After 3 weeks away, some members of J-Pod finally returned to inland waters today! The 10 whales rocketed past Lime Kiln this afternoon, porpoising north on a flood tide. While it took them only a couple minutes to pass, it was great to see some friendly fins. That's J2 Granny on the right! Photo by Monika Wieland, July 3, 2016

 

2:59 p.m. - J2s in lead followed by J19s all porpoising, L87 trailing more than a mile back slower. L87 fishing offshore of Lime Kiln now.
Monika Wieland
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2:58 & 3:03 p.m. -  Echolocation
2:48 p.m. - Calls on Lime Kiln!
Melissa Burke
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2:34 p.m. -  They're nearing Land Bank, west side San Juan Island.
2:25 p.m. - They're crossing the Haro Strait fast.
Monika Wieland
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WOW! Great to hear an early report from Tory of Going Coastal Fishing Charters of MANY Orca coming east from Muir Creek. We had the pleasure of being the first to find some of J Pod just off Otter Point passing Sooke 14 minutes from our Dock! Great to sea some of our Southern Resident Killer Whales returning to our area!
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal WW

Members of J pod eastbound Juan de Fuca. A beautiful sight! Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 3, 2016

 

July 2 

They were Ts. Near Henry Island it was a T124c
Nishan DeSilva
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Does anyone know what whales are at Cattle Point about 11:45 AM? And what group was at Henry Island about 12:15?
Lois Spurgeon

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2:40PM - Visiting from Miami, we saw three orcas heading north from our porch on Madrona Way, at Open Bay overlooking Haro Strait. Photo by Lynn and Ian Kupkee, July 1, 2016

Photo by Lynn and Ian Kupkee, July 1 2016

12:20 p.m. - live on the west side of Low Point on the Strait of Juan DeFuca. Spotted the large, pointed dorsal fin protruding out of the water of at least 2 separate orcas approximately 2 miles offshore just west of Low Point moving east. Whale watching boats following close behind.
Lyle Kmett.


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With an early report from a ferry captain of Transient (meat-eating) Biggs orcas north of Orcas Island, we headed out into the sun/clouds, hoping they wouldn't continue north too far. We caught up with them just south of Matia Island, west of Bellingham. This group was identified as the T100s, and included a large male (T100C, who is only 14 but quite big already!), about 4-5 females, a very young orange-tinted calf, and another calf who was approximately 2-3 years old. They were extremely active, spy-hopping, breaching, obviously hunting though we didn't see any actual prey. The male must have tail-slapped at least 50 times during the time we spent with them! They were swirling around, changing directions, grouping up together, then split apart a bit to hunt some more. Very exciting to see these magnificent predators going about their business while we watch in awe! Also saw 5 bald eagles and some chubby harbor seals with their pups. On the way back to the marina, we stopped to admire the beautiful and varied landscape of the islands.
Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist

T100B & T100B2 (First seen May 30. Mom was seen May 22 with no baby) Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 30, 2016 (Photos taken with a 300mm lens and cropped. ID's by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

Gorgeous image of a gorgeous fellow - T100C. Photo by Bonnie Gretz, June 30, 2016

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T137A. He and T100C (both 14-years-old) were having a breaching contest last night. North Rosario. Neptune Beach/Sandy Point in background. (The T137's have become one of my favorite families in recent years, as we watched this young male try to attack two adult grays this spring (#56 and #531) near Camano Island. This family also skinned a harbor porpoise and launched it out of the water several years back right next to our boat.)
Michael Colahan

T137A launching in Rosario Strait. Photo by Michale Colahan, June 29, 2016

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Around 12 noon, while in town we got word that two bulls were northbound in San Juan Channel. Marilyn Armbruster and I headed for Reuben Tarte County Park on the north end of San Juan Island where we arrived in time about 12:35 to watch these two big guys navigate the waters headed north at a steady pace. We could see they were angling west towards Speiden Channel so we Reuben Tarte around 1:00 & headed to a friends place on Spieden. From shore we watched them continue westbound maintaining a steady pace on the north side of the channel. At one point they looked like they might head south but eventually turned northwesterly and we lost sight. We left around 1:30 p.m.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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Ken called Dave at home in the morning to relay a report of transients heading north at Land Bank. Dave headed over to CWR and could see the whales off Bellevue Point from the porch a little before 1000. By about 1025, the whales moved in and the young whales hunted briefly at the reef in front of CWR before continuing north. These whales were the T36's, T99's, and T49C (nine whales total) and they were loosely spread out as they passed CWR. We later heard that the T73A's passed Lime Kiln about an hour later...
Excerpted from CWR Encounter 60
Center for Whale Research

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Sightings of transient mammal-feeding orcas have been astounding this year..Another incredible day with approximately 7 different matrilines (over 20 whales) doing some crazy socializing near Mandarte Island! Here is one fun image from the day. Photo by Katie Jones, June 28, 2016

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Afternoon T-Party at Mandarte Island. 23 whales: T36, T36A's, T36B's, T49C, T73A's, T75B's, T99's, T123's, T124C. Photo by Barbara Bender, June 28, 2016

Acrobatic Ts during large gathering at Mandarte Island. Photo by Barbara Bender, June 28, 2016

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11:30 a.m.- 4-5 more orcas passing Land Bank west side San Juan Island northbound. (T73A's per CWR report above)
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Lots of vocalizing on the hydrophone! (9:35a)
Cynthia Smith Jackson
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9:28 a.m. - More calls on Lime Kiln. So lovely.
Helen Shamek
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0922  - Starting to hear calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Jill clogston
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8:50-10:30 a.m. - We first watched the T36's, T99's, and T49C from shore at Land Bank (west side of San Juan Island, WA) who looked to be finishing up a kill. They then moved northbound at a slow-medium pace, as they continued on we could see from the distance they cut in very close to the rocks at Lime Kiln. We missed them there but got ahead of them at County park and watched them pass slowly northbound - some nice lazy tail lobbing, looking to be winding down into resting. We left County Park as they were in front of the Center for Whale Research around 10:30am.  (per CWR: T36's, T99's, and T49C (nine whales total)
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network.
(with ON volunteers Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Connie Bickerton, & Marilyn Armbruster)

T36's, T99's, and T49C northbound Haro Strait passing County Park, San Juan Island. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network June 28, 2016

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5:30 a.m. - Five orcas were reported between Brown Island and Friday Harbor Labs by the ferry Yakima. No direction of travel, just milling.


I saw one maybe two orcas around 6:30 pm moving north off of our back yard on Jefferson Point Road, Kingston. Got glass on them and could see the black and white on them as they moved through. Watched for about 10 minutes. Amazing sight!
Sandy Morgan
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4:54 p.m. - whales northbound east of channel...They milled around and moved slowly off Golden Gardens ( east of mid channel) for a long time, now past Fay Bainbridge heading north. I was near Fay Bainbridge Park.
Sue Surowiec Larkin
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3:49 p.m. - T125A & T128 currently heading north past Shilshole Bay Marina, north Seatle.
Janine Harles
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3:37 p.m. - At discovery park light house. Seeing them north of us. Slowly making their way around the point. Two small boats very close to the whales. (one is research)
Charles Vendley
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3:16 p.m. -  they are on the west side of the channel opposite West Point / so, on the Bainbridge side. Motoring north.
Becca Knox
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2:30 p.m. - Pair of male orcas in Elliot Bay just north of Seattle/Bainbridge ferry lane.
Becca Knox
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The Brothers T125A and T128 near Elliott Bay. Photo by Janine Harles, June 28, 2016

T125A near Elliot Bay. Photo by Janine Harles, June 28, 2016

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2:14 p.m. -  a report from the Captain of the ferry Tacoma, reporting 2 orcas in Elliott Bay, just off Duwamish, no direction of travel given.
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Orcas In Elliott Bay just after 2:00 pm today. Traveling
Cornelia Talley
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1:42 p.m. - Two orcas spotted off of Alki, heading East into the Elliott Bay.
Brigid Walsh
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1:34 p.m. - Off Alki Beach heading towards Elliot Bay
Jill Hadki
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1:02 pm - Two males fairly close to Lowman Beach. Northbound. They headed further to midchannel by the time they got west of Alki. They were out of sight north of Alki by about 1:25 pm.
Trileigh Tucker
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Marie Waterman from WA State Ferries called at 12:47 pm to relay a report from the Captain of the ferry Kathlamet, of 2 male orcas northbound 150' off Lincoln Park, West Seattle.
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12:24 p.m. - 2 orca heading north between Vashon and west Seattle.  
Gary Erickson
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11:19 a.m. - Two adult male orcas in Puget Sound passing Three Tree Point, Burien headed north. (brothers T125A & T128 - ALB) 
Kim Rouse Baumgartner

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...On our evening trip at approx 6:30pm we caught up with a big group of transient orcas coming south from White Rock. We saw T36As, T75Bs, T123's, and T124C. We observed lots of milling/hunting behavior between Flattop Island, the Cactus Islands, and Spieden Island. At one point two of the orcas began high speed chasing after something - presumably a harbor porpoise. We also saw a couple distant orcas between Flattop and Jones Island, but didn't get a chance to see who they were. T124C was mostly separate from the group. The others ended up heading south down San Juan Channel and were aiming at Yellow Island at 9:30pm when we left them.
Barbara Bender/David Howitt

Photo by Barbara Bender, June 27, 2016 (see encounter report above)

Photo by Barbara Bender, June 27, 2016

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Nothing like an unexpected killer whale encounter to decompress after a long day....nice group of transients up near Spieden Island this evening. Photo by Monika Wieland, June 27, 2016

7:50 p.m. -  whales decided they didn't like east side of Whidbey. Currently westbound south of Possession Point
Rachel Haight
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5:45 p.m. -  they just killed something of of Hat Island.
Janine Harles

T049C breaching over and over and over off of Hat Island this evening. Photo by Janine Harles, June 27, 2016

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5:15 p.m. - They are just north of the ferry lanes. Between Whidbey island and gedney island.
Danielle Pennignton
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4:57 p.m. - group crossing Mukilteo ferry lanes mid channel. Northbound, looks like they're headed for Sandy Point.
3:04 p.m. - northbound passing the Edmonds ferry terminal now.
Rachel Haight
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3:00 p.m. - Spotted orca (5-6, including 1 male)  off Edmonds 3:00pm today from beach , they seemed to be feeding .
Mark Cooper

T036B (Left) and others off of Edmonds Marina Beach appx. 2:45 today. Photo by Janine Harles, June 27, 2016

Another shot of the ladies who were with T049C today off of Edmonds Marina Beach Photo by Janine Harles, June 27, 2016

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2:16 p.m. -  off Edmonds circling, Been here nearly 30 minute circling. Likely on a kill.
1:50 p.m. -  group east of mid channel northbound passing Kayu Kayu Ac Park, Richmond Beach in Shoreline.
Rachel Haight
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Between 12:30 and 2 p.m. I read elsewhere someone guessed there were two babies; that is consistent with what I saw while I rowed northwest between Shilshole and Kingston, several Orca breached to the west and east of me on a diagonal between Jefferson Head and Richmond Beach. One had a large dorsal fin, here were a few smaller ones.
Jack Edson Whishner
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12:45 p.m. - Just saw 3-5 orcas traveling quickly northbound let the Meadow Point green can! (Golden Gardens park, north Seattle)
Toby Black
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12:08 p.m. - Group of four orcas just passing Fay Bainbridge park, northbound. 
Sue Surowiec Larkin
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12:06 p.m. -  they are heading North!! Just off West Point lighthouse
11:56 a.m. - now again northerly heading offshore towards West Point - maybe 6 or 7
11:52 a.m. - until a few minutes ago northerly lead male between Elliott bay and West Point. Now the male has turned back south east more towards Elliott bay
11:33 a.m. -  Got a group of Orcas mid channel due west of Seatlle, one male close by and others further east towards Alki
Stu Davidson

While boating on Puget Sound we came upon this Pod of Transient Orcas passing Elliott Bay, Seattle, and north towards West Point. - Stu Davidson Video by Drew Davidson, June 27, 2016

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Approx. 10:30am I thanks Leslie for the phone call that there were Orca seen from the Bainbridge IslandI ferry.  Approx 11am, I started watching from Rockaway Beach, Bainbridge Island with Sue, a group of Orca, Seattle side,  with research boat and Chilkat. Then, we spotted another group, BI side, just north of Eagle Harbor. Headed north to watch them from Rolling Bay (4 - one male) booking north at a very steady pace. Watched for about 30 min, until about noon. Then, decided to go to Bella Luna (Suquamish). As we were eating lunch and watching for them, they were spotted again heading north about mid-channel, almost to Kingston/Edmonds.
Thought they were gone, nope! They turned west and headed right for us! We watched as the entered Agate Pass and headed to the bridge. We packed up our lunch and headed back to BI. Goal was to get in our kayaks at Manzanita Bay and head out into the pass. Ended up just me and I paddled out to the middle so that I could see Agate Pass bridge and watch for them to enter. (Now approx 1:30pm) As I got about 1/2 mile from shore, I heard an unmistakable WHALE BLOW FROM BEHIND ME!!! As I quickly turned around, shockingly I found a HUMPBACK! It was about 300 yards behind me. Took a couple of breaths and then a deep dive, heading west.
I continued to paddle toward the middle of the channel and then met Susan Marie Andersson at Battle Point in search of the ORCA, but only saw the Humpback surface 3 more times and then disappear. Never saw any signs of the ORCA west of the bridge. Gorgeous day on the water!!! Sadly I have no photos.
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn
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9:58 - WS Ferries reports 4-6 orcas milling off Tyee. (near Blakely Rock)
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9:50 - WS ferries reports 2 orcas heading south from Bainbridge Is. toward Vashon Isl.
And another message from someone on that ferry, reporting 3 orcas outside of Eagle Harbor at 10 am, jumping and hunting, their antics being enjoyed by folks on the ferry.
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9:24 a.m. - Watching through binoculars from Alki beach. Several off of Bainbridge, can only see one male from this distance. Direction unclear. Victoria Clipper is just north of the pod
Jill Hadji
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9:15 - Kayla Black called in a sighting of orcas near the Bainbridge/Seattle ferry lane, heading toward Restoration Point.
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9:00 a.m. - Blakely rock, they are feeding and playing there for last 15 min.
Martina Jambrichova
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7:45 a.m. - There's a large pod of orcas just north of Golden Gardens slowly heading south (on this side of the sound).
Kelly Green
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6:37 a.m. -  pod of at least 6 orcas southbound, as seen from Richmond beach in shoreline. Definitely on this side and seem to be foraging while heading south.
Michellle Goll

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7:10 p.m. - 2-3 orcas heading north through Colvos Passage.
Adrienne Domingus
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5:33 p.m. -  they are in Dalco Passage trending towards Colvos and Sunrise Beach.
5:17 p.m. - We just watched them make a kill in the little Harbor Pt. Defiance lighthouse.
Melissa Burke
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5:32 p.m. - from the old ferry landing in Gig Harbor as they entered Colvos passage. Photo by Jill Clogston, June 27, 2016

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5:15 p.m. - Saw two orca off point defiance today June 27th about 5:15. Both came close to our boat. Close enough to see a notch on a fin. Photo by Mike Crowley, June 27, 2016

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4:52 p.m. - Milling at the tip of Point Defiance.
Karlen Gieche Pitz
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4:54 p.m. - from 2nd viewpoint on 5 mile drive, they are milling, possibly hunting right out in the middle of the channel where Colvos/Narrows meet.
Melissa Burke
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Orca's from Owen's Beach today. Looks blurry because of the boat exhaust, but it was an amazing experience. Even got to see them hunting and catching a seal off Point Defiance. Photo by JJ Davern, June 27, 2016

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T125A and T128 off Pt. Defiance Boat House. Photo by Melissa Burke, June 27, 2016

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3:30 p.m. - They are in the Port of Tacoma!
Patricia Reasan
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3:18 p.m. -  2 orcas - male passing buoy at Point Ruston!
Cathy Baker
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3:10 p.m. - Rounded the lighthouse and gave everyone a great experience, especially the three girls on paddleboards who screamed their heads off! Headed for Ruston and Commencement Bay!
Durand Dace
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Returning to Foss Marina (approx. 3:00 pm) from leisurely sailing in Commencement Bay & we spotted an Orcas whale surfacing. Appears to be only one, possibly the same one on the starboard side originally, then port side...Just surfacing & down again. Photo by Denise Mitchell, June 27, 2016

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2:49 p.m. - off Browns Point lighthouse heading into Commencement Bay.
2:34 p.m. -  I have the Two Bulls, passing Dash Point proper, couple hundred yards off shore southbound.
12:50 p.m. - The 2 bulls have passed the Des Moines marina and are slowly heading south, very close to shore.
Duran Dace
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11:00 a.m. - two large Bulls very close to shore in Dilworth, Vashon Island headed south. Wow they are big!
Aimee Demarest
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10:12 a.m. - Just saw two bulls pass Dolphin Point heading south.
Thanks. Larry Kirchner
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10:00 a.m. - Just seen them heading south from just south of Dolphin Point on Vashon Island. About halfway between here and the mainland - . All surfaced once then a long dive until abeam Glenacres on Vashon.
Andrew Hollingsworth
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8:30 a.m. - Something is in the water by the Narrows Bridge, on the north side of the bridge possibly traveling south I saw some fins but I was driving and needed to keep my eyes on the road. It had to be whales if I could see it from that far up.
Beverly Varela

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Sunday morning we started our trip with sunny skies and warm weather. We had a light northerly wind and flat, calm seas. We cruised inner islands and caught up with a large group of orcas off Java Rocks, in Canadian waters. We encountered transients T123A and the T75s, as they fed. The first spyhop of the day showed a female with a harbor seal in her mouth. Passengers watched intently as these stunning creatures breached, tail lobbed, and porpoised, perfect photographic opportunities with Mt. Baker as the back-drop. Our return voyage took us past Waldron, northern Orcas Island and through the Bellingham Channel, returning us to Anacortes at 4:30pm.
Amy W. Mystic Sea and Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist

A breach from one of the T75s near Java Rocks (Canadian water) on Sunday 26th. Photo by Jill Hein, June 26, 2016

Some of the T75s porpoising on Sunday, near Java Rocks. Photo by Jill Hein, June 26, 2016

 

7:55 p.m. - At least 7 orcas (3 male, 4 female) sighted passing Fort Worden, headed east toward Pt Wilson. 2 large males in front and less than 200m offshore. At least 4 females, possibly with juvenile, farther out. Male in rear. Females lob tailing and breaching.
Rebecca Mostow 

A humpback gulp feeding in the Juan de Fuca Strait on July 1st. Photo by Mark Malleson, July 1, 2016

Sighted one Humpback SE of Point no Point, just east of the shipping lanes at 19:00 July 1st from S/V Orion. Also saw the Short Beaked Common Dolphins actively northbound off Carkeek Park at 21:00 the same day. Our students were stoked!!!
Kevin Campion

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Possible humpback sighting at Talequah ferry area (Dalco Passage) at south Vashon Island today approximately 8:30PM. Lots of fluking and tail slapping. Exciting!
Ann Melone
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8:20 p.m. - Two humpbacks spotted about 50 yards offshore of Marine Park near Point Ruston in Tacoma, heading toward Quartermaster Harbor. Big blows, big sounds, lots of tail flukes.
Ranell Nystrom
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4:10 p.m. - We found the 2 humpbacks south of Three Tree Point
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4:01 p.m. - They are in the path of the ferry between Fauntleroy and Vashon now. Possibly heading North.
Eileen Wolcott
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12:30 p.m. - Humpbacks are near Elliott Bay, we can see a Harbor Cruise vessel with them.
11:34 a.m. - These two humpback whales are movin'! Passing Discovery Park now, still east of channel, heading south.
10:23 p.m. - Humpbacks heading south past Richmond Beach, Humpbacks are one from last year and a smaller one...
10:02 a.m. - And 2 humpbacks between Kayu and Richmond Beach, right by the beach
Janine Harles

One of two humpbacks spotted on 6/28 near Possession & Point No Point and then on 6/29/16 near Richmond Beach. Could not get fluke shot, only fluked 1 out of 4 times. Photo by Janine Harles, June 29, 2016

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7:40 a.m. - Two large whales just sighted off Jefferson Head in Kingston heading North. They did have dorsal fins. Both were blowing. Irregular surface, not smooth. Dorsal fin not remarkable. Blows were sizable. Based on your questions, I would say humpbacks.
Nancy Langwith

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5:52 pm. -- whale blows (humpback) south of Scatchet head and east of Point no Point.
Stu Davidson
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5:30 p.m. - Humpback mid channel between Possession and South of Point No Point.
Janine Harles

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12:53 p.m. - Humpback Sighting off Keyport at entrance to Liberty Bay. Photo by Matthew Frantz, June 28, 2016

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6:25 - 6:45 p.m. - From middle Land Bank/West Side Preserve watched a Humpback whale circling and blowing out from Lime Kiln State Park, San Juan Island. First aiming towards the park with no particular N/S direction, but eventually headed further offshore in a northwesterly direction. Shallow surfaces and did not see any soundings while visible from our vantage point.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network


8:30 p.m.  - Humpback siting one fourth mile south of Battle Point (west Bainbridge Island) heading north in mid channel.
Nancy Henderson Olson
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6:26 p.m. - Humpback spotted going north in Port Orchard between Bremerton and Bainbridge... near Illahee State Park. She surfaced three times that we saw, then she showed her fluke and went deep. Here's the location where we saw the whale: 47.595896,-122.583414. It was a blessing to see it. Looking forward and hoping to see orcas here someday.
Brian Johnson

Humpback in Port Orchard, between Bremerton and Bainbridge Island. Photo by Brian Johnson, June 27, 2016

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1:30 p.m. - Humpback in Port Orchard Channel. Surface blow followed by long dive off Battle Point then vanished! (later from Susan: 4 separate reports this afternoon and this evening to Kitsap Orca Watch of a humpback whale in Port Orchard Channel. Sounds like this animal was going back and forth in the channel between 13:30 and 20:40 off west side of Bainbridge Island. Whale was seen breaching and deep diving. No photos!)
Susan Marie Andersson
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12:30 p.m. - Humpback sighting near Agate Passage.Amazed  to have two sightings, presumably of the same individual, first as it traveled North towards the bridge, and then a few minutes later as it went back South again. Alerted each time by the sound of it exhaling immediately offshore, maybe 400-500 feet from our house. Not quick enough with the camera to get a picture of anything but the rings left behind, but very clear view of the dorsal fin shape and overall impression of size point unambiguously to humpback. Still feeling amazed nearly a day later!
Andrew Lister
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11:53 a.m. - Humpback in Liberty Bay just outside of Poulsbo. The Whale surfaced many times right in front of us. We were able to get some video of the last time we saw it come up. Photo by James Keblas, June 27, 2016

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11:00 a.m. - Lone humpback whale spotted in Keyport Lagoon in Liberty Bay, Puget Sound, WA. Foraging, diving for 5 minutes at a time.  47°42'03.2"N 122°36'33.4"W
Daen Grebner

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We were at Botanical Beach, just outside of Port Renfrew, on Sunday June 26.  A humpback whale slowly swam by; the back came out of the water, but the tail never did.   It lingered for a couple dives at one spot, south of the access trail, off a couple rocks off the main shelf. Tide was 0.8 at 1245.  Sighting was at approximately 1330(I believe).  We did not get any photos of the tail, for identification. Hope this is enough information. I've never seen them that close to shore, however I believe it drops off very quickly beyond the botanical shelf.  There are kelp beds directly off the shelf and the whale was only 20 meters off them.  Impressive!
Cheers, Frank Gee (staff of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve)

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Humpback CS631 near Sooke, BC flick feeding. I had never witnessed this before Saturday. When a humpback flick feeds it stands on it's head in whatever the food source is and sweeps the flukes up and forward, concentrating the food source in front of itself. It then simply opens the mouth and engulfs the food source. Photo by James Gresham, June 25, 2016

 

9:49 a.m. -  We are leaving the scene. He is slowly south bound, zig zagging between the shore of Whidbey and Gedney Islands. Last saw him headed toward Clinton.
9:40 a.m. - San Juan Clipper on scene now! He's head toward Gedney from Sandy Point. It is #723.
Justine Buckmaster
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9:35 a.m.  - Ann Casey of Whidbey Audubon called while out in a boat checking her crab pots and seeing a whale that from the description sounds like a gray whale, close to shore near Sandy Point, at the south tip of Whidbey Island.
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8:00 a.m. - I heard blows and I spotted what I think was a small Gray Whale in the middle of Saratoga Passage swimming southbound toward Langley at about 8:00 am this morning, Friday, July 01, 2016.
Sydney Lynn Wolcott

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We found one of our very well known "Saratoga grays", #723 "Lucyfer", heading south just off Edmonds on June 29. If I am not mistaken, he was the first of a small group of grays to arrive this year and was spotted in late February (February 17th by ON staff- ALB). The grays are usually gone by now as they will feed on the outer coast for the summer and have only been known to come in to Puget Sound for about a month and a half (Feb/March-April/May) to feed on ghost shrimp. It is now July, so this is rather alarming since he should be gone by now. Hoping his reasons for staying behind are that he's finding plenty of food in here still. The fact that he was not in Saratoga and heading south toward Seattle is a little worrisome. Generally, when a gray whale is found around Seattle or south of it, they are juveniles that are lost and/or already dying. We headed south on our second trip and found humpbacks again, but not "Lucyfer". Hoping we will see him again and that Cascadia is able to monitor his condition if he stays.
Renee Beitzel

Top side fluke of Gray whale #723, one the the North Puget Sound, or "Sounders" in Puget Sound much later than usual. Photo by Renee Beitzel, June 29, 2016

Right side gray whale #723. Photo by Renee Beitzel, June 29, 2016

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10:56 a.m. - The humpbacks are heading south towards Shilshole, still on East side of channel, Gray whal 723 Lucyfer was mid channel between Point Wells and Kingston heading South, we will try to pick him up again later.
9:59 a.m. - We (Chilkat) are with Lucyfer #723 grey Whale off of Point Wells!! He is currently heading South.
Janine Harles

Underside fluke of gray #723 off Richmond Beach in Shoreline, heading south. Photo by Janine Harles, June 29, 2016

 

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A consistent presence in Cultus Bay (SW Whidbey Island) over the last three days...Of a whale foraging in lower tides... Most likely gray? No dorsal fin. Though can't see much of him/her...Acting like a gray...but seems late in the season....,
Deborah Houseworth 

Sighted one Humpback SE of Point no Point, just east of the shipping lanes at 19:00 July 1st from S/V Orion. Also saw the Short Beaked Common Dolphins actively northbound off Carkeek Park at 21:00 the same day. Our students were stoked!!!
Kevin Campion

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My mom Karne Burke Behling just spotted four common dolphins off West Seattle from the Bainbridge Ferry around 9am! Eastbound!
Shawn Behling
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8:10 a.m. - The common dolphins (15-20) are still in the Olympia area - or they left yesterday and came back. They are just heading north out of Budd Inlet, very near Boston Harbor. They are very active.
Kim Merriman

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Joslyn Cynkus Mintz

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Common dolphin mom and calf central Puget Sound. Photo by Renee Beitzel, June 29, 2016

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Common Dolphin in the Fauntleroy/Vashon ferry lanes. There were about a dozen, so cute, and had a baby with them. Photo by Janine Harles, June 29, 2016 (zoomed & cropped)

Common Dolphin Mama and Baby in the Fauntleroy/Vashon ferry lanes. Photo by Janine Harles, June 29, 2016 (zoomed & cropped)

Porpoising common dolphin. Photo by Janine Harles, June 29, 2016

(reported as orcas,  but more likely this is the pod of Common dolphins seen later in the same area. We had no other reports of orcas in Puget Sound)
11:52 a.m. -  just sighted several Orcas moving across in area of Portage and Vashon Island..north of Point Robertson. Just saw them moving across surface, no breech. Looked like 3 or 4. Nothing moving now.
Laurie OBrien

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8:15 p.m. - There are a min. of 5-6 dolphins deep in South Puget Sound...Budd Inlet...at this time. They have been in that same location for the past 4 hours. They are at the furthest point south in Budd Inlet. They are literally across the street from the state Capitol. I'm curious where their pod mates have gone...as up to 20 headed that direction last night.
Kim Merriman
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4:53 p.m. - There are at least 6 dolphins in Budd inlet right now, right in downtown Olympia!
Kristen Henderson


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5:50 - Common Dolphins are still in South Sound. They just headed north out of Eld Inlet (Olympia) - cresting just below the chop. Very sneaky and moving fast. Currently on the south side of Squaxin Island milling in a large circle and what appears to be feeding. They are also 'flying' high out of the water every once in awhile to show us where they are.
Kim Merriman

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9:15 p.m. Sunday evening. The common dolphins in south Sound decided to head south into Eld Inlet. Here is some very dark and grainy video as they passed by my house after having spent most of the last many hours north of here, feeding.
Kim Merriman

Active common dolphins in Budd Inlet feeding in front of Mt. Rainier.   Photo by Kim Merriman, June 26, 2016

Dolphins in Budd/Eld inlets. Lots of action during the feeding frenzy. All was quiet, except for their blows and surfacing series, and splashing around. Then, a few gulls screeching. Photo by Kim Merriman, June 26, 2016

9:00 p.m. - they are still in the same area. S.E end of Squaxin Island. They stalled in the area mentioned in the original post and began a feeding frenzy. They (15-20) of them were joined by their opportunistic friends. Photo by Kim Merriman, June 26, 2016 (with a telephoto lens & cropped)

 

6:30 a.m. - Tony Woelke of Washington State Ferries called to report 6-7 Harbor porpoise 1 mile off Apple Cove Pt, Kingston.

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While spending time at Land Bank/West Side Preserve, there was a steady presence at any given time of at least a few Harbor porpoise foraging back and forth through each day.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network.  

We encountered an elephant seal near Point Caution, San Juan Island today! This was one of the highlights of our day! Photo by Barbara Bender, June 27, 2016