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Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Photo of the Day
Southern Residents
Bigg's/Transients
Coastal orcas
Gray whales
Humpbacks & Unconfirmed
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Orca Network recommends:
Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting, by
Sandra Pollard
This important volume recounts the people whose determined efforts ultimately succeeded in ending the captures.

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The Lost Whale, by
Michael Parfit and
Suzanne Chisolm
  An intensely personal story...but this person is a young orca.  

Lost Whale book...ver scaled

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Orcas in Our Midst, volume 3, by Howard Garrett

Orcas in Our Midst,

Vol. 3: Residents and Transients, How Did That Happen?

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Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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March 27,  2016

We are watching and visiting the whales in their home~

Please observe, love and respect them from a distance.

Having trouble viewing this Sightings Report? Archived Reports can be found HERE.
 A wonderful abundance of whales in the Salish Sea this past week including up to the minute reports on the some of J pod traveling through the San Juan Islands today and  other whales to the north in BC and south around Puget Sound. Much of today's incoming summaries and photos will need to wait until our next report as this one is already long and full.

Big news, J54 is a male as announced in the Center for Whale Research Press Release.
"J54 has been confirmed male based on recent photographs taken by local Naturalists.
We have suspected that J54 is a male for several months but have been unable to get a conclusive photograph of the calf's underbelly to confirm the calf's sex until this week. On March 21st, Center for Whale Research volunteer and local naturalist, Melisa Pinnow, captured an image of the young male calf's belly and yesterday we received another clear photograph from naturalist Heather Macintyre (see above photo) that confirms J54 is male. The news of yet another male in the baby-boom cohort is some cause for concern that the recent baby boom is not necessarily indicative of a recovery."

J's also made a rare  pass through Dodd Narrows, near Nanaimo, BC as reported in this piece by CHEK News.  A beautiful video from a shore is included in the report below.

Bigg's killer whales spent several days down in Puget Sound, most notably the T46Bs & Cs who cruised Saratoga Passage feasting on the abundance of seals, sea lions and porpoise who are hanging around during a herring spawn.  And several days of sightings in Hood Canal of unidentified pod of 3-6, and the T137s were around the San Juans.

Yet more sad news of a deceased very young orca who appears to be female was seen and recovered around Sooke, BC.  It is not known if it is a transient or a resident at this point, or what population it's from. We will share updates as they come in.
You will find more in this CTV News Vancouver Island article.

Cascadia Research was out for two days in Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage surveying the returning gray whales and to conduct some tagging and biopsy work and take advantage of the opportunities to deploy suction-cup attached video tags. Their time on the water was very successful as updated by John Calambokidis, senior researcher. His updates can be found in Gray whale section below.  They even confirmed a humpback in Saratoga Passage!
 
Upcoming Event - Welcome the Whales Festival, April 16th & 17th:
Sign up  for our annual Gray Whale watch fundraiser aboard the Mystic Sea, departing Langley at 3 pm on Sunday April 17th. 2.5 hr cruise, we'll be back around 5:30 pm. $75 includes appetizers and beverages. Get your tickets HERE.

And don't miss our Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival April 16th in Langley, more information on our Facebook event page  and on our Website.

Orca Network
Photo of the Day
March 24 
J54 is confirmed male. Five of the eight remaining calves from the SRKW "baby boom" are male. This sex ratio does not bode well for growth.
Please see our website for the full press release.
Center for Whale Research
Photo credit:  Heather MacIntyre, Naturalist, March 24, 2016 
 
Southern Residents
March 27 
Wow, only 12:30 on Easter Sunday and already had an awesome (albeit VERY wet) orca encounter with the J17's and J22's (thanks Ivan!) near Upright Head. I am absolutely floored by the size of J38! He used to be such a runty little dude and now definitely sprouting and becoming a strapping young fellow.
Photo by Katie Jones, March 27, 2016 

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7:00 a.m. - Fred Rickley on the ferry Samish reported seeing a female and calf orca near Upright Head, at the north end of Lopez Island. No others were seen, and no direction was given.

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March 25 
We had a Good Friday!  J Pod came to visit us in Sooke, B.C. this morning...we had a great day following a spread out Pod from Race Rocks to Sooke.
Paul Pudwell, Sooke, BC


Eclipse J41 and her son Nova J51
traveling westbound closely connected.  
 - Juan de Fuca Strait -

Photo by Paul Pudwell, March 25, 2016
(photos taken w/120-500mm lens & cropped) 
 
J41 & J51
Photo by Paul Pudwell, March 25, 2016


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March 24 
What a great end to spring break. Spent some time with the J17s and J22s up in Trincomali Channel and then with the rest of J pod at sunset in San Juan Channel.
Melisa Pinnow

Polaris J28, J54, and Star J46 in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 24, 2016 


Doublestuf J34, Polaris J28, J54, and Star J46 in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 24, 2016 


Princess Angeline J17 and J53 in Trincomali Channel.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 24, 2016 

Echo J42 breaches in San Juan Channel.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 24, 2016 

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J54 SEX CONFIRMED AS MALE.
I couldn't believe how lucky we were with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching on Thursday, March 24th. Together, Captain Andy and I made a great team to find J Pod traveling slowly north in Swanson's Channel! Because of Andy's hawk eyes, I was finally able to spend some quality time with J54 and his mother, J28 Polaris. During that time, J28 Polaris lifted him up on her rostrum in a playful display of affection, and I was able to get a clear photo of his abdomen confirming his sex. I can't take all of the credit though! Researchers already knew that he was male from previous photographs, but I was able to provide them with a clear shot that they could share. Luckily, I was in the right spot at the right time and had my camera ready. I love it when teamwork works out!
Heather MacIntyre

J54, male, born December 2015
"...During that time, J28 Polaris lifted him up on her rostrum in a playful display of affection, and I was able to get a clear photo of his abdomen confirming his sex."
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 24, 2016  


J54
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 24, 2016 


J28 and her 4-month-old son J54.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 24, 2016 

13-year-old Cookie J38.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 24, 2016 

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Big J34 "DoubleStuf"  in north Swanson Channel, BC.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, Peregrine, Maya's Legacy
, March 24, 2016 

...and little J47 "Notch".
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, March 24, 2016 


*********

March 21 
 
1:00 p.m. - A rare sighting of Southern Resident J-pod in Dodd Narrows, BC.
Video by Chad Giesbrecht, March 21, 2016 
 
Bigg's (Transient) killer whales
March 26 - Hood Canal 
7:20 p.m. - a large pod of Orcas briskly exited Hood Canal. We last saw them between the entrance of Port Ludlow and Foulweather Bluff heading northward. There were at least a half dozen.  Also, nearly a steady stream of hundreds of Porpoises, were observed for hours late afternoon and evening along the Hood Canal side of Foulweather bluff. All were swimming northward.
Douglas Paeth
4:43p.m. - Looking across Hood Canal south of bridge/Lofall area at what appears to be a pod of Orcas. Anyone have insight? Trying to get photos but we are on the opposite side of canal. They seem to be stationary right now and hunting. Lots of breaching. Will let you know if we get a sense of direction. At least 3.
Leslie Boyd
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March 26 - San Juans 
Spent the afternoon with the T137s. Caught up with them just south of San Juan Island and kept pace with them as they traveled past Friday Harbor and up into San Juan Channel. Just south of Yellow Island they hit pay dirt and purposefully dispatched of a harbor seal. Lots of pecs and fins and a big spyhop for good measure. We left them as they continued north. Epic encounter!
Debbie Stewart
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6:30 p.m. - We left the whales about 25 mins ago. They milled around Yellow/Low Island and looked to have made a kill. They are now working their way north. They may head over to San Juan before the night is done!
4:51 p.m. - Watching them now on our skiff. They are .
passing FH but along Shaw Island coastline

4:04 p.m. - Orcas going up San Juan Channel, believed to be T137's
Barbara Bender
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We heard from Western Prince that they found the T137s this afternoon south of Lopez Island.
-

March 26 - Admiralty Inlet 
T046B's and T046C's exiting Admiralty Inlet on the afternoon of March 26th.
Photo by Mark Malleson 
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1:08 p.m. - We just saw them off Marrowstone! About 5 of them cruising along the shore, headed north! With a huge bald eagle sitting pretty taboot!
Emika Wnag
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11:35 a.m. - Bart Rulon from Island Adventures just called in a report as well. He just left the the T46Bs and Cs north of Double Bluff, grouped up heading north at a good pace, angling towards Marrowstone?
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11:26 a.m. - Puget Sound Express with the Transient T46 (Cs & Bs) Orca's northbound off Double Bluff. Amazing show, glassy calm with the Olympic Mountains in the background. Doesn't get any better!
Peter Hanke

*************************

March 25 - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage 
(This pod has been ID'd as the T46C's and probably the T46B's, by Dave Ellifrit of the
Center for Whale for Whale Research)
They were incredible! Especially from Fox Spit, we were so lucky as they would dive down for long periods of time but decided to come up right out in front of Fox Spit, this side of mid channel, closer to Whidbey. First saw them at Bells Beach and then left them at the end of Baby Island dock while they headed north, but were coming towards BI. A lot of Sea Lions in 3 separate bunches barking up a storm, like crazy!
Marilyn Armbruster

The pod flipped, turning southbound in the early evening.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 25, 2016 

The T46Bs & Cs traveling mostly in a tight group in Saratoga Passage. Here they are passing Fox Spit, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 25, 2016 

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 25, 2016 

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 25, 2016 

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What a great day to be out on North Puget Sound and have the bonus privilege of observing Orcas where they belong: In the wild and free! Spotted this Transient Pod of 6-7 Orcas close to eastern side of Whidbey Island, between Clinton Ferry and Langley. In a "Whale-Wise" way - I watched the Pod as they slowly hunted and frolicked north into Saratoga Passage. Click HERE to see more of  Stu's photos.
Stu Davidson

Members of the T46Bs & T46Cs northbound Saratoga Passage.
Photo by Stu Davidson, March 25, 2016
(Photos taken w/zoom and cropped) 

Photo by Stu Davidson, March 25, 2016  
 
Photo by Stu Davidson, March 25, 2016 

Photo by Stu Davidson, March 25, 2016 


 
9 Bigg's killer whales, T46Bs & T46Cs, traveling the east side of Whidbey Island heading north through Saratoga Passage.
Video by Stu Davidson, March 25, 2016 

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7:07 p.m. - I just saw them and could hear them because it's so calm and quiet!!! Off of Whidbey Shores in Saratoga Passage. Heading south towards Langley. Closest to the shore that I have ever experienced!
Kim Dammann
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I left them after 7 pm and they were heading north again...keep a look out tomorrow.
6:52 p.m. - And i mean they go down for long time well 10 min. Now heading north again...
6:50 p.m. - Right now at Fox Spit southbound.
6:15 p.m. - Orcas just east and north of Camano state park. Heading south. Small group.
Marilyn Armbruster
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5:10 p.m. - Just followed them with the glasses, they are southbound, close to the Whidbey beach, we are on Camano Island at Onamac Pt, looking southwest.
Patti Nevaril-Cassell
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4:45 p.m. - 4 or 5 orcas in Saratoga passage around Greenbank area heading south.
Fran Kendall

2:04 p.m. - I just left them near shore Whidbey side slowly still heading northerly.
1:46 p.m. - mid channel heading north through passage towards Oak Harbor
1:01 p.m. - very long dives., must be hunting?! Just re-spotted north east of Baby Island. Before last dive they seemed pointed north easterly towards mid channel.
Stu Davidson
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1:00 p.m. - They've continue north bypassing the raft of 20+ sea lions. Mid channel.
12:51 p.m. - They passed close to Fox spit. Westbound looking like they're going to baby island. Large group of sea lions barking far out in water. Orcas headed that way!
Rachel Haight
-
12:23 p.m. -  pod is at Hillocks east point (just south a bit from Baby Island) moving steady north.
Stu Davidson
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12:20 p.m. - Rachel Haight and I are seeing them from Fox Spit  nearing Fox Spit mid channel traveling north. About 6 of them.
12:10 p.m. - Orcas just passed Bells Beach, Whidbey.
Marilyn Armbruster
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11:41 a.m. - Just north of Langley now. They're a head of the Mystic Sea and the other four boats.
Dan Gulden
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11:34 a.m. - Off Inn at Langley. Watching the Whale Watch boats watch the orcas. Probably about 10 of them. At least 1 male. North/West of the flotilla of boats. Will try to post video later.
Chris Merritt
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11:17 a.m. -  out front of Langley now
11:01 a.m. -  pod moving faster now northerly. Nearing Sandy Point (Whidbey)
10:48 a.m. -  slight pod movement northerly now.
Stu Davidson
-
10:22 a.m. - Island Explorer 4 on scene with killer whales north of Clinton
Michael Colahan
-
10:15 a.m. - Observing a pod of about 6 or 7 orcas a mile north of Clinton ferry terminal.. Close to Whidbey side.. Might be feeding as they are staying put.
Stu Davidson

-

March 25 - Hood Canal 
11:00 a.m. - Follow up report from yesterday. Saw two today; two blows, two fins, one smaller, heading south down Hood Canal closer to the east shore just north of Lilliwaup at 11am, Friday 3-25. Seemed too few for Orcas. I hope someone else saw these and can ID them...Dorsals look like Orca, their bodies are dark as they come up out of the water. They traveled like Orcas too.  Height of the blows have to guess at several feet.  I was seeing them across the wide part of the canal without my binoculars.  Saw them yesterday at 5:30pm near Hoodsport too. (see Nick's report below and Jeni's March 24 report)
Jeni Gray
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9:30-10:00 a.m. - We had a pod of orcas cruise by us about half way down the hood canal today. Was very cool. We were fishing a beach on the west side of the canal when we saw them cruising south near the Eastern shore. They were definitely orcas and from what I could see there appeared to be three of them but I'm not 100% on that. They were cruising south around 930-10 am, and about an hour and a half later we saw them cruise back along the same side heading north. Would have been not too far north of Dewatto
Nick Clayton

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March 25 - San Juans 
Saw these whales while on the ferry right after leaving Lopez Island going towards Anacortes! around 9:30 am March 25th! (Unable to share FB video which shows several blows and WSF can be heard announcing pod of 4-5 orcas on starboard side - ALB )
Ashlee Gaetz

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March 24 - Hood Canal 
Unidentified whale or porpoise heading south in Hood Canal mid channel about 5:30pm Thurs. 3-24 just north of Hoodsport. Saw one blow. (possibly pod of orcas seen on 25th)
Jeni Gray
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March 24 - Saratoga Passage 
12:00 p.m. - Noon - A pod of 6-8 orcas were traveling south past Fox Spit on Whidbey Island. N 48 degrees 5'30.1632 W 122 degrees 29'34.044
Jim Lovvorn

************************

March 23 - Saanich Inlet, BC 
Classic Northwest scene? Oh, yes. Gorgeous misty day in Saanich Inlet with the T100s, T101s, and T124A1.
Photo by Katie Jones, March 23, 2016 

Misty orca encounter in Saanich Inlet.
Photo by Katie Jones, March 23, 2016 

-

Great encounter with the T100s, T101s, and T124A1 in Saanich Inlet today!
Here's T100C, T100E, T101B, and T102.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 23, 2016 

Sprouter male T100C and his younger sibling T100E in Saanich Inlet. T100C's SAT tag appears to be gone.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 23, 2016 

T100F in Saanich Inlet.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 23, 2016 

T100E, T100C, and T100F in Saanich Inlet ...my first time seeing the T100s! Finally!
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 23, 2016 

T124A1 spy hops in Saanich Inlet after a kill.
Photo by Melisa Pinnow, March 23, 2016 
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Today was one of those perfect Pacific Northwestern days. There is something so captivating about watching a pod of killer whales swimming through narrow channels against a beautiful, lush, green backdrop ... I feel very lucky to have had the privilege to see these mammal-hunting animals today. Even though this family spends a lot of time in northern Johnstone Strait and southeastern Alaska, we caught up with these killer whales in Saanich Inlet....the well-known T100s, T101s, and T124A-1.
Heather MacIntyre

T100s in the pouring rain - Saanich Inlet.
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 23, 2016 

T100C born in 2002. He still has some maturing to do, but he is getting big!
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, March 23, 2016 

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A great day! Transient Orcas, the 100s, and 101s, and 124a1, in the south stretch of Saanich Inlet, a deep and narrow fjord north of Victoria, BC. That's T102 carrying the kill. I've never seen Orcas there before because I've never been there before. Aboard the Peregrine, Maya's Legacy Whale Watch.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, March 23, 2016
 

Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, March 23, 2016 

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March 23 - Puget Sound 
Bigg's T46Cs and others (probably Bs) passing Fox Spit,Whidbey Island. 
They were not easy to find, so lucky to even see them.
Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 23, 2016 

Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, March 23, 2016

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3:17 p.m. - same location. Looks big. Not sure about type or number.
3:00 p.m. - Repeated tail slapping. In Crescent Harbor 200 yards west of Polnell Point.
Steve Rothboeck
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1:50 p.m. - Just saw a group of orcas breaching off of Madrona Beach, Camano Island.
Vicki Anderson
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1:40 p.m. - Mid channel northbound off Fox Spit.
12:50 p.m. - they are moving north quickly, and headed over towards Camano Island side of Saratoga. They are past Langley now.
Marilyn Armbruster
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12:34 p.m. - I've got them! Just south of whale Bell area! They are coming up whidbey side!
Melinda Killian
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12:33 p.m. - Just saw a group of at least 3 orcas pass Sandy Point heading north towards Langley
Melanie Sceva Hill
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Thanks to the WSF Tokitae we saw the T46C family and another group northbound from Clinton aboard the Island Explorer 4. Also we found gray whales 723 and 531 near Gedney Island.
Michael Colahan

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12:10 p.m. - Fred reports at least 8 or 9 orcas traveling north from the Clinton ferry lane, on the Whidbey side, heading toward Langley and Saratoga Passage.
11:58 a.m. - Fred Lundahl is now watching 4 or 5 orcas just 1/4 mile off Brighton Beach, next to the Clinton ferry dock. They are heading north into Saratoga Passage. Fred saw one adult male, 2 or 3 females and one juvenile. 
Coastal orcas
March 20 
Received a report today from Dan, reporting a sighting of 3 - 5 orcas March 20th at noon, close in off Bella Beach, north of Fogerty Creek (and State Park) Oregon. No direction of travel given. Approx. lat/long 44.861863,  -124.048618  
Gray whales
March 27 
Eric from Mystic Sea reports Gray #21 and #49, Patch near West Gedney Island, #723, #56, #531 near South Gedney Island, unidentified gray near Sandy Point heading towards Langley.
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We had 5 whales total, 4 at the south end of Gedney: 49, 383, 531, and 723. #21 was on the north side.
Michael Colahan
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1:00 p.m. - I just saw three gray whales near Gedney from the ferry.
Steve Smith
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12:28 p.m. - Gray whale spout seen in the middle of Port Susan, headed north. A small dark colored dolphin/porpoise also seen closer to the mainland.
Jennifer Smith
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10:46 a.m. - Island Explorer 4 on scene with 49 and 723 near Gedney Island. Happy Easter!
Michael Colahan

***********************

March 26 - Hood Canal 
6:24 p.m. - Saw one Large whale (Gray I think) surface and the dive) off Twanah State Park. 120' of water. Hood Canal
Jeff Dodd
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March 26 - Olympia 
4:42 p.m. - Wanted to report that we just saw 1 (?) small gray whale 100 yards off shore at Boston Harbor (just north of Olympia). Didn't get a good look but was definitely a whale and we saw it breach 3 times!
Linnea Madison
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March 26 - San Juans 
1:15 p.m. - Two calls from WA State Ferries, both the Salish and Hyak Ferries reporting a Gray or maybe Minke whale between Orcas and Shaw Islands, just below the surface, possibly heading east.
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March 26 - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage 
...Three deployments of suction-cup attached video tags (on 49, 383, and 723) with two still on into the night. Both tags were on until early this morning (did not hear them at 0500 but were off at 0600 so sometime between then) and recovered them later that morning, both appeared in good working order and recording but will not know for sure if the data is good for a day or two). Documented feeding in the shallows of the Snohomish but two whales at high tide both this morning and evening, two others feeding shallow just south of Tullalip Bay, and tonight three feeding off W Camano near Mobana. Collected one fecal sample from one of the animals we tagged yesterday (49) and also got a skin sample of one more of our unsexed animals (56 which leaves only one left we have not sampled and not yet seen this year).
John Calambokdis, Cascadia Research Collective
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6:30 p.m. - Spotted two gray whales heading north from Bells Beach pier.
Alan Cohen

6:00 p.m. - Two gray whales in Saratoga Passage this evening! Traveling and feeding. First off Camano then crossed over to Whidbey heading North, turned and headed South and then back over towards Camano.
Ron McCabe

Gray whale #723 with Mt. Baker providing the backdrop, near Hat/Gedney Island. I was out with Island Adventures and we saw all 6 of the Saratoga Grays confirmed in the area.
Photo by James Gresham, March 26, 2016 


Saratoga Passage Gray 723 with a little spyhop off Hat/Gedney Island this afternoon. 723 was swimming with 531 and they both did this repeatedly.
Photo by James Gresham, March 26, 2016 

Saratoga Grays 723 and 531 were being quite cozy with each other this afternoon. Logging on the surface together, cuddling and repeatedly lifting their rostrums out of the water. We even saw them swimming backwards. In my yrs on the water I have never seen anything other than an orca swim backwards.
Photo by James Gresham, March 26, 2016 

Saratoga Passage Gray Whales 723 and 531 with rainbow colored exhalation plumes glistening in today's sunshine. Near Hat/Gedney Island.
Photo by James Gresham, March 26, 2016 

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12:50 p.m. - Eric and Jill from Mystic Sea report gray whales #49, Patch, #531 & #723 on East side of Gedney Island, #21 & #383 on West side of Gedney Island. They are headed to Baby Island to check out possible Humpback Sighting!
-
There are 3 Gray's out there and another one a little further North.
Janine Harles
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11:46 a.m. - Just rode the ferry from Clinton to mulkiteo and there's a few whale watching boats and a research boat that are all east of hat island heading north into that channel there. Not sure what they are watching but they are all stationary.
Grace Seidel

*********************

March 25 
A quick update: A very successful day on the water for this area. We IDed 6 whales (21, 49, 56, 383, 531, 723) with that being the first day 21 has been seen this season. We obtained two biopsies, of 383 (not sexed yet) and 531 (known female due to calve and which we can use to test for pregnancy). Three deployments of vide tags (49, 383, and 723) with two still on into the night. This is way more than I hoped for out of one day on the water. We are headed back out this morning to do another survey and to look to do tag recoveries (if they are off) but likely not deploy any more tags. We will be looking for an opportunity to biopsy 56 who has not been sampled or sexed yet and would complete our sex determinations on the most regular whales.
John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research Collective
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7:00 p.m. - from Grand Ave Park in Everett, we watched 2 possibly 3 gray whales this evening at 7:00 west of the marina that's across from Jetty Island. They were spread out. Watched them come from between Hat Island and Camano ENE towards the estuary and Jetty Island.
Shelby Hight Fifield
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2:55 -3:30 p.m. From beach east of Mukilteo ferry I watched what appeared to be at least two gray whales blowing and sounding, south and east of Hat/Gedney Island  w/Cadscadia Research on scene.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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9:36 a.m. - Grey whale just south of the clinton ferry dock heading north. Very close to the Whidbey side.
Danielle Pennington

*********************

March 24 
9:14 a.m. - Gray whale traveling south just north of Mabana on Camano. Outer edge of the channel.
Sally Olin

********************

March 22 & 23 
Orca Network board member Fred Lundahl took his grandkids out to see some whales today and at 11 AM they found gray whale #723 about 1/4 north of Hat/Gedney Island. Fred also saw two unidentified gray whales yesterday, 3/22, also just north of Hat Island.

*********************
March 19
We believe we saw a mama grey whale and her calf (can't rule out mom/calf, but we haven't heard anyone else report that) We were east of Camano Island near Camano Head. They were close to the shoreline as you can see by the houses in the background and we assume feeding  there.  We watched them as they stayed in that area for over an hour. Couldn't really say they were traveling they appeared to be busy feeding and circling around,  mostly close to the beach....The second one was smaller and  sometimes snuggled up close to the first one but was usually  traveling fairly close behind.  We could see that the tail fin was much smaller,  the length of time you saw the back was much shorter and the blow smaller too.
Erica Rayner-Horn

Photo by Erica Raynor-Horn, March 19, 2016 

Photo by Erica Raynor-Horn, March 19, 2016 

Photo by Erica Raynor-Horn, March 19, 2016 
 
Humpbacks & Unconfirmed
March 25 
...Also encountered a humpback whale feeding at the entrance to Holmes Harbor in one of the herring spawning areas (good ID and sample).
John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research

**********************

March 24 
Whale sighting. Lots of spouting and tiny whale tale. Then saw the whale again spout appx 15 minutes later, headed South towards Downtown Edmonds. Moving Slow. 5:51pm now. First spotted at 5:21pm. Didn't make it more than a mile traveling in half hour. Baby humpback?! I recognized the humpback back at one point.. maybe the adult.. and then this video though is such a tiny tail. It was a side view of course and my phone camera was zoomed in, so a bit far away. But close enough to shore to catch a glimpse at least. I see a tiny spray first in the video! Much smaller than the other sprays we also saw! You can count on it here first...Oh yeah. Baby whale!
AnaLisa Gerbig

***********************

March 23 
Humpback or possibly Gray Whale in Budd Inlet.
I am the coach of the Olympia Yacht Club Junior Sailing program. Today, March 23, at our High School Sailing practice we had a whale join us! We were practicing at the very southern end of Budd Inlet near the Port Plaza dock. The whale surfaced 2 times, roughly 7 minutes apart, spouting both times a vertical column of water. The first time it surfaced less than 200 yards from my boat. I suspect it was a humpback, it was a grey/pinkish color with with barnacles on it's back. It was quite the thrill as the inlet is both narrow and shallow near the OYC (we set marks that day and only had to feed out about 30ft of line), a large whale is the last thing I'd expect to see that far south!
Best, Sara Hanavan


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March 22 
I'm partnering up with Tony on this observation and we're looking through a spotting scope at a distance of approximately 2 miles plus. We thought we would identify it by the single-column blow and the long duration between blows (10 to 15 min). Admittedly, I'm a birder and not an experienced whale watcher so anything is possible....We were only able to spot the fluke and the head of the animal after it spouted. It appeared to be white under the mouth and down the ventral side. Because of the great distance, even with 36x spotting scope, we considered the duration between blows which was greater than 10 min and as much as 15. We know there were at least three animals. Again, I am not an experienced whale observer. I have seen numerous Humpbacks while in the Navy in Hawaii but they were only 100 meters from the ship. I counted gray whales in Monterey Bay for school but they were less than one kilometre away.
Bob Schultz
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3:00 p.m. - From Harbor View park in Everett, seeing multiple blows south of Hat Island. Looks like possible humpbacks.
Tony Angell

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March 20 
Around 15:30 we spotted a gray whale. We were in Fay Bainbridge park in Bainbridge Island. So exciting! It's the first time we spot a wild whale. I believe it was going north east...I am not sure whether it was a gray whale or a humpback. It might have been the same humpback someone else spotted earlier! We only saw it for a few second when it came out for air and then its tail came out all the way and it was gone. It was kinda far from us, we were looking through binoculars.

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*BE WHALE WISE! BOATERS - NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS OF MAY 16, 2011:

 "The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect May 16 and apply to all types of boats, including motor boats, sail boats and kayaks, in Washington"

 

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Report the boat name &/or a description of the boat, & get photos if at all possible.