11:30 a.m. - A few of the J17's passing Lime Kiln on a morning pass (one of several today) just beyond the kelp patches. Photo by Elizabeth Swann, July 21, 2016

  

10:00 a.m. -  some of L & J Pod feeding off Sooke, slowly heading west. A few quick shots of our Southern Resident Killer Whales feeding off Sooke this morning! Allen from Pizzability was fishing and helped us to be first on scene 12 min. from our dock!
Paul Pudwell

L55 Nugget heading west towards the Pacific after spending time inland with other J and L pod members. Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 23, 2016

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When we reached the south side of the island (San Juan) we found parts of our resident J and L pods. First spotted where L41 (Mega) and L85 (Mystery), both large males. After spending some time with this group, we turned our eyes closer inshore where members of J-pod were swimming. Some of these identified whales include J28 (Polaris) and a calf known as Notch (J47) for a notch in his fin....
 Amy W., Mystic Sea
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3:38 p.m. - intermittent calls still coming in over  the hydrophone.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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3:07 p.m. - Some just passed Lime Kiln headed south and north. Going both directions.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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2:57 p.m. - WW boats hanging off Land bank, but just a few whales here....may head to Lime kiln
Susan Berta, Orca Network
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While out around 2:30 p.m.  - J17's were spread approaching Lime Kiln. J22 and 34 were south of them and J31.
Barbara Bender
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2:30 p.m. - They are back vocalizing and echolocating. Js and Ls sounds like
Alisa

11:00 a.m. - 2- large scattered group in Boundary Pass extending from south end of Saturna to south end of the Penders (Bedwell Harbour). 15 to 20 individuals, one large male breached at least 7 times (lots of whale watching boats).
sorry no pictures of any value.
10:30 a.m.  - 1- one large male, two females, one young of year diving and slowly advancing east with the tidal current at 1030 along the south side of Tumbo Island in Tumbo Channel (towards East Point). Two spy hopping events. no other boats.
4 in first group / 15-20 in second group
1 male with group of 4 / 1 male with large group
group one: feeding (frequent dives) and slowly travelling
group two: travelling and a bit of play
I work for Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and was viewing from a government vessel.
Frank Gee
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8:20 a.m. -  from County, Js Group B southbound. J17s are still barely visible to the north.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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8:14 a.m. - Heard a few S4 calls at 8:00 a.m. and echolocation since on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Alisa
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5:37 a.m. - Orcas on Lime Kiln  hydrophone.
Althea Leddy

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After missing the - I kid you not - nine hours of west side whales in the morning and afternoon, we made up for it by catching the three hour evening extravaganza, complete with sunset, lightning, rainbows, and some of the coolest clouds I've ever seen. And we LIVE here!!  Around 9:15 p.m. the  L12s did come up to meet Js, and were very spread slowly southbound. I

believe just J Group B came back south? J17s, J11s, J22s. There were practically whales in sight of Lime Kiln for all daylight hours today!
Monika Wieland 

J28s (J28 Polaris, J46 Star, and J54) passing the rocks at Lime Kiln in the golden sunset. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016

Beautiful breach by J35 Tahlequah off the west side of San Juan Island Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016

It's been awesome to get to spend some time with L85 Mystery over the last couple days; I used to see him all the time, but not nearly as much in the last few years! Photo by Monika Wieland, July 21, 2016

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7:50 p.m. - SRKW on Lime Kiln hydrophone. Echolocation and calls.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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1805-1815 - Seeing whales out front of County park. J28 and 54. Male offshore. Not going very fast. A short time later they picked up the pace a bit still southbound.
Sara Hysong-shimazu
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1750 -  I see some at Edwards Point facing south, not going anywhere.
Monika Wieland
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While out, we had L89,  L22 and looked like L77 and L119, by False Bay, southbound. We found a couple more at Pile Point southbound. A bit later the L94's southbound at Pile Point, but not really going anywhere. This was between approx. 5:25 and 5:50 p.m.
Barbara Bender???
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WOW!! J2 Granny, THE matriarch of an entire population, playing with a neonate harbor porpoise?!  J2 is possibly the oldest killer whale alive with an estimated birthday of 1911. She is a southern resident killer whale that feeds primarily on Chinook (king) salmon. J2 is the matriarch of the 83 southern resident killer whales that remain alive. Since this ecotype does not feed on mammals, this behavior is rare. It sure has scientists stumped ... Of course, it is also quite possible that this behavior happens more often than we know since we only see them a fraction of their day-to-day life.
During the encounter, J2 played with the porpoise, pushing it around on her rostrum, back, side and would peridcially let it go to chase it down again. At the end of the encounter, she thrashed the baby harbor porpoise around a bit then left to join her adopted son, L87 Onxy who was waiting patiently about 300 yards away while she did her thing. Want to know the most interesting part? The neonate porpoise actually survived, for the time being at least.
In other rare instances that have been observed where southern resident individuals "play" with harbor porpoise neonates, they actually play with them to death and usually drown. J2 knew just how much pressure to put on this neonate and deliberately did not kill it. This was indeed a rare behavior to witness.
Heather MacIntyre

The Harbor porpoise next to J2's dorsal. You can really see just how small the porpoise is compared to Granny's dorsal fin. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 21, 2016

J2 with the harbor porpoise draped across her rostrum. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 21, 2016

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1:24 p.m. - Watched a few whales pass Land Bank northbound.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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11:06 a.m. - Just saw J16s and J17s north of Lime Kiln heading north. A male is approaching the park.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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9:45 a.m. - Whales continuing to pass Lime Kiln in small groups.
Monika Wieland
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9:18 a.m. - J17s and J19s for sure traveled very slowly northbound from Lime Kiln and County Park. Lots of foraging and stalling out. J17s were doing above water vocals in front of the light. Those two groups were still going north when I left the park.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu


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So glad to finally catch up with the L12 sub-group today! They've been around for a few days, but have stayed in southern Haro Strait and out at the banks. Today they finally rode a huge flood tide up and made it north of Lime Kiln!
Monika Wieland

Here's L77 Matia and her four year-old daughter L119 Joy off Lime Kiln State Park. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 20, 2016

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L85 slowly passed LK until 19:25. He was south of the light, offshore but not out of sight. L77 and L119 came fairly close. L94, L25, L113, and L121 weren't too far offshore and grouped up together. It was a nice time watching them and just good to see them.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
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We left the trailer L85 southbound 1 mile north of Lime Kiln at 1845
Monika Wieland
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Around 5:20 p.m. - L22 and L89 wer off Eagle Point going back and forth.
Barbara Bender
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L25 Ocean Sun, Tokitae/Lolita's presumed mom, porpoising past Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse this evening. Photo by Lindsey Webster ,July 20, 2016

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L77 Matia tonight near Eagle Point. Taken on board the Natsilane. Photo by Amy K Fowler, July 20, 2016

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5:04 p.m. - Watching one large orca and one small slow diving in tide churn off Eagle Point, San juan for last 20 mins. We're at grandma's cove and facing into sun, so can't get a good pic yet.
Krista Paulino
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4:33 p.m. - L pod coming up. Might be a good time to sit at the Landbank.
Ariel Yseth
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4:15 to 4:45 p.m. -  Off the west side of San Juan Island we watched the L11s, L25 (and believe the L22s) very spread out foraging, but in general trending northbound. We first encounter L41 who was a mile or more offshore heading inshore away from us. At first it was difficult to get a sense of how many whales were present as they were very spread out. We then spotted L25 as she swam a bit more inshore steadily northbound. L119 and mom L77 were nearby. The two separated for a short time when L77 seemingly alone headed in our direction then turned parallel several hundred yards inshore of us and just behind L119 who was full of spunk. After a nice breach,  L41 eventually turned in and approached others inshore as did L55 & L119 where eventually all the L11s (heard the L22s were there too) grouped up and porpoised for a minute somewhere around Pile Point. Once huddled in a tight group they resumed a steady northbound course interspersed with tail slaps by little ones. We left them about 
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Members of L pod foraging and traveling northbound Haro Strait off the west side of San Juan Island. Sweet little ones engaging in some surface activities. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network July 20, 2016

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19-month-old  J50 traveling the south west side of San Juan Island. Photo by Jessica Alexander Doyle, July 19, 2016

Al Lunemann reports at 4:45 pm: "a small group of orcas between Ebey's Landing and Pt.Partridge ~ mile or two out heading west. Pt. Townsend whale watching boat is there and can ID them...Also, small 2 person sport boat following them very closely."
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3:00 p.m. - Pod of 3 or 4 orcas, one juvenile. Seen from Keystone-Port Townsend ferry...south of Keystone.... Orcas traveling toward Whidbey  island. I would say traveling northbound towards the straight.
Cathy Cannon

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8:37p.m. -  just passed point Robinson headed southbound. Got an amazing video will share later. Red/white boat following them.
8:10 p.m. -  seeing sprays from Point Robinson Lighthouse. Appear to be on a kill. Not sure direction of travel
Brittany Gordon

Point Robinson, Orca with Mt. Rainier as a backdrop during sunset - best I.D. shot we could get with an iPhone. Photo by KatieSchmelzer, July 23, 2016

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6:21 p.m. - Just spotted them near the Vashon ferry line following a barge still headed south.
Wendy Bradley
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5:56 p.m. - Last watch they were headed south off Alki lighthouse mid channel at 530pm. Appears the female was showing a couple young ones the feeding procedure, diving deep in short distances.
Gary Peterson
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5:31 p.m. - Just watched them from Bainbridge Ferry. Longjsh dives. Trending south.
Kimberly Sylvester-Malzahn
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Renee Beitzel reports the pod in Elliot Bay as the T65As.
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4:15 p.m. -  We had some great sightings off Bainbridge Islands Rolling Bay when a pod of about 10 Orcas milled around feeding. There were what appeared to be a couple of young orcas being instructed on hunting for food, many long dives for short distances and you never knew where they would show up next giving a couple tour boat riders a treat, here's a few of the shots I took. Milling in Rolling bay and feeding then they split with some heading towards mid channel and 3-4 staying on the Bainbridge side heading south when we finally went back to sailing. Last count was around 8-10 in the pod.
Gary Peterson

T65As on their southbound journey passing Elliot Bay and downtown Seattle. Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

T65As Rolling Bay, Puget Sound Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

Photo by Gary Peterson, July 23, 2016

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3:19 p.m. - Southbound just north of Fay Bainbridge.
Max French
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12: 55 p.m. - From Kayu Kayu Ac park Richmond Beach I can see pod is stalled same place as 12:10 report. North of Kingston ferry terminal.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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12:10 p.m.- Tony Woelke, WS ferries call to report 5 orcas (1 male, 2 female, 2 young) just south of Apple Cove Point, Kingston, in the southbound shipping lanes about 3/4 miles out. Kind of hanging out.
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12:00 p.m.- At least 4 Orcas, now just south of Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Noon, heading south slowly. So good to see them. Lots of fishing boats, but they are happily keeping their distance.
Gina James Vigna
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10:20 a.m. - Second hand report about 2 orcas heading south at Useless Bay. We are looking south of that but so far nothing.
Renee Beitzel

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Orcas were seen off the Friday Harbour - Anacortes 6:30pm ferry. The pictures I got were much too far away to glean any valuable information from, but does someone know who these whales were? There were a couple of whale-watching vessels with them.
There looked to be about 4 individuals - at least one with a taller broader fin. They were porpoising quickly towards the Strait at 6:49pm, I believe along the coast of Lopez just before the ferry entered the channel between Shaw and Lopez. I was guessing they were transients from what I observed and their behaviour, but they were too far away to confirm.
Elizabeth Swann

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2:09 p.m. - Just saw them NNW of Orcas this morning. T65A2 spent a lot of time chasing a porpoise unsuccessfully but so fun to watch.

T65A4, T65A5, T65A3 scouting the southern strait of Georgia just before they came upon a pod of harbor porpoise. Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016 (All photos taken with telephoto lens, zoomed and cropped)

T65A3 Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016

T65A5 surfacing behind mom T65A Photo by Ariel Yseth, July 20, 2016

 

Pod of 5+ Orcas Pod sited off Long Beach Peninsiula,Washington. Feeding
Eileen Crookes

The fin whale was hanging out with about 20 humpbacks off Port Angeles all day today. Here it is surfacing right at our stern this afternoon. The white counter shading on the right side of the lower jaw is visible (see photo below). I was able to see it's entire length as it cruised by just under the surface. It's at least 60 feet long and maybe a bit more than that. Thanks to Capt.John of Island Adventures for putting us in the right place at the right time once again.
James Grehsam

Beautiful image of the Fin whale rostrum gliding through the sea. Saturday afternoon off Port Angeles. Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016

Fin Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016

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5:20 p.m. - After watching the L11 and L22 subpods off San Juan Island, we headed south to see the many humpbacks that have been feeding in the area north of Dungeness Spit....In the distance...the fin whale was spotted by the naturalist so we went to check on that individual and caught glimpses as it powered through the waters then disappeared for several minutes only to surface on our starboard side much close to the boat. We watched fin surface several times while humpbacks lit up the horizon with their blows. A magical time on the waters of Juan de Fuca.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Fin whale surface in the foreground (blow hole w/dorsal tip just breaking the surface), humpbacks surfacing & blowing beyond. North of Dungeness Spit, Eastern Juan de Fuca Strait. Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, July 20, 2016

 

...just SW of Race Rocks! We also visited a few Humpbacks...Than on our afternoon adventure we caught up to the same Transients/Biggs (T065 & T037) maybe others... with an acrobatic show of 12-20 Humpbacks interacting or responding to the presence of a dozen Orca!...
Paul Pudwell

Just one of the many beautiul breaching humpbacks in Juan de Fuca. Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 25, 2106

Photo by Paul Pudewll, July 25, 2016

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2:00 p.m. -  Just one of the humpbacks remains in the area
11:45 a.m. - 5 Humpbacks in Rosario Strait. We were heading towards Decatur Island.
Emily White

8:39 p.m. - Definitely 2 whales. High blows. Very tall blows. Possibly a 3rd whale. Still by Elger Bay close to passenger ferry channel.
8:30 p.m. - No idea what kind yet but definitely a whale between Elger Bay and Mabana Heights . Will wait for it to come closer south and try and determine what kind.
Sally Olin

6:00 p.m. - Observed about 2 humpbacks between East Point on Whidbey and South Camano State Park at 6 PM on Sunday, July 24. Seemed to be staying on the surface out in the middle. I've never seen one up here before.
Roger Clark, Camano Island
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12:50 p.m. - Humpback is just northeast of Possession Point, shallow dives with single blows
Steve Smith
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9:07am just off shore from North Edmonds - blows ( humpback) heading slowly south. Video'ing to try and ID better.
Stu Davidson


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The fin whale was hanging out with about 20 humpbacks off Port Angeles all day today. Here it is surfacing right at our stern this afternoon. The white counter shading on the right side of the lower jaw is visible. I was able to see it's entire length as it cruised by just under the surface. It's at least 60 feet long and maybe a bit more than that. Thanks to Capt.John of Island Adventures for putting us in the right place at the right time once again.
James Grehsam

Humpback BCX0324 Big Mama busting through a swell Saturday morning in sloppy conditions off Port Angeles. Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016

The humpback Big Mama with her 2016 calf known as Pop Tart. Saturday morning off Port Angeles. Photo by James Gresham, July 23, 2016

8:20 p.m. -  Pretty confident it's a Humpback. Last saw it mid channel off West Point still heading North.
7:45 p.m. -  Alki beach. Spotted either a humpback or gray whale not too far off the beach. Huge spouts!! north bound
Charle Vendley
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Late report--at 3:30pm there was a single humpback just north of the mouth of Gig Harbor that breached very close to shore and then travelled quickly north up Colvos Passage.
Michele Riley Campbell

Whales Port Ludlow/south Marrowstone Island area- We have a summer home on Whidbey Island--North Mutiny Bay, just south of the Condos off Shore Meadows Rd. Saturday evening, maybe around 6:00...my husband came to inform me he was seeing numerous whale blowings, one after the other. Approx 10 minutes later they were still in the bay heading north, but clear across from us. I saw very high blows from two whale--probably about a minute apart. These were not killer whales, we have seen them up close and personal, but something much larger! The Victoria Clipper heading back to Seattle had slowed to let their passengers observe them.
Sherri Hedman
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Single humpback seen just after 2:00pm off the ferry in Admiralty Bay.
Elizabeth Swann

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I didn't see anything on 3:00 crossing except a couple of harbor porpoises and seals. Ferry worker in Clinton agreed humpback. He saw it about noon.
Debbie Stewart
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No photo, but can confirm it was a humpback. Saw the dorsal fin. 2 spouts and a long full body glide above the surface. On a sailboat motoring past the southern end of Whidbey Island into Possession Sound about 1:20 pm
Elaine Armantrout
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I was on this ferry and saw it. I couldn't believe how many tail slaps there were. Gave me goosebumps. It was magical!
Lori Kane
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(reported as gray but confirmed by others as humpback)
The Kittitas was departing Clinton at approximately 1230 hours today July 22 when they noticed a gray whale 1/4 mile due east of the Clinton terminal dock. Apparently, the whale performed approximately 25 tail slaps and submerged. No other identifying marks could be seen." -John Rogstad, WSF
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Received 2 reports of a Gray? Whale at the Clinton ferry dock. (later confirmed Humpback)
First report at 6 am from WSF, 2nd report at 1:05 from Debbie Friel, saying it was just yards off ferry dock tail slapping for 5 minutes.

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With engines off, mugged by Humpback BCXuk, known as "Nike", who then surprised all with this nice spyhop - Eastern Juan de Fuca Strait. Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 21, 2016

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5:20 p.m. - After watching a couple of subpods of resident L pod (L11s & L22s)  off San Juan Island, we headed south to see the many humpbacks that have been feeding in the area north of Dungeness Spit. We arrived on scene around 5:20 p.m. where we lay witness to a most beautiful sight, approx 25 plus humpbacks surfacing and blowing as far as we could see.  We watched as groups of anywhere from 2-6 traveled in tandem, blowing and fluking near, mid a far. Some surface activity in the distance as several would pec slap and roll, but otherwise mostly circling whales and sun illuminated blows. A paired popped up near the boat, another group of 3-4 surfaced and logged for several minutes nearby. In the distance...the fin whale was spotted by the naturalist so we went to check on that individual and caught glimpses as it powered through the waters then disappeared for several minutes only to surface on our starboard side much close to the boat. We watched fin surface several times while humpbacks lit up the horizon with their blows. After about 30-40 minutes it was time to head back. A magical time on the waters of Juan de Fuca.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

25+ Humpbacks & 1 Fin whale - north of Dungeness Spit, Juan de Fuca Strait Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network July 20, 2016

 

6:18 p.m. - 2  Grays, cow/calf pair, off South Beach, San Juan Island now. They seemed to be heading away from shore when we left 20 minutes ago. Taking long dives. One surfacing every 3 to 5 minutes.
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network

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Smoke on the water. Aboard the Peregrine we encountered a gray whale in Boundary Pass on the evening trip so this was approximately 5:30 PM. The encounter was amazing but left us wondering why is it here now? We coined it Lazy Fluke because even though the pattern of several blows followed by a deep dive was normal we were unable to get a really good fluke shot. Hopefully someone from another vantage point on another boat can get an ID shot to Cascadia - I won't know for sure until pics are on laptop but don't believe I got anything useful.
Debbie Stewart

Gray whale - Boundary Pass Photo by Debbie Stewart, July 23, 2016

 

...out by Hein Bank we found 4-5 minke whales, with a close encounter of the minke kind, to get a really good look at these beautiful small baleen whales... Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016

Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 21, 2016

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6:00 p.m. - On the return trip after watching Ls off San Juan Island and humpbacks and a fin whale north of Dungeness we came upon a minke whale approx 2 miles west of Point Wilson foraging in glassy calm waters. We watched her/him make a wide circle first heading south then north where we left beautiful minke about 6:15 p.m.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

Minke whale foraging off Point Wilson. Cell Photo by Alisa Lemire Brooks, July 20, 2016

 

5:50 a.m. - Tony Woelke, WS ferries reports 8 Harbor porpoise just out from the ferry dock at Kingston.

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10:20 a.m. - Large pod (10-15) of harbor porpoise in Carr Inlet feeding at north end of Pitt Pass.
James Lewis

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6:00 p.m. - Common dolphins off North Harstine Island again. (They could have been porpoises, it was hard to tell.) Last seen heading south.
Connor O'Brien
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5:30 p.m. - Watching what we believe are common dolphins off Sunnyside Beach near Steilacoom. Appear to be a little closer to McNeill. Moving south, but currently milling about and appear to be feeding. Too far from shore for a picture.
Tari Poe Norris