Recent Whale Sightings
November 28
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, Nov 28 - Haro Strait (T75Bs & T75Cs)
11:35 - Eastbound into Spieden Channel.
09:40 - Biggs northbound off County Park. T75Bs & T75Cs. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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09:37 - Thinking just the 6 orca. Now leaving campsite and about to cross Andrews Bay. Tight group.
09:04 - Group of orca moving north. Between Edwards and Pile Point. 1 kilometer offshore. Viewing from Canada. -George Hamilton [WSSJI]
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Fri, Nov 28 - North Puget Sound (T46s minus T46D & T46B2s)
15:45 - Last we saw the Ts continued north in Port Susan, with some directional changes, west of Kayak Point mid channel. Beautiful day; the sky was so dynamic and lovely especially backdropped by the Olympics. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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15:31 - Directly west of Kayak Point seeing two to three fins and blows toward the Camano side. Not heading anywhere necessarily so maybe milling and hunting? A sea lion just passed by really close to shore on the Kayak Point side.
15:18 - Just saw blows and a big fin straight across from Kayak Point more toward the other side near the five smaller houses. -Amy Doran
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14:55 - After a stall and presumably a meal they have resumed northbound travel sightline south end Tyee transect from Kayak Point. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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14:40 - Less than perfect phone video, from the south end of Tyee looking north, closer to the Sunny Shores/Mckees. -Erin Buck
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14:20 - They appear to be hunting. Orcas are multidirectional and even from afar think I saw a porpoise trying to porpoise away (looked to small to be a youngster). And correcting to mid channel to maybe this side of. Maybe out from or south of Tyee. Port Susan.
14:10 - From Kayak Point seeing blows and dorsals well to the south, they do appear to be continuing north. Mid channel to Camano side. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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13:54 - Just entered Port Susan bay. -Jack Callaghan
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13:35 - We left the T46s (minus Strider) and the T46B2s northbound at my map spot [approx. 48.055320, -122.324109 (1 mi. E of Camano Head)].
13:17 - T46F just made a kill at my last map spot. Now northbound again.
13:10 - Update northbound [approx. 48.036237, -122.284937 (2 mi. NE of Hat Is.)]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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13:00 - From Hibulb they appeared to be keeping northbound more on course for Tulalip/ Port Susan. I’ve left to move north. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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12:45 - 46 pod and T46B2s are northbound at my map spot [approx. 47.999878, -122.277952 (1 mi. SE of Hat Isl.)]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
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12:35 - In two groups that I’ve seen: male plus leading out from south end Everett Marina steady northbound this side. Several others trailing a short distance [approx. 48.000081, -122.240298]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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12:18 - Watching from our Hat Island ferry, they are heading northwest towards Hat. -photo by Lori Christopher, November 28, 2025
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12:16 - Looks like they are now heading north towards Tulalip.
12:02 - Just saw then again traveling west like 500 yards off the navy base [video in FB comments]. -Rachel King
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Rachel King
Date of Sighting: November 28, 2025
Time: 11:50 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Right off navy pier in Everett
Direction of travel : Staying in place
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Seen from upper park at Howarth Park
Photos available?:
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri, Nov 28 - Puget Sound - From Bainbridge this afternoon. -photos by Kas Alexis, November 28, 2025
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14:40 - Was northbound, last blow southbound.
14:30 - Blows and breaches east of yellow channel marker near Discovery. -Deb Cronheim
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13:29 - Humpback! Just east of Bainbridge west of mid channel. Close to shore. Heading north. Just south of Murden Cove. One only. -Jane Rein
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13:19 - it kept [leapt] out of water. Caught on webcam at our Yeomalt Point home. -photo by David Myers, November 28, 2025
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13:25 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 13:26 to report: TACOMA Captain reports one Humpback south of Wing Point.
November 27
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, Nov 27 - Speiden Channel (T19s)
13:27 - Still hunting.
13:00 - Orcas near Green Point eastbound. T018/19s? -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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Thu, Nov 27 - Possession Sound (T46s minus T46D & T46B2s)
14:04 - They might be around the red pin, but I don't know my Everett landmarks well enough to be confident [approx. 48.001337, -122.268008 (1.5 mi SE of Hat Is.)].
13:53 - Visible through binoculars from Whidbey, but definitely on the mainland side, heading north. Nearing the south end of Hat Island from my vantage point at the Waterman Shoreline Preserve, but well east of the island. -Ser Anderson
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14:03 - The last we saw them they were in the middle of Port Gardner. Possibly moving west towards Hat Island. Rain showers are moving in. They are hidden by trees from our location.
13:32 - Now north bound. Maybe a half mile off the shore.
13:23 - Moving west of Harborview Park. -Greg Heiss
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-photo by Michal Friesen, November 27, 2025
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13:20 - Orcas just off Howarth Park. -Rachel King
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12:45 - 3 females and 1 male just went into the bay by the Everett Naval station. -Serina Patel
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10:26 - Friend who lives at Brighton has them mid, northbound between Hat and Whidbey! -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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10:22 - Right in front of Brighton Beach now. -Amanda Gunning
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09:44 - Seeing orcas in ferry lanes between Mukilteo and Clinton mid channel! I think at least 3! One big boy and two smaller. -Melissa Foss
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T46E Thor
09:40 - From the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry, heading north, maybe 5 individuals, including at least 1 very small whale. Closer to mainland. -photo by Ser Anderson, November 27, 2025
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Just saw them on the 9:30 crossing from Mukilteo! Amazing! -Camille Leganza
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Katrina Erickson
Date of Sighting: November 27, 2025
Time: 9:40 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: 47.96294° N, 122.32538° W [Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes]
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
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09:42 - They’re heading north, slightly Whidbey side of mid channel.
09:40 - Orcas are back in Possession Sound. One male and maybe 3 females again. I don’t have my bins so I can’t confirm. Just now passing through Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes. -Jourdan Rae
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Thu, Nov 27 - North Puget Sound (T137s)
14:20 - Just passed Point No Point headed south.
13:42 - Viewing from Hansville Grill. -Watson Stout Human
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13:21 - Nice that they are still hanging around on camera for us. -Olivia Newton
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13:19 - Still look southbound maybe out from Skunk Bay/Hansville area closer to Kitsap side
12:59 - Had been hunting on the cam, nice looks, now (13:06) look to be moving steady south. Looks like 4 orcas including a male.
12:32 - Surface active on Skunk Bay cam. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:31 - Thanks so much! I just saw them on the livestream! -Olivia Newton
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12:26 - They're milling in same area south of Bush Point.
12:15 - 12:18 - Just saw an orca heading north on Skunk Bay Weather at 12:15:10 and 12:18:20. -Patti Trosper
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11:00 - Northbound passing Coon Bay close to shore.
10:15 - Saw a male and two females. Multi directional, seen from the car so no direction [approx. 47.882746, -122.579992 (1 mi. N of Port Gamble, Hood Canal)]. -Brian McGinn
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09:30 - Orcas in Hood Canal - just saw at least 3 at the entrance to Hood Canal, northeast of Shine Tidelands State Park. Looked like they were on the move, not milling They were headed southbound. Link to FB video. -Lisa Barrett Morgan
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, Nov 27 - Puget Sound
13:48 - Still off Bainbridge looking towards Golden Gardens.
12:01 - Baleen circling just off Rolling Bay (Bainbridge).
10:55 - A humpback, possibly two, heading south past Bainbridge and Magnolia areas. -Kathryn Hamilton Morgan
November 26
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, Nov 26 - Spieden Channel
15:15 - 4 orca includes at least 1 large male off Green Point. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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Wed, Nov 26 - Haro Strait - Sounds like Biggs! -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Olivia N.J.
Date of Sighting: November 26, 2025
Time: 6:13 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen:
Where seen:
Direction of travel : seem to be heading N/NE through the Haro Strait - first heard on The Whale Museum hydrophone, then Andrews Bay hydrophone, and then the Orcasound Lab hydrophone.
Behaviors observed: very vocal, could hear surface activity as well, particularly on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I did not see anything, it was too dark. I'm just reporting because they are obviously travelling in this area and wanted to advise. My timed report is when they first became audible on the Whale Museum hydrophone. By 6:30am I could hear them on the Andrews Bay hydrophone, and by 7:00am they were audible on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone.
Photos available?: No
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05:41 - First heard on Lime Kiln. -Fred Horn
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Wed, Nov 26 - Deception Pass
12:30 - Saw a pod of orcas today in Cornet Bay at Deception. Best day ever! -photos by Alex Gee, November 26, 2025
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12:30 - Autumn has them approaching Deception Pass. West bound 1 male. -Sarah Geist
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natalie Forrest
Date of Sighting: November 26, 2025
Time: 9:55 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Maple Grove boat launch on Camano Island
Direction of travel : East
Behaviors observed: Travelling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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Wed, Nov 26 - Saratoga Passage (T46s minus T46D & T46B2s)
15:00 - Southbound Saratoga. Past Harrington Lagoon. Thor +4 or 5 Whidbey side of mid. -Sarah Geist
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13:17 - Have eyes on them from Race Lagoon still south of here. And over Camano side. Two boats are with them. -Mel Nasby
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T46E Thor
13:00 - Still moving northbound these two have moved to mid channel slight to Whidbey other one is still over by Camano. About 2 miles north of Hidden Beach.
12:43 - One close to the shore two between mid channel and shore.
12:35 - Northbound passing Cama Beach. -photo by Aaron Gill, November 26, 2025
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12:20 - Viewing from Hidden Beach. In between Camano State Park and Cama Beach northbound. Appears more on the Camano side of mid. -Marilyn Armbruster
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12:10 - Viewing from Camano Island State Park - see a large dorsal Fin near Greenbank northbound. -Linda Aitkins
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11:50 - Approx. traveling north/northwest [48.103396, -122.488357 (.5 mi. N of East Pt.)]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:35 - Just went past Sandy Point dock toward Langley! Male close in Whidbey side, others mid channel. -Heather Hardin
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10:25 - Approaching Sandy Point northbound. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
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09:56 - Viewing from north Clinton. Whales are between Hat and Whidbey. Mid to other. Northbound. I have 46E. 46B2s confirmed. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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09:20 - They’ve passed the ferry, trending a bit towards Saratoga, but not really committing
09:12 - Orcas in Possession Sound. One male, possibly two (maybe 3) females and a calf! Traveling north slowly, about to pass Clinton ferry dock. I should say, approaching Clinton ferry dock [approx. 47.941299, -122.347228]. -Jourdan Rae
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, Nov 26 - Haro Strait
08:26 - 2 pairs of Humpbacks heading slowly south in Haro. 2 kilometers south of Henry. -George Hamilton [WSSJI]
November 25
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, Nov 25 - Spieden Channel
12:24 - Circumnaved Spieden. Eastbound tight to shore. -April Ryan, Maya’s Legacy [WSSJI]
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10:50 - Now offshore Spieden Island heading eastbound towards Green Point. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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09:40 - Orcas heading east through Spieden. Barely caught them. -Liz Ziffren Makofsky [WSSJI]
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Tue, Nov 25 - Admiralty Inlet
12:42 - At least two orcas visible on the SkunkBay Weather cam [Hansville area] at 12:42:10 heading south. -Patti Trosper
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, Nov 25 - Haro Strait
14:15 - Hearing a humpback on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Bambi Miller [WSSJI]
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GRAY WHALES -
Tue, Nov 25 - Strait of Georgia (CRC53 Little Patch) - CRC53 Little Patch -ID by Serena Tierra, Orca Network - Gray whale in Sechelt Harbour and Selma Park today. Link to more photos. -photo by Ken McCann, November 25, 2025
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Tue, Nov 25 - Hood Canal
12:56 - Hood Canal bridge, north side just off the bridge deck. I was driving and caught just a glimpse of a flipper. Fairly certain it was not a sea lion, it was a broad and flat oval shaped appendage. -Scott Frank
November 24
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, Nov 24 - Haro Strait
20:14 - Sounds like some calls on Orcasound. Humpback singing! -Silver Hubble [WSSJI]
November 23
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, Nov 23 - Haro Strait
11:40 - report of 4 Bigg’s orcas northbound in Haro Strait ~1 mile north of County Park. -Val Veirs [WA app]
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10:27 - At Lime Kiln Whale Watch Overlook. -Mark Trapp [WSSJI]
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Sun, Nov 23 - Haro Strait
06:14 - Hearing calls on Lime Kiln hydrophone. -Sarah Ehle [WSSJI]
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05:30 - I believe ( was falling back asleep) was hearing calls again on Andrew’s Bay. -Silver Hubble [WSSJI]
November 22
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, Nov 22 - Haro Strait
21:34 - At the new Andrew's Bay and Orcasound Lab hydrophones, I'm hearing Bigg's calls. Folks can review reports (link to reports) and preliminary bouts (link to bouts). -Scott Veirs, Orcasound [WSSJI]
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21:27 - They can currently be heard on Orcasound, Lime Kiln and Andrews Bay. -Silver Hubble [WSSJI]
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21:39 - Hearing them on Lime Kiln as well.
20:40 - Apparently they've been on LK since 20:40 - I rewound and heard them. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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Sat, Nov 22 - Cattle Pass (T36/T36Bs, T75Bs, T75Cs, T137s) - T36 Flapjack, T36B1 Bhotia, T36B Tattertip, T36B2 Greenfelder, T75C Bam-bam - We were on scene for 30-45 minutes, and that poor sea lion was still kicking when we left. I heard it eventually did succumb to its injuries. I've seen many predations, this one was unique in the number of spyhops that we saw. I'd say two dozen is a conservative estimate. These encounters are a rare treat, and I felt quite lucky to be present for this one. Matrilines present: T137s, T75Cs, T75Bs, T36/36Bs. Link to more photos. Link to more photos. -photos & IDs by Cindi Crowder Rausch, November 22, 2025
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T36 Flapjack & T75C3 Flint with mouth open - T137+T36Bs by Cattle Pass San Juan Island. Epic day out whale watching with Island Adventures. The T36Bs and T137s appeared to be teaching some of the youngsters to hunt with a sea lion. Didn’t see a take down and as we were leaving it looked like they were moving away from the sea lion. Link to more photos. -photo by Jaime Shields, November 22, 2025
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Headed towards Cattle Point Lighthouse were another group of 14 were engaged in a sea lion hunt-T36/B’s T75B’s and T137’s. It was great to see the littles socializing and practicing skills, did feel bad for the sea lion whom put up a good fight. Link to more photos. -photos by Kim Parry, November 22, 2025
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Zachary Wickliffe
Date of Sighting: November 22, 2025
Time: 2:37 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: (48.4550800, -123.0251384 (1000’ S of Grandma’s Cove, South Beach))
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
/Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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13:40 - Big group still hunting just off the Cattle Point lighthouse. -Jason Shields, OBI [WSSJI]
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08:43 - Just spotted a few more farther offshore, also headed down island
08:35 - Group of 4-5 orcas headed down island quickly, just passed Eagle Point, close to shore. 1 male. -Kiki Starr [WSSJI]
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Sat, Nov 22 - Guemes Channel (T34s & T37) - Wow what a great day to be spontaneous and go on one the last boat tours from Anacortes! Started with breaking a record by seeing a group of Biggs orcas T34’s with T37 right in the harbor enjoying a meal. Link to more photos. -photo by Kim Parry, November 22, 2025
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13:53 - 5-7 minute down times, spread in two small groups, now southwest of Green Point southbound in Rosario Strait. I think I might have T34 & maybe T37 in my photos? Can't say I ever saw T37B1, but they were spread, stealthy and fast and I only got a few looks. - I left after last update and They were going fast south in Rosario at that time. Maybe slightly southwest.
13:42 - Just spotted north of Green Point still westbound.
13:38 - I saw them still westbound nearly at terminal 10 minutes ago, came to Washington Park haven't spotted again.
13:15 - Bigg's orcas westbound in Guemes Channel nearing Anacortes ferry terminal, approximately 1 mile from terminal. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:00 - T34+T37 next to Cap Sante marina in Anacortes. The T34/T37s completed a seal hunt. -Jaime Shields
November 21
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Fri, Nov 21 - Haro Strait/Active Pass, BC (J Pod)
10:40 - J’s exited Active Pass northbound into the Strait of Georgia. -Rachelle Hayden [WSSJI]
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10:30 - Thanks for the heads up Susan, we saw them in Active Pass. -Rachelle Hayden
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02:36 - 03:16 - For those that missed it, here is the bout defined from the annotations provided by Susan Berta and other careful Orcasound - Listen for Whales listeners.
02:36-03:16 Haven't listened to the core of the bout, but found earliest/latest SRKW signals, most likely from J pod given the predominance of S01 and S04 calls. The high-frequency buzzes and whistles in the final ~10 minutes hints to me they may have been northbound without many clear vocals (except the S04 at 03:15:34). Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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02:42 - Benefits of being a night owl and working late - hearing SRKW calls on Orcasound - Listen for Whales OrcaLab Hp. -Susan Berta, Orca Network
November 20
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, Nov 20 - Haro Strait (T36As)
15:19 - On a Spieden Channel kill now. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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12:40 - Four orcas (with possible calf) headed toward Smugglers Cove. -Tricia Wilkerson [WSSJI]
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11:34 - At Point Edwards [on Lime Kiln camera]. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
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UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES -
Thu, Nov 20 - Haro Strait
10:00 - Report of a large group of orcas off Eagle Point heading south or towards the south end of San Juan Island. -Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Thu, Nov 20 - Puget Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Heather Michelson
Date of Sighting: November 20, 2025
Time:
Species seen: Looked like a killer whale but smaller and coloring was blackish grey, smaller and kind of a short lump of a head
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: there were seals close by and may have been more then 1 of the whales, only got a good look at the 1.
Direction of travel : Beach near Ruston in Tacoma
Behaviors observed: sliding up onto beach.
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: scratches on the 1 whale.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: there were quiet a few people out on the beach. There may be other people who saw them better
Photos available?: No
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Thu, Nov 20 - South Puget Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Nicholas-Charles Hoheisel
Date of Sighting: November 20, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Species seen: Well, it was chasing a seal around so I'd assume an orca.
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: South of Anderson Island.
Direction of travel : Northwest? Fast.
Behaviors observed: It tried to catch a seal very close to shore, in the shallows. Then surfaced several times while swimming toward the Olympic Mt range.
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?: Nam/a
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I didn't get the best view of it but idk what else could stir up so much water/ surfaces and snorts. Or anything else that scares seals so badly.
Photos available?: No
November 19
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, Nov 19 - San Juans
11:21 - “5 orca, one small, one likely male. Hunting/milling off Stuart Island” -WA App
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Wed, Nov 19 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - From Fay Bainbridge this afternoon. Link to FB videos. -photo by Wendy Underhill, November 19, 2025
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T137A Jack - We got to see a spectacular sea lion hunt! Link to more photos. -photo by Cassie Scull, November 19, 2025
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Quintessential Seattle. T36B2 Greenfelder this afternoon with the Space Needle and snow-capped Cascade Mountains in the background. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo & ID by Monika Wieland Shields, November 19, 2025
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16:40 - Just near Point No Point on the west side. -Sarah Barksdale
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16:15 - Sailboat east of big dorsal and 3 smaller ones trending northbound. North of Edmonds now mid channel heading towards Possession triangle.
16:08 - West/north of ferries now. Mid channel treading northbound.
16:04 - Big guy and two smaller ones northbound in the ferry lanes. See with naked eye from Kingston, literally in between two ferries now. -Kathe Bradley
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16:05 - Passed close to the Kitsap side off Apple Tree Point. Long down times. -Sara Frey
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15:52 - Just west of the tug… traveling at about the same speed.
15:47 - Several headed north just past the refinery north of President Point. Mid channel closer to Kitsap side. -Trish Moylan Davis
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15:58 - Seen 3 dorsal fins big one trending northbound mid channel just now passing Kingston, looks to be in ferry lanes.
15:52 - They are really spread out. Two large dorsal fins breaching right out west of Edmonds ferry landing trending northbound westerly direction. Stragglers seen near tugboat/barge, south of Point Wells trending northbound. East of ferry lanes.
15:47 - Fast ferry slowing down near by. Orcas are spread out.
15:44 - Seen two dorsal fins now. At Point Wells. And two more dorsal fins south between barge and yellow buoy. Fast ferry coming up on those two now. All trending northbound.
15:42 - South of Point Wells.
15:40 - Saw one dorsal fin treading northbound nearing Point Wells. East of ferry lines. Sailboat with no mast up still trailing behind. Super long dives.
15:28 - They are taking long dives. I say south of ferry lines King to Edmonds, sailboat on east side was with them earlier.
15:08 - Have them in view from Kingston ferry landing with binoculars, seeing blows. Far east side near sailboat traveling northbound. -Kathe Bradley
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Wed, Nov 19 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T36B Tattertip & T36B1 Bhotia - T99B Holly
13:40 - 14:45 - We watched the T36s, T137s, and T99B with some amazing Cascade Mountains and Seattle backdrop then they graced us with an epic sea lion hunt. I haven't seen a sea lion hunt in two years so it was a really special treat. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, PSE, November 19, 2025
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14:57 - Viewing from the north end of Golden Gardens seeing blows west of mid south of Kingston ferry terminal. -Hannah Marie Munro
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14:52 - Northbound approaching the Kingston Edmonds ferry crossing. -Brian Hammond
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14:40 - Viewing from Carkeek. Same area. Still northbound west side of channel. -Barbara Gamrath
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T137A Jack, T137D Wright, T99B Holly
14:30 - While standing on the beach at Fay Bainbridge Park. Link to more photos. -photos by Brian Hammond, November 19, 2025
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14:23 - Viewing from Golden Gardens blows west of mid traveling northbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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14:15 - Approaching Skiff Point, relaxed pace northbound, still west of mid channel but not as close to Bainbridge as before. -Michele Edwards Ley
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13:49 - Viewing from Golden Gardens seeing blows west of mid approximately around Rolling Bay.
13:15 - Viewing from West Point/Discovery Park seeing blows mid channel to the south northbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:20 - Now passing Eagle Harbor. The sun shining makes it easy to see their blows.
13:15 - Still with the research boat & Swiftsure, not yet to Eagle Harbor. Northbound, west of midchannel. -Summer Staley
12:54 - Steady northbound south of Eagle Harbor, mid, research boat and Swiftsure behind. -Michele Edwards Ley
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12:53 - Passing Eagle Harbor, from my perspective. Distant.
12:45 - Passing Blakely Rock, as viewed from 64th Alki.
12:33 - Passing Restoration Point as viewed from Constellation Park. West of yellow buoy (mid channel). -Steve Rice
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12:23 - Seeing spouts mid channel. From south end of Magnolia bluff. -Colleen Paul
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12:23 - Seeing some surface activity from Constellation Park behind the research vessel. -Sean DeLellis
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12:22 - Now passing the north end of Blake Island. Still steady northbound with periodic longer downtimes. Mid channel, but visible without binoculars.
12:08 - Just passed the southern tip of Blake Island as viewed from Constellation Park. Mid channel at least. -Steve Rice
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12:00 - Just picked them up northbound here [approx. 47.540063, -122.460708 (1 mi. E of Blake Is.)]. -Orca Behavior Institute
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11:09 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:20 to report: SEALTH Vessel reports around a dozen orca just North of Vashon Head traveling in a Northerly direction.
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, Nov 19 - San Juans (CRC-15994 Stitch & Europa CRC-15453)
13:10 - Southbound at Turn Island. Stitch and Europa. -Bethany [SSCH]
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12:54 - 2 humpbacks reported in San Juan Channel outside Friday Harbor Labs. No direction included. -[WA app]
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Wed, Nov 19 - Puget Sound
14:06 - I saw it from Golden Gardens directly off the point of the lighthouse near a small boat.
13:57 - Second hand report of a humpback off West Point Lighthouse. No direction included. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:11 - The humpback was back there this morning but this time others sighted it too. -Brent Cullimore
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09:15 - Humpback here northbound [approx. 47.630657, -122.478597 (.5mi. E of Yoemalt Pt.)]. -Orca Behavior Institute
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Wed, Nov 19 - Duwamish Waterway
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ross Furbush
Date of Sighting: November 19, 2025
Time: 3:45 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: 47.542670, -122.334932 (4 mi. up the Duwamish Waterway)
Direction of travel : Stationary
Behaviors observed: Poking its head up, birds were circling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Bizarre to see it in the Duwamish Waterway! Saw it from the car with four other people. White eyespot visible.
Photos available?: No
November 18
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, Nov 18 - South Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T137A Jack - T99B Holly - As these orcas left the Carr Inlet today. Link to more photos. -photos by Jennifer Swenson, November 18, 2025
*
16:45 - Saw them heading out of Drayton Passage into Nisqually Reach. -Joan Ahre
*
16:20 - We saw them in Drayton Passage (maybe even up as far as Pitt Passage) through binocs looking north from our research vessel while we were southeast of Anderson Island.
16:00 - Me and my coworkers saw six orcas hanging out with lots of spouts in Drayton Passage (west side of Anderson Island). We saw them from our research vessel while in Balch Passage and turned off our engine. We turned around to go an alternate route to not disturb them! -Chris Jendrey
*
15:42 - Orcas headed west between McNeil and Eagle Island. -Betty Malloy
*
15:06 - Westbound through Balch Passage between McNeil and Eagle Islands, viewing from Steilacoom. Still at least one on the east side of Eagle Island. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
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14:45 - A couple between McNeil Island and Anderson Island ferry. -WMina Myers
*
14:22 - They made the corner southbound around McNeil towards Anderson Island.
14:02 - They have moved closer to the McNeil side of Carr Inlet approaching Gertrude Island. Very steady southbound. -April Basham
*
13:55 - I only saw 1 come by Kopachuck State Park and thought I missed the rest. So I headed out then heard they stayed by Purdy longer. -Katey Saunders Welch
*
13:05 - Two orcas heading south on the Key Peninsula side - past Penrose and approaching South Head. Moving with purpose! -Amelia Heagerty
*
T36B1A Maple & T36B1 Bhotia
13:00 - Carr Inlet. -photos by Mollie Segall, November 18, 2025
*
12:55 - T137A to confirm them still here. The pass southbound passed Horsehead Bay [video in FB comments]. -April Basham
*
12:53 - Had to step away, but just saw long range blows down by Horsehead. They are getting ready to turn past Green Point. -Randy Witter
*
12:20 - Final post from Purdy Spit. Not moving with any sense of urgency. I can still see blows from Purdy Spit as they move ever so slowly south. -Torry Chamberlayne
*
T99B Holly
12:00 - 2 orcas right at Raft Island. I got there late but evidently they had been spy hopping. Milling about. -photos by Katharine Walsh, November 18, 2025
*
11:45 - Not in any hurry. Close to shore on Gig Harbor side. At Allen Point continuing slowly south. -Alexa Mercurio
*
11:45 - Just off the north tip of Raft Island heading south. -Randy Witter
*
11:45 - Still seeing them all from Purdy Spit. Milling about in the same ish area just about right here [approx. 47.348311, -122.683649].
11:31 - I can still see them with binos but seem to be headed back down into Carr
11:27 - Viewing from Purdy. Can see 5 that seem to be headed out of the bay back southbound and two trailing a little behind. -Torry Chamberlayne
*
11:20 - It appears they are all back southbound out of Henderson Bay. -April Basham
*
11:04 - Gorgeous spy hop! Hope someone caught that photo!
11:00 - Group spread out, some closer to Key Peninsula side and others closer to Gig Harbor side. Viewing from Purdy Spit.
10:54 - Viewing from Purdy Spit. They are continuing into the Bay. Closer to Key Peninsula side. -Torry Chamberlayne
*
10:55 - Three orca are closer to the Gig Harbor side and passing Allen Point headed north towards Purdy Spit.
10:45 - Two orca just south of Minter Creek headed north. -Randy Witter
*
10:16 - There are more farther north closer to Minter. The others are a little behind but catching up.
10:06 - From a private location I can see about 4-5 headed steady northbound closer to the Kitsap [Key Peninsula] side. -April Basham
*
08:11 - Relaying a secondhand report that orcas are visible from McNeil Island. Unsure where at on the Island, but figured I'd pass along so people know to look. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, Nov 18 - Puget Sound
12:50 - [baleen] spouting a little closer to the southbound shipping channel near Yeomalt Point. It was either a gray or humpback [likely humpback that was there the day prior & after]. I did not see a feeding dive so I can’t be sure. -Brent Cullimore
*
UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES -
Tue, Nov 18 - Haro Strait
13:31 - Now seeing one other whale coming north up west side, big blows. Species not yet clear
13:21 - Possibly a minke [hard to tell for sure from photo] heading north up Haro Strait west side SJI. Just passed Lime Kiln -Ben Hallowell [WSSJI]
November 17
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, Nov 17 - South Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
16:23 - Seeing so many beautiful back lit blows as the whales slowly make their way south out of Carr Inlet. Just now passing Gertrude Island mid to McNeil side. Still all grouped up. -Candace Gavin
*
15:28 - Orcas by McNeil [right] now. -Vicki Flood
*
15:14 - Milling by the north tip of McNeil. -April Basham
*
15:03 - West side of Carr. They were south of South Head, north of McNeil Island. -Dallas Braham
*
13:25 - Passed Forest Beach, headed toward outer Horsehead Bay, may be viewable from Bella Bella soon (depending on fog). -Deanna Foster Goldberg
*
13:07 - Just past south tip of Kopachuck. -Steve Czerniak
*
12:59 - Grouped up south of Cutts Island, were moving southbound but seem to be stalled/hunting now. Possibly viewable from Kopachuck State Park. -Deanna Foster Goldberg
*
12:46 - 6 just swam past Raft Island going north then turned south and west. -David Paly
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Katherine Walsh
Date of Sighting: November 17, 2025
Time: 12:42 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Heading south off Raft Island (half mile west of RI
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Katharine Walsh, November 17, 2025
*
12:22 - number sighted: 6. Submitted comments: “out in middle of Carr Inlet between Penrose Point & South Head” -[WA app]
*
10:09 - A neighbor on Anderson Island saw orca northbound on the east (Ketron) side (just got the message at 10:30). -Belen Bilgic Schneider
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, Nov 17 - San Juans
12:14 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:19 to relay report: [humpback whale 48.56899, -123.027487 (San Juan Channel, 3 mi N of Friday Harbor)]
November 16
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, Nov 16 - Port Angeles (T49Bs & T50D) - T50D Lyrical on right -IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute
11:49 - Orcas at Ediz Hook in Port Angeles for past 30 minutes. [Per Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute, this looks like the T49Bs & T50D]. Link to FB video. -screenshot from video by VL Vasquez, November 16, 2025
*
Sun, Nov 16 - San Juans (T19s)
15:45 - I encountered this group again just north of Sucia Island cruising west toward Patos. -Matt Stolmeier
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Julie Archer
Date of Sighting: November 16, 2025
Time: 11:15 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: from the shore at xxxx Obstruction Pass, Olga
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Traveling. Numerous water spouts and eventually submerged. One small maybe baby or juvenile and two larger
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It was so awesome !!!
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
11:00 - From Olga on Orcas Island this morning. Kind of far but we were thrilled to see them! 3 total. Looks like maybe the same group other folks have been posting about. Link to FB video. -Julie Stellar
*
Sun, Nov 16 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T36B1A Maple - T36B Tattertip -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Thank you to whoever showed me the orca whales on Bainbridge Island! Link to more photos. -photos by Janet Liu, November 16, 2025
*
One of the coolest moments from our Bigg's killer whale encounter off Bainbridge Island on Sunday was when the wake of a passing cargo ship came in to the beach prompting the whales to breach and surf! Here's T36B2 Greenfelder, a 12 year-old orca, leaping over a wave. -MWS -Orca Behavior Institute -photo & ID by Monika Wieland Shields, November 16, 2025
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T137A Jack & T137D Wright -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - We were there [at Point Robinson]! Such a breathtaking experience! -photo by Angel Rioux, November 16, 2025
*
The T36s, T99B, and T137s, a group of 11 whales, have been together over the last three weeks, and we've been keen to catch up with them since multi-matriline groups are more likely to be vocal among Bigg's killer whales. Yesterday we were finally able to see them, and just as we had hoped, we were able to get our first-ever Bigg's vocal recordings while the Center for Whale Research had their drone up! Additionally, since CWR needed some ID shots on the two youngest members of the group (T36B4 and T36B1A), we did a photo-ID pass before departing. The whales had just finished chasing some birds around Murden Cove, and were very surface active. Here's a short clip of their antics! And despite being so roly-poly, we did get the ID shots on the calves. After this, they zipped off to surf the wake of a passing cargo ship. -MWS. Link to FB video. -Orca Behavior Institute
*
Point Robinson on Vashon Island. What a magical experience! Link to FB reel. -Jill Kaplan Del Grippo
*
17:36 - Passing the Tahlequah ferry terminal -Charlie Pingree
*
16:10 - Caught them passing Point Robinson lighthouse! Link to FB videos. -Brittnay Kathryn
*
16:42 - Last spotted one about 2 minutes ago [approx. 47.371452, -122.383706].
16:28 - Still heading southbound.
16:26 - Now Multiple spotted from Salt Water. Mid channel.
16:20 - Viewing from Salt Water Park. One spotted between here and Point Robinson lighthouse. Closer to Vashon. Just south of orange and white channel buoy. -Colin Douglas
*
16:08 - Just off of Point Robinson now. Still southbound. -McKenzie Gomes
*
16:07 - Passing very close to shore at Point Robinson southbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
15.37 - At least one male southbound right off Portage close to island. Viewing from Maury Park Road. -Mark McGough
*
15:25 - Spotted 2 to 3 southbound slightly east of mid channel. Long dives.
15:16 - Southbound spotted one orca (so far) passing Three Tree Point. Mid channel. -Sandhya Ballal
*
15:16 - They are passing the point now. I originally saw one further behind but the group is moving pretty fast southbound.
14:56 - Watching from southwest Three Tree Point Lane. Southbound travel south of the ferry lanes west of mid. -Sean DeLellis
*
14:47 - Southbound. On the webcam. -Orca Conservancy
*
14:23 - Passing Vashon ferry terminal southbound island side in East Passage! -Hannah Marie Munro
*
14:20 - Committed southbound in East Passage, travel mode. Now south of the docked Vashon ferry. -Mollie Segall
*
14:16 - Steady southbound. In line with Vashon ferry terminal, as viewed from Emma Schmitz. Small white motorboat trailing along. -Steve Rice
*
14:12 - Out from the Southworth ferry terminal, midchannel and southbound. Appear to be trending towards East Passage -Mollie Segall
*
14:07 - In line with Southworth as viewed from Emma Schmitz. Seemed to have drifted slightly west. -Steve Rice
*
13:51 - Southbound very fast just came visible south of the anchored ship as viewed from Manchester, lined up east side of Blake island mid channel.
13:55 - They just passed by Tillicum Village, as viewed from Constellation Park. -Noelle Morris
*
13:43 - Slowly southbound approaching north end of Blake Island. East side of island.
13:34 - They’re right in line with the cargo ship, from my perspective.
13:18 - They’re in line with the north end of Manchester as viewed from Constellation Park. Roughly mid channel. Milling about. Plenty of seagulls above them. -Steve Rice
*
13:01 - On the Bremerton to Seattle ferry. Saw a few, no great pictures unfortunately but I'm sure more will come in once we have better service! They were headed south [approx. 47.575534, -122.476745]. -Silver Al
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Alexander Holzwarth
Date of Sighting: November 16, 2025
Time: 12:55 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: 47.55789° N, 122.46881° W
Direction of travel : SE
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1 male
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
12:49 - Steady southbound west of mid channel between Bainbridge and Manchester cargo ship. View from Constellation Park.
12:30 - Still lots of surface activity west of yellow tango buoy.
12:14 - Milling or slow southbound.
12:12 - West of yellow buoy by Restoration Point. Sailboat nearby. View from Constellation Park. -Mary Hartmann
*
11:47 - South of Blakely Rock as viewed from 64th Alki. -Steve Rice
*
11:45 - Viewing from eastbound Bainbridge ferry, they just passed Blakely Rocks to the east, still southbound fast. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
*
T99B Holly -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
11:30 - Orcas off Wing Point Bainbridge. About 4-5 SB [southbound]. -photos by Brent Cullimore, November 16, 2025
*
11:30 - 3-4 orcas. Just north of Wing Point, Bainbridge, traveling south. -Jane Rein
*
11:35 - We are leaving them here fast south [approx. 47.614328, -122.489744].
11:15 - Southbound in Murden Cove chasing birds as they go.
10:20 - They are right on the beach west of us southbound [approx. 47.684456, -122.503540]. -Orca Behavior Institute
*
10:20 - Orcas are far west side of channel off Bainbridge southbound approaching Skiff Point. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
*
10:11 - Seeing tail slaps, hunting rather than travel behavior
10:08 - Seeing distant views north of Fay Bainbridge close to west side. South of President Point. As viewed from south of there in Rolling Bay. -Michele Edwards Ley
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T36B Tattertip & T137A Jack -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
09:00 - I left them when they were at the tip of Point Jefferson. They were chasing a nervous group of seals around the point (south) and then a few looked like they were heading east [approx. 47.748677, -122.466387].
08:50 - Orcas near Jefferson Point! West side hunting mammals close to shore! [video in FB comments]. -Photo by Ashley Alecci Goninan, November 16, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Julia Miller
Date of Sighting: November 16, 2025
Time: 8:42 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Right in front of our house. [between President Point & Point Jefferson]
Direction of travel : Been here since 8:25 or so
Behaviors observed: Milling around a small fishing boat and a small sailboat. Up and down in the water straight up. Lots of tails showing. I guess they’re feeding. A big one several medium size and a very small one. The biggest one has two notches in his fin
If orcas, any males?: One
Any unusual markings?: Two notches
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Now they’ve moved quite close to the beach. Same behavior. Swirling around up and down.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
November 15
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, Nov 15 - San Juans (T19s) - For the record, they ended their day deep in East Sound! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:45 - 3 near county dock in downtown East Sound right now. -Sheila Bolka [WSSJI]
*
10:50 - Sent by a friend who isn’t on Facebook, but gave me permission to share (Quinn Moldestad): “It's the beach right before Eagle harbor on the north side of Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island”. Link to FB videos. -Jess Komenda
*
Received a second hand report of orcas near Washington Park, no direction given by the person reported but did see a video on the Anacortes Community Page. Definitely 3-5 orcas. -Kevin Phillips
*
Sat, Nov 15 - San Juans (T19s) - For the record, they ended their day deep in East Sound! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:45 - 3 near county dock in downtown East Sound right now. -Sheila Bolka [WSSJI]
*
10:50 - Sent by a friend who isn’t on Facebook, but gave me permission to share (Quinn Moldestad): “It's the beach right before Eagle harbor on the north side of Eagle Harbor on Cypress Island”. Link to FB videos. -Jess Komenda
*
Received a second hand report of orcas near Washington Park, no direction given by the person reported but did see a video on the Anacortes Community Page. Definitely 3-5 orcas. -Kevin Phillips
*
Sat, Nov 15 - Holmes Harbor (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T137D Wright - T99B Holly, T137B Tempest, T36B1A Maple, T36B1 Bhotia - Holmes Harbor - T99B, T137s and T36/T36Bs. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, November 15, 2025
*
T137A Jack, T99B Holly, T137D Wright -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - T99B, T137s and T36/T36Bs in Holmes Harbor. T137A (Jack) took us by surprise in hunting mode, close enough to the bluff to hear blows. -Sandy Pollard -photos by RJ Snowberger, November 15, 2025
*
16:39 - Exiting the harbor. -Dan Gulden
*
16:34 - Northbound approaching Baby Island. Midchannel to Beverly Beach side. Visibility poor. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
16:35 - Northbound past Dines Point.
16:08 - Northbound fast past Honeymoon Bay. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:06 - Can confirm T137s are with the others. All northbound in Holmes Harbor. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
16:00 - They're south of Honeymoon Bay, hugging west shore. Trending north, but hard to see with little public viewing. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Harold Drews
Date of Sighting: November 15, 2025
Time: 3:20 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Holmes Harbor west side near Freeland Park
Direction of travel : S, N
Behaviors observed: Milling in one spot for a while, presumably hunting
If orcas, any males?: Two females
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Harbor porpoises were in the harbor earlier
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - T137D Wright - T99B Holly & T137D Wright -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network -photos by Harold Drews, November 15, 2025
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15:15 - Thank you Cindi. I see them at the docks below the golf course. I just walked out of Ace Hardware and saw your post. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
15:12 - 36Bs and T99B are here. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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15:05 - Holmes Harbor they seem to be spread out, milling around but slowly heading north. There are at least 3 in one group and more spread out between the golf course and Nichols. -Cindi Bowen
*
14:49 - They are hunting near Nichols Brothers. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jean Coburn
Date of Sighting: November 15, 2025
Time: 2:40 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Holmes Harbor [approx. 48.024530, -122.531602]
Direction of travel : West
Behaviors observed: Traveling, milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No -photos by Jean Coburn, November 15, 2025
*
Sat, Nov 15 - Puget Sound (T46s minus T46D & T46B1s) - Today we caught up with the T46s and T46B1s in Puget Sound. They were heading north past Seattle at a steady 7+ knots, but were all grouped together which made for an impressive sight when they surfaced! - The three T46 siblings who have been traveling together of late (T46E Thor, T46F Loki, and T122 Centeki) are aunt and uncles to T46B1 Tread. It's always fun to speculate what prompts family get-togethers among related Bigg's killer whales. For those keeping track, the little calf is T46B1D, who was first seen 2 months ago. Neither T46D Strider nor T46C2 Sam, who are often but not always with these groups, was present.
While our fieldwork for this project is focused primarily on Southern Residents, we and the Center for Whale Research are also interested in opportunistically encountering Bigg's killer whales as we did today. Very little is known about Bigg's killer whale acoustics, so any insights from recordings paired with drone observations would be super interesting! Despite seeing both a harbor porpoise and harbor seal take down in short order today, the family remained completely silent, even while prey-sharing. -MWS -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, November 15, 2025
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Sat, Nov 15 - Puget Sound (T46s minus T46D & T46B1s) - T46E Thor - T46E Thor, T46B1 Tread, T46B1A Tsakani, T46F Loki
15:45 - 16:30 - On our way back to port saw them again.
13:15 - 14:00 - We watched the extended family reunion between the T46s and T46B1 matrilines outside of and north of Elliot Bay. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, PSE, November 15, 2025
*
In its stationary position, folks were able to see the whales swim through! Thank you to all those eagle-eyed viewers for spotting the whales and giving us the time stamps! We have gone back and pulled the clips, and overlaid audio from yesterday when Ts were picked up on the Sunset Bay hydrophone (possibly the same group on the cam today). You can watch the replay here: Link to Youtube video. -Orca Conservancy
*
13:54 - Relaying report these whales are still northbound nearing Edmonds/Kingston ferry lanes on west side of channel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Bhanu Sharma
Date of Sighting: November 15, 2025
Time: 1:53 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Outside kingston. 47°46.836'N 122°27.120'W
Direction of travel : Going North
Behaviors observed: Traveling. They had a young orca with them too
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
12:56 - Update. T46s and T46B1s all grouped up together now (minus Strider) northbound at my map spot [approx. 47.690640, -122.485049 (1 mi. SE of Fay Bainbridge)]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
12:49 - West of mid channel but trending northeast, as viewed from Bainbridge. -Michele Edwards Ley
*
12:19 - We have the T46 pod minus Strider at my map spot [approx. 47.609003, -122.476666 (1 mi. SE of Wing Pt.)]. The T46B pod is about a half mile ahead of them. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
12:13 - Location of B1s also fast north [approx. 47.616480, -122.482828].
12:10 - Second group is T46B1s. Both we/CWR and Soundwatch are here with yellow flags flying. -Orca Behavior Institute
*
11:58 - Just north of Blakely Rocks as viewed from Marine Ave, Alki Beach. -Steve Rice
11:53 - Northwest south end of Bainbridge viewing from Constellation Park. -Hannah Marie Munro
Sat, Nov 15 - Puget Sound (T46s minus T46D & T46B1s) - T46E Thor - T46E Thor, T46B1 Tread, T46B1A Tsakani, T46F Loki
15:45 - 16:30 - On our way back to port saw them again.
13:15 - 14:00 - We watched the extended family reunion between the T46s and T46B1 matrilines outside of and north of Elliot Bay. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, PSE, November 15, 2025
11:47 - There’s a second group northwest of the T46s closer to Bainbridge.
11:35 - CWR and OBI have just picked them up here northbound [approx. 47.563770, -122.442408]. -Orca Behavior Institute
*
11:35 - Northbound quickly and have trended west. -Padmini Harchandrai
*
1130 - Northbound mid channel view from Lowman Beach in line with Blake and cargo ship. -Mary Hartmann
*
11:21 - Just saw them on the Orca Conservancy webcam still northbound but now past the cam's furthest viewpoint just past the Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry lanes. -Patti Trosper
*
T46E Thor -ID by Serena Tierra, Orca Network
11:10 - Northbound from 98th St. -back of camera photo by Padmini Harchandrai, November 15, 2025
*
10:56 - I can see them from Arroyos area. They have flipped back northbound. -Elizabeth Hernandez
*
~09:00 - Got a text from a friend that said he saw a pod of orcas southbound [into East Passage] near the north end of Vashon Island. -Bart Rulon, PSE
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, Nov 15 - Spieden Channel
09:30 - [humpback] westbound Spieden Channel, mid channel. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
*
Sat, Nov 15 - Haro Strait
17:43 - Short humpback bout (~4 minutes long)! Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
Wed, Nov 12 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCY0994 Dalmatian, BCY0771 Bump, BCY0458 Raptor, BCX1640 Bond) - BCY0771 Bump - BCX1640 Bond & BCY0458 Raptor - BCY0994 Dalmatian
14:15 - 14:50 - So, we moved on to watch BCY0994 Dalmatian and BCY0771 Bump who were hanging out together east of Discovery.
14:00 - 14:05 - We saw two pairs of humpbacks off of Discovery Islands. The first two were BCY0458 Raptor with BCX1640 Bond south of Discovery, basically two breaths, then they went on a long dive and we were seeing other consistent surfacings in the distance. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, PSE, November 15, 2025
November 14
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, Nov 14 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T46s, T99B, T137s) - Here’s the on-going bout for those who want to review/re-play: link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
We had the T137s, T36s, T46s and T99B. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
16:34 - Hearing calls. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
15:56 - Still hearing calls. Fairly loud. -Kathleen Cage
*
15:48 - For reference, on their way back to dock, Swiftsure has spotted these orcas approx. here [48.57205, -123.04999]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:44 - Still hearing calls on Sunset Bay. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
15:39 - Saw one from the Kingston/Edmonds ferry. Going north. -Marielle Elizabeth McKelvy
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15:03 - lots of fun chatter on Sunset Bay still. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:59 - Just heard quite a few sounds on the Sunset Bay hydrophone too. -Janet Moody
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14:56 - Headed north past the port of Edmonds. -WA app
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14:49 - Loud calls. -Patti Trosper
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14:44 - I am hearing faint calls on Sunset. -Hannah Marie Munro
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14:27 - Still hearing calls on Sunset Bay. Sounds like Bigg's. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:19 - Calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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T137A Jack
13:30 - One adult male, likely SB [southbound] (was milling for a minute), just south of Apple Tree Point, west side of the channel. -back of camera photo by Sara Frey, November 14, 2025
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri, Nov 14 - San Juans
12:49 - Just saw 2 humpbacks at the south end of Shaw [approx. 48.548770, -122.980567] -photo by Lauren Tourville, November 14, 2025
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12:46 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 13:10 to report: YAKIMA Captain reports vessel has slowed for 2 Humpback SB near St. George.
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08:15 - 2 humpback whales are heading south in President Channel [between Orcas and Waldron Islands]. -Roxane Jackson Johnson
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Fri, Nov 14 - Haro Strait
01:30 - Humpback with megapclicks? (OS) - Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
November 13
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, Nov 13 - Haro Strait
02:00 - Thanks to careful listening by y'all, here are a couple bioacoustic recordings from the wee hours in Haro Strait. These sounds were heard through the Orcasound - Listen for Whales Lab hydrophones, located just south of Roche Harbor on the west side of San Juan Island. Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
November 12
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, Nov 12 - Spieden Channel
09:10 - [humpback] Eastern opening of Spieden Channel heading east. Rounded Limestone Point heading south in San Juan Channel very close to shore. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
November 11
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
J62 - L126 Balcomb - Calf check in! We thought we would take a moment to share photos of the youngest members of J- and L-Pods who we were lucky enough to see earlier this week while conducting field work with the Center for Whale Research.
J62 (first seen December 2024) and J63 (first seem April 2025) are both females who have grown a lot since we first met them. As members of J-Pod, we get to see them a little more often than the others, and lately we have witnessed some cute moments with the two of them playing together under the watchful eye of a babysitter.
L126 Balcomb (male) and L127 Scuba (female) were both first seen in June of 2023. We got to see them a bit during their first summer, but their extended family, the L12 sub-group, spends a lot less time in the Salish Sea than they used to, so it was particularly nice to encounter them again! The L12s are the only group in L-Pod successfully producing calves at anywhere near the rate we would hope for; most of the other L-Pod breeding females are going many more years between births than we would need to see for the population to start recovering.
While I didn't get a photo of them, we also saw K45 Uhura (born 2022) and L125 Element (born 2021) hanging out together. Since neither of these females have any podmates near their age in the groups they travel with, it was particularly heart-warming to see them finding company in one another while all three pods were traveling together. -MWS Link to more photos. -Orca Behavior Institute -photos & IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, November 2025
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As we near the end of our second week of field work with the Center for Whale Research , we're excited about the possibility of better weather and, fingers crossed, the return of the Southern Resident orcas to Puget Sound. In the meantime, here is a highlight clip from our first two encounters which includes some drone footage and hydrophone recordings we captured just a few days ago of J-Pod, K-Pod, and the Greater L4 sub-group of L-Pod! Take a look and see if you can spot J45 snagging a salmon! Link to FB reel. -Orca Behavior Institute
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Tue, Nov 11 - Admiralty Inlet (J Pod, K Pod, L Pod) - Veterans Day whales - J, K and L pods exiting Admiralty Inlet on a beautiful sunny fall day. -Sandy Pollard -photos by RJ Snowberger, November 11, 2025
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Tue, Nov 11 - Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (J Pod, K Pod, L Pod) - SRKW from Edmonds/Kingston Ferry and Fort Flagler. Link to more photos. -photos by Danielle Lanxon, November 11, 2025
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Can't describe how satisfying it was finally to be finally be on the right ferry at the right time, for once, to catch up with the Residents AND my friends in the community. Link to more photos. -photos by Jason Luc, November 11, 2025
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What a day! Off Whidbey Island. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, November 11, 2025
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The SRKWs exited Puget Sound on the west side of Whidbey. Link to more photos. -photos by Sarah Geist, November 11, 2025
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J58 Crescent, J62, J41 Eclipse -IDs by Center for Whale Research & Orca Behavior Institute
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This was a wonderful day spent with great people and amazing whales. Link to more photos. -photos by Kat Martin, November 11, 2025
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L127 Scuba & L94 Calypso - L87 Onyx & L88 Wave Walker -IDs by Center for Whale Research & Orca Behavior Institute
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Superpod SRKW's passing by Edmonds on Tuesday. All photos taken from the Edmonds-Kingston ferry! Link to more photos. -photos by Janine Harles, November 11, 2025
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Thank you to the group for leading me in the right direction and to the people I met along the way! Link to more photos. -photo by Leila Arlene, November 11, 2025
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So fun to see and follow these SRKW’s from Lagoon Point, Fort Casey, and Ebey’s Landing. Link to more photos. -photos by Kim Parry, November 11, 2025
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K35 Sonata -ID by Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout - Captured today as they passed Lagoon Point heading out Admiralty Inlet. Link to more photos. -photos by Bob VonDrachek, November 11, 2025
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16:37 - Passing Libbey Beach far out but so beautiful in the setting sun. Small groups, some breaching. Still seem northbound… lovely to -see them today even though not very close! -photos by Bonnie Gretz, November 11, 2025
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16:30 - Although several miles away, I still got to SEE some of our beloved Southern Resident orca population as they exited Admiralty Inlet – passing by Point Wilson and continuing north. Viewed from Fort Casey. -photos by Jill Hein, November 11, 2025
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Lots of breaches and tail slaps. Love this community. Link to FB video. -Mel Nasby
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: CJ Yates
Date of Sighting: November 11, 2025
Time: 4:29 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: Ebey’s Landing
Direction of travel : NE
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 5
Any unusual markings?: Unk
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: NA
Photos available?: No
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16:28 - Fort Ebey State Park Beach northwestbound. Amazing view of them with the sun setting behind the mountains! -Sean DeLellis
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16:11 - Passing Ebey’s Landing lots of breaches. Still kind of far and northbound. -Bonnie Gretz
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16:07 - Seeing them from Fort Ebey with binoculars, still south but heading north. Surface active! -Ashton Mead
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16:05 - This is the last report from us. We are viewing from Point Wilson and they are continuing northbound in mid channel. Lots of surface activity right now and they appear to be a little bit more grouped up. -Kat Martin
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16:08 - Still visible north of Ebey’s Landing. Lots of breaching.
15:51 - Spotting the leaders from Ebey’s Landing still northbound about mid channel. -Natalie Scantlen
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15:45 - Haven’t seen any for a couple minutes now; *should* be passed the ferry lane. Seemed still to be headed straight north and mid channel in Admiralty but possibly a bit more west-ward towards Point Wilson/Fort Worden -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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15:44 - So many fins streaming by Fort Casey! Still mid channel with breaches beautiful back lit blows! -Bonnie Gretz
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15:40 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 16:22 to report: 1540hrs: KENNEWICK reports that the group is already north of the crossing and continuing north-northwest.
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15:40 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 15:42 to report: 15:40 - KENNEWICK reports all 74 are through and to the north of the [Port Townsend/Coupeville] route crossing.
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15:36 - Most if not all still quite spread out and to the right/east of a huge cargo ship; beginning to pass ferry lane crossing (Coupeville).
15:29 - Just saw my first back flip! Viewing from Whidbey they are to the right/east of the tugboat (?) that is headed south. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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15:29 - Very vocal on the Port Townsend hydrophone. -Kim Schouten Paulsen
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15:27 - Pretty far spread out; first group of about 3; second group 6? In the ferry lane for sure.
15:22 - Viewing from Whidbey in seeing them about mid channel to Whidbey headed north [approx. 48.136784, -122.700095]. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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15:21 - Visible from Fort Casey northbound tons of breaches about to go out of view. -Natalie Kendall
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15:15 - Seeing blows and splashes mid channel from Fort Casey still south of Port Townsend. -Bonnie Gretz
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15:12 - At Fort Casey I can see lots of blows and dorsal fins on the Port Townsend side straight out. Moving north. -Lucy Kao
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15:07 - All whales have passed the north end of Lagoon Point. Spread north/south and east/west. Fair and following, friends. Come see us again soon! -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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15:04 - Still hearing them on the Port Townsend hydrophone. -Devan Emma Kleinman
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15:03 - The vocals on the Port Townsend hydrophone have started to subside a little bit. -Kat Martin
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14:50 - Port Townsend hydrophone. -Jaime Schmidt Cheeka
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14:49 - Wow first time I hear on Bush Point and Port Townsend hydros! -Tracey Carrillo
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14:47 - Pod of orcas northbound in front of Lagoon Point. -Jim Ratcliff
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14:47 - I'm on Lagoon Point Beach now. Some have passed and are almost to the lighthouse near Fort Worden but there's a boat off Lagoon Point with several putting on a show around it. -Camille Hartley
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14:45 - Calls on the Port Townsend hydrophone -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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14:36 - Many orca off Lagoon Point. 150-400 yards off shore, jumping, milling, seem to be hanging here. Many I think is 10-15. -Bill Setter
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14:18 - Viewing from Marrowstone Point they’re all spread across the channel from my perspective about in line with Lagoon/Bush Point. Ones on east side of mid are porpoising fast all northbound. Most seem to be closer to Whidbey. -Jami Cantrell
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14:15 - Lagoon Point, wa. -Viviana Van Ness
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14:14 - A group straight out from Lagoon Point mid channel(ish). -Bonnie Gretz
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14:09 - There’s a Superpod going on right now! The Southern Residents are having Thanksgiving too. -Lyric Rogers
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14:05 - So active on the Bush Point hydrophone right now. Most active I have heard. -Katie Saul
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14:00 - They are moving north, pretty quickly and a few breaches.
13:51 - Seeing blows, just south of Bush Point but out in the center of the channel, spread out. Three small boats with them. -Camille Hartley
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13:47 - I can see blows and breaching very far across from Frank Robinson Beach. Looks like they are hanging out in the area, maybe hunting, not moving in any certain direction. -Lucy Kao
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13:45 - Hearing call on Bush Point hydrophone. -Kevin Phillips
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13:43 - Very distant blows from Lagoon Point… spread out some coming up to the tip of Marrowstone. -Bonnie Gretz
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13:30 - Seeing scattered blows between Foulweather Bluff and Mutiny Bay, headed north. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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13:34 - Northeast bound line stretch out, lots of surface activity, splashing. Still with OBI boat. Looks like they are hugging the west side coming around Marrowstone. Seen with binoculars Hansville.
13:26 - Trending west of shipping lanes. Near south tip of Marrowstone and north of mouth of Port Ludlow right of orange buoy. -Kathe Bradley
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13:02 - I’m viewing from Shore Meadows. Lots of blows headed northbound mid channel, approaching Foulweather. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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12:57 - Viewable on Skunk Bay cam. -Olivia Newton
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12:45 - There was one male that was kind of trailing behind everybody. Definitely closer to the west side of mid channel. He was close enough to get me excited. Everybody is still heading northbound, so we are leaving Point No Point and headed out towards Fort Flagler. -Kat Martin
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12:41 - Pretty sure all are north of Point No Point now? -Amy FowIer
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12:25 - They’re still headed north. Viewing from Norwegian Point. -Lauren Levengood
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12:20 - They were extremely far west in my view from Picnic Point looking just north of Point No Point. -Steve Rice
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12:15 - Heading north from Point No Point, on the east side. -Rachel Brown
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12:03 - I can see the whales just south of us at Point No Point. Definitely west of mid. Headed northbound. Research vessel with them. -Kat Martin
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12:00 - At Point No Point. Seeing them with binoculars all the way across the water. Can’t tell which way they are headed [approx. 47.906940, -122.465716]. -Jeff Wampler
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12:00 - From Point No Point. -Susan John
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11:56 - Looks to be a group heading toward Cultus Bay. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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11:39 - A group moving quickly northwest, from Eglon in line with Possession Point. Definitely west of mid, can see dorsals w/o binoculars.
11:38 - Scratch that, just saw some come up north of that tower, a few definitely further west than the others I’ve been seeing!
11:35 - Viewing from Eglon, spread out trending north but haven’t seen any north of what I believe is the Paine Field ATC tower? -Amy FowIer
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11:50 - Hard to say but looks like they’re currently near Cultus Bay.
11:35 - Viewing with binoculars from Sunset Avenue in Edmonds. Look to be about here. All scattered across the channel [approx. 47.900368, -122.460437 (2 mi. SE of Point No Point)]. -Nicole Hill
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I saw the trailers from Eglon. -Cheryl Smith
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11:32 - Still seeing them from Eglon. West of mid but still need binoculars to see. They were just porpoising in a wake a few minutes ago. Northwest travel, it seems. At least for this group. -Kat Martin
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11:26 - Calls on Sunset hydro. -Kathe Bradley
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11:26 - Southwest of Stamm Overlook northbound. Still hearing faint calls on the hydrophone -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:25 - Milling in the Triangle. Seemingly more west of the channel. Again hard to tell with them spread out. Viewing from Kingston to Edmonds ferry. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:25 - Eglon. Distant breaches and blows. -Wendy Secrist
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11:23 - We are seeing some from Eglon. Still very far away. West of mid though. Unsure of direction. -Kat Martin
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11:22 - Viewing from afar from the Edmonds to Kingston, ferry crossing. They were hauling when coming through Shoreline and Edmond’s earlier, but appeared to be stalled out and foraging in the triangle now. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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11:17 - We had a stunning pass on the 10:20 ferry to Kingston. Whales were everywhere, kids were excited it was beautiful. -Jami Cantrell
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11:16 - Seeing them just north of the research vessel and a little east, viewing from a mile north of Stamm Overlook. -Elena Sarah Kuo
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11:16 - Last of the group seems to be at about Rose Point, red research boat with them. -Summer Staley
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11:15 - Continue to be visible with binoculars from Haines Wharf Park. Heading north. Some behind and some in front of research boat. -Anne Powell Arias
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11:14 - Viewing from Picnic Point towards Eglon. Only viewable with binoculars. Looks like 4-8. West of mid channel. -Brad Dufour
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11:11 - Calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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11:09 - I am seeing splashes from the Kingston to Edmonds Ferry. Near the research vessel. North/northeast of Edmonds. This group is widely spread out. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:02 - Was on the 10:20 sailing. Everyone was well east of midchannel heading north/northeast. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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11:01 - They are heading northwest, on the west side of Whidbey. -Summer Staley
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10:57 - Group of at least 6 orcas heading north [approx. 47.846488, -122.415561]. -Silvana Giuseppina Iosue
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10:54 - Viewing from Haines Wharf. West of mid channel heading north. -June Mansfield
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10:50 - Still seeing them in the distance, definitely mid channel into the Possession triangle. Viewing from Sunset Avenue still. -Julie Clay
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10:46 - Very spread across channel, all seem to be aiming into middle of Possession triangle (north of Edmonds/Kingston midchannel) -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:44 - Calls starting to become more frequent on hydrophone. -Jourdan Rae
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10:38 - Viewing from Kingston ferry terminal! Have been watching for about 20 minutes. Using the orange boat as a marker. Using binoculars and they are spread out! -Jenna Murphy
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10:35 - All spread out across the channel. Northbound. Viewing from Edmonds fishing pier. -Nicole Hill
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10:34 - More north of lanes midchannel still northbound.
10:31 - Kingston to Edmonds slowing as some are in front of us, west of midchannel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:30 - Viewed from Edmonds marina. -photos by Jaime Shields, November 11, 2025
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10:30 - Straight out from the Edmonds ferry terminal. Heading north as seen from Sunset Avenue. -Julie Clay
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10:30 - Viewing from Edmonds fishing pier. East side of mid channel. -Nicole Hill
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10:25 - Calls on Sunset hydrophone. -Tracey Carrillo
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10:24 - Surface active heading north on Edmonds side out from Marina Beach, can see with naked eye. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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10:14 - Viewing from Marina Beach Park. West of mid channel. -Nicole Hill
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10:13 - From Edmonds Marina Beach, I can see some northbound south of the Kingston ferry terminal, maybe midchannel? Others further south in line with Point Jefferson that look closer to Edmonds side. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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10:12 - Viewing from Edmonds to Kingston ferry. Spread out. Approaching Edmonds, northbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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10:03 - Looking straight across the channel from the west towards Point Wells [video in FB comments]. -Elizabeth Nance
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09:59 - At Kingston ferry dock; viewing from Richmond Beach with binos. Some of them are north of the Kingston ferry dock, spread out. -EZ Lorenz
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09:49 - Can see many blows across the channel and can see individuals with binoculars - they seem pretty spread out; viewing from west side of the channel looking southeast towards Richmond Beach [approx. 47.765727, -122.430363]. -Elizabeth Nance
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09:45 - Can see them with binoculars from Apple Tree Point. -Laurae Briggs
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09:41 - Seeing many blows across the channel right around here viewing from the ferry [approx. 47.760780, -122.452704 (1 mi. SE of President Pt)]. -Jami Cantrell
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09:40 - We're seeing them passing in front of the Kingston marina. -Oma McLaughlin
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09:37 - From Richmond Beach some are approaching Point Jefferson. Still west of mid. -Steve Rice
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09:35 - There's a group watching from Carkeek but they are very far west and you need binoculars. -Oma McLaughlin
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09:28 - From Fay, most have gone north and are trending to the east side. -Wendy Secrist
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09:10 - Visible from Richmond Beach looking slightly north of Fay Bainbridge, very far west near an enormous island of white birds. -Steve Rice
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09:12 - All SRKW here.
09:06 - Looking like they’re probably all still here based on numbers but can specifically confirm L12 and L54 subgroups so far. -Orca Behavior Institute
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09:02 - Viewing from Fay Bainbridge. Some closer to Kitsap side but need binocs. Northbound. -Wendy Secrist
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09:00 - Viewing from Golden Gardens. We see the research vessel north of us. They’re hard to see with even binoculars. We just saw two large dorsal fins surface. Still northbound. -Kat Martin
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08:45 - Seeing blows in this location. Mid channel or east? Too far away to tell [approx. 47.712877, -122.449550 (3 mi. NW of Golden Gardens)]. -Michele Edwards Ley
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08:45 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 09:06 to relay report: [killer whales approx. 47.70434, -122.43681].
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08:40 - Saw multiple from G dock at Shilshole heading north. -Erin Giraffe
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08:30 - Viewing from Golden Gardens, a good sized group looks about mid channel from West Point. -Lauren Weakland
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08:20 - Seeing three fins straight out from the Yaquina Road end on Bainbridge, west of mid channel, cruising north. -Mira Rosenkotz
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08:10 - Pod of at least 20, plus at least one little one. Spread out from Yeomalt Point to Magnolia, northbound. Seattle->Kingston Fast Ferry having a hard time moving around them, appears to have stopped. -Brent Cullimore
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08:08 - see a group close to Bainbridge approaching Eagle Harbor. -Alexander Simenstad
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08:06 - At least 2 headed north rounding Magnolia Bluff; pretty close in. -Colleen Paul
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08:02 - One group approaching West Point mid channel. -Duangjai Vasantana-Berntsen
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07:54 - Lead whales nearing Magnolia. Many whales spread across Elliot Bay south to Bainbridge Island ferry lanes mostly mid channel. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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07:45 - Many blows from West Point Lighthouse. -Duangjai Vasantana-Berntsen
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07:35 - Seeing blows in outer Elliot Bay. Sightline from Manitou Beach toward Seattle. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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07:30 - Saw a few right here [approx. 47.618525, -122.414501]. -Alexander Simenstad
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07:29 - They seem to be cutting northwest along Magnolia but they’re enjoying the quite morning and have been playing in the wake of the cargo ship. All are naked eye visible for me. Edmonds fast ferry just stopped mid sound for them. -Kas Alexis
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07:25 - Saw this on the ferry to Bainbridge Island. When the ferry stopped the captain said it was an orca. -photos by Jud Sanders, November 11, 2025
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07:20 - A couple east of Blakely Rock as well.
07:20 - Not appearing to be moving in any particular direction right now [approx.47.619765, -122.402147].
07:15 - North end of Elliott Bay between Elliott Bay Marina and Bainbridge ferry crossing. Can’t count how many but at least 5-8. -Zachary Heistand
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07:18 - Good morning. Kas is seeing a lot of orcas wide spread outside Elliott Bay & to east. North of ferry lanes spread east & west. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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07:15 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 07:23 to report: 07:15hrs: WENATCHEE [ferry] reports they've spotted 5-7 orcas located 1.5nm north of Duwamish Light. No direction of travel.
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TACOMA [ferry] reports they've spotted 3-4 orcas located .5nm east of Blakely Rock, heading northbound.
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07:14 - Viewing from Magnolia bluff - huge spread of orcas east to west from mid Elliot Bay out to shipping lanes. Some breaches and tail lobs.
07:09 - Viewing from Magnolia bluff - large group of orcas at the entrance to Elliot Bay, west bound. Multiple males. Huge spread. Surface active. -Kas Alexis
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06:27 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to relay report: Killer whales reported at this map spot [47.567591, -122.479918].
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06:27 - The Bremerton to Seattle fast ferry is stopped just at the mouth of Rich Passage, too dark to see the orcas but the captain is waiting for them to pass. No good direction of motion for the group. -Matt Huff
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, Nov 11 - San Juans
07:50 - Report of killer whales at Iceberg Point, possibly heading towards Cattle Pass. -Tyler McKeen [WSSJI]
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Tue, Nov 11 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T36 Flapjack - Lovely encounter with the T137’s, T36/36B’s and T99B as they came out of the Narrows and then passed us eastbound, some close to shore on Owen Beach side and the others mid channel or closer to Vashon, before exiting the area. Link to more photos. -photos by Jennifer Swenson, November 11, 2025
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16:28 - Spotted from Magnolia viewpoint mid channel. -Ellen White
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16:24 - Two spotted mid channel from Discovery! Looks about even with Yeomalt. Both northbound. -Haley Hanson
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From the Tacoma while crossing Elliott Bay [video in FB comments] -David Eaton-Lupas
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16:06 - Just north of the Seattle Bainbridge ferry lane! Viewing from the Tacoma [video in FB comments]. -Cindy McDonald
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15:40 - Passing Blakely Rocks east side near ferry. -Diana Gragg
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15:45 - Seeing distant blows mid channel as viewed from 64th and Alki. -Hannah Marie Munro
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T36B1 Bhotia & T36B1A Maple
15:31 - 36Bs past Constellation quite east in channel. Bhotia and sweet Maple.
15:23 - Second group passing Constellation east of mid. -photo & IDs by Padmini Harchandrai, November 11, 2025
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15:22 - Best I could get today at Alki Point while trying to make sure my 3 kiddos could all see them. If you shared the beach with us, apologies for the perhaps noisier-than-average viewing… it was their first time seeing them and we were very excited [video in FB comments]. -Christy Fabrizio Stanton
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Abbie Chandler
Date of Sighting: November 11, 2025
Time: 3:20 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Crossing pathway of Bainbridge to Seattle ferry
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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15:17 - East side group is nearing north end of Blake Island as viewed from Emma Schmitz. -Steve Rice
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15:15 - Viewing from Emma Schmitz seeing golden blows east of mid channel. Traveling northbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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15:11 - Northbound. Approaching Fauntleroy, last post. Viewing from Shorewood on the Sound. -Shari Tarantino, Orca Conservancy
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15:09 - Viewing from Fauntleroy, north end of Blake Island. -Emilee Linares
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15:08 - Seeing blows from Constellation far west in channel near the north end of Vashon from my perspective. Haven’t seen the whales that are on the east side yet. -Padmini Harchandrai
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15:00 - At least 4 blows just south of Blake Island north of stopped ferry. View from Lincoln Park l. East in channel. -Mary Hartmann
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14:44 - At least two are close east side. Approaching ferry lanes. Others are mid and south of Blake island as viewed from 98th street end. -Steve Rice
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14:43 - Northbound. Past northern tip of Blake Island. Mid channel.
14:30 - Leaders past Vashon ferry dock, north. -Shari Tarantino, Orca Conservancy
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14:14 - Visible from 98th St End in this general location. Mid or east of mid. Northbound [approx. 47.493131, -122.422579]. -Steve Rice
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13:46 - Watching Orca Conservancy live stream East Passage footage. I saw three orcas travel northbound (bottom left corner of the screen). -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:40 - North of Three Tree Point hugging Vashon side. -Katie Jacobson
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12:45 - Was just about to leave the beach and Loon, Flapjack and one other came porpoising in close to shore! Trailing other groups by about 10 min, all northbound against the whitecaps.
12:33 - Beautiful close pass to Point Robinson, T36Bs with Jack hanging out with them, all northbound just past the point, still very much on the island side of the channel. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:20 - Looks like they’re about to make a close pass to Point Robinson [video in FB comments] -Jonathan Salter
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12:18 - About 3 that include T137D and T99B now north of point Robinson, northbound, island side of channel, with long downtimes. Second group more off shore now approaching the point headed north. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:23 - Appears to be one male headed east towards Maury.
12:11 - This group of whales are still south of Redondo.
12:09 - Viewing from Redondo 1-2 mid channel heading east. -Mandy Michelle
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12:00 - Approaching Point Robinson, heading north. -Jake Conroy
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11:30 - Sandy Shores. -photo by Jill Ostrom, November 11, 2025
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11:29 - Still northbound to East Passage south of Point Robinson. Maury and some mainland side. -Tracey Carrillo
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11:17 - Two whales on mainland side approaching Dash Point. -Oscar Brown
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11:10 - Viewing from Browns Point. Single whale headed north, hugging Vashon. -Angie Wildermuth
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11:09 - Large male dorsal north of Gold Beach. Viewing perspective from Ruston Way in Tacoma. -Jason Cook
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11:06 - They have passed Quartermaster Harbor slowly headed north. -Oscar Brown
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11:02 - A few minutes ago east of Quartermaster along Maury Island eastbound. -photo by Jason Cook, November 11, 2025
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11:00 - Off Browns Point but Vashon side.
10:58 - Jack is trailing looks like 8-ish. -photo by Ryan Dicks, November 11, 2025
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10:37 - In front of entrance to Quartermaster. -Mary Thompson Norton
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10:35 - At least two hugging Vashon shore eastbound approaching Quartermaster Harbor. -Jill Clogston
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10:34 - Heading northeast, east of Vashon.
10:30 - Headed north past the Vashon ferry. -Karen Cole
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10:21 - Owen Beach at least 4. -Marty Cahh
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10:20 - Off Owen Beach. 2 unexpectedly popped up beside us as the others were seen off southwest corner of Vashon. A little roll, some splashing then continued in a north eastern direction out of area. -Jennifer Swenson
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10:14 - Viewing from Owen Beach hugging Gig Harbor side it appears.
10:00 - From Owen Beach, Tacoma. Link to more photos. -photos by Jen Prewitt, November 11, 2025
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10:10 - Spread, heading into this Dalco. Some hugging Tacoma shore others mid channel.
09:56 - Viewing from Five Mile Drive, seeing fins heading east into Dalco, Tacoma side. Correction, I didn’t realize where I was on a map - they were heading north, had not yet rounded the tip of Point Defiance. -Kirsten Vacura
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09:56 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:21 to relay report: [orca approx. 47.3244, -122.54379].
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09:31 - Saw 3 under Narrows Bridge going northbound. Same spot about 5 minutes later… don’t see them now. -Heather Hamashima
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09:20 - Saw three north of Salmon Beach. -Anna Linnea Vermaire
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09:09 - Northbound heading towards Narrows midchannel viewing from Titlow. Past bridge. Correction, there's still mid channel. They were heading towards the bridge. If not about to pass under it. -David Bennett
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09:03 - 2 orcas going under the Narrows on the west side. -Christie Galinat
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08:56 - Just saw blows from the Fox Island Pier - they seemed to be slightly north of the Narrows Bridge, Tacoma side. -Jennifer Swenson
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08:45 - Male and female/juvenile northbound out from Titlow. -Jill Clogston
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08:30 - In front of Day Island. -photo by Debbie Bingham, November 11, 2025
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: David May
Date of Sighting: November 11, 2025
Time: 8:25 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Sunset Beach
Direction of travel : N NE
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Sunset Beach is my vantage in University Place, WA. I observed the pod heading north at the mouth of Hale Passage. They were hunting and I believe I saw them grab a seal. One very big male with an enormous dorsal fin. Looked like a few juveniles with the group as well
Photos available?: No
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08:06 - Orcas spotted between Fox Island and Tacoma in Narrows. Midchannel maybe a little closer to Tacoma side. Closer to Day Island now. [link to FB videos]. -Laura Jenkins Beste
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, Nov 11 - Spieden Channel
16:10 - [humpback] Westbound Spieden Channel. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI
*
UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Tue, Nov 11 - Admiralty Inlet
08:12 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:12 to relay report: [unidentified whale approx. 48.143652, -122.747469 (1000’ E. of Pt. Wilson)]
November 10
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Mon, Nov 10 - Puget Sound (J Pod, K Pod, L Pod) - On Monday and Tuesday we spent two days on the water in what were our most productive days of this research project thus far. We were lucky enough to spent time with a Southern Resident killer whale superpod (all 74 whales traveling together) in northern Puget Sound, and best of all, they were chatty! We got a few hours of hydrophone recordings with easily 1000+ vocalizations to annotate. Over the winter, we will conduct that work and pair them with scored drone videos from the Center for Whale Research to see if we can gain any insights into links between calls and behaviors.
It was particularly cool to have the orcas engaged in such different behavior on both days. On the first day, they weren't just *in* a superpod they were behaving *like* a superpod, which to us means large groups of intermingling whales hanging in one location and just all around enjoying each other's company. A classic occurrence in this scenario is you can stay in one spot and think you have a handle on who is present in the group, and suddenly new whales pop up or some whales disappear without you noticing them coming or going from the group. It's true "whale soup"!
Then on the second day, the whales were in steady travel mode, moving at a good clip north through and ultimately out of Puget Sound. Despite this, they were still in mixed groups containing members from multiple pods and were still vocalizing a lot.
Because we were taking advantage of the opportunity to collect as much data as we could, there wasn't much time for snapping photos of the superpod, but I still grabbed the camera in between sets. Here's one of my favorite images taken on November 10th of some whales we don't get to see all that often. From right to left these dorsal fins belong to L105 Fluke, L72 Racer, L117 Keta, and L54 Ino. -MWS -Orca Behavior Institute -photo & IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, November 10, 2025
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Today we were thrilled to encounter a TRUE SUPERPOD while on the water in Puget Sound for our research project with the Center for Whale Research. For Southern Residents, a superpod is when every member of the population is in the same waterway together. Sometimes the term gets used when there are members of every pod present, but L-Pod in particular often breaks into three sub-groups, so a true superpod requires the presence of the L4, L12, and L54 sub-groups, which we had today. That means there were 74 orcas all within a couple miles of each other! While the weather wasn't ideal, we still had an incredible morning of data collection with intermingling social groups containing members of all three pods plus So. Many. Vocals. The drone videos and hydrophone recordings from today will take a long time to process (that's a "later in the winter" project), but we hope it reveals some interesting insights into pairing specific behaviors with specific call types. In the meantime, I wanted to share images of two of the individual Southern Resident killer whales we get asked about most often, both of whom we saw today: L25 Ocean Sun and L87 Onyx. Both these individuals currently travel with the L12 sub-group which does not spend nearly as much time in the Salish Sea as they used to years ago. As a result, we don't get to share updates on them often, but we wanted to let you know that they were both there today! -MWS
Top image: L87 Onyx, who has a unique history in that he has spent years traveling with all three pods: J, K, and L - Bottom image: L25 Ocean Sun, the oldest living Southern Resident killer whale -Orca Behavior Institute -photos & IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, November 10, 2025
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16:40 - Wide spread across and north/south; leaders at least 1-2 miles south of Jefferson Head/Richmond Beach, trailers off North end Richmond Beach Saltwater park east of mid channel. Think these are the last of them but we’ll see. All steady southbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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16:40 - Viewing from Richmond Saltwater Beach. Still heading south past President Point, but some stragglers. Porpoises closer to shore for a bonus. -Josh Walther
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16:23 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine OPs, Spokane Master reports: A group of about 6 whales in front of the KING dock no direction reported.
16:15 - Large number spread out west side of channel abeam of yellow mid channel buoy off Richmond Beach and President Point. Southbound quickly, some porpoising. So pretty -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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16:10 - The ferry tip toed out of Kingston and I’m pretty sure all are south of the Edmonds/Kingston ferry lanes now. Most seem like they are even with or south of President Point but a few stragglers still up toward Kayu Kayu ish?
15:58 - Group right outside Kingston ferry terminal, right as ferry about to depart. -Amy FowIer
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15:51 - Wow! Full body launch. Big splash, a couple of times. Seeing with naked eye. Trending southbound mid channel with OBS boat trailing and yacht boat. Near Kingston now.
15:38 - Watching 3 to 4 near Apple Cove Point, milling close to Kitsap side. From Kingston ferry landing.. -Kathe Bradley
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15:49 - Viewing from Marina Beach Park - Edmonds. SRKWs approaching Kingston ferry terminal. Southbound. Kitsap side of channel. -Hannah Marie Munro
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15:35 - Farthest south I’ve seen is ~midway between Edmonds marina and Point Wells, still seeing some more north, out east of Apple Cove Point area. Some directional changes on that northern group, maybe drifting slightly closer to east side of channel but still west of mid. -Amy FowIer
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15:30 - Two large males still just north of Apple Tree Point, Kingston. Close to the Kitsap side, milling. Others were ahead and likely at the ferry by now. -Sara Frey
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15:28 - In view from Kingston ferry terminal, some in line of sight toward Edmonds Marina, others still north. All still seem southbound. -Amy FowIer
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15:24 - Viewing from Kingston to Edmonds ferry. Leaders approaching Kingston ferry lanes. -Hannah Marie Munro
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15:24 - Counting 3 southbound off from Edmonds pier viewing with binoculars, closer to mid channel. Spread out. -Kathe Bradley
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15:23 - Orcas! See them on the ferry going from Kingston to Edmonds. -Racheal Gager
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15:15 - Passing Apple Tree Point north of Kingston. Southbound. Some milling. West side of the shipping lanes with some close to the Kitsap side. Approaching the ferry lanes. -Sara Frey
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14:53 - Viewing those blows through binoculars from the Edmonds pier! -Tiffany Brockway
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14:49 - Research boats are about even with Eglon, they seem to be toward the back of the group so likely most are south of of Eglon now. Definitely on west side of channel, this video was only at 5x zoom on my iPhone! [video in FB comments]
14:35 - Some straight east of Eglon, some still north. Visible with naked eye so definitely closer to Kitsap side! -Amy FowIer
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14:23 - Seeing blows come into view from Eglon Beach (viewing from the public area). Southbound. Spread out in the triangle.
14:26 - Breaching/surface active. -Hannah Marie Munro
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14:20 - From Stamm, a little south of Point No Point, moving fast southbound hugging Kitsap side. -Emily Horton
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13:55 - Faint call from Sunset. -Duangjai Vasantana-Berntsen
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13:47 - The SRKW just gave us a beautiful pass at Point No Point. They are southbound, travel mode. Spread out. -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:45 - Viewing with binocs from Norwegian Point. Grouping up and slowly going south with research boats trailing. -Wendy Secrist
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13:44 - Saw what seemed like dozens near Point No Point! -Beth Ilona
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13:29 - Seeing a few now in the shipping lane… naked eye, splashing about. One big dorsal fin. Spread out for sure. Counted now at least 10 blows, maybe 12. Still milling near Maxwelton, Useless Bay with OBS boat. -Kathe Bradley
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13;28 - Some wake riding behind cargo ship "One cygnus".
13:25 - Seem to be moving more steady south now.
13:07 - They are very spread. Surface activity as some move south, others still hanging out. Circle approx. [47.944132, -122.501293].
12:54 - Hanging out halfway between Maxwelton & Double Bluff. Through scope, we can see Eba (the dog) working on the research boat -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:57 - Viewing from Point No Point. Group now treading southbound of Useless Bay. Leaders are south of OBS boat, others trailing in between both boats. Lots of blows, surface activity. -Kathe Bradley
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12:45 - They have moved slightly north but still hanging out in Useless Bay approximately near/north of Maxwelton. I just saw a big breach. viewing from Point No Point. -Hannah Marie Munro
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12:43 - Checked out from Maxwelton Park, they're way too far out. -Honi N Dave Thompson
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12:26 - Trending northbound ahead of OBS boat.
12:18 - Viewing from Point No Point parking lot. See observation boats with tightly grouped , counted 4 orcas. Also one solo orca. West of Useless Bay. Closer to shipping lane… lots of surface activity, seen with binoculars. -Kathe Bradley
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12:05 - Some of the pod is traveling south (from the fins I have seen) [approx.47.930797, -122.479177].
11:45 - Pod is spread out with direction changes on Whidbey side. Still viewing from Point No Point. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:45 - Live on the Skunk Bay cams. -Tracey Carrillo
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11:30 - Viewing from Point No Point. SRKW surface active (spy hopping and breaching). Deep in Useless Bay. (approximately where my x is). They are milling [approx. 47.941539, -122.482494]. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:15 - Mixed group of Js Ks Ls milling trending north off Maxwelton, presumed trailers. -Orca Behavior Institute
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11:00 - From Norwegian Point Park. Whales still here milling between Point No Point/Useless Bay [videos in FB comments]. -Jared Leffner
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10:34 - Straight out from Point No Point lighthouse moving slowly westbound. -Julie Page
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10:03 - Watching them head north towards Admiralty past Possession Point. Looks like west side of midchannel. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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09:35 - Assuming Ks are here too but we have not seen them. Js and Ls trending northwest towards Point No Point from the triangle. Wide spread.
09:00 - CWR and OBI in the middle of the triangle with milling whales have members of J Pod and all three L subgroups -Orca Behavior Institute
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09:00 - Still hearing calls on Sunset Bay -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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08:56 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 09:03 to report: 0856hrs: [Spokane] Vessel reports they've spotted two orcas just off the EDM ferry terminal, heading northbound. WRAS updated.
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08:55 - Orcas in Edmonds ferry lane and north! They were circling in ferry lanes but there are more north of ferry heading South slowly. -Janine Harles
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08:54 - I believe that was K33 in the ferry lane based on dorsal shape but video is a bit too grainy to tell for sure -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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08:35 - Still hearing them. -Patricia Prochaska
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08:23 - Still vocal on Sunset Bay, faint. -Melissa Bird
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08:19 - About 6-8 foraging in this area [approx. 47.846261, -122.416144]. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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08:05 - Pretty spread out from mid to east channel. Still foraging, it’s hard to get a count, but can see more than 5 for sure.
07:56 - In Possession triangle. Just spotted one male so far. East of mid channel. EDIT: at least 5 individuals foraging south of the Sunset Bay hydro. -Jourdan Rae
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07:50 - Pretty sure have heard calls from all three pods. But sometimes Js fake me out for Ls. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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07:50 - Calls getting louder -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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07:49 - Still vocal at Sunset Bay. Very faint but it's there! -Josie McKillop
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07:48 - Hearing calls on Sunset Bay. -Hannah Marie Munro
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07:45 - Can still hear them! -Alexandra Dolak
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07:35 - Been lovely calls from Js & Ks at least this morning. Nice array of calls still audible in quiet seas right now. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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07:21 - Still hearing faint calls. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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07:20 - Faint calls behind what I'm assuming is ferry noise. Sunset Bay hydro. -Kevin Phillips
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07:03 - Hearing faint calls. -Mike Hoene
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06:52 - Hearing calls in the distance! The most beautiful way to start my day! -Linda Raines Tyner
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06:40 - Still hearing them with the ferry noise. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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06:35 - Hearing them! -Amy FowIer
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06:05 - pretty consistent calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
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06:05 - Calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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05:56 - Distant calls on Sunset Bay this morning. I started hear in them around 05:45. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, Nov 10 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
16:58 - Here they are [approx. 47.449466, -122.406165 (1 mi. W of Three Tree Pt.)] still heading south. -Kelly Burns Keenan
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16:11 - Lead male passing Vashon ferry terminal. Live view on Orca Conservancy cams East Passage. -Tracey Carrillo
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15:56 - Passed north end of Tillicum Village, southbound, east side of Blake Island. -Yala YM
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15:36 - Just passed south tip of Blake southbound west of mid channel view from Constellation Park. -Mary Hartmann
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15:27 - Halfway between north end of Blake island and Tillicum village. Still southbound. Viewing from Constellation Park. -Steve Rice
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14:56 - Approaching Restoration Point. Southbound. -Alexander Simenstad
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14:30 - Heading south fast Wing Point Bainbridge, near Bainbridge side. Could be more than one, but I don’t think so. -Brent Cullimore
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14:27 - 3 at least orcas heading south. Off Wing Point Bainbridge Island, spread out, just now. West of mid channel. -Jane Rein
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14:09 - Last spotted further to southeast out from lighthouse. Closer to east side of channel. Moving fast southbound.
14:00 - Spotting 3 moving fast southbound off Rolling Bay. Closer to Bainbridge Island side. -Michele Edwards Ley
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13:15 - Some were on west side likely 137s. 36s were more mid. -Beriah SoOrio
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12:55 - Approaching Richmond Beach, southbound. -Samiksha Gulrajani
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12:15 - And ferry captain announced orcas fast-moving southbound and slowed ferry. Near Edmonds.
12:03 - Just saw a blow on north-facing side of Kingston ferry - mid channel and closer to Kingston side. -Julie Page
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11:24 - Straight off from Stamm we saw 3 orcas traveling southbound, long downtimes traveling fast. Came out of no where so I’m assuming they are the transients given their behavior but can’t say for sure. -Emily Horton
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09:25 - 3 orcas just outside the Everett Marina. (as seen from Hat Island ferry). -Kelly Brown Dukes [HIWS]
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, Nov 10 - Spieden Channel
07:17 - [humpback Passing through Spieden Channel, eastbound. Videos off Limestone Point. Southbound close to SJI east shore. -Edenonthe Salishsea [WSSJI]
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Mon, Nov 10 - Discovery Bay
09:30 - 10:00 - Possible sighting in Discovery Bay. Approximately 0930-1000 this morning. The "witness" said they only saw one as it was diving under. -Craig Hatfield,
November 9
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Sun, Nov 9 - Admiralty Inlet (J Pod, K Pod, L Pod)
22:04 - Lots of calls on Bush Point! -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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22:00 - Hearing more calls on Bush Point. -Charlie Pingree
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21:42 - Calls on Bush Point hydrophone. -Kevin Phillips
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21:43 - Just started hearing them on Bush Point, so they are trending south.
21:42 - Calls on Bush Point. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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21:11 - I heard them! So much activity. It was awesome. -Patricia Prochaska
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21:04 - Still audible on Port Townsend hydrophone. I tried listening to Bush Point for the last 10 minutes and haven't heard anything there yet. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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20:15 - 20:30 - Seems like a few listeners heard faint calls and/or whistles at Bush Point from ~20:15-20:30. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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20:29 - Still nice and loud!! -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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20:22 - At least Js and Ks! -Orca Behavior Institute
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20:20 - Calls on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Charlie Pingree
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20:16 - Port Townsend hydrophone. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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20:00-20:31 - Thanks to Cindi Crowder Rausch for the heads up, here is the SRKW bout that just happened on the Port Townsend Marine Science Center hydrophone at Fort Worden. It started at 20:00:50 and calls faded out around 20:30. Here is the full bout -- which I think includes some S19s along with S01s, S16s, and quite a few excitement calls (S10s). Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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Sun, Nov 9 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (K Pod & L Pod)
12:02 - Six or seven miles off of False Bay. Milling. Drifting east. -Jenny Stands Wilson [WSSJI]
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10:20 - Southern Residents reported southeast of Victoria, currently aiming toward San Juan Island. -Cindy Hansen, Orca Network [WSSJI]
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Sun, Nov 9 - Admiralty Inlet (J Pod) - The moment I pulled into Lagoon Point, J27 was surfacing about 300-400 yards off the beach. Link to more photos. -photos by Kat Martin, November 9, 2025
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16:35 - West of Ebey now into the strait. Trending northwest near orange buoy. Grouped up and traveling. -Joe Griffin-Harte
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16:25 - Seeing them northbound off Fort Warden State Park lighthouse. -Whitney Neugebauer
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15:55 - Lots of calls on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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15:49 - Viewing them from Fort Worden Lighthouse. Way to the east side of channel behind Foss tug. -Michael Dulas
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15:45 - This is the best picture I got of J Pod passing Fort Casey today. My sister and I went out there while they were still at Lagoon Point. We waited and they showed up, closer to the west side of the channel. I use a Nikon with 60x zoom lens. There were at least 5 orca. This is our third time seeing J Pod at Fort Casey in three years. Thank you Orca Network and those who post sightings so others may get a chance to see these beautiful beings. -photo by Tami Kannenberg, November 9, 2025
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15:39 - Great calls on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Patricia Prochaska
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15:33 - Spotted a fin from Fort Casey. Mid channel maybe. Only saw one so far. -Kathy VanderMeer
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15:32 - Distant fins just south of Port Townsend viewing from Admiralty lighthouse. Northbound spread out. -Bonnie Gretz
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15:26 - Many calls on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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15:24 - Spotted midchannel northbound from Fort Casey just south of Fort Casey. -Kt Spry
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15:20 - Hearing calls on the Port Townsend hydrophone. -Hannah Marie Munro
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15:05 - Whales have pushed out further to mid channel. Most are on the west side of the channel. Still trending northbound. Next viewing at Fort Casey but we are losing good light fast. -Kat Martin
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14:51 - Super spread out but definitely a few individuals closer to Lagoon Point. -Steve Czerniak
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14:48 - Gorgeous looks at Lagoon Point about 10 minutes ago. Two males are closer to Whidbey side. The rest are mid to Marrowstone side. Lots of direction changes but general trend northbound. -Kat Martin
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14:35 - Hearing a call again on Bush Point hydrophone. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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14:47 - Still here and a few 200-300 yards out. There's been a ton of salmon jumping. Makes sense.
14:36 - We see 1 more orca northbound quickly 400 yards off Lagoon Point. She's about .5 miles from the group. The entire group seems to be staying put now, spread out but resurfacing going south at times.
14:32 - Many orca off Lagoon Point. Mid channel heading N slowly. I count 6-10 orca. -Bill Setter
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14:05 - Blows visible from the cliff at Marrowstone Point. - look to be this side of the channel (still south of East Beach area though). -Rebecca Berger
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13:58 - Trailer J27 has stopped to forage about 300ish yards off Bush Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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13:53 - Faint and sporadic calls on Bush Point hydrophone. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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13:48 - Hearing calls Bush Point hydros. -Tracey Carrillo
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13:45 - Leaders nearing yellow channel marker out from Bush Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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13:44 - Seeing blows and a breach southwest from Lagoon Point. -Kaarina Makowski, Orca Network
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13:32 - Distant blows south of Bush Point. Still northbound, mid to other. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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13:22 - Seeing one male dorsal shaped like J38 moving north slowly, from 1.5 miles south of Bush Point. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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13:21 - [video of orcas] -Sydnie Bodzianowski
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13:11 - Spread north/south, east/west, guessing approx. Steady northbound [approx 47.978565, -122.611324] -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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13:04 - Very spread, viewing from Shore Meadows, steady northbound most mid channel. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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12:38 - Seeing them from Limpet Lane. Closer to Whidbey. Heading north. -Steve Czerniak
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12:29 - Visible on SkunkBay weather. -Patti Trosper
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12:29 - Out of range of my binoculars now, moving north on west side of Whidbey.
12:24 - Moving quickly northwest 3-4 and at least one male
12:16 - Blow visible from Point No Point in front of Double Bluffs. Westbound. -Julie Page
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12:00 - Pass at Point No Point. -Susan John
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11:53 - Some passing Point No Point now, northbound. -Michelle Goll
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12:28 - Heading west. Just lost sight of them as they headed past Double Bluff (12:28). Research boat headed back Southeast maybe 10 to 15 minutes ago for some reason.
11:34 - Seeing blows and occasional fins from Point No Point viewed southeast quite far across the channel, north bound. -Natasha Dillinger
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11:39 - Still there. Short downtimes.
11:26 - Blows visible from Point No Point off in the distance, visible with binoculars. They look pretty spread out -Julie Page
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11:24 - Finally picked up a couple from Eglon looking northeast between here and south Whidbey. -Michelle Goll
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11:00 - Too windy now for us, so we are done for the day. They’re milling south of here on the west side of the triangle [approx. 47.903745, -122.458166].
10:30 - Js widely spread and milling in the middle of the Triangle. -Orca Behavior Institute
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10:13 - Orca crossed right in front of Kingston/Edmonds ferry. The ferry had to slow way down. -Kimberly Fritz
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10:08 - West of mid channel. Northbound towards west side of Whidbey. Viewing from Sunset Avenue in Edmonds with binoculars. Still a group trailing south of Point No Point with the red/orange research vessel. -Nicole Hill
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09:56 - Look to be trending north west of Edmonds dive park. Green research vessel is north and and red research vessel is south of them. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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09:44 - Now north of Edmonds ferry terminal. Still northbound and on eastern side of the sound and still lazily moving and surfacing. -David Guyer
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09:44 - Seeing blows and dorsal tips wide spread across channel with several out from Edmonds dive park, and few to the north of. Haven’t seen any further north yet. Northbound.
09:30 - Caught sight of fins and blows off Edmonds Marina northbound. Presumably trailers. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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09:39 - [video in FB comments]. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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09:35 - Whales that just passed the Edmonds ferry terminal are the T137s and T36Bs! But Js are spread out here too. Js are further west whales headed northbound too.
09:12 - Just south of Edmonds Kingston ferry lanes, northbound. Confirmed SRKW. -Orca Behavior Institute
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09:10 - At least 3 different pods of orcas spotted in the last 10 minutes crossing on the Edmonds - Kingston ferry. One group between Point Wells and Edmonds 1/2 mile off shore, one group mid channel and one group close to Kingston side. -Ryan Murray
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09:09 - Orcas moving lazily north past Wells Point. Mid to east channel. A few males. Maybe 10+ total. Too far away for photos from Kingston side. -David Guyer
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08:32 - Victoria Clipper has spotted a large group of orcas between Jefferson Head and Richmond Beach. No direction given.
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, Nov 9 - North Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
15:50 - Continuing north toward Crescent Harbor, spread in small groups. -Matt Stolmeier
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15:30 - Orcas passing yacht club on Camano northbound - spread out. -Linda Aitkins
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15:00 - Leaders at Onamac, trailers further off shore .75 nautical mile.
14:50 - Indian Beach moving about 5+ knots north, 3 small groups about 100 yards apart. -Matt Stolmeier
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14:49 - Past Cama now. Approaching Indian Beach area on Camano side.
14:42 - Lead 2 are at Cove Road Beach, rest are passing Cama cabins with whale boat Blackfish observing. -Thomas McKane
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14:37 - One male - looks like Jack passing Camano Island State Park. -Linda Aitkins
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14:29 - T36s passing now, haven't seen T137A yet
14:22 - At least three in this group, no males. Looks like the rest of the T137s but I'm a bit too far away to confirm. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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14:20 - SJC is leaving the lovely T36Bs plus Jack currently northwest bound after a few managed to feed on a porpoise off Camano. Looks like they're possibly grouping up together trending towards East Point! -Alli Montgomery
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14:15 - Northbound Camano side of midchannel just south of Camano Island State Park boat launch -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natalie Forrest
Date of Sighting: November 09, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Mabana Camano
Direction of travel : Milling
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
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13:19 - Relaying report that Ts in Saratoga are northbound mid/Camano side north of Pebble Beach, Camano. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:52 - Eyes on orcas near the foot of Camano heading (hopefully) toward Langley. -Heather Hardin
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Luanne Seymour
Date of Sighting: November 09, 2025
Time: 12:39 PM
Species seen: 3-4 orcas
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Midchannel Saratoga Passage just past Sandy Point
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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12:38 - Some now northbound slow in Saratoga Passage north of Sandy Point including T36.
12:28 - Some close to Whidbey northbound just south of Sandy Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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12:37 - 3-4 orcas just passing Sandy Point midchannel heading toward Langley harbor. -Luanne Seymour
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12:43 - I am just north of Hat Island by research zodiac. 3 passed by heading north to Camano.
12:32 - North side of Hat Island. 3 orcas right by shore. -Tony Rosen
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12:28 - I just left Mukilteo lighthouse. They passed Clinton ferry terminal a bit ago, and were headed north. Lost sight of them. -Domonique Padilla
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12:04 - Viewing from Clinton ferry north right by the research boat! -Cindy McDonald
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12:03 - Very spread out. Northbound between Whidbey and Hat Island now. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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11:47 - This group still spread. Some west of mid others mid and Jack east if mid in/north if Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes northbound angling towards between Hat & Whidbey currently. SR3 trailing. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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11:45 - Spotted a couple just south of the Clinton - Mukilteo ferry, trailed by a red research vessel. Heading north/northeast. -Corinne Parrish
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11:33 - We’re seeing a single orca off the eastern side of Glendale, hugging the shore . Watching from Mukilteo Beach. -Rachel Reese
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11:32 - At least two females ahead of male mid channel. Slow steady northbound .
11:28 - who presume is Jack is steady northbound east if mid channel south end Mukilteo Lighthouse beach park. SR3 trailing him. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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11:28 - Viewing from Mukilteo Beach. Not yet to Lighthouse. One males just in front of boat. -Brad Dufour
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11:25 - They have passed Glendale. Some close to Whidbey, some more mid. All still northbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:22 - Viewing from Mukilteo Beach. -Domonique Padilla
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10:43 - Saw one from Picnic Point heading north. -Anne Powell Arias
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10:41 - I believe these were seen closer to Picnic Point. Larger male seen about 1000yds out. Few females closer to Possession Point. Seem to be heading towards Lighthouse Beach in Mukilteo. -Brad Dufour
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10:33 - Viewing about 5 orca (spread out) from Haines Wharf headed into Possession Sound. Likely around Picnic Point now. -Sara Battin Pearson
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10:30 - Viewed from Picnic Point. I believe this is Jack. -photo by Jaime Shields, November 9, 2025
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10:27 - They appear to be heading towards Glendale on Whidbey.
10:17 - Viewed from the north end of Talbot Road in Edmonds. Then they veered farther out heading towards Possession Point on Whidbey Island. -Melissa Duits
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10:23 - Viewing from Stamm two groups pretty far west of mid channel, south of the cargo ship. -Elena Sarah Kuo
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10:09 - From Sunset Avenue, Edmonds seeing at this group to the north very east side of channel guesstimating out from Haines Wharf give or take. They appear to be milling. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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10:05 - They look westbound to me off of Stamm Overlook or possibly milling! -Samiksha Gulrajani
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10:04 - They’re still pretty south of Picnic Point, seen with binos only. A group of us are waiting here. -EZ Lorenz
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10:00 - They are directly out from Stamm Overlook moving very quickly north! Close to Edmonds shore. -Elena Sarah Kuo
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09:46 - Visible from Edmonds/Kingston ferry near white boat in Whidbey direction. -Natasha Dillinger
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09:35 - Whales that just passed the Edmonds ferry terminal are the T137s and T36Bs! But Js are spread out here too. -Orca Behavior Institute
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09:33 - Trending northeast. East of mid channel. Directly in front of Edmonds ferry lane. Black/grey research vessel good marker. Awesome view from Edmonds side today! [video in FB comments] -Nicole Hill
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They came right by the Edmonds pier this morning [video in FB comments]. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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09:28 - Some north of Edmonds ferry easily visible from Sunset Avenue. -Rachel Haight Orca Network
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09:24 - East of Mid channel. Visible from Edmonds fishing pier! -Nicole Hill
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09:04 - Now seen oil docks headed north. -photo by Christian Johanneson, November 9, 2025
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sun, Nov 9 - Haro Strait
03:30 - A humpback whale song recorded by the Lime Kiln hydrophone. Enjoy! Link to audio recording. -Fred Horn
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UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES -
Sun, Nov 9 - Haro Strait
09:15 - 2 minke (I thinky) heading towards Pile Point. -Richard Daly [WSSJI]
November 8
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Sat, Nov 8 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - J35 Tahlequah breaching - After a 3 day absence, J-Pod returned to Puget Sound, and we and the Center for Whale Research have had the last two days with them on the water in sunny skies and calm seas. Today we met up with them in Possession Sound and were with them through the Possession Triangle as they looped up to Point No Point. We were worried they might be leaving again already, but thankfully they stalled out and were heard on the Orcasound - Listen for Whales Sunset Bay hydrophone near Edmonds again this evening. Link to more photos. -Orca Behavior Institute -photos & ID by Monika Wieland Shields, November 8, 2025
*
Sat, Nov 8 - Puget Sound (J Pod)
16:45 - 17:00 - J-pod at about 1.5 miles away out in the distance. J Pod was passing Point No Point while we hugged the Whidbey shoreline -photos by Kyla Bivens, PSE, November 8, 2025
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From Possession Point. Link to FB video. -Duangjai Vasantana-Berntsen
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21:05 - Still hearing faint calls every now and then. -Jenn Lawler
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21:24 - Still hearing faint calls.
19:42 - Heard a faint call on Sunset Bay. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
19:23 - They stayed. Calls on Sunset Bay. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:39 - We are at Dave Mackie Park and seeing spouts on the far side near Point No Point. We're calling this a trifecta three times today we have followed and seen our favorites. Thanks so much to everyone who shared binoculars and pointed out things 100 times to us. We truly appreciate all of you. -Amy Doran
*
16:35 - Viewing from Norwegian Park, counted 5, two big dorsal fins. Milling here now for the past 2 hours, leaving Jpod for now in the shadows of Mount Baker as the light of day is fading. Still far east side of shipping lanes. Long dives, with little surface activity until I observe cargo ships, tug boats approaching same, then they become more active, spyhopping, tail slapping etc. -Kathe Bradley
*
16:28 - They’re just milling around now.
16:19 - Viewing from Norwegian Point Park. Three at mouth of Useless Bay and turned back south. -Sabrina Shaw
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16:06 - Viewing from Norwegian Point… whales northbound… trailers now passing Mount Baker to Norwegian Point sightline. A few breaches and many spy hops along the way. -Sue Surowiec Larkin
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16:00 - Near Hansville/Norwegian Point. They were milling around there until dark. Trending north [video in FB comments]. -Jared Leffner
*
15:50 - Just left Point No Point and they were still there! -Aaron Berg
*
15:50 - Saw from ~1500 yards away and slowly passed. They looked to be in either the traffic separation zone or southbound lanes off of Point No Point heading northbound. Split up in at least 2 groups. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
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15:30 - Spotted with binoculars from Double Bluff splashing around by Point No Point. -Corinne Parrish
*
15:40 - Lots of activity. Watching from Norwegian Park. Treading north, group of 7, sky hopping, splashing going on. Location hugging east shoreline past housing area?
15:20 - Wow! Full body launch right out of the water. Big splash still milling off of Point No Point. Spread out west to east
15:01 - Appear to be milling around Point No Point. Viewed four, directional changes north to south, but mostly staying near the lighthouse. Closer to Kitsap side. -Kathe Bradley
*
15:30 - They were still south of Point No Point when we headed out. Kitsap side, so you needed binoculars to see them from the park.
14:51 - They look like they’ve stalled just South of Point No Point.
14:37 - Heading north slowly.
14:28 - Viewing with binoculars at Dave Mackie Park on Whidbey. Very spread out and in the distance. -Marisa Barta
*
14:34 - They are slowly headed northbound approx. 6-7 whales.
14:17 - Viewing from Point No Point lighthouse. Spread out with research boats. Slowly northbound. Mid to west of channel. -Aaron Berg
*
14:04 - Look to be heading closer to Whidbey now away from Eglon.
14:01 - Cargo ship just passed by them, they are west of mid out from Eglon, heading north. -Alexandra Spallone McDermott
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13:55 - Whales spread east and north of here milling trending north [approx. 47.867778, -122.508481]. -Orca Behavior Institute
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13:42 - Viewing from Stamm Park I can see 2 research boats near the Kitsap side, and just visible through binocs was a breach. Can't even really tell which direction they are heading -Christy Avery
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13:41 - Viewing from Eglon, near the research boat. Trending north. -Audrey Boslego
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13:35 - Northbound west of mid channel [approx. 47.859247, -122.488576].
13:27 - Looks like they flipped and are now northbound [approx. 47.859247, -122.488576]. -Nicole Hill
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12:57 - From ferry looks like they are here-ish [approx. 47.881501, -122.484153]. -Emily Pitcher
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12:39 - Viewing from Eglon. They are slightly south of the Edmonds ferry. Research boats with 2-3 whales. One male turned heading northbound, north of ferry. -Aaron Berg
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12:06 - Moved south from Whidbey. Tail slapping along the way. Seem to be close to Point No Point. Viewing from Edmonds with binoculars.
11:52 - Viewing from Edmonds. They are hugging Whidbey Island just past Double Bluff (to the west of it). -Brad Dufour
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11:30 - All Js grouped up here very slowly heading southwest [approx. 47.875567, -122.412274]. -Orca Behavior Institute
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11:15 - Rounded the south side of Whidbey and headed toward Cultus Bay. -Linse Vlahovich Hill
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11:07 - Viewing from Picnic Point. Southbound slightly west of mid channel with the research vessel (at least the group I am spotting). -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:05 - [From Chennault Beach, video in FB comments]. -Alice Thuy Talbot
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Sam Westover
Date of Sighting: November 08, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: 47.908089, -122.374238 (just off of Possession Point State Park)
Direction of travel : S, moving pretty fast
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: We were a group of 9 sea kayaks crossing Possession Sound and spotted several orcas ahead of us. Too far away to see a lot of details or a really accurate count, but I think there were around 6 of them. We could clearly see their dorsal fins.
Photos available?: No
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10:55 - Jpod is still leisurely southbound past Possession Point. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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10:51 - They are continuing southbound towards the Possession Point buoy. -Ed Pearson
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10:49 - Seeing very faint blows by the black and white channel marker/Buoy. As viewed from Mukilteo Lighthouse (by the playground), it's the furthest left buoy. -Natasha Dillinger
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That was us! Super cool to see orcas from our sea kayaks. We were mid-channel when we saw them near the Whidbey shoreline. -Sam Westover
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10:48 - Just past the tip of Whidbey southbound. Orange research boat is still following. Looks like a group of kayakers trying to get a peek. -Ed Pearson
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10:47 - We see them from Stamm Overlook Park too. -Paul Davis
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10:45 - Barely visible from Picnic Point, but still southbound, hugging Whidbey with red research vessel trailing. Very passive travel mode. -Jason Luc
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10:38 - Nearing Possession Point southbound Whidbey side of mid.
10:14 - Grouped southbound Whidbey side Glendale.
10:04 - Js Southbound nearing Glendale Whidbey side. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:03 - Watching from Mukilteo Beach. Slowly southbound hugging Whidbey side. -Hannah Marie Munro
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10:00 - Still trending south, not quite as fast but still really hugging Whidbey shoreline. -Jourdan Rae
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09:45 - Next to ferry! -Julie Chancerelle Ziemelis
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09:40 - Whidbey side, fast southbound. They are in the ferry lanes. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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09:40 - Right in front of the Clinton ferry dock. Viewing from Mukilteo Pioneer cemetery. -Emily Horton
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09:39 - Next to the Clinton ferry terminal, going south, probably around 7. -Nicolas Marin
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09:37 - Close to Clinton ferry dock. Looks like a research boat is with them.
09:30 - Seeing spouts from Mukilteo lighthouse. -Jourdan Rae
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09:27 - Getting closer and closer to Whidbey southbound nearing Clinton ferry.
09:20 - Southbound Whidbey side approximately 1-1.5 miles north of Clinton.
08:48 - Flying south past Sandy Point. Edit: this is J Pod. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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08:35 - Seeing them from downtown Langley - headed south, Camano side [approx. 48.042558, -122.374675]. -Amanda Grace
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08:30 - A few are heading south midchannel in line with Langley. Not sure if they are the group I was just watching or others.
08:25 - Trailing group is closer to Camano off Summerland. Slowly trending north. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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08:20 - Seeing distant blows from East Point. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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Pod of orcas northbound Pebble Beach (as seen on facebook). -Rachel Weatherholt
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08:26 - Lots more spread out.
08:15 - Quite a few 3-4 Camano side of mid between Sandy Point and Langley [approx. 48.052907, -122.377993]. -Elise VanWest
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08:16 - Can confirm open saddles. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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08:05 - 15+ spread out in singles and small groups, trees are blocking some of my view so it's hard to count. Leaders are northbound in line with Langley from my perspective at Summerland. Everyone I've seen so far is midchannel to Whidbey side.
07:56 - Lots more now, between Langley and Sandy Point. Too far to definitively confirm ID, but they look like residents
07:54 - At least three, including a male, northbound into Saratoga Passage north of Sandy Point, Whidbey side of midchannel. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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07:39 - At least 6 northbound past Sandy Point in Saratoga Passage. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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06:58 - Orcas heading north between Division B [west side Hat Island] and Whidbey! At least 7 Spread out. Some are rounding the island so watch out for ‘em. -Kim Vest Gleason
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04:45 - This Orcasound - Listen for Whales bout at Sunset Bay sounds like J pod. Thanks to listeners for tagging the live stream in the wee hours! Given the clarity of the few calls and the visible echolocation (early on in this in brief bout), this bout suggests to me that they may have been angling NE (oriented more towards the hydrophone). Take this as another hint that they left Possession Bar area pre-dawn northbound into Possession Sound? Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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04:48 - Hydro active Sunset. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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04:44 - Calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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04:13 - Hearing faint calls on an off since 03:50 on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Linda Aitkins
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03:08 - Hearing faint clicks and calls on the Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, Nov 8 - South Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
16:56 - Pod just passed by middle Stretch Island again, going south. -Anna Wencel
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15:43 - Look to be cruising back towards Stretch Island. -Kelsey Browne
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15:39 - Three off of Victor right now, looks like one is a young one. -Kelsey Browne
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15:15 - Off Allyn you can see them from downtown Allyn they’re on the other side and a bit south. -Anna Culotti
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14:47 - Orcas by Allyn pier. -Marisa Martinez
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14:22 - Reported off Herron Island bout an hour ago northbound. -Gypsea Salt
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13:55 - We just spotted 3 orcas off of the east side of Stretch Island. They were heading north. -Anna Wencel
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, Nov 8 - San Juans (CRC-15972 Mensa, CRC-16017 Two Spot, & others) - When whale watching with Maya’s Legacy. Humpback ID’d as Mensa by the crew. We also ran into 2-spot and 3 other humpbacks in the distance. This was between the Turn Point lighthouse and Moresby Island. Link to more photos. -photos by Jaime Shields, November 8, 2025
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Sat, Nov 8 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (BCY1029 Hemlock) - BCY1029 Hemlock
14:45 - 15:10 - We saw BCY1029 Hemlock near Coyote/Border Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. -photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, PSE, Noveber 8, 2025
November 7
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Fri, Nov 7 - Puget Sound (J Pod) - J16 breaches off Bush Point. -photo by Nikki Clarke, November 7, 2025
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J38 Cookie - J16 Slick & J26 Mike - What a treat when, who I'm fairly certain is J16 Slick, breached next to her son, J26 Mike. The whales were very spread out as the passed by, but the other big boys, J38 Cookie, and the trailer J27 Blackberry passed by not too far off. Link to more photos. -photos & IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network, November 7, 2025
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17:47 - Loud calls now.
17:44 - Faint calls & clicks on Sunset Bay. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:32 - I see two directly out from Stamm Overlook swimming south just passing the first boat headed towards second, east side of the channel -Elena Sarah Kuo
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16:12 - Viewing 3-4 whales foraging here [approx. 47.849971, -122.415591]. From ferry Spokane. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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15:38 - On return ferry to Kingston, spotted a few blows looking toward Cultus Bay, seemed to be facing west? -Amy FowIer
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15:27 - Everyone now steadily south/southwest bound from previous spot. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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15:05 - More calls on Sunset Bay. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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14:56 - As ferry is nearing Edmonds terminal, now seeing them looking toward Scatchet Head, near research boats.
14:52 - Spotted one from the Edmonds-bound ferry, looking toward Possession Point almost exactly halfway between two research boats. Looked to be facing northeast ish. -Amy FowIer
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15:00 - No further northeast progress. Seem stalled out milling.
14:42 - Spread here heading northeast. Clear calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone for last 30 minutes. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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14:41 - On Sunset Bay now. -Nicole Perkins
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14:40 - Faint calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
14:36 - Hearing calls as well. -T.L. Stokes
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14:34 - Hearing calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Hannah Marie Munro
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14:34 - From Sunset Ave, everyone currently heading northeast. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
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14:31 - More calls being heard on the Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Jourdan Rae
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14:30 - Looks like they are in or near the Possession triangle on the west side. Lots of splashes but I’m so far away I can’t tell what they’re doing. Viewing from Picnic Point. -Ernie Yip
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14:29 - North of Sunset Bay. Spotted one solo orca, mid channel, more to the east side treading southbound, long dives. Red research boat with same. Viewing from Eglon. -Kathe Bradley
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14:35 - Now mostly milling in the middle of the triangle.
14:25 - Everyone around here [approx. 47.855537, -122.437708] has turned east, maybe northeast. J14s, J17s -Orca Behavior Institute
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14:20 - Still trying to determine if this is foraging, or if we have a committed flip. But I did see someone facing northbound, and the research boat seem to be slowly trending back north. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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14:17 - Whales here [approx. 47.857392, -122.409509]. Definitively J pod calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. 2 research vessels present. -Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout
*
14:17 - I can hear them [on Sunset Bay hydrophone]. -Delaney Grieve
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14:08 - Unless mistaken… faint calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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14:00 - Viewing from Stamm Overlook. Appear to be mid-or west of mid channel. Slowly southbound. Looking through a scope and can see very distant fins spread between two research boats -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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13:45 - Eglon can see at least one with the front research boat. Very far out with binoculars. -Sean DeLellis
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13:35 - Just when I was sure all were south of my view at Point No Point, one popped up looking out toward Scatchet Head.
13:24 - The males I was tracking are south of Point No Point now, did a couple tail lobs along the way!
13:12 - A couple straggler males east of Point No Point, almost to yellow channel marker. -Amy FowIer
*
13:11 - Saw breaches from Point No Point - still heading south and spread out [video in FB comments]. -Delaney Grieve
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13:08 - Viewing from Eglon. 1 male leading 3 smaller whales trailing. Far east side of channel. Between the two research boats. -Aaron Berg
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12:51 - Update from OBI/CWR: no reason to believe there’s more than J-Pod present -Orca Behavior Institute
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12:50 - Coming up on yellow buoy, traveling southbound.
12:45 - Counted 4 all in a group. Lots of surface activity, sky hopping, tail slapping, waving fin, still with observation boat, far east shoreline. Straight out from the point. Point No Point beach.
12:37 - The two I am watching are out front of cargo ship..near the houses east shoreline, observation boat ahead of them, orange jackets. Silver boat. -Kathe Bradley
*
12:40 - Seeing a couple porpoising in the cargo ship’s wake between the two research boats out with them.
12:36 - A group is right behind the cargo ship [approx. 47.958204, -122.587549].
12:32 - Seeing some southeast of the cargo ship [approx. 47.963018, -122.570961]. -Amy FowIer
*
12:30 - Watching from Point No Point parking lot, saw 2 orcas surface, deep dives. Closer to Double Bluff, far east side with observation boat. -Kathe Bradley
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12:17 - Seeing several to the north of Norwegian, east of the yellow channel marker. All seem southbound.
12:12 - Spotted from Norwegian Point, between here and the OBI boat. -Amy FowIer
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12:05 - Whales west of our position spread and southbound [approx. 47.959315, -122.548844]. -Orca Behavior Institute
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12:04 - Much gratitude to the Skunk Bay live stream operator! Beautiful job following the pod as they move south in Admiralty. Now out from between Hansville and Double Bluff. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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11:53 - All south of Limpet now, still southbound. Pretty spread out.
11:37 - Viewing from Limpet Lane. Southbound still, east of mid channel. -Katie Davis Watkins
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11:41 - Can see from Limpet Lane southbound. -Eliseanna Morrison
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11:17 - Whales spread out midchannel directly in front of Shore Meadows with some breaching! -Jacqueline Anne
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11:16 - J27 the trailer nearly to Bush Point southbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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11:15 - Calls on Bush Point hydro. -Jourdan Rae
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11:09 - Nope, another male & other still north of Bush Point.
11:05 - Might be trailers passing now, so a 25 minute spread. Very spread. Southbound, still midchannel/Whidbey side of mid. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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11:07 - We’ve seen J14s, J16s, J19s so far with others further west.
10:55 - Leaders are Js fast southbound south of Bush Point. -Orca Behavior Institute
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Christopher Thornton
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 10:44 AM
Species seen: orca
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Off Bush Pt Whidbey Island
Direction of travel : s
Behaviors observed: several traveling in a spread out group
If orcas, any males?: at least one male
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
10:45 - Some came in closer to Bush Point [J16s], and breached twice! Spread in groups southbound mid - to Whidbey side
10:35 - Group southbound past yellow marker by Bush Point, can confirm residents! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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10:28 - The trailing large male has passed East Beach Park, continuing south. -Susan John
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10:05 - Spread in line north/south moving quickly - approx. [48.068596, -122.662956]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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09:56 - Viewing from East Beach County Park. Group is just north of here heading south. -Susan John
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09:54 - Approx. location southbound fast [48.087183, -122.668122]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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09:41 - I’m at the Keystone ferry holding and see A LOT of blows [approx. 48.128250, -122.683203]. -Sarah Geist
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09:27 - Will likely pass 1/4 mile or less from shore by Fort Flagler any minute.
09:25 - I mustve seen the minke northbound. Orcas are very much west in channel and nearing Fort Flagler southbound - seem to be in a hurry -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Traci Trubiano
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 8:58 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: Port Townsend ferry run
Direction of travel : Towards PT paper mill
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?: Unknown
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, Nov 7 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - When I saw them from both Owen Beach and then later at the Tacoma Narrows Beach Park when they passed under the bridge. Link to more photos. -photos by Shannon Brusco, November 7, 2025
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From Narrows Park this afternoon. -photo by Mollie Segall, November 7, 2025
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17:00 - Jack swimming along the west side of Fox Island [videos in FB comments]. -Mollie Segall
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16:46 - Milling west of the sandspit, treading north into Carr. -Michalyn Marzocco
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16:39 - At least 3 orcas went up Carr along Fox Island side. Milling south of the sand spit. -Mollie Segall
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16:15 - Viewing from Chambers foot bridge. White fishing boat with them. See three fins. A lot of surface action off south point of Fox Island.
16:10 - Just spotted large male swimming south of Fox Island heading west into Carr. -Rich Kuras
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16:00 - At Fox Island pier. -Barb Pritchard Hulbert
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jennie Martin
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: South end of Fox Island close to shore
Direction of travel : Heading towards McNeil Island
Behaviors observed: A quick surface and then have not seen them for 9 minutes
If orcas, any males?: ?
Any unusual markings?: ?
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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15:48 - Heading southbound towards Fox Island pier mid channel [approx. 47.248562, -122.575463]. -Joy Powers
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Diane Arpin
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 3:47 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Fox Island fishing pier
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
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15:35 - Moving quickly in travel mode, mid channel but aiming towards Gig Harbor side out from Day Island. -Mollie Segall
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15:33 - Viewing from Titlow. More toward Gig Harbor side. Seeing 2-3. -Jennifer Bonagofsky Palermo
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15:30 - Orcas under Tahoma. -photo by Ryan Dicks, November 7, 2025
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15:27 - Under the Tacoma Narrows bridge now, 3-4 circling and spouting. -Shannon Brusco
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15:15 - At least 4 approaching close in front of Salmon Beach, Point Defiance traveling south. 1-2 more mid channel heading south. -Jas Minka
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15:01 - All have rounded Point Defiance and are heading towards the Narrows. -Robyn Socal
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14:55 - Looks like they’re heading towards the Narrows. All out of sight from Dune. -Aimee Bee
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14:45 - Past Dunes toward Owen. -Nikki Moss
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14:48 - Viewable from Owen Beach! -Nancy Pastewski
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14:47 - Viewing from Owen Beach!! For sure 3, maybe a 4th, island side traveling west -Elissa Martin Story
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14:46 - Now just west of the moving ferry.
14:45 - Seeing one mid channel traveling west past the Point Defiance/Tahlequah ferry lanes.
14:40 - Saw at least 2 and 1 just a bit further behind approaching Tahlequah ferry heading west, mid channel to island side. -Jas Minka
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14:33 - Viewable from Dune, south tip of Maury. -Aimee Bee
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14:06 - Way out mid channel seem to be trending southwest toward the yellow buoy near Commencement.
13:50 - Viewing from east side of Vashon - heading quickly into Commencement Bay west of mid channel Clipper behind them. -Andrea Facer
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13:52 - SJC is leaving T36/Bs, T99B, and T137s currently very spread from Dash Point to Shore Acres. -Alli Montgomery
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13:20 - 5 just went past Des Moines heading south. -Vicki Jordan
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13:18 - Missed the closer pass by minutes, but did see T99B/Holly, and the T36Bs, split in loose groups, southbound on the island side. Thinking the 137s are here too, but can’t confirm as I didn’t get any pics of the first group as I was running. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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13:00 - Seeing from Des Moines just north mid southbound. -Tracey Carrillo
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Alisa Minar
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 12:33 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Between The Cove in Normandy Park and Vashon Island
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: traveling, spouting
If orcas, any males?: Too far out to tell but the dorsal fin of one looked pretty tall
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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11:56 - Hearing from friends on the north end of Vashon, some are mid channel passing Glen Acres, southbound quickly. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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11:33 - They’re traveling quick! Caught a few glimpses just south of Fauntleroy dock. Seemed to be trending further west Windy, wavy and sunny! Beautiful. -Kendall Spiek
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10:36 - Saw 3 orcas southbound passing Alki Point ~10 minutes ago [video shows orcas close to Alki shore]. -Jennie Tang
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10:30 - Passing Alki Point [video in FB comments]. -Jennie Tang
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10:00 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:12 to report: 10:00 WENATCHEE Vessel reports up to 4 unspecified marine mammals in various directions in east bound traffic lanes.
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Cecilia Black
Date of Sighting: November 07, 2025
Time: 9:37 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Magnolia bluff, seattle
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Saw the fun 3 times then it went underwater. Relatively close to shore
Photos available?: No
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri, Nov 7 - Haro Strait - There were 2 humpbacks out in Haro Strait, headed north you saw on the Lime Kiln camera. -Fred Horn
*
14:22 - On the Lime Kiln cam: Seeing blows on there now. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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Fri, Nov 7 - San Juans
14:11 - Maija Holston, WSF Marine Ops emailed to report: Salish Master reports one grey [humpback] Whale near the entrance to Friday Harbor.
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MINKE WHALES -
Fri, Nov 7 - Admiralty Inlet
09:25 - he was moving fast north. Didnt see again.
09:16 - Minke northbound Whidbey side viewed from Fort Casey lighthouse. -photo by Rachel Haight, Orca Network, November 7, 2025
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Fri, Nov 7 - Henderson Bay
13:14 - Fairly tall blows. Especially the first blow. The 2nd a little shorter, and a few minutes later a third. He's been pretty much keeping that pattern. And seems to be making laps around the bay.
12:51 - I reported seeing blows in Henderson bay/purdy spit on Wednesday . I saw them still yesterday and again today. I think it's a humpback... saw his back after a couple blows but not close enough to be sure, and I've been unable to get pics. [was not photo confirmed and no other reports -RH] -Josine Lowry
November 6
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, Nov 6 - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
12:49 - One just passed Camano Island State Park boat launch. Northbound fast.
12:28 - Approaching Camano Island State Park. -Berna Avunca
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12:34 - They have spread a bit. Some still sticking close to Whidbey. They are rounding East Point, still northbound. Weather is deteriorating. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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11:55 - Passing northbound by Seawall Park, mid channel. -Lucy Miller
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11:30 - Between Sandy Point and Langley Marina northbound Whidbey side. -Marilyn Armbruster
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11:35 - They have passed Sandy Point, Whidbey side. Still northbound. T36Bs are also here.
11:11 - At least 137s are here. I have 137D. They are very stealthy moving north between Whidbey and Hat. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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10:35 - Orca sighting from Clinton/Muk ferry lanes, no idea which ones. Link to FB reel. -Dori Cart
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08:43 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:53 to relay report [orcas approx. here 47.864073, -122.435751 (center of Possession Triangle)].
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08:15 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 08:53 to report: 08:15hrs: PUYALLUP [ferry] reports they have come to all-stop to facilitate safe passage of a pod of 5 orcas transiting southbound just outside of Apple Tree Cove.
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Thu, Nov 6 - Hood Canal
17:00 - They have been staying around the fishing trawler in the Port in Hoodsport. All day. [would be unusual for orcas to stay in
one spot all day with no other reports, so leaving open possibility of other species -RH].
13:43 - There are orcas in Hoodsport on the Hood Canal hanging around the fishing vessels at the Port, looks as though we've seen 3 or 4 so far. -R.B. Milam
November 5
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, Nov 5 - Holmes Harbor
16:15 - Three to four orcas about one mile south of Greenbank Beach, one-half mile off the Greenbank shoreline, heading north towards Greenbank Beach. -/ Martha Poppy Sinclair
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Wed, Nov 5 - Sinclair Inlet
10:30 - Single orca reported in Sinclair Inlet, 200 feet off Bremerton Marina dock -Chelsey Buffington, WDFW
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Wed, Nov 5 - South Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s)
13:00 - Right at the beach, lots of splashing, look to be heading into Case Inlet. [Viewed from Dougall Point.]
12:57 - At least 3 orcas at the north end of Harstene Island. -Cammy Malm LaRiviere
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12:20 - Swiftsure departing 12 individuals heading south at this location along shore. For sure T137 T99 and friends [approx. 47.319459, -122.818453 (E shore of Stretch Island, Case Inlet)]. -Tony Tilt, PSE
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11:45 - Spotted from Allyn pier heading south. Swiftsure following. North end of Stretch Island. Saw two fins and a tail slap. Distance and weather making it hard to spot. -Megan Grahl
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11:28 - And a quick update, killer whales, numbers unknown, north end of Case Inlet, breaching, possible hunt -Grayden Kelbert
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09:19 - A neighbor on the Dana Passage side of Johnson Point sent a message they had orcas (3-5) in front of their place and head to the point. Reported at 08:50. They did a dive and neighbors have lost sight of them. I am watching from the east side and not seeing them. Our winter seal lions, who reside close to the point are still noisy. This is a spot where they often choose to go north or into Pickering Passage. -Joan Ahre
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Wed, Nov 5 - South Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T99B Holly & T137D Wright - This was my trip to whale watching. I love being out on the water and seeing these beautiful mammals. Everything else is a bonus. Link to more photos. -photo by Tammy Mitchell, November 5, 2025
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MINKE WHALES -
Wed, Nov 5 - Hood Canal
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Randy Jones
Date of Sighting: November 05, 2025
Time: 11:45 AM
Species seen: minke
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Seabeck just past stavis bay
Direction of travel : south
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Wed, Nov 5 - Henderson Bay
12:28 - He is still hanging around Henderson bay! Still seeing blows. The fog is rolling In, will keep updating as long as I can!
11:25 - Single unknown species in Henderson Bay. I've seen several blows, Can't get a good view to identify. Viewing from Purdy Spit, but it seems it [is] starting to head south. [approx. 47.361783, -122.661803 -Josine Lowey
November 4
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, Nov 4 - Rosario Strait - On the ferry back to Anacortes and just saw an orca between Decatur and Blakely Islands. -Andy Putvin [WSSJI]
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Tue, Nov 4 - Port Susan/Possession Sound (T46s minus T46D)
13:50 - Flipped back northwest north of the Mukilteo ferry terminal.
13:00 - Off Everett Naval station southbound.
11:46 - Taking the east side of Hat.
11:38 - Spread over a mile exiting Port Susan heading south towards Hat Island, unclear which side of the island they’ll take (right now looks like could be either or both).
10:45 - The OBI/CWR team have the T46s southbound here [approx. 48.100707, -122.377976]. Just the 3 of them so far, no 46D. -Orca Behavior Institute
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09:30 - Southbound.
09:17 - SB [southbound] near Warm Beach. Direction change, so uncommitted. Mid to mainland side. -Thomas [PSWW chat]
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07:43 - At least 3, NB [northbound] 1 mile out from Sunny Shores. -Patrick [PSWW chat]
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07:18 - Orca NB [northbound] Tulalip Shores closer to Camano. Looks to be a male. More than one. -Jake [PSWW chat]
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Tue, Nov 4 - Puget Sound (T36/T36Bs, T99B, T137s) - T99B Holly, T36B Tattertip surfacing, T36B1 Bhotia, T137A Jack, T36 Flapjack - T137D Wright, T99B Holly, T36B4 Auk, T36B Tattertip -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - What a lovely day following the T137’s, T36/36B’s and T99B! Link to more photos. -photos by Jennifer Swenson, November 4, 2025
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-photo courtesy of Robert Kyle, November 4, 2025
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T137 Loon - T137 sneaking through Carr Inlet and approaching Purdy earlier this afternoon. -photos by Mollie Segall, November 4, 2025
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16:37 - They are all still grouped up and very slowly south/southwest towards Pitts Passage and the north tip of McNeil Island. They are definitely moving closer to the McNeil side.
16:20 - Passing Horsehead Bay southbound still. All seem to be together again -April Basham
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16:06 - Still heading south [approx. 47.287859, -122.704471].
15:50 - South of Kopachuck 4-5 heading south. -Duffy Lord
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15:53 - South[bound]. Mid channel.
15:32 - Viewing from Kopachuk. -Claudia Marsh
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15:31 - Between Kopachuck and Key Center, approx. mid channel? Trending south slowly, at least 4-5, at least one male and I believe one young one.
15:18 - Watching from Kopachuck, southbound behind Cutt's Island. At least one male, at least 2 individuals. -Soarin Lykins
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15:00 - Observed 4 total from Purdy Spit, one is a large male. Last views of distant spouts maybe heading towards Minter. -T.L. Stokes
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14:30 - At least 3 orcas [T137s, T36/36Bs, T99B] in Henderson Bay - saw them leaving the bay. Link to FB video. -Heather Benjamin
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14:49 - After some brief surface activity on the Key Peninsula side of the channel in Purdy, seeing lots of blows heading further south into Carr.
14:17 - 3 orcas hunting south of the Purdy Bridge.
14:09 - Single orca passing Purdy sand spit close to shore, 3-4 others across on Gig Harbor side. All northbound. -Mollie Segall
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14:08 - Saw one from Purdy. -Nori Kimura
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13:50 - Heading north past Cutt Island, west side of channel. -Mackenzie Annette
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13:40 - The group of 4 came in close to a floating dock of seals just north of Kopachuk but then they disappeared again. Im assuming heading north but they are being stealthy with long down times
13:32 - Group of 4+ just popped up on Gig Harbor side of Cutts Island.
13:20 - First group of 3 is almost to Cutts Island. Have not seen anyone else yet. -Jolena Tagg
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13:10 - There are at least 3 I’m seeing but still far out.
13:08 - One male sighted coming into Carr Inlet [approx. 47.292797, -122.728813]. -Mackenzie Annette
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13:06 - Approaching Kopachuck (view point) northbound in Carr some surface activity. -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:05 - Viewing from Purdy Spit. Seeing blows as they head into Henderson Bay. -Torry Chamberlayne
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13:05 - 4-5 spread out heading north in Carr in line between Kopachuck and Home, towards the Key Peninsula side. -Michael Rodenbaugh
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13:03 - All are past HorseHead Bay northbound. Split into 3 separate groups. Spread across both sides of the channel. -Candace Gavin
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T137B Tempest
12:30 - They just passed by my house on Fox Island (Island Blvd about a half-mile from the spit). Traveling up Carr Inlet. -photo by Jake Khuon, November 4, 2025
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12:18 - Group of 4 just popped up in Fox Island side of mid, with a little in tow.
12:12 - Both groups are now travelling north in Carr Inlet. Split on 2 groups. 3 on Fox Island side of channel and rest along McNeil Island side. From Fox Island side. -Jolena Tagg
*
12:09 - Sneak group surfaced just inside Carr Inlet closer to Fox Island side heading deeper into Carr. And seeing blows close to Gertrude Island off McNeil as well traveling north into Carr.
12:04 - Second group heading southbound towards Ketron where we’re seeing the other group. Beautiful clarity out there. Update one has come into Carr! -Andrea Facer
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12:08 - These were the individuals that were traveling with the first group that was with T137A [photos of members of T36/T36Bs & T99B]. -Ashley Whitman
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12:04 - Travelling south now.
12:02 - travelling north up Carr Inlet, Fox Island side of mid channel. -Jolena Tagg
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11:57 - Continuing around northwest Fox Island tip into Carr. -Briana Marin
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11:54 - Continuing south passed Fox Island viewing from Grandview Drive. -Cherie StOurs
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11:50 - Trending southwest towards Carr Inlet. -Andrea Facer
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11:47 - Just made it past the Fox Island pier, almost to the tip. -Janelle Avice McDonald
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11:46 - Deep dove and are still southbound passed the Fox Island pier now [video in FB comments].
11:39 - Group approaching Fox Island pier southbound very close to Fox Island side! -Andrea Facer
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11:39 - 3 females still on Fox Island side meandering and slightly heading south, saw Jack already pass Fox Island pier girls have not. Viewing from Titlow beach landing. -Cherie StOurs
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11:37 - I see them from Chambers Bay. -Marco Zeno
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11:37 - Looked like maybe they are heading towards the Fox Island pier. Fox Island side. -Krissy Hopkins
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11:32 - View from Chambers Bay. Fox Island in the background. [video in FB comments]. -Marco Zeno
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Denise Ivie
Date of Sighting: November 04, 2025
Time: 11:32 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Circling around Point Fosdick in Hales Passage
Direction of travel : Slow
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?: Unknown
Any unusual markings?: Unknown
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
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11:31 - Headed to Fox Island Pier. Watching from Day Island. -Janelle Avice McDonald
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11:19 - Passed Day Island 5 minutes ago. -Nori Kimura
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11:15 - From Titlow [video in FB comments]. -Chelsea Nicole Lederhouse
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11:13 - Both groups have passed southbound under Narrows Bridge -Andrea Facer
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11:05 - First group just passed Narrows, mid channel, heading south. Second group approaching bridge now. -Michalyn Marzocco
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10:58 - Seeing them from Hidden Beach Titlow. -Tiffany Johnson
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10:56 - Seeing blows approach Narrows Bridge as they travel southbound. Viewing from Narrows Park. -Hannah Marie Munro
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10:48 - From the Gig Harbor ferry dock. Moving quickly towards Narrows Bridge. Have seen up to 7. Closer to Tacoma side. -Torry Chamberlayne
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T137A Jack & T36 Flapjack - T99B Holly
10:48 - The little one is porpoising, porpoised right by the boat marker before pushing out towards the Gig side to join the rest of the trailing group.
10:47 - Southbound in Narrows traveling in two groups, T137s more Tacoma side to mid-channel, T99s if T99B Holly is traveling with her pod more towards the Gig Harbor side and a little behind T137s. -back of camera photos by Ashley S Whitman, November 4, 2025
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10:41 - Still viewing from old Gig Harbor ferry dock. They have proceeded south into the Narrows grouped up. Seeing 6-7 of them. -Torry Chamberlayne
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10:29 - Barely caught the dorsal fin (near trees) sorry for shaky video [video in FB comments - from Owen Beach]. -Sela Lincoln
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10;20 - They are close to the ferry dock on Vashon [approx. 47.327138, -122.518594]. -Torry Chamberlayne
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10:34 - 4, passed the point at Point Defiance heading southwest in Narrows slowly. It was beautiful. T137A was leading, then slowly logged in the water facing north while waiting for the rest of the *leading group* (updated for records). When they met up, they continued slow southbound travel.
10:14 - At least three or four orcas moving with a westbound with a purpose. Could be the heat distortion but they look like they're porpoising. Headed into Dalco. Viewing from Point Defiance Park. -Ashley S Whitman
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10:12 - Viewing from old Gig Harbor ferry dock. Seeing blows at the south tip of Vashon. They seem to be rounding the corner to head up Colvos but may be too soon to tell. -Torry Chamberlayne
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10:05 - From Gig Harbor old ferry landing. Breaching and milling near Dash Point State Park. -Diana Frick
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19:49 - Just passing Quartermaster close to island side. Long down times. -Mandy Michelle
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09:50 - Traveling west to the tip of Murray’s [Maury] Island.
09:47 - Long down time now.
09:43 - Very surface active appears to be traveling south closer to Vashon.
09:42 - Spotted from the Dunes In Tacoma mid channel by sailboat. -Tiffany Johnson
*
09:25 - Appear to be mid Gold Beach from Browns Point. Headed south. At least four. -Blake Kremer
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09:30 - There is a large male and I think at least 3-4 females and at least one baby.
09:13 - More whales than I originally saw. Appears to be a very small baby in the group as well.
09:09 - Correction still east of the pier. Surface active at the moment.
09:05 - Viewing from Dash Point pier straight out closer to Vashon/mid. -Mandy Michelle
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Charles Sarver
Date of Sighting: November 04, 2025
Time: 09:00 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Near Point Defiance and Gig Harbor
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Traveling south didn't hang around long surfaced a few times. It was around 9am this morning
If orcas, any males?: Couldn't tell
Any unusual markings?: Dint see any. I was a distance away
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I also saw them last Tuesday as well as they went around Vashon Island
Photos available?: No
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08:45 - From Browns Point lighthouse I can barely see them spouting, moving to the west apparently towards Point Robinson. -Blake Kremer
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08:44 - Just went past south end of Redondo board walk, deep dives.
08:32 - Straight out from Redondo boardwalk closer to Saltwater Park. -Lesley Freilinger
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Maya Lorey
Date of Sighting: November 04, 2025
Time: 8:36 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: South of Des Moines marina right by Saltwater State Park (saw from Woodmont Beach)
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
08:10 - I last saw them around here traveling south, 2-3 whales [approx. 47.362023, -122.337231].
07:55 - Just spotted two killer whales traveling south east from Des Moines marina. -Mandy Michelle
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, Nov 4 - Haro Strait
12:08 - At least one is still milling in front of Lime Kiln.
11:17 - Humpback surfaced just south of Lime Kiln. Actually two humpbacks! -Fred Horn [WSSJI]
*
MINKE WHALES -
Tue, Nov 4 - Haro Strait
08:07 - baleen [minke] whale spotted on Lime Kiln live cam. -Alyssa Kelley [WSSJI]
*
UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Tue, Nov 4 - Dalco Passage
I heard a few blows at Owen Beach before the orcas entered Dalco. First thought was that there was a baleen whale logging in the waterway somewhere. -Ashley S Whitman
November 3
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Mon, Nov 3 - Admiralty Inlet (J Pod, K Pod, Greater L4s) - As the Southern Residents passed by Lagoon Point. -photos by Bonnie Gretz, November 3, 2025
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16:16 - I’m sitting at West Beach County Park and with good binoculars I can see them breaching and splashing! Very close to the peninsula.
16:05 - Looks like they’re due west, close to the peninsula side. -Nadya Zawaideh
*
15:37 - Exiting the sound - viewing from Libbey Beach. -Deb Barge
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14:49 - They are heading north right now.
14:40 - Watching from Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey. Lots of surface activity, mid channel. -Patti Voeller
*
14:36 - More clear calls, including S16s, and whistles after ferry has docked at Coupeville. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
14:35 - Approaching the hydrophone dock and Point Wilson lighthouse! -Deb Barge
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14:33 - Very loud calls on the hydrophone. -Kathleen Cage
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14:33 - That must be who I am seeing now - well behind the others. Big male slowly northbound mid channel-ish.
14:20 - Still slowly northbound, mid channel/shipping lanes. Might be headed more west bound but starting to leave out of my viewing area [approx. 48.129601, -122.724893]. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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14:18 - All SRKWs north of ferry. The Salish went WAY south of route to avoid them. Good job Captain! Classic Blackberry (J27) in the rear. -Sarah Geist
*
14:18 - Hearing faint S01s, S16s, whistles.
14:13 - Suddenly the ferry noise drops as their speed decreases from 13 to 6 knots! (Maybe they should go slow(er) for the *whole* crossing when SRKWS are within a few km!?)
13:53 - Just heard a few S10 (aka "excitement") calls! -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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14:09 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 14:36 to report: 14:09 SALISH Vessel reports slowing for 15-20 whales. Orca are in the general PT>COUP route area near the Midchannel Bank.
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13:53 - So many! Pretty spread out; tail lobs; spy hops; sailboat passing on their left (west) of them [approx. 48.138826, -122.711623]. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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13:50 - Lots of calls on Port Townsend hydrophone still. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:49 - At least 11 far off in the distance from Point Wilson Lighthouse. Few breaches, can only see with binoculars [approx. 48.160960, -122.728210]. -Bridget Brown
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13:48 - Multiple actually- at least 6 grouped together - slowly northbound.
13:46 - Two orcas- mid shipping lanes; north bound. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
*
13:43 - Lots of call types and whistling audible on the Port Townsend hydrophone. -Scott Veirs
*
13:41 - So much vocalization right now on Port Townsend hydrophone! -Lynn Asbeck
*
13:29 - Getting louder again, with lots of noise from the ferry too.
13:24 - Calls have gotten quieter but still audible on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:21 - I don’t know if it’s one of this group but lone orca headed quickly south in Admiralty in shipping lanes. About here [approx. 48.136981, -122.702776]. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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13:17 - Spread out just south Fort Worden and Fort Casey to north of Bush Point. -Tracey Carrillo
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13:10 - Calls and clicks heard on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:05 - Hopped the ferry to Coupeville. Still trending north but slowly. Very spread out. -Joe Griffin-Harte
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13:04 - Currently really loud on Port Townsend hydrophone! -Jennifer Taylor
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13:04 - Lots of calls on Port Townsend hydrophone! -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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13:04 - I’m seeing lots of surface activity south and east of the lighthouse. Look toward Fort Casey (on Whidbey) but west of mid channel. East of the sailboat. -Amy Smith Norris
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13:00 - Increasingly louder and more calls and even clicks heard on Port Townsend hydrophone. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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12:54 - They’re louder on Port Townsend now. -Cheryl Harmon
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12:47 - Hearing calls on Bush Point hydrophone! -Hannah Marie Munro
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13:02 - Wow it’s incredible on Port Townsend!
12:47 - Super active right now on Bush Point!
12:45 - Hearing them too!! ! [on Bush Point]. -Emily Horton
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12:43 - Came on here to say I’m hearing some faint calls on Port Townsend again. -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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12:49 - Hearing them on Port Townsend, too! They must be all spread out across the triangle.
12:40 - Hearing them on the Bush Point hydrophone. -Cheryl Harmon
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12:18 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:33 to report: 12:18 KENNEWICK Vessel reports pod activity. A group of 6-7 orca 1/4 mile East of Marrowstone Point traveling in an East to West direction.
*
12:17 - Large group appears to be foraging with lots of directional changes. Just south of Port Townsend ferry lanes. Closer to Marrowstone. Another group north of ferry lanes with lots of surface activity. No clear direction. -Amy Smith Norris
*
11:55 - Faint calls and/or whistles heard on Port Townsend hydrophone, but mostly masked by noise from outbound containership. Interestingly, it's usually the Washington State Ferries that radiates the most underwater noise in Admiralty, but on this crossing with the WSF Salish nearing its closest point of approach (CPA) to the hydrophone at Fort Worden, I mostly heard the containership. This tells me that even when slowed way down (to 12.4 knots from a typical cruising speed of ~20kt) per Quiet Sound's guidance, the containership bound for China (MSI 351819000) remains the most intense source of noise pollution for the SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales
12:11 - With clear SRKW calls before and after all this noise from global and local sources, it's a good assumption that members of all three pods experienced what Orcasound - Listen for Whales listeners just heard (and rightfully complained about!). Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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12:09 - Still seeing blows and breaches mid channel halfway between Marrowstone Point and Keystone. -Joe Griffin-Harte
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12:08 - Hearing them on the Port Townsend hydrophone -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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12:01 - Seeing blows and breaches from the Point Wilson lighthouse closer to Whidbey side, but still trending north Port Townsend ferry just passed them. -Joe Griffin-Harte
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11:56 - Listening to the Port Townsend hydrophone while I drive out that way and still hear them. -Bridget Brown
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11:54 - On the ferry. See a bunch of splashing south of the ferry still. -Steve Czerniak
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11:55 - Now group further north has flipped south.
11:49 - Just that group flipping north and south, but now slowly trending north. Dingy now with them.
11:43 - Group of at least 5 still milling off Fort Flagler. -Amy Smith Norris
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11:45 - Southern residents spread here-ish [approx. 48.103761, -122.653566 (2 mi. E of Ft. Flagler)]. Multidirectional. -Sarah Geist
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11:40 - I believe I'm still hearing SRKW calls, but also there are river otters in the mix intermittently Port Townsend. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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11:30 - There are still at least 5 just south of Flagler!
11:24 - Still at least 5 south of Flagler.
11:13 - Passengers on ferry to Coupeville should have a great view now! -Amy Smith Norris
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11:28 - Hearing calls on the Port Townsend hydrophone. -Orca Network
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11:17 - Can confirm Js Ks and Greater L4s all here. -Orca Behavior Institute
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11:15 - Viewing from Admiralty Lighthouse with binos. Seeing dorsals & mini breaches mid channel south of ferry lane. Monster cargo ship appears to be heading in their direction -Susan Moore
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11:00 - You can hear them faintly on the Port Townsend hydrophone now. -Amanda Hulstein
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11:01 - Those heading to Flagler, you still have time. Leaders should be visible from Fort Worden now.
10:52 - Now spread between Port Townsend ferry lanes and just south of Flagler. Slowly northbound. West of mid. Too many to count around research dingy.
10:50 - Trailers still south of Flagler.
10:32 - Approaching Fort Flagler. Northbound. This group west of mid now.
10:10 - Viewing from a mile north of Lagoon Point. Still steadily northbound with lots of surface activity. East of mid. -Amy Smith Norris
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10:01 - Trailers past Lagoon Point… got to see some breaching, tail slapping, spyhopping and foraging… a few mid channel! -Bonnie Gretz
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09:50 - Foraging out from Lagoon. Lots of direction changes.
09:33 - Leaders are past south Lagoon Point. Mid to other. Some trailers are Whidbey side of mid. Surface activity with some foraging. Steady northbound still. -Sarah Geist
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09:25 - Still hearing them on Bush Point -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Christopher Thornton
Date of Sighting: November 03, 2025
Time: 9:09 AM
Species seen: orca
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Bush Point, Freeland WA midchannel
Direction of travel : trending N
Behaviors observed: Milling around, surface active with some breaching. Based on numbers, presume them to be resident pod.
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Christopher Thornton
Date of Sighting: November 03, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Species seen: Large pod of orcas spread out in Admiralty Strait, midchannel off Bush Point. Ba
Number of animals seen:
Where seen: Midchannel off Bush Point in Admiralty Strait
Direction of travel : trending N
Behaviors observed: Milling around, surface active with some breaching. Based on numbers, presume them to be resident pod.
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
08:59 - A few louder calls now on Bush Point. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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They are passing the yellow channel marker on both sides at Bush Point.
08:53 - Lots of breaching. Mid channel. Bush Point.
08:48 - Approaching Bush Point, some surface activity northbound. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
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08:53 - Pretty sure heard faint calls on Bush Point, possibly K pod call. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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08:51 - Hearing calls Bush Point. -Jen Prewitt
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08:45 - Viewing from mid Marrowstone looking south. Tons of breaches. Spread out. -Susan John
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08:43 - Heard two more calls. -Bridget Brown
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08:44 - More calls on Bush Point hydrophone.
08:33 - Calls on Bush Point. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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08:33 - Just heard them on Bush Point hydro. -Emily Horton
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08:33 - Hearing them now on Bush Point, Js. -Shari Tarantino, Orca Conservancy
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08:30 - Trailers moving steadily north, 1-2 miles south of Bush Point, Whidbey side, spread out, no surface activity, just committed travel mode. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
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08:18 - Viewing from Bush Point. Leaders? are at the south tip of Bush Point, large spread north/south and east/west northbound.
08:01 - Viewing from Shore Meadow. Multiple whales, surface active mid channel past Foulweather northbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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08:01 - I see a couple more now, steady northbound.
07:55 - Two fins now continue northbound. Breaching. Whidbey side of mid.
07:43 - Now a fin, northbound near Double Bluff.
07:34 - I just saw a breach out from Useless Bay, behind a huge vessel, not sure what orca, but definitely an orca. -Susan John
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14:00 - 04:50 - Orcas on Sunset hydros. -Tracey Carrillo
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04:15 - Calls on Sunset -Amanda Austin
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, Nov 3 - Haro Strait
08:30 - Humpback at Bellevue Point headed towards Lime Kiln, close in. -Paul MacMahon [WSSJI]
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MINKE WHALES -
Mon, Nov 3 - Admiralty Inlet
12:48 - Baleen whale headed north in Admiralty- appears to be just east of ferry lanes. (12:55)- I’ve seen it twice - first headed south in Admiralty but wasn’t sure what I saw. Confirmed whale headed south and east of ferry lanes on second sighting in same location above. Minke? No spout. Small dorsal. [approx. 48.144707, -122.652299] -Jennifer Fulton Carpenter
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11:45 - I watched a minke around here, north of the ferry lane heading north but closer to shore near Fort Casey. It was right around the time the large cargo ship was passing through. I saw it surface 6+ times before I lost track of it because I was distracted by SRKWs. Very possible it flipped south after the container ship and ended up here. -Sarah Plane
November 2
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Sun, Nov 2 - Puget Sound (J Pod, K Pod, Greater L4s) - L110 Midnight - Point Robinson was epic! -photo by Craig Craker, November 2, 2025
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My first Point Robinson pass. Link to more photos. Link to more photos - part two. -photos by Kelly Dawson, November 2, 2025
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L105 Fluke - The only way I could describe today is “pure adrenaline with JKL pods”. Link to more photos. Link to FB video. -photos by Kat Martin, November 2, 2025
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Southern Resident Spyhops! Link to more photos. -photos by Molls Segall, November 2, 2025
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K16 Opus -ID by Ariel Yseth, Whale Scout - L110 Midnight - With J, K, & L Pods. Link to more photos. -photos by Jami Cantrell, November 2, 2025
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L72 Racer - Could not have asked for a better experience for my first ever SRKW pass at Point Robinson! Link to more photos. -photos by Amy Fowler, November 2, 2025
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L110 Midnight - J, K, L Pods. Link to more photos. -photos by Jolena Tagg, November 2, 2025
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K16 Opus - All of J Pod, K Pod, and some of L Pod (not L12s/L54s) from Vashon Island today. Link to more photos. -photos by Hongming Zheng, November 2, 2025
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From Point Robinson. Link to more photos. Link to FB video. -photos by Sarah Geist, November 2, 2025
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K16 Opus - L125 Element, L116 Finn, L86 Surprise, L106 Pooka -IDs by Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute & Rachel Haight, Orca Network - It was J, K, and part of L pod. 59 Southern Resident orcas making their way down south in Puget Sound. Link to more photos. -photos by Amber Stanfill, November 2, 2025
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From Owen Beach. -photos by Amber Irvine, November 2, 2025
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J, K, and L Pods as they moved through Dalco Passage and milled for multiple hours, all in view of Dune Peninsula. Link to more photos. Link to more photos with the ferry. -photos by Matthew Pfab, November 2, 2025
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Link to more photos & FB videos. -photos by Bee Lorenzen McVicker, November 2, 2025
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Most of all three pods were present resulting in a total of about 59 orcas traveling together. Link to more photos. -photos by Mike Maddox, November 2, 2025
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J47 Notch - Point Robinson. Link to more photos. Link to more photos - part two. -photos & ID by Cindi Crowder Rausch, November 2, 2025
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Point Robinson. Link to more photos. -photos by Danielle Lanxon, November 2, 2025
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J, K, & L pods in Puget Sound. Link to more photos. -photos by April Basham, November 2, 2025
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J38 Cookie -The fall colors were incredible. Link to more photos. -photos by Kyle Anderson, November 2, 2025
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Such an incredible day so many will never forget. Link to more photos & FB videos. -photos by Cherie StOurs, November 2, 2025
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From Point Defiance Park. Link to FB video & more photos. -photos by Sean Lacsamana, November 2, 2025
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From Dune Peninsula. -photo by Lisa Kollmansberger, November 2, 2025
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Near the Point Defiance/Tahlequah ferry. -photo by Mark Stewart, November 2, 2025
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Seeing the Southern Resident Orcas from the Point Defiance Dunes today felt surreal. Link to more photos. -photos by Two girls take on the world, November 2, 2025
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From the visit to Point Robinson. Link to FB video. -Caroline Martin Matter
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All three pods (J, K, & some of L) of the endangered Southern Resident Orcas. Link to Youtube video. -Mike Maddox
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What an exciting afternoon and evening! From Vashon. Link to FB video. -Joe Smith
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J, K, and L Pods passing Point Robinson. Link to FB video. -Annette Messitt
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From the Tahlequah ferry. Link to FB video. -April Basham
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This was from Ruston Point this evening! Link to FB video. -Bethany Wegner
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From Point Robinson. Link to FB video. -Kristen George
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Watched most of this amazing event from the bridge over the entrance to the ferry in Point Ruston... and then as the sun set down at Dune Peninsula. Link to FB videos. -Mark Goddard
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Link to FB video. -Lydia Stewart
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Ruston. Link to FB video. -Sam Ryan
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J, L, K, Pod. Link to FB video. -Rebecca Searcy
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Mount Rainier and orcas at the same time today at Dune Peninsula. Link to FB reel. -Sela Lincoln
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As they passed Point Robinson southbound. Link to FB videos. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Absolutely beautiful pass from Point Robinson! Link to FB videos. -Andrea Facer
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An update on IDs: J-Pod, K-Pod, and the Greater L4s present today = 59 whales. Not technically a superpod with the L12 and L54 sub-groups missing, but still an incredible day! -Orca Behavior Institute
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19:48 - Sometimes there's a silver lining in ferry delays or not making it on a ferry. Just listened to so many blows, breaches, tail lobs traveling east to west in Dalco. They started out close to the Tahlequah ferry dock and trended West, slowly getting fainter as they traveled and as planes moved through and the ferry arrived. Could still hear them at 19:40 as I walked back to my car to prepare to get on the ferry. [video in FB comments]. -Ashley S Whitman
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18:19 - I went & checked all of Ruston but couldn't hear anything because of traffic. Back at Dune, just outside the gates, & blows are still audible, though further out! Wouldn't it be cool to have a hydrophone down here so we know how long they stay? -Melissa Bird
*
18:05 - While the ferry back from Vashon to Tacoma was dark, we could still hear blows on the voyage across. -Jami Cantrell
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17:30 - Can't see them but surrounded by audible blows at Dune. -Melissa Bird
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17:27 - Ferry is still moving towards Vashon, but slowly. -Sandy Karwhite
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17:20 - Foraging back and forth in ferry lanes. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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Beautiful breach from the ferry earlier. What a day. [video in FB comments]. -Kat Martin
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17:18 - 2 crossing ferry lines now almost to Owen’s Beach but hugging Vashon side. Losing visibility. -Jen Prewitt
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17:17 - As light fades quickly, members have the ferry stopped for the third time, & everyone is still spread out from deep in east end of Commencement Bay to far west side of Dalco Passage, foraging behavior. -Melissa Bird
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17:01 - A few members off west end of Dune, this side of mid channel, Eastbound. Others on the Vashon side westbound. Multiple groups in Commencement Bay foraging all over. -Melissa Bird
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17:00 - There are a few still milling west of the ferry lanes in front of Colvos Passage. -Kelly Kauffman Wisniewski
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16:57 - ~6 orcas in Commencement Bay! To the right of the Point Ruston boat. -Tenaje Calloway
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16:53 - Correction. Still members off west end of Vashon near Colvos Passage & a few westbound in Ferry lanes.
16:49 - Lone bull eastbound off Ruston, others further out, I believe everyone is east of ferry lanes now. Actively foraging. -Melissa Bird
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16:42 - Group of 5-6 orcas in the ferry lane at Tacoma/Vashon as seen from Point Ruston. -Andrew Leisner
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16:38 - Ferry to Point Defiance stopped as surrounded by orca. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:35 - Orcas seen an hour ago very close to shore on Vashon Island. -Greg Hoeksema
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16:32 - They are playing around at Point Ruston. Had ferry at a stop again. Going all directions. Viewing from Ruston [video in FB comments]. -Da Is
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16:28 - Three members RIGHT off Dune with calf!
16:27 - J41 & J62 I think? Giving us and someone on a kayak, a good pass! Link to Youtube video. -Melissa Bird
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16:27 - Spread out foraging south of Tahlequah ferry terminal. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
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16:22 - Can view with binoculars on hill on Waterview Street. -Melissa Martin
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16:19 - Point Defiance Marina! -Lydia Stewart
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16:14 - Viewing from Owens Beach. All spread out south of Vashon and some closer to Commencement. -Torry Chamberlayne
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16:14 - [video in FB comments]. -Sela Lincoln
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Heather Gorton
Date of Sighting: November 02, 2025
Time: 4:15 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 15
Where seen: Dalco Passage 47.3217649°N, -122.5115158°W
Direction of travel : Unknown direction of travel
Behaviors observed: Milling, they stayed in the area for at least the three hours we were there
If orcas, any males?: Unknown
Any unusual markings?: Unknown
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
16:09 - Spread allllllll over Dalco Passage foraging. Some still eastbound for Commencement Bay almost off Point Ruston. -Melissa Bird
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16:07 - Looks like they're very spread out but heading towards Owen. Some are still back here in the ferrylanes . Viewing from Point Ruston. -Da Is
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Alyssa Craig
Date of Sighting: November 02, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 7
Where seen: Off Point Defiance Park between Vashon Island and Tacoma
Direction of travel : West and east
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Unsure
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It was my first. It was awesome. There were so many and they split up to cover a huge area.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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16:01 - BEAUTIFUL pass from the ferry as they forage in the ferry lanes. -Jami Cantrell
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16:00 - Orcas as Point Ruston right now. -Sela Lincoln
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15:57 - Viewing from above Point Ruston at least a half dozen spread out between Point Ruston and Quartermaster Harbor. -Ed Rickert
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15:57 - Still in ferry path too. -Cindy Swenson
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15:55 - Whale soup out in front of Dune. Some have split & are eastbound towards Commencement Bay, others are Westbound & past ferry terminal. Others foraging off Quartermaster Harbor entrance. -Melissa Bird
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15:55 - Westbound passing Tahlequah dock [video in FB comments]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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15:54 - Now swimming south towards Commencement. -Cindy Swenson
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15:49 - Tons of orcas on the south end of Vashon by the ferry they’ve been hunting and there’s at least 6 to 7, maybe two pods? -Madison Lutz
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15:48 - Very surface active, large group passing Point Ruston westbound, almost to ferry terminal in Dalco Passage. -Matthew Pfab
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15:47 - Streaming across Vashon shore westbound spread from ferry terminal to at least Quartermaster Harbor. -Melissa Bird
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15:47 - Tons of orcas on the south end of Vashon by the ferry. -Madison Lutz
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15:46 - Approaching ferry lanes. Large group going past Vashon observing from Point Ruston. -Da Is
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15:45 - West bound by the tip of Vashon, near the red and white boats. -Kolea Caverly
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15:45 - 1st few seconds of this video is incredible. Turn your phone to watch! From Dune Peninsula. Link to Youtube video. -Melissa Bird
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15:43 - Swimming west towards ferry line. -Cindy Swenson
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15:39 - From Dune leaders have crossed entrance to Quartermaster westbound. -Melissa Bird
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15:39 - Trailers still between Maury and Vashon. By yellow buoy. -Tracey Carrillo
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15:25 - Viewing from Browns Point, one of the groups passing by the mouth of Quartermaster still heading south. -Torry Chamberlayne
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15:20 - In front of Maury there are lots of boats by them. Viewing from Point Ruston. -Da Is
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15:13 - Saw a brief blow from Dune Peninsula near Piner Point on Maury. Orange research vessel is in the area. -Lisa Kollmansberger
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15:06 - Straight out from Point Robinson by a white sailboat. Approaching south tip of Maury. -Taryn Hensley
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15:04 - Viewing from Browns Point seeing them still south bound hugging Vashon side about here [approx. 47.366304, -122.420934]. -Torry Chamberlayne
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15:03 - Coming up on Piner Point Maury Island close to Vashon side all business steady pace southbound, very little surface activity. -Melissa Bird
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15:01 - Passing Gold Beach as seen from above the Ram on Ruston. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
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14:44 - A bunch of them are straight across from Dash Point pier on the Vashon side [approx. 47.378319, -122.398444]. -Amanda Aird Penland
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14:42 - Close to Maury as seen from above the Ram. And still north of Gold Beach. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
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14:40 - All groupings passing Maury Marine Park now. Southbound. Still Vashon side. -Annette Messitt
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We had a blast seeing the orca at Point Robinson - on the left side of the point. -Caroline Martin Matter
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14:15 - All passed Point Robinson southbound incredible incredible! Link to FB videos. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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14:15 - They are past Point Robinson now. Still headed southbound. -Annette Messitt
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14:15 - All three separated groups have passed Point Robinson and still heading south. VERY surface active, spy hops, tail slaps and breaches. Epic Point Robinson pass!! -Torry Chamberlayne
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14:04 - All are southbound at Point Robinson fast pace spread out mid-west and east of mid. -Tracey Carrillo
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14:03 - Finally seeing them at Saltwater in Des Moines! To the right of the yellow buoy. -Ashley Fry
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14:00 - Viewing from Des Moines pier. super spread out and really close to Vashon side. Moving steadily forward Point Robinson. -Torry Chamberlayne
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13:48 - A big group (5+) appear to be heading from KVI toward Point Robinson. Others still blowing and breaching near the tower. -Lucas Dambergs
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13:45 - One group getting splashy between Point Robinson and radio tower, seeing several more lazy surfacing to the right of them. -Amy FowIer
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13:45 - In the time took to construct that some are to the south of the red circle.
13:40 - From Des Moines w/some elevation: SRKWs are in slow mode. Those that are traveling are southbound look to be in resting. There some nice groups. Research boats appear spread from south of KVI and to the south well north of Point Robinson. Still looking hopeful but more patience needed from those waiting at Point Robinson. Map is rough general spread, of research anyhow, with whales towards south end of red circle and at least middle [approx [approx.47.406231, -122.397445]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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13:42 - They are all near Vashon. Some have moved a bit east towards us but none are in any hurry to make a move south. Some still milling. -Laura Carpenter
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13:41 -I see them, too, also spy hops and tail slaps. -Lucas Dambergs
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13:39 - Blows visible with naked eye looking northwest from Point Robinson. I’ve seen a few that seem to be facing toward us and getting closer, but no one is moving anywhere quickly. -Amy FowIer
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13:35 - Some are still southbound, some facing north. Hanging out around KVI area-ish. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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13:34 - Lots of blows could be hunting- close to Vashon KVI area . They’ve been in the same area for a while. -Andrea Facer
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13:33 - Viewing from Des Moines Pier. Near 2 research boats -Sean Lacsamana
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13:44 - [From] Des Moines split some southbound.
13:32 - Flipped northbound. -Tracey Carrillo
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13:36 - They are milling near the tower. Now seeing blows directly behind the research boats.
13:25 - Seeing many (10+) blows to the right of KVI tower as seen from Point Robinson. -Lucas Dambergs
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13:29 - They’re heading north. There are at least 6 months [males?].
13:20 - There’s a pod of orcas near Des Moines. -Hailey Woodbury
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13:23 - At least 15 spread out in front of Des Moines Pier. Starting to head south again.
13:19 - Some north and some south. Starting to split up again.
13:13 - Still visible at Des Moines Marina. Milling. No longer heading south. Lots of breaches and spy hopping. -Laura Carpenter
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12:59 - Lots of blows and fins to the right of the radio tower near the shore between Portage and Ellisport. -Amy FowIer
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12:52 - I would get yourself ready to go at Point Robinson. I suspect they’ll be here within a half hour. They’re still southbound. We see a ton of blows with two research boats. -Kat Martin
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12:48 - Seeing blows and fins from Point Robinson somewhere around here [approx. 47.421328, -122.427616]. -Amy FowIer
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12:34 - Leaders coming up on Point Robinson Lighthouse. Very spread out now. Longer dives. Southbound. [Viewed from] Des Moines Marina pier. -Laura Carpenter
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12:23 - Viewing from Three Tree Point. Closer to Vashon, near research boat/yellow buoy. -Sean Lacsamana
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12:23 - Viewing from the cove, still heading south. They are just north of KVI Beach with the research vessel near by. -Caldwell Rohrbach
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12:14 - Many, many SRKW spread out in singles and groups. Some very close in to island shores, now south of Dilworth, continuing southbound and surface active. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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12:13 - We are viewing from Point Robinson and can see a research vessel with some whales under the three towers. The whales are so close to Vashon, it seems, they could kiss it and take it to dinner. Still coming south, it seems. -Kat Martin
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12:09 - Viewing from Seahurst Park. Seeing a group north of KVI splashing around. Vashon side of channel. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:54 - Leaders in line with KVI towers as viewed from Three Tree Point. CORRECTION: Dilworth, not KVI. -Steve Rice
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11:52 - SRKW viewable from East Passage cam. -Leo Vert
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11:49 - Just coming into view at KVI. I can see surface activity north of Dilworth. A few are close to shore. -Megan Stuart Chapin
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11:39 - From high elevation:SRKWs still spread and still continue southbound travels north of Dilworth but heading that way. They are spread mid channel and either side of. Some more east of/mid have stalled, possibly foraging? Breaching and other surface active behaviors. Others continue southbound travels. Map is approximate area [47.487296, -122.424271]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
*
11:27 - Still visible from Lincoln Park. Very spread out but active breaches. Still southbound hugging Vashon shore -Laura Carpenter -photo by Ty Rogers, November 2, 2025
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11:23 - More whales or a second pod following closely behind.
11:21 - Research both and a pod of about six just south of Winghaven Park, south of the Vashon north end ferry dock. -Tammi Pickett
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11:20 - Ressies still wide spread. I believe all are south of Faunt/Vashon ferry lanes now, including at least two trailing males, that one east of mid and the other mid. Three research boats out here. CWR/OBI now up with leaders. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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11:16 - Seeing some spread out groups now past ferry lanes. Group of about 5-6 with at least 1 male off of Dolphin Point, southbound, a couple other groups more mid, southbound, in East Passage. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
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11:09 - 3 breaches by Vashon ferry dock view from Lincoln Park. -Mary Hartmann
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11:09 - Just saw them pass on the [Orca Conservancy] webcam! -Carina McGough
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11:07 - Some breaching mid channel south of Vashon ferry. Viewing from Lincoln Park.
11:02 - Another group approaching the Vashon Terminal. Southbound. West of mid. -Hannah Marie Munro
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11:00 - Seeing them on the East Passage live cam. -Andréa Tardif
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11:00 - Who believe are leaders are through/south of ferry lanes now with Sears researchers. Others spread wide back and across, again male on east side others mostly mid to west side. All steady southbound East Passage in mild chop. CWR/OBI research boat back and possibly another. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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10:54 - Can confirm they are southbound in East Passage. Vashon side.
10:46 - Seeing fins approach Vashon ferry terminal. Southbound. Watching from Lincoln Park.
10:36 - Viewing from Lincoln Park. pod remains super spread out. Southbound. West of mid (at least the group I am seeing). Research vessel nearby. -Hannah Marie Munro
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10:35 - I’m at south end Emma Schmitz Park and see orcas widely spread, in singles to small groups, from male on east side to most other mid and west side of channel. North of Fauntleroy/Vashon ferry lanes at least back to Tillicum Village. All steady southbound. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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10:26 - Super spread out. From Southworth, still seeing some up north left of Smith Cove and down through maybe Lincoln Park area? Still southbound [approx. 47.528840, -122.434449]. -Amy FowIer
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10:24 - Group north end of Blake Island research boat with them. Traveling south. Viewing from Lowman. -Mandy Michelle
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10:18 - Seeing on Orca Conservancy live cam. Very active male. -Tracey Carrillo
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10:16 - Viewing from Southworth ferry, seeing fins very spread out as far north as yellow buoy off Blake. Just saw one male surface a couple times facing north but everyone else has been heading south. -Amy FowIer
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10:13 - Visible from Mee Kwa Mooks off of Blake Island. -Ted Webber
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10:12 - On the Vashon ferry and can see the research vessel to the north of us. Unsure of direction at the time but the whales are definitely west of mid. -Kat Martin
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10:11 - Viewing this group from Lowman close to a red channel marker. -Mandy Michelle
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10:05 - Some whales approximately south end of Bainbridge. West of mid. Southbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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10:03 - Viewing from Emma Schmitz. Lots of whales spread out. West of channel. Red research boat with the leaders. -Aaron Berg
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09:57 - Leaders approaching Blake Island. Southbound. Same spot. -Hannah Marie Munro
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09:56 - Mike with two females (maybe Alki and Echo) just left of the yellow buoy as seen from Constellation Park. -Daniel Walsh
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09:45 - Leaders are passing south end of Bainbridge. Still viewing from Constellation. Southbound. Slightly west of mid. Hanging out with research vessel.
09:40 - Approximately around Blakely Harbor. Southbound. Research vessel is with them. Viewing from Constellation.
09:29 - Seeing leaders from Constellation Park. West of mid channel. Southbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
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09:24 - They’re probably a mile from first to last, the southernmost ones approaching Restoration and northernmost ones still off Tyee about a mile east. All heading south.
09:15 - Whole bunch of them on the Seattle/Bainbridge ferry crossing. Ferry is stopping. They are headed south approximately a mile east of Bainbridge approaching Restoration. -Zachary Heistand
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09:18 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: TACOMA is dead stop en route to BI. Surrounded by pod.
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09:21 - Still in ferry lane Bainbridge milling lots of them spread out near green marker.
09:08 - Right by mouth of Eagle Harbor headed southbound seeing from Alki. -Clare Glo
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09:07 - Just spotted two headed west toward Bainbridge just north of the Bainbridge Island ferry lane. -Bonnie Bakeman Harrison
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09:06 - Viewing from Alki. At least 2 males. Approx 4-5 total. -Aaron Berg
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09:05 - Viewing from Magnolia Park. Still just north of Bainbridge ferry lane. Seem to be still heading south mid channel. -Steve Czerniak
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09:04 - Saw a second hand report that some are as far south as Elliot Bay & went into the bay. Unconfirmed. -Melissa Bird
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09:10 - Research boat seems closer to this side (West) off Eagle Harbor Bainbridge Island now.
09:06 - Research boat with them off Magnolia. Some breaches mid channel.
08:52 - At Rockaway on Bainbridge Island seeing lots of blows and fins, some line of sight with West Point light and some mid channel, some off Magnolia. Appear southbound. -Michelle Goll
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08:52 - Seeing blows just north of Bainbridge ferry lane. View from 55th and Manning West Seattle. Outer Elliott Bay. -Mary Hartmann
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08:30 - I think they are rounding West Point still southbound but I’ve lost view.
08:14 - Continuing southbound, many whales spread out into multiple groups (looks like SRKW). Some breaching and surface activity. Perhaps heading slightly west towards Skiff Point.
07:49 - Several whales heading south in mid channel, just east of Shilshole. Evergreen container ship heading north in (what looked like from shore) directly in their path. -Jeff Carlson
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07:09 - Just north of Shilshole east of the lanes, southbound. -Ryan Johnson
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05:04 - Many calls on Sunset Bay! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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03:41 - Loud calls!
03:30 - Just turned on the hydrophone and calls are still going -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sun, Nov 2 - Haro Strait
11:45 - Two humpbacks passed Lime Kiln northbound. -Cindy Hansen [WSSJI]
November 1
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS (fish-eating ecotype) -
Sat, Nov 1 - Puget Sound (J Pod, K Pod, Greater L4s) - Js in the sunset from earlier this evening. By the time the whales were northbound, it appeared that Js were the leading group. Or at least members of J Pod. I could confirm IDs of J47, J40, J45, J63, and J26. -photo by Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy, November 1, 2025
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Good to see you again, Southern Resident Orcas. Taken from West Point Lighthouse. Link to FB video. -photos by Sean Lacsamana, November 1, 2025
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21:26 - Whales active on Beach camp hydrophone -Jaime Schmidt Cheeka
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21:23 - Lots of loud calls. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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20:59 - Calls and clicks from Sunset Bay. -Hannah Marie Munro
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20:45 - Calls continue loud and spectacular. -Kathleen Cage
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20:45 - Hearing a nice variety of calls after the ferry noise died down. Thanks to all the Orcasound - Listen for Whales listeners who have been tagging the live stream! Here is a highlight bout from 19:20-20:00: Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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20:21 - Hearing calls from all 3 pods tonight: Js, Ks, Ls. -Orca Behavior Institute
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20:10 - Louder calls and clicks now. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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20:09 - Hearing louder calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone.
20:04 - Hearing faint calls on the hydrophone. -Hannah Marie Munro
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19:38 - Hearing calls on Sunset Bay hydrophone -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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19:37 - Super chatty on Sunset Bay hydrophone!! -Amy FowIer
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19:30 - Orca Sound Beach Camp at Sunset Bay. Lots of calls. -Cherie StOurs
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19:20 - Active calls on the Sunset Bay Hydrophone! -Katharine Anne Morales
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18:02 - Just south of Kingston terminal, west side of channel, northbound. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
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17:57 - Viewing from Richmond Beach, trailing north just passed the buoy with a flashing light. -Leo Vert
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17:55 - Lead group was a bit surface active short time ago, now loosely grouped making their way north now out from Kingston. Trailing group just now north of mid channel yellow buoy Kayu Kayu/Prez Point. All northbound.
17:39 - Trailing group just about at Jefferson Head transect Richmond Beach. Middle channel steady northbound clustered together. Dozens of illuminated blows and lots of big guys. So lovely in golden setting sun. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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17:25 - Final trailing group is now out of view north of Sunset Hill. -Christina Devantier
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17:15 - Lead group (~30+) approaching Jefferson Head transect Richmond Beach east of mid channel steady northbound. 2nd group of at least equal number trailing 1/4-1/2 mile. Also steady northbound. Ton of whales out here. -Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network
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17:12 - Seeing a large group from Richmond Saltwater Beach, last surface the appeared to be angling east with a northern travel trend. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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16:55 - Viewing many blows from Richmond Beach park, close to Bainbridge. Northbound. -Denise Joines
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16:50 - I see several large tight groups. Lead group approx even with Faye Bainbridge and two other larger groups to the south maybe 1/4 mile? All steady northbound middle channel. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
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16:50 - Viewing from Sunset Hill, 30+ whales steady northbound east of mid channel. Looks like Ls might be in the mix too. -Orca Behavior Institute
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16:46 - Still northbound at a good clip, line of sight Golden Gardens to Port Madison.
16:41 - Directly out from Golden Gardens, midchannel, northbound. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
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16:42 - Just passing Fay Bainbridge still heading north. -Steve Czerniak
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16:34 - Seeing fins and blows straight out from Shilshole just south of Golden Gardens beach. Whales are close to Bainbridge side northbound. -Annika Hipple
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16:33 - Viewing from Fay Bainbridge Park. Just north of West Point still heading northbound mid channel. -Steve Czerniak
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16:20 - North of West Point now still northbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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16:01 - I’m over by Magnolia viewpoint and caught them for a second. -Lucy Larkin
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15:56 - Still viewing from Discovery Park. Northbound now. Closer to Bainbridge. -Sean Lacsamana
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15:54 - Turned back north.
15:49 - Viewing from Magnolia Park. About 10-12. Just a bit north of the park. Heading south. -Brad Dufour
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Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Hannah Liu
Date of Sighting: November 01, 2025
Time: 3:44 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: North of Elliot Bay around the traffic separation marker
Direction of travel : N and S
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: Yes at least 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
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15:26 - Viewing mid channel from West Point lighthouse. -Sean Lacsamana
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15:34 - Now I'd say slowly southbound.
15:23 - Viewing from Skiff Point on Bainbridge. There's a group milling slightly southeast of the yellow channel marker. No clear direction. -Rita Hlavacek
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15:07 - Southbound passing West Point Discovery Park -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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15:00 - Lots of orca southbound Discovery Point -Samiksha Gulrajani
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14:29 - I’m viewing from Sunset Hill, 10+ orcas south of Port Madison (slowly southbound) near the shipping lane. -Jessica Ann
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14:25 - Viewing from Sunset Hill making their way slowly sound bound. -Tyler Weck
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14:01 - Viewing from Sunset Hill. 15+ fins slowly trending southbound slightly east of mid channel. -Kas Alexis
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13:52 - Viewing from Sunset Hill. Honestly probably better at Sunset Hill so you’re up above them. -Kassidy Grandorff
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13:43 - Some milling, some slowly trending southbound.
13:33 - Viewing from Sunset Hill. Approx. 10 fins.east of mid. -Deb Cronheim
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11:42 - Pod mid Sound heading south. Viewed from Shilshole Marina. -Gail Joice
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09:33 - Clearing up a little and seeing fins, multi directional and tough to tell trend due to my viewpoint.
09:30 - Viewing from Daybreak Cultural Center - super foggy but seeing breaches directly north of me. So appears as if at least some are east of mid out from Sunset Hill. -Kas Alexis
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05:29 - Faint calls on Sunset Bay. -Linda Raines Tyner
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05:16 - Calls getting louder.
05:02 - Hearing faint calls again after a quiet period.
04:00 - Still hearing them, a bit louder now. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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03:23 - Still on Sunset Bay. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
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02:32 - Calls on Sunset Bay. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
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02:19 - On Sunset. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
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00:51 - Calls are louder, sounds like Js and Ks
00:44 - I think I hear Js in there too
00:33 - K calls are back!
00:29 - Calls have quieted, and there’s a lot of wave and wind noise, but echolocation clicks are still audible.
00:18 - Calls now audible on Sunset Bay! Sounds like Ks. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
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Great tagging, Tamara Kelley et al.! Here's a preliminary recording from the Sunset Bay hydrophone, maintained by Orca Conservancy and hosted by Beach Camp at Sunset Bay! Welcome back SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales! Link to audio recording. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
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HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, Nov 1 - Haro Strait
16:25 - Humpback east of 10 Mile Point, headed south. -Fred Horn [WSSJI]