October 2014 Whale Sightings

Summarized Sightings map HERE

October 31
We did a wide sweep south and west and eventually caught up with a group of three humpback whales off of Becher Bay (ten miles SW of Victoria). Three is pretty much the largest group we see humpbacks traveling in. So I immediately thought that it might be the same trio. Upon closer inspection we concluded that two of the humpbacks were the same, but they had a new buddy! Again, this is pretty typical of humpbacks; they're not social, and they don't form long-lived bonds. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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As we were returning to the harbour we were paralleling the Coho ferry (Victoria to Port Angeles) when we spotted Pacific white-sided dolphins riding her bow! - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

October 30
We found humpbacks! Three of them! Now, that might not sound like a lot, but remember, humpbacks are not social whales. They don't travel in pods (that's a dolphin thing). They congregate in large numbers around their breeding grounds and in their feeding grounds, but that doesn't make them social. They don't travel with the same individuals for long periods; mothers and calves are rarely seen together after they're weaned! There were two big ones and one small one, so it was likely a mother and calf pair, and another one, apparently just hanging out. These guys appeared to be actively feeding as there were massive bait balls ALL OVER THE PLACE. Gulls and Common murres just going crazy over schools of bait fish, and humpbacks going right through the middle of it all. Quite the sight. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

October 29
On my likely the last working day on the Western Prince (for the season), we were treated to amazing weather, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, and 3 Humpbacks that breached just as we started to pull away. Just amazing today! - Traci Walter Photography

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10 am - Lags outside of Friday Harbor!! In San Juan channel staying put currently playing with us. There's prob 100 of them spread out. Looks like they're slowly heading north. - Heather MacIntyre

October 28
October 27
So. Residents at Alden Bank (between Bellingham and Vancouver) going North. - Capt. James Maya

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Maia of WA State Ferries called at 9 am to report a pod of 15 -20 orcas in Rosario Strait, reported by the Elwha, as they were coming out of the San Juan Islands into the traffic lanes headed into Anacortes. The pod was traveling northbound.

October 26
Illuminated exhalations of the Southern Resident killer whales as they begin to form into resting lines after porpoising for hours northbound up Puget Sound, from shore in the Richmond Beach neighborhood of Shoreline, Washington. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Orcas seen from the Bremerton-Seattle ferry about 11:45 a.m. Sunday. - Patrick Kerber

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6:23pm - Killer whales off the Kingston ferry right now headed North. One group of 3 traveling together- two bigger one small. At least one male traveling separate from them. - Adrianne Akmajian

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6PM - they were between the oil docks and the Edmonds Ferry terminal, about 1/3rd of the way across from the east side. Slowly working their way north. Saw 3 breaches, a number of spy hops and tail flapping. Estimate about 15-20 individuals. - Casey Burns

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5:55pm - Resting line Connie reported is gorgeous! Line was approx 25 whales at one point and were traveling a bit west of mid channel. Other trailers numbering 3-6 including large male more east of mid channel. These groups slowed around Kingston and huddled up after having porpoised their way northbound spread out up the central Sound. Trailers passing Kingston/Pt Wells as sun drops behind clouds. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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5:53 - Marina Park in Edmonds seeing them way out across the channel. All I can see are blows but what a beautiful evening. northbound still. - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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5:47 - seem to have formed up into a resting line just south of Point Wells. Very slowly moving north.
5:08 - orcas visible south of Kingston heading north a a steady pace. Mid channel or east of mid channel. Only seeing blows and splashes. - Connie Bickerton

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5:45 - they were heading north between Kingston and Edmonds. - Kandi Delos Santos

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5:45 - Big group of whales have joined each other and are moving thru the nets as a tight knit group. Still south of ferry line but north of yellow mid channel buoy.
5:32 - Whales are approaching Kingston ferry line and seiners nets. They are heading north. - Dianne Dee Iverson

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5:35 - Few still visible south of yellow channel buoy south of Kingston, mid channel, heading north. Can't count numbers, visible with binoculars from Lafayette on Bainbridge Is. - Jeff Jirsa

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5:30 - a large contingent still in a gillnet minefield off Apple Tree Cove, shallow and near-constant blows. Hopefully they're just feeding and not getting tangled up.
5:15 - now getting dangerously close to several gill netters off Kingston. Hope they don't get too wrapped up.
4:55 - The leader is heading north 'tween Meadow Point and the Old Degaussing Station, closer to Kitsap side fetching Apple Tree Cove. Waaaay closer to the Kitsap side! - Ben Blankenship

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5PM - Kingston! We are on President Point and a whole pod just went by northbound very close to shore. They were so close I could hear them spouting! - Chris Beamer Otterson

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Off President pt about 5:00pm. Some of the whales are coming up to the nets. the nets are stretched east-west on this side of the channel. - Joanne Graves

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Our boat sighted 3 adult orcas on the Sound at 16:50 hrs. heading north. 17:00 hours - 8-10 adults hugging the shoreline on the Kitsap side over at Jefferson Beach. - Noelle McNoodle

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4:30 - Off Carkeek, closer to west side of sound. Breach and blows! Whoohoo! Northbound fast travel. - Bethany Ryals

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4:24 - Just north of Faye, a few big breaches, still trending north. - Jen Walters

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4:12 - spotted close to Bainbridge straight over from the north end of Golden Gardens. - Alison Bazeley

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4:11 - We are seeing a lot from Fay Bainbridge. Still feeding. Heading toward Kingston.
3:19 - Whales visible from fay bainbridge. Heading north. - Dianne Dee Iverson

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3:57 - Orcas off Fay Bainbridge!! Heading north ... Mid channel. - Cindy Campbell Russell

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5:00 PM - Orcas sighted President Pt Rd Kingston. 2 pods, approximately 12 or so, heading north but what was concerning were the gill-net boats that had strung their nets across the sound except for mid channel the orcas were heading for the nets when one of the boats started to chase the one pod and he came extremely close to several of the orcas which was quite concerning. I wish they would stop gill netting in the sound for the safety of those beautiful animals. - Margaret Steen

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3:45 - Viewing near Rolling Bay. Lots of foraging behavior. Should be able to see from Fay Bainbridge now. Spread out big time! - Susan Marie Andersson

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5:00 - from Kayu Kayu/Richmond Beach can see leaders west of mid channel and just north of yellow mid channel buoy. So between Kingston and Jefferson Head. Appears they've all/most moved west of mid channel more Kitsap side.
4:25 - from high point view north of Carkeek can see blows spread out still powering northbound across channel between us and Port Madison.
3:35 - Meadow Point/Golden Gardens can see blows, fins or bodies of easily 30 plus mid channel and to each side in a line northbound....south of directly west sightline Faye Bainbridge. Ed saw a breach
3:05 - from West Point/Discovery park watched one adult male. Northbound close to this side. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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3:30 - large group moving north past Murden Cove, Bainbridge. - Kim McCormick Osmond

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3:36pm - Lots of blows visible from Sunset Hill (northwest corner of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle). Coming up on the sailboats, heading north. - Megan Campbell-Miller

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Saw them from Discovery park around 3! - Jennifer Riker

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2:48 - coming into view from corner of valley rd and manitou beach rd on Bainbridge.
2:35 - watching from Murden cove on Bainbridge seeing them in line with downtown Seattle - foraging 7+ including at least two big males. - Lynn Batson

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Just spotted @14:31 6+ Orcinus orca from Magnolia bluff - closer to Bainbridge side. A few whales, including the two large males are moving closer to magnolia green buoy, but group is still widespread across the the sound. Activity varied from milling, slow travel, spy hops, and a few breaches. - Heather McRae Tabisola

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Around 2:30 - northbound between Bainbridge and Discovery park/Shilsole. - Connie Bickerton

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2:30 - just left Creosote, big male passing mouth of Eagle harbor heading north, very close to Bainbridge side with others further out mid channel. - Andrew Mason Greager

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2:06 - Large pod moving north off of Wing Point (Eagle Harbor) on Bainbridge Island. At least 10. - Leah Boyan

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Afternoon - I could see no fewer than 10, most likely more, Orcas moving north from my home above Shilshole Marina. The Orcas were at least two miles "out" headed towards Jefferson Head. Wonderful. A few breaches, mostly just cruzing along though. Boat traffic stopped except for the very large container ship. - Gary Littlefield

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1:41 - Good size group mid channel north of Bainbridge ferry lane. Milling a bit but heading north. Sailboats right on top of em. - Andrew Mason Greager

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1:39 - They were spread out appeared to be just hanging out if any direction maybe north but not obvious. - Rick JR Mayberry

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1:33 - Just spotted slightly north of Blakely Rocks, from Bainbridge Ferry. - Lianne Morgan

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1:30 - Orcas reported by Kayla Black near Restoration Point, Bainbridge Island, mostly milling and foraging, but trending northward.

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1:06 - At Rockaway - can see dorsal fins in front of the sailboat near Alki. - Kerry Carson

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1:43 - the group of at least 8 are heading north approaching Eagle harbor.
1:04 - The group I saw an hour ago is back in the same spot, off of Rockaway beach on Bainbridge just south of coastguard marker. Crazy!
12:14 - I just saw four. 2 males, 2 females milling and slowly drifting south from my house above Rockaway. Just went out of view. This may be a big group! I saw the four at 11:50-12. Out of view south just after that, but you'd be able to see them from Rockaway- I just have a big tree in my way. The were def. closer to Bainbridge. I was watching from the beach from
10:15-11:15 and saw them spread out, the leaders of the group south of Alki lighthouse and a male back by Magnolia. Was surprised to see them again. It's really choppy so it's hard to track. They could have turned back or I think there's a good chance that it's a big group spread out... - Heather Polverino

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11:43 - We have eyes on at least one fin from Beach Dr! Right in front of the Bermerton ferry. - Emily Coté

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11:14 - Over by the light house (west end of Alki). Saw two dorsal fins before the rain squall rolled in. - Anne Kurt

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Large pod of orcas seen off south side of Hyatt ferry during 11:10 am sailing from Bremerton to Seattle. Large pod observed swimming rapidly southward. No breach behaviors observed in the rough open water, seen by passengers, crew of Hyatt Ferry. - Sheila Guizzetti

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11:02 - Just realized not the same ferry. I saw one midway between Anacortes and Friday Harbor! - Rachel Shaver

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11 am - Whales just passed in front of the ferry near Bainbridge heading south. - Lisa Lutz Kniginyzky

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10:35am - Orcas sighted mid sound from Bainbridge ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge stopped mid sound to watch what appeared to be a full pod with both young and old whales. At least 6 to 8 whales visible, but difficult to count. Several Spy Hops! - Rusty Lhamon

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10:40 - Maia of WA State Ferries called to report 4 or 5 orca mid-channel in the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry lane, moving slowly south.

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It sounds like this is a pretty big group. Granny's clan leading as far south as Fauntleroy about 12:15 when I stopped watching. It's just after noon and they are approaching Fauntleroy now. Very hard to see from Bainbridge though. Still widely spread out, but moving slowly southward.
11:00 - Seattle side now. Very spread out and foraging. Moving slowly south, J2 in lead. L87 hanging out near Hanjin ship.
10:47 - Okay, got em. Mid channel-- Argosy with them
10:30 - Bainbridge side- Rockaway. ferry riders should get good look. Some foraging. It's so blustery out here! Hard to see. I saw one breach in front of Space Needle. Can't find now. - Susan Marie Andersson

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Dave Carney of the Victoria Clipper reported 5 - 6 orcas southbound in the north-bound traffic lanes right off Shilshole (Ballard/N of Seattle) heading south.

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9:45 am - there have been a couple pretty tight in on the Bainbridge side as they approach Skiff point headed south.
9:35am - Just spotted one passing West Point lighthouse mid channel headed south - looking for more. - Lynn Batson

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0850 .. Currently watching Orcas straight out from Fay Bainbridge Park, Bainbridge Island .. mid-channel. LOTS of surface activity but very little breaching and spy hopping. Slowly drift southwards. They are in front of a large white ship that is staying back from them but observing. - Tim Cuddy

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Approximately 8:40 pm, a male humpback whale, made feeding sounds over the Lime Kiln hydrophones. - Jeanne Hyde

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Hands down one of the best humpback encounters I have ever had. Spent the afternoon with at least NINE different humpbacks between Stuart, Moresby, and Pender Island. They were socializing, wrestling, breaching, pec slapping, tail slapping, cartwheeling, kelping, aerial scanning, tail waving, lunging, and rolling!!! Never seen anything like it!! - Melisa Pinnow

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This morning Mark went east from Victoria and picked up a mother and calf humpback in Haro Strait. The mothers and calves are getting harder to tell apart from the pairs of adults we sometimes see. The calves have grown so much since the beginning of the season! Which of course is what we like to see! Out west there were like 5 humpbacks between Victoria and Race Rocks! Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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11:05 am - Just spotted a humpback whale off Mandarte Island. - Josh McInnes

October 25
4:50 - seeing a couple from Kingston ferry terminal. - Travis Miller

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4:20 pm - Roxanne Dalla Pozza called to report a good sized pod, including young ones, was sighted 1/4 miles south of the Eglon boat ramp (near Kingston) heading south between Eglon & Kingston.

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3:40-4 - one very large male - heading south from Point No Point, very fast rate of speed. No longer visible here. - Diane Russell

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Good job Steve Smith and Durand Dace- it was cold and very wet at PNP but we were SO BLESSED with Orcas swimming south at a good clip in small groups of 2-4, a porpoise pod, harbor seals, and a river otter. Did anyone catch a clear photo of the large seabirds that were fishing about 50 yards off the beach? Trying to i.d., have not seen them before. I did not have my camera of course Nice to finally meet some fellow Orca enthusiasts in the field. - Donna Green Van Renselaar

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3:22 - We're seeing whales at Point No Point. - Elyse Margaret

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Distant spyhop seen from Point No Point. - Steve Smith

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3:25 - I believe all or most orcas are now south of the Hood canal entrance, along the north shore of the Kitsap Peninsula between Foulweather Bluff (earning its name today!) and Point No Point. But the rain and clouds have taken over, can barely see the water now - hope they travel close to shore further south so we know what direction they go after they pass Pt. No Point!
2 pm - saw first orcas here off our place just south of Bush Pt - more reported by Jan Bell and Elsa Leavitt coming down from Bush Pt. Unfortunately pouring rain and diminishing visibility have arrived with the whales! But seeing lots of tail lobs,direction changes and foraging behavior - no wonder it has taken them so long to get down here! That is GREAT news, as it appears there are a lot of fish for them out there - yay!! - Susan Berta

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L91 and L82 heading south past the west side of Whidbey, from Bush Pt. - Rachel Haight

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2:00 PM - Orca off Whidbey Island. Spotted about 25-30 orcas early afternoon off Lagoon Pt. moving south. Looks like they were just traveling and playing. Some breaching. Widely distributed across sound. - Roxane Webb

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What a treat! A graceful parade of Southern Resident orcas in Admiralty Inlet today. We saw porpoising, spy-hops, numerous resounding tail-slaps, breaches and waving pecs as they made their way steadily south past Lagoon Point around 12:30 pm, some in small groups, others a little more spread out, with a few foraging stops along the way. Good to see so many people enjoying the magnificent spectacle of our iconic whales in the wild, hopefully finding plenty of food on their travels. - Sandra Pollard, Whidbey Island

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11:14 - Just spotted them....their just north of the lighthouse at Fort Casey......maybe 3/4 of a mile off shore. - Dan Gulden

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12:07 - There are orcas spread out all over....it's crazy! Even some breaching.
11:03 - Mark Ripley at Ebey's Landing on Whidbey Island sees quite a few orcas just entering Admiralty Inlet, heading south near Pt. Wilson, north of Port Townsend.

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9:08 - Approx 20 Orcas @ 9 am between Pt. partridge and Ebey's Landing heading south...spread out ~ 1-2 miles from shore. - Al Luneman

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Between 8:00-8:40am - Orca Sighting-Libbey Beach Area. Spotted 30+ Orcas traveling south in the area just north of Libbey Beach/Point Partridge. - Brenda Dewey

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It was such an intense day! It really felt like fall out there.....choppy seas, cold wind, baker covered in snow and, of course, WHALES! Got to hang out with none other than my favourite group of Biggs, the T137's with the T36A's right outside of Active Pass, in the Strait of Georgia. They spent most of the encounter hunting a seal. The matriarchs and the big guy, T137A, stayed out for the most part and let the kids do the work. It was amazing to see the school of carnage take place before our eyes. - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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Got to hang out with a couple Humpbacks in the Strait of Georgia (BCZ0180 and a friend who never fluked). The cartwheel from BCZ0180 was pretty sweet. - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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7 humpback whales in the vicinity of Race Rocks, Vctoria BC. A mother and her calf were spotted 1/4 west of race rocks at 2pm. Another mother and her calf were spotted parallel to the other mother and calf just a mile behind. A single humpback was spotted 1 mile south of race rocks at roughly the same time. Another single humpback was spotted roughly 2 miles south east of the Victoria harbor inlet. All humpbacks appear to be traveling south east east on a heading of 100* at roughly 4-8 knots. - Woody Tongrugs

October 24
3:17 - Just saw four or five transient orcas from the ferry! They made a kill at the north end of Decatur Island (Rosario Strait). - Melisa Pinnow

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2:54 - Few spouts spotted on the Chelan about fifteen minutes outside of Anacortes! (in Rosario Strait) - Danielle Vance

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Humpbacks just south of Victoria. There was a pair travelling very quickly in no particular direction. They were a bit all over the place initially, and had the unusual habit of showing their flukes on the second breath and then not diving. While odd, this worked out great for us because we got twice as many looks at the flukes, which are everybody's favourite part of the humpback. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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Lags!!!! Pacific White-sided dolphins! Boundary Pass today, 4:00. James Mead Maya

October 23
We saw at least 12 different whales! Peak humpback season is still in full swing as we approach the end of October. These guys are obviously finding some good feeding areas and filling up their stomachs before they head south. Humpback whales all over the world split their time between the high latitudes in the summer months (far north or south) and nearer the equator in the winter. They only feed while in the feeding grounds, so they need to eat as much as they can before they head for warmer, but nutrient poor waters. This amazing migration will begin any day now, and it won't be until July that we see these remarkable mammals again. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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5:28 pm - 2..maybe 3 Humpbacks off in the distance, middle of Haro Strait...can only see huge blows...northbound. Also saw several lags...northbound...splashing along...off Land Bank..first sighted about 5pm. - Vicky Doyle

October 22
6:25 - Orcas off Bush Point, traveling north! - Lisa Kois

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6:14 - They are going by Bush Point now. - Tim Oliver

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6 or 6:15 - Saw the trailers heading north between S. Marrowstone Island and south Bush Pt. Several males, slow travel, lots of tail lobs, splashing, direction change, lunging and foraging behavior. So glad the clouds and rain cleared enough for us to see them, and they came by before dark!
5:44 - Heavy foraging going on, whales spread out with lots of direction changes and tail lobs. They must have been fishing and moving pretty slow getting here - took 3 hours to get here from Double Bluff (4.5 miles)!
5:19 - more in closer to Whidbey now, some backtracking, indicating foraging.
At 5:15 Susan scanned Admiralty Inlet and saw a big male moving north, followed by several females, closer to the Whidbey side, headed north and maybe 1 hour or less away from Bush Point. - Orca Network

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5:38 - Out in front of Windmill Heights, 2 miles south of Bush Point, heading north. - Dennis Allen

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2:28 - Sandra Pollard reports seeing a huge breach from Shore Meadows, on the north side of Mutiny Bay, looking toward Point No Point and Hansville, The breach was on the Hansville side.

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1:50 - Just heard from friends at the Hansville General Store that 5 Orcas went by Norwegian Point, heading west. - Mark Barabasz

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1:32 - Point no point! Right now, feeding! - Dianne Dee Iverson

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1:57 - They appear to be foraging, no direction.
1:29 - At Norwegian pt. now. - Elyse Margaret

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1:21 - orcas at Point No Point, fairly close in. - Connie Bickerton

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11:26 - 2 strays heading north past the inlet passing between Edmonds and Whidbey! - Janine Harles

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11:05 - From Sunset ave in Edmonds seeing at least 6 still northbound mid channel with others further north. They appear to be veering towards Admiralty. (have seen no fins keeping east). Looking a little clear up Admiralty...enjoy. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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10:58 - I see them from the Edmonds fishing pier. Still heading north and spread out. Some close enough to see without binoculars. Can't wait to see which way they go! - Sara Troyer

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10:56 - John Rogstad reports the Walla Walla is continuing to Kingston and sees more orcas heading north near Apple Tree Cove.
10:48 - John Rogstad of WA State Ferries reports the ferry Walla Walla on the Edmonds/Kingston run has found at least four orcas heading north, mid-channel. The captain stopped the ferry and is trying to get photos.

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10:49 - Heading north, still a couple just south of ferry crossing, others moving north. - Karen Knight

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10:45 - They are at the Edmonds/Kingston ferry crossing right now. - Abigail Anderson

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10:36 - Just north of buoy SF approaching Kingston. The Victoria Clipper stopped to observe them. - John Slomnicki

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Spotted Orca from the 10:25 ferry sailing from Kingston! - Jen Kingfisher

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1020-1030 - I saw 2 from Point Wells/Kayu Kayu Park, blows and fins!!!! heading N. to Edmonds.. YAY!!!! - Joni Barnes Pollino

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9:58 - whales passing escorted sub.
9:48 - seeing whales north bound from Richmond beach. Mid channel spread. - Whitney Neugebauer

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1040 - still streaming past Edmonds/Kingston northbound spread out in small groups. Stormy out here.
10:00 - see at least a dozen spread across channel. Northbound nearing Kingston/Edmonds. Submarine southbound.
9:48 - Some east of mid channel northbound passing Richmond beach. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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9:24 - See them east of President Point Kingston.....look to be heading to Shilshole area. - Chris Beamer Otterson

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8:30 - 3-4 Orca foraging/traveling mid-channel between Fay-bridge and Shilshole. Pretty spread out. Northbound. - Lance King

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Sighting of approx. 3 orcas on 7:05 Bainbridge ferry, heading towards Bainbridge/Eagle Harbor! - Laura Alexander Wittig

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Fortuitous encounter with T137s and T36As. This is T137D peeking. - Tasli Shaw

October 21
J31 south of Race Rocks. - Mark Malleson

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5:00 PM - 2 Orca sighted in Puget Sound from the Seattle to Bainbridge WSF (16:40 sailing), traveling, breaching, playing, - Glen Walton

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7:02 pm - We were out at Alki Point. Last we saw, they were heading out toward Vashon. - Dan Stephens

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SRKWs in front of Discovery park lighthouse in Seattle. - Jill Rotset

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6:05 pm - Southern Resident killer whales. For 75 minutes from atop Magnolia bluff I watched dozens of those beauties stream south. Please care for their (and our) home waters, they are really struggling to thrive. - Alisa Lemire Brooks October 21 6:13 - Yep. I've got about 6 or so spread out moving thru ferry lanes. 5:58 - Seeing some nearing north end of Vashon. Mid channel by water taxi. Amy Carey

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5:49 - Orca watching from the Vashon water taxi, whales between Fauntleroy and Vashon docks! - Amanda Lund

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5:37 - We can see them very spread out (from Bainbridge side watching north of Rockaway), from Seattle all the way south toward Vashon... Several whales!!! - Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn

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5:32 - I've been at the south end of Eagle Harbor for close to an hour and a half and it seems like they keep coming south. Last group looked to be foraging off Elliot bay. - Connie Bickerton

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5:14 pm - Straight out from Eagle harbor as ferry is making turn inbound. Heading south. Pod southbound spotted from 4:40 Seattle to Bainbridge boat. - Amy Fowler

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5:08 - ohh im seeing lots of water spouts off the north point of Alki now - Rick JR Mayberry

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5pm - Seattle-Bainbridge ferry. We just passed through the pod on the south side of the boat, mid channel, heading south, spread out. I captured one good iphone pic through the ferry window. - Tim Cuddy

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4:31 - Most I can see are still headed south, and are past Duwamish head, heading towards Alki and perhaps Vashon.
4:16 - watching a few headed south across Elliot bay, and listening to a bald eagle.
3:46 - very spread out east to west and north to south.passing West Point.
3:31 - leaders passing West Point, more coming from the north. - Connie Bickerton

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4:49 - Lots of them between downtown and Bainbridge right now. - Steve Smith

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5:46 - I would safely say dozens. I have been watching them stream by for 75 minutes.
5:40 - still some individuals heading south just passing Eagle Harbor approaching ferry lanes. Wow!
5:15 - I am seeing blows and fins some out middle between Alki and Restoration Pt. (Bainbridge). Some at Restoration and some out from Eagle harbor and at least one adult male just approaching Eagle Harbor. They are everywhere, mostly traveling in alone or in pairs (at surface anyhow).
4:40 - still coming from north of entrance to Elliot Bay/Eagle Harbor. Foraging behavior below me from Magnolia bluff east of mid channel. So many whales!!!
4:15 - very spread out in all directions. Have some east and west of mid channel and north and south of Eagle Harbor.
4:05 - from Magnolia bluff have seen a few mid channel out from Eagle Harbor. one breach wrst of mid channel in front of harbor. All still steady south bound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks

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4:40 - Seeing whales mid channel between Bainbridge and Elliot bay. - Rebecca Benson

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4:40 p.m. - Orca sighting from the Seattle-Bainbridge (Walla Walla) ferry, about 12 to 15 individuals, between Alki and Blakely Harbor, feeding and playing? - Ken Wiersema

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Breach spotted from back of Bainbridge-bound ferry (4:40 departure from Seattle). It was a full-on orca traffic jam! So amazing! - Amy Fowler

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4:34 - looking from Rockaway Beach seeing fins just crossed Elliot Bay Marina - looks like a small boat following from what I can see on Bainbridge. Between marina and space needle. - Katie Schmelzer

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4:28 - Approaching West Seattle. - Joshua Trujillo

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4:16 - Several breaches just north of Blakely Rock at edge of Eagle Harbor.
3:39 - Just saw a couple of breaches midchannel off West Point. Watching from Vashon. - Wild Northwest Beauty Photography

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Pod of approximately 30 individuals headed south off Yeomalt Point (Bainbridge Island) between 1530 and 1630. - Doug Seitz

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From Discovery Park. My two boys (7 & 4) could spot them from shore without binoculars or parent direction. Really amazing. They were super excited. Possibly even moreso than their orca-looney mom. - Kathleen Bean

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4:23 - A few more (4 or 5) passed 20-min later. There may be as many as 20, very spread out. Also saw a fishing boat tailing two.
3:45pm - They've passed the Discovery Park lighthouse, continuing south with a steady pace. some still visible from shore here, but just barely. - Kathleen Bean

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3:40pm - watching a few orcas (saw 4 so far) going past Skiff Point on Bainbridge Island right now - spread out mid channel and closer to Bainbridge, heading south at a decent pace. - Lynn Batson

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3:23 - Whales approaching West Point/ discovery park. East of shipping lane. - Mike Kane

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3:29 - Seeing the last couple of a large, spread out group passing Golden Gardens now. Still mid-channel heading south. Great viewing from above the GG bluff today! - Jennifer Greiner Clark

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Orcas were nearing Carkeek Park/N Seattle at around 3 pm heading south into Puget Sound.

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2:46 - I think the male and female in the rear just went by Carkeek. - Janine Harles

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2:56 - still several whales north of Carkeek headed south. At least one male in the group.
2:42 - there are more moving south, still north of Carkeek/Fay Bainbridge line. This group is on the west side of midchannel. Big breach!
2:10 - I think they are south of the yellow buoy that is north of Point Wells. Really hard to pick up from this vantage. - Connie Bickerton

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3:27 - Large group (10+?) and very spread out in all directions. They've left my sight line now and they're passing Shilshole Marina still headed south. Still a straggler or two passing GG.
2:30 - Spotted them about mid channel between Golden Gardens and just north of Fay Bainbridge. I'm up on the bluff above GG with big binocs. Estimating about 5-6 orcas. One group of 5 and a male flanking them at a slight distance to the east. - Jennifer Greiner Clark

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2:38 - Counted at least six, spread out and heading south at full power, midchannel between Golden Gardens and the north end of Bainbridge Island. Make that eight or nine, only one of which seemed to be a big male.
2:33 - Wow! They are heading south, midchannel between Meadowpoint and Suquamish with porpoise. I'm sorry, with purpose.
1:54 - Splashy splashsy! Spread out on the line between Meadow Point and Point No Point, range and heading unknown but sort of near the yellow mid-channel buoy. - Ben Blankenship

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2:29 - Big male just went by and now another small group behind him. 2:24 - Just had about 4 pass Carkeek on west side...haven't seen the big male that was in the rear of group yet...- Janine Harles

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1:24 - A few passing center channel past Kingston heading south. - Travis Miller

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12:47 - Seeing more heading south in line with Apple tree from Edmonds marina. Spread out.
12:40 - seeing them heading west ish from Edmonds marina park. - Whitney Neugebauer

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12:38 - Found a couple on the Kingston side strait across from Edmonds ferry terminal. - Michelle Goll

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10:58 - Visibility has waned. Saw one group pass mid channel at Norwegian Point. - Elyse Margaret

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10:57 - We're at Point No Point watching them across by Mutiny Bay heading East. - Christy Deich Mackey

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11:12 - still lots of breaches.
10:54 - Mid channel - spread out across Useless bay, heading south.
10:40 - spread out along Double Bluff and Mutiny Bay. Saw maybe 8 in the first group with 2 big males. No idea on the other groups. Second group passing PNP headed south. Wind and rain making visibility poor.
10:30 - breaches off Mutiny Bay as viewed from Point No Point! Good thing they are breaching, with the chop I pretty sure we wouldn't be seeing them.
9:59 - First group just now passing Point No Point heading south. Visibily about to go to zero. - Connie Bickerton

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We watched at least a dozen orcas from Mutiny Bay traveling south in Admiralty Inlet at a pretty fast clip between 9:45 and 10:30 am. The whales were fairly close together, some in small groups, with at least two mature males among them. LOTS of energetic breaching and a couple of spy-hops. We saw a couple more breaches from Double Bluff, and then lost sight of them among the white-caps. - Sandra Pollard

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9:10 am - Update - Orcas at Bush Point. There are more... Another, larger group - at least 12 - are just coming by now. Traveling south.
8:45 am - Orcas off Bush Point. Small group. Heading south. - Lisa Kois

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We saw a pod of orca this morning 10:30 am eastern, off the coast of Kill Devil Hills, in the outer banks of North Carolina. There at least 5 of them, heading north. - Joyce Jackson

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Humpbacks were all over the place and being super social! Humpbacks are not social whales like orcas. They generally travel alone, although occasionally join up into feeding groups, and of course congregate in large numbers in their breeding grounds. But it's always a treat for us to see multiple humpbacks together, and today there was hardly a lone humpback to be found! From the Victoria waterfront we found them instantly! Two here, two over there, three over there. Blows everywhere! The water looked like it was steaming. Jeff estimated there were at least 12 whales in the immediate area! All the whales were behaving differently; we had some doing long dives and showing off their flukes. Others staying much longer at the surface, but keeping their flukes hidden. The flukes we did spot revealed a few newcomers to the area! - Jennifer Dickson

October 20
October 19
Orcas in Active Pass. - Karoline Cullen

October 18
They visited us in Sooke around 6:30pm ...along with 5 Transient Orca and 7 Humpback whales in the area...just amazing! - Paul Pudwell

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SRKWs heading west. - Mark Malleson

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J's, K's and L's 3 miles in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, south of Discovery Island, with L95, L115, L83, L110, and L106. - Gary Sutton

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It was a beautiful way to say goodbye for another season. With mom L55 (37 years old) in the middle and her two youngest, L109 (male 7 years old), and L118 (female 3 years old). - Gary Sutton

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1 pm - Simon Pidcock tells us there are lots of residents off Beaumont Shoals (in Haro Strait, east of Victoria) headed westbound toward the ocean. More KW at Constance Bank (in Strait of Juan de Fuca, south of Victoria) inbound. Earlier he reported that all three pods were heard on Port Townsend hydrophones, ending at 4:50 am.

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5:13 - Hugging the Whidbey side. RIGHT off of the Clinton dock right now. Ferry had to swerve out wide to avoid it.
Just now spotted it at 4:50 from Mukilteo. I am above the ferry lanes near the totem pole. The humpback is directly between my location a d Camano head right now. Still off in the distance, but appears to be trending this way, to the south. - Pam Ren

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4:12 - watching the humpback from Langley. HB is closer to Camano and is now south of Camano Head right off the green channel marker buoy. Saw it breach 2 times in a row out in front of Cama Beach around 2 pm. just left it a few minutes ago (2:30ish) and it was mid channel Fox Spit/ Whidbey Side and Camano St Park/Camano Side. - Marilyn Armbruster

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3:37 - Found him through binocs. Several blows then a tail in middle of channel nearing Langley. I think. Saw the humpback blow and dive off south end of Camano island state park a little before 3. Lost him after that. - Krista Paulino

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2:33 - The humpback is on the move south. Saw it breach 2 times in a row out in front of Cama Beach around 2 pm. just left it a few minutes ago (2:30ish) and it was mid channel Fox Spit/ Whidbey Side and Camano St Park/Camano Side.
2 pm - Watching a humpback just north of Cama Beach, Camano Island. 15 min ago it breached twice! I am at Baby Island Heights on Whidbey and pretty much due south of Cama Beach. - Marilyn Armbruster

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1 pm - Large whale (not orca) off Madrona Beach, Camano side quickly heading south. Had a small dorsal and showed flukes, traveled some distance just below surface but not sure of type. - Michele Sarver

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2 pm - Connie Barrett called in a report of a probable humpback in Saratoga Passage on the Camano Island side, just off the Camano State Park, which is opposite Greenbank on the Whidbey side. The whale was heading south, tail-lobbing and breaching along the way. I was at Cama Beach, Saratoga Passage and saw the humpback breach three times. - Debby Welsh

October 17
Orcas were mid channel between Mukilteo and Clinton at about 21:30 hours. I had the pleasure of watching them play off the stern of the ferry. Amazing sight with the lights of Mukilteo behind them. - Scott Weaver

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6:34 - in waning light lead males committed to northbound up Possession Sound, east side of Whidbey with at least 12-15 that we can see behind heading north as well. Hard to see if any headed up Admiralty...all still so spread out. Some of the more westerly groups may have peeled up northwest into Admiralty (or not) but definitely very large group stayed this side of Whidbey. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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Some whales in front of Woodway and Point Edwards (Edmonds). - Cheryl Lynne Langesater

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5:45 - I'm at Richmond beach, just watched several orcas pass through, mid channel. - Dori Dace

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5:50 - Alisa Lemire Brooks is still seeing whales spread out from the Edmonds marina to Point Wells, and some of them started exhibiting feeding behavior (turning, lunging, etc) just before they reached Pt. Wells, but they are continuing their travel north.

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4:24 - I can see them from the green staircase at Carkeek. Not too far out but pretty difficult to see because of the fog. Steadily heading north. - Sara Troyer

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4pm - great (but wet) viewing right now from Bainbridge side - Valley Rd at Manitou Beach Dr. - Lynn Batson

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4:40 - from Carkeek see them between us and Port Madison in small groups spread out across mid channel. Visibility mostly poor but comes and goes with the rain.
3:55 - what looks to be leaders, 2 big boys and female or young guy, mid channel due west of Shilshole marina. Traveling at a steady pace still northbound. Visibility getting worse with this rain.
3:35 - yay! Seeing them porpoising northbound at and north of green buoy off West Point lighthouse! Argosy boat on scene along with noaa still and couple other small boats. - Alisa Lemire Brooks

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3:30 - Orcas seen from the ferry. Most of them have past north through the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry lane. Another great sighting! - Lila Pharis

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Brad Hanson of the NW Fisheries Science Center was with J pod, K pod and some of L pod today from Three Tree Point (south Burien) back north to West Point (north of Seattle). He didn't see any foraging behavior. The whales spread out into groups separated by 1/2 to 3/4 mile by the time they reached the north end of Vashon Island. They may not have found enough chum salmon to continue south as they normally do and and return northward up Colvos Passage. Instead they turned around near Point Robinson.

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3:10 - I watched a group of 3-5(?), through binoculars, closer to Bainbridge-side, from Seattle on the bridge near the Olympic Sculpture Park. - Kaarina Makowski

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Viewed a group of orcas in the center of Elliott Bay from the 3 pm ferry departing Bainbridge. Ferry captain announced it was the best show they'd had all year. Absolutely lovely creatures. I'm always in awe. - Kari Wright

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2:50 - I saw a few of them from Alki Beach and got a couple pictures with my camera. One was pretty close to Alki. Others were closer to Blake Island. - Monica Zaborac

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2:51 - leaders appear to be with NOAA approaching West Point Lighthouse. Trailers are still moving past west Seattle.
2:41 - Watching the orcas pass Elliot bay - very spread out with whales between Elliot bay and south to the yellow buoy. - Connie Bickerton

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John Rogstad of WA State Ferries called at 2:30pm to relay reports of many orcas between Alki Pt. and the Tango buoy, seen from the Hyak ferry on the Bremerton-Seattle run. He said the ferries are slowing down and the ferry passengers are enjoying watching the whales from the deck!

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2:22 - Near Alki lighthouse. Close to shore. Heading north. - Cara Sorensen

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2 pm - Point Robinson, Vashon Island - K21 waving hello! He and J27 were showing off their pecs (pectoral fins). - Kelly Burns Keenan

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1:50 - Assuming they haven't turned back, leaders were nearly to Alki, with a straggler popping up all the way behind the Fauntleroy - Vashon ferry we were on.
1:46 - Still moving steadily north. - Rachel Haight

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1:40 - Whales visible from W Seattle now, close to Vashon Island, west of Lincoln Park. Looks like NOAA following them, Argosy boat stopped ahead of them. - Stephanie Raymond

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1:37 - on the Vashon Ferry with Sally now; they're right ahead, mid-channel. Sweet. They are Really spread out now. - Steve Wharton

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1:26 - In front of Fauntleroy ferry terminal. - Cathy Nelson Winjum

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1:22 - Orcas! At about Fauntleroy dock, heading north, NOAA with them. - Trileigh Tucker

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1:14 - just spotted distant blows and NOAA south of Vashon Ferry as we crossed (heading north still). - Katie Schmelzer

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1 pm - 6-12 orcas spotted in East Passage. Orca Pod heading north through the East Passage. Spotted from home in Shorewood, Burien. Looks like a small research boat following. - Mark Denniston Jr

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12:58 - Whales are all grouped up and just S of the Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry crossing. Moving steadily N. Definitely on the West Seattle side! - Jeff Hogan, Killer Whale Tales

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Saw at least 50 orcas close by Three Tree Point. I am one happy orcaholic! - Rachel Haight

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10:26 - Heading north again just south of Redondo. - Kim Rouse Baumgartner

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This group included Ophelia (L27), Spock (K20), Comet (K38), Muncher (L91), and others - at Three Tree Point.
Marina (L47) (Mystic (L115) was close behind) on the left, Crewser (L92) on the right.
Muncher (L91) surfacing with Spock (K20) on her side behind her.
Cappuccino (K21) - heading south at Three Tree Point. - Sara Hysong-Shimazu

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These pictures were taken from above Three Tree Point in Burien, WA looking across Puget Sound at Vashon Island. The Orcas were traveling north and seemed closer to the west side. There was what the Burien Blog described as a NOAA boat following them. - Elston Hill

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9:45 - I just saw them from north Tacoma near the end of N 45th St. with good binoculars. - Peter Woodward

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The Southern Resident Killer Whales visited Vashon Island today! Here are a couple of them (mother J22, born in 1985, and her son J34, born in 1998) swimming within yards of Point Robinson, with Mount Rainier towering in the distance behind Des Moines.
A classic "ID shot" of J26 Mike, showing his tall, straight dorsal fin and open saddle patch. J26 was born in 1991, and as he matured into adulthood, his dorsal fin "sprouted" from a short curve into this magnificent shape. At the same time (not shown here) his pectoral fins grew larger and more powerful, and the tips of his tail flukes curled downward. These changes make killer whales one of the most sexually dimorphic species.
J38 Cookie, born in 2003, is just starting to sprout his dorsal fin. It will continue to grow taller and straighter in the years to come, helping to identify Cookie and his family. K13 Skagit strutted her stuff with a big cartwheel at Point Robinson this morning! 10 am - They turned north again, closer to east side. - Meg McDonald, Wild Northwest Beauty Photography

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9:17 - Whale soup here at Pt. Robinson! Still heading south. More than 30. - Jessica Pagan

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12:11 - Just nearing 3 tree point. Seattle side and noaa now with them.
10:29 - I'm Going to say it again. Wow. Now all northbound again at Point Robinson.
10 am - Headed north again at Point Robinson.
9:35 - Point Robinson. .. the last group just passed but they are milling some.
8:57 - Leaders nearing Point Robinson. - Amy Carey

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8:58 AM - One is now in between the Des Moines pier and Point Robinson. They are closer to the Des Moines side they are spread out all heading south. 8:40 AM - I see them just north of the Des Moines Marina spreadout midchannel heading south. - Tanya Jackson Esparza

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8:45 AM - Leaders nearing Point Robinson. - Robin Mann

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7:30 - Still in Dilworth spread out across channel. Lots of tail slaps.
7:15 am - They are here!!! 10-12 headed slowly south along the east side of Vashon Island, near Dilworth!! - Aimee Demarest

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Looking towards the Olympic Mountains out through Cattle Pass. Can you spot the orca fin? These transient (marine mammal feeding) orcas had made a kill and the gulls were hanging around to see if they could get any scraps. - Traci Walter, Western Prince

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There were orcas in Friday Harbor, maybe a group of eight, looked like all females (or at least no large males) and they were right across from the UW labs feeding. - Jessica Nordstrom

October 16
7:09 - once the light dimmed and we could no longer see them, we stood on the shore listening to the sound of their blows...it's the greatest sound for us Orcaholics. So peaceful and humbling. - Elyse Margaret

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6:20 - They've slowed down, spread out from possession sound back to Useless Bay.
6:10 - group of maybe twenty porpoising south, almost to the end of the point -mid channel.
6:05 - Watching a group heading east along the cliff east of Double Bluff. Lots of breaching and tail slaps. - Connie Bickerton

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We watched MANY dozens of Southern Resident orcas head down Admiralty Inlet, past Whidbey Island on their way into Puget Sound. - Susan Berta, Orca Network

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What a privilege to watch this grand entrance of SRKW today! I watched from the deck south of Bush Point and saw some of the breaches & resting line. The orcas came by close enough I could hear the blows & breaches. Gave me chills even in the warm sunshine! - Wendy Berta Sines

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5:31 pm - A resting line about a mile north of Hansville, heading SE toward Point No Point. - Howard Garrett

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Just spotted 3 or more Orcas passing Mutiny Bay about 5:10 and heading toward Double Bluff. They were about 2 miles out from Whidbey. - Robert Armbruster

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An Orca shows off its hunting skills and catch at the surface. With J-Pod off the western side of San Juan Island actively hunting salmon. - Puget Exposure Photography

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About 1 mile SSW of Possession buoy at 5:10. They now appear to be slowly moving south.
4:33 - We just saw a second spout from a definite second whale. Still in the same general area.
One of the humpbacks is at Possession at 3:45 and milling around. Haven't seen anything that suggests both are there yet. Last saw spouts about 10 minutes ago. Still milling around straight west of the shipwreck. Thought I'd lost them, looked through binocs and saw one diving. Fabulous afternoon! - Rob and Cassandra Miller

October 15
We have had regular sightings of a Sea Otter near Thistle Point in Eastsound. We saw him nearly every day during the summer months and he continues to make appearances today. - Gloria Eppig

October 14
The T137A's and T36A's were just south east of Race Rocks, probably the same group reported up Haro Strait in the morning. Then, just when we though it couldn't get any better a humpback surfaces WITH THE TRANSIENTS! - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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5:30 - The [humpback] is still here! Just watched him circle from the south end of Whidbey halfway to Mukilteo and now back into Brown's bay. - Karsten McIntosh

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4:24 pm - I'm watching the Humpback from Stamm Overlook Park in Edmonds. It's just south east of Possession Point. Seems pointed towards Clinton. Josh Adams

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8:40 am - I spotted a humpback whale in the distance from the Victoria Clipper. It appeared to be heading North from a few miles south of Possession Point. It sounded after about 4 blows and I never relocated him. - Justine Buckmaster

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We found humpbacks just south of Victoria, no less than six whales! all in the same vicinity to each other. Humpbacks are not social whales, so to see that many in the same area was a treat. Every direction you looked, there was a blow. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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2:40 PM - Humpback sighted off Possession Bar (South end of Whidbey Island). Feeding-two to five breaths followed by a dive-would stay down 10-15 minutes between dives. - Chris Senyohl

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One of two humpbacks on the east tip of Waldron this afternoon. - Robert Dash

October 13
12:15 - Saw 3 from the ferry at Orcas (Island) landing. - Pink Daisy

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12:11 - Maia of WA State Ferries called with a report of 5 to 7 orcas between Shaw and Orcas Island, heading west.

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11:13am - Just saw a pod of 4 or 5 orcas from the ferry just east of the Lopez Ferry Terminal. Looked like they were feeding. They made a kill off the point just east of the marina just east of the lopez ferry dock. Watched for 10 mins or so from ferry. Weren't going anywhere. Saw multiple spyhops and full breaches. - Charyn Pfeuffer

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Just saw (about 12 noon) what appeared to be a humpback whale from Mouat Point on Pender Island. - Barb Floyd

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12:05 - Chrissy McLean of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center called to confirm there are two humpbacks, heading north and just now approaching Point Wilson.

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11:48 - Received a call from Mark Millard and Paul Clark, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, of two possible humpbacks, between the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and Pt. Wilson, heading NW toward Pt. Wilson, close to shore.

October 12
9:00 am - Pod of orcas heading south past Vashon Island's north end ferry terminal. Spotted while docking at Fauntleroy. - Barbara Weber
Note: there were so further sightings of orcas in Puget Sound despite extensive efforts, leading to speculation that these may have been porpoises.

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Today we encountered the T35s and T38A...It can be a rough life out there for a seal. N. Pender Island, BC. - James Mead Maya

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Small pod (about 6, probably transient) off E Point Saturna around 2 pm. Well offshore. - James McLarnon

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Three humpbacks up near Orcas Island! We caught up with Split Fluke, Split Fin, and Yogi! They were socializing at the surface, waving their pectoral fins around, slapping them repeatedly and fluking over and over without diving. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

October 11
4:09pm - Two humpbacks between Shipwreck (about 4 miles south of Mukilteo) and Possession Pt (south end of Whidbey Island), a couple breaches and tail slaps. At 4pm, direction appears to be northbound inside Whidbey. Yay!! - Rob Miller

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Humpback whale. No breaching, boat approaching, caudal-peduncle lobbing, spy hopping, pec fin or chin slapping, lunge feeding or any other spectacular humpie behaviors. Just traveling along and fluking on every deep dive. In a quick scan through the catalog, I didn't see this one. - James Gresham

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Encountered a visitor humpback while salmon fishing south of Possession Point near Whidbey Island. - Video of drone footage by Patrick Marker

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Pacific white-sided dolphin from the Dalco Overlook, Pt. Defiance, (Lat/long was 47.319798, -122.544079). I was scoping for gulls and jaegers and the dolphin appeared swimming around with a harbor seal then started a series of leaps. - Gary Shugart

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October 10
6:15 pm - K & J? pod calls on Orca Sound. - Susan Marie Andersson

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Mark spotted J-pod, spread out along San Juan Island, but later on Matt and I IDed a male from K-pod as well! - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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1151am - Calls and squeaks with those clicks! ...Orca Sound hydro.. - Vicky Doyle 3 Humpbacks off of Port Angeles, WA. - Puget Exposure Photography

October 9
Two Humpbacks, Split Fluke BCX1068 and Yogi BCY0409. Just north of Orcas Island in the afternoon. - Capt. James Maya

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Hybrid porpoise off of San Juan Island. - Mark Malleson

October 8
We caught up with a pair of humpback whales hanging out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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12:45 - My wife just phoned from the WSF ferry on the Kingston to Edmonds route and said that a humpback breached on the starboard side of the ship. The whale was traveling westbound. - Bill Williams

October 7
My hubby and I were out on the boat and saw 2 humpbacks very briefly. They were a couple of miles south of Point No Point in the shipping lanes. They surfaced, spouted a few times, then dove one at a time, showing us their flukes. Then they disappeared into the fog and we didn't see them again. However, we did see many, many harbor porpoises feeding. One even leaped into the air with a fish in its mouth. A great day on the water! - Cassandra Miller

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Morning reports had a couple of humpback whales just south of Race Rocks Ecological Reserve and eventually we were able to spot one, just southwest of Victoria! Up Haro Strait to Moresby Island we found my two favourite humpbacks, side-by-side! The Splits! Split Fluke and Split Fin, reunited at last! These guys were spotted hanging out together regularly last year, and seem to be in cahoots again! Both born in 2006, and both with fin anomalies that makes them easy to ID, Split Fluke and Split Fin are some of our more commonly seen humpbacks. Today they were travelling slowly south, doing short dives, and fluking beautifully in the late afternoon sunshine. It really was a sight to behold. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

October 6
Brian Cedar, proprietor of the Greenbank Grille and resident of Ledgewood in Coupeville, reported seeing 3 or 4 orcas in Admiralty Inlet, near the north end of Marrowstone Island, south of Port Townsend.

October 5
Saw members of all three Pods today on west side..not sure exactly where but beautiful day! Lots of whales, some "frisky" activity going on so hopefully new babies next year!! I met a young lady from Romania whose dream was to see Orcas! She was blessed today with a awesome encounter!! Also saw Tucker the Orca poop sniffing research assistant doggie. - Melissa Kaday

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West of Hein bank (3-4 miles south of San Juan Island). It was a crazy mix of Js and Ks with a few Ls scattered in. We had amazing groups just logging at the surface, it almost looked like they were all rubbing melons and we could hear vocals above the surface!! One of the most special days out there this season. - Gary Sutton

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SRKWs west bound in the Juan de Fuca. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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Commencement Bay heading towards the Pt. Defiance ferry dock. A Pacific white-sided dolphin followed my boat while I was fishing for about 30 minutes. - Dave Calhoun

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We found 2 Minke whales... And all three southern resident killer whale pods... And 12 Pacific white-sided dolphins... And two humpbacks...ALL IN THE SAME PLACE! The dolphins were traveling right alongside, and often intermixed with the killer whales, and the Minkes and humpbacks kept popping up right in the thick of things as well. Chaos! - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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4:16: Saw two humpbacks just south of Possession Point (south end of Whidbey Island), playing. Too many tail slaps to count. A couple of breaches too. Incredible!!! - Cassandra Miller

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4:04 - A [humpback] breach and now a couple dozen tail slaps and counting. Possession buoy. - Rob Miller

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11:24 - From Kingston ferry just saw them south of ferry and heading east from shore.
9:47am - 2 or 3 humpbacks off Edmonds, north of ferry, just off Sunset! I saw 3 fluke up dives, the last looked like headed at Sunset. I'm on ferry and first saw them before we left Edmonds, then again after we left. They were pretty close to shore. - Michelle Goll

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We were in a fishing boat and followed the humpback this morning. Actually only looked like one but was moving quickly off from north of Sunset and then toward Edmonds Ferry lanes going South. Saw him yesterday (10/4) breaching and tail slapping in that same area and then around Whidbey (Skachet Head) about 10am to 11am. - Cathy Treiber

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10:51am - Just saw a beautiful Humpback heading toward Apple Cove just south of Kingston! About a mile from shore... heading south west. He just did a beautiful dive right under our boat. What a treat!! - Amy Rutherford

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Humpback Whales out front of Sooke - at Strait of Juan de Fuca. - Sooke Coastal Explorations

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9:15 am - Minke whale traveling east to west along the NW tip of Quimper Peninsula 1 mile NE of Cape George (NW of Port Townsend). Surfaced 3 times twice about 4 minutes apart. Small dorsal. No head shown when porpoising. Clear skies. Water surface flat calm. No wind. Some feeding sea birds but no dense concentrations. - Tony Petrillo

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A right whale was reported heading west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, at milepost 8, which is 8 miles east of the Makah reservation at Neah Bay. Jerry George, nature writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, saw the right whale from his window at 5 pm, about 1/4 mile from shore by a kelp bed. It had a 3' gash in the blubber layer along its upper left side about midway between the blow hole and peduncle. He saw the white collosities on the rostrum and there was no dorsal fin. He was not able to take any photos.
According to Wikipedia: "The Northeast Pacific subpopulation, which summers in the southeastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, may have no more than 50 animals... According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the North Pacific right whale is the most endangered whale on Earth."

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While returning from south sound, passing through Carr Inlet, south Puget Sound, 6 of us, in 3 different sailboats, saw 2 sea otters floating by! My husband and I have seen many sea otters in Clayoquot Sound, and they have been reported around Pt Townsend, but not down into Puget Sound. Such a delightful discovery! - Katie Bunnell
Kim Merriman reports: We have had at least one sea otter in Eld Inlet each of the past several (3-4) years. I have him/her on film and on video. The sightings have been reported each time to the proper agencies. And it is very cool to see them.

October 4
5:24 pm - J Pod is in and went north. K Pod inbound in Juan de Fuca. We were with J Pod group B (J11's, 22's and17's) plus the J16's, with J26 Mike chasing a salmon around in circles at close range. - James Gresham

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5:00 PM - Orca off Pender. Watched between 15 and 40 orca heading nw off west Pender south of Thieves Bay. Three plus groups. First group about 5 pm about 1 km off shore. Second group closer (est about half a km and appeared to be feeding or playing. Third grouping was within 100 metres of shore. At least two groups appeared to have young individuals with them. All appeared to be heading in the same direction. Continued to watch another 5 to 10 individuals singly, or in pairs or triplets follow the other groups. Appeared to be at least 3 males. They appeared to be traveling in a large spread out group. At least one group appeared to be feeding as they doubled back more than once. - Don Knox

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K26 Lobo off Race Rocks Pacific Ecological Reserve. - Josh McInnes

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11:29 am - Just saw a pod of about 10 orcas past lime kiln lighthouse..no vocals and pointy fins..looks like they were after a small pod of porpoises. - Katie Snyder

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9:40am - Residents vocalizing right now on Lime kiln Hydrophone. - Tristan Max'inux

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5:47pm - We just saw 1 humpback heading south about 2 miles south of Mukilteo near the shipwreck. - Anne DeMelle

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1:00 PM - Humpback whale sighting. We watched a Humpback whale off Possession Point. It came across the bar in fairly shallow water and then headed North up the East side of Whidbey Island. It disappeared about half way to Clinton. - David Staeheli

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12:15 - Just crossed paths with a pair of humpbacks 2 miles south of Possession Point. - Michael Naiman

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12:27pm - Two Humpbacks 3 miles off the south end of Whidbey island. Headed east. - Joey LaMarche

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11:23am - Nice way to start the day- just watched a nice group of about 15 pacific white sided dolphins head down the west side--- their synchronicity never ceases to amaze me. Gorgeousness. - Sandy Buckley

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An even bigger surprise off Lime Kiln - Lags (Pacific white-sided dolphins)! Two small groups went by not far from the orcas. I absolutely love that these guys are hanging around more and more this year! - Monika Wieland

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More amazing Lags...Pacific White-sided Dolphins...south of Victoria, BC, playing with our boat. - James Mead Maya

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4:33 pm - COOL! Just watched a few Pacific white-sided dolphins swim by Eagle Cove... that's a first!! - Erin Corra

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Minke whale in Juan de Fuca Strait with distinguishing characteristics, ID'd by Sara Hysong-Shimazu and Jon Stern as Nick Jagger the minke. - Josh McInnes

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10:25 am - a small, single whale out front. Don't know what species. Looks like a smallish orca. It is NOT a minke, grey, humpback. Went south down Eld Inlet at 9:30 to Flap Jack Point and then turned around at 10:00 and has now headed out north to Squaxin Island area. Flat calm. Could hear the blows, see the dorsal fin, and then the lingering footprint on the water. - Kim Merriman
Note: These are believed to be Pacific white-sided dolphins.

October 3
Late afternoon I came across the T049A's and T049B's westbound off of Otter Point. They led us to a large group of California T's (CA's), including CA166, CA172, and CA173. They were mixed with T038A and other known T's who were eastbound near Sheringham Point lighthouse. The T049A's and T049B's turned around within a few metres of them and then led the entire group back to the east where we left them offshore of Sooke at 1700 hrs. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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5:30 pm - We just received a report of a large group of transient killer whales traveling East at Otter Point (Canada) in Juan de Fuca Strait. Within this group were the California transients CA166 and assumed companions CA172, CA173 and "unknown offspring." T065As were also ID'd. We have been told 20+ animals in two groups split by 400m. - Report Posted by Josh McInnes

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10:15 - humpback is between Foulweather Bluff and Marrowstone Island, last deep dive was headed west.
8:56 - Humpback at Point No Point currently headed west between PNP and Double Bluff. - Connie Bickerton

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We spotted a Humpback Whale this morning at 8:40 am at Point No Point heading north. - Michelle LeMieux Hall

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Many humpbacks around Sooke this morning. - Paul Pudwell

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Big MAMA and her calf in Georgia Strait. - Stephen Ellwood

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A humpback was traveling slowly, just south of Victoria. The whale, I believe identified as BCY0769. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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Towards the opening of Becher bay, were about 20 animals in the water, moving so fast that their wake was more visible than the animals themselves. Pacific white-sided dolphins! - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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11:50 am - received a call from Colter Mott, who saw 2 cetaceans surface north of Delano Pt (Kim Merriman: Delano Camp and roads are in Lakebay, Wa. south of Penrose Point State Park and across from Carr Inlet, north of McNeil Island.) in south Puget Sound - larger and slower than porpoise, with dorsal fins not quite as large as orcas. He only saw them once and they did not resurface for him to get a better look.
Note: These are believed to be Pacific white-sided dolphins.

October 2
J and K pod was headed west late in the day or night. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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We found the residents! Mostly J-pod (plus Onyx! L87) but K's were there as well, spread out, and hanging out. They weren't in a hurry to go anywhere, and were just milling in groups of two to five. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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12:10 am - The orcas are back on Lime Kiln Hydrophones!! Want to hear them? Go to orcasound.net. - John Boyd

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One of the T49As, T49Bs, and T65Bs in Swanson Channel, BC. - James Mead Maya

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The first thing we found was a humpback. It was feeding, and moving very sporadically, and proved to be hard to keep track of. Later in the day four more humpbacks showed up to feed in this same area. - Jennifer Dickson, Prince of Whales

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Humpback lunge feeding off of Victoria, confirming that humpbacks are finding food in the Salish Sea. - Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

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6:57 - Saw two deep dives east of the point at Point No Point. Too dark for pictures. - Connie Bickerton

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Watching a whale at Point No Point at 6:30 tonight! - Elyse Sollitto

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At Point No Point a single humpback was feeding just off shore from 5:00pm to 6:20 pm tonight, and was still feeding when I left. It was going back and forth having quite the meal from the east side of the light house to the north shore. - Dianne Dee Iverson

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4 pm - From Bush Point, two humpbacks still there, somewhere out in the middle of the Possession Triangle, between Kingston and maybe Shoreline, now maybe a or two mile apart.
3:35 pm - just saw another spout! Getting VERY hazy, but the spout is still in the area near where they were first seen - from here (south of Bush Pt, Whidbey Isl) they are just south of the group of cell towers above Edmonds, south of the Edmonds ferry.
2:09 - two more spouts seen. From here (Whidbey) on the top of the hill behind the whales are a bunch of big cell towers - not sure if that would line up for you Connie but it might give you the general direction to look.
2:04 pm - just saw a few more spouts and sun glinting off the whales. There have to be at least two, saw two spouts in different places but timed close together. They may be a bit further south than the first sighting.
WHALE SIGHTING!!! Just now (1:15 pm) are seeing spouts and what looks like whales diving in the area between Edmonds, Pt No Point & Possession Point! Too far to tell for sure, but the spouts look huge (thinking humpback?) but there were at least 2 as we saw several spouts in a short time. The distance might be making the spouts look bigger than they are. - Susan Berta

October 1
Humpbacks everywhere today! 5 Humpback whales, 10+ killer whales, sea lions, seals, Dalls porpoise, Pacific white sided dolphins and huge bait balls getting picked off diving birds. The highlight was "Big Momma" and her calf going crazy in the Strait of Georgia. Double breaches and pec slaps and much more. They were really mellow and then all of a sudden.....double breaches, double pec slaps, throat slaps, tail slaps......MADNESS! It was so awesome. J pod kicking around too with some Lags. What a day full of wildlife! - Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

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"Big Momma" and her calf stretch out in the Strait of Georgia. - Gary Sutton

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Saw a single Humpback whale off Point No Point on Wednesday between noon and 3 pm. Was headed north when we left, but had been swimming around the area with no particular direction. Ninety nine percent sure it was a Humpback, although did not get a good look at any white patterning on the bottom of fluke. Even breached while we were watching! - Brenna Sowder

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Around 9:00am - Humpback at East Point, Saturna Island, BC. My daughter and I saw a humpback from East Point park. It started in close and progressively went deeper. - Donald Knox

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7:13 - Are those crazy loud clicks EchoLocation??? They are so loud and clear! I can never get on at work, I never get to hear them so well!! - Cher Renke

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6:13 - Wowzers! It's a party at Lime Kiln!!! orcasound.net. LIVE Killer Whales! I'm not sure if all of Jpod is in.. but it's J's with 3 Kpod members and L87 and that's how it's been for a week! Beautiful day on the water with J pod and L87! (There were some K pod animals around, but I didn't get to see them) This was the first time I've seen Pacific White-sided Dolphins bowride and harass a Killer Whale! - Traci Walter

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Pacific White sided dolphins came zooming in from behind! L87 started zigging and zagging to ditch the pesky dolphins. - Traci Walter

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Two-year-old little J49 goes tearing off after a few Pacific white-sided dolphins (also known as lags). These little dolphins know they aren't in any danger flitting around with the resident orcas simply because resident orcas limit their diet to mainly salmon. However the orcas always seem to have an air of extreme annoyance about them whenever lags are around. The lags like to hum around the orcas and it must like having an obnoxious little mosquito buzzing tirelessly in your ear. There are many cases in the past few weeks where I have seen orcas do blatantly long dives to keep away from these little menacing creatures. Or they have exhibited over-zealous tail slaps. At times they almost seem to say, "THAT'S IT!!!" and go flying off chasing the little dolphins like J49 is doing here. Or perhaps he just found some playmates that are as busy as he is. I just find it interesting how much the orcas seem to have no patience for these critters when we as humans would happily play with them for hours. The difference between species... - Katie Jones

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1:50 - still vocalizing. Js & L87? and K pod.
1:15pm - Listening to SRKWs on Lime Kiln. - Alisa Lemire Brooks


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