April 2010 Whale Sightings

April 30, 2010

J Pod came up Haro Strait past Lime Kiln Lighthouse in the mid afternoon. It was difficult to find the whales in the rough seas. Pictures are being sent to CWR for proof of presence. Some members of each of the J Pod family groups were seen, and babies and little kids seen and yes - Ruffles J1 (see above photo) and Granny J2. Blog post from that day: 'Checking in at the Light.'
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Making our way across the Strait of Georgia this morning, our ace whale spotter - Captain John - spotted blows in the vicinity of Deltaport and the Roberts Bank Coal terminal at 11:30. As we have all been waiting anxiously for J Pod to arrive, we thought it might be them, however, it turned out to be a very active group of 7 Transients. The group included T99, T99A, T99B, T65A, T65A2 plus two other un-Id'ed youngsters (T65A3??), ??? The youngsters were very playful, with tail slaps, rolling around, lots of partial breaches, and several full forward breaches. Unfortunately, no vocals were detected on the hydrophone. No hunting was observed, although the group did several full changes of direction, and overall, seemed to be circling their way northbound through the Strait.
Joan Lopez, Naturalist, Vancouver Whale Watch
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1800: Observed foraging behavior near Turn Point. IDd J pod. Welcome Back, Southern Residents!
Val Veirs, The Whale Museum/Beam Reach
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J pod foraging at Turn Pt, non-directional at 1800.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach
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I was at lime kiln and saw J-pod .... Ruffles & Granny both present, and looked like a sprouter was on nursery duty!!. There was breaching, cartwheeling & tail-slapping going on :)) Jeanne Hyde was also there taking pics and could literally ID them as they swam past ... very impressive!!! I still have goosebumps!!! Posted at 5:30pm.
Corrine Wyatt (via facebook), San Juan Island
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4:20 pm: Just heard S1's on Orcasound.
Chrissy McLean, PTMSC, Pt. Townsend
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Saw whales (orcas) off Belleview Point (NW San Juan Island), about 4:00pm, but too far out to ID. Paul MacMahon (via facebook)
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Oh what JOY...to hear what I believe to be, our beloved J pod again (on the Lime Kiln hydrophone) It is 3.30pm, and the Orca are really serenading. Such a cacophony of brilliant sounds, some that I have never heard before. Love it !
Marie O'Shaughnessy, Victoria BC
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Picking up faint calls now 3:29 p.m. PDT at Lime Kiln. Can they be SR's?!!
Suzy Roebling
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3:28 pm: Just started hearing So. Resident calls on Lime Kiln Hydrophones! after nearly 2 months being gone, it's about time - listen to those whistles!!
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island
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Members of J pod headed north close to shore---very close to shore!! 3:20 pm...Nice!
Sandy Buckley (via facebook), San Juan Island
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I was heading west under the Agate Pass [Bainbridge Island] Bridge in my boat, and lo and behold a gray whale comes toward me just 50 yards in front of me. He or she was by himself heading east against the current. This was approximately 4:30 in the afternoon.
Update: I notified you that I saw a Gray Whale underneath the Agate Pass bridge on April 30th around 4:30pm. After coming home and researching different whale possibilities within Puget Sound, I realized that I was wrong. It wasn't a gray and it wasn't an orca or a humpback. I don't believe it was a minke, because it seemed wider than a minke, more bulk. So I am not sure what it was. It had a small fin, it was dark gray, it was bulkier than minke's I've seen before and it was about the size of my boat which is 22 feet long.
Dianne Iverson
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John Herman called to report a Gray whale in Skunk Bay, N. Kitsap Peninsula, at 1:30 pm. It was close to shore, in 20 - 30' of water moving very slowly north.
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Stephen Hopkins of WA State Ferries and Captain of the ferry Wenatchee, called to report 1 Gray whale in Puget Sound, 1/2 mile north of the mouth of the Duwamish River at 12:10 pm.
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Orca Network received a report of a Gray whale in Skunk Bay, N. Kitsap Peninsula at 7:55 am, lounging around the bay.

April 29, 2010

A single gray south of the Mabana Road (SW Camano Island) at 8PM. It was out from shore and diving deep with the spout side lighted by the setting sun. Looked to be slowly moving south.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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Two large marine animals headed north towards the opening of Hood Canal, spotted north of Port Gamble, about 5:30. Gray whales? We did not see a dorsal fin and they were certainly much larger than the many harbor porpoises dipping through the sea at the same time. Harsh sun glare made it difficult to confirm.
Nancy Slick
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Orca Network received a report of 2 Gray whales cruising up and down the shoreline off W. Camano Island near the Camano Island State Park boat ramp at 5:26 pm.
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Chrissy McLean of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center relayed a report of 3 Transient orcas at 10:45 am off the NW side of Patos Island. There were also 10 - 12 sea lions in the vicinity.
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A pair of Dall's porpoise just passed by the house traveling south from Alki Point, 1:50pm
Stephanie Raymond, Victoria Clipper

April 28, 2010

The 12.15 pm Ocean Magic was out in all sorts of interesting weather this afternoon. Mika on board suddenly saw a dorsal fin at Discovery and Chatham Islands. It wasn't just one big dorsal fin of a male Orca, who appeared to be T87, but another smaller one popped up, a female, who possibly might be T88, based on the saddle patch. Perhaps others out there might know for sure. At first I thought it looked like T20 and T21, but T87's notch at the top end of his dorsal fin is much larger, so the consensus was T87.
Marie, Orca-Magic, 'Prince of Whales', Victoria.
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We found gray whale #383 swimming closely with another, SE of Gedney Island around 10am. The pair were then joined by a third whale who seemed a little on the thin side--looked to me like it had some hollowing behind the blow hole. Stayed with the three of them for close to an hour, during which time we also saw two or three other grays blowing in the distance. Just as we were about to leave, with #383 and company heading off to the SE toward Everett, Patch surfaced near us coming from the other direction!
Stephanie Raymond, Victoria Clipper
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Saw another solo adult grey feeding in Elger Bay around 7:00 last night. Several impressive blows this time. He motored off heading toward the south end of the island just before 7:30.
Peter DeLuca, Camano Island, WA
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I was working out in the yard along the bluff this afternoon about 4:20 PM when I heard the familiar "whoosh". The tide was in and a single gray came by close to shore. He was traveling fairly fast until got just south of Mabana Road (SW Camano Island), then stopped to feed.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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At 2:15 PM, I was flying towards Everett and spotted two gray whales feeding by the big marine marker west of Everett. The second sighting was again flying near Everett at 5 PM and watching 3 gray whales feeding off of Jetty Island (NW of Everett). I was not able to ID the whales. I've noticed since the last orca attacks we've had very little feeding activity in the Langley area. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the orcas or if the whales have just moved on?
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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We had a Gray whale feeding from the Pt No Pt Lighthouse towards Hansville store this morning. Left the area about 10am, heading west.
Patty Michak, MarineView Fisheries Consulting, Inc., hansville, WA

April 27, 2010

My neighbor alerted me to a whale just north south of Strawberry point (Saratoga Passage) around 6:30pm. We followed it with my camera until around 7 and thought you might enjoy some of the images.
Sandy, SandyByers.com PSA PSWC NPS AFC, Oak Harbor, WA
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We were treated to quite a show, this evening at Mariners Cove, Oak Harbor [beach theatre] with featured attraction, one gray whale. Putting on quite a display for all in attendence. First, seen spout was at 6PM; 1/4 mile southwest of Mariners Cove, located, N.E. Whidbey Is. It was feeding time. Watched, from the shoreline, gray, feed on ghost/sand shrimp in estimated 6 to 8 feet max, of water. Two "gray whale lengths" [new navigation term] or 75 to 85 feet out from beach. It would spout, then spiral/twist onto its right side to feed. Once, on its side, you could see most of its body a couple of feet above water, with only head and spine as it tapers towards fluke/tail submerged. Half its fluke and entire flipper exposed. Then, it would reverse spiral to right itself, spout, and repeat, over and over. Feeding was laid back, without much commotion/swirling activity. Gray, slowly moved N.E. to right in front of Mariners Cove, constantly feeding. Several times in the shallows, gray would display its entire tail out of the water. Have only seen this when they dive. Never in shallow water. At one point, gray came within/less? than one "whale length" from shore with its head up. At Cove canal entrance, it turned and headed out to deeper water. Then, came back in to feed for awhile, in front of our house. At around 8:20PM of this 2 hour twenty minute feature show, saw one last spout, then full fluke deep dive good bye. In mid channel heading south towards Camano's Rocky Point.
Robert Stonefelt
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Susie Richards of S.E.A. reported two gray whales in Possession Sound just before noon today, heading south.
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Judy Roupe called Orca Network about a gray whale passing Pt. No Point, Kitsap Peninsula, headed north about 10 AM.
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About 9:30 this AM, I spotted a lone gray spout in front of the house as it moved rapidly northwest to Mabana. The tide was out a ways so the whale was diving deep off the drop off. It stopped to feed for a short while off the Mabana Road, but didn't linger.
Barbara Brock

April 26, 2010

While in route to Clinton on the 8:30 a.m. ferry and singing out "Here Whale" repeatedly with my 2 year old grandson Myles, we saw a single gray whale spout but not enough whale to determine size, etc. Apx 8:35 a.m. The whale was in between both ferries heading towards Clinton.
Marjorie Triplett and Myles

April 25, 2010

Suzanne Grenager saw 3 orcas in Monterey Bay CA (from a motel on Cannery Row) - 1 at 7 am, 2 more at 8:30 am.
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This [gray] whale was feeding closely together with a second whale (both adult) in 6-10 ft of water from 11:30 to 6:00 pm in a larger area off Jetty Island / Snohomish estuary. There was a third whale in their vicinity for all this time and a fourth joint just after noon to stay to the end of our sighting. All four whales moved into deeper water after 6 pm and seemed to be diving and milling around between Jetty island and Gedney. There was a ton of plankton in the water - I went diving to see what they might be after. No visible sign of gauges in the sediment but my face was literally prickled with plankton, very poor visibility and I could hardly even see my view finder. Might be worth taking some water samples to see if there is any special development of plankton in the large estuarine area there... The whales definitely seem to like it there - feeding galore.... very stinky breaths....
Florian Graner
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Two gray whales heading south from Bells Beach this evening 8:00-ish. We heard them blowing and got to see some spines and then a tail in the air at one point-that was a thrill!
The Bells Beach Neighbors
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I have a second hand report from Pt. Defiance. One of the regulars from the boathouse (Bob) was fishing off the clay banks when a grey surfaced next to his boat. About 15ft away. The grey was very skinny.
Bryan Owens, Tacoma Wa.
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Beginning to hear calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone at 1:56 am PDT, sounds like the Transients.
Suzy Roebling, Florida
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I didn't see it myself, but passengers on the 6p Cathlamet (Clinton/Mukilteo ferry) reported a gray whale off its stern.
Sharen Heath, LANGLEY
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Barry Alsos called to report a Gray whale in Samish Bay, from 3 - 5 pm. The whale made 4 circular passes and came close to shore.
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Is this Patch! If so, he's heading north into Port Susan about 30 yards off shore. He's being very lazy today - strolling real slow and laying on his back for most of time:) 7:05 am hmm - never heard of a gray whale laying on its back unless it was being attacked by orcas or was floating dead - are you sure of this description?!
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One gray heading north through Port Susan at 1:30 He put on quite a show for all the spectators at Tulalip Shores. Rolling around and sticking his tail out of the water numerous times. He appeared to have a chunk out of his back fluke that was capped with a white mark. 4:15 gray whale coming back through Tulalip Shores. Now heading south out of Port Susan. Rolling and eating.
Tamra Nelson (via Facebook)
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Florian Graner also reported 5 Harbor porpoise mid-channel between Gedney/Hat Island & Jetty Island from 11:15 - 11:30 am.
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Ron Hirschi of Marrowstone Island called to report one Gray whale off the north end of Marrowstone Island.
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Jill Hein of Coupeville called to report Gray whale #531 off Camano Head, S. Camano Island at 2:52 pm, heading N. Three other grays were observed off Everett, one of them possibly Patch.

April 24, 2010

Ron Hirschi of Marrowstone Island called to report 3 Dall's porpoise off Marrowstone Island.
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Orca Network received a report of one Gray whale heading north in mid-Saratoga Passage between Madrona, Camano Island, and Coupeville, Whidbey Island at 4:15 pm.
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Ann Casey, Carol Plunkett and Ann Moeller saw a gray whale cruise by the tip of Marrowstone Island, 50' offshore, feeding at 2:30 pm.
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About 3:15 PM, while hiking Lawson bluff on Sucia Island, [NW of Orcas Island] friends and I sighted two distinct groups of Orcas. They were traveling southwest from the direction of Alden Bank about a third of the way offshore from Patos Island. The 1st group was composed of about three females followed by another group of 3 to 4 females with possibly a juvenile and following them was a large male with one or two females. The 2nd group was about a mile behind them. They also were broken up into 3 groups with about 3 females, followed by four females and then a really large male with a female and it appeared to have a much smaller orca between or right next to them. They were traveling steadily and didn't appear to be feeding. We watched them with a monocular until they disappeared from sight . They were going in the direction of Boundary Pass.
Marianne M Banks
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The Orca whales are right out across from us off the east point of Speiden at 7pm. We are no experts but it looks as if it was just 1 Orca with a calf as far as we could tell from here. They headed off to Orcas and Yellow island.
Report forwarded by Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island
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Horace, a Beam Reach student, called in a report of 12 - 16 unidentified orcas, including 1 male, between Jones Island and San Juan Island at 6:30 pm.
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A lone [gray] whale off the northern beach of Marrowstone Island. I spotted the lone whale on the eastern side of the north beach at about 1:40 and continued to observe it for 35 minutes as it slowly traversed the entire northern side of the island traveling from east to west. On a subsequent flight I observed it an hour later going the opposite direction almost to the northeastern corner by the light house. The attached pictures show how close to shore it was. It kept this distance the entire length of the island without stopping accept once when it stopped in even shallower water for about about 5 minutes. I presumed it was feeding during that period.
Randy Sprague
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At about 1:30 PM I spotted a lone whale, likely a gray, off of East Beach on Marrowstone Island. It swam slowly and parallel to the beach, maybe 100 yards of shore, heading north. I easily walked along and kept up with it. Fantastic.
Cheryl M.
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Spotted a lone grey whale feeding in deeper water in Elger Bay around noon.
Peter DeLuca, Camano Island
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I'm doing some naturalist work for Victoria Clipper this season, and we went out today looking for grays en route to Coupeville. We saw #383 and another whale surfacing and diving together just west of the Possession Point buoy between 10-11 am. We ran into another pair off the mouth of Penn Cove around noon (one of whom *might* have been Patch but I couldn't get a positive ID), and as we left Coupeville at 2:30 saw yet another blowing along the north shore of Penn Cove. We saw "Dubknuck" a little SE of Gedney Island. There were a couple other grays blowing in the distance, one toward the Tulalip Reservation and one way over south of the Everett waterfront.
Stephanie Raymond
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Two Transients, 1900 hrs. in Speiden Ch. headed E.
James Mead Maya (via Facebook)

April 23, 2010

We saw #356, but I'm not sure whether that was off Possession Point or Penn Cove.
Stephanie Raymond
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Just received GPS notifications from Ken Balcomb & crew conducting the above study - they are with orcas south of Carmel Bay, CA, heading south at noon today.
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This morning at 5:00 AM, we awoke to hear a gray whale feeding in the shallow waters NW of Langley. The whale stayed for about 25 minutes circling back for more. It then headed out to the deeper water past the drop-off swimming towards downtown Langley. We could see its fluke in the dawn, as it continued to dive deep swimming to the SE.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley

April 22, 2010

5 transients T36A, T36A1, T65A, T65A2, T65A3-(not in current ID book - born in 2007) were seen in President Channel (west of Orcas Is.). T65A3 has an interesting saddle patch for a transient. While most are closed saddles this whale T65A3 appears to have an open saddle on his/her right side. T64A has a distinct notch not only at the top of the trailing edge of her dorsal fin but also on the edge of her fluke.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Jeff LaMarche of Eagle Wing Tours called to report a pod of 4 Transient orcas north of Orcas Island at Parker Reef, heading west at 4:45 pm. The pod was all females, none of which looked familiar to him. They had been off Matia Island earlier and took down a Harbor seal.
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The last time these transients came by our front window overlooking Sucia Island. It was during my morning cup of coffee a couple of weeks ago. Now I'm home for lunch (2:25 pm) and there they are. Earlier today they were off Yellow Island, traveling up to Sucia in about five hours.
Tom Averna, Deer Harbor Charters, Orcas Island, WA
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About 5 Transient orcas N.E. corner of Waldron Island at 1157.
Ron Bates, MMRG, Victoria B.C. (via Facebook)
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I have a 3rd hand report of Orcas at Pt. Defiance this morning also. Unknown how many.
Bryan Owens, Tacoma Wa.
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Mira Lutz of Anacortes called to report a small Gray whale off Rosario Beach, Deception Pass State Park at 4:25 pm - it had apparently been seen by others and had been there several hours. She watched it until around 7 pm - it remained about 20' offshore in 6' of water, swimming back and forth but not feeding. At around 7 pm it swam off.
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Florian Graner of Freeland called to report 7 Gray whales in the Everett/Hat Island area! They had 5 Grays between Everett & Hat/Gedney Island at 5:35 pm, milling & feeding in deeper water; and a mom and calf off Jetty Island at 4:15 pm in 6 - 8' of water.
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4:55 pm: Just watched a [gray] whale from the beach on Camano Island, Madrona beach area - watched and listened and it was so cool - was just too far away for me to get a photo of it though. Someone on the beach said they had been swimming right up close to shore yesterday (4/21) - wish i had seen that.
Michelle Ballard (via Facebook)
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Kathy called to report a Gray whale at Mats Mats Bay at the entrance to Port Ludlow, WA at 3:24 pm. It had been there for 3 days now.
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While walking my dogs on the beach on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm, we were entertained by a large gray whale about 20 yards away. It stayed close into shore for about 10 minutes, coming to the surface with spectacular blows half a dozen times. It then moved rapidly away to the north. We saw it near Greenbank at the foot of Labrador Lane.
Edith Bryan, Greenbank, WA
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I was out with Island Adventures today. We saw five gray whales feeding between the jetty and the Mission Beach marker about noon (Everett area). They were feeding in shallow water, so we saw lots of splashing, pecs and flukes. About 1 p.m., we got some good looks at another gray feeding in the tide line near the south end of Hat.
Annette Colombini
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At about 1:30 this afternoon a Grey was moving from in front of the Pt. Defiance Boathouse and Owen Beach.
Bryan Owens Tacoma Wa.
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Gray whale sighting right off the Lakota Beach shore (between Dumas and Poverty Bays) in Federal Way this morning around 7:45am. It appeared to be feeding and making its way South toward Dash Point. We rarely get whales through this channel and when we do they are often on the other side near Maury and Vashon Islands.
Heather Gulian
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We saw two grey whales about halfway between Everett and Hat Island heading southeast from our Ranger 25 ft tug. They were only about 100-200 yds away and came up about five times!
Laurie Gray
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3 greys in the Harbour of Port Alberni since a week !! will investigate.
Peter Mieras, Rendezvous Diving, B.C.
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At 10:30am we heard gray whale blows close in along Tulalip Shores. We heard blows heading south along shore for about 5 minutes. Then we caught sight of one gray as he moved out away from shore, reversed direction and headed north. We watched as the whale headed toward Spee-be-dah bay. There he followed the shore line, rolling around and feeding. At 11:30am, we lost sight of the whale, as it rounded the point on the north end of Spee-bi-dah.
Vicki & Jim Mattson
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Bev White of Camano Island called to report 3 Gray whales in Elger Bay at 8:56 am.
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Tamra Nelson of Marysville called to report a Gray whale in Port Susan off Tulalip Shores, inside the two buoys, rolling and feeding, heading north from 7:05 - 7:15 am.

April 21, 2010

Someone on the beach said a [gray] whale had been swimming right up close to shore from the beach on Camano Island, Madrona beach area
Michelle Ballard (via Facebook)
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Joan Kinnee of Sequim called to report 2 orcas close to shore off Diamond Pt, near Sequim, facing Protection Island at 6:15 pm, heading NW
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The Transients were last see at 4.20pm heading towards Cone Isl at the top of Bellingham Channel.
Andrew Lees (via Facebook)
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Ron Bates called to relay a report of T87 and his girlfriends heading north up Bellingham Channel at 3:05 pm.
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JB called to relay a report from the WA State Ferries, of 2 groups of Orcas 1 mile from the Anacortes Ferry dock at 1 pm.
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ID's of the Transients heading N. in Bellingham Channel are: T87, T88, T90, T90B, T124, T124D, and T124E.
Candi Emmons, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC, Seattle
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About 7 PM, 2 grays passed by (SW Camano Island) heading northwest. The tide was fairly low, so they were out a ways. They stopped for a leisurely late dinner off the spit at Mabana Road. Lots of of spouts and rolling, with only occasional pec fins. Beautiful calm sunny evening so great visibility, but too far away for photos.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
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Tim Johnson and I saw one gray whale feeding off of Indian Island in Oak Bay [near Port Townsend] heading North towards Portage Canal at 1800 . The whale was slowly working its way Northward and was within 80 m of the shore.
Kelli Stingle
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Jenny Gish called to report a Gray whale in Port Susan, 150 yards off the boat ramp at Tulare beach, heading south at 8:55 am.

April 20, 2010

Mouth of Quillayute River, single male orca just beyond the end of the navigational jetty. The whale was sitting relatively motionless in 25 ft of water in one of the narrowest parts of the river's mouth. We presume it was hunting seals and/or sea lions, due to their abundance in the estuary. We were working from a small boat and as we turned the boat around to re-enter the river, a large dorsal fin rose about 3-4' up out of the water less than 20' behind our boat. As we continued up the river we saw the dorsal break the surface one additional time in the same location. It was late afternoon (~4:30 pm) approaching high tide.
Tim J. Hammermeister | SAIC, Sr. Scientist| Infra, Log, & Prod Solutions Group
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Every year for the last five years, the gray whales around Everett have become very active around April 21st. They started breaching a day early.
Shane Aggergaard Island Adventures
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5 Orca spotted heading north by Pt Richmond on Colvos Passage (Gig Harbor). Observed at about 9:30am 1 male and 4 females. Pace was slow.
Steve Rees
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Soon we had a confirmed sighting of transients in the area we expected and headed south towards Partridge. And then the waiting began. Transients can dive for up to 5-7 minutes and we waited - and waited - and waited. And then a burst of excitement from the passengers as they spotted one dorsal fin. And another, and another. We had found 6 transients, and they were in no hurry to go anywhere, as they meandered this way and that. As we got a bit closer, we were able to identify the whales as one we have been seeing a lot of lately-T87 and family. T87 is a big male with a very distinctive square cut notch on his dorsal fin. Soon two juvenile transients got a little playful and began to roll on each other and slap the water with their tails.
John Boyd (JB), Marine Naturalist, Western Prince, Friday Harbor
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ID's of the Transients in Puget Sound are: T87, T88, T90, T90B, T124, T124D, and T124E. Today (4/21)they've been sighted heading N. in Bellingham Channel.
Candi Emmons, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC, Seattle
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Brad Hanson and Candi Emmons of NOAA Fisheries NWFSC in Seattle were with a pod of Transient orcas in Puget Sound today. They found them at 12:25 heading up into Rich Passage. They went from Rich Passage up through Port Orchard to Agate Pass, then turned around and headed back south. At 3:30 pm they were back out in the middle of Puget Sound, west of Elliott Bay and headed south, then turned around and headed NE.
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I saw a pod of orcas today at 12:45 in Rich Passage at south side of Bainbridge Island - they were heading west toward Bremerton. It looked like there were 5 or 6 of them of various sizes, at least one male.
Betsy (a true fan)
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Ross McFarlane of Washington State Ferries called to report a pod of orcas - 3 adults and several juveniles - off Southworth, N. Vashon Island, heading north toward Blake Island at 11:30 am.
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Orca Network received a call from Pat Kahl reporting 6 orcas in Colvos Passage off Peter Pt., N.Vashon Island heading north at 10:55am.
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Amy Carey of Vashon Island called Orca Network to relay a second hand report of 4 orcas in Colvos Passage, north of Olalla on the Kitsap side, heading north at 10:04 am.

April 19, 2010

Gray whale sighting below our house south of Mabana (SW Camano Isl) about 8 AM yesterday. The tide was in and the whale was in close feeding. I was running late for appointments in Seattle, so only had a few minutes.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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Transient orcas near Partridge Pt. (NW Whidbey Island) going south in mid afternoon. I was on Maya's Charters and when we arrived on scene we could see that T87 and T88 were ahead of and to the west of the other five whales T124, T124D, T124E, T90 and T90B. T87 and T88 turned toward the southwest while the other group moved further to the east and continued going south. We were there a short time and when we left I would say that T87 and T88 were at least 2 miles from the group of five.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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We saw some pacific white sided dolphins, this was a first ever sighting of white sides in the Everett area on one of our tours.
Shane Aggergaard, Island Adventures, Anacortes WA
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Orca Network received a report of 1 orca, 40 miles north of Fort Bragg, CA.
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8:45 pm: Just now began hearing a few calls/whistles on the Pt. Townsend hydrophones - maybe one of the groups of Transients that has been in & out of Admiralty Inlet today? They don't quite sound like the usual Transient or Resident calls, but are definitely some kind of cetacean call/whistle. Calls stopped for awhile, then started again at 9:27 pm, for another 20 minutes. And again at 9:55 pm.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Whidbey Island
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What am I hearing - it sounds like dolphin whistles here in the Keys?? 8:40 p.m. PDT at PT hydrophones.
Suzy Roebling
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Jill Hein found the Transient orcas off NW Whidbey Island at 1:55 pm, they were out off Pt. Partridge, heading south. By 2:35 pm they were off Ebey's Landing, Central/West Whidbey Island still heading south slowly, and at 3 pm they were about 1 mile N of Ft. Worden (NW of Port Townsend) continuing south. I watched 3 dorsals all the way past the Steller haulout east of Marrowstone, but they went right on by. She then sent this update: Two were traveling together, a single one several hundred yards behind. They were not showing themselves very often. I did not see T87 at any time from Pt. Wilson south. The three were heading south east, perhaps towards Bush Point, very hard to tell.
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On our 1st day out, Beam Reach student Kathryn spotted KW fins. We've ID'd them as about 5 transients, inc 1 male. They're headed SE so listen on Port Townsend hydrophone today. From info transmitted by their SPOT tracking device, they were with the whales beginning at 8:38 am off the south tip of San Juan Island (Latitude:48.41964, Longitude: -123.09269) traveling SE with the pod until 2:20 pm, off Central/West Whidbey Island (Latitude:48.20447, Longitude:-122.80058).
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach
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Saw 5 Orcas off shore north of Partridge Point (at the end of Libby Road) at 2:00 PM. There was one large male, others of normal size and quite a small one in the group, too. They were followed by some sort of whale watching boat, with lots of people standing up looking. The whale watching boat was literally right along side of the whales. Then there was a second smaller boat that passed the WWB and seemed to pursue the whales more closely as they disappeared from view. The Whale Watching Boat suddenly backed off and returned toward Anacortes about 2:20.
Sue Bates, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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Jim Maya of Maya's Charters called to report a pod of Transients at Partridge Bank, NW Whidbey Island at 1:25 pm, heading south.
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Ron Bates of MMRG in Victoria BC called to report Transient orca male T87 and "his girlfriends" heading SE in Haro Strait at 9 am, by noon they were 2 miles off Smith Island continuing SE.
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Jason Wood of Beam Reach and the Whale Museum called to report they were with a pod of Transient orcas identified as male T87 along with 5 females. They were 2.5 miles SW of Smith Island at 11:24 am, heading SE.
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Sandy Dubpernell and Phyllis Kind, Orca Network volunteers helping with marine mammal monitoring for the Admiralty Tidal project, called from their observation post at Ft. Casey State Park this morning at 10:22 to report 3 - 5 Orcas (Transients) in Admiralty Inlet, off Marrowstone Pt. heading NW out of the Inlet. Interestingly, we have found on the days there are Transients in the Inlet, our counts of seals and porpoise go way down!
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David Carney, captain of the Clipper IV called Orca Network to report 4-5 Orcas heading north in Admiralty Inlet near Lagoon Point at 9:10 am. No males, two possible females and two or three juveniles.
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Mary Powers called to report 3 Gray whales off the Clinton ferry, 1000' east, at 10:30 - 10:40 am.
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Gen Rowand of Oak Harbor called to report a Gray whale spouting off Oak Harbor, off Scenic Heights Rd. heading toward Maylor's Pt. at 8:35 am - she'd been watching it for a half hour.
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We stopped by Crescent Harbor (Oak Harbor, Whidbey Isl) on our way home after dinner and saw a gray (I am assuming the same one that has been frequenting the area) feeding and rolling just 35 feet from shore, at about 8 pm. I hope he is a happy and healthy one.
Catherine Beard, Oak Harbor
From her photos we were able to determine it's the same whale MaryJo took video of yesterday - eating ghost shrimp, so hopefully it is getting a belly full! sb

April 18, 2010

First kayaking experience led to a breathtaking whale experience!!! Gray appeared and headed north past Tulalip Shores to Port Susan. Turned around and came back through around 3:30p.m.
Tamra Nelson (via facebook)
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We watched a single gray whale (estimated 25-30 feet) feeding about 100 feet off the beach of crescent harbor on the Navy seaplane base for over an hour between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. It was in approximately 12-15 feet of water just beyond the beach stones where the sandy bottom begins. It was swimming and rolling on its side, feeding up and down the beach at a slow walking pace. You could smell its exhalation it was so close!
John and Ruth Owen, Lisa and Ray Hammer
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Heather reported a Gray whale near Port Ludlow last night, rolling in shallow water near Seal Rock, heading toward the rock quarry.
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Approx 5:00PM, a gray visited Gold Beach (Maury Island), about 15 yards off shore, rubbing against the sand. Was a treat to see. Looked healthy - moved on after about 10 minutes entertaining us human and canine types on the shore.
Steve Gering
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3 to 5 Gray whales observed in Port Susan Bay, Everett WA, on a line between Gedney Island and the south end of Jetty Island (LAT N 48 0' 29.8807" ; LON W 122 16' 42.6672" ), generally "hanging around" that general area, at 1500 hrs.
David Morgan, Bremerton, WA
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We would like to report a gray whale spotted this afternoon in Boundary Bay. There was one whale, appeared to be circling in the Bay, at 2:27pm (GPS: N49 degrees 1.075 W122 degrees 50.898). Regards,
Jane Weiss, RW Networks Inc.
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Port Gardner East of Hat Island: 2 gray whales were slowly heading north, diving and one spyhopped a few times around 1pm . They appeared to be a mother and a calf or juvenile pair. At 2:50pm we were sailing south and encountered a gray whale (positive ID #723 - see above photo) in Possession Sound off Glendale travelling north at a good pace and diving. These whales were the first whale sightings for 3 of my friends and the spyhopping was definitely the highlight of the day!
April Rebollo, Seattle
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We had more Transients (the mammal eating Orcas) and followed them almost to Pt. Townsend. The were beautifully framed by Mt. Baker. The number of Transient sightings this year has been amazing. We don't know why. Are there more of them than before? My feeling is that we are seeing them more often because of better communication between the members of the whale watching community. I include not only the commercial whale watchers, but the scientific community and any number of recreational whale watchers. The communication has increased through channels like Facebook (Yes!) and Orcanet. The hydrophones have helped and of course, more boats and people than ever before are aware that they might be out there. We are thinking of them more. The Ts have no shortage of food, like our Resident Orcas, the salmon eaters sometimes face. We have a zillion seals out there. Just some random thoughts.
Captain Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island
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I saw Ken's report on OrcaNet and thought I'd contribute some pictures of those orcas that were sighted today (in Monterey Bay). We kept our distance because we knew researchers were there, so the photos are not too great. I hope you can possibly get some ID's from them. A male has a pretty good nick about halfway down his dorsal fin (see photo above).
Kate Cummings Sanctuary Cruises, Moss Landing Harbor CA
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Frank White of Port Townsend called to report 6 orcas, 3 male and 3 female, heading out of Admiralty Inlet, mid-channel off Pt. Wilson heading NW toward Victoria at 9:15 am.
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We received reports from the GPS on Ken Balcomb's Center for Whale Research boat that is currently in Monterey Bay, CA. They were with orcas from 10:54 am - 11:39 am, in the middle of Monterey Bay off the deep underwater canyons midway between Monterey and Santa Cruise. Lat/Long at first report was: 36.74497, -122.04442; lat/long for last report was: 36.77282, -122.07514.
We are assuming these are Transients, but don't know for sure, so will provide an update and more details when we hear from Ken!
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I think we identified the two [gray] whales as #383 and #22 off the south end of Hat Island, looking south towards the View Ridge neighborhood of Everett.
Annette
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I was down on our beach doing a low tide walk about 1 PM today, when I heard and saw the Mystic Sea stopped out in Saratoga Passage. They were with one gray (off SW Camano Isl). Later, about 4 PM, I was sitting out on our deck and spotted a dark back out a ways off our beach. I watched it for some time and saw several rolls, but only one weak blow and no tail flukes. It was very calm and the gray's blows usually echo across the water. The whale was fairly dark, seemed small, but bigger than a porpoise and definitely not an Orca.
Barbara Brock
The 2nd whale does sound like it could possibly have been a Minke - we get them every once in awhile in Saratoga Passage, but it is rare - sb.
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11:50 am: We just saw Patch between the south end of Hat Island and the jetty. Feeding in 30 or so feet of water. He appeared no worse for wear after being attacked by orcas last Sunday.
11:55: Another one by the ferry dock and a third mid-channel.
12:00: "Moving north. Both north of the ferry now. One whale is #53."
12:10: "Two moving north toward south end of Hat. One moving south in the channel towards Mukilteo."
Annette Colombini (via Facebook)
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Erick Peirson called to report one Gray whale off Scatchet Head, SW Whidbey Island at 11:45 am.
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We went South of Whidbey Island and watched a Gray whale feed for over an hour with P.S. Express!
Rosann Whitcomb Haggerty (via Facebook)
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Mary Jo Adams called at 10:20 am to report a Gray whale feeding in Crescent Harbor, E of Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island. She posted a video of the whale feeding (it looks like the same whale reported & photographed in Crescent Harbor over the past week), and another video after the tide went out, showing the feeding pits left by the whale as it sucked up mud and ghost shrimp, and she even found some shrimp it had left behind! Judging by the number of ghost shrimp holes in the video, it appears this whale has found a good spot to find food, which is always good news! These videos are also posted on our Orca Network Facebook Page - MANY THANKS to Mary Jo for providing this instant, wonderful look into a Gray whale having breakfast!
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There is a Gray in Crescent Harbor as I write this. Going back to see if I can get some photos. Sun, 8:00am.
Andra & Brian Shelly

April 17, 2010

Joan Lopez sent me images that she took of the unidentified female who was associated with T103 off Victoria. Graeme Ellis thought that the unknown whale might be CA58. He is correct! CA58 was first photographed in Monterey Bay by Nancy Black of Monterey Bay Whalewatch in May of 1993. Nancy has seen her in Monterey more recently. VERY interesting that CA58 was seen off your area. Quite a few of our California transients are showing up there!
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project, ACS/LA Gray Whale Census Project: Director
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On the way to the boat today, we got wind of Orcas off the Victoria Waterfront. By the time we got there, a few other boats were on the scene, but soon left. It's great to have so few boats out this time of the year. The male is T103, but the female is at this time unidentified. We left them at 1500hr, just to the east of Race Rocks headed west.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island
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Here are a two images from today's encounter with Transient orca T103 and an unidentified female Orca. We encountered the two Transients close Race Rocks. We left the Orcas traveling South West a few miles west of Race Rocks. Regards,
Andrew Lees, Marine Naturalist, Five Star Whale Watching
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Orca Magic-Marie and also Joan Lopez had good saddle patch pics of the notched [orca], but it can still not be identified yet anyway. Pics are being sent to Graeme Ellis for further investigation.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Tony called to report 3 orcas, including 1 male with a very large fin in Malaspina Strait, B.C. at 8:20 pm. They were first heading west, then turned and headed east.
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I was out on the Ocean Magic vessel today and we found two Transients around 1 pm traveling together, about 2 miles south and west of Victoria. They appeared to be resting initially then the female took off in haste chasing something then circled back toward the male. Their behaviour seemed to indicate that they had taken down a prey item and each whale would dive one at a time, and remain below the surface , while the other remained at the surface. Were they sharing their meal I wonder ? Looks like I had ID correctly, T 103 as the male - confirmed by Jeanne Hyde.
Marie O'Shaughnessy. POW. Victoria BC
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There were two transients in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Saturday afternoon first seen at Clover Pt. One adult male T-103 and another T-? with a large notch. While on scene on Maya's Charters the notched whale didn't surface high enough to get a good saddle patch.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Kathy Vance sent in a report of 4 orcas, observed from the Victoria Clipper this morning at 9:20 am, somewhere off south Whidbey Island, traveling south.
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Jenny Gish called to report 2 Gray whales in Port Susan at 8:50 pm, near the boat ramp at Tulalip Beach.
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Between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. watched 3 to 5 recurring [gray] whalespouts between Jetty Island and Hat Island and 1 over closer to Tulalip Bay. Viewed from Legion Park in Everett.
Frank
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Gail Fleming of Langley called to report 1 Gray whale off Edgecliff Dr, south of Langley, traveling west at 4:54 pm.
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Nathan called to report 1 Gray whale 1 mile out from Carkeek Park, N. Seattle at 8:55 am, heading south.

April 16, 2010

2043: faint calls on the OrcaSound hydrophone, sounds like Transients.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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1458: Transient calls being heard (on OrcaSound hydrophones). It's Pender T-14 - he is the only one in here today as far as I know - more out in the Strait. I started hearing him this morning at about 8:30 then again at about noon. He ended up by Halibut Island and then has come back south. Is currently (3 pm) several miles from shore 1/2 between LK and OS Hydrophones - pretty cool!
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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We encountered the T124's this afternoon a couple of miles South East of Albert Head BC traveling tightly towards William head. As we followed the pod we observed a number of tail slaps, tail flukes, pectoral waves as the Orcas were in a very playful mood. We followed the Orcas for a while and left them at 4.00pm just off William Head.
Andrew Lees Marine Naturalist Five Star Whale Watching
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Orcas observed at approx. 11:10am, Whale Point Research Cabin, UC Big Creek Reserve, Big Sur, CA (North 36 degrees 1'30', West 121 31'26"). 11 individuals in a mixed sex group traveling north-northwest. Approx. 5 females, 6 males (2 males with very large dorsal fins) The animals were traveling abreast and surfacing more or less simultaneously. This occurred concurrent with a large (60-75 individuals) pod of Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) also traveling north. Another group of dolphins (likely Delphinus) were sighted at approximately 1:30pm feeding and breeching vigorously. This may have been the same group. There were also two males traveling together some distance from this main pod, also north. The main pod (11 individuals) was approximately 1.5-2km off shore.
Keith Reinemann (forwarded by Brad Hanson)
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8:23 pm: One gray whale has been in a cove on the north end of Tulalip shores in marysville, wa for almost 2 hours. Can't see him anymore because it's getting dark, but we still hear him. Not usual for one to stay around this long.
Tamra Nelson (via Facebook)
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4:30pm: A beautiful Grey surfaced at the southwest corner of Penn Cove (inside of the Mussel farms). Moving East (toward Coupeville), we saw it surface twice before moving out of sight. He/She was traveling about 100' offshore, which I estimate to be about 20' of water depth given the tide conditions at the time.
Patrick Kelley, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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Robin called Orca Network to report a Gray whale in Penn Cove at 4 pm, on the west side near the Captain Whidbey Inn, traveling east toward Coupeville.
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Beach hikers at Point No Point (Hansville) told me they saw an adult gray whale 100 yards offshore about 1:30pm.
Michael Howell (via Facebook)
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We are watching a whale right from the deck of the WorldMark Resort (west side of Discovery Bay), near Port Townsend, WA. The whale is located in the cove just south of the resort. It has been hanging around since before 9:00 a.m. We can only say that it looks to be a humpback, as we've seen the "point" on the back of it when it dives (this sounds more like a Gray whale to us). We believe there is only one, and it might be feeding here. It's just hanging out with us enjoying a beautiful Western Washington morning. Unfortunately it's too quick for us to get a picture of it yet, but we are trying. Sincerely,
Tobi LeMond, Silverdale, Washington; Greg Hill, Tacoma, Washington; Jim and Sandy Hill, Chehalis, Washington
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We missed a large group of orcas going past Nanaimo on Friday just before dark. Graeme Ellis, DFO Pacific Biological Field Station, Nanaimo, BC
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Courtney Parker reported a Gray whale off Point No Point (N. Kitsap Peninsula), 25' off the point at noon.
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Just glanced out the window (10:30 AM) before heading out for an appointment and saw a lone gray whale spout and dive deep several times off the drop off in front of the house, headed NW toward Mabana (SW Camano Isl).
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
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Gen Rowand of Oak Harbor called to report a Gray whale in Penn Cove flipping around at 9 am.
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Mary Powers called to report 3 Gray whales from the Clinton ferry, mid-channel about 1000' south of the ferry lane heading south at 8:45 am.
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Penn Cove Gray whale - This morning at 8 AM he is still here, rolling and eating and playing. He just headed out towards Oak Harbor. He is following the shore line. What a way to wake up Love you big Gray.
Theresa Gonsalves, Penn Cove, Whidbey Island
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Sandra Pollard and Phyllis Kind of Freeland were at Ft. Casey State Park doing marine mammal observations for our Admiralty Inlet tidal power monitoring project, and called at 10:50 am to report 3 orcas (likely Transients) off Port Townsend heading NW out of Admiralty Inlet. We turned on the OrcaSound hydrophones and heard a few calls.
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Transient calls on Lime Kiln hydrophones at 8:39 am - faint.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island

April 15, 2010

Mike Beck, a commercial crabber, reported a pod of 10 - 15 orcas, including 6 - 8 males with large fins in 80' of water off Split Rock, near Raft River, WA (s. of Kalaloch). Approx. Lat/Long:47.28 N, 124.24 W. He saw a lot of feed & bait & birds & pelicans nearby.
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At approximately 1600 hrs, Ly and I arrived on scene with a very large group of Transient Killer Whales 4nm SE of Discovery Island (Seabird Lt.) I.D.'s included T-14, T-87, T-88, T90 and calf T-90B, T-124, T-124D, T-124E, T-30, T-30A, T-30B, T-30C, T-172 and one of my favourite's, T-63 (Chainsaw) !!! The animals were spread into 3 or 4 social groups as they slowly swam to the Southeast towards Whale Rks. During our stay with this large group of T's, we saw many breaches, tail flips and head stands. Our encounter ended just to the Southeast of Middle Bank at 1700 hrs.
Jeff Lamarche, Captain 'Goldwing', Eagle Wing Tours
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A whale [orca] - a sprouter perhaps. There was also a group of three - a female and two young whales (not the T137s) that positive IDs have not yet been made. I've posted pics on my blog of these mystery whales as well as the last three days of encounters. And to add to Jeff's listing of whales, also seen were T36, T36B, T99, T99A, Marie (aka Orca Magic) had T137, T137A, T137B, and T137C plus the 4 mystery whales.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Penn Cove Gray whale - So last night (4/15) he ate, rolled, and played up and down the shallows here in Penn Cove. North side near Scenic Heights road. This went on till midnight. I called the Orca network because at one point he was so close to the shore I was worried. Theresa Gonsalves, Penn Cove, Whidbey Island
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7:20 pm, Just saw two maybe three female orcas in Saratoga Passage, Camano Side, by Breezy Point (near Elger Bay/Camano Island State Park area). Were traveling North towards Cama Beach.
Cassandra Kendall
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Orca Network received a call from Theresa at 6:44 pm reporting several orcas in Saratoga Passage between East Pt/Baby Island (entrance to Holmes Harbor) and Camano Island.
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We heard there was a large group of transients at Race Rocks headed east, towards Friday Harbor. We took the MV Sea Lion south past Long Island. Dorsal fins and blows were finally in the distance. Upon getting there, we identified about 12 transients, a large group for stealthy marine mammal eating Orcas. One of them, T63 was especially astounding as he had 2 equally sized chunks taken out of the top of his dorsal fin, possibly from prey that fought back.
Naturalist Lauren Sands, San Juan Safaris, San Juan Island
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Orca Network received a call from Steven Hoffman reporting 1 - 2 Gray whales in Penn Cove, near Monroe's Landing on the N. side of the cove at 8:25 pm.
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Veronica von Allworden of Langley called us to report 4 or 5 orcas off Camano Head, SW Camano Island at 5:40 pm, heading north up Saratoga Passage. The pod included 1 calf.
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WOW what a day on the water for Transients again - we had a BIG group south and west of Race Rocks initially and they weren't going anywhere. They were seen lolly-gagging around with behaviours that looked like Southern Resident behaviours. They were breaching, spyhopping, tail-lobbing, backward swimming, and generally greeting one another socially. T63 was really into greeting all those females out there. If we hadn't been able to ID 'Chainsaw, T63, right away and Pender, T14 off by himself it would have looked like SR's as there were four big male Dorsal fins among all those females and youngsters. I believe we had at least T30's again and T172, and the T124's and the new calf. T10 and T10B. There were others, but hard to count. Perhaps 25+. They eventually started to head east, past Victoria. We left them at Seabird Lighthouse still heading toward San Juan Island.
Marie Orca-Magic POW. Victoria BC.
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Gray swimming in Crescent Harbor around 3 pm, apparently cruising and not feeding, spouting only a couple times before disappearing about forty yards off pier on seaplane base.
Catherine Beard, Oak Harbor

April 14, 2010

Listening to Transient orca calls on OrcaSound's Lime Kiln hydrophone from 4:45 - 5:10 pm. Heard faint calls and whistles about 4:55 pm, really good calls.
Shari Tarantino
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Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research reported being with 12 Transient orcas in Haro Strait, 1.5 miles west of Hannah Heights, W. San Juan Island at 4:30 pm. He had IDd T87,88,90,90B, 124, 124D, 124E (these were the T's in Saratoga Passage on Sunday and Monday), along with the T30s - T30A, 30B, 30C, and T172.
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Wednesday afternoon I was on Capt. Jim Maya's boat and we met 12 transients in Haro Strait. At first they were grouped together and then split into two groups, one heading north and the other south. However, they met back up in a short while and soon an encounter with a Steller sea lion occurred. It lasted for over an hour. I have posted the story about the encounter, pictures and a video clip of what happened with the Steller (it's a good watch) on my blog.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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Oh those Transients just keep showing up. Amazing to see 15 or more traveling together from the west, Albert Head area, where they were originally picked up this am. They were moving fast toward San Juan Island when we in the yellow zodiac, picked them up around 2pm, south and east of Trail island. They seemed to be very happy socializing with several tail slaps, and spyhops. There were two big males, one easily ID as T87, with that familiar divot out of the trailing edge of his dorsal fin. T30's came to mind when I looked at the other male, but not sure as we were more than 150 metres away.
Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic. 'Prince or Whales'.
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This afternoon around 2 PM we had a group of transients heading east past Discovery Island. It looked to me that there were about ten of them, including two adult males who I believe were T87 and T30A. T88 was also in there, but I'll leave the rest of the IDs to someone else who is more familiar with transients than I am! They were fairly active with several big spyhops and tailslaps as well as some rolling at the surface. See more photos on Monika's blog here.
Monika Wieland, Western Prince Naturalist, San Juan Island
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Erick Peirson of Port Townsend called to report several Transient orcas in Admiralty Inlet, 1 mile south of Marrowstone Island at 11:20 am. He called back with an update at 12:12 pm, the 5 - 6 Transients were between S. Marrowstone Island and Port Ludlow, circling and watching a Steller sea lion. He then reported they had gone into Hood Canal, killed a porpoise, and at 1:51 pm were heading out of Hood Canal and off Foulweather bluff, back into Admiralty Inlet, but he was unsure of what direction they'd go.
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Just saw 3 Transient Orca north of Bush Point (SW Whidbey Island) headed south.
Captain Jason aboard the Victoria Clipper IV.
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Could be Patch, not sure because the sun in setting and hard to see. But, a gray whale is feeding in front of Tulalip Shores in Marysville, Wa. Currently heading South about 30 yards off shore. Oh how I love to hear the sounds of his blows (8:35pm)!!!
Tamra Nelson (via Facebook)
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Paula Rounds called to report 1 Gray whale off Polnell Shores, NE Whidbey Island, circling around the lagoon at 7:52 pm.
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Heard from two neighbors, a gray passed by Mariners Cove, near Oak Harbor at around 6:30AM this morning. I saw a full length gray whale on its side with both its flipper and fluke/tail, out of the water right out "IN THE FRONT YARD." AMAZING STUFF! Time was 3:15PM with a 10.6' high tide at 6:30PM. Got boat out to whale watch. What started as an afternoon snack, became a full on 4 hour feed. It is a right sided feeder of sand shrimp. Meaning, when it feeds/suctions shrimp, it is always doing so on its right side. During the entire 4 hour feed, there was only a handful of swirling activity. Always, close to shore within 100' at all times. At 7:30PM, after 4 hours of feeding, gray made it down at a bay near Polnell Pt.
Robert Stonefelt, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island
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I went for a flight and at 4:30 PM, saw 2 gray whales feeding near the big marker west of Everett and another gray whale feeding off the shores of Tulalip. I was only able to ID one whale and that was number 22. It did not look like either of the other 2 whales was Patch.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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Barbara Anderson called to report 1 Gray whale off the S. tip of Camano Island off Wilksberry Heights at 12:30 pm, heading north toward Pebble Beach.
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We live at the south end of Camano, facing south to Langley. Today at 12:30, we saw two greys swimming west/northwest, very close together. They were so close together, I thought they were one until I blew up the image on the computer. After this photo, one at a time would come up for air. They were moving so slow, sometimes they did not move at all between breaths, and many time they did not blow at all. They seemed very lethargic; we have noticed this behavior the last 3-4 days. Sometimes they don't even dive, they just hang on the surface of the water. Driving northwest to the beach at Wilkes Gary (about 1/2 way between our place on Gull Way and Pebble Beach), we watched them continue in the same direction, still moving extremely slow. In the third photo, there are once again two whales, I think, but so close together they look like one. What is the meaning of this behavior, moving so close, so slow, and staying on the surface?
Peg Boley, Camano Island
Our guess is that these whales were resting, rather than actively feeding or traveling. We do have other reports and photos of two or three Grays moving very close together. But it is interesting that in Robert's report above, the feeding whale he was watching was also moving slowly - sb
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Just before 11 am we saw a Gray whale close in to shore along the boach launch at Redondo [near Tacoma] heading south to north. He/she was moving slowly but deliberately to the north. This one looked rather small compared to others we have seen here recently. No lingering or feeding that we observed. Mark & Tracey Eide
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Orca Network received a call about a possible dead whale floating off Lagoon Pt, SW Whidbey Island at 8:30 am. Erick Peirson was heading out of Port Townsend so went over to take a look, and found a live Gray whale at 10:13 am just north of Admiralty Head, heading NW out of Admiralty Inlet with the tide. It was moving slowly and going on deep dives.
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Orca Network received a call from Jennifer Barwick at 3:50 pm, she was observing a Gray whale 30' off Arroyo Beach in West Seattle in very shallow water. She said it was breathing and its tail was moving, but it seemed to be staying in one place. We called Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales who is also a NOAA Fisheries trained Marine Mammal Stranding volunteer who lives near there, and he arrived on scene at approximately 4 pm. He and Jennifer continued to observe the whale, and it stopped breathing and moving by around 4 pm. The initial exam showed it is a 33' long female, looking thin, but no obvious signs of trauma or cause of death. This is the 3rd Gray whale to die in inland waters over the past 5 days, two others washed up on April 4th - one in Shelton, WA and one off Sooke, B.C. So far, it appears all five of these whales were undernourished.

April 13, 2010

Bob Whitney of Port Townsend called at 3:40 pm to report 1 orca heading north off Pt. Wilson, mid-channel in Admiralty Inlet.
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Candi Emmons of NOAA Fisheries called to say they'd been with the Transient orcas reported earlier in Elliott Bay, and had observed ~ 12 Transients. They left them at 3:15 pm heading north from Kingston toward Point No Point, N. Kitsap Peninsula, closer to the Kitsap side. Whales id'd so far: T90, T90b. T124, T124D and T124E. We probably had about 10 whales total. I have a few ideas who was there, but want to double check when my brain is working a bit better. We never saw an adult male, but there were multiple reports of one in the group. Will let you know when I have them all figured out.
Candi Emmons, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC, Seattle
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Scott at Washington State Ferries called to report a pod of orcas northbound off the Edmonds ferry terminal at 2:20 pm.
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Jen Whitsett called to report seeing 5 - 7 orcas from Argosy Cruise's Goodtime 2 at 11:36 am, just outside Elliott Bay and West Pt.
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Donna Sandstrom of West Seattle called at 9 am to report 10 - 12 orcas heading south, mid channel between Alki Pt. and north of Blake Island. The group included 1 male and several calves.
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Just wanted to let you know we came upon a pod of about 9 orcas this morning while commuting on the Bremerton to Seattle ferry route. I don't know enough to give you details on which pod they were, but they were heading in the direction of Bainbridge Island. At one time, there were 6 swimming side by side.
Margie Schmelzer, Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle
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Christopher Kennedy, Supervisor for Washington State Ferries called to report 4 - 6 orcas on the Bremerton/Seattle Ferry route, southbound coming out of Rich Passage, between Pt. Restoration and the Tango Buoy, mid channel at 8:45 am. Lat/Long: 47 35.142N, 122 27.260W.
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Orca Network received a call from NAS Whidbey Seaplane Base security - they had been with us during the Gray whale necropsy on the seaplane base beach earlier in the day, and this afternoon at 4:30 pm they spotted a live Gray whale feeding and swimming in Crescent Harbor, near the deceased whale. They wondered if it knew there was one of their kin on the beach - and we wonder too~

April 12, 2010

Erick Peirson observed a Gray whale at Point Hudson, Port Townsend, at 4:30 pm.
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Orcas (we think it was one male and two or three females) were spotted around 3:00 PM in Penn Cove, Coupeville, WA, on the east side of Whidbey Island.
Deanna Rogers, Coupeville
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1 Gray whale in Sinclair Inlet off Ross Point, traveling all directions. Generally heading east out of inlet, stopped at Ross Point and turned around, headed north towards Navy side of inlet, @ 3:30pm - 4:00pm, presumably foraging.
Theresa Mitchell, Marine Area Habitat Biologist, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
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1:30 pm - Glanced up from the lunch table to see a smaller whale watch boat stopped in front of the house. They were watching a lone gray spouting and diving deep off the drop-off in front of the house (Mabana, SW Camano Isl). The whale was heading north on several dives, then the boat abruptly turned and headed south, and I lost track of the whale.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
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Two gray whales were present in Boundary Bay on the Fraser River delta this afternoon.
Rob Butler, Pacific WildLife Foundation
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Kirby and Jan Mitchell called to report several Gray whales just north of Pebble Beach, S. Camano Island at 12:35 pm.
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Erick Peirson reported a Gray whale north of the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry lane, first heading north, then south at about noon. Another boat was with 3 other Grays off S. Gedney (including Patch!). At 12:15 he found another Gray whale between East Pt. Whidbey Island and S. Camano Island.
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Jenny Manning of the Whidbey News Times reported they saw a Gray whale half way between Skagit Bay and Polnell Pt. at 10:30 am.
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Andrew Beckett called to report 11 - 15 orcas off Skiff Pt, Bainbridge Island, heading south toward Yeomalt Pt. at 6 pm.
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We spotted what appeared to be four Orcas in mid-channel of Port Susan off Tulalip Shores around 4:30 PM. We watched two animals traveling north, together, porpoising repeatedly and quickly, then diving for several minutes at a time. They also seemed to stop, circle along the top of the water for a few minutes, then continue their northward travel. After perhaps five minutes watching them, we noticed a third and fourth animal that seemed to be herding anything in the vicinity back toward the two we first spotted. The distance only increased while we watched, as the group neared the cliff north of Spee-bi-dah. They then reversed direction, and headed south where we watched them repeat the porpoising, then diving behavior. None ever breached the surface to show us their whole body, but they appeared significantly larger than Dall's porpoises that we have previously seen. We wondered if this was part of the infamous gang that may have attacked Patch, as previously reported. We will watch for other reports to see if we get any further confirmation of what type of cetaceans we have been observing.
Jim & Vicki Mattson, Tulalip Shores
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So apparently while I was hard at work my boyfriend saw the Orcas in front of our house again (Penn Cove, Whidbey Isl). Looks like 3 or four. He took a couple of great pictures. This was around 3:30 PM today He said they were really slapping around for some time before leaving the cove.
Theresa Gonsalves, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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There is a group of orcas hanging out in Penn Cove right now (3:20 pm). Looks like one big male, 2-3 smaller whales and a baby.
Kasia Pierzga, Editor & Publisher, The Whidbey Examiner
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I had read about the Orca sightings in Penn Cove but this time got to see them myself. About 6 or 7 Orcas including one very large older one and two young Orcas. They were feeding 150 yds off Monroe Landing and I at last got to see them from my deck, (although I had to stand on the picnic table for the best view).
Chuck Niedzialkowski, Whidbey Island
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Bill Howard of Greenbank called at 10:17 am to report several orcas in Saratoga Passage heading north.
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Tom and Mary Coupe of Greenbank called to report 3 orcas heading north in Saratoga Passage at Hidden Beach, Greenbank, at 10:15 am.
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Nancy Zaretzke called to report several orcas off Hidden Beach, Greenbank at 6:58 am, heading north. As we talked they turned and headed south at 7:05 am.
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Just happened to look out the window at 6:50 am to see orcas going by! Off Hidden Beach, Greenbank, heading N up Saratoga Passage. 1 male, 3 - 5 females, one with a calf. The mom/calf pair stopped & turned south for a bit, then circled & splashed, probably hunting a seal. By 7:05 they all turned S, heading toward the entrance to Holmes Harbor.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
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Wanted to report a Whale who has been visiting/feeding. Appx 12:15PM just West of the West Beach of Sinclair Inlet here in Bremerton. This time the whale traveled South and I didn't see it pass back by. I caught just a few of the sprays on my camera.
Matt
From Matt's photos, we can confirm this whale was a Gray whale

April 11, 2010

I took some friends out and came across these orcas. There appeared to be 2 large males and 6 females and juveniles. We were in Stephens Passage south of Juneau when they cruised past us.
Eric Ogren
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Last Sunday three friends of ours saw a spout of mist 15' high while sitting along the northern shore of Quartermaster Harbor at Portage. They estimated the location to be just north and east of the Burton Peninsula and closer to Maury Island than to Vashon proper (so just inside inner Quatermaster Harbor). They saw only the one plume but guessed that the whale was heading south. No binoculars. We rendezvoused with them at Dockton park. Approximately 30 minutes after the first sighting, the five of us saw a single tall spout/plume emerge from just south and east of the Burton Peninsula, about equidistant between the peninsula and Maury. The plume was approximately 15 feet tall. No further sightings were observed. Conditions were sunny and somewhat windy. Can't help but wonder if this was the Arroyo Beach whale.
Bob Keller
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One, very small Gray Whale (estimated about 20 ft). Sinclair Inlet by Right Creek (west of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard)from 6:50 to 7:15pm. Visible from freeway. It appeared to be circling, but would have needed to be traveling out as the other way toward Gorst is a dead end. It appeared to be feeding, but I'm not sure exactly. It was diving and spouting often. My family has lived in this area for about 20 years and have never seen any whales in the area, it was very strange. As I've heard, usually they only appear here when sick or abandoned. Something else to note is that the area it swam in was known to be fairly shallow, the whale area past the shipyard toward Gorst at deepest is about 30 feet.
Kristin
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I saw a Grey whale just off Bremerton Navy ship yard. I clearly saw it as broke the surface 3 times breathing each time at maybe 2-3 minute intervals. It was heading away from the ship yard toward the inlet.
Terence Simons
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Around 230 pm we (Greg Sivertsen, Eric Rogers, and I) spotted two spouts within 40 yards of Lovejoy Point in Penn Cove while paddling our surfskis. The [gray] whales were within 100 ft of two female kayakers. We were about 300 yards away and approaching from Long Point. We paddled our surf skis quickly toward the last spotting but did not see any more activity. We spoke to the two female kayakers and they were very excited as one of them had a gray surface within 20 feet of her boat! Based on your reports, it seems the two grays probably went right under us and back around to feed later in the day at Snakelum Point.
Dan d'Almeida, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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12:30 PM. Spotted a grey whale surfacing about 150 yds. from the boat launch on Monroe Landing. Was sitting on my deck putting my shoes on to go play tennis and got "delayed". We saw it several more times heading West towards the end of Penn Cove where we saw a grey whale a couple weeks ago. Lost sight of it I think near the mussel rafts. Still to see the whales at my work place but jealous of the many sighting at Seaplane base last week ! Our harbormaster took some great shots and I got them forwarded to me. I will try to attach them. They were taken last week near the Navy Marina in Crescent Harbor (see above photo).
Charles Niedzialkowski, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island
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About 12:30 p.m., my first spotting was a weak blow at the northern tip of Cooper Point (Olympia, WA). The [gray] whale then did a very slow surfacing series heading north toward Harstene Island/Squaxin Island. It then turned around and headed back toward the south - but I lost track of it about halfway between the islands and the tip of Cooper Point. It never surfaced much - only slightly cresting the water. I have not seen it since, but keep looking. I have a few far-away photos that show the spine, but they aren't very good - because it was too far away. I sent them to Cascadia Research.
Kim L. Merriman, Olympia, WA
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We left the (Transient orca) whales about 1845 mid-Saratoga Passage - they were in the middle of preying on a harbor seal - this was at least the second one since you got us on them a little after 1400 - we observed the first harbor seal predation just before they headed into Penn Cove. Then they split up in Penn Cove for a while with one sub-group killing something small - we collected tissue fragments and will have to run the genetics. Not surprisingly, it was the same group seen on Saturday: T87, T88, T90,T90B, T124, T124E, and T124D.
Brad Hanson & Candice Emmons, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC
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We received good news that one of the Whale Watch boats had spotted Patch off S. Gedney Island with 3 other Gray whales, and he seemed to be ok!.
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I was out there watching the transients on Island Explorer 3. We picked up the orcas at about 11:30 - just south of the Clinton ferry dock. There were two groups - one consisting of six or so whales (including a youngster); the second "group" was a large male (T87, we think) and at least one smaller whale. T87 and friends lagged a half-mile or so behind the other group. We left the orcas just north of Camano head - - right before they encountered Patch. We heard about the encounter and tried to zip back up there, but didn't make it in time to see any action - or even to see Patch. On our way back to the marina, we did find another gray whale mid-way between the south end of Hat Island and the entrance to the jetty. He was feeding in about 20 feet of water. He surfaced a number of times, but never showed us his full fluke.
Annette Colombini
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Here are photos of some of the transient Orcas about 20 minutes before they attacked Patch the Gray whale! Orcas were traveling North in 3 groups with the largest group about 5-7 including a very small/young Orca. T87 was hanging back with 1-2 smaller Orcas and the larger group was way ahead of him. I was on the Island Adventures tour. Our tour turned South to look for Grays away from the transients when we got a call that the attack was happening further north.
Tiffany in Seattle
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I was aboard the Mystic Sea and witnessed the Orca attack on the gray. My observation was that it was a planned attack and that the Orcas had no intention of eating the gray. It seemed more like a human-style gang "mugging" than any type of self preservation behavior.
Frank Principe
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About 6:15PM; we noticed a stationary boat [NOAA?} out aways, at the entrance of Penn Cove [between Snakelum and Polnell Points]. As, we got closer, saw spouts. ORCAS, 2, THEN 3, THEN MORE. Counted 7 orcas in all and it certainly seemed, they were feeding. Two females, would always come up together. Large male would always surface with another smaller orca by its side and were usually away/separate from the other 5 orcas. No breaching, but, several hard side rolling splashes. Along, with a few tail splashings. Watched for 30 minutes until 6:45PM, then, it seemed like everyone/thing; knew party was over. At same time, as, NOAA and we were readying to leave, so were the orcas. On the move, headed toward, Naval base in Crescent Harbor. No sign of the Snakelum gray, as reported. But, then, again, was preoccupied with the activity of the orcas.
Robert Stonefelt Oak Harbor
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At 1.15pm the Prince of Whales 'Ocean Magic' caught up with T14 , affectionately known as Pender. I just love seeing this big Transient Bull which seems to be on a regular basis through out the year. He was seen traveling slowly just off shore of Vancouver Island, around the Sooke area. He looked as though he was searching for prey but we never saw any behaviours that indicated he was consuming anything. We left him heading west. Apparently he had been seen the day before in the company of T87 and other Transients in USA waters. I guess, eventually he likes his own company, so wanders off !
Marie O'Shaughnessy , Orca-Magic, Prince of Whales, Victoria B.C.
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I got a call early in the morning that there were Orcas over in Rosario Strait, near Bird Rocks. (Bird Rocks are a group of rocks in the middle of Rosario, a mile or so south of the ferry route. They often have sea lions hauled out and always seals.) We finally got there about noon to find six transient Orcas attacking a sea lion. They spent the whole day in the same spot. Lots of gulls feeding on the leftovers, with a resplendent Mt. Baker in the background. Today is gorgeous, and there were Orcas near Whidbey and west of Victoria, but no passengers, so I went fishing.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Charters, San Juan Island
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This morning we received a report of a lone Male Orca being sighted near Constance Bank at 8.30am. By the time a boat caught up with the orca it had traveled west to Race Passage. Not long after the first boat arrived on scene it was confirmed the Orca was T14 "Pender", who had last been seen yesterday in Rosario Strait. We continued to track T14's progress as he slowly made his way West throughout the day. By the time we headed out on Fastcat for a 2pm tour, Pender had traveled almost to Sooke. Just as we were nearing Sooke we discovered T14 had suddenly tracked south deeper into the Strait of Juan De Fuca and it was soon apparent why as we started to see multiple blows! We wondered at first if it was J-pod but it turned to be over 15 Transient Orcas including the T100's) The Orcas were traveling close together at 8 kts towards Race Rocks. We finally left them just south of race Rocks still traveling East.
Andrew Lees, Marine Naturalist, Five Star Whale Watching
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The afternoon tour today started out just to the Southwest of Secretary Island (just offshore of Sooke Harbour) with T-14 (Pender) on his own traveling West at about 5.5 kts. We followed 'The Big Guy' for over 35 minutes until we were almost in line with Otter Pt. For the entire time we were with Pender, he had been traveling in a straight line with very consistent surfacings, when suddenly, he did a hard left and increased his speed to over 9 kts. Based on this change in behaviour, I thought that maybe he was chasing his dinner or something.... However, it turned out that he was trying to catch up with a large group of Orcas (15-20 animals) which were Eastbound towards Race Rocks at a high rate of speed. Preliminary ID's included the T-100's with baby, T-30's, T-102, and possibly T-103 along with a few others that were not identified. Great job Val and Danny for spotting these animals way to the South of our location !!!! Nice work guys :) Once Pender caught up to this large group, all animals continued East towards Race Rocks. Our encounter ended at 1630 hrs. 1nm West of Race Rocks Lighthouse.
Jeff Lamarche, Eagle Wing Tours
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Jill Hein of Coupeville called at 6:15 pm to report the Transient orcas were off Polnell Shores, east of Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island. She saw at least 6 of them, circling and tail slapping right off the NOAA boat!
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Sarah Schmidt of Coupeville, Whidbey Island, called to report that while watching a Gray whale (#44 - see report below) off Snakelum Point, they spotted the Transient orcas at 5:05 pm heading north in N. Saratoga Passage, going past the N. end of Camano Island, the NOAA boat still with them. Then at 5:08 pm the orcas had turned around, and headed back toward the entrance to Penn Cove, passing Polnell Pt. heading SW. By 5:20 pm, the orcas were off Maylor Pt, still heading toward Penn Cove, and Gray whale #44 was still feeding off Snakelum Point, just across the cove from the Transients. She called back at 6:20 pm - the Transients went almost into Oak Harbor, then were off Polnell Pt., about 1 mile away from the Gray whale off Snakelum Pt.
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At around 3:15 pm Howard spotted the Transient orcas in Saratoga Passage, between Cama Beach on SW Camano Island and Greenbank on Whidbey Island. They were milling, then heading north. Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries was arriving on scene to do some research and get ID photos.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
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Monte Hughes of Mystic Sea Charters called at around 1 pm to report a pod of ~7 Transient orcas in Saratoga Passage, mid-channel off Langley. The pod included the male T87. They were off Sandy Pt, and heading N/NW toward a Gray whale. He called back a bit later to report that several of the female Transient orcas had rammed the Gray whale hard, rolling it up out of the water and onto its back. It lay there awhile, then rolled over and was swimming again, but listing at a 10 - 15 degree angle. By 1:20 pm, the Transients had left the gray whale and continued NW up Saratoga Passage, and the Gray whale had turned toward the beach at Langley. Passengers on the boat shot some photos and video, which will be broadcast on KING 5 TV News tonight.
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At 1 pm Noelle Goforth called to report seeing several orcas just SE of Langley, near Sandy Pt.
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About 1 PM today, I was watching a whale watch boat just a little north of Langley, I think it was the Mystic Sea. I was watching through the binocs as they were quite close to a spouting gray. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something moving fast. I thought is was a power boat, but then I twice thought I saw a tall, male orca fin roll twice, then it was gone. I wasn't sure what I had seen, and was hoping the Mystic Sea would report on the encounter. Sounds like it may have been the encounter you just mentioned.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
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Veronica von Allworden called at 12:35 pm to report orcas off Camano Head, S. Camano Island, heading N/NW. At 12:45, they were along SW Camano Island, and seemed to be continuing N.
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Janet Mitchell on Camano Island called to report a pod of orcas out from Pebble Beach, SW Camano at 12:30 pm.
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We received a call from Larry on S. Whidbey Island at 10:40 am, reporting a pod of orcas including 1 adult male and 5 females, heading N. in Possession Sound, ~1 - 2 miles south of the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry run, mid-passage. At 11 am, it looked like they were off East Pt. on Hat/Gedney Island.
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Fred Lundahl of Langley called around 6 pm - he had been flying over Saratoga Passage, and reported seeing Gray whale #22 feeding about 100' offshore of downtown Langley, in front of the Dog House, and another 2 gray whales off the S. point of the entrance to Penn Cove.
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Veronica von Allworden called to report Gray whale #22 off Langley, Whidbey Island heading SE in Saratoga Passage at 5:40 pm.
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Sarah Schmidt of Coupeville called to report a Gray whale off Snakelum Pt, Whidbey Island, off the entrance to Penn Cove, moving back and forth, feeding at 4 pm. She described three small white spots on its left fluke, which sounds like it could be whale #44. Unfortunately the Transient orcas are heading in that direction right now as well.
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3 grays are on their way from Bells Beach to Langley now (3:45 pm). Earlier this morning: This Gray whale should be in Langley by now (9:30 am). taken 30min ago (9 am) at bells beach (SE Whidbey).
Kathy Carr
From Kathy's photo of the pec fin, it matches the fin of whale #531.
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My husband saw a large grey whale just off our beach on SE Penn Cove at 2:35pm. We are on the southern city limits of Coupeville. First my husband heard the puffing sound and then saw the big grey whale roll out of the water as it was spouting. I saw and heard it the second time. It was traveling south toward Long Point and was close to shore.
Jack and Pat Hamilton, Coupeville, WA
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Bob Schofield called to report 3 or 4 Gray whales feeding off East Point between 1:50 and 2:20 pm.
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Sammye Kempbell called at 1:35 pm to report one Gray whale near the mussel rafts in Penn Cove, near Coupeville, Whidbey Island.
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Gray whales, right next to shore at Fay Bainbridge today at 1:30 pm.
Betsy Bidinger
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Veronica von Allworden of Langley called - she had just taken a flight over Saratoga Passage, and saw 3 Gray whales at 1 pm off East Pt, near the entrance to Holmes Harbor, actively feeding. She also saw Patch between Langley and Bells Beach, in shallow water by a B&B on Saratoga Rd, near where the Mystic sea reported the gray whale that had been attacked by the Transient orcas had last been seen. Patch was surfacing to breathe, but not feeding. When she flew by again 15 minutes later he was gone. Later, she wrote: We found Patch (49) in shallow water half way between Langley and Bells Beach at about 12:50 pm. He was not feeding just laying on the bottom and then coming up for a breath. Fifteen minutes later he was no longer there. I hope that is a sign that he is going to be alright! At 1:10 we circled 2 aggressively feeding gray whales in the shallows off of Fox Spit. They had headed off by 1:20. We did not see which way they went. We did not see the orcas that had been around earlier.
Veronica von Allwörden, Langley, Whidbey Island
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Amy Carey of Vashon Island called at 12:43 pm to report 1 Gray whale in Quartermaster Harbor, Maury/Vashon Island.
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Large single gray whale having lunch in Penn Cove Making his way to the mussel farm - 12:25 PM.
Theresa Gonsalves, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
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Around noon, my husband reported seeing a gray whale between the docks at Quartermaster Yacht Club in inner Quartermaster Harbor, where it is very shallow, about 12 feet! I ran down to the Club and saw it spout across the harbor, and about a half hour later it spouted and surfaced just south of Jensen Point. I saw it 2 more times on the east side of Quartermaster Harbor just north of Dockton, again presumably feeding in shallow water near the shore.
Katie Bunnell
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Jan Mezich and I were paddling in Penn Cove on this lovely afternoon when we spotted the spouts of at least two, perhaps three, gray whales. One was moving toward us so we just floated quietly. Eventually one surfaced and blew less than 20 feet in front of my kayak and probably swam under my boat. What a thrill.
Phyllis Kind, Whidbey Island

April 10, 2010

Gray whale feeding in Crescent Harbor (Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island) this evening, right offshore from the Ice House trail, from around six to seven thirty pm, waving his pectoral fin all around.
Catherine Barnett Beard (via Facebook)
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Mid afternoon through evening -Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island. Just one whale with several scars. Came very close to shore in shallow water and came within a few feet of our dock. There must have been a huge bait ball of fish at the shelf at the edge of Rolling Bay, huge number of Sea Gull's were bunched up and diving into the water. The Whale (Gray whale, from photos submitted) was in the bay most of the afternoon.
Denika Voget
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Partice Helman called to report a Gray whale near the Seaplane base and the Navy Exchange in Oak Harbor, 50 - 100' from shore in Crescent Harbor.
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Saw two adult gray whales from 7 to 7:45, Sat morning. Whales were feeding out in front of our place on the sand bars off S Camano Dr. Lat/Long: 48.10713 N by 122.43851 W
Julie Buck, Camano Island
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I was on a Deception Pass tour boat out of Cornet Bay, Whidbey Island. Three other tour boats were also watching the orcas so this may be a redundant report. There were approximately four-six orcas, seen at 1:30 pm, apparently feeding, the tour boat operator thought on a sea lion killed earlier. The male has a chunk missing near the top of his dorsal fin (that would be T87). The tour boat operator said they were transients.
Ben Smith
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This afternoon from about 1:15-2:00 we had about six transients feeding on a Steller sea lion half a mile south of Bird Rocks in Rosario Strait. Included in the group were T87 and T88, and they were all doing lots of circling with the sea lion (or remnants thereof) visible at the surface or in the mouths of the whales on several occasions. Many gulls were following the whales and taking advantage of feeding on scraps near the surface. In addition to the large male T87, there was another male by himself quite a ways off that I heard was later identified as T14. The setting was perfect, with the whales surfacing in front of Mt. Baker in the background.
Monika Wieland, Naturalist aboard the Western Prince
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I was on Capt. Jim Maya's boat on Saturday afternoon to see the transients who had been at Bird Rocks in Rosario Strait most of the morning. As we arrived Pender T-14 had left the group and was heading off by himself. The whales were feeding on a Steller sea lion and were in the same location. My photos revealed that there were 7 transients in the group. I have sent the pictures to the Center for Whale Research for verification. In the meantime this is who I believe I saw. T87, T88, T90, T90B, T124, T124D and T124E (ID's confirmed by CWR). I posted some images on my blog from the day.
Jeanne Hyde, San Juan Island
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I live on Whidbey Island overlooking the Saratoga Passage north of Langley, just south of Bells Beach. This morning at 8:15 am I was using binoculars to look for grays. Instead about a half-mile out from the bluff I saw 2 or 3 animals heading north in the passage. They were swimming directly north, not stopping or deviating from their line. All I could see was intermittent surfacing dorsal fins sliding through the water. There were at least 2 going side by side and appearing one after another, but I think there were actually 3 of them. I was only able to track them visually for a couple hundred yards before I lost sight of them. If I had to guess I would say they were orcas because of the formation and way they were swimming, and the dorsal fins. Approximate Lat/Long values where I first saw them: 48.06006, -122.44345 Thanks,
Harry West
I would guess these were some of the Transient orcas that have been around - possibly the ones that were reported (above) in Rosario Strait Saturday afternoon, and again in Saratoga Passage on Sunday. sb
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We received a call from William Hill at 7:05 pm, reporting a Gray whale in Crescent Harbor, off Torpedo Rd, Oak Harbor, 100 yards off shore.
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Finally got to see [gray] Whales. 7:30 A.M. at Crescent Harbor. 1 or 2 out from the city's (Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island) treatment facility and blows further east, too far to see how many. Went back at 6:11 P.M., the same day, right off the parking lot of the Exchange not more than 50' from shore.
Don Hedstrom
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Amelia Fort called to report a small Gray whale in Crescent Harbor, near Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island at 6 pm.
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Jim Somers called to report 2 Gray whales in Crescent Harbor, Oak Harbor, close to the beach at 4:30 pm. They appeared to be feeding.
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Jean Summers called to report a Gray whale off the south point of Beverly Beach in Holmes Harbor at 4:30 pm, feeding in the tideflats. It left around 4:45 pm heading north out of Holmes Harbor.
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We got back to Camano about 12:30PM today after an overnight in Seattle. Feeling relieved to back on the island, I walked over to the window, thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice to be welcomed home by a whale", when unbelievably, there was a flash of the back and tail of a lone gray whale!! It was out from shore a ways and I watched several spouts as it slowly moved south.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
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Erick Peirson called to report 1 Gray whale west of Gedney/Hat Island south bound at 12:11 pm.
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Two Gray whales feeding off Pioneer way (Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, on the sea plane base at noon.
Ginger
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Orca Network received a text message reporting a small Gray whale at Deception Pass heading east at 9:30 am.
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At least two gray whales spouting in Boundary Bay (S. of Vancouver, B.C., between Pt. Roberts and the mainland)- first I've seen this year.
Robert Winston

April 9, 2010

Wanted to report a Gray Whale who has been visiting/feeding. 1st Visit was appx 11:30AM - 6PM near the West Beach of Sinclair Inlet here in Bremerton. We saw a lot of sprays and just a few times the whale showed it's back as it crested the surface. The whale traveled South appx 3/4 miles and back. Repeated this behavior all afternoon.
Matt
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At 8:30 AM Wayne Carlson called Orca Network to say a gray whale was swimming north in Sinclair Inlet, just south of the shipyard, next to Hiway 3.
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Andrea Holden called Orca Network at 8 AM to report a gray whale in Sinclair Inlet (near Bremerton) between Gorst Road and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, near the freeway.
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I live on Bainbridge Island right on Puget Sound off Gertie Johnson Road. I live in Rollingbay (across Puget Sound from Ballard). Yesterday at dusk, a gray whale went by in quite shallow water at an extremely leisurely pace probably eating fish. It was about 100-150 ft off shore and had white scars on it.
mary levin
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I saw a Grey Whale in Crescent Harbor (near Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island) again today at about 3:20 PM. He was feeding and QUITE close to shore. My girls and I walked down on the beach and got to see a fin and his tail come up out of the water many times. We actually meandered down the beach with him for a few minutes. The folks who pointed the whale out to us indicated that they had seen him yesterday as well. And on a walk down to the beach on Monday afternoon I saw a whale spout several times. It seems as though one may be returning each day to feed or kind of 'camped out' down there.
Valerie Roseberry
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At about 2:45pm we saw a spout just off the beach at Cama Beach on Camano Island. We saw it again a few times, it was heading north. The last time we saw it we could just make out the flukes as it headed down. Probably a grey whale, but we were too far off to see for sure.
Lauren Zabel
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I was just getting home (NW Langley) when I saw two gray whales feeding in the shallow water just north of Langley. By the time I got my camera they were headed off in the direction of Camano Point. One of the whales looks like #531. At 7:30 PM I spotted a gray whale south of Langley traveling to the southeast. It was in the deep water. This morning at 6:15 AM a gray whale came by NW Langley in the deeper water right off of the drop off. It is headed in your direction, to the northwest. For the time that I watched it, it was not feeding, just swimming along.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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[Gray] Whales in Langley now (about 2:00PM) - with whale watch boats in tow.
Kathy Carr via Facebook
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Nancy Zaretzke called at 10:25 AM to say a gray whale was traveling north in Saratoga Passage in mid-channel between Hidden Beach on Whidbey and Cama Beach on Camano.

April 8, 2010

Barbara Anderson called Orca Network to report 2 gray whales in Saratoga passage near Pebble Beach, south Camano Island, about a half mile from shore. They were traveling north.
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At 6:15 PM I watched the blows of one or two gray whales swimming near Camano Island opposite Langley and traveling to the northwest.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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Jim Somers called Orca Network from the Whidbey Naval Air Station Exchange Lot where he was in his car watching a gray whale rolling in shallow water about 50 feet from shore.
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A whale was sighted around 3 pm, heading west, in Penn Cove, on Whidbey Island. It may have been a gray whale, and was definitely not an orca. The cove was extremely choppy, due to high winds, but the whale was easy to see, because of its size. It was a lone whale, fairly close to the shore, swimming against the current, heading west, until it apparently reached the end of the cove. We then observed it heading east, back out of Penn Cove.
Anne Tilmont

April 7, 2010

Today, about 12:15 PM, a gray whale was in front of Beverly Beach, Whidbey Island, circled the bay area, and after about a half hour started heading North towards Baby Island.
Sally Bigger
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Tom Cahill called Orca Network at 1:30pm from Holmes Harbor near Beverly Beach, about a gray whale about a hundred feet from the beach. It had been rolling and feeding on the mudflats for a couple of hours.
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At 2:15 pm Connie Barrett called Orca Network from Camano Island to report a gray whale in Saratoga Pass north of the Cama Beach State Park, closer to the Camano side, headed north toward Utsalady, on the north end of Camano Island

April 6, 2010

Mark Malleson and I did a survey of Monterey Bay CA today and found 600+ pacific white-sided dolphins just south of Monterey Bay around 0900. About three hours later we covered the same area and found three transient killer whales. These turned out to be CA138 (confirmed by Nancy Black) and her juvenile CA138A and a brand new calf (CA138B). The whales had just made a kill and milled in the same area for about an hour before they ditched us in deteriorating weather conditions. We're not sure whether they killed a pinniped or small cetacean. We ended the encounter at1255.
Dave Ellifrit
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More on the T's in Strait of Juan de Fuca: Heavy seas and rain made todays 1:00 trip a little challenging as we could not locate the 4 Transients that Radar found this morning a few miles Southeast of Race Rocks. Brett and I spent close to 2.5 hours searching the area with 4 other boats with no success. Things changed for the better at 1530 hrs., when Russ Nicks from Sooke Coastal Explorations stumbled across the T-30's, 0.5 nm Southwest of the Bedford Islands (Becher Bay). The four transients had just captured a large Sea Lion and were staying in the same area for over 45 minutes as they were having a late afternoon snack !!! As the animals circled around, we could see a large oil slick forming on the surface of the water and the gulls were gathering to pick up the scraps that were left behind. The T-30's have been hanging out in this area for a few days now, as they were seen the same day that the juvenile Gray Whale washed up at East Sooke Park. Our encounter ended at 1630 hrs., just 1.3 nm to the Southeast of the area where the dead Gray Whale was located (Aylard Farm).
Jeff Lamarche, Eagle Wing Tours
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Mary Bond of Seattle saw a whale that sounds like a gray whale from her description, at Meadow Point, N end of Golden Gardens Park in Seattle, 2:30-3:00 pm. She said it was rolling around in the shallows on it's back, and it had a clear dorsal ridge and flipper marks.
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Jeff Lamarche of Eagle Wing Tours called in a sighting of the T30's taking a sea lion a half mile SW of Bedford Islands, near Beecher Bay, at 3:30 today.
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I snapped these photos today near the southern tip of Camano; just below our bank, I saw a fin come up out of the water, and lots of bubbling. I rushed for the camera, and snapped a couple more; looking at the first one, blowing it up, it almost looks like an orca tussling with a grey. The second two pics are obviously a grey, swimming away to the west-northwest towards Pebble Beach. There were two greys total. I read previous reports of an orca to the south of us swimming with greys, and I'm wondering if this is also one. If it was, we did not see it follow the two greys. Once the greys traveled NW from our home at the south end of Camano, we drove to Pebble Beach to watch them continue up Saratoga passage. The two greys came very close to the beach. Once they had traveled up towards Mabana, a third whale followed, feeding with a seal following it along. They were at Pebble at 10:00 am.
Peg Boley, Camano Island
The consensus is that the markings on the Photo of the Day are on a gray whale. -hg
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2 grays at Bells Beach on Whidbey at 3:00 headed south
Angela Johnson Zink via Facebook
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I saw at least two [gray] whales spouting in the Saratoga Passage, Bells Beach, about 2:50 this afternoon. They swirled about and spouted several times. My guess is that they were feeding. Only saw a miniscule part of one of their spines. I believe they were headed south.
Charlene
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I saw a single Gray whale 1/2 mile west of the Keyport Naval Base at 1015. The whale was heading South between Bainbridge Island and the Kitsap Peninsula towards Brownsville. It's probably close to the Brownsville marina by this point.
Pat Bergan
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Spotted maybe a small grey feeding off the green buoy at golden gardens park in Seattle this morning about 10am. A few spouts and rising slightly above the surface every few minutes, staying in that area.
Rob Casey
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Jim Winship called in a report at 9 AM of a gray whale at the entrance to Oak Harbor Bay on Whidbey Island, feeding in mudflats.
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Pam Allen called Orca Network to report a gray whale moving back and forth near Similk Bay, north end of Skagit Bay, north of Whidbey Island.
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My wife and I are new residents of Poulsbo. This morning from roughly 6:45am to 7:30 we saw about six spouts in Liberty Bay and the profile of a surfaced [gray] whale in the far distance. Too far to identify but the Kitsap newspaper says there have been gray whale sightings in the Bay over the past four days. I assume it's the same critter(s).

April 5, 2010

0930 Bells Beach (NE of Langley) One gray slowly moving toward Langley, close to shore, feeding on and off. I thought his head either had beige-pink spots or barnacles when he surfaced close to my viewing, but he was back down fast, so not positive.
Peggy Sullivan
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Jeff Hogan called at 5:30 to report orcas just off Fort Ward, SE tip of Bainbridge Island. Jeff counted 7, including one sparky little one that was acting up a lot.
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WA State Ferries called with a report of about six orcas seen at 4:40 pm from the Fauntleroy ferry, headed north in the northbound shipping lane.
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About 1500 near the VH buoy South of Victoria, Strait of Juan de Fuca, 5T'S going more or less South West. Strong winds and 2+ meter seas made for poor viewing but it appeared to be T103 and the T49's. Last seen nearing Race Rocks heading S.W. 1620.
Ron Bates
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The Gray whale activity has been amazing this morning! NW of Langley a gray whale (looked like #531) was feeding in the shallow water at about 7:30 AM. At about 8:15 it was in front of downtown Langley when another gray whale (#49) came from the NW and was feeding just west of our house (NW of Langley). #531 stopped feeding and swam very fast toward #49. #49 stopped feeding and started to swim fast toward #531! It looked like they were going to ram each other. When they were about 15-20 feet away from each other both of them rolled and started feeding side by side! It was very interesting to watch! Both whales continued to feed and headed off to the NW. 10:00 AM. #531 just came by NW of Langley, feeding and by itself, heading to downtown Langley onto the southeast along Whidbey. I have great ID pics of both whales and will be sending them along. At 11:45, gray whale "Patch" #49, returned to feed in the shallow water NW of Langley. Its 12:00 now and the whale has turned to the NW and is in deeper water headed in your direction (Greenbank).
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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Likely you heard from ace whale-spotter, our neighbor Veronica Von Allworden, about the appearance of [gray] whales feeding off upper 1st St on the west end of Langley, beginning about 7:40a. Well, I watched ANOTHER pair (or the same pair returned?) beginning 8:15a until about 8:35a feeding in the same area - the bottom of my yard! One large with powerful blows, and a smaller (juvenile?) whose blows were much less powerful. They were very close to shore, and circled unhurriedly whilst feeding. Lost of shore birds picking off the floaters. In between both these appearances Langley's whale bell rang resoundingly!
Sharen Heath LANGLEY on WHIDBEY ISLAND
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I saw what looked like a Gray Whale off of Keyport, Washington this evening at about 5:00 p.m. It was traveling south out of Liberty Bay toward Bremerton. It surfaced near the point of land that marks the northwest entrance to Agate Passage. There were several of us watching it and one of the ladies said that she saw two whale spouts but I only saw the one. It appeared to be a Gray, as it did not have much of a dorsal fin and no white markings on the tail fluke. It was traveling near the surface for about 5 minutes, blew twice and then submerged. It was mottled gray in color with what appeared to be growths on its back near the tail, so I'll assume those were some barnacle deposits.
Bob Laschinski
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Jeff Hogan visited Clallam where he heard about a gray whale in Clallam Bay.
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Two gray whales came through Penn Cove at 6:30 this evening, heading east.
Theresa of Penn Cove
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Amy Carey called Orca Network about a "big whale" reported in Quartermaster Harbor, between Vashon Island and Maury Island, around mid-day today.
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You probably know all about this dead Gray Whale already. If you haven't heard here is a picture taken this afternoon at 2.30pm from the Prince of Whales, Ocean Magic vessel out of Victoria. It had washed up on the rocks at Beecher Bay, East Sooke, Vancouver Island. No doubt due to the very stormy w/e here. It doesn't look very big so no doubt a young one.
Orca-Magic, Marie O'Shaughnessy , P.O.W.

April 4, 2010

Mary Lynn Lyke saw a spout of a gray whale in Similk Bay, north of Whidbey Island. Chris Foy saw a gray in Similk Bay, 50 yards from shore, slowly heading out of the bay.
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A gray whale has stranded and died on a tidal flat in Oakland Bay near Shelton. Annie Douglas of Cascadia Research has inspected it. No word yet on cause of death or whether this is one that has been reported earlier.
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Four Transients were sighted just offshore of Sooke Harbour today at approx. 11:30am. Brett, Danny and I spent almost 4 hours out there pounding through huge seas on ''Goldwing' but only came up with seeing a dead juvenile Gray Whale on the beach in Becher Bay (East Sooke Park). The animal looked very similar to the curious little Gray we had a few days ago in Enterprise Channel. Poor little guy.
Jeff Lamarche
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For only the second time in my 14 years of living mostly in West Seattle, I finally got to spend a couple of hours watching orcas from the Lincoln Park beach!
Trileigh
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I was walking along the beach about halfway between Pt. Wells (Shoreline) and Edmonds Washington yesterday at 3 PM and saw two orcas swimming very close to shore. They appeared to be two females.
Winslow Engel
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We were blessed by a passing Orca tonight at about 7:25pm. We observed one possibly two Orca's traveling north in Possession Sound past the State Park. We watched it from our porch as it (they?) traveled along with a small fishing boat. It appeared to have a white spot on its back by the dorsal fin.
Ranger Tess and family.
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2:30 pm: Watching them (Transient orcas) right now east of Colman Pool at Lincoln Park. They are a ways north of the Vashon ferry dock.
Jennifer Cobb (via Facebook)
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Jennifer called Orca Network at 11:15 am to report 6 - 7 Orcas off the east side of Vashon Island, south of Fauntleroy heading south fast. At 11:25 am she called to say they had stopped traveling and were now celebrating (maybe they made a kill?).
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Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales in West Seattle called at 10:10 am to say he saw the orcas right in front of his house. He called back at 10:34 am to report 3 - 5 female orcas and juveniles off Vashon Island, heading north and milling.
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Chris Kennedy of Washington State Ferries called Orca Network at 8 am to report 4 - 5 orcas north/northwest of Alki Pt, West Seattle, feeding (47 35.236N/ 122 26 283W).
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Katie Klope of Oak Harbor called Orca Network at 10:30 am to report 5 - 6 Gray whales off the Seaplane Base in Crescent Harbor, east of Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island. The whales were traveling east.
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Pam Allen called Orca Network to report a gray whale near Similk Bay, north end of Skagit Bay, north of Whidbey Island.
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Connie Barrett of Camano Island called Orca Network to report 3 Gray whales traveling north in Saratoga Passage, north of Cama Beach State Park at 9:30 am. The whales were mid-channel, and traveling close together.
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Grey whale just north of Ebey's landing (West/Central Whidbey Island) slowly moving south, seeming to feed - only a few hundred yards out from shore - 9:15 am.
Al Luneman, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA
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At 6:45 AM three gray whales came by traveling from the NW to the SE feeding in the shallow water. It looks like one of the whales is #22, and when I get a chance I will try to ID the other two.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley

April 3, 2010

Two Gray whales off Strawberry Point, NE Whidbey Island, around 11:45 this morning. Dubknuck #44 looks small beside #56. They were milling about 400 yards or so from shore, back and forth, sometimes closer to land. They appeared to be diving but not showing their flukes - I saw ONE fluke in about 45 minutes.
Jill Hein, Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA
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Chris Eckmann called to report a small Gray whale in Similk Bay, N of Skagit Bay, at 11:20 am. It was moving around the bay, but not doing any rolling/feeding type behaviors. He said the bay is quite shallow, so was concerned.
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Jeff Hogan relayed a sighting of four orcas, probably transients, in Clallam Bay, Olympic Peninsula.
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Jane Burt called Orca Network to say she had seen a gray whale in Liberty Bay at noon, off Virginia pt., near Keyport. She said it breached and headed toward the mud flats.
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Noon: Transient Killer Whales between Race Rocks and William Hd., S Vancouver Island.
Jeff LaMarche (via Facebook)
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Two Gray whale spouts in Saratoga Passage, off SW Camano at 3:20 pm - looked like they were possibly heading south, or maybe just feeding in the area.
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
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6:55 AM, we woke up to the sound of blows from three gray whales off the point in south Beverly Beach, Holmes Harbor (SE Whidbey Island). The whales are close in on the high tide and very active. Headed south towards Freeland at about 7:30AM.
Trisha Brigham, Beverly Beach

April 2, 2010

Chris Foy saw a gray in Similk Bay, 50 yards from shore, slowly heading out of the bay.
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This evening at 6:20 PM two gray whales came by (S. Saratoga Passage, SE Whidbey) moving quickly and feeding in the shallow water. They were traveling from NW to SE headed to down town Langley.
Veronica von Allwörden, NW Langley
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Orca Network received a call (2:35 pm) from WA State Ferries reporting 6 orcas sighted from the Edmonds/Kingston ferry, traveling N in the N. bound shipping lanes. Wind is gusting 40 knots & the whales were surfing!!
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Amy Carey called to relay a report from Sharon Nelson, on the Tallequah Ferry, Vashon Island, who heard orcas were reported off the Vashon ferry at 8 am.
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Chris Eckmann called to report a small Gray whale in Similk Bay, N of Skagit Bay. It was moving around the bay, but not doing any rolling/feeding type behaviors. He said the bay is quite shallow, so was concerned.

April 1, 2010

Around 8:00 AM, saw a large spout way out in the shipping lanes from the beach at Point No Point (N. Kitsap Peninsula, WA). Another spout and then another, as it moved north toward South Whidbey. With the field glasses I finally saw a portion of its back and it appeared to be a large gray.
Janice Ceridwen Around 4 pm this afternoon, we were delighted to see 5 - 6 orcas at the east entrance to Active Pass. One adult male with a very large dorsal fin. They were moving slowly in circles and heading slowly east. Cheers,
Karoline Cullen, Galiano Island, BC
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We were lucky enough to hear a Gray whale spout once or twice somewhere in Saratoga Passage off Hidden Beach, Greenbank while hot tubbing between 12:30 and 1 am.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett
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Just after 6PM 2 hours before 11.4' high tide, another gray visit. Right, in front of dining room window; while my folks and I were eating dinner, a gray came rolling by. Really close in, with a good look at its large mauve/gray color back. Along, with splashes of white. Then, 30 seconds later, a feeding stop; only, 50 feet or less, out from shoreline. After, a 10 minute snack, a trail of spouts, headed N.E. towards Strawberry Pt. With, yesterday's short pass by, along with this evening; makes 9 out of 10 days, since March 23rd, we have seen this same? single gray.
Robert Stonefelt Oak Harbor

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