L103 and new calf L123 south west bound west of Hein Bank on December 11th. Photo by Mark Malleson

  

The last whales I saw right around 4:15 looked like it was the J16s still southbound, with long down times.
3:34 p.m. -  Seeing foraging whales still southbound from Shore Meadows. (south of Bush Point, Whidbey Island)
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

The whales were distant by the time I caught up to them but that's okay. South of Bush Point, whales + sunset = divine. Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, December 14, 2015

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L87 Onyx at Bush Point, Whidbey Island. 3:18 p.m. - Passing Bush Point and heading south. Lucky to have a few come somewhat near the beach.... Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, December 14, 2015 (ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

L87 Onyx (born 1992), he travels with J Pod. Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, December 14, 2015

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, December 14, 2015

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, December 14, 2015

On the beach at Bush Point watching J pod pass by.  Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, December 14, 2015

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3:07 p.m. - Orcas off Bush Point heading South.
Tim Oliver
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2:20 p.m. - Orcas passing Lagoon Pt closer to Whidbey side heading south.
2:00 p.m. - Heading south at Ft Flagler
Marilyn Armbruster
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(Rachel Haight's Day Report and photos)
When I first spotted J pod at Ebey's Landing, they were pushing SW away from me, so I made the decision to hop the ferry over to Port Townsend. As soon as I arrived to Fort Worden, I spotted whales just a 100 yards offshore or so. J27 was a little further out traveling with little brother J39. The group closer to me included J51. Time constraints forced me to take the 12:30 ferry home. As slow as the whales were moving, I was hopeful I might see them on the ferry. Halfway through the ride, still hadn't spotted a thing. Then, dead ahead was J34 traveling with his mom J22. After they passed by, I figured that was it. Then, a group with a small calf (J17s) popped up right next to the ferry and the captain cut the engines. It appeared a couple of the whales corralled and maneuvered the baby away from the ferry. This happened as the whales entered the sun glare and I wasn't able to get the best pictures. But, one of my last sights as the whales were behind us, was seeing J28 traveling with an itty bitty fin presumably J53, my first time seeing him/her! All in all, it was a much needed day spent in some much needed sunshine with many J pod whales. And HUGE thanks to Sara Hysong-Shimazu for helping me sort out IDs!
Rachel Haight

J Pod southbound Admiralty with the bluffs of Whidbey Island in the background. Taken from shore at Fort Worden. Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015 (assistance with IDs by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

Someone taking a look around. Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015

The whale in the back was spyhopping, and it appeared almost ghostly due to the blow from the whale in front. Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015

J27 Blackberry (born 1991) Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015

J35 Tahlequah (born 1998) Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015

J41 Eclipse (born summer 2005) Photo by Rachel Haight, December 14, 2015

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1:11 p.m. - They're definitely spread out and the groups I was watching at Ft Worden were actually the trailers. Spotted other blows much further south of ferry lanes while we had a group right next to the ferry, and they looked like the whales I had been watching at Ft Worden. Definitely over a dozen.
1:02 p.m. - They just crossed the Port Townsend ferry lanes. A group with a baby popped up right next to the ferry!
Rachel Haight
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I can hear very faint calls between 12:15 - 12:30.
Kim Merriman
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11:57 a.m. - just started hearing them on Port Townsend hydrophone.
Connie Bickerton
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11:46 a.m. - They are currently going very slowly. I have to catch the 1230 ferry back, I'll be watching for them on there too. But at this rate they may not make Point No Point before dark, but they could pick up the pace, who knows!
11:36 a.m. - They just came up off Fort Worden. Slowly southbound. Positive ID on J27. One group is on Jefferson County side, I saw some further out mid channel.
9:55 a.m. -  they had pushed more west of me but were still south bound. They were north of Pt. Wilson. My only shot at a better view is to get lucky on the ferry, will update again in a bit.
9:30 a.m. - ust spotted them thanks to the Clipper. North of Ebeys landing still southbound.
Rachel Haight
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8:30 a.m.  - about a dozen Orcas in 3 tight groups (looks like 2 have babies) heading south near Fort Ebey Park in no particular hurry on Whidbey side. They hung out tail slapping, breaching for about 15 minutes before continuing.
Wendy Shimada

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9:45 a.m. - Center for Whale Research relayed a report of orcas in Rosario Strait between Blakely and Cyprus Islands heading south. (K pod and L's  per CWR )  

12:50 p.m. - Sidney - FH/Anacortes Sailing. Just after crossing Haro Strait, N of Roche and nearing Spieden channel, Capt. announced the ferry was stopping for orcas. At least 3, possibly up to 6 Ts traveling fairly spread out. A few of them decided to swim alongside the ferry for a few minutes, giving everybody gorgeous flank views.
Ariel Yseth

T19B and T18 cruising ENE just N of Roche Harbor.  Photo by Ariel Yseth, December 7, 2015 (ID by Melisa Pinnow, CWR)

1:15 p.m. - As we wait in Eglon for the orcas, there are 2 humpbacks breaching like crazy just west of the southbound shipping lane - they breached repeatedly as 2 freighters passed by. Photo by Rebecca French Gerke, December 14, 2015

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1:35 p.m. - Juvenile humpback whale sighting. Feeding between Vashon Head and Southworth.
John Rogstad, WSF

3:57 p.m. - took a quick look and found the blows real close to Kitsap side. Between Rose Point and Elgon.
1:22 p.m. - confirmed multiple whales by simultaneous blows - still due west of north Edmonds, still mid channel.
12:59 p.m. - must be in a feeding pattern - turned and more northerly now. Still mid channel due west of north Edmonds. Stays on surface for several blows then rolls into a dive.. Weird that the fluke doesn't come up on any dives I've seen.
12:17 p.m. -  blows spotted mid channel - line of sight between north Edmonds and Just north of Rose Point (north of Kingston). At least one maybe a couple. Slowly heading south.
Stu Davidson
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10:50 a.m.  - Just at least one, possibly two, humpback blows mid channel between Point No Point and Edmonds, nicely backlit by the morning sun.
Howard Garrett, Orca Network

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3:20 p.m. - Blows seen mid-channel Edmonds by Rob Woeck, WSDOT. No ID, nothing since then. Rick Huey, WSF
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3:25 p.m. -  a pair of humpbacks just north of Eglon, a few hundred yards offshore Kitsap, slowly moving south (viewed from downtown Edmonds).
Sherman Page.