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HUMPBACK WHALES - Oct 8 - Fall is in the air but the dozen humpback whales around Race Rocks Lighthouse are sure enjoying the abundance of available bait fish. Today we witnessed a bunch of Sea Lions interacting with a couple humpbacks that seemed annoyed and tail lobbed and pectoral fin slapped them away for over a half hour. Humpback BCY0745, Humpback MMX0173. off Race Rocks. -Paul Pudwell
(ID by Alethea Leddy)
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GRAY WHALES - Oct 8 - 17:47 - Eastbound at Arcadia Point...
15:30 - Gray whale at Walker Park westbound. (Hammersley Inlet, Puget Sound). -Pamela Burger

October 7
18:15 - leaving Js north of Sucia, spread and playful, pointed at Rosario. The J17s off the Patos Island Lighthouse this evening. J47 Notch doing a sideways lunge...it is for them that we solider on.
14:00 - Js southbound Strait of Georgia. -Monika Wieland Shields
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BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - Oct 7 - 14:00 - T49As heading west along the north side of Waldron. -Monika Wieland Shields
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Trip report - on our last scheduled whale watch trip for 2018, we set off under rainy skies through the San Juan Islands towards Spieden Island, where whales had been spotted! We found the T49As again, a family of 5 whales (mom and 4 kids) and had great views of them, between a few rain drops, but also enjoying beautifully calm seas. We left the whales trending towards Waldron Island, and we continued to Sucia Island to see Steller sea lions and harbor seals. Several bald eagles were spotted, and when almost back to port, lots of harbor porpoise. An ice-cream for all passengers rounded out the end of a wonderful 2018 season!! Thanks you Mystic Sea!! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.
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Oct 6 (into Oct 7) - Transient calls lasted until a 1/2 hour after midnight. Since the T49As and the T65As had been in the area and some of them had evidently split into different groups, going different directions (during daylight), I wonder if they were getting back together in the dark of night. And maybe it was someone else completely!
22:29 - They are still in acoustic range...just heard them again.
20:23 faint T calls on Lime Kiln hydrophones. -Jeanne Hyde
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Oct 7 - 16:34 - Humpback next to Wasp Passage in San Juan Channel. -Jim Gizzi
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15:40 Humpback north end of San Juan Channel heading south. -Monika Wieland Shields
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MINKE WHALES - Oct 7 - ~15:30 - Minke whale spotted in Bellingham Bay. -Mari Blakeslee Hauser
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DALL'S PORPOISE, ELEPHANT SEALS, & BROWN PELICAN - Oct 5-7 - Ahoy Orca Network, we are just back from a trip to the South Sound and had some great and rare sightings. Over a dozen Dalls porpoise just north of Vashon I. and two Dalls porpoises off Robinson Pt. Three separate elephant seal sightings including one near Elliot Bay and even a brown pelican in Commencement Bay. Thanks for all you do! More from Kevin Campion: Sadly no photos but 100% certain of the Dall's id. We saw a small group Friday the 5th at Robinson point and then over a dozen yesterday the 7th just north of Vashon. Loads of harbor porpoise as well on Sat. and Sunday south of Tacoma Narrows. We were surprised by the Dall's as well it has been since 2014 since I have seen any down in Puget Sound. Fall is always a cool time on the water! -Kevin Campion & crew, S/V Orion, Deep Green Wilderness

October 6
Oct 6 - 15:12 - Sarah Schmidt and her COAST seabird survey team reported seeing a minke whale at 3:12 pm between Sunset Beach (N. Whidbey Island/West Beach & Swantown) and Minor Island. They determined it was a minke based on the head/spout and curved dorsal fin.
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15:00 - Transient Orcas - Turn Point, Stuart Island. -Photo by Jackie Cowan, Oct 6, 2018
(T65A2 & T49A1)
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Trip Report: Another splendid, sunny day aboard Mystic Sea! After we cleared Guemas Channel, we headed north through the San Juan Islands, and happily caught up with the T49As and T65As (Transient aka Bigg's orcas) at the north end of San Juan Island. One group was fairly spread out, trending northwest and we stayed with them for awhile. We then visited with the second group, near Waldron Island. This group of four, 2 large males and two smaller ones, split to go around Battleship Island, then turned north in the sparkling sunshine. The T49A group are T49A (matriarch, born 1986), son T46A1 (born 2001), T49A2 (born 2007), son T49A3 (born 2011), and T49A4 (born 2014). The T65A group (who we have been lucky to see a lot this season) are T65A (matriarch, born 1986), son T65A2 (born 2004), son T65A3 (born 2007), daughter T65A4 (born 2011), T65A5 (born 2014), and calf T65A5 (born April 2018). We then checked out the exotic deer and sheep on Spieden Island, and made our way back to Cap Sante marina. Such a privilege to see these magnificent orcas! It's been a wonderful season, with splendid weather (mostly!) and splendid whales. Thanks to Captains Monte and Eric and all the great crew members, and Amy Wood at the office, to all our wonderful passengers! -Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist
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Some have split off, but as of 17:40 some were northbound in Swanson!
15:30 - T49As and T65As now approaching Turn Point.
13:15 T49As and T65As passing San Juan County Park heading north. -Monika Wieland Shields
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12:38 - Just south of land bank right now!
11:47 - Two orcas, mid haro by American camp heading north....From what I can see through my camera , at least one appears to be a male...They are probably 3/4 of a mile off shore if I had to guess, Traveling north. I am at American camp. -Alissa Elderkin
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES - Oct 6 - Approx. midday, Saturday 6th October 2018 I was on a Pelagic Birding trip out of Westport to Grays Canyon approx 35 miles out. We came across a large flock of seabirds that was picking up the scraps from a pod of Orcas. At least 5 in size. Mostly young and females. There may have been a young Male. Photographs were taken and if you check with Phil or Chris Anderson they may know the individuals you can contact to get the pictures. We had to have been amongst them for an hour at least. They were aggressively hunting and feeding. The Capt Phil says they rarely encounter Orcas on their trips and maybe once a season only do they see any. -Mark Girling

October 5
Trip report - on this rainy day we headed west via the San Juan Islands, with no reports of whales at all, scanning for those familiar dorsal fins - and on a hunch Capt Eric headed towards East Point but before arriving there, we heard "WHALES!" on the radio. The T49A family was found heading towards Flat-top Island, Gull Rock and onwards to Spieden Island. Then came the T65A group and the two groups joined up on the north side of Spieden. What a treat to see these Biggs/Transient whale families - great viewing even with light rain falling. A fun day - well done Mystic Sea! -Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist
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Oct 5 - 10:44 - BCX1210 "Slate" feeding with another humpback on Possession Bank. -Renee Beitzel

October 4
Big handsome guy T49A1 flying high around the San Juans. -Photo by Gary Sutton, Oct 4, 2018
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Oct 4 - T49As & T65As - Awesome day with the T049A's and T065A's today! T049A1 was all jazzed up when T065A2 made a kill about a mile ahead. T049A5 and T065A6 were full of beans too. Thanks for the find Paul! (off Orcas Island). -Gary Sutton
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Thu Oct 4 - Got to meet a new little calf today, T123D! We saw lots of White-Winged Scoters, a Grebe, a Pacific Loon, Common Murres everywhere, Stellers feeding on Salmon and gulls getting the roe. Beautiful day -so grateful to live in this amazing place! -Alison Engle
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One of the first images of new calf T123D shown here surfacing alongside her/his mom T123 (born 1985). -Photo by Alison Engle, Oct 4, 2018
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Oct 4 - T123s - While working in the CWR office, we heard reports over the radio of the T123s with a new calf heading northwest up Haro Strait....See images and full report at Center for Whale Research Encounter 87.
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16:23 - (T123s) Moved offshore and are pointed West. 15:17 - (T123s) Pile Point, San Juan Island, northbound. -Pete Ancich
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11:55 - T123s have a new calf and are in Strait of Juan de Fuca pointed toward Hein Bank. -Andrew Hapster
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T123A spyhops after a successful harbour porpoise kill on the morning of October 4th south east of Race Rocks. -Photo by Mark Malleson, 2018

October 3
Moonlighting with Jpod- OCT 3, 2018 - Listen to the exhalations of silohuette J pod & L87 while eastbound in Active Pass at sunset. -Video by Rachelle Hayden, Oct 3, 2018
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10:25 - 10:56 - tuned into Lime Kiln to listen to residents who are northbound off the west side of San Juan Island. S1s, S37s. By 10:55 ship noise...calls waning. (OrcaSound hydrophone offline). -Alisa
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10:20 - Orcas at Land Bank, San Juan Island traveling north. -Pat McEvoy
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Oct 3 - T123s - October is the new September for amazing encounters! Today with 12+ feeding humpback whales, hunting Transient Killer Whales (T123's identified by Selena Rhodes Scofield), hundreds of porpoise, Seals, Sea Lions, a Sea Otter and Eagles all all around Sooke! -Paul Pudwell
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Oct 3 - T49As & T65As - 14:17 - They turned to deeper water now.
14:05- Pod of Orcas at Admiralty inlet heading North toward Ebey's Landing, near the Whidbey shore. -David Broberg
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~10:50 - Two Orca heading north about 1/2 mile west of Lagoon Point on Whidbey Island. Today, about 10:50 AM. -Lachlan Pope
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10:10 - Garry Heinrich reported seeing three orcas, heading north at the Bush Pt. wharf.
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~ 10:00 - Orcas in Admiralty Inlet, close inshore Whidbey Island heading north. Two of them at the boathouse and lighthouse. Saw them in between Bush Point and Lagoon Point. Lost them after that. T65A2 swims close to shore off Whidbey. T49A1 passes close by too...-Dawn Ritter
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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09:28 - first seeing two orcas northbound off Bush Point, then a third, right off the point, close in! -Jan Bell
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Oct 4 - 20:35 -Humpback CS631/CRC16017 "Twp Spot" on his side. This guy/gal has been hanging around out front between Point Jefferson and President Point K ingston for the last few hours.....and right now at 8:35PM I can still hear it spouting. -Chris Beamer Otterson
(ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON)
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Oct 3 - Juan de Fuca Strait - October is the new September for amazing encounters! Today with 12+ feeding humpback whales, Humpback "Tulip" - Sooke, BC hunting Transient Killer Whales (T123's identified by Selena Rhodes Scofield), hundreds of porpoise, Seals, Sea Lions, a Sea Otter and Eagles all all around Sooke! -Paul Pudwell (ID by Alethea Leddy)
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Oct 3 - Puget Sound 08:47 - it (or they) slowly trending north. 08:15 - humpback off Apple Tree Point Kingston, north of the ferry on the Kitsap side of the shipping channel. Milling about. (edited with thinks 2 whales and long down times) Sara Frey - 8:00 a.m - Trevor Tillman reports two humpbacks first seen just off the Kingston ferry terminal to the north...Northbound pretty steady. Already past the point (Apple Tree).

October 2
5 Orcas Off Shore of Perego's Lagoon: Hello, On Oct. 2nd, at about 11:50 am, we spotted 5 orcas while we were hiking the bluff above Perego's Lagoon just north of Ebey's Landing on the west side of Whidbey Island. They were close enough to shore to see with the naked eye from the high bluff, but far enough out that we needed to use our binoculars to see their markings well. They were heading south. One looked to be smaller than the others, but we are inexperienced whale spotters, so we're not sure if we judged size correctly. Thank you for the work you do. -Maria Mitchell

October 1
BIGG'S TRANSIENT KILLER WHALES - A rare treat today. About 4 or 5 in Guemes channel (Rosario Strait). They went into Cook's Cove and then around the SE end of the island. -Sally Peyou.
(Identified as the T65As by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)