Matriarch J14 Samish. CWR staff member Melisa Pinnow last photographed J14 from shore on August 3rd.

 

Excerpts below from Center for Whale Research Encounter 88: 

Watched Ks & Ls pass Lime Kiln State park just before and after sunset and then watched a few of the trailers including L82 and L116 foraging out from Land Bank into near darkness. Tunred on the hydrophones and listened Js who would trailing and approaching the lighthouse...then wandered down to the rocks at Land Bank to listen to them pass in the darkness. Listened to their blows in the dark until approx 9:20pm from the rocks as they steadily moved southbound down island.
Alisa, Orca Network
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8:56 p.m. - LOTS of echolocation and clicks and squeals on Lime Kiln hydro. VERY active and no distractions. Gorgeous sounds.
Kim Merriman
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8:48 p.m. -  calls and lots of clicks on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Peggy Mauro
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8:15 p.m. -  Js approaching.
8:00 p.m. - L82 and L116 finally moving on after foraging off all for the last half hour. Rest of Ks and Ls south, I think Js still trailing to the north.
6:55 p.m. - They slowed down but first whales approaching LK, several spread groups this looks like just the leaders. And porpoising!
Monika Wieland

They were on the move tonight! Probably my favorite shot ever of porpoising whales. Lead southbound whales passing Lime Kiln just before sunset. Photo by Monika Wieland, August 23, 2016

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6:50 pm - Orca calls on LK hydro ~~ anyone know which pod?
Anne Hazen

Here's a series of photos from a  STUNNING afternoon encounter. Orcas surfing a huge freighter wake and Onyx doing multiple breaches?! Yes, please! After a huge freighter wake rolled by, this big fellow became quite spunky. He cartwheeled, breached three times, and ended things with a slow spyhop for good measure. I've known Onyx for 16 years and over that time I have had many amazing, incredible, and at times heartbreaking encounters with him. He is truly an amazing character. What a privilege to share space with such a special creature...
Katie Jones

L87 Onxy breaching just after a freighter passed. (see above report) Photo by Katie Jones, August 23, 2016

L87 Onyx. Photo by Katie Jones, August 23, 2016

Residents surfing the freighter wake! Photo by Katie Jones, August 23, 2016

Photo by Katie Jones, August 23, 2016

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7:15 p.m. - Leaving trailers (Ks and Ls) 1 mi south of Turn northbound, leaders (Js) well past Turn Point.
Monika Wieland.
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We spent the afternoon with a beautiful, tight group of Southern Residents as they headed north in Haro Strait. We were with the K13's, L4's, L26's, and L47's. They traveled up the west side in such a large group - this isn't something we've seen very much of this year. It was such a joy to see. We left them at Battleship Island as they continued up Haro Strait beside two huge bulk carriers. 
Cheers, Barbara and David

Ks and Ls traveling northbound Haro Strait. Beautiful to see residents grouped up like this , it used to be common, these days it is rare due to scarcity of Chinook salmon. Photo by Barbara Bender, August 22, 2016

Photo by Barbara Bender, August 22, 2016

Photo by Barbara Bender, August 22, 2016

Breaching resident (possibly L47). Photo by Barbara Bender, August 22, 2016

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Approx 5:20 p.m.  I caught up to them at County Park, eventually most all 35+ whales grouped together. Gorgeous! It was so beautiful and heartwarming to finally see them all together like that, dorsal after dorsal surfacing as they passed the park continuing north towards Open Bay as I left.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, ON

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Image of Finn L116 (member of the L4 matriline) taken from shore today. Photo by Melisa Pinnow, August 22, 2016

Cali K34 (son of K13) cartwheeling off the shores of San Juan Island today. Photo by Melisa Pinnow, August 22, 2016

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L92 Crewser in closest as residents passed Lime Kiln State Park this afternoon. Photo by Astrid Heinisch, August 22, 2016

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5:04 p.m. -  still northbound, slowed up at Lime Kiln. Not bad pass at Land Bank, They had angled towards shore, but hen at the big kelp patch they chose to go outside of it! Some big breaches North once they passed!
Cher Renke
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4:30 p.m. - See SRKWs coming north again. This time 5-6 whales in lead in 1-2s. Few more to outside. Last to pass was a group of 9-10 bunched up pretty tight as they passed Land Bank at a steady pace.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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1:55 p.m. - Milling a little but staying off shore... Maybe 75 yards or more?
Maybe some are even flipping back South.?
1:38 p.m. - From Land Bank. See them at north Hannah Heights.. Almost to that point before Land Bank. Leaders are porpoising
Cher Renke
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Approx 1:30 -2:00 p.m. - from Land Bank watched residents approaching from the south. Lead orca made it to WW cabin between north and middle Land Bank, with others trailing in a line single file. Long dive then they flipped and all turned back south. Some veered more offshore, eventually they continued south and out of sight.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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Sunshine and whale reports, a great start to our adventure today! As we motored into Rosario Strait, we had a report of transient (Biggs Orcas, meat-eating type) coming in in an easterly direction. However, we then heard there were residents right along Hein Bank, much closer. After a quick stop at Colville Island to see harbor seals, we caught up with big male L92 Crewser and more of L pod as they headed straight for San Juan Island. After some nice time with them, we moved further out toward Hein Bank and enjoyed watching L72 Racer, as well as part of J pod. Overall, we saw an estimated 20 whales from all three pods, though very spread out and mostly traveling. Very nice smooth water, warm temperatures, and great views of our resident orcas! On the way back to the marina, we checked out some more harbor seals and a magnificent bald eagle. Just as we approached Guemas Channel, Captain Eric stopped the boat to read out a proposal of marriage from one of our passengers to his lovely girl friend! A very sweet ending to yet another wonderful trip!
Bonnie Gretz, volunteer naturalist

12-year-old L105 Fluke and his mom L72 Racer. Photo by Bonnie Gretz, August 22, 2016 (All photos taken with 300mm lens and cropped)

L47 (and probably her son L115 surfacing next to her) Photo by Bonnie Gretz, August 22, 2016 (ID by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

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We had a call from Loren Goldman in Vancouver tonight, he was reporting a pod of ~ 10 orcas off Pt. Roberts on Aug. 21st, 7 pm, breaching, tail lobbing, and more for 40 minutes, then traveling from west to east toward the San Juans. He said he this summer has been the worst for seeing whales (this was one of his first times this summer), and that he had heard that it was the worst season for Chinook salmon in BC in over 100 years.

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A hot summer's day into a warm summers night on Haro Strait. Whales from 6:40 in the morning until 9:40 in the evening! Early morning Minke followed by a steady daylong presence of combinations of Js, Ks, and Ls streaming by in Haro Strait foraging very spread out, up and down San Juan Island all day. Such a gift to watch little J52 (aong all the among all the others) engaged in some excellent breaches, tail lobs, spyhops, and more.  Their presence traveling up and down island continued into the dark of night where we sat, under a blanket of stars (& planets), listening to above water exhalations while listening to live underwater vocals of the same Southern Resident orcas as they drift southbound....dreamy.   
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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K37 Rainshadow this evening near False Bay, San Juan Island. Photo by James Gresham, August 20, 2016

J34 Doublestuf coming to the surface Saturday evening, near False Bay. Photo by James Gresham, August 20, 2016

J34 Doublestuf. Photo by James Gresham, August 20, 2016

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It was a whale of a day out there today! First whales seen at 8 this morning, last whales seen at 8 tonight. I'm exhausted (and not complaining one bit!) Members of all three pods present - perhaps even all the Southern Residents - but basically spread from the Fraser River to the Strait of Juan de Fuca when all was said and done!
Monika Wieland

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J36 Alki at Lime Kiln this evening. Wonderful evening with Alki & Sonic at Lime Kiln this evening, such a treat to have been able to see them playing and having fun. Photo by Jacqueline Slaughter, August 20, 2016

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8:23 p.m. - Calls and echolocation on Lime Kiln Hydrophone.
Jack O'Brien
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7:47 p.m. - Just heard them on the hydrophone! So amazing. Hopefully one day I can see them in person.
Connor O'Brien
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7:35 p.m. - calls and clicks on Lime Kiln.
Laurie Arnone
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J16s were in shore and we left some of the L54s about 1-2 miles off county park foraging. We saw L84, L54, and L108.
6:24 p.m. - We're off county park and there's a few more than the J16s here southbound. L84?!
Monika Wieland
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5:45 p.m. - Orca chatter on Lime Kiln hydrophone.
Ann Hazen
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5:45 p.m. - the whales off Land Bank drifted way offshore.
5:33 p.m. - My sister just spotted at least two in the rip tide off south Land Bank. Trending north.
Alisa, ON
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3:13 p.m. - Other 3 passing now.
3:05 p.m. - J16s here - half passed Lime Kiln, half milling just south of LK
2:20 p.m. -  whales approaching Lime Kiln.
Monika Wieland
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2:39 p.m. - Echolocation and calls on Lime Kiln Hydrophone.
Jack Collins
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2:18 p.m. - just got surprised by ora off Land Bank!
Alisa, ON
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1:43 p.m. - Orcas at False Bay heading north.
Jane Kakaley
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J27 doing a back flip - incredible to see! Offshore of American Camp, south San Juan Island. Photo by Barbara Bender, August 20, 2016

J27 "kelping" off shore American Camp. Photo by Barbara Bender, August 20, 2016

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12:08 p.m. - Solitary orca heading north along South Beach right now. Lots of fishing boats but only one tour boat following it.
Carinale T. Frank
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10:45 a.m. - The rest of the L47s, L72s, and L26s - that seems to be it as of 1045! Another weird combo. Last 2 were L92 and L110. Two open saddles were L72 and L105. K13s, L47s, L26s, L72s in total Lots of active foraging! Not super close but some nice surface activity in the morning light.
Monika Wieland
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K13s were the first. K25 Scoter spent a lot of time foraging back and forth out from Land Bank.  Another group arrived grouped up, maybe that was L47s? Then a few more. Looking south I did not see anymore coming so came up to house. Happily surprised short time later when more showed up, at lease 4 probably more like 6.  Two open saddle individuals  (L72 and L105), then looked like L92 Crewser at rear with an adolescent (L110). I  Look forward to expert ID's, but I'd say approx 20+ whales? (Thanks to Monika Wieland for ID help/confirmation)
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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10:20 a.m. - Orcas visible on Lime Kiln webcam now.
Jason Lee Bell
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10:26 a.m. - Vocals have been amazing. Just started again.
9:33 a.m. -  Hearing them (southern residents) on hydrophone
Cindy Hansen, Orca Network
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9:43 a.m. - Whales on Lime Kiln hydro right now.
Jack Collins
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9:30 a.m. -  some orca calls on Lime Kiln. Is it K's?
Stacy Boddy
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10:00 a.m. - Just K13s and L47s so far, now booked it north.
9:08 a.m. - low spread out active trending north at LK, Just 4 whales have passed here I think including K25.
Monika Wieland

Here is one of the breaches this morning off Lime Kiln. Photo by Monika Wieland, August 20, 2016

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8:20 a.m. - from south pullout at Land Bank could see the lead whales powering northbound
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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9:30 a.m. - A large, very active group of orcas went east through Active Pass this morning. Video by Gary Cullen, August 19, 2016 (These were our early northbound whales that day: J2, the J14s, J19's, L4's, and the male is L87. At the 33 second mark, a female grabs something right at the rocks.  Nice video-thanks for sending!  Cheers, Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research)

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Beauty off San Juan Island while out with J's and K's. Photo by Kim Merriman, August 18, 2016

8:20 p.m. - Orcas in Yukon harbor. We just saw 4 orcas in front of our place on Yukon harbor. Photo by Dennis Grahn, August 24, 2016

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8:19 p.m.  - A pood of orcas with baby are headed toward Port Orchard. They just passed Manchester.
Jacy Newcomer
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8:00 p.m. - Saw a pod of orcas in front of the Manchester fuel depot going towards Port Orchard. They had at least one baby. Maybe two.
Dawn Banks
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6:25 p.m. - These are the T46b's, we just left them at Restoration Point, the southeast corner of Bainbridge island, trending southwest.
Brian McGinn
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6:00 p.m. - Passing Blakley rock heading south quickly.
Charles Vendley
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4:55 p.m. - They're hanging out just north of the Bainbridge Island/Seattle ferry route, south of Magnolia. Visible from the ferry.
Jeff Jirse

3:22 p.m. - Got them again, West Point midchannel slowly southeast towards Seattle...outskirts of Elliot Bay, aiming at West Seattle
Brian McGinn
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2:17 p.m. - We were with them just north of Eagle Harbor. Lots of freighter traffic so I think they dove. Still southbound. Though we have continued sailing South and seem to have lost them. No sightings in the last 20 minutes
Dylan McCoy
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T46B and likely T46B2 (based on the notch) perusing Puget Sound. Photo by Stu Davidson, August 24, 2016 (ID's by Sara Hysong-Shimazu)

Stunning eye patch! Photo by Stu Davdison, August 24, 2016

Photo by Stu Davdison, August 24, 2016

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11:45 a.m. - now on a line from President Point to Carkeek Park. mid channel.
Joanne Graves
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11:00 a.m. - Chilkat just picked up those orca between Kingston and Point Wells. Midchannel, slowly southbound.
Brian McGinn
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9:21 a.m. - I see them mid channel, sightline from Eglon to Cultus Bay. Heading south approximately 5 or six Long dives .
Got a call...Orcas off Point No Point 8:37 heading south!
Elyse Solitto

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5:20 p.m. - Orca off Clover Point but such crazy winds we lost them. One large male with one other. Very close to shore mixed in with kiteboarders.... A mother and baby ended up corralling a seal right up to the rocks of the Oak Bay marina! (We were parked off beach drive) We followed them up till 8pm when they turned back to Trial Island...All together there were 6 transients. Markus says two females, one baby and three males. But at first we saw only two males and one female but then three more appeared in Oak Bay.
Maria Peronino
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Report from Victoria: We also saw 5 orcas about 4:00 pm just south of Oak Bay Marina heading towards Clover Pt. and Trial Island. Photo by Barb Floyd, August 21, 2016

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A large, very active group of orcas went east through Active Pass this morning around 9:30 am. They were preceded by a small group of orcas travelling west around 7:30 am. Transients? From the shore of Galiano Island. (Looks like the T18s, T34s, T37Bs, and the T99s. Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research) 
 Karoline & Gary  Cullen, Galiano Island

Early moring pass of several matrilines of Bigg's/Transients. Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 19, 2016

Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 19, 2016

Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 19, 2016

Photo by Karoline Cullen, August 19, 2016

Galiano Island Morning pass by of several matrilines of Bigg's/Transients. Video by Gary Cullen, August 19, 2016 (ID's: Looks like the T18s, T34s, T37Bs, and the T99s. Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research

Surprised by a Humpback norhtbound in Haro Strait! From 3:45-4:05 pm watched the humpback from Deadman's Bay (south Lime Kiln Park, San Juan Island) make her/his way northbound at a steady pace. Regular surfacing and fluking pattern with 2-5 minutes dives. Drove up to County Park a while later just as s/he was passing the park. We watched from about 4:45- 5:00pm in glassy seas as whale continued northbound 50-100 yards out from the Wildlife Reserve rocks just off the park. Gorgeous! Big thanks to the guy on the beach for alerting us all!
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

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A breaching humpback! On yet another glorious summer's day, Mystic Sea cut through clear, calm seas towards Port Angeles where we encountered juvenile humpback 'Split Fin' (BCZ0298), calf of 'Big Mama' (BCY0324), another of our well-known visiting humpbacks. No-one knows how 'Split Fin' sustained the original injury, but it was good to see this playful and curious young whale exhibiting an explosive breach followed by some exuberant tail-slapping with those mighty flukes. Humpbacks, the most acrobatic of the great whales, have made a welcome return to our local waters, impressing whale watchers with their sheer size and power and providing everlasting memories.
Sandra Pollard, Author/Naturalist. Photos Richard Snowberger, Crew.

Humpback BCZ0298 Split Fin launches! Photo by Richard Snowberger, August 19, 2016

Lunging  Humpback Split Fin BCZ0298. Photo by Richard Snowberger, August 19, 2016

Beautiful underside fluke ID image of Humpback whale BCZ0298. Photo by Richard Snowberger, August 19, 2016

Gray whales off Chito Beach, out near Sekiu on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Chito Beach Resort staff

Approx 1:15 p.m. - Minke whale off Fort Casey, Whidbey Island 1/4 mile out headed south!
Toby Black

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7:55 a.m. - Suzy McNabb spotted a minke whale 300 yards off Land Bank, west side San Juan Island foraging. Now (8:00 am) heading steadily north.

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7:30 a.m. -  Minke whale seen again further offshore out from Land Bank, San Juan Island, circling feeding.
Annie Kondra
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6:40 a.m- My sister Suzy McNabb spotted a Minke few hundred yards off middle Land Bank, west side San Juan Island. First northbound, then southbound and now 7:05 a.m. zig-zagging further offshore.
Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network 

Saw a spout mid-channel just south of Narrows Bridge at 3:00pm from Titlow Beach. Not sure what type but definitely not Orca. Heading south. Only saw one blow.
Tracie Jenkins

Received a message from Paul DeBruyn reporting Common Dolphins in Bellingham Bay Aug. 19th & 21st: Had a group of 6-8 common dolphin near Portage Island in Bellingham Bay on Friday 19 August, 11 am; and a larger group tonight 21 August near Vendovi Island.
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I'm not sure if any of you are interested in these two sightings of common dolphins near Bellingham, but here they are just in case.  Attached is a photo from the first sighting.  Below is the information for each one. WDFW personnel (Fenner Yarborough, Paul DeBruyn) spotted 8-10 common dolphins on 8/19 at 48.728988  -122.594725  while doing surf scoter surveys. Species was confirmed by Whale Museum. We have more pictures if need.  There was 1 possible juvenile in the group, we noticed this by its continual jumping out of the water
WDFW personnel spotted 10-12 common dolphins on 8/21 just south of Vendovi Island.  No GPS point was taken.
Gary J. Wiles, WDFW

Common dolphins in Bellingham Bay August 19, 2016 Photo sent by Gary J. Wiles, WDFW

4:30 p.m. - We were out picking up crab pots today in Port Susan Bay, north of Everett, WA when we spotted 3 to 4 Harbor porpoise swimming about 100 ft. off our boat...They were making pretty short dives and we watched them for several minutes... We think they were feeding. They seemed unconcerned with the boat but remained at a distance. This is the second time this week we've seen them.
Marya Groseclose

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6:30 .m. - Tony Woelke with WS Ferries called to report a dozen Harbor porpoise 1/1/14 mile off Apple Cove Point, Kingston.