Time spent with members of K pod in the Juan de Fuca Strait, near the Elwha. Photo by Steve Smith, November 28, 2015

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Boarded the Peregrine at 1PM  (11/28) and we were initially heading to see some humpbacks off of Victoria. It was a good thing we topped off the gas tanks before heading out because after arriving to Victoria we got word of orcas out past Race Rocks. And yes, residents! Wow. Our final destination put us smack dab in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Port Angeles between Sooke and Cliffs. We arrived on scene after 3:00 PM and encountered some members of the K12's very spread out and foraging. We saw K33 actively fishing. They were slowly moving westward. Looking towards the Olympic Peninsula and the Elwha Valley, you can't help but reflect on the positive effects the Elwha restoration will have on salmon recovery and our resolve must not be broken until the Snake River Dams are breached as well.
Debbie Stewart
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Nice day. K Pod south of Victoria... Great crew! Heather MacIntyre, Steve Smith, Debbie Stewart, the Cannons, and the Olsons. I should mention that Dale Mitchell, on Seringeti out of Victoria, Eagle Wing Whale Watching Tours, found them! Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 28, 2015

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K POD TODAY!! November 28th, 2015
When we got a report early this morning of killer whales heading west, no one expected to see the Resident Orcas today. I however, held out hope. Historically, they always seem to make an appearance right around, or on Thanksgiving. Today, we happened to get lucky when Dale Mitchell (out of Victoria) found these guys milling close to the mouth of the Elwha River. Yep, it should come as no surprise that Capt. James Mead Maya took the Peregrine to the Elwha (or close to it). All in the name of seeing Orcas! It was a long trip, but definitely worth it- especially since we got to make a boat full of amazing people happy. It's always an adventure this time of year; you just never know what the day will bring.
Members of K Pod were spread out foraging, as you might expect for this time of year. Their food source (Chinook/King salmon) is getting scarce now with our dramatically reduced salmonid population here in the Pacific Northwest, so they will need to be serious about foraging if they're to survive the winter. These whales will average 80 miles per day of travel this time of year, and will need to replenish the calories they burn traveling daily. What a treat to see these guys today ... they may not have been jumping out of the water in full breaches, but each moment with them was precious. I'm so grateful that I got to spend some time with them!
Heather MacIntyre

K33 Tika in the Juan de Fuca Stait nestled below the Olympic Mountain range. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, November 28, 2015

K34 Sequim. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, November 28, 2015

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10:00 a.m. - Probable K pod + some L pod sighting about 10 am in Strait of Juan de Fuca south of Victoria, heading west.
Reported by Ken Balcomb.

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4:26 p.m. -  on the bluff just north of the Kingston ferry, saw many go by including a couple of large males. Closser to this side although out in the shipping lanes.
Michelle Goll
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4:00 p.m. -  at least some stalled south of Kingston ferry. They've spread out and are making many directional changes and some diving as if foraging. They often do there. Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network -
3:45 p.m. -  if it's the same group they are just south of Kingston near President Point. We're watching from Richmond beach. Heading north
Jon Garrett
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3:44 p.m. - heading north again, off President Point, close in to Kitsap, (I could hear them), toward Kingston.
Joanne Graves
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3:33 p.m. - Been watching them for about an hour. Still heading up north towards Kingston.
Lindsay Ekblad
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3:32 p.m. - on ferry from Edmonds to Kingston and they still south from here. This should be a great spot to watch them in a little while. Closer to Kitsap side, heading north.
Michelle Goll
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3:30 p.m.  - from Kayu Kayu Ac park, north Richmond Beach in Shoreline, can see the lead group north and west of yellow mid channel bouy between us and President Point, Kitsap. Heading towards Kingston. Trailers half a mile behind.
Ed Brooks
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3:10 p.m. - It looks like they may be heading east, off President point, south of the channel marker.
3:03 p.m. - just approaching President Pt, south of Kingston, heading north, close to Kitsap.
Joanne Graves
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2:48 p.m. - from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park saw a few blows on far side close to Kitsap. At this point barely visible with binocs.
Bri Wilson
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2:28 p.m. - seeing orcas southwest from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline. Closer to Kitsap or mid channel.
Michelle Goll
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2:24 p.m. - seeing some due east of Fay Bainbridge, mid channel, east side.
Connie Bickerton
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2:10 p.m. -  from Sunset Park above Shilshole,  sightline seeing large group past Faye Bainbridge coming in line with Port Madison. Keeping a steady pace northbound.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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2:00 p.m. - Watching from Rolling Bay on Bainbridge, approx 10 orca, 3 males, heading north, mid channel.
Kmberly Sylvester-Malzahn
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Still watching from Sunset park, looking through a scope I was pretty confident I saw K33 and K12.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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1:39 p.m. -  viewing from Rolling Bay on Bainbridge. Residents! Got a picture of a male with an open saddle, K21 Cappucino. Photo by Connie Bickerton, November 27, 2015

Residents northbound mid channel with Shilhole Bay Marina across the Sound. At least some members of K pod were ID'd. Photo by Connie Bickerton, November 27, 2015

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1:35 p.m. - Sunset park right now. Looking out orca are mid channel near two sail boats.
Martin Moore
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Friends and I were out sailing and were in the middle of the Sound off Shilshole Bay Marina, and saw 2 Orcas swimming north.  Very exciting! Thanks.
Jay Craver
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1:30 p.m. - Seeing them from Sunset Park (above Shilshole Marina) still northbound, mid channel. Just north of Rolling Bay.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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12:45 p.m. - Make that 3 groups (20 + orcas). 2 groups close together mid channel and 3rd group west of mid channel parralleling. Steady northbound north of Eagle Harbor.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:09 p.m. - I've seen a number of blows and some surface activity within the last 10 minutes or so off the north end of Blake Island and trending slowly north. Looking for Lower QA with binocs.
Katie Kirking
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11:55 a.m. - The ferry boat KALEETAN, Seattle to Bremerton, spotted two male killer whales just northwest of the "Tango" vessel traffic buoy at 1155 hours, 11/27 on Friday. The crew reports the whales were displaying hunting/feeding behavior. No pictures were taken.
John Rogstad, WSF
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11:49 a.m. - Seeing them from Magnolia looking towards south end of Bainbridge. Very distant. But can see them with binocs. Headed north. Seeing another group behind more in line with the north end of Vashon.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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11:40 a.m. - looks like most/all have turned northbound. Lead group (including 2 adult males) is approaching south end Bainbridge, others still 1/2 mile or so south of them.
11:25 a.m. -  large group has flipped and is northbound between Tillicum Village and north end Blake Island.
11:20 a.m. - from south side Alki can see some in front of Tillicum Village, Blake Island heading northbound. Not sure if flipped or foraging but were traveling at a fast clip.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:30 - Jeff Hogan sees orcas spread out from Alki, in the Bremerton ferry lane, generally trending south.
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10:02 a.m. - We have watched at least 3 orcas heading south past the island, still a bit north of the ferry lanes.
RicAnn Bock
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Just saw some on north side of 935 ferry from Bainbridge Island. Mid channel. 1st group was headed south. Second group headed west towards first group.
Marion Koppang
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Report from Victoria Clipper at 8:20 am, large group of orcas spread out southbound between West Point and Alki. Watching from Alki now but haven't spotted anything yet.
Stephanie Raymond

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4:00 p.m. - A pod of Orca whales sighted off of Magnolia Bluff/Seattle. 20 +, including males, looked like a large pod.
Sue Johnson

2:30 p.m. - Ken Balcomb reports the T018s were seen in Cowichan Bay, across Haro Strait from San Juan Island.

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6:09  p.m. -  this was posted on another group I belong to, "Im at Al's and can see them near Point Richman out in the middle" (to confirm orca came up Colvos)
Brittany Gordon
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4:00 p.m. - they were fighting the current and moving pretty slow. A group six or so! We think they headed up the channel between Gig Harbor and Vashon island. (Colvos Passage)
3:25 p.m. - They are at Point Defiance now, heading north.
Desiree Brake
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2:50 p.m. - They are near the Tacoma Narrows Bridge right now, just saw them. It looked like they were heading south toward Chambers Bay.
Brian Mickelson
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1:40-1:50 p.m. -  Just saw 3-4 orcas in Gig Harbor very near the Narrows Bridge. Appeared to be feeding, perhaps including juveniles. Got some pictures but they're very small in them. Thanks!!
Noelle Bailliett
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1:30 p.m. - Spotted about 5-7 whales just south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, making their way North. A nice Thanksgiving treat.
Beverly Walker
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11:30 a.m. -  Report of orcas heading North around the east side of Anderson island, past Cole Point. Talked to the gentleman who lived on Cole Point and had seen them around 11:30. He said they were very active and it sounded like they were breaching and playing.
Belen Schneider

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Correction to the sighting of four orcas in Pickering Passage at 1645 on Nov. 24, 2015. One orca was very likely a male. He was trailing the other three orcas by 200-300m and was swimming in more of a circular pattern (feeding?). (Original report included in Nov 24 report)
Paul Dinnel

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(we missed collecting and including this report back in October)
Bigg's (transient) killer whales: T075Bs and T036As. This afternoon we left the NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker on small boat field work during the first full Leg 5 day of our Collaborative Large Whale Survey (CLaWS), after we spotted a male killer whale and a group of smaller killer whales following a distance behind him. The smaller whales were on a recent kill, marked by circling birds, an oil slick - and prey remains including lungs, heart, and liver! They socialized for a short time: the calves did headstands and rolled, and one whale did a huge close spyhop. Then they headed up the coast. What a terrific encounter!
Alisa Schulman-Janiger

Female Bigg's (transient) killer whale T075B, encountered yesterday during our NOAA CLaWS small boat survey off the northern Washington outer coast. Photo by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, October 27, 2015 (Taken under NOAA/NMFS Permit #14097)

One killer whale did a huge spyhop right in front of us yesterday, during our NOAA CLaWS small boat survey off northern Washington outer coast. Photo by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, October 27, 2015 (Taken under NOAA/NMFS Permit #14097)

A killer whale calf does a headstand next to us yesterday, during our NOAA CLaWS small boat survey off northern Washington outer coast. Photo by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, October 27, 2015 (Taken under NOAA/NMFS Permit #14097)

A young killer whale calf raises its bright orange ventral flukes in a headstand next to us yesterday, during our NOAA CLaWS small boat survey off northern Washington outer coast. Photo by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, October 27, 2015 (Taken under NOAA/NMFS Permit #14097)

  

8:20 a.m. - Watching it from the Kingston bluff...it doesn't look too big from here. It was tail slapping a lot.
Brian Stoll
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8:06 a.m. - whale blows north of Kingston around Rose Point - seems to be moving northerly toward Elgon. Close to Kitsap side. Type - I'd guess humpback.
Stu Davdison
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8:00 a.m. - Rare treat this morning on the Ferry ride to Kingston. Whale spotted lobtailing (tail slapping) off the port side bow of the ferry. Just east of Kingston.
Josh Hansen

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3:51 p.m. - I'm at Eglon, seeing humpback in south distance close to ferry lane. (Edmonds/Kingston run)
Becky Newell Woodworth
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3:00 p.m. - Mom and baby humpback slowly heading north 200 yards off shore just south of Eglon. (Kitsap)
Beverly Steinman

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12:15 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. - Probable humpback blows off Point No Point seen from south of Bush Point. Can't tell if it's more than one humpback, but we're just happy to see humpbacks in the Possession Triangle (roughly from Edmonds to Kingston to Scatchet Head on Whidbey Island). That makes almost three months of possibly continual visitation in that area by up to three or four humpbacks some days. Not to mention regular humpback sightings in the south Sound, and all around the Salish Sea. There's much to say thanks for on this Thanksgiving Day. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.
Susan and Howard, Orca Network

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2:46 p.m. - looks to be a humpback (blows) just south east off of south east beach of Point No Point as seen from north Edmonds. Direction unknown.
Stu Davidson
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8:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. - at least 3 humpbacks off Point No Point in mid-channel, seen from south of Bush Point, Whidbey Island. Happy Thanksgiving.
Howard and Susan, Orca Network

10:37 a.m. - About an hour ago I drove across the Hood Canal Bridge and saw blows only about 100 yards north of the bridge, mid span. Definitely not humpback, but I couldn't stop to look closer. Couldn't see the back or tail. Lots of birds at the surface too.
Amy K Fowler