September 2023 Whale Sightings

September 30
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 30 - San Juans
14:00 - They were [eastbound].
13:45 - Saw a group of orcas between Sucia and Matia! At least one male with them. -Katie Exner Crawford [WSSJI]
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Sat, Sep 30 - San Juans (T46s, T137, T137B)
16:18 - They are still headed north towards Point Migley. I think this is T46’s.
15:30 - Orca headed north in Rosario! They’re almost to the Orcas Island coastline. Four blows so far. -Rose Caitlin
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12:30 - T46D, E and F, plus T122, plus T137 and 137B off Decatur Island, then to Bird Rocks, where they made a kill of a Steller sea lion, then up to Blakely and Strawberry Islands. Nice to see Loon and Tempest as well as the others! -Bonnie Gretz [WSSJI]
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T46D Strider - T137B Tempest, T137 Loon, T46E Thor, T46D Strider - Another beautiful fall day on Island Explorer 5! We were the first to find orcas, at the end of Decatur Island, heading toward Bird Rocks. This group was the T46s (still minus matriarch Wake): T122 female Centeki, b. 1982 (never seen with a calf), T46D and T46E, big males Strider (b. 2000) and Thor (b.2003), and younger brother T46F, Loki (b. 2012), AND T137 matriarch Loon (b. 1984) and her daughter T137B Tempest (b. 2006), who hadn't been seen for a while (her kiddos Jack and Wright have been zipping around everywhere recently without mom and sis). They were zig-zagging around, generally headed toward Bird Rocks, we were treated to a few lovely close passes (engines off!), most exciting was when Strider came right at us and under the boat! We followed them to Bird Rocks, hoping they would have a late lunch (luckily not of the paddler boarder near there, they did head that way for a bit!), and sure enough, after passing back and forth, close to the very nervous harbor seals and Steller sea lions, one of the females nailed a sea lion who had gone into the water, it was, on the surface, one huge lunge, and that was it. They circled around for a while, then headed toward Blakely Island. Exciting and lovely day! -photos by Bonnie Gretz, September 30, 2023
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES
Sat, Sep 30 - Washington Coast
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Colby Griser
Date of Sighting: September 30, 2023
Time: 4:45 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: (47.8847161, -124.6222269) [La Push]
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?: At least 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It seemed as if they were playing in the surf less than 100 yards off the beach. They were there for about an hour before eventually heading to deeper water NW with the outgoing tide
Photos available?: No
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat, Sep 30 - Boundary Bay
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 30 16:15 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.06516,-122.89785
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Danielle 
Whale Alert App
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Sat, Sep 30 - Haro Strait - 02:35 - Humpback moving up island at Lime Kiln. Nice to have a bright moon tonight! -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Sat, Sep 30 - Puget Sound (CRC-20243 & two others) - 18:33 - Just saw two from the north tip of Golden Gardens seem to slowly be heading north. They are mid channel near the cluster of sea birds. -Austin Richard
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18:26 - Two heading north mid-channel, looks like two to three miles out. North of Golden Gardens, likely inline with Carkeek. -Hays Clark
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18:21 - Right now appear to be trending northward. We just lost them behind some trees but they’re about mid-channel probably almost straight out from Carkeek.
18:02 - We see them too! Last spotted right where that tug is coming through. We are viewing from our roof on the bluff above the north end of Golden Gardens. -Jennifer Greiner Clark
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17:25 - Moved to Carkeek at least two whales, possibly all three, are to the south off Golden Gardens milling around. Trend southbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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17:07 - Just north of Golden Gardens heading south again. There is a salmon jumping in video so there might be bait fish near the surface due to the sunny conditions. -Hays Clark
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16:50 - The two humpback whales came north then appear to have stalled out from Carkeek, Currently milling east side of Sound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:29 - Just spotted one humpback east of mid channel looking west/northwest from bluff above north end of Golden Gardens. -Jennifer Greiner Clark
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15:53 - Two humpbacks approx. location (see map) out from Shilshole east side of channel traveling northbound in tandem.
15:44 - Squeeee they’ve trended slightly north and are breaching! Even from super far is impressive!
15:30 - Seeing multiple robust exhalations in tandem of presumably the duo humpbacks out from south end of Shilshole east of mid channel. Basing location from a distance by using the locations of the vast number of sailing vessels off Shilshole and the cruiseliner Eurodam and land markers. Whales appear still southbound [approx. 47.671793, -122.435932]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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15:32 - I see the two humpbacks spouts in the distance, there is a small boat following. Fairly close to the cruise ship and mid channel. South/southwest bound. -Tanner Sment
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14:20 - Last I saw around 14:20 the duo continued S/SW just east of mid channel in general out from Carkeek. Solo whale last I saw was still milling but again glare has prevented any sightings since around some time. And I’ve not been looking intently.
13:56 - Locations in general. Solo still milling, duo trend slow south in tandem, super wonderful.
13:48 - I haven’t yet had good look to see if a dorsal. Their surfacings and dives are mostly shallow, but based on behavior and just now bit of an arch looking like a third humpback. Same general area. There is a boat with lone whale, hopefully is someone who reports sightings. The other two have trended slightly south.
13:40 - Number three solo whale is milling, surfaced back to the east then trend slightly north. Exhalations are not as tall as the other two further offshore.
13:34 - Third whale facing west. Just saw the body but for sure baleen whale.
13:30 - There is a third whale out here, closer inshore, direction uncertain. This third whale is due east of the other two who are milling same general area as my map (13:20) and just sound one after the other, both presenting their flukes.
13:20 - From Richmond Beach Saltwater Park high elevation found the two humpbacks still together east side of the Sound, out from south end/south of the park. Maybe milling. Surfaced four to five times appeared to be facing north but when one sounded fluke looked facing west/southwest. Map is general location [approx. 47.760076, -122.399252]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:33 - South of the buoy now. Traveling south.
12:23 - East side just north of the yellow buoy. -Trish Moylan Davis
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12:18 - SJC leaving these two on the same spot as map. Just milling/circling together.
11:19 - SJC just located our two humpback friends facing south, just south of Kingston ferry. CRC2043 and unidentified second. Slow surfacing, side by side [approx. 47.789779, -122.436722]. -Alli Montgomery, San Juan Clipper
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES
Sat, Sep 30 - Haro Strait
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Sharesse Edie
Date of Sighting: September 30, 2023
Time: 2:40 PM
Species seen: Uncertain, gray or humpback 
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Lime Kiln
Direction of travel : North, quick pace
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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DOLPHINS
Sat, Sep 30 - Hood Canal - Saw them yesterday. A couple groups. Dorsal about 10-12 inches. Dewatto. Too far out for phone, and too random. They were staying down for awhile, and traveling a bit. -Steve Illman

September 29
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Fri, Sep 29 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T46B1s, T46C2, T99s) - We started our adventure with five plus humpbacks and over a 1000 sea lions around Race Rocks Lighthouse and then with reports of orca off Sooke we headed out into some nautical seas to visit Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T099's, T046B1's & T046C2) quickly heading west! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 29, 2023
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Fri, Sep 29 - Haro Strait - 16:14 - Four orca just cruised north past Smuggler’s Cove on west side of San Juan Island, and they were really moving on a mission. -Scott Durham [WSSJI]
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri, Sep 29 - Swanson Channel - 11:20 - I filmed two humpbacks northbound in Swanson Channel off of Otter Bay, North Pender Island, Southern Gulf Islands - link to video. -Gerald Graham
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Fri, Sep 29 - San Juans - Humpback. - Pete Ancich [WSSJI]
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13:25 - Something going on just north of Cattle Pass? -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Fri, Sep 29 - Puget Sound (CRC-20243 & other) - 13:00 - Watched the SJ Clipper watching them from Apple Tree Point for awhile, but only saw one probable blow as my view of the whales was blocked by the vessel’s butt. Pretty windy and choppy out there! They were over by northbound shipping lanes between here and Edmonds drifting south to Tank Farm. Teasing about the boat’s butt, I bet they had a great view! -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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13:30 - SJC located two humpbacks very surface active. One CRC-20243, the other another smaller unidentified individual. All around Kingston ferry lanes. Lots of pec slaps and throws, looks like the two were communicating at the surface. Logging followed afterwards with lots of (backward) flukes. Did not move from that spot from the map for the most part. [This is same whale Kyla Bivens photographed off Edmonds on September 21st. Kyla did not find a match in the Happy Whale AI - still uncertain if previously known/documented whale.] -photos by Alli Montgomery, September 29, 2023
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13:05 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed at 13:12 to report: humpback whale 1305 hrs 9/29 Spokane Master reports one humpback whale off Appletree Point in the NB traffic lanes headed South.
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES
Fri, Sep 29 - Puget Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: M C
Date of Sighting: September 29, 2023
Time: 4:46 PM
Species seen: Grey [at least two humpbacks spotted in the area, possibly one of them]
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Off of Richmond Beach Park, shoreline
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Taveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Thank you
Photos available?:

September 28
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Thu, Sep 28 - Active Pass (T36As & T49As) - 14:00 - This afternoon saw the T49A’s and T36A’s traveling together south of Active Pass, traveling s -southeast. -Carolyn Harris [WSSJI
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Thu, Sep 28 - San Juans (T109A2s) - 19:15 - After a nice breach and lots of splashes, I lost them. They might be behind "after-dinner" island now.
19:05 - Stationary again. Lots of splashes! Southeast of Decatur Island.
18:55 - Looks like they might be having dinner just [off] Dinner Island. Stationary. Viewing from American Camp. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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18:40 - Heard possibly 109A2s. 
18:15 - Heading back into Griffin Bay towards Jackson Beach. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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17:15 - They turned the corner into San Juan Channel around Pear Point (north/east).
17:10 - Very active group of orcas at Jackson Beach. About four or five with no adult males. -Alex McIntire [WSSJI]
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu, Sep 28 - Strait of Georgia (BCX1057 Divot & BCY0458 Raptor) - 13:00 - Two humpbacks feeding almost side by side, Raptor and Divot, in the Strait of Georgia. -Carolyn Harris
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Thu, Sep 28 - Boundary Pass
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Don Mooney
Date of Sighting: September 28, 2023
Time: 3:30 PM
Species seen: Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: North side of Stuart Island near entrance to Prevost Harbor
Direction of travel : West
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It was cool!!!
Photos available?: No
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MINKE WHALES
Thu, Sep 28 - North Puget Sound - 13:48 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 14:32 to report: 1348hrs: Vessel SALISH reports via 800MHz they've spotted a single minke whale heading South adjacent to the northbound traffic lanes.
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Thu, Sep 28 - Admiralty Inlet - 17:08 - Minke just spotted at Norwegian Point 17:00.  -Elyse Sollitto

September 27
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Wed, Sep 27 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T49C) - A great find - this lone bull Bigg’s/transient killer whale (T049C) when found can be a tricky orca to follow due to many direction changes but today he was a little more predictable. Also six humpbacks from Sooke to Race Rocks Lighthouse. -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 27, 2023
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Wed, Sep 27 - San Juans
17:21 - They are east of Patos Island and slowly continuing north.
14:30 - Pod of orca headed north in Rosario. They are passing the west side of Sucia Island now, I could only make out a few fins by the time I was within eyesight but it looks like it’s multiple, very spread out! -Rose Caitlin
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed, Sep 27 - Haro Strait - 12:24 - Humpback smacking the surface with their fluke five times, dove and hasn’t reappeared. 200 yards off Edwards Point just south of Landbank. The humpback was pointing up island. -Michelline Halliday [WSSJI]

September 26
HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue, Sep 26 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCX1744 Minion & others) - BCX1744 Minion - ID by Alethea Leddy - Another fluking awesome adventure out west with 30+ humpbacks in a mile radius and even more blows further west! It was a swell day with some rain but excited to witness again! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 26, 2023
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Tue, Sep 26 - Haro Strait - 15:50 - Humpback, just northeast of the Discovery Island light, direction north. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]

September 25
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Mon, Sep 25 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - 09:40 - Eight to ten orcas in the middle of the shipping lane in the Strait from northeast of Clallam Bay seen from the RV Thomas G Thompson. Spread across whole strait. Heading west! At least two large males and two small juvenile. Too far to ID anyone.  -Chloe C. 
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon, Sep 25 - Admiralty Inlet - 12:00 - I live high up the cliff in Ledgewood Beach on Whidbey Island and while I was on the phone in my home I saw an enormous splash. It was a humpback whale and it breached over ten times. This was a first for me and my neighbors were envious. -Michelle B.

September 24
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T28As, T109A2s, & others) - Today we went out on an all-day trip with our friends from the After the Breach Podcast, and what a day it was! We caught up with four different groups of Bigg's killer whales totaling 32 individual whales. Among those 32 were:
16 Salish Sea regulars (whales that spend a lot of time in the Salish Sea and that we encounter ourselves numerous times throughout the year)
12 uncommon Salish Sea visitors (whales that usually make an appearance here every year, but that we often go a year or more between seeing ourselves)
4 new-to-us whales! The T28As, pictured here with the Olympic Mountains in the background.
Not only are the T28As rare in the Salish Sea, they are rarely encountered overall. We learned while on the water that they have not been documented ANYWHERE in over 2.5 years (!!) until showing up in the Salish Sea a few days ago. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 24, 2023
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Jason has already whipped together a video highlight clip of our all-day "Bigg's Marathon" from last Sunday! We were on the water for 7 hours with After the Breach Podcast and Maya's Legacy Whale Watching, and while zig-zagging the San Juan Islands caught up with 4 different groups of Bigg's killer whales totaling 32 individuals. -Orca Behavior Institute -video by Jason Shields, September 24, 2023
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I love this shot from last weekend of young male T28A1 under the mural on Discovery Island of Takaya. Takaya was a lone wolf who lived on Discovery Island and the nearby Chatham Islands for eight years, living off a diet that included fish, birds, and harbor seals. Thanks to protection from the Songhees First Nation, he was allowed to remain free (and previous attempts to trap him had failed, anyway.) In 2020, something propelled Takaya to finally leave the islands, but sadly he was shot and killed two months later over 30 miles away from where he would have reached the Vancouver Island shoreline. The tribute mural on one of the Discovery Island lighthouse buildings painted by artist Paul Archer reminds us all of Takaya's legacy, and it's fitting that he overlooks the wild Salish Sea where other free spirits like T28A1 pass by. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 24, 2023
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If I had to nominate a Bigg's killer whale for a Supermom award, T109A2 Fuser might be at the top of my list. This 18 year-old already has four thriving offspring! She gave birth to her oldest, T109A2A Seekah, at the age of 11. Two years later, she had T109A2B Macoah in 2018, followed by T109A2C Keeha in 2021 and T109A2D born earlier in 2023. The average inter-birth interval for orcas is usually considered to be about 5 years, but this young mom has been giving birth every 2-3 years back-to-back-to-back-to-back. With an ~18-month gestation period for orcas, that means she's been pregnant for over 2/3 of the last 9 years, and nursing constantly for the last 7 years. Not only has she been withstanding an incredible metabolic toll on herself, but she's also split off from her natal matriline, meaning that she's often the sole provider for all of her offspring. It was incredible to catch up with the five T109A2s yesterday and to see a single adult female surrounded by her four juveniles! Pictured here are the two youngest, T109A2C and T109A2D, who were racing each other south in Haro Strait yesterday afternoon. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 24, 2023
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Sun, Sep 24 - Haro Strait - 12:50 - I filmed at least four southbound orca off of Ten Mile Point on the west side of Haro Strait - link to video. -Gerald Graham
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10:43 - I filmed another group of Bigg's, this one on the west side of Haro Strait - link to video. -Gerald Graham
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Sun, Sep 24 - Haro Strait (T36As & T49As) - 09-24-23 T36As with T49As, Haro Strait SJI
11:50 - 11:55, Viewing from 1.2 miles south of Landbank, The T36As traveling with the T49As were moving very quickly up island/ north, 75 yards from shore. They began to veer away from the shore to the NNW as they passed me rounding Edwards Point 200 yards off shore. Photographed from shore.
12:22 - 12:35, Viewing from SJI County Park, the group of T36As and T49As traveling quickly up island/ north, 3/4 of a mile off shore. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - T36A Leland - T49A5 Nebula & T49A Nan - T49A1 Noah -photos & IDs by Michelline Halliday, September 24, 2023
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Sun, Sep 24 - San Juans - 19:14 - I heard they came in by Jackson Beach, heading towards Fourth Of July Beach/Cattle Pass. -Sarah Garbett [WSSJI] 
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19:01 - Orcas at North Bay heading south. -Sean Wilson [WSSJI] 
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Sun, Sep 24 - San Juans (T60s) - “North, South, East or West is always what we ask ourselves when we leave Friday Harbor. Today we had multiple orca reports when we left the dock. We decided to go inter-island towards Rosario Strait to see the orcas who were northbound from Reef Pt, Cypress Island. However, as we reached Turn Island, another report came in of orcas north of Long Island. With the strong 4+ knot flood current against us we weren’t sure if we should head that way. But, to our good fortune, the orcas came zooming in through Cattle Pass on that fast current and headed our direction. We sailed across the channel towards Big Rock where we met Biggs/Transient orcas T60’s (minus T60D and T60E). The orcas gave us some beautiful views as they moved up the channel with the stunning backdrop of Shaw Island. As they reached Yellow Island they stopped to hunt harbor seals in the water during the high tide. When they continued on their way they traveled along the coast of Little McConnell and over to Reef Island before heading up Spring Pass. On our return we spotted a Steller sea lion flinging around a skate which he found for lunch. With rain clouds building we made tracks back to the harbor just as the sprinkles began.” - Read more & see more photos here. -Captains Barbara & David Howitt, All Aboard Sailing -photo by All Aboard Sailing, September 24, 2023
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Sun, Sep 24 - San Juans (T35As, T38As, T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D)
17:42 - They just passed Lummi! Still headed north, two in front then Jack and three others trailing. Watched an insane hunt!
13:42 - They are still slowly headed south, approaching Vendovi Island now.
13:07 - Pod of orca headed south in Rosario Strait, close to Lummi shoreline! I was only able to make out two big fins but I’m hearing it’s multiple orca. -Rose Caitlin
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11:35 - T35As, T38As, and Jack’s summer camp northbound in Rosario off the north end of Cypress. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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T137D Wright - T37A3 Spinnaker - From my encounter with the T35As, T38As, T137A,D, T37A3,4 on the west side of Cypress Island. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, September 24, 2023
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Sun, Sep 24 - Admiralty Inlet - 10:38 - Caitlyn Blair called to report while aboard ferry from Keystone/Coupeville to Port Townsend spotting an adult male Bigg's Orca north of ferry lanes, approximate half way across the inlet traveling southeast, appeared to be hunting. He was behind them as they were pulling into Port Townsend. We were on the Coupeville-PT ferry coming from Coupeville.
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun, Sep 24 - Neah Bay - Early morning my husband spotted this huge group of whales as his ship traveled into Neah Bay - link to video. -Jolena Tagg
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES
Sun, Sep 24 - Saratoga Passgae - 08:30 - Baleen whale spotted off Fox Spit. I didn’t get a picture. It appeared to be swimming northwest towards Greenbank. -Michelle Sterett Bernson

September 23
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 23 - Haro Strait (T60s) - ~17:00 - San Juan County Park passing small rocky islet near shore. Three small and one large male dorsal fin with exhale. Heading north. -San Juan Islands Makers
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16:40 - T60s now north of County Park northbound.
16:32 - Approaching County Park. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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16:20 - Orcas at Lime Kiln. -Evan Stickles
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Sat, Sep 23 - Victoria Harbour (T109As) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #59: “Sure enough, the T109A's did the same, but this time, they were located all the way to the Bay Street bridge! Mike 1 started the encounter at 1644 as Mark went under the Johnston Street bridge and saw the T109A's prey sharing near the gravel yard at Bay Street. Numerous gulls hovered over them as they finished their seal snack. The group of seven then swam back underneath the Johnson Street bridge, and once they made it to the Harbor Air seaplane dock, they stormed underneath the dock after another seal.…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #59.
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Sat, Sep 23 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T69s & T109A2s) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #58: “Mark and Fin were returning from Sooke after an encounter with the T109s (see Encounter #57) when Mark heard that the T069s, along with the T109As and A2s, were near Constance Bank heading northeast. Mike 1 arrived on scene at the north edge of Constance Bank at 1518 to see the T069's tracking westward towards Albert head. One of the commercial whale watch boats was less than a mile to the east, trying to reacquire the T109As and A2s as they had given them the slip. They were last seen heading north for Clover Point. Within a few minutes, the T109A2s reappeared and joined back with the T069, but no sign of the group of seven T109As. At 1547, Mark received a report from a friend walking on the Ogden Point breakwater that she saw a group of killer whales enter Victoria Harbour. Mystery likely solved!…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #58.
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Sat, Sep 23 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109s) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #57: “At 1235, he got word that the group seen just south of Race Rocks were last seen moving quickly west along the shoreline of East Sooke Park at the west edge of Becher Bay. They were reported doing 6 knots, so Mark calculated that he would come across them near Secretary Island when he arrived at ~1300. At 1259, he spotted the blows tight against the shoreline at Possession Point inside Secretary Island. It was a group of 5 individuals, the T109s: T109, a 46-year-old female with her ten-year-old son, T109E, and her 16-year-old daughter, T109D, with two offspring of her own…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #57.
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Right from our docks at Sooke Coastal Explorations today with Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T109's) on the hunt in the harbour! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 23, 2023
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat, Sep 23 - Strait of Georgia 
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 23 17:20 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.32965,-123.47645 [W of Bowen Island]
Number Sighted: 3
Submitter Name: Natalie Tan
Whale Alert App
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Sat, Sep 23 - Gulf Islands, BC
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 23 16:52 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.84723,-123.58455 [NW Salt Spring Isl, BC] 
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Erin
Whale Alert App
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Sat, Sep 23 - Haro Strait
18:09 - It’s back at Lime Kiln.
17:37 - Headed more northbound to County Park. 
17:23 - Humpback at Lime Kiln just Northwest of the lighthouse. -Evan Stickles [WSSJI]
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Sat, Sep 23 - Possession Sound  - 14:16 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed to report: whale report 9/23 SUQUAMISH Master reports one humpback whale just south of the MUK terminal.
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I was on that ferry yesterday [09/23] and can confirm. The whale was having a great time slapping the water. -Stephanie Carrillo
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12:55 - LWC received a call about a humpback seen from Clinton/Mukilteo ferry. Headed southbound closer to Whidbey side.
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 23 12:39 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.93115, -122.32533 [S Mukilteo/Glendale]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Christopher Kent 
Whale Alert App
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Sat, Sep 23 - Admiralty Inlet - 09:35 - Humpback whale multiple breaches, west of Ledgewood Beach County park in Admiralty Bay. Seen while on Victoria Clipper boat. -Tim Couch
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Sat, Sep 23 - Puget Sound
09:19 - Looks like one! Two boats were following, and it moved around Point Defiance out of sight.
08:54 - Plunging off of Owen [Beach] this morning and saw several blows. Mid channel, west of ferry route. -Stephanie Morris

September 22
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Fri, Sep 22 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - Made some collages of Bigg’s orcas - Jack, Wright, Spinnaker, and Crinkle (T137A&D and T37A3&4) - and saw at least three minke whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. [Aboard] (Island Adventures out of Anacortes) - Whale wise captain and a terrific naturalist on board. I had a zoom lens and calm seas! Loved this outing! -photos by Deanna Deery-Schmitt, September 22, 2023
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Fri, Sep 22 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T69As) - T69A3 Kʷiisahii - T69A2 Hartley - Pictures don't give the amazing experience with 50+ humpback whales heavily feeding out west of Sooke. We just sat stationary and listened to beautiful blows in all directions, got a few fluke IDs. On the way home we had the pleasure to encounter Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T069A's) on the hunt off Mystic Beach! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 22, 2023
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Fri, Sep 22 - San Juans (T28As & T36As)
10:20 - Heading up President's Channel now.
09:30 - Bigg’s killer whales north of Flattop Island - no specific direction of travel. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #56: “While passing through Spieden Channel at 08:11, the team spotted a humpback whale, and briefly slowed down to photograph the whale's flukes before continuing on. As the team continued west, they saw several more blows, and realized there were two groups of killer whales in the channel…” -Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #56.
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Fri, Sep 22 - Admiralty Inlet (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - 16:24 - Four orca currently three miles north of Dungeness Lighthouse headed west towards Ediz Hook/Port Angeles Harbor. -Kar Jo Faiv [OPWS]
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13:04 - They are heading west toward Victoria.
12:35 - At least three orca passing Ebey's Landing, headed north. -Cyrilla Cook
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12:30 - Viewing from Fort Casey, closer to Port Townsend, northbound. -Bonnie Gretz
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12:08 - Approx. here [48.134583, -122.725721] steady northbound still. Last update from me. Sounds like it is Jack & company on their way out.
11:50 - Nearly to Port Townsend ferry lanes. Midchannel, maybe a little closer to Port Townsend side.
11:35 - Approx. here [48.109298, -122.674528] northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:37 - They are now northbound off East Beach County Park, Marrowstone. -Trevor Tillman, PSE
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10:30 - 10:45 - At least four orcas off Marrowstone, Nodule Point area. One large male dorsal fin, several smaller. Seen from our sailboat near southbound traffic lane. Northbound. -Chris Bushue
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09:10 - On the Victoria Clipper, in Admiralty Inlet just north of Double Bluff off Whidbey. Saw at least one male orca midchannel, I think two or three? Hard to tell! They were heading south. -Kate H.
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri, Sep 22 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - PIctures don't give the amazing experience with 50+ humpback whales heavily feeding out west of Sooke. We just sat stationary and listened to beautiful blows in all directions, got a few fluke IDs. -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 22, 2023
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Fri, Sep 22 - North Puget Sound - 18:56 - Report of baby humpback near Edmonds ferry terminal by a neighbor, checking to see what others have to say. -Shelley Schwinn
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[video shows young humpback] What are you supposed to do when they are at your boat? We put the boat in neutral when this whale passed us while trolling for silvers. Pardon the language! Up by Mukilteo. -Peter Sergeeff
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Fri, Sep 22 - Central Puget Sound - 19:00 - Shortly after 7pm tonight my husband came running in to say he saw a breaching orca off Emma Schmitz/Me Kwa Mooks. There was a crowd of people watching when I got there. I started asking questions about what people had seen and others were pretty sure it was a humpback, which makes more sense since people were only seeing one animal, but far enough out (between Manchester and Restoration Point on Bainbridge) that it might not have been obvious at first. I saw what may have been one southbound surfacing but never got a definite look at it as the sun was setting and it was too dark to keep watching. It would have been either in or west of the shipping lanes. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
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MINKE WHALES
Fri, Sep 22 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Saw at least three minke whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. [Aboard] (Island Adventures out of Anacortes) - Whale wise captain and a terrific naturalist on board. I had a zoom lens and calm seas! Loved this outing! -photos by Deanna Deery-Schmitt, September 22, 2023

September 21
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109s & T109As) - Flat calm seas south of Victoria made for some water tension pictures so much fun - today with Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T109's and T109A's) and five humpbacks around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 21, 2023
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Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109s & T109As) - A last minute decision to go alone on a whale tour before we leave Victoria. I’m still speechless!  Favorite vacation EVER! -photos by Shannon Senko Lowry, September 21, 2023
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Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T69s & T69As) - T69C Kye, T69 Komox, T69F Kin - We saw three species of whales today! We saw this little humpback right outside of the Port of Edmonds. I was not able to ID so I am waiting to hear back from researchers. Then we saw the T69As from a distance in the strait but spent some more time with the T69s who were just two miles south of the T69As. About a mile east of the T69s was a minke whale which we watched on Hein Bank for a few minutes after leaving the killer whales. -photo & IDs by Kyla Bivens, September 21, 2023
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Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #54: “The team was working in the office when we heard over the radio that a couple of groups of Bigg’s KWs identified as the T69s and the T69As were found on Hein Bank. Since the T69As were not common visitors to the area, we decided to go out and get some ID photos on them before they got too much farther away. Dave and Federica headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1245…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #54.
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Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Patricia McCauley
Date of Sighting: September 21, 2023
Time: 2:31 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Dungeness Bay
Direction of travel : east
Behaviors observed: traveling and breeching
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: There were at least 6 whaling boats and all were violating the 200-yard distance. Practically on top of the whales.
Photos available?: No
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Thu, Sep 21 - Becher Bay, BC (T28As & T36As) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #55: “Mark and Joe departed Victoria with Fin at 1735, aiming to document the presence of some Bigg’s killer whales coming east along the Vancouver Island shoreline from Race Rocks. They reached the mouth of Becher Bay at 1820 and began the encounter with a large group of animals just west of West Bedford Island. Some rare visitors to the Salish Sea, the T028As, were stalking a small raft of Steller sea lions alongside the T036As as the encounter began but took their time making an attack…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #55.
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Thu, Sep 21 - Saratoga Passage (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - 19:15 - Just had two groups passing us southbound at Camano Head. A male with one or two close to shore and a couple of females(?) further out. Looks like they are heading to Possession Sound. Or maybe Port Susan. -Mike Moberly [CWW]
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19:13 - Momma and baby orcas south end of Camano mid channel swimming south.  -Barbara Fangman [CWW]
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Five humpbacks around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photo by Paul Pudwell, September 21, 2023
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Thu, Sep 21 - Puget Sound - This is the whale, it’s a youngster but I don’t know which one. It’s not CRC-20243 who is the other humpback seen around Tacoma to Richmond beach the past couple of days.
10:14 - I’m departing, the humpback is still southbound [approx. 47.778103, -122.413610].
09:48 - Humpback whale! Southbound [approx. 47.806907, -122.397504]. -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 21, 2023
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Thu, Sep 21 - Hood Canal - 07:54 - Trig called to report seeing large whale who sounds good for a humpback in Hood Canal, same place as yesterday south of Bangor, in general due west of King Spit about mid way across the canal generally traveling northbound. Whale surfaces for several breaths then sounds for several minutes. Trig saw the fluke and was continuing to see the whale surface and dive while we were on the phone. Conditions are clear and calm today. 
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MINKE WHALES
Thu, Sep 21 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - A minke whale which we watched on Hein Bank for a few minutes after leaving the killer whales. -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 21, 2023

September 20
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Wed, Sep 20 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109As including A2s) - Another day in paradise with Bigg's/transient killer whales (T109A & A2's) with many humpbacks, 1000+ Sea Lions and "Ollie" the sea otter sleeping, all around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 20, 2023
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Wed, Sep 20 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109As & T109A2s) - My bucket list of seeing orcas on my birthday trip to Victoria! Pictures near Race Rock Lighthouse. It looks like a baby in the lead in the last picture? So happy! -photos by Shannon Senko Lowry, September 20, 2023
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Wed, Sep 20 - San Juans (T123s) - 15:50 - T123s southbound Henry Island; should pass Kellett Bluff soon. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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Wed, Sep 20 - Puget Sound (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D)
19:58 - Lost them to the daylight but they have continued to trend slowly north.
19:45 - Currently milling. They just caught a porpoise.
19:30 - At Fay Bainbridge looking directly east. Northbound close to shipping lanes. -Jenny Klis
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18:44 - Northbound at Skiff Point (north end of Murden Cove). -Joey LaMarche
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18:03 - Moving fast now near Murden Cove, northbound. -Brian Hollomon
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17:55 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: The Captain of the MV PUYALLUP reports an unknown number of orca SB just off Blakely Rock. 
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17:42 - Just north of Bainbridge ferry dock, going north close to Bainbridge Island. -Brian Hollomon
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17:41 - Headed northbound, just saw them north of the Seattle/Bainbridge Island ferry lanes! -photo by Miranda Fabrega, September 20, 2023
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17:17 - I’m leaving Discovery Lighthouse now, but last I saw they were heading west from north of the ferry lanes towards Bainbridge side. Unsure if they’re going northwest or southwest. -Jami Cantrell
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16:35 - At red pin [approx. 47.617641, -122.444278] northbound with multiple full breaches in a row! -Joey LaMarche
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T137A Jack - 15:45 - Close fly-by (ok, swim-by!) of Alki. Dozens of lucky orca fans were lining the beaches. -photo by Paul Mooselips Dudley, September 20, 2023
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T137D Wright & T137A Jack - T137A Jack -photos by Jim Nunn, September 20, 2023
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15:45 - 1000 yards offshore of Brace Point headed a northbound 20 minutes ago. Great shots by a local guy of a group of three.  -Meghan Finley
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T137A Jack - 15:43 - 15:48 - Off Constellation Park in West Seattle. -photo by Robin Sinner, September 20, 2023
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15:19 - From Lincoln Park, orcas about at north end of in the park mid channel, left of yellow buoy from near Coleman Pool Viewpoint. -Trileigh Tucker
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14:59 - Just south of Brace Point heading north at a good clip closer to east side than usual.  -Lisa Ann Huston
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14:19 - A friend said they are passing Dilworth now east of midchannel. Northbound. -Jami Cantrell
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13:32 - Lovely close pass at Point Robinson. -Annette Messitt
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From Point Robinson. -Jami Cantrell
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12:50 - Beautiful close pass at Point Robinson, leisurely steady travel northbound, all four grouped up. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Bonnie Poore
Date of Sighting: September 20, 2023
Time: 12:30 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Point Robinson
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes, one
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - T137A Jack -photo by Bonnie Rose, September 20, 2023
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T37A4 Crinkle & T137D Wright - T137A Jack -photos & IDs by Marla Smith, September 20, 2023
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ID'd as same foursome of Bigg's Transients who have been traveling together for several weeks now (confirmed per Brian McGinn).
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12:34 - Long downtimes.  -Janna Ignatow
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12:25 - Approaching Point Robinson, close in, grouped up steady northbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:02 - About four orca northbound between Gold Beach on Maury Island and Dumas Bay on mainland. Mid-channel, moving at a slow pace. -Burt Miller
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11:52 - Still seeing blows in Des Moines area trending north a bit, viewing from Dune. -Cherie StOurs
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11:46 - Right here, northeast bound [approx. 47.343737, -122.446699]. -Brian McGinn, PSE
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11:27 - They were almost to the south east tip of Maury past Quartermaster about five minutes ago, still were heading east, long down times. -Cherie StOurs
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11:04 - We have alerted WSF and large commercial maritime. WSF response/update: 11:04 - CHETZEMOKA notified and confirms they see the pod.
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11:03 - Four traveling east on Vashon side, from Dune. -Cherie StOurs
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11:02 - Mid channel just past ferry moving slowly east. -Kirsten Vacura
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11:01 - They’re heading east but are now more mid. -Jami Cantrell
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11:00 - Jack this morning, viewing from the Dune Peninsula. -photo by Cherie StOurs, September 20, 2023
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10:54 - Saw one from Dune. -Cherie StOurs
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10:53 - Heading east passed Anthony’s Tacoma side of mid. Might have slowed down a bit, might be on a hunt. -Jami Cantrell
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10:43 - Now south of Vashon. -Nori Kimura
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10:10 - One large and at least one small orca traveled north of Narrows Bridge fast.  -Susan White
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10:36 - Just passed Narrows lookout from Point Defiance Park heading north Tacoma side of mid. -Jami Cantrell
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10:06 - Orca in Narrows north of bridge going north. -Susan White
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09:06 - Brian McGinn relayed report of orcas north side McNeil Island. No time or direction.
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed, Sep 20 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Many humpbacks, 1000+ Sea Lions and "Ollie" the sea otter sleeping, all around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 20, 2023
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Wed Sep 20 11:12 PDT
Sighting Device Location (Lat/Lon): 48.28970,-123.52123 (Birch Bay)
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.28970,-123.52123
Number Sighted: 3
Submitter Name: Suzan
Whale Alert App
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Wed, Sep 20 - Hood Canal  - 14:02 - We received a call from Trig reporting a large baleen whale [probable humpback] south of the Bangor submarine base in Hood Canal due west of Kings Sit. Whale was halfway across the canal from Kitsap to the Jefferson side. Just saw one, breached completely out of the water. Traveling north. Pretty choppy with white caps. 
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Wed, Sep 20 - Puget Sound - 09:55 - Looks like a small humpback just north of Shilshole. Milling. Due to conditions will be hard to see from shore. [approx. 47.723915, -122.429089] -Brian McGinn, Puget Sound Express
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES
Wed, Sep 20 - San Juans (possible orcas) - 15:04 - I’ve seen multiple times what I thought were orcas. Initially I had second-guessed myself, but now I’ve seen it four separate times in multiple locations and it tracks. The most recent sighting that I feel like is that island that slightly in front of Guemes on the side closest to Larrabee State Park heading north towards Sinclair? It’s Vendovi Island and heading north. I waited until I confirmed multiple times of seeing the same situation over the last few hours, especially with the wind, but I can say this very much looks like a group of orcas. -Silver Hubble

September 19
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Tue, Sep 19 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T69s & T69As) - T69 Komox, T69A Kitimat, T69C Kye - T69A2 Hartley - Another special marine adventure today with 10 Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T069s & T069As) hunting the shoreline (thanks Brendon). Also many humpbacks and 100's of sea lions! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 19, 2023
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Tue, Sep 19 - San Juans (T60s)
13:30 - Cattle Pass whales, T60s, now eastbound towards Iceberg Point.
13:15 - Just spoke to several visitors who saw three orcas close to shore at South Beach but they couldn’t tell me which way they went. Not seeing anything from South Beach overlook now.
12:40 - Two groups of orcas, Cattle Pass and Eagle Point. Both reported as Bigg’s. No committed direction of travel. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
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Tue, Sep 19 - Puget Sound (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - T137A Jack, T137D Wright, T37A4 Crinkle - T37A3 Spinnaker, T37A4 Crinkle, T137D Wright, T137A Jack - T137A & friends in Port Madison. -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 19, 2023
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19:13 - Lots of breaching and surface activity north of Sunrise milling.
19:08 - Viewing from Dune, headed toward Sunrise. Losing light. -Robyn Riley
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19:08 - Out of sight of the ferry now. Might be able to see from Point Defiance viewpoints. Seemed like they were headed toward the Narrows Bridge.
19:05 - They are now significantly west of the ferry lane. Moving fast!
18:59 - Just got on the ferry at Tahlequah and the orcas are westbound right in front of us. -Erica Shannon
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18:58 - In front of Vashon ferry at a clip westbound.
18:54 - Westbound in front of Vashon toward the ferry.
18:50 - They're finally on the move westbound, waiting to see if they go into Quartermaster. -Robyn Riley
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18:43 - Line of sight is from Dune. South end of Maury milling. -Jason Cook
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18:24 - They are continuing to mill at the southwest head of Quartermaster Harbor. They may have had a successful hunt, as a bunch of gulls were gathering in their area.  -Blake Kremer
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18:22 - Leaving Browns Point, Jack and his group are still roughly at the same area, south of Maury. Lots of blows and splashes but all the way on the other side. -Danielle Naaman
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18:06 - I’m not sure if this is the same group, but multiple splashes and blows off the southwest corner of Maury Island, west of buoy. Milling, possible southward. Species uncertain, at least two but likely more. Very large splashes visible with naked eye from Tacoma. -James Rempt
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18:01 - Visible with binos from Dune. Lots of splashing and breaching! -Allyson Corbo
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17:53 - Lots of surface activity appear to be hunting off Maury. -Robyn Riley
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17:50 - Viewing from Browns Point, they are all the way on the other side, south of Maury and southbound. -Danielle Naaman
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17:49 - Seeing blows from Owen - mid channel, east bound, between (I think) south of Maury and Dash Point. -Kirsten Vacura
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17:44 - Seeing blows tip of Maury eastbound. -Robyn Riley
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17:10 - Orca off Gold Beach on Maury Island. Headed south. 300 yards off east shore of Maury Island. I've seen four including one male. -Burt Miller [ONCG]
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16:45 - They passed Point Robinson still heading south. -Kelly Burns Keenan
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16:40 - Have passed Point Robinson, close in to shore, loosely grouped steady southbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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16:23 - Just spotted them from the Des Moines Marina, still south bound, on the Vashon side. -Danielle Naaman
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16:18 - Still southbound, will probably be viewable from Point Robinson Lighthouse. -Ash Duranceau
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15:45 - Pretty spread, Jack further toward midchannel, others grouped close.
15:41 - Viewing from Klahanie Beach, southbound on Vashon side. Will be viewable from KVI very soon. -Ellen Weir
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15:19 - Jack and company are loosely grouped, slow steady travel southbound, now south of Glen Acres, close in to Vashon shores, dang they are so cute together! What a sweet group. Fish and Wildlife police boat on scene as well.
14:50 - Past Dolphin Point now approaching Glen Acres, Vashon side of channel, southbound, not in a hurry. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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14:20 - Small group of orcas - at least three - off Blake Island heading south. One adult male and two other whales maybe more. Lots of breaching activity off Blake Island. Observed from Constellation Marine Reserve in West Seattle.  -photo by Leo Shaw, September 19, 2023
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14:20 - Committed to eastside of Vashon on Vashon side of channel between ferry dock and north tip of Vashon southbound.
14:08 - Between Southworth and Vashon.
14:00 - Between Vashon and Blake southbound mid channel. -Mary Hartmann
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13:58 - Watching from west end of South Beach on Bainbridge Island. Whales are southbound approaching Vashon ferry lane. Lots of tail slaps, breaching, surface activity. -Kimberly Sylvester
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13:50 - Lots of tail slaps just north of Tillicum Village still southbound east of mid channel.
13:31 - Now moving fast to southwest more west in channel between Blake and Manchester.
13:27 - Spyhop by Jack just south of Manchester fuel depot east of mid channel.
13:22 - Jack and company southbound between Manchester and Bainbridge view from Constellation Park in West Seattle mid channel.
12:56 - Lots of activity by Blakely Rocks seen from Constellation Park West Seattle milling. -Mary Hartmann
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12:45 - Spotted them from the Space Needle, still southbound [approx. 47.605899, -122.488003]. -Amelia Showalter
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12:41 - All vessels on the SEA/BI/BREM notified. SALISH is currently at all-stop for 6 orcas frolicking in the vicinity of Tyee Shoal. [Southeast of Eagle Harbor]
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12:40 - Jack gave the Bainbridge Island ferry an awesome show! -Christy Stepper-Coulter
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12:05 - We could see them in the distance from the Bainbridge Island-Seattle (late) 11:30 ferry. They moved to the south end of Eagle Harbor when we lost sight of them because of our distance away. Close to Bainbridge Island. -Heather Paar
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11:13 - Southbound [approx. 47.677984, -122.493098]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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10:49 - We received a call, no name given, reporting pod of four orcas (includes one large adult with three smaller/juvenile) off Point Monroe, Bainbridge across from Ballard. Group is feeding and traveling south toward the city out from Fay Bainbridge Park. 
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10:45 - I saw four, one adult and three juveniles off Point Monroe Spit next to Fay Bainbridge Park. -Stephanie Miller
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10:30 - It’s a beautiful day to be out. Orcas are southbound out from Fay Bainbridge west side of the channel. Last from me at least for the time being. Good luck, we hope you do see them but if not enjoy whoever you see, so much beauty to take in. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:25 - Now moving southbound slowly mid channel out from Fay Bainbridge. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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10:11 - It’s Jack and friends [approx. 47.729664, -122.480327]! -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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10:10 - Westbound in towards Port Madison south of Jefferson Head. Jack is in the group. -Brian McGinn
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10:05 - Just going by Point Jefferson Kingston heading west, saw three at least. Sure are a LOT of seabirds in the water today! -Chris Beamer Otterson
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10:03 - Just saw the male surface generally here [approx. 47.738973, -122.468730]. Milling around.
09:50 - Orcas have moved west and are continuing westbound toward Port Madison, ever so slowly [approx. 47.728553, -122.445523].
09:37 - Group has moved more mid channel, between Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and just south of Jefferson Head. Long dives, shallow surfaces, with some directional changes. They are in no hurry while continuing southbound. Super calm glassy sea conditions. Generally in map location.
09:20 - From north end Richmond Beach at waters edge seeing ~ four fins (including male) grouped heading slow steady south sightline Jefferson Head. East side of the Sound.
09:09 - So far only seeing the four, male and three others so looking possible it’s the foursome Jack and others but too distant to confirm IDs. Slow trend southbound with still direction changes, tail lobs, spyhops, south and east of the mid channel buoy off Richmond Beach.
09:00 - Add a male ahead facing southbound. Others still milling.
08:58 - Got eyes on a few milling making directional changes mid way between yellow mid channel buoy and Kayu Kayu Ac Park. From Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. I’m relocating. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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08:54 - I’m on the Rachel Carson research vessel and we’re watching them just east of the center channel marker off Jefferson Head. -Kristin Pederson
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08:18 - Just spotted the orcas today outside of Kingston in the shipping lanes heading south.  -Heather Johnson Justice 
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08:00 - Three to four orcas traveling south across Kingston/Edmonds ferry path.  -Mary Bond 
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue, Sep 19 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Many humpbacks and 100's of sea lions! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photo by Paul Pudwell, September 19, 2023
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Tue, Sep 19 - Puget Sound - Per photos by Jason Cook, there were two humpbacks present today.
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16:48 - That was the humpback. We saw it around the same time.
16:20 - Definitely saw humpy as we were raising sails coming out of Gig Harbor. It was heading north towards Colvos. -Corey W. Feldon
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16:32 - Just spotted a blow from Owen, close to the Gig Harbor side. -Kirsten Vacura
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15:56 - Big breach. Revising - this is a single humpy. Not an orca pod. Photo taken by neighbor.
15:51 - Clearing Salmon Beach now. Northbound and short surface times.
15:46 - In front of Salmon Beach. Northbound. Closer to Tacoma side. -photo courtesy of Stace Gordon, September 19, 2023
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Pauline and Richard Proszowski
Date of Sighting: September 19, 2023
Time:
Species seen: One humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Across from Salmon Beach coming from Tacoma Narrows bridge
Direction of travel : SW slowly swimming surfacing
Behaviors observed: Traveling then one breach and dive seen
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: We think it was Malachite after hearing reports he's been in the area. Loved seeing him breach!
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Pauline Proszowski, September 19, 2023
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15:47 - He just did complete breach and then two partials. Northbound.
15:42 - Humpback half mile north of Narrows Bridge, northbound. Salmon Beach. -Zeno Martin
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15:38 - Only one blowing and one jumping at a time. Off Point Evans more center. I think it’s an orca [confirmed humpback] very big. -Kelly Click Christel
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15:30 - There what looks like one whale heading from Narrows Bridge toward Point Defiance closer to Gig Harbor side. Has jumped twice and multiple blows. -Kelly Click Christel
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MINKE WHALES
Tue, Sep 19 - Haro Strait - 07:50 - Minke at False Bay. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES
Tue, Sep 19 - Puget Sound (many eyes on, but only humpback(s) were confirmed) - 15:16 - Ash Arseneau called to report orcas in the Tacoma Narrows [only humpback(s) were confirmed]. They are seeing at least three, one larger two smaller. They are viewing from Tacoma Narrows park orcas are near the bridge mid channel. They came from the south and are northbound. 

September 18
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
As hoped for, the first two weeks in September brought some quality time with J-Pod off the west side of San Juan Island. Here are a few video highlights of our encounters captured by Jason Shields. -video by Jason Shields, September 2023 -Orca Behavior Institute
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Mon, Sep 18 - Haro Strait (J & K Pod)
22:23 - Clear SRKW calls on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone were autodetected by the OrcaHello AI. Here is the single 60-second candidate from tonight in which I hear calls commonly made by both J and K pod whales at a high rate (10s of calls per minute) - link to audio clip.
21:41 - 22:29 - MANY human detections on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone. I think you all set a new record for the number of annotations in a single candidate - 54! BRAVO to all the live listeners - the peak listener count was 130! -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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22:24 - Wow! Amazing to hear them live! -Tia Bee
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22:23 - Amazing. I'm so glad I can hear this. -Susan Stowers
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22:23 - So vocal on LK right now. -Linda Hahn
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22:23 - This is amazing. They are so talkative right now! Didn't know they were this active at night. -Martine Hazzard
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22:14 - Hearing some Js in the mix.  -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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22:13 - Such beautiful sounds hearing pods communicate to each other. It’s magical and brings me so much peace. I wish I could dedicate my life to whale watching. Only in my unattainable dreams. -Lesley Gill
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22:11 - The best kind of lullaby. -Toni Hi
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22:10 - This is so special! -Harmony Birkhimer
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22:10 - Wow that's amazing. -Bernadette Brookes
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22:09 - Wow! So loud! -Dana Andrew
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22:08 - Their calls sound extra beautiful tonight! -Grace McRae
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22:05 - They're so loud right now! -Beth Jones Schivitz
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21:55 - If you're still up, Southern Resident Killer Whales (K Pod at least!) are being heard on the Orcasound hydrophone. J Pod too! -Orca Network
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Mon, Sep 18 - San Juans (T69s & T69As) - T69s and T69As. -Ellie Sawyer [WSSJI]
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We were able to see T69 and family. They were amazing. -Patty Lampman
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15:10 - Group of Bigg's killer whales northbound in Cattle Pass (heading into San Juan Channel). -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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Mon, Sep 18 - Admiralty Inlet/Haro Strait (T65As) - 09-18-23 T65As, Haro Strait, SJI - 19:27 - 19:43, Heading up island after sunset with just enough light on the surface to see them, the T65As traveled in a loose group, slowly weaving in and out of each others paths. T65A2 Ooxjaa came within 200' of shore twice while surfacing. As he traveled under the water large circles of displaced water rose up decorating the surface behind him. A lovely way to finish up the day. Viewing from 1 mile south of Landbank. Photographed from shore. ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - T65A5 Indy - ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Maya's Legacy - photos by Michelline Halliday, September 18, 2023
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16:45 - T65As several miles off South Beach aiming northwest up Haro. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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T65A2 Ooxjaa - T65A5 Indy & T65A2 Ooxjaa - We saw the T65As off of Lagoon Point. The girls were spread out in front, we did not see Amir. -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 18, 2023
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12:56 - Still northbound and spread [approx. 48.154892, -122.774573]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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12:00 - Watched for quite a while from the north side of Lagoon Point. Someone thought they saw them way over north of Fort Flagler, very choppy. -Bonnie Gretz
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11:35 - Seeing two whales including adult male approx. mid channel quickly northbound. Viewing from south end of Lagoon Point. -Sandy Pollard
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11:05 - Passed Bush Point midchannel. Still northbound, it's choppy out. Hard to see, only brief look at fins. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:47 - Northbound and spread [approx. 47.999142, -122.584580]. Indy is with them. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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08:00 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:16 to report: 0800hrs: Vessel [SPOKANE] reports via 800MHz they've spotted a single orca milling about the EDM terminal.
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Mon, Sep 18 - Saratoga Passage (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - 20:17 - Pod of Orcas between Harrington Lagoon and Race Lagoon (east side of Whidbey Island island). Can hear them blowing and slapping. Was heading north and then stopped just south of Harrington Lagoon. Can’t see them, but can hear them. They seem to be hanging around not far from shore. -Randy Zimmerman Furnas
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T137A Jack - T37A4 Crinkle & T137A Jack - 19:30 - I finally caught them slowly heading northwest - probably passing Madrona now, but hard to see - mid-channel, not very close at all. Viewing from Whidbey with line of sight northeast to Madrona. I only counted three, but only saw them surface a few times. -photos by Jill Hein, September 18, 2023
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19:16 - Watching from Camano Island Yacht Cub. They're way over on Whidbey side. -Shelly Greybeck
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19:06 - Seeing just two, closer now to Whidbey, heading northwest. -Kristina Trowbridge
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19:07 - Still northbound, now north of Onamac. Easy to see without binoculars now from Whidbey.
19:01 - Still just south of Onamac - at least five. Still slowly northbound. Slightly closer to Camano.  -Amy Smith Norris
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19:00 - Mid-channel, two orcas heading north! -Kristina Trowbridge
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18:54 - Approaching Onamac, slowly northbound, long down times.  -Amy Smith Norris
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18:39 - They are now at Indian Beach. Mid channel. Closer to Camano side. Still northbound. -Teresa Woody
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18:42 - Heading north, Camano side passing Onamac.
18:21 - Looks like they’re finally headed northward about a mile south of Onamac.
18:14 - Still hanging out in the same area. 
17:46 - Still milling in same area.
17:23 - About a mile north of Cama Beach. Looks like they might be hunting not just heading one direction anymore. -photo by Aaron Gill, September 18, 2023
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17:20 - Appears to be in between Cama Beach and Onamac Point. Camano side of mid channel. But possibly angling a tad northwest?
17:00 - From my vantage point (Baby Island Heights) and a somewhat guess [approx. 48.134288, -122.520660], they appear to be out from Cama Beach. Northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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16:50 - No longer visible from Camano Island State Park, going north. -Joy Powers
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16:14 - There are at least two south of Camano State Park now. -Charvet Drucker
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6:13 - Mid channel Camano Island State Park northbound. -Joy Powers
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15:32 - Passing Whale Bell. Mid channel. Moving north fast. One male one female/juvenile observed. -Cindi Crowder Rausch, Orca Network
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15:21 - They are heading north in Saratoga, about mid channel but closer to the Camano side. -Charvet Drucker
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15:00 - The pod of orcas John C Storbeck saw is now passing us heading north in Saratoga Passage. About a third of the way across from Whidbey. We are on the southeast end of Camano, Gull Way. Pebble Beach and Summerland coming your way now. -Mike Moberly [CWW]
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12:35 - Saw a male and female spread out off Tyee about half a mile. Swimming slowly south. Will share photos in other groups for ID - T37A3 Spinnaker and T137A Jack ID’d by Rachel Haight, Orca Network. -John C Storbeck
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12:35 - Orcas reported in Port Susan off Tyee heading southbound per PSWW. 
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon, Sep 18 - Strait of Georgia - 12:05 - Pair of humpbacks. Just sailed past them [Strait of Georgia, due north of Nanaimo]. I know it’s Canada, but thought I’d report. -Erica Suthill
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Mon, Sep 18 - Haro Strait - 16:00 - Humpback mid Haro, three miles northwest of Lime Kiln Lighthouse moving south/southwest. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Mon, Sep 18 - Puget Sound -18:51 - Humpback (pretty sure) right off Chambers Bay headed north. Maybe 50 - 100 ft from the shore. -Theresa Swanson
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MINKE WHALES
Mon, Sep 18 - San Juans - Sea state to the South was reported as being pretty lumpy today so we headed North. Up through the Wasp Islands we noticed harbor seals still using the west spit of Yellow Island. Quite a few pairs of marbled murrelets called to each other as we passed. We wrapped around Flattop and White Rock seeing white-winged scoters, surf scoters, and common murres. We spotted a minke whale near Cowlitz Bay, Waldron Island. We know this whale as ‘the low profile minke’ and have been following his/her progress through the summer season. Nice views as it travelled though the area with some foraging. The spinal ride is still pretty noticeable as are the scapulas. There looks like there could be a potential dip/dent in the middle of the back as well…” Read more and see more photos here. -Captains Barbara & David Howitt, All Aboard Sailing -photo by All Aboard Sailing, September 18, 2023

September 17
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 17 - Haro Strait (K Pod) - With J-Pod up in the northern Strait of Georgia for the last couple of days, K-Pod made an unexpected appearance on the west side of San Juan Island today! They spent the morning off the south end of the island, but went north this evening. This is K33 Tika passing Lime Kiln. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 17, 2023
Another shot from last night: K20 Spock and K45 [Prosper]in Haro Strait. Spock was actively foraging and [Prosper] was (in her mind) "helping", though it looked a little more like getting in the way! But good job mama for both letting your daughter learn AND getting the fish. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 17, 2023
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Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #52: “As the whales made their way back up Haro Strait, they were identified by observers on shore as K pod. The seas were calming down some although the water on the west side was still a little lumpy. When the whales had made it to Hannah Heights, Michael and Dave met down at Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1650…” -Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #52.
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K-Pod, Haro Strait, SJI
16:10 - 17:10, Viewing from 1.2 miles south of Landbank. Under grey skies K-Pod slowly heading up island/ north, in the lead K14 Lea. Spread out both up and down my point of view and also offshore. There was much milling in a big circle but not much activity at the surface except for 1-year old K45 Prosper who rolled a couple of times and spy-hopped. They stayed pretty far from shore, the closest 1/3 mile off shore. They slowly made their way up island, out of sight. Beautiful varied calls on the Lime Kiln and Orcasound hydrophones as they passed by. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - K45 Prosper - K20 Spock -photos & IDs by Michelline Halliday, September 17, 2023
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17:55 - Still hearing them on Orcasound. -Melissa Bird
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17:37 - A few loud calls on OS hydro (thanks Sara for the heads up!). -Orca Network
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17:33 - Now hearing them on the Orcasound Lab hydro. What an adorable little chorus of Ks for a while there. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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17:20 - A-mazing calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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17:28 - Faint calls still audible on Lime Kiln.
17:14 - Excellent calls on LK; loud, chirpy, raspberries, etc.
17:05 - Between last update and now, some intermittent calls, some loud. Now faint calls and echolocation still on Lime Kiln.
16:55 - And now K pod echolocation on Lime Kiln.
16:51 - Kitten calls audible on Lime Kiln. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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16:45 - There is a short visual [on webcam]. -Rachael Blaurock
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16:55 - K pod snuck into the Salish Sea and are now northbound in Haro Strait! They are audible on the Lime Kiln hydrophone and may be visible on the webcam soon. 
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17:15 - K20 just caught a salmon off Lime Kiln. K45 was “helping”.
16:24 - At least Ks.
16:04 - Can confirm SRKW but not 100% sure who yet.
15:25 - Approaching Eagle Point a bit offshore going up island.
15:00 - Looks like eight to ten whales passing the Salmon Bank marker now moving quickly up island.
14:45 - Spread out and surface active whales heading back towards San Juan from east of Salmon Bank as seen from Cattle Point.
12:00 - Now northbound from Pile Point - next public viewing spot will be Land Bank’s Westside Preserve.
11:39 - Secondhand report of at least four whales northbound from north Eagle. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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11:32 - Report of one lone male on South Beach heading up the island from 30 minutes ago. -Sam Wallace [WSSJI]
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 17 - Sunshine Coast, BC
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natalie Kervin
Date of Sighting: September 17, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Species seen: Transient Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Off of Smuggler Cove Provincial Park at Grant Island. (49.5145439, -123.9690339)
Direction of travel : S/SE along coast
Behaviors observed: Travelling, milling, tail slap
If orcas, any males?: Yes, 2 large males, few females and two young
Any unusual markings?: Too far to identify
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: There was a fishing vessel that was not adhering to proper boating procedures around marine animals. It was too far to identify the boat, but thought it should be noted.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Natalie Kervin, September 17, 2023
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Sun, Sep 17 - Southern Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Timothy Dean
Date of Sighting: September 17, 2023
Time: 6:45 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: (48.9119553, -122.8372027)
Direction of travel : W
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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Sun, Sep 17 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - 18:00 - From Metchosin, Vancouver Island. -photo by Jenna Darcie, September 17, 2023
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Sun, Sep 17 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T60s & T109s) - Another special day off Sooke with 13 Bigg’s/transient killer whales on the hunt! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 17, 2023
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Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #53: “Mark and Fin left Victoria Harbour on Mike 1 at ~1800 to follow up on a report of killer whales eastbound off of East Sooke Park. Mike 1 started the encounter at 1842 as he came across the T060s, less the two dispersed sprouter brothers, T060D and E, along with the T109 family approaching Church Rock. They circled around the island in the kelp, determined to grab a seal. Within a few minutes, it was apparent that they succeeded as T060F spyhopped with the hind flippers of a harbour seal in her grip…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #53.
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Sun, Sep 17 - Rosario Strait (T123s) - 17:33 - They are passing Point Whitehorn now. 
16:39 - This is their approximate location, headed north.
16:33 - They are headed to Neptune Point-ish, looks like they’re going just north of Lummi Bay and headed northeast. -Rose Caitlin
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16:29 - Looks like they’re gonna go into Lummi Bay. -Sam Wallace
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Could be the T123s, who were south of Waldron earlier. -Tamara Kelley 
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15:27 - I’m down at sea level now and lost sight but judging by the boats following them they might be stopped milling or have flipped northeast.
15:24 - Three to four orca headed south into Rosario! Kestrel is with them. They just passed Matia Island. Appear to be continuing south into Rosario! -Rose Caitlin
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Sun, Sep 17 - North Puget Sound (T65A5) - There was a single smaller orca that ate two seals in Eglon [in the] evening. I think this was him [Indy]. -Melissa Peterson
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T65A5 Indy - 19:07 - It/they disappeared at 19:00 with glassy surface and wide view from Apple Tree Point. -photo by Donna Green Van Renselaar, September 17, 2023
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T65A5 Indy - 18:45 - Just had two orca southbound hugging the Kitsap shore at Apple Tree Point. I swear there were two, one with a taller dorsal but I could be wrong. The lighting was starting to deteriorate. -photo by Sara Frey, September 17, 2023
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Sun, Sep 17 - Puget Sound (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - [Jack breaching] At Point Defiance - link to video! -Joe Smith
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My family and I were visiting from Charlotte, NC when my sister Laura SchwanMeade decided to take us to see if we could get a glimpse of the orcas that had been sighted the day before. Boy were we in for a surprise! My 17 year old son Christopher Schwan captured that orca breaching the water three times - link to video. -Chris Schwan
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T137A Jack and others feeding on seals off the Point Defiance clay banks on Sunday morning - link to video. -David Michael
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Cell phone video of T137A Jack breaching - link to video. -Kelly Dawson
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T137A Jack breaching! - From the Owen Beach hunt. -photos by Ashley S Whitman, September 17, 2023
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T37A3 Spinnaker, T37A4 Crinkle, T137D Wright - T137A & friends by Owen Beach, and nearby off of Sunrise Beach Park there was also this young humpback (CRC-20243). -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 17, 2023
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T137A Jack breaching - I got a picture of the exact moment they applied the suction cup tag on Crinkle. -photos by Ryan Dicks, September 17, 2023
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The researchers deployed a yellow suction cup tag on T37A4, Crinkle. So if you see an odd object on her back right in front of her dorsal fin there is no need to worry. The photo was taken with a 840mm lens and cropped to show the tag better. -photo by Bart Rulon Art & Photography, September 17, 2023
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T137A Jack & T37A4 Crinkle with suction cup tag attached - T137A Jack - Heading north Sunday afternoon. -photos by Sue Surowiec Larkin, September 17, 2023
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T137A Jack & T137D Wright - T37A4 Crinkle with suction cup tag -photos by Jami Cantrell, September 17, 2023
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I was at Southworth today and saw orcas for the first time with the surprise tag along of the grey [confirmed humpback CRC20243]. -Crystal Olwell
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19:10 - 19:20 - Observed from the Kingston-Edmonds ferry, between the Kingston-Edmonds and the Edmonds-Kingston ferries. Three orcas traveling west, two with smaller dorsal fins, one with larger dorsal fin. Spyhop. -Luiz Humberto Melchert Marques
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19:27 - Kind of milling mid channel with some downtime, looks like they may still be trending southbound. I think there’s at least three.
19:17 - Eyes on them at Kingston dock. -Emma Belanger
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18:30 - Scanning from Suquamish Dock, spotted orca traveling northbound, just approaching Jefferson Head. -Kimberly Sylvester
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18:12 - They are now closer to mid channel off Point Jefferson. -Julie Smart
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18:08 - Off of Point Jefferson - looks like they’re heading northbound angled northeast towards mid channel. Peeling off, happy watching folks.
17:52 - They [are] mid[channel] heading northbound from Port Madison towards Point Jefferson. -Levi Sawyers
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17:51 - Saw them pass from Point Monroe northbound towards Kingston a couple minutes ago. They have gone out of view (watching from Indianola). -Sophy Johnston
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17:48 - About fifteen minutes ago, finally got a clear view! They appear to be milling by all the boats. -Katie Chevalier
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17:45 - I was at Golden Gardens and couldn’t get eyes until they got into the sun past Fay Bainbridge. Tiny tiny fins and blows but super far west.  -Kayla Zabecki
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17:18 - Heading northbound from Point Monroe still west side ~500yds off the shore. -Levi Sawyers
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17:17 - Viewing from Feature Fay Bainbridge. -Heidi Gerling
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16:55 - Just passed Rolling Bay on Bainbridge. -Charlotte Pyle
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16:07 - Now even with Eagle Harbor. -Brian Livingston
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15:27 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed at 17:52 to report: Chimacum Master reports two orca NB off Restoration Point.
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15:47 - Northbound by Eagle Harbor view from 64th and Alki.
15:33 - Approach Blakely Rocks far west in channel.
15:09 - Between Manchester and Bainbridge northbound west of mid channel view from Constellation Park. Northbound four orcas. -Mary Hartmann
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14:55 - Orcas visible from Lowman Beach, mid channel, looking toward southern tip of Bainbridge. Northbound. -Amelia Showalter
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14:53 - Seeing blows just south of Tillicum Village northbound. View from Constellation Park. -Mary Hartmann
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14:35 - Orcas now on northeast corner of Blake Island and moving north fast. -Jessica Medina
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14:33 - Humpback directly behind the T’s! Just went through Colvos Passage. Not even five minutes after Jack and family passed. -Crystal Thompson
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14:29 - Between Blake Island and Vashon, going northeast hugging Blake side.
14:25 - Just passed Southworth. Not sure if they are going east or west of Blake Island. -Leo Medina
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14:24 - Approaching ferry lanes at Southworth moving northeast currently. -Candace Gavin
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14:19 - Approaching Point Southworth. Still northbound. Close to the Kitsap side. -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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14:02 - Humpback right behind orcas almost to the north end of Vashon. -Erika Bartkute Lanske
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13:48 - Orcas are mid channel at Frageria. Still northbound. -Karen Webb Martin
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13:47 - Three orcas heading north. Still in Colvos. -Erika Bartkute Lanske
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13:40 - Almost to the north end of Vashon. [Humpback or orca?] both actually! Just saw orca fin as well. -Erika Bartkute Lanske
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13:20 - Just 200 yards south of Anderson Point. -Kyle Buffenmyer
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13:22 - Near Anderson Point.
13:14 - Very close to OBM, very close to Kitsap shore side/Olalla northbound. -Amanda Herberger
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13:10 - They are in front of Olalla mid channel heading north. -Conner Helms
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13:02 - Approaching Olalla northbound. -Crystal Thompson
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12:59 - All four steady northbound approaching Lisabuela on mainland side of channel, loosely grouped.
12:41 - Seeing orcas approaching Point Richmond, mainland side of channel, not sure of direction yet.
12:46 - Past Point Richmond now, much closer to mainland headed north at moment. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:19 - San Juan Clipper on site at mouth of Colvos [approx. 47.344253, -122.545043].
11:46 - Off Owen Beach, circled for a bit and dove down closer to Vashon side. All four present again today. Have not seen them pop back up since but boats are trending towards the point as of 12:05. -photo by Anika Blake, September 17, 2023
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11:46 - Traveling along the beach, heading toward Point Ruston.
11:43 - One group right off Owen Beach. -Kristin Luippold
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11:39 - We are departing just after an amazing seal hunt right next to shore! Jack breached three times and some lucky folks on shore had a front row seat for the action. They swam right past the seals on the beach about a quarter mile and then turned around to hunt them [approx. 47.318799, -122.548419]. T137A, Jack, during the seal hunt earlier appeared to be trying to spook the seals off the beach and into the water with three breaches, and the strategy worked! -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:31 - Bigg’s at Point Defiance now. -Ed Gullekson
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11:19 - They are definitely aimed towards entering the Tacoma Narrows at this point but that could obviously change.
11:15 - Update southwest direction [approx. 47.320586, -122.532955]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:03 - Jack westbound Vashon side toward ferry terminal viewing from Dune. -Robyn Riley
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11:03 - Passing ferry lanes westbound towards mid channel after favoring island side. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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11:00 - They pushed offshore southwest-bound [approx. 47.322945, -122.508244].
10:55 - Southwestbound and they just harassed a sea lion, but it looks like they decided not to hunt it [approx. 47.330195, -122.491517]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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10:54 - Just saw them from Point Ruston across at Vashon! Lots of splashing and fins but went down. Looks like boats chasing them. -Da Is
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10:47 - Orca still at the mouth Quartermaster.
10:40 - Still along beach, mouth of Quartermaster, in front of green house (two story house) on bank. I’m at Dune Point. -Jim Schmaltz
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10:30 - Heading into Quartermaster Harbor - at least two. Hugging the shore. -Heather Stuckless
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09:57 - Looks to be just north of or at Gold Beach, three to four circling, multi directional but mostly fins pointed south. Closer in to Vashon Shores, viewing from Maury Marine Park overlook. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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09:20 - More have joined lone male including two females.
09:10 - Orca off east side of Maury Island at Gold Beach. One large male milling about. No direction of travel. -Burt Miller [ONCG]
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09:10 - From a Vashon community page: orcas headed south at 9:10 from Gold Beach, after previously heading north.
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07:21 - Five to six orcas heading south from Point Robinson. -Katie
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07:16 - Community member confirmed they’re heading south from Point Robinson.
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Sun, Sep 17 - South Puget Sound (T65As minus T65A5)
15:31 - They are near north of Reach Island. Big boat has been near them, possibly too close. Going south.
14:57 - See three going north. Past Allyn dock near oyster barge just now. -Sara Overton
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14:46 - Five minutes ago right across from Allyn, info from someone driving through Allyn, unknown direction. -Cammy Malm LaRiviere
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13:45 - Florian Graner called to update on the five T65As in Carr Inlet. They have been out doing research today, beginning this morning and leave them now slow moving resting occasionally and socializing at the very north end of Carr Inlet. 
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13:36 - Three. Heard them first. Several fins in a row then nothing for about five minutes.
13:30 - In front of Treasure Island going north right now.  -Erin Gleason Presby
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12:02 - I haven't seen them since that last sighting. So they either deep dove and went way on the other side out of view, or they went back into Rocky Bay.
11:32 - Direction unknown but looks like they just popped out of Rocky Bay from Allyn. -Jami Cantrell
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09:45 - Headed back north from Vaughn.
09:26 - Just spotted off Vaughn! -Stephanie Sanchez
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Claudia Putnam
Date of Sighting: September 17, 2023
Time: 09:00 
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: E side of Reach Island, Case Inlet
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: This is a report from my neighbor. Made this morning to me. 9:00 a.m. 9/17/23. He said several people saw four to five orcas east of Reach Island. I'm actually not sure direction of travel.
Photos available?: No
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08:50 - Report from Victor of four orca, one large male and three females. Went to Allyn and end of inlet and heading back out towards Treasure Island. A neighbor a few blocks north of us got a great video of them about 159 feet from shore. -Beverly Lynch McCallum
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08:46 - Still north of Treasure Island [also known as Reach Island]. Just hanging, very mellow!
08:35 - Three heading slowly south in Case Inlet towards Treasure Island bridge [bridge to Reach Island] channel. -Sara Overton
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08:30 - Friend in Victor said I could share - they’re across from the Allyn Pier. -Beverly Lynch McCallum
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun, Sep 17 - San Juans
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Sep 17 9:17 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.76155,-122.74954 [NW of Lummi Isl] 
Number Sighted: 2
Photos:
Submitter Name: Catherine Brown
Whale Alert App
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Sun, Sep 17 - Puget Sound (CRC20243) - Off of Sunrise Beach Park there was also this young humpback (CRC-20243). -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 17, 2023
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CRC-20243 is a juvenile humpback previously seen in BC waters two weeks ago. First documented as a calf in 2021 HappyWhale. Thanks Bart Rulon for the I.D. -photo by Jason Cook, September 17, 2023
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19:11 - Joey LaMarche thanks for the updates. I was able to see it from my balcony in Alki. -photo by Fei Cheng, September 17, 2023
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18:17 - Current location at red pin [approx. 47.621462, -122.403531]. Going down for five minute dives heading north west. -Joey LaMarche
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17:51 - Bremerton Ferry just hit hard starboard to avoid. Confirmed sighting Elliot Bay, right off Harbor Island. -Calvin Schubert
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17:46 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed at 17:52 to report: Chimacum Master reports one humpback whale south Elliot Bay - no directions of travel noted.
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16:18 - Moving east to Elliott Bay south of ferry lanes.
16:12 - Humpback off 64th and Alki, north of Eagle Harbor, sailboats surrounding. -Mary Hartmann
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14:30 - Humpback just passed Point Southworth, mid channel. Potentially going east of Blake.
14:25 - Humpback just passed [Point Southworth] as well, heading northbound.  -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
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14:07 - One mile south of Southworth ferry, orcas basically to the north end and humpback not far behind them.
14:02 - Humpback right behind orcas almost to the north end of Vashon.
13:40 - Almost to the north end of Vashon.
13:21 - Slowly moving north.
13:20 - Just across from Ollala and north of Lisabuela Beach. -Erika Bartkute Lanske
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13:09 - We are leaving CRC-20243 northbound at my map spot [approx. 47.397529, -122.530237]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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13:07 - Humpback island side of mid channel, just fluked, steady travel northbound, approaching Lisabuela. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:43 - This humpback is CRC-20243, who was a calf in 2021.
12:29 - The humpback whale is northbound in Colvos Passage northwest of the orcas right now [approx. 47.355128, -122.540910]. -photo by Bart Rulon Art & Photography, September 17, 2023
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12:15 - Jack and the crew were within 200 yards of it [humpback] at the time. -photo by Ryan Dicks, September 17, 2023
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11:46 - Spotted from Dune Peninsula park, mid channel. Seemed to be headed west or northwest. -Kirsten Miller
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10:58 - Just south of Browns Point, seems to be heading north. -Kristin Luippold
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10:21 - Milling same area. Last fluke has it facing northeast.
10:06 - Next to red container ship. Southeast bound [approx. 47.285201, -122.431604]. -Jason Cook
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10:04 - Humpback is moving toward the port out by the tanker.  -Craig Craker
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09:28 - Humpback traveling towards Thea Foss [approx. 47.297999, -122.481435]. -Ed Rickert
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09:21 - Tacoma humpback southbound towards Port of Tacoma. -Jason Cook
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09:20 - I saw the humpback as well from long distance. -Ryan Dicks
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09:17 - Headed towards Browns Point. Spotted confirmed humpback west of channel marker.
09:10 - I was watching for the orcas in Commencement and just saw two blows and humpback fluke off of south tip of Maury Island! -Ed Rickert
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MINKE WHALES
Sun, Sep 17 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - I saw a minke whale today while recreational fishing [approx. 48.414396, -123.094942]. -Charlotte Scofield
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Sun, Sep 17 - Puget Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: June Mansfield
Date of Sighting: September 17, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM
Species seen: Possible Minke whale
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Heading south past Haines Wharf Edmonds. In a group of harbor porpoises
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Moving slowly
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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Sun, Sep 17 - Hood Canal - 17:05 - Not sure where to make this comment. I just saw what could be a minke whale (small fin) in the same spot I saw it a few days ago - just south and west of the Hood Canal bridge, in Squamish Harbor where I live. It surfaced a few times and seemed to be moving toward the bridge. -Marilyn Grace Showalter
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September 16
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 16 - Haro Strait (T60s)
17:36 - Last surface they were milling just south of Sunset Point. Prior to the milling they were steady northbound. And credit to Silver Hubble who found them after we spent hours just watching from Cattle Point.
16:47 - Now at Landbank. Thanks to Trevor Derie and Sam Wallace for confirming T60s.
16:11 - Update from friends with Outer Island, they have been located at False Bay. Assuming they are still traveling up island but not confirmed.
15:20 - Viewing from Cattle Point, estimated three to four orcas off of South Beach. Around a couple of fishing boats. Not clear on direction yet. Traveling up island on last surface. -Tamara Kelley [WSSJI]
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09-16-23 T60s Haro Strait SJI - 16:45, All six members of the T60 family traveling up island/ northbound 175' (feet) from shore. I knew they were headed my way but they were so close to shore I couldn't see their approach over the rocks. Suddenly the whoosh of a blow and they had arrived. T60C Yelnats doing a spyhop so close, he seemed to rise out of the water in slow motion. He. Was. So. Big. Photographed from shore. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - T60G Uncia & T60 Panthera - T60C Yelnats -photos & IDs by Michelline Halliday, September 16, 2023
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Sat, Sep 16 - North Puget Sound (T65A5)
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 16 17:50 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.59374,-122.46385 [out from Blakely Rocks] 
Number Sighted: 1
Submitted Comments: Transient headed north
Submitter Name: Chris Cziesla
Whale Alert App
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09:20 - Saw one orca surface off Pilot Point [between Eglon & Point No Point] heading northbound, close to the Kitsap side. -Austin Iles
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Sat, Sep 16 - Puget Sound (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - T137A Jack - From the Narrows to Commencement Bay. -photos by Cherie StOurs, September 16, 2023
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First northbound pass at Browns Point from T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D - link to video. -Melissa Bird
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Jack and crew entering Foss Waterway today around noon - link to video. -David Michael
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A few videos from their visit near Tyee Marina - link to video. -Chrystal Lampman
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T37A4 Crinkle & T137A Jack - T137A Jack and friends took a trip south to Tacoma. -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 16, 2023
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Such an epic time at Browns Point Lighthouse earlier! I waited for a long time to see them! -photo by Kitkat Whales, September 16, 2023
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Just before the hunt at Tyee Marina. -photo by Mollie Segall, September 16, 2023
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T137A Jack -photos by Jason Cook, September 16, 2023
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Watched them from the south Vashon ferry dock just before sunset. The ferry worker said, are you a walk on or are you here to see the orcas? So he points them out to me! Watched their backlit blows as they began to head south towards the Narrows. -T.L. Stokes
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What a day! Spent two hours alongside them in Commencement Bay this morning, caught ourselves some Coho and just said goodnight to them at sunset in the Narrows! The PNW is magical! -Hope Cornetta
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19:22 - South of Salmon Beach and mid channel they have stopped and are milling around.
19:17 - Passing Salmon Beach mid channel and southbound.  -Stace Gordon
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19:02 - Headed south from Point Defiance toward Salmon Beach. Very energetic and moving quickly. -Gaby Kinner
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18:47 - Spotted two from the Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry! Mid channel off of Point Defiance. Quite a few boats surrounding them. Trending south. -Kirsten Miller
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18:46 - Sound Action just received report of the whales off southwest corner of Vashon - between island and Point Defiance headed east or circling. -Amy Carey, Sound Action
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17:47 - They flipped going southbound heading mid channel. -Karen Atkinson Johnson
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17:28 - They appear to be milling around in the Dumas Bay. I am observing from Saltwater State Park. -Michael Scuderi
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16:50 - All passed Dash Point pier northbound. -Amber Stanfill
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16:44 - Still trending north. -Karen Atkinson Johnson
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16:28 - Just passed Browns again. Trending Dash Point. -Mollie Segall
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16:22 - Spotted from a boat rounding Browns Point Lighthouse heading north. -Karen Atkinson Johnson
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16:12 - Just saw orcas. Near Tyee Marina. North side of Commencement Bay. They were heading towards Browns Point. -Abby Lewis [PSWS]
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16:00 - I was lucky enough to get surrounded by four adults and one young orca between Browns Point & Dash Point dock! -Sue Hart/
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15:47 - Right in front of Tyee marina. Sea lions and seals in the area next to the barges. -Stace Gordon
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15:44 - They are in Commencement Bay, viewing from Cliff House Restaurant. -Danielle Naaman
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15:36 - Back into the bay. Close to shore underneath the Cliff House Restaurant. -Mollie Segall
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15:36 - Just passing Cliff House now southbound still. -Jeffrey Stander
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15:34 - Near crushed car barges.
15:33 - Offshore of Cliff House.
15:29 - Southeast heading from lighthouse. Browns Point side of bay. -Dave Porter
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15:25 - All passed Browns Point Lighthouse heading into Commencement. -Amber Stanfill
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15:29 - Heading into Commencement Bay. Port of Tacoma bound.
15:22 - Now right off Browns Point.  -Stace Gordon
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15:14 - Viewing from Browns, they are just past the tip of Dash Point. Appear to be swimming north toward Vashon but still trending west and closer to Browns side for sure. -Mollie Segall
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15:05 - Passing Dash Point fishing pier now. Southbound. -Jeffrey Stander
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T37A4 Crinkle - 15:00 - Browns Point. -photo by Mollie Segall, September 16, 2023
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From Browns Point. -photo by Julia Bernard, September 16, 2023
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15:02 - Off of Dash Point. Gently southbound.
14:53 - Now headed back towards Browns Point. Southbound.
14:20 - Reversed course and headed back south again. One nice spy hop. -Stace Gordon
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14:07 - They are just passing Redondo, close to shore. Headed towards Des Moines. -Sean Clinton
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14:03 - They’re headed north on the east side of the sound. 
13:42 - There are four of them, one male and three females.
13:41 - Almost to Redondo. -photo by Jenn Amdal, September 16, 2023
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13:29 - Northwest of Dash Point Park, our pretty far heading toward (I think?) Des Moines Marina? Edit: I guess that’s Maury Island they were heading toward and north of. -Tracie Gingrich
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13:22 - Passing Dash Point State Park northbound with purpose, mid channelish. -Melissa Bird
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13:22 - Three passing Dash Point Park northbound. -Idah Mahmah
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13:20 - Out from Dash Point Pier, mid channel. -Danielle Naaman
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13:14 - Pass at Dash Point. -Krista Baker
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13:13 - Approaching Dash Point fishing pier northbound. -Robyn Riley
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13:00 - Caught them right off the beach at Browns Point! -Sabrina O'Donnell
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12:57 - Beautiful epic close pass at Browns Point Lighthouse. Slowly northbound up East Passage not far from shore now. -Melissa Bird
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12:54 - They are out in front of the Browns Point Lighthouse right now.
12:46 - They are headed to the lighthouse area it looks like. -Sean Clinton
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12:46 - Strongly northwest heading right towards lighthouse. -Dave Porter
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12:45 - I saw them! At Cliff House heading towards Browns Point Lighthouse. -Tracie Gingrich
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12:49 - Just saw them too. Almost to Browns Lighthouse. -Paul Davis
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12:43 - Westbound! Towards the Browns Point side.
12:38 - Milling about, no direction. The breaching got lots of cheers.
12:29 - Breaching multiple times, middle of the bay.
12:24 - Westbound, mid bay or a little north.  -Dave Porter
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12:25 - Orca stalled and playing now just off Crows Nest Marina! -Brandie Hassing-Morrison House Sotheby's International Realty
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12:18 - Pod of four. Looks like could be T137A? Mid channel. Just north of Dune Park. Heading into Commencement Bay. -photo by Sandy Hassell, September 16, 2023
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12:15 - They are headed to the area Browns Point, they will be somewhere along the shoreline pretty soon. -Sean Clinton
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12:09 - Viewing from Thea’s, both whale watching boats viewing from mouth of Puyallup River. Presumably foraging or feeding with the salmon run. -Anika Blake
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12:08 - No longer visible from Thea they appear to have turned the corner into the port. -Robyn Riley
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12:08 - Lots of surfacing, very shallow water, headed towards main port waterway.
12:02 - Mouth of the Puyallup, very close to shore at low tide. North direction. -Dave Porter
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11:54 - Have exited Theas & are northeast bound along Port of Tacoma towards Marine View Drive. -Melissa Bird
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11:53 - Now out of the inlet, going east, still deep in Commencement. -Mollie Segall
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11:52 - They flipped and exited back into mid channel Commencement.
11:50 - Came ALL THE WAY into Thea’s and waiting for them to turn back from Thea’s dock. -photo by Anika Blake, September 16, 2023
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11:48 - They are into the Foss Waterway inlet! Almost to the end. -Mollie Segall
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11:46 - Behind Foss Waterway Museum. -Robyn Riley
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11:45 - We are leaving the scene now but they just entered the Foss Waterway weaving in between boats as they went (far to the south of my blue spot on the map) [approx. 47.267852, -122.441850]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:44 - Passing us at Thea's Park INTO Theas Waterway. Never seen this before! -Melissa Bird
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11:42 - Close pass Thea’s Park shore and went down three minutes ago. -Robyn Riley
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11:41 - Right in front of us at Thea’s Park. -Mollie Segall
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11:40 - They are in the Foss Waterway right now. -Sean Clinton
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From: James Liang Yu Hsu
Date and Time Sighting Observed: 2023-09-16 11:40 AM
Marine Mammal Type: Orca (Killer Whale) Unknown Type
If SRKW, select pod/s:
If other:
Number of Marine Mammals Observed: 3
Latitude: 47.2591036
Longitude: -122.4360679
Country: Within US International Boundary
General Location: Other
If other: Thea Foss Waterway, Tacoma WA
Describe what you saw: I saw what appeared to be two small orcas (possibly juveniles) and one large orca from the deck of my vessel. We were docked at Foss Waterway Seaport and had no equipment running when one of the deckhands spotted them. I observed them breaching for air while swimming up Thea Foss Waterway. A recreational power boat turned off their engine or put themselves in idle as soon as the orcas were visible to them, and they dove shortly thereafter. After 10 or so minutes, I observed the pod reappear swimming down and out of the waterway in a northwesterly direction. Myself and the Captain of the vessel I work on reported the sighting to Seattle Vessel Traffic Services.
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11:33 - Passed Reconciliation Park eastbound toward Thea but lost sight. -Robyn Riley
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11:32 - Heading into Port of Tacoma. -Polly Middleton Brown
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11:39 - One spout plus lots of boats, right off entrance to Foss Waterway.
11:28 - Really close to shore, heading east towards grain elevator. -Dave Porter
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11:30 - Making their way down Schuster Parkway close to shore, almost to grainery. -Melissa Bird
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In case anyone is interested Crinkle (T37A4) and (T37A3) Spinnaker’s mom and older brother (T37A, and T37A2) Volker and Inky were 10-15 miles offshore of Cape Flattery in the Pacific Ocean with the T99 pod on Thursday heading west! -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:23 - They are almost to Tacoma along the waterfront, hugging the shore, pretty close. -Sean Clinton
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11:20 - Update, southeastbound still close to shore [approx. 47.277270, -122.458971]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
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11:18 - I can see fins in my monocular! From Browns Point Lighthouse. -Kitkat Whales
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11:16 - Viewing from Reconciliation, blow off of Northern Fish Pier, looks to be headed westbound. -Robyn Riley
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11:11 - They are headed slowly along the Tacoma waterfront headed south. -Sean Clinton
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11:08 - In Commencement Bay mid channel, Puget Sound Express trailing. -Kimberly Wenner
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11:05 - Headed south along Ruston Way from Point Ruston. -Ed Rickert
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10:54 - They surrounded a seal at my map spot and we aren’t sure if they captured it or not, but they are on the move again still eastbound. Unfortunately a private boater drove right up to and through them when they were hunting the seal. We got on the microphone to broadcast the regulations and it looks like that boater finally got the clue and backed off but they are still going to get reported to enforcement nonetheless [approx. 47.308124, -122.500661]. -Bart Rulon, PSE
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10:52 - At Dune, maybe on a kill.
10:46 - They're on the move eastbound toward Point Ruston/Commencement from Dune. -Robyn Riley
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10:42 - Just crossed behind the ferry and headed towards Dune Peninsula. -Julia Vollmer
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10:38 - Eastbound [approx. 47.313869, -122.514942]. -Bart Rulon
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10:34 - Eastbound towards Browns Point past the fishing vessels. -Jason Cook
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10:29 - Still here!  -Rachel Sandoffsky
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10:18 - Hunting right off Owen Beach.
10:07 - Full speed northbound towards Defiance.
10:02 - Another flip. Tacoma side northbound towards Salmon Beach. -Jason Cook
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09:55 - Surfaced a few times quarter mile north of Narrows Bridge, looked like they might have changed directions and might be heading back north out of Narrows. Mid channel. Fishing boat drifted right over top of them. -Amanda Van Meter
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09:45 - Quarter mile north of Narrows Bridge, southbound, west side. -David Michael
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09:29 - Headed south in the Narrows. -Kara Ulgen
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09:10 - Directly out from Point Defiance. They’ve been milling between Gig Harbor and Point Defiance, then headed straight for Point Defiance and are now not visible from Owen. Don’t know if they continued south again into Narrows, but presumably they did.
08:55 - Off Sunrise area milling. -David Michael
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08:25 - I watched them go past Point Defiance northbound and then out of view form my vantage at Salmon Beach.  -Zeno Martin
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08:15 - Hunting with numerous direction changes. Hugging Tacoma side green belt north of Salmon Beach [approx. 47.283797, -122.536262]. -Jason Cook
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08:15 - Still positioned at the south end of Salmon Beach. Milling in place. No direction.  -Stace Gordon
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08:13 - I'm seeing orcas traveling northbound in front of Salmon Beach (Tacoma Narrows) Gig Harbor side. -Zeno Martin
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08:12 - Lots of surface antics now. Spyhop. Small breaches. 
08:06 - Now milling just south of Salmon Beach. -Stace Gordon
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08:04 - Appears to be four enjoying breakfast. Still southbound.
08:02 - Lots of surface activity. -Jason Cook
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07:55 - Southbound. Just passing middle of Salmon Beach closer to Tacoma side headed to the bridge.  -Stace Gordon
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07:47 - Southbound approaching north side of Salmon Beach.
07:10 - I have orcas SB [southbound towards Narrows] from Point Defiance. -Jason Cook
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Sat, Sep 16 - South Puget Sound (T65As minus T65A5) - 19:54 - Just passed Allyn dock going north. Slowly. I am across the bay. They were mid bay, closer to Victor. And under the water a lot. Mainly saw dorsal fins. -Sara Overton
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19:22 - Passing Treasure Island mid channel. -Erin Gleason Presby
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19:10 - Heading toward Allyn. On Stretch Island side.
19:08 - Now in Case Inlet. -Donna DeBree-Moore
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18:52 - Trending towards North Bay passing south end of Stretch Island. -Blake Koehn
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18:47 - Still in Pickering Passage but seeing them thru binoculars from Case Inlet. -Donna DeBree-Moore
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18:45 - Passing abeam north end of Harstine trending north at medium pace. -Blake Koehn
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Marilee Fijalka-Carr
Date of Sighting: September 16, 2023
Time: 6:25 PM
Species seen: orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Pickering Passage, along north facing shore of Harstine Island, moving past Jarrell's Cove
Direction of travel : east, then north, moving fast
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?: not apparent
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Appeared to be a male, two females, and a juvenile
Photos available?: No
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18:25 - Heading north passing Jarrell's Cove in Pickering Passage. Four to five [orcas]. -Teresa Saunders Westcoat
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18:11 - Moving toward east side of Pickering Passage northbound, somewhat slowly. Not quite to Walkers Landing (which means they are still south of, and heading toward Jarrell's Cove). Mostly seeing blows and some fins. -SusanBee Anthonee
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18:11 - Passing Walkers Landing now.
18:05 - There’s one boat chasing them heading towards Walkers Landing. But they are still coming north towards Jarrell's Cove. -Kyla Adams
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17:50 - Just past under the bridge two minutes ago. -Sydni Elizabeth Neves
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17:47 - They just passed under Harstine Island bridge, heading north. -David Morton
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17:24 - North in Pickering Passage heading towards the Harstine Bridge. There is a big group of boats following. -Katie Brogan
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17:15 - Heading north to Harstine Island Bridge, followed by several boats. -Michele Neary
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17:14 - Looks like they may be headed north towards the Harstine Bridge. -Jocelyn Rae Finch
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17:02 - Seeing them heading west at Hunter Point (the boats are a giveaway!). -Michele Neary
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16:23 - We think are crossing to the Boston Harbor side.
16:14 - They are almost to Boston Harbor but on the west side. -Haley Sanders
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16:15 - Now near the end of Cooper Point.
16:05 - Heading out of Budd Inlet towards Boston Harbor. -Sasha Cavanagh
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15:50 - They seem to be heading north again. Just past Squaxin Park. On the west side of the bay.
15:29 - South[bound] but they can't go much further.
15:22 - We can see them at Squaxin Park. -Jon Yunker
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15:20 - They were close to Tugboat Annie’s area. -Ashley Berschauer
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15:15 - Three orcas sighted today passing West Bay Marina heading southbound in shipping lane. One appeared large and one was small. They were swimming in with the tide, surfacing and blowing at intervals. -Vanessa La Valle
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15:12 - Just went by golf course. -Bonnie Johnston
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14:30 - They passed Burfoot. -Megan Budelman
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14:25 - In Budd heading to Olympia. -Bonnie Johnston
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14:18 - Five orca just traversed southeast across the front of Squaxin and Harstine angling toward Boston Harbor. Mid-channel before a LONG dive. Now headed south into Budd Inlet passing Cooper Point spit. Western shore. Just look for all the boats. -Kim Merriman
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T65A3 Amira & T65A2 Ooxjaa - One of the T65A boys with T65A6 Callisto & T65A Artemis -photos by Ashley Berschauer, September 16, 2023
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14:02 - Looks like they may be headed toward Budd Inlet/Boston Harbor, viewing from Zangle Cove.  -Jocelyn Rae Finch
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13:46 - Approaching Cooper Point just south of Hope Island followed by a ridiculous flotilla. -Tim B. Smith
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13:38 - Southbound past Arcadia Point. Currently off Carlyon. -Gayle Swigart
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13:03 - Just at south end of Squaxin. Heading to Carlyon Beach.  -Barb Lauerman Andrews
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Taylor Seda
Date of Sighting: September 16, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Pickering Passage, about a mile south of the Harstine Island Bridge/North tip of Squaxin Island
Direction of travel : South, then coming back north at 5:30pm (same location)
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes, one
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Pod of three orcas, one looked to be a baby. One of the whales slapped their tail with the water in the evening around 5:30. There have been a lot of salmon and larger fish jumping in the area. Whales were possible feeding.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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12:51 - Southbound again. Lots of direction changes.
12:48 - They flipped! North bound back towards Harstine Bridge!
12:40 - Just went under Harstine Bridge southbound. -Ashleigh Risley
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12:26 - Three orcas just spotted in Pickering Passage heading south toward Harstine Bridge. -David George
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12:04 - They are almost to the bridge.
11:36 - Headed south past Jarrell's Cove. -Lauren N Brett Ware
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11:03 - From my neighbor, orcas, (unknown how many) southbound in Pickering Passage near Jarrell's Cove. -Cammy Malm LaRiviere
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10:14 - [One group of orcas] near Allyn. -Paul [PSWS]
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08:32 - Neighbor told me four orca near Allyn, I was outside fifteen minutes later, seals off float and near shore, but never saw or heard any passing. -Beverly Lynch McCallum
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat, Sep 16 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - 13:31 - Still in the same general area. Lookin south from Cattle Point. One plus mile off shore. Couple whale watch boats with it.  -Tamara Kelley [WSSJI]
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13:01 - It’s a bit closer to Cattle Point now that I’m up on the bluffs but I did spot it while on the hill at South Beach watching foxes!
12:58 - Humpback heading north. Viewing from South Beach somewhat close to shore. -Silver Hubble [WSSJI]
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES
Sat, Sep 16 - Hood Canal 
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Gray Whale Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 16 15:50 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.83081,-122.68976
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Mark Beyer [reported as gray but only humpback confirmed - ON]
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Sighting Time: Sat Sep 16 7:00 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.83078,-122.68974
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Mark Beyer
Whale Alert App
[reported as gray but only humpback has been confirmed - Orca Network] 

September 15
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Fri, Sep 15 - Active Pass/Strait of Georgia (J Pod) - Js went north through Active Pass around 00:30 and are now up off the mouth of the Fraser River this morning. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Fri, Sep 15 - Ketchikan, AK (T68Cs) - T68Cs in Ketchikan, AK. -photo by Court Grace, September 15, 2023
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Fri, Sep 15 - Saratoga Passage (T65A5) - 17:10 - Just saw a small orca whale entering into Holmes Harbor. Looks like it’s alone. -Tori Cook Thomas
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13:27 - Confirmed 65A5 by himself, heading north.
13:19 - Single orca traveling up Saratoga approaching Onamac Point. -Tyler McKeen
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Fri, Sep 15 - Possession Sound/Port Susan (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - 19:15 - Saw a group of four off of Point Jefferson just as the sun was setting and we were out sailing. One larger male and three smaller. -photo by Mara Barckert, September 15, 2023
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18:48 - Viewing from Kayu Kayu. Orcas still southbound, moving quickly, right off of President Point. Definitely west side of channel, close to Kitsap side. -Kristin Mackenzie
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18:44 - Across from Richmond Beach.
18:29 - They are stalled. Just milling around the channel marker.
17:41 - Three or four mid channel between Kingston and Edmonds. A lot of breaching and tail slapping. Headed south. -Jan Pierce
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16:51 - I can see them from Edmonds with binoculars; two of them heading south/west followed by tour boat called Orcas Express from Anacortes. If I have my bearings right, I would say the orcas are approaching the area in front of Apple Cove Point, north of Kingston. Now I see the two orcas continuing south. -Joe Foos
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15:20 - Now past Glendale. NOAA still with them more mid channel. -Sandy Pollard
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15:20 - Passing Glendale. Still all together. Closer to Whidbey. Average pace. NOAA and Blackfish are with them.
14:53 - They have passed the ferry lanes. I can see them to the north, from Glendale. -Cindi Crowder Rausch, Orca Network
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14:35 - NOAA (orange zodiac) now on scene with this group. Viewing from Mukilteo Lighthouse. Midchannel, southbound. -Brittany Noelle
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14:35 - Southbound now towards Mukilteo mid channel. -Joe Dreimiller
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14:25 - Eyes on them from Clinton/Madrona. They may be easing south now. Tight formation. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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14:14 - These guys are milling on a kill, just southeast of Hat Island. -Tyler McKeen
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14:13 - Can barely see them now looks like they are heading west. -Tyan Schreck
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14:00 - From Edgewater Park, visual on this group off the southern tip of Hat Island, milling. -Brittany Noelle
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12:23 - They seem to be heading south out of Port Susan at this time. Lost sight of them now at Tillicum beach. -Charvet Drucker
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12:10 - From private beach in Camano Island appears they’ve flipped southbound, mid to east of mid. Swiftsure and Saratoga have left the whales. -Brittany Noelle
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11:56 - Pat & Joan Lee called to report on the orcas in Port Susan. Seeing at least three including who looks to be one female, one male and younger whale. Who think was the female breached the surface. They are one and a half mile south of Kayak Regional Park on mainland side. Orcas have been here about 40 minutes making way south.
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T37A4 Crinkle & T37A3 Spinnaker -T137D Wright - T137D Wright found a seal while we watched, it was pretty awesome to watch her hunt, her technique of choice seemed to body slam it. [Later], the seal is underwater but wrapped around Crinkle's (T37A4) rostrum.  -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, September 15, 2023
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10:40 - Northbound and spread [approx. 48.092990, -122.367503]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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10:00 - Northbound into Port Susan.
09:30 - Trending towards Port Susan.
09:00 - From Brighton Beach (Whidbey Island) continuing northbound towards Saratoga Passage, west side of Hat Island. This group includes T137A/D and T037A3/4.
08:00 - Orcas Possession Sound, mid channel, northbound! -Brittany Noelle
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06:45 - My friend said there were at least three killer whales off of Possession Point. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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Fri, Sep 15 - Strait of Georgia - 19:30 - Amazingly lucky experience tonight while we were stopped to pack up our fishing gear! This orca swam RIGHT under our boat! It was a group of three. A very large male with a female swimming close together and a younger one exploring a bit farther away. This was just north of Porlier Passage in the Strait of Georgia. Heading north. Link to video. -Erin Baumeister
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Strait of Juan de Fuca (T248, T248B, T248C) - On our way to humpback heaven out west we found some rarely encountered Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T248, T248 B&C), ID by Gary Sutton. -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 15, 2023
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Fri, Sep 15 - Puget Sound (T65As minus T65A5) - The T65As (except A5) visited Commencement Bay near Tacoma, WA. After hunting close to shore near Browns Point, they explored around the Tacoma Port and then traveled along Ruston Way displaying some gorgeous backlit golden colored exhalations. -photos by T M Maddox Photography, September 15, 2023
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T65A2 Ooxjaa - T65A Artemis leading the way - Browns Point earlier today. This pod is slowly becoming one of my favorites. -photos by Mollie Segall, September 15, 2023
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T65As Commencement Bay and Tacoma Yacht Club. -photos by Cherie StOurs, September 15, 2023
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T65A Artemis - T65A6 Callisto -photos by Jason Cook, September 15, 2023
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T65A6 Callisto & T65A2 Ooxjaa - Earlier from Dune. -photo by Alisa Miller, September 15, 2023
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Saw three moving south from Dash Point. -photo by Jenn Carlson, September 15, 2023
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T65A2 Ooxjaa - We first spotted at Point Ruston and followed down to Salmon Beach. Needless to say my wife was very excited. -photo by Jim Sipes, September 15, 2023
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T65A6 Callisto - Earlier passing Dune. Seals were getting nervous! -photo by Scott Crozier, September 15, 2023
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16:20 - I just saw my first orca. I’m on my boat in a Tyee marina facing Commencement Bay. He was playing/hunting near our marina wall. Wow just wow. Never will forget this moment. I feel blessed. -Marika Ann Brink
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19:32 - Two off the ferry. By Ketron!
19:30 - They’re by Anderson Island. -Anya Phillips
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19:23 - Viewing from Steilacoom seeing fins on McNeil side toward the prison southbound.
19:04 - Passing Chambers southbound. -Robyn Riley
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18:45 - Three just north of Chambers Bay now. -Dena Paris
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18:37 - All have passed north end of Day Island southbound with purpose. Not far off Day Island. -Melissa Bird
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18:35 - Just passed Titlow heading southbound. -Alta Firman Getman
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He [T65A3] was more on the Gig side and A2 was close to the Tacoma side. Off Dune, he [T65A3] was ahead and mid channel while A2, A4, A6, and A were trailing. A2 was between his family and all the watercraft as they traveled close together along the shoreline. -Ashley S Whitman
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18:35 - One [T65A3] popped up very close to shore right in front of us at Narrows Park. Headed southbound. Long down times.  -photo by Colleen Henckel, September 15, 2023
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18:33 - Spread out southbound mid channel towards Titlow. -Jason Cook
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18:30 - Narrows Beach. Gig Harbor side. Just one [T65A3]. -Trisha Manthe
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18:26 - Mid span under Narrows Bridge. -Jason Cook
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18:24 - Coming southbound under Narrows. -Robyn Riley
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18:22 - Just about to pass under the Narrows Bridge.
18:18 - Now hugging the Tacoma shoreline. Headed towards the bridge.
18:07 - Passing Salmon Beach.
18:00 - Milling now just north of. Salmon Beach.  -Stace Gordon
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17:37 - Right in front of Owen Beach right now. -James Hartline
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17:46 - Now more committed to southbound into the Narrows. 
17:36 - The Owen Beach crowd goes wild!
17:28 - Now right next to the Vashon ferry.
17:24 - Passed Dune Park.  -Stace Gordon
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T65A6 Callisto - 17:30 - As seen from the ferry at the Point Defiance dock. -photo by Jim Diers, September 15, 2023
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17:14 - Approaching Point Ruston. Hugging the shore. -Stace Gordon
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17:10 - Westbound passing Lobster Shop. -Jason Cook
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17:10 - They are literally right in front of Lobster Shop in Tacoma right now. -James Hartline
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16:59 - Now in front of Silver Cloud Hotel in Tacoma. -Stace Gordon
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16:55 - Four passing Chinese Reconciliation Park right now, at least two further in the distance. -GK Silv
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16:54 - Just passing single supply ship. -Stace Gordon
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16:48 - Appear to be turning around to head out of Commencement. Mid channel. Not yet past Browns Point. -Mollie Segall
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16:48 - West bound along the shore. Nearing the two emergency supply ships.  -Stace Gordon
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16:38 - Mid Commencement Bay directly north of Stadium. -James Hartline
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16:29 - Near the fireboat, which is now stopped. Near entrance to Foss Waterway.
16:25 - Definitely southbound, off entrance to main waterway. The fireboat passed them going fast, but far away.
16:17 - Vaguely southbound in front of Blair Waterway.
16:12 - Near entrance to Blair Waterway.
16:05 - South side of Browns Point, close to shore heading east. -photo by Dave Porter, September 15, 2023
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16:01 - Nearly beached themselves hunting outside of Browns Point Improvement Club.
15:56 - Just has the most unbelievable orca pass I’ve ever had in my life at Browns Point. Five hunted near shore, now continuing into Commencement. -Mollie Segall
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15:35 - Mid channel pod moved eastbound and are now slowly headed southbound approaching Browns Point following the bull. 
15:22 - Southbound lone bull approaching Browns Point close to shore, and the pod is following 300 yards behind mid channel. -photo by Phil Caldwell, September 15, 2023
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15:30 - That was off of Browns Point. -Karen Caldwell
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15:00 - I just saw single orca south tip of Vashon Island. South bound. A couple of boats in tow. A few breaches. -Ali Saccone
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14:11 - Lone male past Point Robinson, island side of mid channel, near big tanker pushing south. Only saw one, super long downtimes and stealthy, too far for ID, have not seen others yet. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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14:05 - Lone orca passed in front of the Des Moines pier. -Marcie Evans
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13:20 - All (three to four) have past the south side of Three Tree Point heading south/southeast. One lone male passed pretty close to the east side of the channel. The rest were all mid channel to the island side. Lone [male] swam through the cove towards Mount Rainier (Normandy Park). -photo by Shelly Sh, September 15, 2023
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13:00 - One lone orca (not adult male) just south of Glen Acres, mid channel to island side of, steady southbound travels. Can see what looks to be Soundwatch en route. Update: seeing an adult male as well now. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:34 - Several blows near Dilworth towers way west in channel southbound view from Emma Schmitz Park in West Seattle.
12:25 - Moving southwest just north of WW boat and south of Dolphin Point, west in channel, view from Emma Schmitz Park in West Seattle. -Mary Hartmann
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12:20 - Passing by Brace Point - close enough to hear breathing!  -photo by Nicole Na, September 15, 2023
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12:04 - Still just cruising southbound, between Southworth and Vashon as seen from Weather Watch Park, ahead of the research boat [approx. 47.532902, -122.435744]. -Steve Rice
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12:02 - Handsome guy [Ooxjaa]. -April Basham
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11:54 - San Juan Clipper leaving scene of breakoff group of T65As. Identified 65A, A2, A4, and A6. Still traveling southbound. Unknown if other members are around and perhaps trailing further behind [approx. 47.569664, -122.440126]. -Alli Montgomery
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11:52 - Solo orca in Elliot bay from 2nd Ave towards Alki. -Kelsey Montoya
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11:38 - Viewing several orcas from Constellation Park, headed southbound, near the tour boat mid channel. -Brian-Nicole Jenkins
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11:34 - Still southbound when I caught a brief glimpse from 64th Ave looking toward Eagle Harbor. -Steve Rice
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11:21 - Seeing them from Alki, midchannel, looking toward Bainbridge. -Amelia Showalter
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11:17 - Outside of Elliot Bay, northwest of Alki. -Grayden Kelbert
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11:10 - I’m seeing some fins from the Olympic Sculpture ark but haven’t been able to confirm. Looked to be about three to four. -Kelsey Montoya
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Fri Sep 15 11:03 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.62270,-122.44619 [mid outer Elliot Bay] 
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Ganesh
Whale Alert App
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11:02 - On west side of channel viewing from W McGraw Street. -Natasha Dillinger
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10:35 - Moving south about mid sound between Four Mile Rock and Yeomalt Point. Orca off of West Point. At least two. -Matt McCulloch
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10:28 - They appear to be working their way to the west side of the channel, mid channel currently traveling southwest.
10:19 - Haven't seen Indy yet to confirm if he is here, looks like all the rest of the 65As at least, traveling southbound, making six knots and spread between us and the middle of the channel [approx. 47.675941, -122.436322]. -Grayden Kelbert
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09:59 - Off Shilshole now.
09:48 - Two to three in a tight group southbound off of Golden Gardens. -Adam Domanski
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08:54 - Saw one large male, just off of Point Wells, looked to be circling, Chilkat will be departing on a wildlife tour shortly and checking it out. -Grayden Kelbert
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08:00 - Single orca (so far!) straight off Richmond Beach - 100 yards north of the buoy before it dove deep. Gorgeous! Headed south. -Karen Jeanne Rutter Weber
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri, Sep 15 - Haro Strait - 17:01 - Just up island from Eagle Point. Traveling down island. Very close to shore. Assuming it's the same humpback. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
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15:35 - Humpback traveling down island one mile south of Landbank. Third mile offshore. -Michelline Halliday [WSSJI]
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06:42 - Humpback northbound off of County Park. -Kendra Nelson [WSSJI]
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06:22 - Saw this humpback surface a couple of times starting at 06:22 just up island from Lime Kiln. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Fri, Sep 15 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCZ0492 Meqe, BCX0876 Scissorhands, BCX1744 Minion, BCX1740 Vertigo & other) - BCZ0492 Meqe - Hopped on the boat again with Jill Hein, headed west to catch up with humpback Meqe, who did one good fluke up but otherwise was circling around. On the return we found another humpback who never fluked up! Lovely days on the water! -photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 15, 2023
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BCX0876 Scissorhands -ID by Alethea Leddy - BCX1744 Minion -ID by Alethea Leddy - BCX1740 Vertigo -ID by Alethea Leddy - We had the pleasure to witness thirty plus humpbacks and tried to get as many ID shots as possible on our amazing three hour adventure. -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 15, 2023
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Fri Sep 15 9:15 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.32937,-123.40167 [south of Victoria, BC]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: RYAN 
Whale Alert App
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Fri, Sep 15 - Hood Canal - Cascadia Region Whale Sighting - Gray Whale Sighting: [Reported as gray, but fluke looks like humpback and one was reported in there - alb]
Sighting Time: Fri Sep 15 13:07 PDT
Sighting Device Location (Lat/Lon): 47.83075,-122.68976
Number Sighted: 2
Photos:
Submitter Name: Mark Beyer
Whale Alert App

September 14
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Thu, Sep 14 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #51: “The team had heard reports that J pod was off the west side early in the morning, and decided to meet at Snug at 900 to get out for aerial observation. After leaving the dock at 920, it wasn't long before the team found whales just north of Eagle Point at 945…” -Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #51.
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Thu, Sep 14 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - This photo is of J41 Eclipse and her youngest, three year-old J58 Crescent, as seen off the west side of San Juan Island yesterday. Eclipse has long been a special orca to me because of several unique encounters I had with her when she was very young, so by extension I've always had a soft spot for her offspring, too. Yesterday, however, Crescent earned her own place in my heart. When she went north, Crescent and Eclipse were in tight formation with J37 Hy'shqa and J59 Sxwyeqólh. When Crescent came back south, her mom and others were spread out and foraging while she was goofing around with J57 Phoenix, who was born the same month as her. Whatever game they were playing was an amusing one: it looked like it was either a contest to see who could spyhop higher, breach bigger, and pec slap louder, or it was a "Simon Says" type situation with Crescent going first and Phoenix copying her. The game ended when Phoenix's older brother J47 Notch came buzzing in out of nowhere, causing the little ones to scatter. As the granddaughter of matriarch J19 Shachi, who has taken the role of J-Pod "leader" after the passing of J2 Granny, Crescent is already practicing many of the important skills she'll likely need when she gets older. Networking with all the other members of your pod? Check. Casually making sure you're the center of attention? Check. Getting other whales, especially the males, to do what you say? Double check. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 14, 2023
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09-14-23 J-Pod, Haro Strait, SJI
04:37 - 05:00, Hearing J-Pod's sweet varied calls on the Lime Kiln hydrophone as they headed up-island.
07:25, Viewing from Landbank, they are already heading past to the south so I left for a down-island viewpoint. Beautiful dark shapes cutting the flat pale water!
07:40 - 07:55, Viewing from 1.2 miles south of Landbank, J-Pod mostly spread out along the shore and out away from shore. Quickly heading down island, quite a few breaches, two individuals 300 yds offshore and some 1 mile offshore.
08:05, Viewing from just north of Pile Point, 5 milling adjacent to Pile trending down-island / south.
11:15 - 11:57, Viewing from 1.2 miles south of Landbank, distant fins and blows as they slowly headed up island/ north again. The leader was J19 Shachi, she went past me and I became focused on watching J58 Crescent (not 100% sure, they were a little to far out for IDs) goofing around flipping her fluke, and smacking it against the surface. She was traveling in a tight group with her Mom J41 Eclipse and a male. Crescent kept dancing around for 4-5 minutes and then her mother joined in. These two kept this play up for another 5 minutes, then they slowly turned back down island. I have spent a lot of time observing Crescent. She's spirited, influential and some day is going to make one heck of a matriarch. All of J-Pod heading back down-island.
12:09, Viewing from north of Pile Point, 1 large male milling off the point, trending down island.
16:25 - 16:27, Viewing from 1 mile south of Landbank, Surprise! J-Pod heading up island just to the south of me. My cameras already packed so I left for Lime Kiln, up-island.
16:49 - 17:20, Viewing from Lime Kiln Lighthouse, J-Pod streamed past heading up-island/ north. J45 Se-Yi-Chn traveling tight with J47 Notch. Photographed from shore. -Michelline Halliday, SJI -photos by Michelline Halliday, September 14, 2023
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17:54 - All groups now north of County Park. Last looks through the heat haze are northbound. -Kendra Nelson [WSSJI]
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17:31 - Vocals on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Gerald Graham
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17:00 - At least a couple have passed the lighthouse headed up island. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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11:30 - Some are still milling here near False Bay, others both to the north and south. They’re definitely catching fish! I saw J31 and J56 split a salmon, and J45 is sharing his lunch with a bunch of gulls.
10:47 - About half a dozen milling off False Bay, trending north.
07:38 - Appears they are all now south of Lime Kiln, spread, active, and southbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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07:25 - Many are milling in front of the lighthouse.
07:15 - Leaders passing Lime Kiln Lighthouse moving down island. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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07:10 - J Pod is currently on the Lime Kiln webcam + hydrophone in case you need an adorable start to your morning! -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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06:48 - Southbound with purpose.
06:44 - Now visible through binoculars at County Park. Milling in front of Sunset Point. All grouped up. No direction.
06:05 - Still north of County Park, but still within ear range.
05:24 - Multiple exhales and surface activity outside of County Park. -Tamara Kelley [WSSJI]
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04:30 - J Pod passed the Lime Kiln Lighthouse this morning. Link to audio. -Fred Horn
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04:37 - 05:00 - J pod on the LK hydrophone. Traveling up island, blows heard from County Park. -Michelline Halliday
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Thu, Sep 14 - San Juans (T60s) - 15:46 - Through Spieden westbound. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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13:40 - Looks like they've entered the harbor in Friday Harbor. -Alex McIntire [WSSJI]
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13:15 - T60s approaching Friday Harbor northbound in San Juan Channel. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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T60G Unica - Out on IE on another beautiful, sunny, almost fall day. Caught up with the T60s (minus T60D and T60E who usually travel separately) off Lopez Island in Cattle Pass, heading north. Matriarch T60 Panthera (b. est. 1980), son T60C Yelnats 9b. 2001), daughter T60F Tigris (b. 2012), and daughter T60G Unica (b. 2019). They were traveling close to shore in flat glass water, then angled out across our bow toward San Juan Island. Lovely to see them!  -photo & ID by Bonnie Gretz, September 14, 2023
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Thu, Sep 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T69s) - T69C Kye, T69F Kin, T69E Kodiak, T69 Komox - T69C Kye - Another beautiful day on the water with Bigg's/transient killer whales (T069's) on the hunt near Race Rocks Lighthouse along with four humpbacks and 1000+ sea lions! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 14, 2023
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Thu, Sep 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Susan Luchs
Date of Sighting: September 14, 2023
Time: 08:30
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: South side of Ediz Hook just off U.S. Coast Guard Air Station (Port Angeles, WA).
Direction of travel : Generally west.
Behaviors observed: Splashing, tail slapping, breaching, seemed to begin to travel then dove.
If orcas, any males?: Seemed like a male.
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: We made the observation from the early morning ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, BC.
Photos available?: No
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Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Thu Sep 14 7:41 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.14972,-123.44205 [Ediz Hook]
Number Sighted: 7
Reported Animal Status: Live
Submitted Comments: Heading east
Submitter Name: Ira
Whale Alert App
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Thu, Sep 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Some sunset orcas off Tongue Point. Pod of five with a baby. -photos by Evelyn Bartlett Greathouse, September 14, 2023
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Thu, Sep 14 - Admiralty Inlet/Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage (T37A3, T37A4, T65As, T137A, & T137D) - T37A3, T37A4, T65As, T137A & T137D head south past Lagoon Point. Everyone was together except T65A2 Ooxjaa & T137A Jack - they were together trailing more offshore. Link to FB video. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137D Wright, T65A4 Ellifrit, T65A6 Callisto - From Bush Point. -photo by Rachel Haight, September 14, 2023
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T65A5 Indy - Residents out - transients in. September 14 heralded the arrival of the T137As and T65As with a dash of panache as they wended their way south in Admiralty Inlet, shaving the shoreline at Lagoon Point and Bush Point much to the delight - and surprise - of whale watchers. Close encounters such as this are rare, leaving all in their wake breathless while marveling at the sheer power, grace and dynamism of this fearless apex predator speeding past toward the next meal! -photos by Sandy Pollard, September 14, 2023
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T65A5 Indy - T137D Wright, T65A3 Amira, & T37A3 Spinnaker -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network -photos by RJ Snowberger, September 14, 2023
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Up close and personal, [T37As] T65As and T137s. Incredible experience! Bush Point. Link to video. -Marilyn Armbruster
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19:39 - The smaller group of three were very close to Camano (at Camano Island State Park). The larger group of five were further out, in the middle of the passage between Camano Island State Park and East Point on Whidbey. They were headed north. We lost them after that.
19:27 - Headed north from Camano Island State Park.
19:14 - Lowell Point, one group of five. Another group of three. -Joy Powers
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19:10 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - orcas between Camano Island State Park and East Point mid channel. -Linda Aitkins
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18:45 - In Saratoga Passage, we’re a couple hundred yards from the pod and killed the boat and they luckily came right towards us. Majestic.
18:20 - Approaching East Point on Whidbey [approx. 48.097240, -122.471011].
18:09 - There’s a smaller group closer to the Whidbey side and larger group closer to Camano. -Joe Eichinger
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18:00 - A couple of orca pods from the bluff on Edgecliff. -Katherine Hansen
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17:45 - Appear to be more Camano side northbound mostly grouped up with maybe couple ahead leading.
17:30 - Approaching Sandy Point northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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17:25 - Heading northbound into Saratoga Passage approx. mid channel between Camano Head and Whidbey. -Joe Eichinger
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17.20 - The whales are just coming in sight from top of Sandy Point. They are northbound north of Hat Island, approaching Sandy Point, on Whidbey side. The white boat nearby is flying a yellow flag for research, and is probably Florian Graner of Sealife Productions. Now seeing a second group also. -Sandy Pollard
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17:00 - Northbound on east side of Hat Island, way closer to Hat. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:45 - Mealtime appears to be done and it looks like they’re drifting closer to Hat Island. Heat haze is too strong to see them now without all of that crazy breaching, but I’m pretty sure there were five in this group.
16:33 - Huge breachfest in between Mukilteo & Hat Island (double breach!) 
16:23 - Three females/young ones and one male are north of the ferry lanes. One large male just south of Clinton. All northbound.
14:15 - Three are grouped together approaching the houses in Clinton. Two are a little further south and then I just spotted at least one more back by Possession Beach. All northbound, midchannel.
16:01 - Spotted from Mukilteo, still northbound in between Possession Beach and Glendale. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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16:00 - From Glendale can see one between there and ferry lanes. So must be very spread out. Northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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T137A Jack - 15:37 - My husband just saw them from Possession - northbound. -photos by Melanie Holbrook, September 14, 2023
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15:30 - Looks like they are northbound at Possession Point. Viewed from Scatchet Head with binos. -Durand Dace
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14:01 - From Maxwelton they are still southbound mid-channel, south of yellow channel marker. -Jayn Goldsen
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13:45 - I'm viewing from Maxwelton. Southbound still, and they appear to be on Whidbey side of mid channel? Moving quickly [approx. 47.937710, -122.508704].
12:55 - Booking fast! Have passed the north side of Double Bluff green channel marker southbound. Whidbey side of mid.
12:45 - From where we are viewing from, orcas were here but now moving southbound. See map [approx. 47.979963, -122.592775]. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:30 - Appear to be on the move south again. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:30 - Same area. Long down times then surfacing together. -Heidi Bruns Shank
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12:14 - Still one boat with them. Parallel to Mutiny Bay, but mid-channel. -Mike Meyer
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12:03 - Still in same area. Just one PSE boat with them now. Lots of surface activity.  -Amy Smith Norris
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12:00 - Still in the same area. Maybe drifting south. At the edge of the fog bank. One PSE boat is still there.
11:45 - Very active two miles south of Bush Point. I think they just killed something. Two PSE boats with them. -Mike Meyer
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11:40 - Appeared to be stalled on a hunt? Spyhop, breaches, tail slaps, etc. Southwest of Shore Meadow lookout.
11:05 - Another epic close pass at Bush Point. It was fun recognizing them each and chatting with them. Jack & Ooxjaa trailing in the fog, passing Bush Point at 11:10. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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11:40 - You can see how many breaches happened while I was changing my lens! This was just south of Bush Point. -Heidi Bruns Shank
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11:35 - Small group of orcas heading south on edge of fog bank. Mid-channel one mile south of Bush Point. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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10:40 - From south Lagoon Point Beach. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137A Jack - 10:40 - Six orca one hundred feet from Lagoon Point heading south so close in. 
10:30 - Southbound, nine total. -photos by Bill Setter, September 14, 2023
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T65A3 Amira - T65A6 Callisto, T137D Wright, T65A4 Ellifrit - Off Lagoon Point. -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 14, 2023
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10:39 - Southbound, spread out about half mile in front of the blue dot [approx. 48.078530, -122.616199]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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10:18 - Still approaching Lagoon, nice group, beautiful blows.
09:56 - Getting closer to the north public beach at Lagoon Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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09:54 - They're split up into three groups. The two big boys are farther out mid channel. Most of the youngins are in the middle group and 65A3 Amira and somebody else's further south pointed directly at Lagoon Point. -Christopher Lewman, PSE
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09:50 - Just north of Marrowstone. Southbound mid-channel. Redhead boat with them, keeping respectful distance. -Amy Smith Norris
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09:36 - Still well north of Lagoon Point but can see distant blows now. Appears Whidbey side of midchannel now. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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09:28 - Redhead IDs. The whale south of Port Townsend is 65As and 137s. -Christopher Lewman, PSE
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09:05 - Nearly out of my sight, still southbound.
09:02 - Looks to be five to seven? Very far from me but blows easy to see. Still southbound, some easterly trend. Midchannelish.
08:54 - Continuing southbound, as viewed from Coupeville ferry terminal. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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08:20 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 09:14 to report: 0820hrs: Vessel KENNEWICK reports via 800MHz they've spotted four orcas 1 mile West of Admiralty Head, traveling East.
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu, Sep 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (CRC-19340 Hammer)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Tim Roos
Date of Sighting: September 14, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Species seen: humpbacks
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Canada side, 1/4 mile east of Race Rocks lighthouse
Direction of travel : mostly feeding then dispersing south
Behaviors observed: feeding, rolling (flukes surfacing above water)
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: There were a lot of anchoves & reddish krill at the surface of the water. Anchovies were making the water ripple as they leapt at the krill. The whales were probably following this feed. [The fluke image is CRC-19340 "Hammer", who is the 2019 offspring of BCX0749 "Claw" (who has been documented in Hawaii per Happy Whale) -ALB]
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Tim Roos, September 14, 2023
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MINKE WHALES
Thu, Sep 14 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - We found a slinky minke who surfaced a few times. -photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 14, 2023

September 13
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Wed, Sep 13 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - J27 Blackberry - J22 Oreo - The endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales J-Pod visited central Puget Sound. -photos by Mike Maddox, September 13, 2023
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From Whidbey Island. - J39 Mako from the Kingston Edmonds ferry. -photos by Jami Cantrell, September 13, 2023
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19:35 - Passed Bush Point midchannel northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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19:28 - Northbound mid channel one mile south of Bush Point in the waning hours of sunset. -Jan Bell
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19:26 - So many fins. My father-in-law is visiting from Australia. Thanks J Pod for visiting the west side today! -Vanessa Cameron
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19:25 - They took nearly an hour to get past us (about 1 mile south of Bush Point), very spread out, doing as they typically do, moving from the Kitsap side over to toward Whidbey, and by the time they get to us so close we don't get a clear view due to houses and trees, but so wonderful to have them come by and it was quiet enough to hear their blows as they continued north, seeing and hearing the last of them go by headed toward Bush Point, the lead groups likely already there or past. Hope they found lots of salmon and return soon. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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19:15 - J pod heading north mid-channel, slow steady travel, bunched up, one mile south of Bush Point. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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19:19 - About two miles south of Bush Point. Steady north now.
19:09 - Steady north. Mid channel. Three miles south of Bush Point. -Mike Meyer
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18:59 - Starting to group up, steady travel north, viewing from Shore Meadow. -Orca Network
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18:50 - They seem to be mid channel or Kitsap side, slowly meandering north. Not yet to Foulweather Bluff. -Mike Meyer
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18:15 - We just caught sight of them from the "big eyes" at the Orca Network home office (south of Bush Point) - first seeing several breaches beyond the green channel marker off what looked like Useless Bay south of us, then many splashes and blows spread out by at least a mile or more, now seeing spyhops, breaches and blows and looking like they are trending northwest headed toward Admiralty. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
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18:12 - So many backlit blows and breaches. Location is just south of the cruise ship; hard to tell if they are positioning midchannel or direction due to sun, but they are still northbound.
18:02 - Seeing multiple visible blows through binos from Maxwelton northbound. Hard to gauge because it's right into the sun. -Durand Dace
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17:48 - Most (if not all) seem north of the yellow marker now, few breaches around a white fishing boat. All still appear steady northbound, no real milling. Only one maybe visible without binos from Point No Point.
17:34 - At least a couple near the big yellow channel marker viewing from Point No Point! Others still to the south but seem to be trending that same way (might be committed to Admiralty?).
17:09 - Can BARELY see at least two fins, huge spread between them, from Point No Point with binoculars. Don’t seem to have picked a channel yet. -Rachel Rodell
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16:04 - We are watching them with binoculars from Edmonds ferry terminal area. -Tammy Shelton
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16:03 - Big breach near research boat viewing from Point No Point they are due east pretty far out - only saw the giant splash. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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15:18 - Can see at least a couple way in the distance from Eglon, still a bit to the south. -Rachel Rodell
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15:00 - Spread north to south seem to be trending west of mid channel or maybe into Possession triangle, but pretty far out im going to head north and see. Still viewing from Apple Tree Point and they’re all north. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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14:45 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: Captain reports 6 Orca near EDM heading North by the traffic lanes. 
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14:30 - Spread from tank farm in groups to north of Edmonds ferry, midchannelish, sightline from Apple Tree Point. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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14:23 - Just passed Edmonds ferry. -Hope Smith
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14:20 - Visible from Apple Tree Point near ferry that's crossing east to west - multiple whales. Male coming this way others farther out. -Donna Green Van Renselaar
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14:15 - There were four to five orcas approaching the Kingston’s ferry terminal headed north and one whale is on the north side of the ferry lanes. -Brooke Thompson
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14:03 - Still northbound. -Candace Gavin
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13:49 - Seven or more heading north. In front of Point Wells tankers. Closer to Edmonds side. -Jan Pierce
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13:41 - Across from Saltair State Park in Kingston. There is a small boat that looks to be following very closely from this angle. -Kimmie Lesher
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13:34 - Spotted a single whale from Edmonds Dog Park on the west side of the channel a little ways out from Point Jefferson. -Brooke Thompson
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13:22 - Presumed leaders now north of yellow buoy off Presidents Point, still north bound. -Rachel Rodell
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13:08 - Breaching visible from Saltair State Park by the Kingston ferry terminal. Quite a ways out. -Kimmie Lesher
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13:07 - At least seven to ten now in view without binoculars from President Point, still slightly south of me. Four to five close together mid-channel, two to four Edmonds side, wide spread between. -Rachel Rodell
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13:04 - Small group (six plus?) approaching Kingston on west side of channel. -Stephanie Moore
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13:00 - Just passed Point Jefferson Kingston heading north towards President Point, Kingston. Some out a ways and some close on. Breaching like crazy! -Chris Beamer Otterson
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13:00 - Right in front of Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. Pretty far out in the channel though. Lots of breaches. -Kristi Hencke
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12:59 - Viewing from Kingston side, Presidents Point. At least three presumed leaders, repeat breaching. -Rachel Rodell
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12:52 - I have a fin right about here still going north. -Jami Cantrell
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12:40 - North of Bainbridge and heading north pretty steadily, regularly surfacing. Still visible from Sunset Hill, mid channel now. -Stephanie Moore
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12:30 - Beautifully slow pass by Golden Gardens and Shilshoe. Spread out east to west in small groups. A few breaching whales on east side, the males were west of midchannel trending east. A few boats sitting quietly on the water waiting patiently for the whales to go north. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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12:20 - Watching them from Sunset Hill, saw baby with adults. Fairly spread out. -Stephanie Moore
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12:15 - Lead group approaching Fay Bainbridge Park continuing north.
12:05 - Only eight or so have passed in front of Golden Gardens on two to four separate groups.
11:51 - Second group has reached the yellow buoy (near Rolling Bay Area on Bainbridge). As seen from Golden Gardens. -Mollie Segall
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11:51 - A group passing West Point lighthouse going north. Spread across channel but most (about four) definitely Seattle side of mid. -Jami Cantrell
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11:37 - Leading group of three or so are within view of Golden Gardens, breaching and continuing north. Much closer to Bainbridge side. -Mollie Segall
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10:58 - Closer to Magnolia now, between fast ferry and NOAA, some nice breaches. Still pushing north. -Aja Petee
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10:51 - KOMO live feed. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:37 - Slowly working north from Alki, closer to the Seattle side now, heading towards West Point. -Adam Domanski
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10:15 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:36 to report: 1015hrs: Vessel WALLA WALLA reports a huge pod of orcas spread out between Alki Point and Restoration Point, heading in various directions. 
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10:06 - Watching some head north from Alki. -Lisa Claydon
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10:03 - Just north of Alki, close to the ferry lane, roughly mid-channel, slightly closer to Alki side. Some great full breaches too! -Adam Domanski
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10:01 - Watching from Constellation Park, they look like they are foraging, lots of breaches. Group I’m currently watching is starting to trend north. -photos by Izzy Edwards, September 13, 2023
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10:07 - They definitely have, I'm at Alki Beach now watching them heading toward West Point.
09:55 - They have possibly flipped back north, very spread out. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
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09:32 - Viewing from Me Kwa Mooks (binoculars). southbound. Breaches. -Jessica Crockett
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09:29 - Seeing them from Alki right now. -Lisa Claydon
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09:27 - Viewing from Alki Beach, can see three to five orcas moving southbound, currently near fast ferry (which is stopped). -Chelsea Lee
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09:20 - Fishing off south Bainbridge four just went by southbound. -Noelle Morris
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09:18 - Watching from Rockaway. Some in front of downtown Seattle. Others further south. -Johnny CG
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09:10 - Viewing from fast ferry - they are closer to Bainbridge between Bremerton and Bainbridge ferry lanes. Saw a couple breach splashes but too far for anything else. Southbound. -Jenny Klis
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09:02 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:30 to report: 0902hrs: Vessel TACOMA reports via 800MHz they've spotted 7 orcas heading south, located East of Tyee Shoal, spread out 1-2 miles East. 1002hrs: Vessel reports the pod is now West/Northwest of Alki Point, heading East.
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08:46 - Viewing from Rockaway Beach on Bainbridge. Whales spread out east of midchannel outskirts of Eliott bay. A few groups of two’s and three’s, single male all traveling southbound. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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08:36 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:53 to report: 0836hrs: Vessel reports via 800MHz they have slowed down SW of West Point for a pod of orcas traveling south. This coincides with an email from the Orca Network. 
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08:26 - Spread out from south of West Point to Bainbridge - moving slowly south. -Jason Mihok
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08:26 - Many orcas spread out heading south. This is a long spread out procession and hard to track. We have been watching this parade for about fifteen minutes.
08:19 - Mistake: orcas headed south, and perhaps one juvenile.
08:16 - Orcas off Bainbridge. Just now: three to five heading north just a little north of Wing Point. -Jane Rein
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08:00 - Saw them from Bainbridge Island, slowly going south, fairly spread out. -Susie Cunningham Bavo
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07:40 - Sue Larkin called again to update: group of at least five to six all south of Discovery Park. Mid channel southbound. One male, maybe J27, may have open saddle patch.
07:15 - Sue Larkin called to report seeing orcas southbound between Bainbridge and Shilshole well west of mid channel. So far seeing three to four spread.
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Wed, Sep 13 - Haro Strait
22:30 - More orcas coming up island. Hearing multiple blows just down island. Listening one mile south of Landbank. My sense was two at Edwards Point, three to four south/down island. I assumed the two at Edwards continued up island. The group to my south grew quiet and must have turned down island.
21:58 - Multiple blows heard, orcas traveling slowly up island, surfacing often. One mile south of Landbank. Estimating four to five orcas. -Michelline Halliday [WSSJI]
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Wed, Sep 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T109s & T109As) - Here is a video highlight clip by Jason of our encounter with the T109s and T109As on September 13th. The lighting and sea conditions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca were stunning! -Orca Behavior Institute -video by Jason Shields, September 13, 2023
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Wed, Sep 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T11A, T37s, T37As, T46s, T46B1s, T55, T60s, T69s, T109s, T109As, & T137s) - Adult male is T46D Strider - Epic T party minutes from our docks in front of Sooke today with 20+ Bigg’s/transient killer whales! (T11A, T037's, T037A's, T046's, T046B1's, T060's, T069's T055, T137's, T109's, & T109A's) were all recorded, wow! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 13, 2023
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T46B1C, T46B1 Tread, T46B2 Akela - T46s and all of the T46Bs at Creyke Point. -photo & IDs by Kyla Bivens, September 13, 2023
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Wed, Sep 13 - Victoria, BC (T69s) - Here is a link to my composite video of these same Bigg's, consisting of my Encounters with them at Cadboro Bay, Ten Mile Point and Glencoe Cove - Link to video.
18:16 - Here is a link to my video of these same whales as they passed Glencoe Cove/Kwatsech Park on the west side of Haro Strait - Link to video.
17:36 - I also filmed these whales as they rounded Ten Mile Point - Link to video.
17:12 - I filmed these three orca in Cadboro Bay (where I live) - Link to video. -Gerald Graham
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T69C Kye - Orca spyhop, Ten Mile Point. -photo by Gerald Graham, September 13, 2023
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19:15 - I saw them with a pink sunset and Mount Baker backdrop from Cordova Bay for about twenty mins, headed north. They were quite distant, but I heard the blows and got a couple cell videos of tiny fins with my cell phone. I had my dog instead of my 600mm.  -Jenna Darcie
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19:09 - Passing Cordova Bay Beach now. -Sarah Ehle
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19:46 - Four to five whales total, two males. 
18:52 - Last sighting north of Mount Doug beach heading towards Cordova Bay.
18:38 - Visible from Mount Doug beach, north of Cormorant Point.
18:20 - Reappeared in the kelp bed north of Glencoe Cove.
18:14 - Visible from the northern part of Glencoe Cove, still hugging the shore. We could hear blows and people to the south yelling, so I'm guessing there was some surface activity on the other side of the rocks. I did catch one spyhop as they came around the corner. Another long dive as they were approaching.
17:38 - Very close pass along the north side of Ten Mile Point (see Gerald Graham's video).
17:35 - Single male surfaced north of Baynes Beach close to shore.
17:30 - Visible from Baynes Beach, heading through the channel. They were aiming straight for us as they left the channel but went for a long dive.
17:20 - They went around the outside of Flower Island and were milling around the eastern shore for a few minutes before continuing towards Ten Mile Point.
17:16 - Heading out of the bay, northwest of my spot. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network - T69E Kodiak - T69C Kye -photos by Serena Tierra, September 13, 2023
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17:47 - We took this video below last evening of suspected Bigg’s T69 north of Ten Mile Point in Saanich, BC. The orca were magnificent and we feel so lucky to have been there. In the distance at the start and end of this video is a popular view point at White Rock Road. The pod stopped there for a minute prior to our filming. We saw what we thought was hunting activity (lots of dorsal fins and a splash made towards the rocks) then realized there were dogs on the shore barking. I don't know if the dogs came upon a hunt or almost were dinner themselves! Also, in the beginning of the video if you look closely at the rocks on the right you'll see a young seal evade their detection. We thought maybe when the orca dove they were going to circle back for the seal but no luck. North of Ten Mile Point, south of Telegraph Cove. At the beach below Phyliss Park Viewport. -Christina Mcdonald
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Wed, Sep 13 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Was able to capture a couple videos last night at Salt Creek of a pod passing by! Beautiful evening! Link to video. -Kristin Blankenship
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Wed, Sep 13 - Hein Bank (T60s) - 17:30 - From South Beach. One large male eastbound, four miles off. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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15:50 - T60s are northwest of Hein Bank aiming northeast towards San Juan. -Jason Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed, Sep 13 - Constance Bank (BCX2064) - Found BCX2064 lunge feeding on Constance Bank!  -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 13, 2023

September 12
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Tue, Sep 12 - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage (J Pod) - After following Orca Network posts all day, finally J pod came within range up Saratoga Passage. I caught up with them just south of Long Point, in the setting sun. They were grouped up, all those beautiful fins rising up in unison, with the sublime sound of their breaths in the still evening air. A bit dark (!) for photos, but just so exquisite and made my heart happy to see these dear friends again.  -photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 12, 2023
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Thanks to shout-outs from fellow orca-dorks Bonnie Gretz, Rachel Haight, and Michele Ashley Sarver, we dashed home just in time to see J-pod right in front of our house, southbound in Saratoga Passage. What a thrill to see some of them again, a little distant, a little dark, but oh so wonderful, it’s been tooooo long.  -photo by Jill Hein, September 12, 2023
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It was just so wonderful to see J Pod today! It’s been awhile. -photos by Donna George, September 12, 2023
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So. Many. Spy hops! J-Pod came through Saratoga Passage this afternoon and it was magical. The boat photographed is a research vessel taking fecal samples. -photos by Charvet Drucker, September 12, 2023
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Two days of J pod in Puget Sound - welcome back. News of their arrival spread fast, with whale watchers descending on the Whidbey shoreline to witness a steady procession of spy-hopping, breaching, cart-wheeling, tail-slapping orcas in all their glory. After passing Glendale beach, the orcas gradually grouped up beyond Clinton before approaching Sandy Point and continuing north in Saratoga Passage until nightfall. Next morning they were further south near Bainbridge, gradually making their way north throughout the day and finally exiting Admiralty Inlet under a vibrant sunset. -photos by Sandy Pollard, September 12, 2023 -photos by RJ Snowberger, September 12, 2023
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J Pod visited us today - I sure hope they are filling up with lots of salmon! These photos were once they rounded Sandy Point and once they were inside the passage. I took them from just north of Sandy Point. I have some other photos taken from Glendale Beach, they were more active there, spyhopping, breaching, tailslapping and even some tiny tailslapping, and tiny cannon bombs. I love those little munchkins, hoping I had J57 for Christy. -photo by Marilyn Armbruster, September 12, 2023
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Taken from their pass at Glendale & Sandy Point this morning. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 12, 2023
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J Pod heading past Camano Island. Link to FB video. -Rose Caitlin
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18:00 - Jim Sheehan called to report they are watching J Pod in Saratoga Passage heading northbound center channel just south of Onamac Point. Group they are seeing includes four males. It’s a beautiful thing.
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14:10 - We received a call (no name given) reporting a group of five to six orcas (includes at least one male) between Hat Island and Whidbey. They’ve been breaching, tail slapping. Now heading toward Langley. -No name provided
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21:52 - Still hearing them in the distance from Wonn Road area - they came south/in as far as that, but then I think flipped out, just not sure if they went back north or down towards Baby Island.
21:00 - Passed Hidden Beach very clearly (audibly) on the Whidbey side and sound like they might be trending towards Holmes Harbor. -Emily Wandres
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20:45 - One and a half mile north of Hidden Beach heading south. Lots of blows! -Aaron Gill
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20:19 - Watched them go south, north, south, north, south, all from same at Race Lagoon, finally watched them south til dark (and a few final spyhops) out of sight and just heard the blows. -Jamie Ewen
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19:50 - Flipped south again, pushed back out. Nearing Race Lagoon again. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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19:52 - Milling just south of Harrington, barely southbound. -Amy Smith Norris
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Love Blackberry. -photo by Sam Wallace, September 12, 2023
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19:40 - Still northbound, pushing closer to Whidbey. Blows sound so beautiful.
19:35 - Now slow trend north!
19:30 - Still southbound, Whidbey side, nearing Race Lagoon.
19:20 - Flipped south. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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19:20 - Looks like they are flipping at Harrington. Mid-channel. Now very slowly southbound.
19:10 - Lazing at Harrington, mid-channel.  -Amy Smith Norris
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19:06 - Heading north west viewing a little bit south of Long Point. -Bonnie Gretz
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19:00 - Seem to be back in travel mode now, northbound. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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18:56 - They're surrounded by gulls like Ts on a hunt! Maybe a school of salmon? -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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18:54 - Looks like they may have caught something near Race Lagoon. Lots of breaching/spy hopping/milling/direction changes.
18:45 - Still northbound, midchannel, more spread out, south of Long Point [approx. 48.210315, -122.575987]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Mieke Lee
Date of Sighting: September 12, 2023
Time: 6:35 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 12
Where seen: Middle Saratoga seen from Woodland Beach on Camano
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Milling, traveling
If orcas, any males?: 3
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: At least a dozen heading up the Saratoga, closer to Whidbey side middle channel, multiple males, smaller ones too.
Photos available?: No
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18:30 - Nine to twelve heading north in Saratoga Passage. Mid channel but closer to Camano at Onamac Point. Glad to see them again. -Marie Heil
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18:26 - Definitely appear to be headed to Whidbey side. -Aaron Gill
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18:20 - I see them from the Camano Yacht Club. Might be crossing the channel.  -Sam Wallace
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18:19 - Still northbound, more midchannel. Here-ish [approx. 48.198232, -122.554908]. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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18:16 - Still heading north Camano side off Camano Island Yacht Club.
18:00 - Just past Onamac.
17:50 - Heading north a mile or so north of Cama Beach. -Aaron Gill
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17:43 - Still northbound, north of Cama Beach State Park. More midchannel now. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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17:40 - NOAA boat is out of here. They’re maybe a half mile off shore heading north. North side of Historical Park section. -Sam Wallace
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17:30 - They’ve been making north/south directional changes in the same location for twenty five minutes. Not committing. -Brittany Noelle
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17:30 - Seeing them from Cama Beach Park. -Laurie Shuster
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17:30 - Beautiful passes by Cama Beach State Park. Still northbound third mile from Camano shoreline. -photo by Sara Montour Lewis, September 12, 2023
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They were a blast.  -photo by Taylor Bobo, September 12, 2023
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-photo by Susan John, September 12, 2023
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17:25 - They’re just north of the state park Camano side. Kind of milling but might still be edging north. -Sam Wallace
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: David Ireland
Date of Sighting: September 12, 2023
Time: 5:16 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 8
Where seen: South of Breezy Point
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed: Milling. Traveling
If orcas, any males?: ?
Any unusual markings?: ?
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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17:15 - Steady northbound now. We can see roughly fifteen grouped pretty closely together.
17:10 - Still northbound slowly. Viewing from Cama Beach. Close to the research boat. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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Off Camano State Park. -photo by Aaron Gill, September 12, 2023
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17:04 - Looks like they just flipped south.
17:00 - From Hidden Beach, can see nice large group more Camano side still headed northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:56 - The orange boat is still by the state park and I did see a couple orcas over there, but I see most of them more towards the orange marker so still trending north.  -Allie Hudec
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16:55 - At least three whales still northbound Camano side as seen from Hidden Beach. -Sandy Pollard
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16:30 - I am four to five miles away but I see them and NOAA boat if I had to guess they are [here approx. 48.109855, -122.487205] -Aaron Gill
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16:20 - Mid channel looks like might be headed this way.
16:11 - Seeing them from Camano State Park. -Amy Norris Spencer
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15:15 - NOAA boat visible now from Langley Pizzeria. Whales still closer to Camano. -Sandy Pollard
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15:14 - J Pod heading past Camano. -Rose Caitlin
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Nothing too exciting but distance was a challenge today. Taken south of the Clinton ferry terminal in Possession Sound. -photo by Durand Dace, September 12, 2023
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14:50 - Appears to be out from Langley marina but Camano side of channel northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
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14:40 - Beautiful looks as they entered Saratoga Passage in a nice group. Pushing more Camano side but still northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:45 - They’re coming up Saratoga but on the Camano side.
14:38 - I see them from the Langley marina but it looks like they’re gonna go into Port Susan. -Sam Wallace
*
14:25 - Large group of whales heading north toward Sandy Point north of Hat Island.
13:50 - Appears that most have passed Brighton Beach. One close to north end of Hat Island. -Sandy Pollard
*
13:40 - Still leisurely moving towards Saratoga Passage between Whidbey and Hat. Lots of surface activity with some breaching. -Debbie Stewart
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: September 12, 2023
Time: 1:40 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Clinton/Langley between Whidbey and Hat Island.
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: Breaching /spy hopping
If orcas, any males?: Yes.
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Approx one hour of pure exhilarating fun! they were breaching tail slapping …heading towards Langley now
Photos available?: No
*
13:34 - Sara Schmidt called again to update. Says she either misjudged or the orcas turned but they now are between Hat and Whidbey, looks like research (blue zodiac) [Soundwatch]. 
13:11 - Sara Schmidt called to say they are watching orcas from the ferry. Pod seems to be over towards Everett. At least two males. Observed a few breaches and some pec & tail slapping. Group is heading north, appear parallel with Everett waterfront. Maybe towards Port Susan Bay. Been watching them for about 10-15 minutes.
*
12:45 - Cute spy hop approaching ferry lanes northbound but some multi directional. Little breaches. -Whitney Neugebauer, Whale Scout
*
12:27 - Most mid channel to Whidbey side northbound, approaching ferry lanes. Very active. -Katie Davis Watkins, Orca Network
*
12:29 - After this point they started angling towards Mukilteo.
12:00 - Passing Glendale northbound. Whidbey side of channel. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
11:55 - In front of Glendale now, more grouped up, still so slow northbound.
11:45 - Very slow trend north. Some directional changes. Spread out. Tail slaps, pec slaps, some breaches. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
11:35 - Leaders about three quarter mile south of Glendale. Appears most to be on Whidbey side of channel. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
11:34 - Can see them approaching Glendale northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
11:06 - Breaching and doing all kinds of fun things and now entering Possession Sound. North more on Whidbey side of channel. -Alice Thuy Talbot
*
11:03 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:22 to report: Log entry 1103hrs: Captain, BMC, [from ISSAQUAH] reports a pod of 4-5 orcas milling about, feeding on the local catch of the day, located just South of Possession Point. 
*
10:55 - Looking like they’re heading into Possession Sound. If they continue on this path.
10:45 - More north east.
10:42 - I see them. They are in Possession triangle at the moment facing east.  -Alice Thuy Talbot
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Laura Shifflette
Date of Sighting: September 12, 2023
Time: 10:34 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 12
Where seen: South of Possession Point Whidbey Island
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: Spy hop. Breach. Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
10:25 - Update from friend: milling in Possession Triangle. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
10:00 - We could see large numbers of orcas (15+) milling about a half mile north of us as we left Edmonds. They are SRKWs so we are continuing on to look for Bigg’s killer whales or humpbacks elsewhere. Good luck out there. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
*
J26 Mike - We slowly snuck around J-pod who was spread out around Possession Sound as we went north. -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 12, 2023
*
10:13 - Confirmed SRKWs foraging just a little north of original location.
08:51 - The Clipper reported six southbound abeam of Eglon and commented way more than six, probably SRKWs. -April Ryan, Maya’s Legacy
*
08:55 - Kim P. called to report seeing a single male orca between Eglon and Pilot Point heading southbound. Some surface activity.
*
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Tue, Sep 12 - Active Pass (T18s & possibly T75Bs) - T19C Spouter in the lead - 15:30 - A group of Bigg’s transient whales went quickly eastward on the tide through Active Pass. The T018s plus perhaps the T075Bs, as per Brendon ID. Photos taken from the shore of Galiano Island. -photos by Karoline Cullen, September 12, 2023
*
Tue, Sep 12 - Victoria, BC (T109As) - Here is a link to my composite video of the T109As' lengthy appearance off of Victoria. Link to video. -Gerald Graham
*
20:15 - At Clover Point, westbound. For the record, I managed to film them in the fading light, from Trafalgar Park, as they approached Clover Point. Link to video.
20:02 - Just passed Trafalgar Park eastbound. -Gerald Graham
*
19:29 - By Trial Island now. -photo by Jenna Darcie, September 12, 2023
*
T109A3 Spong in the lead and calf is T109A7 - T109A3 Spong, T109A7, T109A4 Garrett, T109A5 Argyle -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
19:30 - Just passed the southwest end of Trial, southbound.
19:13 - I think they're still on the east side of Trial, aiming for Enterprise Channel. Can only see the boats from Clover Point. -photos by Serena Tierra, September 12, 2023
*
19:15 - Here is a link to another of my T109A matriline videos, this one filmed as they entered Enterprise Channel off of Oak Bay. Link to video. -Gerald Graham
*
18:45 - They're just west of Trafalgar Park now. -Orca Network
*
17:55 - T109As back in Oak Bay making their way southbound through the Chain Islets, under a rainbow! -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
17:48 - Here is a link to my video of the T109As off of Cattle Point, Oak Bay, BC. Link to video. -Gerald Graham
*
17:32 - They passed Ten Mile Point a few minutes, through Baynes Channel heading towards Oak Bay.
17:02 - Seeing blows north of Ten Mile Point around Telegraph Cove, southbound close to shore. -Orca Network
*
15:06 - Now off Glencoe Cove-Kwatsech Park. Slow northbound grouped.
14:35 - From Glencoe Cove see them (reported as T109As) to the south still making their way north further offshore than they’ve been most of today but still hugging BC coastline. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
14:16 - In Haro Strait, northbound off Telegraph Cove. -Gerald Graham
*
13:49 - I filmed seven members of the T109A matriline as they traversed Baynes Channel off the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island. Link to video. -Gerald Graham
*
13:52 - Heading through Baynes Channel on Ten Mile side.
13:17 - Off Turkey Head, probably aiming for the Chain Islets.
12:35 - Beautiful pass off the point, all grouped up surfacing together. Aiming for Enterprise Channel.
12:28 - Quickly eastbound approaching Clover Point.
12:11 - Eastbound now.
12:08 - Hunting about halfway down the breakwater. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
12:00 - Pod is right off the breakwater kelp line. Slow trend east logging right there. Inverted rolls etc. beautiful.
11:25 - They circled around and came super close inshore long dive bypassing Saxe Park. Could see their fluke prints. Super cool. Close to shore still heading eastbound last seen past Macaulay Park.
10:55 - Might not be same but am watching at least six to seven orcas close inshore in the bay just west side Saxe Park, Esquimalt. They just came out of the bay and are circling around inside the rocks in super calm seas. So lovely. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
*
Tue, Sep 12 - Haro Strait - I went back in time in the webcam recording and it sounds like it was Ts! -Jason Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
05:36 - Calls getting weaker.
05:28 - Calls on the Lime Kiln Hydrophone. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
*
Tue, Sep 12 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T37A3, T37A4, T46s, T46B1s, T137A, T137D) - 16:20 - Redhead left the 137s and 37A group westbound off Thompson Spit pointed towards Sequim Bay. They were a half mile offshore. -Christopher Lewman, PSE
*
12:21 - We have members of four pods out here eastbound at the Dungeness Spit. The T46 pod, T46B1 pod, T137A, T137D, T37A3, and T37A4 are here [approx. 48.194326, -123.136263]. Eleven orcas seen so far. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
*
T46D Strider -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 12, 2023
*
08:54 - Just saw two orca from the Black Ball Ferry crossing Port Angeles-Victoria. West of the ferry heading north, just out of Port Angeles. My guess based only on dorsal fins, one male and one female. -Pam Bauer
*
HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue, Sep 12 - Haro Strait - 08:30 - Humpback. Several miles off Eagle Point. Heading west. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
*
Tue, Sep 12 - San Juan Channel - 15:18 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 15:44 to report: 1518hrs: Vessel SALISH reports 1 humpback, WB in San Juan Channel. 
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Megan Cahalan
Date of Sighting: September 12, 2023
Time: 12:47 PM
Species seen: Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Ear Humphrey Head on Lopez
Direction of travel : NW toward the ferry landing
Behaviors observed: Traveling, saw the fluke
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I was on the phone and the ferry didn’t slow down.
Photos available?: No
*
11:45 - 12:26 - Encountered single humpback traveling southwest by Frost Island, almost looked like he was going to pass between the island and the spit before turning around. -Jennifer Hunt
*
10:15 - Perhaps just one, northbound now. Picked up as humpbacks, last seen off Fisherman Bay in San Juan Channel - no known direction of travel. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
08:22 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:29 to report: 0822hrs: Vessel SALISH reports via 800MHz they have slowed down at the entrance to FHBR for two whales of unknown species heading East, located off Brown Island. 

September 11
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Mon, Sep 11 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #50: “The team arrived at 1330 on scene as J pod made their way south past Lime Kiln. Members of the J19s and J14s were the first to filter past, along with J46 and J42. After getting situated in some flatter water, the team got the drone up at 1440 and began behavioral observations…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #50.
*
Mon, Sep 11 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - We got to spend some quality time with this big guy this afternoon: J27 Blackberry. As he's gotten older, he's taken up the same habit that his father J1 Ruffles used to have of traveling way offshore on his own as J-Pod passes through Haro Strait, so it was especially nice to have him not only make a close approach to the rocks off Lime Kiln but to hang out for a while! It was a lovely two plus hour pass as the whales came back south after spending yesterday foraging off the mouth of the Fraser River. We were able to account for all 25 members of J-Pod, which today was not the easiest task since they were spread out and all mixed up! But rest assured they were all there. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 11, 2023 - J40 Suttles & J49 T'ilem I'nges - J39 Mako - J57 Phoenix, J47 Notch, J37 Hy'Shqa, J59 Sxwyeqόlh -photos & IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, September 11, 2023
*
09-11-23, J-Pod, Haro Strait, SJI - Viewing from Lime Kiln, 13:05 - 13:46, From up island of Lime Kiln the leader group was porpoising and approaching fast pushing big white sprays of water ahead of them. They were in small groups spread far apart in a line alone the island. A few came in very close to the rocks including J19 Shachi, J26 Mike, J27 Blackberry and J39 Mako. Others were within a few hundred feet of shore, J47 Notch, J37 Hy'Shqa with J59 Sxwyeqolh and J36 Alki with J57 Phoenix. They kept up their fast transit but slowed some as the incoming current strengthened. When I left Lime Kiln there were still a few up island/north of the lighthouse. Photographed from shore.
Viewing from 1.2 miles south of Landbank's Westside Preserve, 13:08 - 13:10, I traveled down island to try to catch the lead group. I missed that group but the second group flew past me feet from the rocks. No time to set up a camera, I just drank the experience in then left to catch up down island.
Viewing from just north of Pile Point, 14:10 - 16:41, As they continued down island the groups had pulled away from shore, with some traveling past Pile Point but 5-6 stayed milling adjacent to Pile Point. They slowly made their way off shore, until just blows could be seen in the glare. A final group of 5 including J27 Blackberry lingered just north of Pile. J27 Blackberry moved in slow motion, surfacing in a slow rhythm 1/3 mile off shore. This group continued traveling off shore away from the island. When I left they could still be seen in the far distance.  -Michelline Halliday, SJI - J59 Sxwyeqόlh & belly up J37 Hy'Shqa - J39 Mako -photos & IDs by Michelline Halliday, September 11, 2023
*
J27 Blackberry - J31 Tsuchi -IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute -photos by Casey Jo Haagenson, September 11, 2023
*
9:17 - Definite direction change over the last 15 minutes or so. All moving west southwest including the large male and whoever was with him.
18:39 - The large group is moving east/southeast. Farther from shore. At least one large male is still much farther to the west of the large group.
17:50 - Large group has stalled quite far off Eagle Point. Socializing together.
16:52 - The farthest the leader got was Eagle Point I think. Then there were a couple breaches both close to shore and quite far out. Change of direction for group close to shore. Everyone is moving southeast. But very slowly.
15:54 - Still have orcas spread between a bit up island from Eagle Point to Pile Point. One playful group. Others are spread. No real direction. Not really continuing down island.
15:10 - Orcas spread from Pile Point to a bit up Island from Eagle Point. Some milling in the big current off of Pile Point. Others heading down island. Some closer to shore than others. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
*
15:20 - Trailing four whales southbound off Lime Kiln: J27, 31, 45, and 56. -Orca Behavior Institute
*
15:05 - Lovely calls and close in to shore cruising right now on the Lime Kiln cam. -Orca Network
*
15:08 - Pretty sure I just spotted Blackberry (J27). -Sandy Pollard
*
14:55 - Watching and hearing J-pod on the Whale Museum live stream. Loud calls. -Linda Aitkins
*
14:53 - Looks like NOAA out there scooping whale scat. -Sandy Pollard
*
14:29 - Watching and listening on the Lime Kiln webcam. -Kim Schwarzkopf
*
13:59 - Such a joy to listen from the UK. My heart is full. -Jo Gennari
*
13:57 - Still some beautiful awesomeness on the Lime Kiln cam, big breach!  -Orca Network
*
13:53 - That was great fun to watch and listen to. Sounded like braying donkeys for a bit. -Kirsten Tucker
*
13:24 - I was watching too! Did you see one of them spyhopping? -Briana Marie
*
13:23 - It was fun to watch and listen to them! -Kaitlin Niclas
*
13:09 - Lots of activity + breaching on the LK webcam. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
12:47 - The OrcaHello AI listening to Orcasound Lab hydrophone picked up this 60-second clip with clear S04 calls.
12:43 - 12:53 - Held the bulk of high signal-to-noise calls, along with some clicks! -Scott Veirs, Orcasound 
*
12:53 - Leaders now at San Juan County Park.
12:40 - Moving closer to shore just north of The Center for Whale Research. 
12:29 - Halfway between Snug Harbor and Sunset point heading south. Lots of breaches. -John Boyd [WSSJI]
*
11:10 - J-Pod southbound from Turn Point. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Lots of folks have been messaging asking for an update on the new calf with the T75Bs as they have continued to traverse the central Salish Sea in recent weeks. Sadly, our update is not the greatest. As you can see in this photo from the last time we saw the calf on September 6, it was emaciated, with the sunken "peanut-head" look behind the skull. Having encountered it numerous times over the last month, it appeared to be declining in body condition over time. Yesterday, the family was seen in British Columbia, and we got the sad report from several observers that it appeared the calf was no longer with the family group, meaning it has likely died. Every time we saw the calf it was traveling in echelon position with T75B2, 8 year-old Jasper. We believe she was the mother: the youngest wild orca mother that we know of! It's very possible that this somehow played a role in the poor health of the calf. We had already gotten rather attached to this little one, so even though we know that not all baby orcas can thrive, this is particularly devastating news. The Bigg's killer whale population overall has had an incredible calf survival rate over the last decade, but calves especially first-born calves, are known to have a mortality rate of up to 50% during their first year. It was still an honor to get to observe this little tyke during its short life, and we hope that T75B2 will go on to be a prolific mother in the future. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 6, 2023
*
Mon, Sep 11 - Victoria, BC (T18s, T75Bs, T77D) - Another killer day! Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T018s & T075Bs) hunting around the Discovery Islands! Also three humpbacks and 1000+ sealions around Race Rocks Lighthouse. -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 11, 2023
*
Males are T19C Spouter & T19B Galiano - T75B2 Jasper - We traveled into Canadian waters and to Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve: Chain Islet. It is an area of shallow waters and reefs. When we arrived on scene, the T18s were to our left. They were quietly surfacing, logging, and gliding back and forth. They remained fairly close to one another never moving more than 200 yards from the point they were at upon arrival. No hunting, not surface active, and they did not interact with the T75Bs and T77D who were no more than 200 yards to their right. The 75Bs were staying in VERY tight formation. They were not hunting, and like the T18s, never traveled more than 200 yards from their point of origin.They were doing headstands that were high out of the water and were held for prolonged periods. We saw three of them exhibit this behavior at once, and I'm not sure how many headstands we saw in total, maybe three dozen? They were not slapping their tails or being percussive, just standing on their heads. We saw several spy hops, and Jasper, T75B2 came up with a huge mouthful of kelp. They were diving and surfacing in the exact same spot, over, and over, and over again. When we left maybe 45 minutes later, the behavior was continuing. They were noted in that same location for over six hours. I suppose I should have prefaced all of this with, T75B2A was not present. I asked Tyson, the naturalist if it had been seen that day. There had been reports that morning of the baby being alive. We didn't realize it at the time, but it is possible we were witnessing a ceremony of grief and loss. Perhaps the T18s, not unlike humans, were standing by and keeping vigil as the T75Bs mourned the loss of their little one. Maybe the baby was there, on the floor of the ocean, its final resting place. Of course, only the measurable observations are data, the rest of what I write is speculation. I know I'm projecting my human emotions and applying them to the behavior, but I hope that what I saw was one family comforting another in a time of distress. Strangely, the T18s were part of the story back on August 13th. I watched the T75Bs head north in I believe Rosario Strait. The T18s were coming down the straight with speed! T19 and T19B greeted the T75Bs by coming behind them and following them north for a bit. They then turned and continued south. Was that a greeting and congratulations on the new baby? I have more questions than answers. What I do know is that in their short month swimming in our Salish Sea, little T75B2A won my heart. I decided they should have a name. I'll likely be the only one to refer to them this way, but I named them, Agate. Pebbles, Jasper, Rubble, T75B4 (who will get a proper name) and Agate. They were and will always be a family. -photos & ID by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 11, 2023
*
17:45 - Leaving now. They haven't moved. Confirmed T18s with the T75Bs per Sooke Coastal Explorations.
17:36 - Still there. Facing north but not traveling. Slow surfacing, no surface activity other than the few tail slaps earlier.
17:22 - T18 group is still facing north but has drifted back south to their original position. Just saw a tail slap from one of the boys.
17:17 - They've split with one group hanging around the middle of the islands and a second group (looks like all of the T18s) has trended north slightly, definitely not in a hurry.
16:55 - Two classes and a fish market later, I am back. The whales have not moved. Viewing from Cattle Point now [approx. 48.424203, -123.276855].
12:32 - Whales are stalled by the islands, probably hunting for seals [approx. 48.421782, -123.274636].
11:59 - Heading through the Chain Islets, possibly aiming for Baynes Channel.
11:55 - Northeast of Gonzales Point, aiming for the Chain Islets.
11:44 - They went around the south side of Trial Island after my last message. Currently waiting for them in Oak Bay hoping they'll come closer to shore.
11:22 - I'm seeing them eastbound south of Trafalgar Park. Only three females and a male so far. At least two males. I think T19B is in there. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon, Sep 11 - Haro Strait - 16:37 - Humpback heading up island just north of Pile Point. Third mile offshore. -Michelline Halliday [WSSJI]
*
16:06 - Humpback turned to get much closer to shore. Is bypassing orcas now. continuing to head up island.
15:57 - Humpback. Fairly close to shore. Moving up island from Eagle Point. Headed towards the playful group of resident orcas. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]

September 10
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 10 - Haro Strait/Active Pass (J Pod) - Saw a report from Salish Sea Orca Squad that Jpod was seen going north through Active Pass this morning. -Brittany Noelle [WSSJI]
*
03:30 - LOTS of blows going up island. Heard from County Park. -Kimberly Beck [WSSJI]
*
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 10 - Gulf Islands, BC
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Sep 10 13:08 PDT 
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.75193,-123.36883 [south end Salt Spring Isl, BC]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Erin
*
Sun, Sep 10 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D)
17:15 - Tired of that "burger-like" flavor of American harbor aeals, this group has emigrated to Canada, where the harbor seals have a "Maple-like" flavor! Continuing south/southwest now by the Kelp Reef mark.
16:55 - Have them on the Lime Kiln Camera - moving offshore south/southwest. Between Little D'arcy Island and the County Park. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
*
15:00 - Sweet pass at Reuben Tarte, still northbound on San Juan shoreline.
13:40 - They picked up their to-go lunch at the docks and are continuing northbound off Point Caution now.
13:15 - They are IN the harbor now! T137A/D and T37A3/4 approaching Friday Harbor northbound.
12:00 - Small group of Bigg's heading southwest down Upright Channel. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
12:15 - Captain of SALISH reports four orcas southbound in Upright Channel.
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: McMaster Jenny
Date of Sighting: September 10, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Off of Flat Point on Lopez Is
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
J-Pod headed north in the early hours to go forage off the mouth of the Fraser River, so we thought we might have a quiet day from the shores of San Juan Island. But then our recent fab foursome showed up: T137A Jack, T137D Wright, T37A3 Spinnaker, and T37A4 Crinkle. This odd quartet has been roaming around the San Juans for the last week, and we've joked that adult male Jack has looked like the bored chaperone for the three youngsters (ages 8-11) who are awfully excited to be off on their own and quite proud of themselves after every seal kill. At OBI we are particularly fond of Crinkle, a female who received some type of dorsal injury at a young age. At some angles, her dorsal can look almost normal, while from others you can still clearly see the odd kink that is her namesake. The bent fin is particularly visible in this photo taken off Reuben Tarte this afternoon. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 10, 2023
*
Sun, Sep 10 - Rosario Strait (T46s & T46B1s) - T46B1C, T46B1 Tread, T46E Thor -IDs & photo by Brandy Jackson Ritchie, September 10, 2023
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19:15 - Pushing a bit more west, some trend south.
19:01 - Visible way in distance from Rosario Head. Continuing southbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
18:12 - West of Allan Island. Still southbound [approx. 48.462871, -122.737973]. -Brandy Jackson Ritchie
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17:35 - Approaching Washington Park. Thor in a group, Strider off a bit. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
17:31 - They’re right about here [approx. 48.494981, -122.728244] still heading south.  -Jami Cantrell
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17:03 - Current location [approx. 48.543062, -122.734181]. -Brandy Jackson Ritchie
*
17:02 - I have eyes on the boats from Green Point at Washington Park. I was even able to see Strider’s dorsal fin from far away. They are heading this direction. I have a friend that’s out on sounder with a tour that updated me. -Silver Hubble
*
13:40 - They split at some point but seven have continued down Rosario, they just passed Clark Island are and steadily continuing south - two huge males and a baby! Either Strider or Thor hunting a seal/porpoise! You can see the tiny prey by his side until he breaches. pretty sure we know how that ended! Milling after the hunt in between Lummi and Clark Island.
11:58 - I’m seeing a dozen spouts! all together in a line. No fins yet just spouts.
11:55 - At least five spouts headed south past Matia Island, Salish Sea and Sounder boats are with them, they appear to be continuing south! -Rose Caitlin
*
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun, Sep 10 - Juan de Fuca Strait
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sun Sep 10 12:31 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.32173,-123.75881 [ Sooke, BC] 
Number Sighted: 6
Submitter Name: Kevin
*
MINKE WHALES
Sun, Sep 10 - Haro Strait  - I would like to report another minke whale sighting! We watched it for a bit (~15 minutes, motor off) while it seemed to be foraging in the area [approx. 48.418518, -123.087904] and then was too far away to see any longer, very cool!  -photo by Charlotte Scofield, September 10, 2023

September 9
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 9 - Haro Strait (J Pod) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #49: “The SR3 drone team made it out there first and ID’d the whales as J pod coming in near Race Rocks. Once the whales were a little west of the Victoria waterfront, the team mobilized, met at Snug Harbor, and left in the boat at 1510. We arrived on scene about two miles southeast of Trial Island and the encounter began at 1547…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #49.
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Sat, Sep 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca/Haro Strait (J Pod) - J26 nailing a salmon tonight in Haro Strait. Atta boy Mikey! -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, September 9, 2023
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09-09-23 J-Pod Haro Strait - 17:40 - 19:05, Distant blows and fins signaled J-Pod inbound between Point Edwards and Pile Point. They were very spread out milling slowly, in and out and up and down island. At 18:00 a few members including J16 Slick split off from the main group and continued up island. The rest were milling but trending to the south, very spread out. The closest 1/3 mile from shore while some members were 1.5 miles offshore. I could make out a few saddles, J27 Blackberry. J42 Echo and J36 Alki. By 19:05 they had all traveled south/ down island out of sight. Viewing from 1 mile south of Landbank. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - J27 Blackberry - J36 Alki -photos & IDs by Michelline Halliday, September 9, 2023
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J Pod, once again, coming to the Westside on 9/9, the anniversary that J50 Scarlet passed away there. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout [WSSJI]
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20:42 - Hearing exhales in the dark, from Eagle Cove to the far south! Beautiful! -Lodie Laurieanne Gilbert Budwill [WSSJI]
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19:30 - A friend reports many milling near Eagle.
18:05 - J16 passing Land Bank northbound, three to four others coming up behind her to Edwards also northbound. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
18:12 - Visible on Lime Kiln camera, northbound.
17:50 - J pod has made it to Haro Strait! Echolocation clicks are audible on the Lime Kiln hydrophone.  -Orca Network
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17:05 - Line of blows visible with binoculars southeast of Discovery Island as viewed from Land Bank - guessing still about six miles offshore but heading east towards San Juan.
15:45 - J-Pod eastbound from Victoria. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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13:44 - I think they have all passed the point on my last map. Trending offshore. No public shoreline access in that area, so this will likely be the last update for a while unless they turn towards Victoria.
13:30 - Leaders around here [approx. 48.300288, -123.597034] continuing eastbound, still spread wide in all directions.
13:05 - Orcas eastbound southeast of Alldridge Point in Sooke. Too far away to confirm ecotype, but presume SRKWs based on earlier report. Viewing from Creyke Point. Spread out slowly weaving through the fishing boats. Definitely acting like residents. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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16:02 - 16:11 - I filmed J Pod of Southern Resident Killer Whales as they travelled eastward off of Trial Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Thanks to Serena Tierra of Orca Network for the heads up. Link to video. -Gerald Graham
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 9 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 9 13:50 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.30147,-123.39458 [ off southern Bowen Island, BC]
Number Sighted: 4
Submitter Name: Andy
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Sat, Sep 9 - T49As (San Juans) - 15:41 - At least four southbound [approx. 48.679870, -123.237448]. -photo by Smith Siromaskul, September 9, 2023
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14:14 - Seeing two to three orcas next to Moresby Island from Stuart Island. Changing directions. Next to Turn Point. -back of camera photo by Nataliya Lisitsyna, September 9, 2023
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Sat, Sep 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Orcas putting on quite the show for fifteen to twenty minutes between Gibsons Spit and Klapot Point. Spectacular kayaking adventure for me and my new kayak. -photo by Agnes Baker, September 9, 2023
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Agnes Bàker
Date of Sighting: September 09, 2023
Time: 12:10 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Entrance to Sequim Bay between Gibsons Spit and Klapot Point
Direction of travel : Stayed in the passage way for 15-20 minutes
Behaviors observed: Breaching, tail slapping.
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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Sat, Sep 9 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (T18s) - 17:00 - They turned west after finishing their dinner. -Matt Stolmeier
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17:42 - It has been about 45 minutes since I have seen a fin. The last direction they were headed as they went out of sight was northwest from their last location.
16:30 - Seem to milling in the same location as viewing from Ebey State Park. -April Basham
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14:51 - We saw at least five breaches on Outer Island WW! So amazing [approx. 48.225319, -122.802182]. -photo by Shannon Moore, September 9, 2023
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14:34 - I’m seeing at least two to three orcas (can see their black dorsal fins) west of Fort Ebey State Park. I noticed a bunch of whale watching boats in the area maybe 30 minutes ago and I’ve finally spotted some fins very far off in the distance. My estimation is they’re headed west. -Holly Weinstein
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat, Sep 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Humpback heaven out west today with 50+ scattered within a few miles heavily feeding! Fluking awesome!  -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 9, 2023
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MINKE WHALES
Sat, Sep 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - From: Sean Cox  -
Date and Time Sighting Observed: 2023-09-09 12:10 PM
Marine Mammal Type: Minke Whale
If SRKW, select pod/s:
If other:
Number of Marine Mammals Observed:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Country: Within US International Boundary
General Location: Other
If other: Southwest of Smith Island
Describe what you saw: One whale surfaced briefly twice.
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Sat, Sep 9 - Hood Canal - 09:30 - I’m responding to Rachel’s report of a possible minke whale. Around 09:30, We saw what I assumed was a harbor porpoise, but I did notice that its curve was flatter and its fin was small. So we may have seen the same animal [approx. 47.859624, -122.643309]. -Marilyn Grace Showalter
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08:32 - Small minke whale just south of Hood Canal bridge. Milling around east to west. Definitely larger than a harbor porpoise but smaller than a fin whale which leads me to believe it was a minke. Yes, curved short fin. -Rachel
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DOLPHINS
Sat, Sep 9 - South Puget Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Marilee Fijalka-Carr
Date of Sighting: September 09, 2023
Time: 9:15 AM
Species seen: Only saw dorsal fin and back. Dorsal hook shaped. Did not appear to be very large.
Guessing Pacific white sided dolphin.
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Pickering Passage, just west of Jarrell's Cove, along north facing shore of Harstine Island
Direction of travel : Circled in area of about 500 feet, then traveled west and north past Jarrell's cove
Behaviors observed: Guessing feeding or hunting in one area for a while (10+ minutes?), then traveled on up the passage
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: Couldn't tell. Mostly saw dorsal fin, occasionally part of back
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No

September 8
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Fri, Sep 8 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Orcas in Port Angeles Harbor. -photo by Fred Felleman, September 8, 2023
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Fri, Sep 8 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - T137A Jack - T137A Jack, T137D Wright, T37A4 Crinkle. - [It] was the last day of my Bigg’s STARS class boat trips and it went out with a bang! Truly an unforgettable experience with the T137s (T137A and T137D) and the T37As (T37A4 and T37A3). We found this group making their rounds at Sucia. Supposedly, they had been making laps all day long. Upon our arrival, T37A4 popped up right behind our vessel! Super cool stuff. Taken on a boat. All whale watch regulations are adhered to. Sucia Island. -photos by Kat Martin, September 8, 2023
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18:55 - Sounds like they’ve been circling up there today the way they were circling San Juan during prior days!
15:11 - Possibly these same whales have been picked up near Patos - it's our foursome of T137A, T137D, T37A3, and T37A4. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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08:00 - Four orcas east bound in Spieden Channel, outside Roche Harbor. -Caleb Barville [WSSJI]

September 7
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Thu, Sep 7 - Victoria, BC (T46s & T46B1s) - T46D Strider - T46E Thor
19:35 - Approaching west side of Trial Island, heading southeast.
19:21 - Eastbound off Harling Point.
18:55 - Close pass off the tip of Clover Point, eastbound.
18:49 - Northwest of Clover Point, milling and kelping.
18:27 - Approaching Holland Point, westbound.
18:08 - T46s and T46B1s visible west of Ogden Point Breakwater (Victoria, BC), eastbound. -photos by Serena Tierra, September 7, 2023
*
Thu, Sep 7 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D traveling with T75Bs & T77D in morning)
17:57 - At least four to five in the group. We are so excited! We have seen orcas three times while we've been out this summer (about 7 weeks).
17:53 - Southbound in Lopez Sound, next to Blakely Island. Five minutes ago.
17:51 - Spotted from the mooring on the north side of Spencer Spit, Lopez Island. Link to video. -photo by Noreen May Light, September 7, 2023
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T37A4 Crinkle, T137D Wright, T137A Jack in background -photo by Kat Martin, September 7, 2023
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Noreen Light
Date of Sighting: September 07, 2023
Time: 5:40 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Next to Blakely Island.
Direction of travel : SB
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Maybe
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
15:15 - These whales are northbound back up San Juan Channel now.
13:10 - Seen from Jackson Beach heading south down the middle of Griffin Bay. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
*
12:33 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:57 to report: 1233hrs: Vessel SALISH reports via 800MHz they've spotted 4 orca heading South at the entrance to FHBR, off of Brown Island. 
*
11:18 - Grouped up southbound south of O'Neal Island.
11:10 - T37A siblings feet off rocks at Reuben Tarte. Now just south of here, Jack and Wright have cut back in to join them. Continuing south.
11:05 - Appear to have split. 75Bs & 77D continued north around Spieden Island. Jack and company have come south and are approaching Reuben Tarte. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137A Jack - photos by Dori Dace, September 7, 2023
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T137A Jack following T75Bs & T77D - T75B2 Jasper - 08:25 - Group, which includes T137A Jack, pass by Lime Kiln still traveling northbound. -photos by Rachel Haight, September 7, 2023
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T75Bs, T137A "Jack' and friends, Haro Strait - 08:07 - 08:10, 7-9 Bigg's transients including T137A Jack and the T75Bs surfaced suddenly in front of me, 1/4 mile from shore heading up island, 1 mile south of Landbank's Westside Preserve. They were moving quickly and disappeared out of sight as they went past Point Edwards. Photographed from shore -photo by Michelline Halliday, September 7, 2023
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Thu, Sep 7 - San Juans (T65As) - Near San Juan Island aboard the FRS San Juan Clipper. It was a wonderful day and many thanks to Allison Montgomery was our outstanding naturalist as well as the rest of the crew of the FRS SJC. This is T065A2, Ooxjaa. -photo by Dallas Braham, September 7, 2023
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This morning at Lime Kiln. -Shelly Greybeck
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08:12 - Message from Brad Hanson, NOAA/NWFSC who reports they just watched 6-8 Bigg's Transient orcas (including one male) traveling fast northbound in Haro Strait passing Hannah Heights, San Juan Island. 
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Thu, Sep 7 - Rosario Strait (T37A, T37A2, T65As, T99s) - T65A4 Ellifrit - I can’t even begin to process today. So many orca pods out there. One of the T65As came RIGHT next to the boat we are on. I was shaking. We then got to see a humpback, minke, some osprey, a bald eagle, and harbor porpoise! -photo by Kat Martin, September 7, 2023
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We watched the T-party on Dallas Bank just North of Protection Island. 13 whales total; T37A, T37A2, T65A matriline, and T99 matriline.  -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 7, 2023
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T65A4 Ellifrit - T65A2 Ooxjaa & T65A3 Amira -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 7, 2023
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17:45 - Thirteen orcas (reported as T37As, T65As, and T99s) off Miller Peninsula [which is east of Sequim] aiming at Port Williams [westbound]! -Rachel Rodell [OPWS]
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18:45 - Several miles north of Port Williams trending west northwest. -Seth Lecy [OPWS]
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12:00 - T65As were off southeast Lopez traveling westbound per Cindi Rausch.
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Hayden Watson
Date of Sighting: September 07, 2023
Time: 11:15 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: N48 28 , W122 48 One mile SE of Lopez Pass
Direction of travel : SSE
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
08:44 - Laurie Bakers, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:49 to report: 0844hrs: Vessel SAMISH reports via 800MHz they've spotted two orcas heading westbound just off Shannon Pt. 
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GRAY WHALES
Thu, Sep 7 - Victoria, BC - Photos all of the upper surface of the fluke. 
18:50 - Gray whale surfaced and fluked directly south of Clover Point, still eastbound. I also saw a few more blows between this and the 18:43 dive, but didn't get a look at its body. 
18:43 - Gray whale surfaced and fluked southwest of Clover Point, now eastbound.
17:50 - Blows from a single whale seen southwest of Ogden Point breakwater (Victoria, BC). Appeared to be trending north. I assumed it was a humpback at the time but was likely the gray. -photos by Serena Tierra, September 7, 2023
*
Thu, Sep 7 - Victoria, BC - This sighting was reported in our September 16 Whale Sighting Report. Here is an update on ID of this animal per Cascadia Research Collective: "This is CRC2411. Sighted in the Salish Sea in September of 2021.” - Alie Perez

September 6
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Wed, Sep 6 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Wed Sep 6 11:41 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 49.26590,-123.98570 [off Neck Point, N of Nanaimo]
Number Sighted: 4
Submitter Name: Lennart
Whale Alert App
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Wed, Sep 6 - Victoria, BC (T38C & T38E) - T38C Borrowman - T38E Hocker
18:50 - Orcas near Macaulay Point, still westbound.
18:40 - Close pass along the Ogden Point Breakwater, continuing west.
18:31 - Westbound off Holland Point, barely visible through the whitecaps from Ogden Point.
17:57 - Westbound south of Clover Point.
17:13 - Hunting around the kelp bed off the southwest corner of Trial Island.
17:00 - Whales snuck through Enterprise Channel and popped up on the northwest side of Trial Island before continuing south along the coast of Trial.
16:51 - Westbound approaching McMicking Park.
16:35 - Northeast of Oak Bay Marina, heading southeast.
16:20 - T38C and T38E east of Cattle Point (Victoria, BC), heading southwest. -photos by Serena Tierra, September 6, 2023
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Wed, Sep 6 - Haro Strait - 13:30 - Had the most beautiful sighting off of Turn Point Lighthouse. We saw four orcas, one of them was large and there was also a much smaller one. - photo by Jennifer Hoag, September 6, 2023
*
Wed, Sep 6 - San Juans (T75Bs) - 19:10 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 20:09 to report: 1910hrs: Vessel SALISH reports 5 orca EB at Upright Head on Lopez Island.  
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18:53 - Four-ish whales in between Lopez and Shaw, seen from the ferry. Milling/Eating/Cartwheeling. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound [WSSJI]
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18:20 - They took Upright Channel heading northeast. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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16:50 - Passing Point Caution on Shaw side of channel. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network [WSSJI]
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15:45 - T75Bs just passed Reuben Tarte southbound. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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Wed, Sep 6 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #48: “We arrived on scene at 1055 with the whales being deep in North Bay at the north end of Griffin Bay. The four whales present were T37A3, T37A4, T137A, and T137D-the same four whales who had traveled up the west side of SJI the day before. The whales came out of North Bay and headed slowly south in Griffin Bay past the east side of Dinner Island…” Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #48.
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T137A Jack - We watched T37A3, T37A4, T137A, and T137D in San Juan Channel. -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 6, 2023
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20:39 - Now in between San Juan Island and Turn Island, hunting. They’ve been tail slapping and staying in the same place for about twenty minutes now. -Caleb Barville [WSSJI]
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T37A4 Crinkle, T137D Wright, T137A Jack
18:26 - Southbound past Reuben Tarte.
14:50 - Approaching County Park.
14:35 - Past Lime Kiln headed north.
14:05 - Heading up west side of island approaching Land Bank.
12:43 - Off South Beach still westbound.
12:15 - After going through Cattle Pass, now headed westbound towards South Beach. -photo & IDs by Rachel Haight, September 6, 2023
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10:10 - Four orcas outside of Brown Island heading southeast in San Juan Channel. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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09-06-23 T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D, Haro Strait  - 14:05 - 14:14, 4 Bigg's transients, T37A3, T37A4, T137A and T137D, traveling up island about 1.4 mile from shore. T137A Jack stood out the most as he always does. Viewing from 1 mile south of Landbank's Westside Preserve. Photographed from shore. -Michelline Halliday, SJI - T137A Jack -photo by Michelline Halliday, September 6, 2023
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12:13 - [approx. 48.461485, -122.953236] Whale research boat was present, closer than the rest. -Andrea Duffield
*
12:00 - Approaching Cattle Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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11:29 - Staff member Rachel Haight messaged from San Juan Island to report orcas southbound in Griffin Bay traveling southbound toward Cattle Point. IDs per WSSJI tell us this is foursome, who have been traveling together, are two pair of siblings from two different matrilines: sibs T37A3 Spinnaker & T37A4 Crinkle AND sibs T137A Jack & T137D Wright.
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed, Sep 6 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCZ0345 Victory) - We then headed to the west side of Smith Island where we watched the humpback BCZ0345 'Victory'. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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Wed, Sep 6 - Admiralty Inlet (CRC19189 Annabelle) - 15:20 - Saw it [at] Fort Casey. She came up about four times then we lost her. Didn't see her again even though we hung around. -Nancy Culp Zaretzke
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13:51 - Kyla Bivens message to report humpback Annabelle is northbound in Admiralty Inlet off of Marrowstone Island. Looks like south end across from Bush Point.  -photo by Kyla Bivens, September 6, 2023

September 5
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Tue, Sep 5 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - So beautiful, we kept our distance but still amazing. -photo by Andrea Duffield, September 5, 2023
*
We were following the sight seeing boats for awhile at the safe distance. The boats kept heading north along the coast of San Juan Island. We cut the engine and took some time to get a bite to eat and then Jack (T137A) showed up next to us with his three smaller ones. This was just south of the Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse. -Greg Martin
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14:45 - [Link to] Video of the first group of Bigg's Orcas to pass the Lime Kiln lighthouse. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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18:30 - Approaching Point Caution close to shore. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network [WSSJI]
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15:19 - Approaching County Park still close to shore. Was a beautiful pass at Lime Kiln Lighthouse.
14:34 - Orcas approaching Land Bank northbound. Per WSSJI, it's T37A3, T37A4, T137A and T137D. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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T137D Wright -photo by Dori Dace, September 5, 2023
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14:00 - Have cut back in. Now very close to shore at Pile Point.
13:46 - Headed more west northwest. Further from shore. To about False Bay.
13:27 - Stalled just up island from Eagle Point. Slowly drifting up island. Kelping. Spy hop. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
*
12:50 - Off South Beach heading up island. Being reported as likely the same group from yesterday: T37A3, T37A4, T137A, and T137D.
11:00 - Orcas off Pear Point heading west towards Jackson Beach. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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Tue, Sep 5 - Haro Strait - 07:30 - Secondhand report of three orcas moving up island from County Park. -Pat Hussey
*
06:52 - The Lime Kiln Camera caught an orca headed up island. Probably the same group. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Tue, Sep 5 - Admiralty Inlet/Haro Strait (T65As) - T65A3 Amira & T65A5 Indy - 17:50 - T65As passed between County Park and the island just offshore. So incredibly beautiful looks at them as they passed by. -photo & ID by Rachel Haight, September 5, 2023
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T65A3 Amira & T65A5 Indy -photo by Dori Dace, September 5, 2023
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T65A2 Ooxjaa breaching - T65A3 Amira & T65A5 Indy - We watched the T65As just north of Fort Worden. At one point T65A took off chasing a minke whale! She chased it for five to ten minutes before turning back to her kids who had stopped chasing almost immediately. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, September 5, 2023
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17:35 - Orcas passing Lime Kiln lighthouse 15 minute ago [~17:20]. Heading north. Extraordinary! They were too far offshore to take a photo. A gentleman named Alex was watching and seemed to know them. He said it was likely a mom and three or four of her children. -Noreen May Light
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16:55 - T65As approaching Land Bank northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:30 - T65As approaching San Juan Island from the south (heading north) near False Bay. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
12:15 - Headed out west northwest-ish from Libbey Beach area looking west. -Kevin Phillips
*
10:39 - Going past Point Wilson. Heading west and offshore. -photo by Alissa Gubelman, September 5, 2023
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10:23 - Just rounded Point Wilson heading out the strait. Close to shore. -photo by Alexandra Redman, September 5, 2023
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09:32 - Male orca IN BETWEEN Marrowstone and Indian Island. It was in front of the red pin [approx. 48.045467, -122.703933], only one way out. I was told it's too shallow for them to even come in, so it's a shock to us. Orcas was heading out, or northbound toward Port Townsend.  -photo by Meagan Parsons, September 5, 2023
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue, Sep 5 - Puget Sound - No confirmed ID on this individual yet, but today's humpback in Corena's video is a match to photos by Cherie StOurs of the humpback off Tacoma waterfront on September 1st. - Alisa
*
16:48 - Humpback reported mid channel off Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. No direction. -[Whale Alert app]
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Tue, Sep 5 - Puget Sound
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Tue Sep 5 16:36 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 47.75979,-122.43051 [Richmond Beach/President Point]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Jessica Lawson
Whale Alert App
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10:20 - Saw it several times around off southwest Vashon, haven’t seen since. Seems likely it continued north into Colvos. -David Michael
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09:47 - It’s breath stopped us mid sentence! So cool. It was heading north and we last spotted it between Gig Harbor and Point Defiance.
09:18 - Just saw this beauty [humpback] from Salmon Beach. Surprised us during our morning coffee. -Corena Martinson 

September 4
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Mon, Sep 4 - Hood Canal (T65As) - T65A3 Amira - From Point Whitney earlier today. -photos by Mollie Segall, September 4, 2023
*
20:08 - Got 'em. Mid channel.
20:02 - Can't see them because of a bunch of trees and the darkness, but I hear them (at least it definitely sounds like blows). North of Hazel Point. East side, moving north. All just a guess. -Laura Griest
*
Thanks to this group I can say I saw my first orca in the wild. What an incredible thing to witness! Wish they were closer to shore but I’ll take it! Can’t wait to see them again! -Dakota Forgey
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19:23 - We can see a bunch of blowing off of Hazel Point! -Shellie Friedrich
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18:47 - Navigation marker off Oak Head. Three of them!  -Tessa King
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8:04 - Straight out from Seal Rock, mid channel. They appear to be eastbound. -Mollie Segall
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17:02 - Three passing Port Whitney headed south. -Ryan Shrout
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16:59 - I found them [Dabob Bay].  -photo by Charlie Feinstein, September 4, 2023
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16:55 - Just passing Whitney Point. Saw one so far! Heading south. -Dakota Forgey
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16:48 - Heading down from the Shellfish Lab. -Ian-Laura Coyle
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16:38 - All three together. Splashing and lots of activity here [approx. 47.773298, -122.803393].
16:36 - One male out from Point Whitney. Not sure on direction of travel. -Mollie Segall
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14:57 - Up in Tarboo Bay. -Jeffrey Stander
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14:40 - Just saw them here. -Natasha Schehen
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13:54 - They are right in front of us at the Shellfish Lab with a research boat. -Ian-Laura Coyle
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13:52 - Viewing from Point Whitney, moving up the main channel of Dabob along eastern shoreline. -Steph ZP
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13:27 - They are still in view from Seal Rock Road. -Léna Hals
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13:20 - Still across bay from Seal Rock with research boat.
12:59 - Three out front of Seal Rock a ways.  -Tricia Whitney Rude
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12:48 - All four almost in front of Brinnon headed into Dabob. -Tessa King
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12:15 - Amir plus one continued into Dabob Bay. The other four are mid channel Hood Canal, between Dosewallips and Seabeck hunting. -David Michael
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12:13 - They are on the west side straight across from Misery Point boat launch. Two whales. -Tessa King
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12:07 - [T65As approx. 47.696148, -122.882051]. -Jeffrey Stander
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12:00 - Amir plus one passing Dosewallips, close to shore, heading into Dabob. -David Michael
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11:43 - Saw two fins looked to be headed north [approx. 47.676641, -122.896930]. -Jolene O'Connell
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11:39 - We see one near Stravis Bay heading north. -Kristen Nielsen McSherry
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10:52 - Just saw two at McDonald Cove, headed north, one was a large male, the other appeared to be a female. -Michael Carrick
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09:58 - They just went by Mikes Beach Resort. -photo by Ian-Laura Coyle, September 4, 2023
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09:49 - Just past Mike’s Beach. West side. I’m seeing three. Seeing only one group. -Lisa Abaravich Warnock
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ann Smalley
Date of Sighting: September 04, 2023
Time: 9:25 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: 47.5854° N, 123.0027° W
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Mom and baby
If orcas, any males?: No
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
09:16 - Just passing the south end of Robbinswold property, quickly moving to Mike’s Beach and Eldon. -Molly Carle
*
09:24 - They were within 200 feet of shore this time! Triton Cove. -photo by Jerry Hall, September 4, 2023
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09:02 - Just passed Beacon Point, heading towards Robbinswold quickly. -Emily Emiley
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08:44 - Just out from the Triton Cove boat launch. -Lisa Abaravich Warnock
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08:39 - They’re just a little north of Triton Cove State Park.
08:08 - Orcas are at McDonald’s Cove [Hood Canal] currently. They are on the west side of the canal. They’re kind of lingering in McDonald’s Cove but it looks like they’re heading south.  -photo by Antonio Rubal, September 4, 2023
*
Mon, Sep 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T35As & T38As) - Today with flat calm seas and Bigg’s/transient killer whales (T035As & T038's) south of Sooke and a couple humpbacks with hundreds of sea lions around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 4, 2023
*
Mon, Sep 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T46C2, T63, T65) - T63 Chainsaw - As iconic and beloved as Jack is, there is one Salish Sea dwelling orca that may outshine him in some people's eyes, ahhh yes, T63, Chainsaw was traveling with mom, T65 Whidbey III and T46C2 Sam. Sam was separated from her family at a fairly young age, and while she was reunited with them, she has chosen to disperse and live a life of adventure outside of her family unit. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 4, 2023
*
T63 Chainsaw - On the report of a very special whale over by Smith Island, we zipped over there and found T63 Chainsaw (b. 1978!) and with him was T46C2, Sam, a female (b. 2009) who often travels by herself. The late afternoon light was amazing, what a special trip!  -photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2023
*
Mon, Sep 4 - San Juans (T37A3, T37A4, T137A, T137D) - T137D Wright - T137A Jack - T137A (Jack) and T137D (Wright) met up another pair of siblings, T37A3 (Spinnaker) and T37A4 (Crinkle) for a evening cruise around Lopez Island. The combination of stunning backdrops and spectacular lighting left us gasping with gobsmacked admiration. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 4, 2023
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T137A Jack - T137D Wright - Another wonderful day on IE, met up with Cindi Crowder Rausch and Kristina Trowbridge on the boat. We caught up with the magnificent T137A, Jack (b. 2002) and his little sister T137D Wright (b. 2012) and two others from the T37 matriline, T37A3 Spinnaker (male, b. 2013) and his sister T37A4 Crinkle (b.2015), who has a very unique dorsal fin. They were off Flower Island, then hugging the shore past the Lopez ferry dock - incredible back-lit blows! Then they moved out toward Canoe Island and surprised us with some lovely close passes (engines off!). Jack went under the boat and popped up right in front of us! It was hard (and I'm probably posting too many) to choose which pictures of that beautiful guy and the others to show. -photos by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2023
*
17:37 - We left them at the yellow dot [approx. 48.565377, -122.908021] about 15 minutes ago. They were traveling down island. -Cindi Crowder Rausch, Orca Network [WSSJI]
*
15:30 - My friends just saw four plus killer whales from Washington ferry, north side of Decatur island in direction of Lopez. One large male. -Tomoko Shimotomai [WSSJI]
*
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Mon Sep 4 12:12 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.57502,-122.87704 [east of Lopez terminal]
Number Sighted: 3
Submitter Name: Bizzy
*
12:05 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: LOPEZ Terminal Attendant reports 5 Orca milling east of the terminal dock.
*
10:50 - Aiming for Upright now. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network [WSSJI]
*
10:30 - Report of Bigg's orcas - T137A & D and T37A3 & A4 - in San Juan Channel possibly heading south toward Cattle Pass. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
*
Mon, Sep 4 - Haro Strait - 09:50 - Still visible from Land Bank a mile and half off shore. Heading southwest. Five to seven individuals. -Tomoko Shimotomai [WSSJI]
*
09:20 - Still visible from San Juan County Park, about a mile off shore in line with Bellevue Point. They were circling for a while then seagulls dropped in so I am certain they were on a kill.
08:56 - In front of San Juan County Park now, southbound. -Kyla Bivens [WSSJI]
*
08:10 - Four killer whales just passed Smugglers Cove heading down island. Very close to shore. -Peter Van Deventer [WSSJI]
*
Mon, Sep 4 - San Juans - 17:01 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed to report: orca whales 9/4 @ 1701 Salish Master reports 2 orca whales off Upright Channel headed SW.  
*
16:17 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed at 16:34 to report: orca 9/4 1617 hrs Kitsap Master reports 3 juvenile whales between Leo Rock and Humprey Head. 
*
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon, Sep 4 - Haro Strait - 16:36 - A humpback off Lime Kiln heading north. One and a half to two miles offshore. -Tomoko Shimotomai [WSSJI] 
*
Mon, Sep 4 - Strait of Juan de Fuca
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Patrick Meehan
Date of Sighting: September 04, 2023
Time: 6:20 PM
Species seen: Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: 48.3463114, -123.3991999
Direction of travel : N, slow pace
Behaviors observed: Surface travel
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Clear black dorsal fin of the humpback, but looked greyish in the water
Photos available?: No 
*
A couple humpbacks with hundreds of sea lions around Race Rocks Lighthouse! -Sooke Coastal Explorations 
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Mon, Sep 4 - Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca - Other notable sights were a breaching humpback who chose to remain anonymous. No, I didn't get a picture of the breach, but it was my first humpback breach, and it was epic! -photo by Cindi Crowder Rausch, September 4, 2023 
*
We then cruised out to Hein Bank looking for a reported humpback - it was like a sheet of glass out there, which is unusual, and the humpback let us know he/she was there with an enormous breach! We did get some close passes, but no flukes, so it's a mystery.   -photo by Bonnie Gretz, September 4, 2023 
*
Mon, Sep 4 - Puget Sound (Probable BCZ0478 Annabelle) - 19:59 - Humpback just north of KVI beach, still southbound and very close to shore! -Ellen Weir 
*
19:40 - Humpback just passed Dilworth on Vashon. Headed south. -Amy Carey, Sound Action 
*
18:32 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed to report: Whales Humpback 9/4 @1832 Kittitas Master reports one humpback whale off Vashon Head hanging out. 
*
12:00 - Humpback spotted! It’s been traveling in circles but moving more west each time it surfaces [mid channel between Carkeek Park and Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, approx. 47.738927, -122.412149]. -Peyton Koski 
*
UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES
Mon, Sep 4 - Admiralty Inlet - 10:50 - Zulma Garcia called to report they are seeing a whale off Bush Point, Whidbey. No visible exhalations, just seeing part of the body w/curved dorsal fin. Whale milling, slowly drifting with the tide 60-70 yards from shore. 

September 3
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sun, Sep 3 - Sooke Harbor, BC (T11A) - Rainy T011A has been spotted in Sooke Harbour tonight! -Sooke Coastal Explorations
*
Sun, Sep 3 - Victoria, BC
12:33 - Lost sight of the whales shortly after my last comment but think they are trending south based on WWB movement. Currently southwest of harbor entrance.
12:13 - Westbound south of the breakwater.
11:38 - Logging a bit northwest of my last map.
11:23 - Still in the same spot [approx. 48.399888, -123.363728]. I think they're hunting, lots of directional changes. At least six, including one juvenile.
11:00 - Orcas milling southwest of Clover Point, Victoria BC. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
11:00 - We saw them from the Coho ferry leaving Victoria. -Julie Schwabe
*
Sun, Sep 3 - Hales Passage (T99s)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Brett Schock
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 2:33 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Hales Passage, (48.7282788, -122.6795381)
Direction of travel : North. About 20 minutes to cover 2-3 miles
Behaviors observed: Traveling, some avoidance of boats
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: 1 large, 3 mediums and 1 baby/small
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
Saw five, one large fin, three mediums and one tiny/baby in Hales Passage east of Lummi Island. Headed north just traveling. Fairly direct line, no obvious doubling back or hunting. Covered two to three miles in about 20 minutes. -photos by Brett Schock, September 3, 2023
*
Sun, Sep 3 - Rosario Strait (T46C2, T63, & T65) - 14:00 - Three south of Lopez identified as Chainsaw, his mother Whidbey, and Sam a non-relative 15-ish year old female. -Parker Rayl [WSSJI]
*
10:30 - Orcas in Rosario Strait heading south towards Lopez. Middle of the strait. Couple boats with them. -Holly Youngblood Cannon [WSSJI]
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Rajiv Mongia
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM
Species seen: Pod of 3 orca -- T063 (based on distinct dorsal fin, male); T065 (based on notch in dorsal
fin and white patch on back); unknown third orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: West of Burrows Island
Direction of travel : Moving south -- 3-5 knots (approx)
Behaviors observed: Hunting at beginning
If orcas, any males?: Yes, 1 of them
Any unusual markings?: male was T063 (Chainsaw) with large notches on dorsal fin
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - T65 Whidbey II - T46C2 Sam - T63 Chainsaw -photos by Rajiv Mongia, September 3, 2023
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Sun, Sep 3 - Hood Canal (T65As) - T65A Artemis, T65A6 Callisto in foregound, T65A4 Ellifrit background, T65A2 Ooxjaa - T65A6 Callisto & T65A2 Ooxjaa - North of Hoodsport this afternoon. -photos by Becky Harrington Adams, September 3, 2023
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T65A Artemis leading the way - Always spectacular to see orcas! Taken along SR 106 near MP 10. -photos by Kent Hitchings, September 3, 2023
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Doug Winker
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 7:13 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Dabob Bay
Direction of travel : N, fast
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
19:12 - They are headed into Dabob Bay on the east side of the canal. -Doug Winker
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19:11 - East side in front of Seal Rck. Going towards Dabob Bay.
18:50 - They are in front of Geoduck Restaurant right now. -Shaunna Ashley
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18:47 - Passing Scenic Beach mid channel. -Kindness Lingers
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18:41 - Viewing from Dosewallip Beach, they are all the way out, moving north. Doesn't seem like they are about to enter Dabob. -Danielle Naaman
*
17:50 - We are currently waiting for them at the entrance of Dabob Bay to see what direction they continue. Currently it's just northbound mid channel approaching Dosewallip from Triton Cove. -April Basham
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17:36 - Just passing the Duckabush River on the east side of the canal. -Antonio Rubal
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17:34 - They’re at Hood Point now. Headed north towards Seabeck. Center of the canal. -Angela Manke
*
16:55 - Closer to the east side.
16:50 - Off Triton Point. -photos by Jerry Hall, September 3, 2023
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16:46 - Passing Triton Cove State Park. Northbound travel. Still close to the east side. -Bre Oakley
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16:37 - Triton Head. East side. Northbound. -Rebecca Cory
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16:28 - At Camp Robbinswold heading north on the east side going super fast. -Emily Hatley
*
16:02 - About fifteen minutes ago they passed Jorstad Creek! Closer to the east side and moving quickly north. -Heidi Miles Dyer
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15:47 - Passing Hamma Hamma now. Northbound traveling. Saw three. Closer to east side now. -Bre Oakley
*
15:38 - Approaching Jorstad Creek. -Rachael Marion
*
15:36 - Now just north of Ayock towards the middle of the channel. Looks like one adult male, one female, and one juvenile. The dorsal on the male is pretty hard to miss.
15:23 - At least two to three just south of Ayock close to the west side heading north. -John Bartol
*
14:57 - They passed Eagle Creek, all five together! Northbound.
14:31 - Watching at least three from Lilliwaup Tidelands State Park moving north, closer to the other side of the canal. -Danielle Naaman
*
14:24 - Passing Little Dewatto Bay.
14:13 - At least three, northbound at Sund Rock. East of center channel. -Steve Illman
*
14:10 - They passed abeam Port of Angels restaurant in Hoodsport northbound ten minutes ago. North shore. -PS Osborne
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14:05 - Four orcas just passed Ingvald J. Gronvold Park a few minutes ago, all the way out, moving north. -Danielle Naaman
*
13:58 - Passing Cougar Spit. Northbound. Mid channel. -Brad Lambert
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13:34 - Heading towards Hoodsport now! -Chris Monnett Anthony
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13:28 - The three whales traveling closest to the north shore just made the turn at Ayers Point. -Edith Hitchings
*
13:28 - Taken from Hwy 106 awhile ago. -Kelly Lumsden-Schnabel
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natalie Holbrook
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 1:09 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Union, Washington
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
13:00 - We watched them about an hour ago about two miles west of Twanoh State Park headed west out of the canal. -Nathaniel Lanthier
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12:59 - First group of three is heading west about half a mile up from the Union Market. -Christina Davis
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Reina Parker
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 12:43 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: 47.35638° N, 123.08978° W
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
12:36 - Saw two on south shore off Tahuya, midway. -Abbie Lacsina
*
12:34 - Just past 13.5 Mile Post. -Robert Wills
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12:32 - Two hugging south shore, about one mile east of Alderbrook. -Tori Dulemba
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12:30 - Mile Marker 9 south shore. Two whales headed west. -Lisa Lavington
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12:30 - Almost to Alderbrook.
12:21 - They are approaching the 13 mile mark heading west. I see three of them! -Karen Szymanski Eschbach
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12:25 - Just saw them heading west past Pebble Ridge. -Christine Mason
*
12:22 - Two passing Sister's Point right now. -Sonja Hemmerling
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12:22 -Two spotted off mile 12 on North Shore Road. -Katie Nardi
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12:06 - Just spotted at Twanoh! Saw three. -Kristen Jepsen
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11:56 - Just passed by here [approx. 47.393162, -122.975356]. Headed west. -Maxcey Sligh
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11:53 - Thank you Orca Network! Amazing viewing as they passed by Twanoh. I nearly fainted!  -Kathy Leigh-Godfrey
*
11:47 - Two cruising west past Twanoh, going quite fast. -Nicole Prouse
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11:26 - Viewing from Twanoh Park, two orcas along south shore, still to the east a bit. -Steph ZP
*
11:26 - I'm on North Shore about 6.5 miles outside Belfair. They're headed toward Twanoh at a quick pace now. At least four - two seen mid-canal, one closer to the north shore, one closer to the south shore (with binoculars). Two boats following both mid canal and south shore. -Marci Johnson
*
11:14 - Almost Twanoh Falls dock.
10:55 - Two headed back towards Twanoh on south shore. -David Dicks
*
Recap pieced together several reports: Pod is split in at least two groups with 2 reported more on south shore side and the others (would be 4 if all present) mid channel to north shore. Just before 10:00 two passed Happy Hallow eastbound. Shortly after northern group stalled for short time, but have since resumed travel eastbound towards Belfair State Park as of 10:24. And still heading eastbound as of 10:40.
*
10:40 - They are on the move again - North Shore - headed east toward Belfair. -Anne Southerland
*
10:24 - Heading towards Belfair State Park.
10:06 - They are at about milepost 5 off north shore. Not moving towards the park right now. -Hayley McCallum Coronel
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Rick McPherson
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Belfair State Park
Direction of travel : East then returning west
Behaviors observed: Traveling and possibly hunting. Seemed like they went through some. Fish and
turned slightly. Lots of seagulls near the area
If orcas, any males?: At least 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
09:57 - Two spotted headed east by Happy Hollow on the south shore! -Kelsey Bright
*
09:52 - Passed 6.5 miles west of Belfair about five minutes ago. Headed toward Belfair State Park. -Marci Johnson
*
09:33 - They just passed by Twanoh, moving fast! Eastbound. -Raynn Maegik
*
08:56 - Just seen at mile post 12.5 on North Shore, heading east. Close to north shore. I saw one huge fin, neighbor saw three. -Tori Dulemba
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08:46 - We just saw them pass by the 13 mile marker on North Shore! Heading east very fast. -Karen Szymanski Eschbach
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Eddy Arsene
Date of Sighting: September 03, 2023
Time: 8:40 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Tahuya
Direction of travel : East
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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08:30 - Two just passed by Alderbrook on their way toward Twanoh. Going quickly with the tide. -Patty Thomas Baker
*
08:00 - We saw two heading east from Union, WA. -Matt Hawley
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MINKE WHALES
Sun, Sep 3 - Admiralty Inlet - 15:40 - 16:08 - Watching a minke hang out right around the red channel marker buoy off Point Wilson. It’s 16:08 now and I first spotted it around 15:40. It hasn’t moved from the spot between the buoy and the point (closer to the buoy) so no direction to give. Likely feeding? -Holly Weinstein
*
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun, Sep 3 - Possession Sound (BCZ0478/CRC19189 Annabelle) - I've lived in this area for 46 years and it was my first ever whale sighting! Whale spotted [by] Port Gardner. -photo by Michele Pearson, September 3, 2023

September 2
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype)
Sat, Sep 2 - BC
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Matthew Roux
Date of Sighting: September 02, 2023
Time: 6:35 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Bonniebrook Beach, Camp Byng, Gibsons B.C
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Spotted pod of possibly three orcas. One male, female and possible baby, while on a 12 foot tin boat, about 30 meters out from vessel
Photos available?: No
*
Sat, Sep 2 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 2 11:15 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon):  49.57997, -124.01361 [Sunshine Coast] 
Number Sighted: 4
Photos:
Submitter Name: Angelina
Whale Alert App -photo by Angelina, September 2, 2023
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Sat, Sep 2 - Strait of Georgia
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 2 15:14 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.79854,-123.03510 [East of Tumbo Island, BC]
Number Sighted: 2
Submitter Name: kyra
Whale Alert App
*
Sat, Sep 2 - Gulf Islands, BC
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Bill Cindy Jenks
Date of Sighting: September 02, 2023
Time: 12:25 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: N49 degrees 38.3 mins/W124degrees 42.9 mins off Denman Island
Direction of travel : Northwest
Behaviors observed: Traveling northwest, one whale tale slap,
If orcas, any males?: One baby, one adult and one significantly larger fin
Any unusual markings?: Not close enough, .5 mile away
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: So exciting! Beautiful to be a part of their habitat.
Photos available?: No
*
Sat, Sep 2 - Hood Canal (T65As) - 20:01 - Visible from Eagle Creek still southbound. -Candace Gavin
*
19:58 - They are off Dewatto headed south. -Sue Rand
*
19:30 - There still heading south, on the other side of the canal.  -Cathy Weirather
*
19:17 - One passed about ten minutes ago. Jorstad Creek.  Haven’t seen any others yet. -Heidi Miles Dyer
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18:30 - Just spotted at least two passing south across Camp RW property. -Molly Carle
*
18:02 - Stalled half mile south of Triton Cove, much closer to west side. -Hongming Zheng
*
17:19 - Can see fins and blows midchannel to the other side from Triton Cove Tidelands lines of sight Kitsap Guillemot reserve. Still southbound. -Candace Gavin
*
17:06 - Just passed the Duckabush. Still headed south. -Holly Knoll Gindhart
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16:00 - 17:00 - We could see three whales, traveling south from the Dosewallips to the Duckabush. The whale watching boats were with them. Pictures are from the east side of the canal, looking west. -photos by Karen Baughman, September 2, 2023
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16:39 - T65A2 Ooxjaa is closest to the east side of the canal by himself about a half mile in front of his brothers.
16:32 - Update [approx. 47.661532, -122.886372]. T65A3 and A5. The others are out in front of them by about a half mile.
16:10 - Update southbound [approx. 47.680309, -122.882214]. T65A3 and A5 are closest to mid-channel offshore and T65A, A2, A4, and A6 are a bit closer to the Brinnon side. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
*
16:06 - Southbound, west side of Hood Canal. -Cheri Lynn
*
16:02 - The rest of the pod was about three quarter of a mile to the west of my map spot closer to shore but they are catching up to the other two now and still southbound.
15:47 - We have T65A3 and T65A5 southeastbound at my map spot [approx. 47.700232, -122.882214]. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
*
15:17 - Seeing some of the pod. Two for sure, maybe three. Still midchannel moving southbound for now [approx. 47.716889, -122.848562]. -Candace Gavin
*
15:15 - They are almost to Brinnon - near shore. -Christine Krause Manzo
*
14:31 - Seeing some fins from Scenic Beach, all the way out, hard to tell direction. -Danielle Naaman
*
13:47 - They just passed Point Whitney. -Maddy Rude
*
13:47 - They were about 400 yards from us. Moving at a good pace now. They are heading south and more east [approx. 47.756990, -122.846928]. -Sonja Hemmerling
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kirie Pedersen
Date of Sighting: September 02, 2023
Time: 1:30 PM
Species seen: Bigg's/transients
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Dabob Bay up near Tarboo, then Whitney Point, then traveling south to area between Whitney & Pulali Point where they fed for about an hour then continued south
Direction of travel : Saw whale boats headed into Tarboo, friend texted from Whitney to say whales were there, whales then traveled to in front of us
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
*
12:25 - We left the scene already but here is my last map spot [approx. 47.816537, -122.816298] for T65A, A2, A4, and A6. They either caught another seal or they saved the first one for mom and little sister to enjoy with them. They were definitely eating again as we left about a half mile south of where they killed seal number one. T65A3, and A5 were over on the east side of Dabob Bay and they never joined the others on the west side eating their meal/s.
12:15 - T65A and T65A6 are racing back down south to join T65A2 and A4 at the same location as my 11:37 map.
12:00 - T65A2 and T65A4 killed a seal and are currently eating and slowly southbound from my last map post. The other family members are closer to the very north end of Dabob Bay.
11:37 - Still northbound [approx. 47.815303, -122.815889].
11:34 - At least two other family members are across from us on the east side of Dabob Bay. Spotty cell coverage is making it hard to post and some of my posts seem to be disappearing unpublished because of that.
11:07 - T65A, T65A4, and T65A6 are the three we have seen so far where my [11:00] map shows.
11:00 - They appear to be in search mode looking for prey [approx. 47.774623, -122.826553]. Lots of porpoise are around. Northbound. -Bart Rulon Art & Photography
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Mary Jean Ryan
Date of Sighting: September 02, 2023
Time: 10:45 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Off Tabook Point in Dabob Bay
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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09:30 - Two midchannel by Scenic Beach boat ramp. Big male and smaller female. -Tina O'Brien
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09:16 - Three in front of Oak Head made a kill. Now headed towards Dabob. Another group west side headed into Dabob. -Kathy Cole
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T65A2 Ooxjaa & T65A4 Ellifrit - T65A4 Ellifrit - T65As in Dabob Bay. -photos by Kyla Bivens, September 2, 2023
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T65A2 Ooxjaa - 08:15 - In front of Black Point heading north. -photos by Shauna Bryant, September 2, 2023
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08:10 - I’ve been watching them from a distance after you posted. There is one mid channel and it looked like about three towards the east side all heading north. I'm assuming towards Dabob Bay. -Lisa Abaravich Warnock
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T65A2 Ooxjaa - 07:25 - Off Triton Point this morning heading north. -photo by Jerry Hall, September 2, 2023
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Sat, Sep 2 - Puget Sound - 11:30 - Two orcas spotted at Point-No-Point feeding on salmon. Looked like two. Saw dorsals only once as they were under a group of salmon being heavily fished by gulls, boats and shore fishing. Tide was going out and the current was strong westerly around 11:15am. I do not know which direction they were headed after that even with binoculars I never saw them again although I assume they were following the fish with outbound tide. -Sheryl Johnson
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COASTAL KILLER WHALES
Sat, Sep 2 - Oregon Coast 
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Orca Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 2 18:28 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 46.20337,-123.85583 [Columbia River at Astoria]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Vicky
Whale Alert App
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HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat, Sep 2 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Humpback hide and seek today! -Sooke Coastal Explorations -photos by Paul Pudwell, September 2, 2023
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Sat, Sep 2 - Possession Sound
Cascadia Region Whale Sighting
Humpback Sighting:
Sighting Time: Sat Sep 2 14:57 PDT
Sighting User Reported Location (Lat/Lon): 48.01332,-122.28014 [Between Hat & Jetty Islands]
Number Sighted: 1
Submitter Name: Matthew Sheehan
Whale Alert App