T49C and his nephew T49A1 swim among the Penn Cove Mussel Farm's rafts, and nearly within arms reach of awe struck staff. Photo by Rachel Haight, April 22, 2016 (ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu) (see stunning video taken by PCMF owner in the Bigg's/Transient section of report)

L87 Onxy & J2 Granny Patos Island under Mt. Baker. Photo by Capt Jim Maya, April 20, 2016

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8:50 p.m. - Passing Friday Harbor now, actually Turn Rock, In the dark with 3 whales! We just bumped into them! Not sure if They will take upright or continue down San Juan Channel
8:25 p.m. - Just passing Yellow Island. We have to take our passengers back. They may take wasp pass. Not sure where they are gonna go!
Barbara Bender
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8:20 p.m. - Made it to Rueben Tarte just is one breached twice and a couple more Jpod were passing by. Full moon in the sky on one side and gorgeous sunset on the other
Peggy Mauro
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7:45 p.m. - Look to be taking San Juan channel And Spieden
7:30 p.m. - Found em! (J pod)  Passing north side of Jones. We are a mile off.
Barbara Bender 

April 22 - Admiralty Inlet 

2:54 p.m. - Four or five Orcas headed north at a quick pace! One very large fin present. East side of Foulweather bluff. We are on a sailboat in the south end of Admiralty Inlet, about a half mile offshore. Orcas were between us and the Kitsap Penninsula.
Carrie SeltingCarrie Selting

3:15 p.m. - 4-6 Orcas in Penn Cove heading east past wharf at 3:15 Friday. Two males, maybe 2-4 others. Traveling east.
Maribeth Crandell
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2:40 p.m. - Just got a call,.orcas are BACK in Penn Cove! 2:40 pm...going toward the mussel docks. Maybe 3?
Bonnie Gretz
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12:17 p.m. - Sweet, yep they are heading to the pass. The tide should be coming back in around 1:30pm, last year they were at the pass during the same conditions
Drea Park
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11:42 a.m. - orcas are 1 mile east of Polnell Point and 1/2 mile off the Whidbey Island Shoreline at Polnell Shores. They were heading east towards Camano Island, possibly destined for Deception Pass.
Steve Rothboeck
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11:40 a.m. - Single Orca sighted between Utsalady Pt and Strawberry Point (Camano Island) at about 11:40am. Tall and straight dorsal fin. Headed north. Beautiful and striking! Only saw the individual a few times, coming up for air and moving on.
Kerri Kline
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11:08 a.m. - Almost as soon as I posted this I saw them again, closer to Camano Island traveling north at what seemed to be a slower pace than they had been moving. My phone lost service and I was unable to update until now.
10:47 a.m. - I watched them leave Penn Cove a while ago and I'm watching from the Seaplane Base now. They look like they're heading south halfway between Camano and Whidbey Islands.
Krista McVay Lee
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10:45 a.m. - One of the males Sara Hysong-Shimazu ID'd as T49C for me.  I'm at Long Point. Whales are NE of me currently still eastbound. Don't know if they'll head up towards the pass or turn south by Camano yet...almost too far for me to see.
Rachel Haight
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10:15 a.m. - 5 orcas (including 1 male) were spotted cruising along the Penn Cove area, seeing heading out toward Deception Pass. They appeared to be just cruising the area. Traveling casually.
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10:07 a.m. - Heading east looks like out of the cove I can spot them past Monroe Landing.
Grace Seidel
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9:50 a.m. - Starting to head east, northwest of wharf.
Rachel Haight
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9:45 a.m. - They are at the head of Penn Cove now.
9:37 a.m. - Just to the right of the mussel rafts now.
Mary Fell Cheston
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9:28 a.m. - Omg!!! Workers on rafts getting insanely close encounter wow wow wow!!!! Like they could've almost touched the whales so close!
Rachel Haight
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Orcas and our Penn Cove Mussel Farm crew celebrating Earth Day - 2016 together in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, Washington. Video by Ian Jefferds, April 22, 2016

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9:20 a.m. - Sammye Kempbell called to relay a report from her husband who just saw five orcas in Penn Cove. They just turned north toward Monroe Landing from the Coupeville Wharf.
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9:13 a.m. - Orcas in Penn Cove!!! Westbound just east of Coupeville wharf.
Rachel Haight
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6:45 a.m. - I spotted 5 Orcas a little north east of Greenbank this morning around 6:45. Heard them from our place in the community above Baby Island. Watched 2 big males 2 smaller whales and one even smaller traveling North East for about 20 minutes. The water was smooth and glassy so they were easy to follow with binoculars. Great way to start the day!
Alyce Vickland

9:30 a.m. - We saw a pod of orcas this morning about 9:30 to the south of us on the Kingston to Edmonds ferry run - there definitely was a male in that group. That's the first time we've seen the orcas from the ferry. Hooray.
Marianne & Ken Wood
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8:30 a.m. - Saw orcas from Carkeek about 8:30 this morning! Appeared to be heading south. Saw at least 5-7. Fisherman and I chatted. He said all female as no fin was much larger than others. They came up repeatedly and kept blowing.
Jennifer Riker

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Nature in the raw... Shortly after leaving Langley marina, we caught up with two groups of transient orcas (marine mammal eating orcas), south of Camano Head. The whales milled for a while before becoming more spread out as they picked up the pace towards Port Susan, until diverted by a Pacific harbor seal crossing their path. A short, intense pursuit followed, but this lucky seal got away! We left the orcas continuing north as we headed back towards Camano Head, where we spotted the heart-shaped blow of a gray whale, #44 (Dubknuck) traveling south - away from the orcas.
Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist.

Transients heading north towards Port Susan. Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 21, 2016

Transient orcas off Camano Head today. Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 21, 2016

6:14 p.m. - At least 3 maybe 5 orcas heading north in Saratoga Passage off Onamac Point. Closer to Camano side. At least one male!
Patti Nevaril-Cassell
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2:00 p.m. - Noticed no one else reported the adult male orca five or six people saw from the Boy & Dog park in Langley. It was heading north and, as far as we could tell, solitary. Don't remember the exact time but it was around 2 p.m. First, appeared frequently straight out from the park, then disappeared for quite a while and then was spotted much farther north.
Mara Grey
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1:47 p.m. - T049C all alone heading north off West side of Gedney.
Renee Beitzel
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11:52 a.m. - Sandra reports the Ts have moved east, into Port Susan.
11:35 a.m. - Sandra Pollard aboard Mystic Sea is watching 4 or 5 orcas, including one adult male, off the south end of Camano Head in Saratoga Passage. These must not be the same ones that were seen from the Kingston ferry and off Pt. Wells just after 10 am, given that the distance is over 20 miles, too far to travel in one hour, and given that Renee Beitzel reports at 11:32: "another group of Ts in Saratoga and we also just found gray whale #44 in close proximity at south end of Camano island!"

4:05 p.m. - Just saw a pod or Orca's from Alki. Just off Bainbridge heading toward Magnolia. Pretty sure I saw a juvenile in the group! So exciting! Northbound but lost sight of them as a ferry was coming toward them. Haven't' see a sign of them since.
Rusty Garner
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4:00 p.m. - Bainbridge ferry westbound spotted orcas spouting and traveling off Alki. Family unknown.
Cornelia Talley
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3:20 p.m. - My friend Angela Mata is on the the ferry Kaleteen, Seattle to Bremerton run, there is a pod of orcas currently to the SE of them, southbound. The boat at the time of report was midway between Restoration Point (Bainbridge) and Alki Point. Good chance this is the pod that was off Richmond Beach and they turned back south.
- Alisa LB
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12:40 p.m. - Found a group of approx 4 large orcas heading North bound, seen from just south of Richmond Beach saltwater park. They look to be just west of mid channel. Not visible without a good pair of binoculars!! Best seen from the highest point at Richmond beach SWP
Kayli Ann Breitweiser
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10:41 a.m. - Transients (no ID's yet) making kills but heading south-ish mid channel outside Edmonds.
Renee Beitzel
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10: 11 a.m. -  pod is still out mid channel bit north of out from Pt Wells...definitely on a kill.
9:45 a.m. -  surface activity north of Point Wells east of mid channel. Viewed from a distance.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

This picture was taken aboard the Walla Walla at approximately 10 AM April 21. The four orca were spotted just off of Kingston in the traffic lanes headed southbound. Photo courtesy of John Rogstad, Operations Watch Supervisor, Washington State Ferries

The Male is T123A Taken from the ferry around 0955 April 21st, just Southeast of Apple Cove Pt., Kingston Photo courtesy of John Rogstad, Operations Watch Supervisor, Washington State Ferries ID by Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research)

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8:55 a.m. - Orcas seen off the 8:40 Kingston ferry, headed south mid channel. Looks like transients, uneven dives. Right in the ferry lanes little to the south headed south. About 5 animals, 1 male, couple females and younger adult.
Sarah Hanke
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Pod of orcas spotted on the Edmonds Kingston ferry about 8:45. Closer to Edmonds heading away from Edmonds.
Dione Corey

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We had a great encounter with the T36A's and T99's. They were WAY out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The water was beautifully calm. The whales had made a quick kill (of what, I don't know), and proceeded to be very social for much of the afternoon. Photo by Katie Jones, April 20, 2016

Photo by Katie Jones, April 20, 2016

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Excitement after predation event w/ the T036A's and T099's south of Constance Bank. Photo by Mark Malleson, April 20, 2016

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We spent a spectacular afternoon with the T36As and T99s in flat
water deep south in Juan de Fuca as they socialized and snacked on something
large. We couldn�t make out what it was but thought maybe an elephant seal.
They snacked for two hours and were still carrying pieces around when we
left.
Val Shore

T36A1 with the intestine garland. Photo by Val Shore, April 20, 2016

T36A1 Photo by Val Shore, April 20, 2016

T36A1 - He/she was very frisky with multiple spyhops and breaches. Photo by Val Shore, April 20, 2016

Photo by Val Shore, April 20, 2016

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7:30 p.m. - Walking far west on North Beach out of Port Townsend we spotted a large group of playful, breaching orcas (6+) slowly traveling into the sunset.
William Dentzel
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3:30 p.m. - 4 Orcas in Discovery Bay. We just observed (at least) 4 Orcas between Protection Island and Cape George. Feeding, I think, since a flock of gulls descended on their location after they left.
Carla Ellis
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8:45 a.m. - 5-7 orcas spotted off the northern side of Passage Island. We watched them from our balcony through binoculars as they traveled north east up into Howe Sound area. Definitely a male in the group possibly two.
Terri John
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Single, Male Orca cruised past Flint Beach, Lopez Island (south end), 6:30am, heading from west to east. Glassy waters, sunrise, Olympic Mountains and large black dorsal fin - all around quite impressive.
Sally Reeve
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T065A's east bound south of Hein Bank on the morning of April 20th. Photo by Mark Malleson

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7:52 p.m. - Those T's were booking it right to the sea lions feeding area closest to Spieden Is. All the harbor seals headed towards my shoreline for safety
Peggy Mauro
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7:03 p.m. - Headed to Green Pt now!
6:55 p.m. - T49As made a kill between Jones and Yellow and are on the move aimed at Flattop at the moment.
Barbara Bender

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T124A's north east bound south of Victoria April 18. Photo by Mark Malleson

T102 north bound south of Discovery Island on April 18th. Photo by Mark Malleson

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Great to see the Transient / Biggs T124's around Sooke and the Salish Sea today. 8 am at Jordan River - 10 am -Sooke 11 am Beachy Head - Left going to Albert Head east to Victoria. Photo by Paul Pudwell, April 18, 2016

   

Gray whales #383 and #723 spy-hop over and over this afternoon near Gedney Island. Photo by Michael Colahan, April 22, 2016

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1:40 p.m. - The unknown gray seems to be content just chilling between Possession and Clinton ferry.
Holly Husom Davidson
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12:02 p.m. - Mystic Sea reports Patch (#49), #21 off Gedney and Camano Head, #723 and #383 south of Gedney, and Chilcat reporting unknown gray near Possession Point.
Bonnie Gretz

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 ...We left the orcas continuing north as we headed back towards Camano Head, where we spotted the heart-shaped blow of a gray whale, #44 (Dubknuck) traveling south - away from the orcas.  (full day report in Bigg's section)
Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist.

Gray whale #44 Dubknuck. Photo by Sandra Pollard, April 21, 2016

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We watched a grey for about 1/2 hour. Was going from Possession point to the Clinton Ferry about 1:30 today.
Terry Wegner
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12:50 The 2 (presumably 723 and 383) are now east end of Hat/Gedney steadily moving east.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:27 p.m. - One gray Whale just north of Clinton ferry. (as seen from ferry)
Bonnie Gretz
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12:15 a.m. - they are south of Hat/Gedney Island. Towards west end.
11:45 a.m. - both grays north of ferry lanes still steady northbound.
11:30 a.m. - from Mukilteo Lighthouse beach been watching two gray whales for past 10 minutes steadily moving northbound. Now in ferry lanes west of mid channel.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Gray whales 383 & 723 Possession Sound. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network April 20, 2016

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Gray whale #383 northbound from Possession Point today. Photo by Michael Colahan, April 20, 2016

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7:40 a.m. - Just spotted a gray whale on the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry about midway, traveling south and was spotted in between both ferry lanes.
Jen Marquett Mostafavinassab


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My husband and I were kayaking last evening April 19 at about 6:30 pm witnessed a gray whale as he breached (possibly means surfaced) about 50 feet from us. Gray was heading northeast near the railroad bridge at Chambers Creek area, between Steilacoom and Chambers Golf course. We saw him once again about 150 feet past our kayaks still traveling about 50-75 from shoreline on high tide. So awesome, we have been waiting for this!!
Pam and David Deacon-Joyner
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2:05 p.m. - Just saw a grey whale surface and go around Johnson point toward Zittles marina / Nisqually . It's very close to shore, moving fast.
Tina Davis

2:35 a.m. - #723 and #21 north of Mukilteo but south of Gedney. Very close contact with each other.
Renee Beitzell
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1:00 p.m.  - WS Ferries reports two gray whales swimming westerly from near Mukilteo.

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Trip report - In record breaking temperatures we headed out to find whales - the water was so flat and beautiful we could see for miles. Wasn't too long until we found #44 Dubknuck and #49 Patch feeding side by side, very near to Camano Head. They were in shallow water, it was so calm we could even see them underwater, a most unusual sight. We then headed further south and found #383 and #723 Lucifer, also feeding together by Hat/Gedney Island. They too were in shallow water, too shallow for any fluke dives. We really didn't want to return to port because it was such a wonderful day being out on the water. But - we had to.
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

A different view of gray whale #44 Dubknuck before his back broke the surface of the water. Photo taken today near Camano Head. Photo by Jill Hein, April 18, 2016 (photo zoomed & cropped)

#44 Dubknuck (a very old injury, looks like it's filled with whale lice which eat away the dead skin) Photo by Jill Hein, April 18, 2016

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#49 Patch one the annual Welcome the Whales weekend fundraiser WW cruise. Photo by Steve Smith, April 17, 2016

#383 descends into the Salish Sea. Photo by Steve Smith, April 17, 2016

Photo by Steve Smith, April 17, 2016