We had a fun visit from 1-1/2 year-old J50, Scarlet, today. She came over to check out our hydrophone that was dangling by the boat which we were using to listen to her family vocalizing! Eye contact once again. Magic. Photo by Barbara Bender, July 31, 2016

Nothing but whales and water - L47 Marina and her son L115 Mystic off Land Bank this afternoon. Photo by Monika Wieland, July 31, 2016

4:30 p.m. - Some of L47s and L26s just came back southbound past Land Bank, didn't know they were north of us.
3:34 p.m. - Boats are spread from Hannah to Salmon Bank up to 2 mi offshore trending west.
1:48 p.m. - Whales did flip before Lime Kiln, went west then south presumably to join up with others who look northbound off American Camp now.
Monika Wieland
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12:30 p.m. - L Pod is at Salmon Bank (L-92, L-83, L-110) spread out and apparently foraging with some success. All boats doing a great job of observing from a respectful distance, happy to report.
Steve Smith
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0902 a.m. 6-7 orcas (including 1 adult male - 6 foot dorsal) in Rosario Strait, seen west side of Deception Pass, close to Whidbey side. Traveling southbound directionally towards Port Townsend. Some breaching.
Eric Adams

0849 - Orcas west of Rosario Beach, Anacortes. While visiting Rosario beach today my family and friends spotted multiple Orcas. One in particular with a baby. They were very active for about 30 minutes before heading towards Oak Harbor.
Shannon Conley

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Humpbacks in the morning and then WOW, J & L Pod off Sooke in the afternoon! Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

Clan matriarch, J2 Granny - Sooke, BC Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

J26 Mike Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

L86 Surprise Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

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Most of J pod had been spread out down San Juan Island all morning while J2, L87, the J16s, and the J19s had been found in Boundary Pass and were heading south around Turn Point. Dave headed down to Snug Harbor in the early afternoon and left aboard Orcinus to go and pick up Ken over in Oak Bay on Vancouver Island. By the time Ken and Dave came back across Haro Strait, the southbound J pod whales were in Andrews Bay....
Photos and full encounter report at CWR Encounter 75
Center for Whale Research
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Sailed to False Bay where members of J pod group B were foraging close to shore while group A was coming down from the north a little offshore. J27 Blackberry breached multiple times leading a track to Salmon Bank. Granny was in the mix of the group B whales. Between the two groups was a pair of humpback whales. We sailed together to Salmon Bank and then all whales headed to Hein Bank and continued west into the sunset.

J46 Star breaching next to mom J28 Polaris. Photo by Barbara Bender, July 27, 2016

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Wow!!! What an incredible day Thursday, July 27th was. I'm still relieving the amazing encounters. We watched the J11s (J27, J31, and J39) traveling with J2 and adopted son, L87. They sure seemed to be in high spirits ... And then there was that humpback that popped up surprisingly in the distance breaching over and over and over ...
Heather MacIntyre

J2 Granny (oldest southern resident orca) looking gorgeous. She and J27 spent more time out of the water than in it! Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016

J27 Blackberry - He's a beautiful being! Photo by Heather MacInytre, July 27, 2016

J27 Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016

J39 Mako takes a look around. Photo by Heather MacInytre, July 27, 2016

J27 Blackberry (L) mid cartwheel as his sister J31 Tsuchi (R) launches. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016

2:40 p.m. - West side.  They just passed quickly - L87 still offshore. J16s and J19s plus J2 with J26!
Monika Wieland

J42 and I are on a roll! Here she is breaching by Monarch head this morning! Photo by Gary Sutton, July 27,2016

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Orca passing by Mayne Island through Active Pass in front of Laura Point heading north. Photo by Jennifer Peers, July 26, 2016 (Report & photo sent by Stephen Peers)

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J17s foraging at False Bay, Doublestuf J34 and his Mum Oreo J22 foraging Pile Point. J31 breaching, J14s slow North, Blackberry J27 and his brother Mako J39 foraging near Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse. Group B of the Js plus the J14s all fishing in loose groups on the West side as we sailed around the island. We're hoping they're finding enough Chinook salmon to sustain their families. A summers day family sail returning by way of Spieden and Flattop draped in evening light with sunset in San Juan Channel.
Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing

One of the J big boys off the west side of San Juan Island. Photo by Barbara Bender, July 26, 2016

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One just never knows what wildlife we may see out on one of our excursions. We received word that some resident orcas trickled back into the area Sunday night, but they proved to be elusive on Monday. Today, however, they were back in good force! Captain Eric started this sunny, blustery day cruising towards Salmon Bank, where we caught up with several small groups of orcas spread out near there, Eagle Point, and False Bay. In total we estimate seeing between 10 and 12 members of J-pod near these points. While we haven't made a positive ID yet, we believe one of the residents may have been bull J34, also known as Doublestuf. There were also a couple calves and several females. Passengers watched in awe as 2 breaches were done nearby.Our return trip we traveled via San Juan Channel, stopping first to see bald eagles at Upright Head. As we continued on, we took a pause to get a look at 15 to 20 seals on Willow Island, some of which were pups. We spied another eagle at this stop!It's been another lovely day of whales in the Pacific Northwest. We hope this orca trend continues throughout the week!
Amy W, Mystic Sea 

5:30 p.m. - Leaving Transients at Bush Pt slowly northbound.
Rob Sanderson
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5:05 p.m. - They are just SW of Bush Pt northbound.
Rachel Haight
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3:50 p.m. - Brad reports the T65As and the T37s are rounding Double Bluff heading north close to the shore.
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2:30ish between Point No Point and Whidbey. Closer to Whidbey.
Jean Causbie
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1:35 p.m. - Brad Hanson of NW Fisheries Science Center reports possibly 5 orcas heading north between Kingston and Point No Point, in 2 groups about 1/2 mile apart.

1:15 p.m. -  past mid channel between Edmonds ferry and apple tree point. Closer to west side. Steady northbound.
Sara Frey

12:41 p.m. - Kingston ferry now
11:07 a.m. - We are with them north of skiff pt headed for Fay Bainbridge park.
Rob Sanderson
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10:00 a.m. - John Miller at WSFerries reports 4 orcas at Blakely Rock, off Bainbridge, headed north.
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Pod seen east side of Blake island for over an hour!! Not close enough to ID.
Laura Lippman
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Voicemail from 8:42AM - Caller reports 5 orcas off Vashon Head, at 42 31 7N by 122 28 7W, slapping water and jumping.

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July 30 - 2nd group
We had 4 orcas in Useless Bay about 9am this morning. Not common for us. What a treat.
Anne Proffitt

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8:07 p.m. - orcas at Dilworth (northern end east side of Vashon) mid channel slowly moving south.
Amy Carey
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6:53 p.m.  - WA State Ferries reports 3 orcas between Fauntleroy and Vashon, headed south.
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6:33 p.m. - We left them a little bit ago east of Blake Island heading south still. They made a kill, had a celebration and then continued on.
Renee Beitzel
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6:15 p.m. - Amy Carey relayed a report of orcas at north end of Vashon, east of Blake Island.

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First in a breach sequence of one of the T037A's or T065A's after they made a kill. From a surprise close encounter (no joke) to breaching, spyhopping, and tail lobbing to above (and below) water VOCALIZING T65A's and T37A's!! This has certainly been a season of firsts. Gotta love those T's Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 29, 2016

 

T065A2 breach! Photo by Renee Beitzel, July 29, 2016

 

Members of the T65As or T37As southbound passing Faye Bainbridge State Park. Photo by EB Photos, July 29, 2016

Photo by EB Photos, July 29, 2016

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3:30 p.m. - One group stayed east of mid channel and has now drifted back to mid or west of mid channel due west of Shilshole. Also blows to nortwest of that group. Connie Bickerton and her niece Elisabeth found small group bit ago on Kitsap side off Faye Bainbridge also heading south. Maybe pods meeting up again. (see above photos of 2nd group)
2:35 p.m. -some have drifted back east of mid channel. Just watched them pass by out from Carkeek Park, north Seattle. Shilshole Marina/Golden Gardens would be next.
1:50 p.m. - orcas have moved way over towards Kitsap side. Currently mid way between mid channel and Kitsap , south of yellow middle buoy between Kingston and Jefferson Head/Indianola. Steady southbound tight resting group.
1:15 p.m. - they've moved off shore more mid channel now between Edmonds Marina beach and Kingston ferry dock. Still steady slow-med southbound travel.
12:30 p.m. -  still north of Edmonds ferry dock about 1-1.5 miles from shore now grouped moving steady southbound after period of grouping, long dives, then surfacing near idle WW boat .
11:50 a.m. - they've drifted south maybe 1/2mile with some directional changes, circling. And still surface active with tail lobs & thrashing. Viewing from Sunset Ave Edmonds.
11:15 a.m. - pod is still on same general area...south of Possession Point and approx 1.5 - 2 miles west of north Edmonds thrashing about.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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11:14 a.m. - still lots of back n forth'ing - further south now and closer to North Edmonds .. Definitely hunting.
Stu Davidson
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10:26 a.m. - They seem to be spreading out and heading towards Saratoga now, but still kind of milling. Possibly on a kill.
10:16 a.m. -  T065As and friends southwest of Possession Point.  
Renee Beitzel
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Saw a group of 3-5 transients feeding on a harbor porpoise between 750am and 8am in west-central Useless Bay.  (Whidbey) Batting the porpoise through the air. They appeared to depart the area pretty quickly after finishing with the porpoise. I couldn't get a good sense of which way they headed, unfortunately!
Nick Horton

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T65A2 (L) - Lovely day with some T65As and T37As south east of Dungeness Spit. Photo by Bonnie Gretz, July 28, 2016

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7:20 p.m. - 3 to 4 orcas in St of Juan de Fuca between Dungeness Spit and Ediz Hook. Viewed at 7:20 PM from bluff at private residence on Osborn Rd mid-way between Dungeness Spit and Ediz Hook. 3 to 4 individuals only 1 male seen. Heading west towards Port Angeles.
Michael Scuderi
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Wednesday morning started out foggy, but the skies cleared and the sun came out just as our cruise was getting underway. As Mystic Sea sailed through Rosario Strait, we found the T65s near Peapod Rocks. We sat and watched them for quite some time as they fed and slapped their tails. As these 5 transients began to travel northbound, so did we.
Our cruise then took us towards Lawrence Point on Orcas Island where we saw some bald eagles. As we sailed on towards Barnes and Clarke Islands we viewed a large number of seals, as well as more bald eagles at the latter. Just a bit further on we found this group of transients again near Sister Islands as they continued to feed and slap their tails! We spend an additional 45 minutes watching them before our return to port.
While Mystic Sea did not see our resident orcas today, members of both J and L pods are still in the area and we have hopes to catch up with them tomorrow!
Amy W., Mystic Sea


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(Our July 26th Sightings Report includes the July 26th morning sightings of the foray into Puget Sound by the T65As & T37As and another unconfirmed matriline. They all engaged in a kill together south of Kingston then resumed southbound afterwards.  The pods split up somewhere south of there, but before downtown Seattle, where at least the T65As continued south while others turned back north into making their way up Admiralty Inlet) 
8:38 p.m. -  orcas about to pass Bush Pt mid channel.
Rachel Haight
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7:00 p.m. - Michael Waitt reports seeing four orcas about 100 yards from shore in water 30-40 feet deep, on the north side of Useless Bay, off Double Bluff, heading NW.

6:20 p.m. - They were heading north and went under and haven't seen them since.
5:40 p.m. - We are at Maxwelton on beach and got them. They seem to be heading into Useless Bay.
Danielle Pennington
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4:20 pm from north Edmonds been watching northern group since 4pm, mid shipping lanes approx. 3 miles south of Scatchet Head. First northerly but appear to have stalled out. And now possibly aiming towards Admiralty.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
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3:25 Orcas seen from Edmonds Kingston Ferry. We saw them from Edmonds Marina Beach. Going between ferries headed North.
Melinda Barajas

3:15 p.m. -  Excellent whale watching viewing perches aboard Washington State ferries. Transients, northern group - midway between Kingston and Edmonds. Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016

Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016

Photo by Mark Saran, July 26, 2016

8:37 p.m. - They are in the ferry lane pretty close to Bainbridge. 5-6 orcas
8:25 p.m. - Spotted from Alki. Northbound orcas right off Blakely rock.
Charles Vendley
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7:00 p.m. - another report from the ferry Tilikum, of 5-6 orcas heading north, mid-channel, SE of Dolphin Point, Vashon Is.
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7:00 p.m. -  mid channel Fauntleroy I saw blows but that's it. Could not tell direction and haven't seen them since. I'll head to the beach when I get home- Dilworth
Aimee Demarest
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2:56PM - Report of 7+ orcas in tight formation, heading south between Williams Pt. (Fauntleroy) and the north end Vashon ferry terminal. Called in by Edward Furst, crew on the ferry Tilikum.

T65As (+?) heading southbound Elliot Bay - Seattle skyline in background. Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016

T37A - southbound Puget Sound. Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016

T65A4 (? & )T65A2 (R) southbound Puget Sound. Photo by Stu Davidson

T65A2 (born 2004) traveling southbound Puget Sound with his family and the T37As. Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016

Tail lobbing Bigg's/Transient. Photo by Stu Davidson, July 26, 2016

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1:30 - Pod of T's off Rolling Bay BI., west of channel. Slowly moving north now. Not much surface activity. Counted 5 in this group including one adult male and juvenile.
Susan Marie Andersson

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10:48 a.m. -  Nice breach just south of Faye Bainbridge park... Photo by Sue Larkin, July 26, 2016

The fin whale. East of Sequim. It has been staying within an approx.1 square mile area lately, indicating a solid food supply there. Photo by James Gresham, July 30, 2016

 

8:30 p.m. - We saw several whales (no dorsal fin, so not Orcas) on the crossing of the Coho between Victoria, BC & Port Angeles, WA last evening about 8:30 pm in US waters. They appeared to be feeding, and heading west on Strait of Juan de Fuca. We did see the tail flukes of 2 , one very close and distinct. One of our group got a video of them blowing and the tail of one, though it's fuzzy. We dont know if Grays or Humpbacks have been seen in the area, but that's best guess.
Elizabeth Blake

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Message from WA State Ferries 5:30 am this morning, reporting a whale in the middle of the traffic lanes outside Elliott Bay, 1/2 nautical mile north of the Tango Buoy. (No species or direction of travel given, but our guess is that it likely was one of the humpbacks that has been hanging around)

1:53 p.m. - Spotted 2 Minke whales in San Juan channel. Got lucky enough to see them breech. Heading south. (reporting party believes Minke, Humpbacks were reported and confirmed by several others- ALB)
Amy Ferron
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...two humpbacks ...from the Victoria Clipper about 1pm Friday. Just outside of Friday Harbor.
Sheryl Geuder Payton
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Two humpback whales just outside of Friday Harbor noon-2:30pm today (Friday). Many whale watching boats following them.
Sheryl Geuder Payton

Humpbacks on the morning tour and then, J & L Pod off Sooke in the afternoon!
Been a few days around here for our SRKW... GREAT TO SEA!..we are EXCITED!
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Coastal WW

Beautiful underside fluke image  of a Humpback in Juan de Fuca Strait near Sooke, BC Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

Photo by Paul Pudwell, July 29, 2016

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8:13 p.m. - Seeing blows NW of Ebeys Landing.
Rachel Haight
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Just spotted this Gray (or Humpback) whale in Admiralty Inlet heading south, just above Lagoon Point, about 8pm. Figured it was a Gray since it was only the one and because of the spout, but I can't say for sure. (reported as Gray, but humpbacks have been consistently present)
James L. Bogart


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Sailed to False Bay where members of J pod group B were foraging close to shore while group A was coming down from the north a little offshore. J27 Blackberry breached multiple times leading a track to Salmon Bank. Granny was in the mix of the group B whales. Between the two groups was a pair of humpback whales. We sailed together to Salmon Bank and then all whales headed to Hein Bank...
Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing

Humpback whale near Eagle Point, San Juan Island. Photo by Barbara Bender, July 27, 2016

While watching the J11s....this humpback breached in the distance, and continued breaching over and over and over. Photo by Heather MacIntyre, July 27, 2016

8:30 p.m. - I watched the humpback swim through the Bainbridge ferry lane at 8:30. Probably pretty close to Discovery Park point by now.
8:20 p.m. -  Humpback spotted from the bluff above Alki. Whale is north bound on the west side of the channel. Moving pretty fast. Taking 2-3 breaths and then doing a deep dive.
Charles Vendley
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7:12 p.m. - Humpback heading north in Colvos Passage. Just south of the Southworth ferry.
Noreen Ferris

3:00 p.m. - Humpback fluke - Dalco Passeage - Vashon/Point Defiance ferry lanes. Photo by James Lewis, July 27, 2016

Humpback  - Dalco Passage - Vashon/Point Defiance area. Photo by James Lewis, July 27, 2016

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2:40  p.m. - 2:40 possible blows sighted between Vashon and Dash Point, from the MaST Center at Redondo
Lindsey Magill
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2:31 p.m. - Just saw it surface, looking from Gig Harbor, closer to S. Vashon and near a bunch of lucky kayakers!
Michele Riely Campbell
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1:45 p.m. - Now closer to Vashon side just west of ferry
1:35 pm - Found it- just off Point Defiance.
12:56 pm - Just got a report that there is a Humpback at south end of Vashon near Dalco Point. West of the ferry.
Amy Carey
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12:47 p.m. - He appears to be feeding and swimming in tight circles in the open water between Point Dalco and Gig Harbor. The breaching and pec slapping has ceased, but he's still surfacing and diving. Last saw him just now - Point Dalco. I'm on Owen Beach.
12:28 p.m. - Low quality photo taken from iPhone video.(not included) Humpback traveling by Point Defiance. Possibly headed north up Dalco passage. Kind of circling by Gig Harbor/ Point Defiance.
Vanessa VanGilder
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12:24 p.m. - Viewed from beach house outside of Gig Harbor. Humpback traveling and breaching several times from Point Defiance to Kent/Des Moines. Very large in size in comparison to past sightings.
Darin Edwards
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5:57 a.m. - I'm sure I just saw a whale off Alki. Looked just in time to see a big hump then a tail come out of the water then it was so gone. Anyone else see this guy? Was heading west towards Southworth/Manchester. As viewed from just off 54th place and Alki. (around Alki point)
Rusty Garner

A special visit of two Gray Whales - a rare thing, and especially out of the ordinary for the time of year. We met the pair South of Iceberg Point after exploring the remote cliffs, islands and hidden Bays South of Lopez. The Greys passed Whale Rocks and looked to be going through Cattle Pass, but turned and fought the flood current at the lighthouse to continue North on the San Juan shoreline.
Barbara & David, All Aboard Sailing

Gray Whale - Eschrichtius robustus, with Cattle Point Lighthouse. Photo by Barbara Bender, July 25, 2016

Gray Whale - Iceberg Point, Lopez Island Photo by Barbara Bender, July 25, 2016

July 23 

1:53 p.m. - Spotted 2 Minke whales in San Juan channel. Got lucky enough to see them breech. Heading south. (reporting party believes Minke, Humpbacks were reported and confirmed by several others- ALB)
Amy Ferron  

I am writing to report sighting a pod of about 12 bottle nose dolphins (probably the Common dolphins) near Devils Head at about 5 PM yesterday July 29th they appeared to be feeding and very active, we were traveling by boat to Narrows Marina for dinner at the time, later on our return to Olympia we sited them again near Toliva Shoal about the same number 12 seemed to be actively feeding.  I know what Harbor and Dall's porpoise look like these were clearly different gray with a bottle nose and the first I have ever observed in Puget Sound. Please respond back to me to acknowledge your receipt of this report and let me know if you have other sittings.
Thank you, Larry Cowan

Saw a pod of about 12 Common dolphins off the South side of McNeil island Friday afternoon. Photo by Eric Devereaux, July 29, 2016

7:30 a.m. - Beautiful video of one of the pods of Common dolphins riding the wake. Colvos Passage, Puget Sound. Video by Paul Mooselips Dudley, July 29, 2016

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Pod of Common dolphins - Olympia, WA Photo by Laurie O'Brien, July 28, 2016

Common dolphin - Olympia, WA Photo by Laurie O'Brien July 28, 2016

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5:50 p.m.  - Common Dolphins are "screaming" south down Eld Inlet. What a lovely (and fast) sight of them porpoising just below the surface, throwing a wake, with every single animal. Throw in the total breaches once in a while and it's a grand night on the water.
Kim Merriman

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9:40 a.m. - Dolphins off Ballard buoy just now. The north buoy by Golden Gardens. And it was hard to tell which way, but I would say north. (direction of travel) It was pretty foggy.
See Ryan's Facebook VIDEO.
Ryan Johnson

7:00 a.m. Common dolphins very active heading north out of Budd Inlet. Flat calm and foggy is making a great backdrop.
Kim Merrman

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8:10 p.m. - The pod of common dolphin just cruised through Alki north bound. No orcas yet.
Charles Vendley