A majestic and iconic Pacific Northwest scene - The T060's northbound in Rosario Strait. Photo by Mark Malleson, February 9, 2016

9 February update - On our last update on 31 January, K33 and likely the rest of K pod were off the entrance to the Columbia River. Over the next five days they made several north--south excursions in the coastal waters between Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. On the morning of 6 February they began a dedicated trip north and on the morning of the 7th were in the west entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The whales spent about a day in the central Strait of Juan de Fuca before heading back to the west. As of this morning (9 February) they were near La Push on the outer Washington coast. Map courtesy of Brad Hanson, NOAA-NWFS NOAA-NWFS 2016 Southern Resident killer whale satellite tagging

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31 January update - Since our on the morning of the 27th K33 (and likely the rest of K pod) were traveling south had moved inshore and were off Hoh Head on the northern Washington coast. They continued south to just offshore of the entrance to the Columbia River by the morning of the 29th. They turned back north, traveling about about half way up the Long Beach Peninsula by the evening 29th before turning back south. They were off the mouth of the Columbia River by the morning of the 30th and then turned back north to off the entrance of Willapa Bay before again heading south. They were again off the Columbia by the morning of the 31st. Map courtesy of Brad Hanson, NOAA-NWFS NOAA-NWFS 2016 Southern Resident killer whale satellite tagging

 

February 9 

T60's on the north end of Long Island (south end of Lopez Island). Photo by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, February 9, 2016

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- T124A and T124A4 - We came across the T124A's west bound in Race Pass early afternoon. Photo by Mark Malleson, February 7, 2016

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A short distant video - approx. 7-8 unidentified Bigg's on their morning southbound travels through Puget Sound. Passing Golden Gardens Park/Shilshole Marina (north Seattle) around 10:45 a.m. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, February 6, 2016

 

Around 10-30 this morning- Sunday Feb 7th, we watched the whales (at least 3 different ones.) off of Neskowin Beach Oregon. They where fairly close to the shore. guessing grays and possibly an orca as it was darker (looked black) and had a fin on it's back.
Vicki Huges-Stanton

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About 1:30-1:45 p.m. Sunny day, air temp 70s, water 57-59. Manhattan or Hermosa Beach, CA: seen to the north of my position at 22nd St., Hermosa Beach, not far outside the surf swell. Single whale, traveling north parallel to beach, surfaced twice, several minutes apart. Black, arched back and tall black dorsal fin, slow-moving, no display of tail flukes. Moving north toward a small group of surfers. Based on videos and photos, I would say the one I saw in Manhattan/Hermosa Beach was a female orca.
David Olson, MD