Recent Whale Sightings

May 28
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, May 28 - Rosario Strait/Guemes Channel (T123s)
16:00 - They are in between James Island and Bird Rocks, there is a boat nearby with the orca flag up. -Jerry Ann Deddo
*
15:00 - When I left they had switched directions and were headed south past James Island and back towards Bird Rocks.
14:41 - I’m heading out so last update from me. Just based off the boats, looks like there was a change of direction and they are stalled behind James Island.
14:21 - Now possibly heading into Thatcher Pass.
14:16 - Looks like they’re heading behind James Island now. Lots of boats following.
13:58 - Spotted them! Looks like they’re trending northwest by Bird Rocks. -Lorena Perez
*
13:45 - Moving westerly toward Lopez. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
13:44 - T123s! -photo by Randi Logan Dahlgren, May 28, 2025
*
13:15 - Seen moving south still. Left at 13:30, they were still there with the boats. Long dives. -Caitlyn Blair
*
13:00 - T123s southbound approaching Washington Park [Anacortes]. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
12:00 - I saw a pod heading west out of the Guemes Channel. -Brian Craft
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, May 28 - San Juans (BCY0324 Big Mama & calf)
16:09 - Big Mama and her baby traveling north between the tip of Saturna and Patos, roughly here! [approx. 48.774062, -123.041140]. -Sarah Franzen Sadid [WSSJI]
*
GRAY WHALES -
Wed, May 28 - Admiralty Inlet (CRC356 Carson)
17:31 - Gray whale off mid Marrowstone Island heading north.  -WA app
*
14:19 - Gray 356 traveling quickly ~4.5kn at this location [approx. 48.008541, -122.660754] southeast of Marrowstone. Seeming to be heading out. -Tony Tilt, PSE
*
13:56 - SJC has noted a gray absolutely booking it northbound about 1.5 miles south of Kinney Point (S tip of Marrowstone Is.). If this is their exit for the year we wish them well!  -Alli Montgomery
*
Wed, May 28 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch & CRC2356 Stalwart)
12:51 - SJC leaving CRC2356 Stalwart and CRC53 Little Patch milling at the southeast side of Hat Island. -Alli Montgomery
*
12:30 - 2 gray whales southeast Hat Island. One is likely Little Patch.  -B.
*
UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALES -
Wed, May 28 - Possession Sound
10:11 - Ferry left, so I can see better. I’m 98% sure it’s grays. And there’s 2! 
10:00 - I’m seeing baleen blows here-ish [approx. 47.979171, -122.304217]. Looks to be slowly meandering east-ish. Looks like a gray, but
I’m not positive due to distance. -Sarah Geist
*
09:00 - Clinton ferry sailing humpback spotted off port side about 1000 yards out of dock. Lobtailed and went down. -Francis Vandal [PSWS]

May 27
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, May 27 - Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Tamara Guretzki
Date of Sighting: May 27, 2025
Time: 5:56 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Bonniebrook Beach (20 NW of Vancouver BC)
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
*
Tue, May 27 - San Juans (T86As, T100Bs, T101s, T123s split up)
18:46 - T100Bs and T101s left northwest of Smith, may or may not end up going into Admiralty. -April Ryan, Maya’s Legacy
*
15:30 - Seen off of Fourth of July Beach,. Hugging the far (east) side of the pass. -Marynne Strobel
*
T86A Eider - T123A Stanley
17:45 - Due south of Lopez Island.
15:23 - They're messing with us. Everybody is back together in a huge group. Southbound again.
13:59 - Southbound towards Cattle Pass now.
11:56 - At least 10 are here. Eastbound. Now southbound [approx. 48.653148, -123.143350]. -photos by A, May 27, 2025
*
Tue, May 27 - Puget Sound (T65A5) - T65A5 Indy
17:20 - Pretty sure Indy just popped up southeast bound by Bainbridge Island ferry with surface activity. He was in northern shipping lane and moving fast. -photos by Amy Douglas Ramos, May 27, 2025
*
17:11 - Viewing from Magnolia - a single surface active orca approaching Restoration Point on the west side of the channel. Breaching, tail slaps - southbound travel. South of the ferry lane. -Kas Alexis
*
16:45 - Just seen from the Bainbridge bound ferry from Seattle. -Megan Mills
*
12:12 - SJC leaving T65A5 Indy, currently traveling southbound between Eglon and Kingston at point of map [approx. 47.827762, -122.478250]! -Alli Montgomery
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Paul Rovner
Date of Sighting: May 27, 2025
Time: 10:10 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Just off Point No 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
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, May 27 - Hood Canal
10:52 - By Pleasant Harbor [video of humpback]. -Timi Harris-Leach [PSWS]
*
Tue, May 27 - Puget Sound
18:20 - They did continue north. Last saw them about 18:20 then had to leave. 
18:05 - Definitely two continuing northbound. Probably about out from Edmonds Marina. So beautiful.
17:50 - At least one, but think two, humpbacks making their way north middle channel sightline between Kayu Kayu, Ac Richmond Beach and Apple Tree Point, Kingston [approx. 47.793652, -122.444262]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
*
09:07 - Fluke dark side visible from Emma Schmitz Park south of Bainbridge ferry lane. -Mary Hartmann
*
09:00 - Viewing from Emma Schmitz, seeing two humpbacks south of Bainbridge ferry lanes but north of Alki Point. Some cartwheeling. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
*
07:50 - Two humpbacks heading southbound in northbound shipping lane, on a line between Eagle Harbor and the Space Needle. -Brent Cullimore
*
GRAY WHALES -
Tue, May 27 - Port Susan 
16:29 - Only one heading towards Stanwood area-ish. So northwest! Feeding.
16:17 - Here at Kayak Point now! -Tessa Thom
*
07:45 - Port Susan had at least two grays this morning. Last seen passing Tyee, southbound. -Susan John

May 26
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, May 26 - Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Brandi Zeilstra
Date of Sighting: May 26, 2025
Time: 4:15 PM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: Off Southwest point of Point Roberts
Direction of travel : South east
Behaviors observed: Traveling, milling breaching
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?: Not sure
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Very close whale watching boats.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
Mon, May 26 - San Juans
11:25 - Half mile south of Turn Point (Stuart island) northbound along shore.
10:30 - Quarter mile northwest of Battleship Island (which is the northwestern-most point of San Juan island), 4 orcas (one big male) proceeding east in Speiden Channel. Possibly turning to north. -Bob Stoney [WSSJI]
*
Mon, May 26 - Puget Sound (Probable T65A5)
14:00 - Saw this one from Norwegian Park by Point No Point in Kingston.  -photos by Sheila Masonholder, May 26, 2025
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, May 26 - Haro Strait
13:05 - Some sort of whale (humpback potentially [confirmed northbound]) seen from Lime Kiln State Park. Puget Sound Express. -Alec Sills-Trausch
*
Mon, May 26 - San Juans
17:28 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 17:55 to report: 1728 hrs: YAKIMA Captain reports via 800MHz broadcast, 2 humpback whales in Upright Channel off Canoe Island.
*
16:25 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 16:57 to report: 1625: SAMISH Captain reports via 800MHz broadcast, reports they have come to a stop for 2 humpback whales in front of them. MV ISSAQUAH Captain reports same.
*
GRAY WHALES -
Mon, May 26 - Port Susan
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Lauren McKaig
Date of Sighting: May 26, 2025
Time: 2:15 PM
Species seen: Whale (suspect grey)
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Kayak Point
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: Deep diving
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Mon, May 26 - Possession Sound
18:30 - Two or three at least maybe gray whales looking due east from Possession Point State park. Far side of the channel headed south towards Picnic Point. -Peter Crabb

May 25
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, May 25 - San Juans (T68 & T75Bs) - These were T68 with the T75Bs. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [SSCH]
*
17:45 - Orcas off Land Bank. -Fred [SSCH]
*
Sun, May 25 - Admiralty Inlet (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds) - Orcas at sunset tonight off of Ebey's Landing. Link to FB videos & photos. -photo by Mel Nasby, May 25, 2025
*
T100C Laurel - Following this lovely group of 6-7 orcas (including a little) to four locations starting at Coupeville ferry, then Fort Casey Lighthouse, Ebey's landing, ending at Libbey Beach. Link to more photos. -photos by Kim Parry, May 25, 2025
*
20:00 - Whales are northbound passing Ebey’s battery, Whidbey side - inside of the green buoy/channel marker seemingly following Whidbey shore. -Emily Wandres
*
19:21 - Seem to be done with their meal heading northbound just passed Port Townsend lighthouse. I am still viewing from beach at Ebey's Landing. -Kim Parry
*
19:15 - Orcas trending northbound off of Ebey’s Landing, closer to shore than earlier, still surface active with lots of birds following along. -Emily Wandres
*
19:04 - Viewing from Ebey's Landing, close to ferry lanes some good surface activity. -Kim Parry
*
18:50 - Orcas are just south of Ebey’s Landing, Whidbey side of mid channel - milling maybe post hunt - some surface activity, directional changes and a lot of birds. -Emily Wandres
*
18:48 - Should be visible from Ebey’s Landing. Lots of activity in the water north of Casey. -Christina Rosa
*
18:42 - Large male trailing the group.
18:41 - North of Fort Casey heading towards Ebey’s Landing. -Quinn Rosa
*
18:41 - Still northbound.
18:40 - Just leaving lighthouse at Fort Casey 6-7 grouped together. -Kim Parry
*
18:30 - Moving fairly quickly past Fort Casey northbound.
18:22 - Just spotted from Fort Casey, northbound towards mid channel. -Peter Gebhard
*
18:22 - We see them at the fort. -Korie Peterson Heckinger
*
18:10 - Can see in distance so Whidbey side northbound out from Ledgewood.
17:52 - Very approx. [48.102928, -122.631388] northbound, Jude now with the group too.
17:35 - Slowly fading north out of sight from Lagoon Point. Next best viewing would be Fort Casey.
17:22 - A mix including T124A2s closer in past Lagoon, group further out included T100s & presume T124Ds.
17:17 - Northbound off north end of Lagoon Point.
16:55 - They are off the south end of Lagoon Point, maybe north trend again but have been milling.
16:45 - Friend reports some hunting off Lagoon Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
16:30 - South Whidbey State Park, headed north! Pod of 5-6. -Christina Rosa
*
16:28 - Pretty big spread.
16:27 - They switched to the east side of the channel, so northeast travel pointing towards Lagoon Point, should be visible from Whidbey Island. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
16:25 - Milling. Just hanging out there [southeast end of Marrowstone Island]. -photo by Dave Durkee, May 25, 2025
*
15:31 - Northbound here [approx. 48.014581, -122.647532]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
15:30 - On the Swiftsure off the southeast part of Marrowstone Island. Have them in sight. -Dave Durkee
*
15:46 - They are northbound again.
15:20 - Swiftsure caught up with them again [approx. 47.980529, -122.639051]. -Patti Trosper
*
12:30 - Same spot, slowly moving northwards. Seen from Bush Point with binoculars. -Ethan Abeles
*
12:21 - They are still hanging out on the west side of the channel at the southern end of Marrowstone! You might see them at a distance from Bush Point. -Catherine Challand
*
12:00 - They are off the south end off Marrowstone Island on the west side of the channel. May have distant viewing from Lagoon Point soon, good luck! -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jon Fountain
Date of Sighting: May 25, 2025
Time: 9:50 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 7
Where seen: Foulweather Bluff
Direction of travel : NW
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1
Any unusual markings?: Na
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: At least one large and 2-3 medium and 3 small orcas
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
09:57 - More orcas in Admiralty Inlet heading north/northwest, seen on SkunkBay Weather at 9:57:25 and again at 10:00:36 out from Bush Point.
09:19 - 09:55 - I think they did flip north. I looked back at the Skunkbay Weather recording between 9:19 and 9:55 that I missed and saw at least 2-3 orcas northbound out from Norwegian in front of the green grassy hillside at 9:28:35.
09:19 - Saw at least 2 orcas in front of Useless Bay on SkunkBay Weathercam at the bottom of the screen, southbound, at 9:19:24. -Patti Trosper
*
Mon, May 25 - Colvos Passage
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Tawnya Converse
Date of Sighting: May 25, 2025
Time: 8:02 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Colvos Passage
Direction of travel : N
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
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sun, May 25 - San Juans (BCY0324 Big Mama & calf) - Big Mama and her new baby were up north of Orcas Island near Sucia. Link to more photos. -photos by Ramon Jones, May 25, 2025
*
18:00 - Momma humpback teaching calf to breach on north side of Stuart Island, Turn Point then we left them as they headed west and found orcas on the other side of the island on the way back. Definitely a WOW day! So many breaches from mom and baby I lost count. At least a half hour of it. Link to more photos. -photos by Jenny Holmes, May 25, 2025
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sun, May 25 - Port Susan (CRC356 Carson)
13:00 - Gray whale 356 Carson northbound from the blue dot [approx. 48.096013, -122.344821]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
Sun, May 25 - Saratoga Passage
08:30 - Grey north of Sandy Point northbound. Should be near Langley now (09:08) Whidbey side [video in FB comments]. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
08:00 - Greenbank Beach, close in, headed into Holmes Harbor then across toward Baby Island. -photo by Kristin Anderson Lindsay, May 25, 2025
*
07:05 - Kayaking outside of Langley right now 07:05 and can see heart shaped blows on the Camano side of the channel. Gray whale? Appeared to be going in the direction of Hat Island. And I also believe I saw a second spout further in the distance -Emerson Collin

May 24
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, May 24 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (Neah Bay)
18:00 - We first noticed them south of Waddah Island near shore but were far away heading into the harbor and only saw their blow. As we moved inside the jetty towards the Marina we saw them again far inside the jetty. They stayed in that area for a time until moving back out to the Strait. -Ryan Strong
*
Sun, May 24 - San Juans
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Henry Hwang
Date of Sighting: May 24, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: North Orcas Island between Orcas and San Juan National Wildlife Refuge
Direction of travel : West
Behaviors observed: Swimming
If orcas, any males?: Fkn tall fin
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Sat, May 24 - Haro Strait (T68 & T75Bs)
18:00 - Stuart Island heading towards Turn Point. Link to FB video. -Jenny Holmes 
*
Per Sara Baldwin, this was the T75Bs and T68.
*
15:46 - Still visible on the webcam. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
15:37 - At least 4-5 visible on webcam, spyhopping, at least one large male, directional changes and milling. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
*
15:23 - 15:45 - They were visible on the webcam from 15:23-15:45, heading north, some hunting and saw a spyhop but no other sighting of them since.
15:23 - Orcas in Haro Strait, northbound. First seen on The Whale Museum Webcam at 15:23 today. -Patti Trosper
*
Sat, May 24 - Puget Sound (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds)
21:20 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: MV TACOMA Captain reports via 800MHz broadcast a pod of about 8 orcas northbound just north of the S/BI ferry lanes.
*
21:25 - Drifted back in line with Skiff Point and still very far out.
21:04 - Some surface activity and a full-body breach, now in line with Yeomalt Point. Viewing from 64th Alki.
20:53 - Now in line with Skiff Point and still not any easier to see from here.
20:42 - They’re roughly in line with Fay Bainbridge as viewed from 64th Alki. Binoculars still needed. -Steve Rice
*
21:00 - First time seeing orcas in the Sound! Ferry from Bainbridge. Link to FB video. -Heather Smith
*
20:33 - [approx. 47.591336, -122.460039 (2 mi. NW of Alki)].
*
20:22 - Approximate location [47.546618, -122.451381 (2 mi. SW of Alki)]. -Steve Rice
*
20:19 - Still visible at Discovery but definitely have gone south. They’re moving pretty slowly.
19:55 - Headed southbound.
19:50 - Visible straight out from from Discovery Park, about mid-channel. -Joe Guidi
*
19:26 - Viewing from Sunset Hill - seeing spouts with Fay Bainbridge in the background. They’ve definitely pushed more midchannel. -Kas Alexis
*
19:25 - Just saw them again in the same area, they have to be closer to 3/4 across the sound from Golden Gate. Groups of spouts are all I can see from here really. Again, I think somewhere between Skiff Point and Fay Bainbridge.
19:15 - I’m at Golden Gardens. We are seeing spouts go off maybe two thirds across the sound near the sail boats. Group of maybe 5 or 6 at a time. -Duncan Simpson
*
18:03 - Viewing from Richmond Beach. Southbound travel east of mid. Some are pushing ahead, well past whale watch boat. -Kas Alexis
*
18:07 - They look to have moved more east and picking up speed. Richmond Beach south bound.
17:57 - Straight out from Richmond Beach still trending south.
17:47 - At Richmond Beach they are still north but can see with binoculars near the whale watching boat. -Amber Irvine
*
17:58 - Viewing from Kayu Kayu, line of sight Jeff Head, steady southbound, east of mid.
17:53 - Viewing from Kayu Kayu, southbound, east of mid. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
*
17:24 - Kayu Kayu, east of mid, not yet past, but still barely visible on binoculars. -Jason Luc
*
17:15 - Still south straight out from Edmonds fishing pier. Can make out dorsal fins but minimal surface activity right now. -Sara Humphrey
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Stephen Zimmerlund
Date of Sighting: May 24, 2025
Time: 5:13 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Off Edmonds Marina
Direction of travel : S
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
*
16:39 - Watching from Sunset, heading southbound. Mid/possibly east of mid. Some surface activity! Just south of the big green lawn! -Kas Alexis
*
16:38 - See them straight out from Edmonds fishing pier southbound east of mid. -Padmini Harchandrai
*
16:19 - Continuing southbound east of mid with Point No Point in background when viewing from south sunset in Edmonds. Just visible naked eye. -Beriah SoOrio
*
15:44 - Mid channel in Shoreline. -photo by Jan Hansen, May 24, 2025
*
15:28 - Picnic Point still southbound. -Amber Irvine
*
15:09 - Passing Picnic Point on the Whidbey side, close to the docks. -Amanda Schafer
*
15:03 - Still headed south, long down times. -Ed Pearson
*
14:05 - Can see them north of Glendale still moving south.
13:55 - They had crossed ferry lanes southbound still Whidbey side.
13:43 - They've moved more Whidbey side, south/southwestbound. Will pass behind dock ferry at Clinton soon. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:45 - Orcas approaching Everett in a tight group, as seen from Clinton ferry dock. -photo by Steve Smith, May 24, 2025
*
13:45 - Jude is Whidbey side of mid approaching Clinton ferry lane.
13:43 - Southbound approaching ferry lanes. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
13:35 - Approx. southbound [47.982080, -122.332046].  -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:30 - This afternoon, a group of orcas 4 possibly five with one male heading from Hat Island towards Clinton. -John Shackman
*
13:20 - SJC left T049A2, 100s, and members of 124As trending towards the Clinton Mukilteo ferry lanes after feeding off southwest Hat. -Alli Montgomery
*
13:04 - Pod tightly grouped with directional changes. Closer to Hat than Whidbey. Stationary in this spot. -Debbie Stewart
*
12:57 - Looks like possibly hunting off Hat just south of the WW boats. surface activity. 
12:49 - Jude is close to shore north west end Hat Island.  -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
12:30 - Spotted several of them breaching, headed south towards Hat Island in the middle of the channel! -Meghan Hillis
*
12:12 - Eyes on them again, several, maybe seven(!) heading south past Sandy Point toward Clinton.
11:32 - South of Langley, southbound toward Sandy Point. Mid channel. -Heather Hardin
*
12:00 - Jude? (Bent dorsal) Was close to Camano side, continued south. -Susan John
*
11:08 - At least 2 orcas spotted in Saratoga Passage. South of Bells Beach. Milling mid channel, no obvious direction of travel. -Anna K. Greenwood
*
Sat, May 24 - Puget Sound (Possible T65A5)
19:50 - I wonder if they joined another group and started heading north again. I’m at the north end of Vashon and haven’t seen any activity coming south. However, we did have two orcas that came from the southwest and heading straight north from North Vashon. [video in FB comment]. -Leo Medina 
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, May 24 - Hood Canal
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Madeleine Lagerberg
Date of Sighting: May 24, 2025
Time: 4:29 PM
Species seen: Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: 47.50818° N, 123.05136° W [Hood Canal]
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: We think it was a juvenile. Smooth dark surface small knobby dorsal fin. Large tale when it dove down.
Photos available?: No
*
14:20 - Just saw one while crossing the Hood Canal Bridge, I believe someone was pulled over taking a pic. -Lacee Dunmire
*
07:50 - I saw a whale off Triton Head.  -photos by Jerry Hall, May 24, 2025
*
Sat, May 24 - Possession Sound
14:08 - SJC has just noted yet another humpback currently north of Clinton close to the shoreline. -Alli Montgomery
*
Sat, May 24 - Puget Sound (CRC-21605 Thunderbolt & other)
18:58 - Single whale off Point Robinson. Mid channel approaching yellow buoy. Southbound. -Walter Smith
*
18:58 - Humpback? Off Point Robinson. Mid channel approaching yellow buoy. -Walter Smith
*
15:01 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: MV KITTITAS Captain reports via 800MHz broadcast, a humpback travelling south in the NB traffic lanes just off Brace Pt.
*
11:33 - Hello! SJC has just encountered two juvenile humpbacks currently lazily traveling southbound just above Manitou Beach on Bainbridge. Long dives, but side by side. Will update with ids hopefully soon! Update again - one of the the two is CRC21605 Thunderbolt. -Alli Montgomery
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sat, May 24 - Saratoga Passage 
12:08 - There’s a whale visible off Sunrise Beach [south of Langley] right now but I’m not sure the type [likely gray] - lots of boats nearby -Kristin Nichole
*
07:26 - Lone gray at Madrona [Camano] heading north at a slow pace. -Robert Wilson [CWW]
*
Sat, May 24 - Port Susan (CRC53 Little Patch)
09:45 - Gray passed Tillicum, heading south. -Susan John
*
06:38 - CRC-53 Little Patch at CC2 [Camano Country Club Beach 2, south of Cavalero boat launch in Port Susan] this morning. Mid channel facing northeast. -Thomas McKane

May 23
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, May 23 - Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Rob Koreman
Date of Sighting: May 23, 2025
Time: 7:20 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Roberts Creek (20 mi. NW of Vancouver)
Direction of travel : S and slow
Behaviors observed: Playful. Partial breaches
If orcas, any males?: Yes large dorsal
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Believe this may have been K13 pod [confirmed Bigg’s]. Baby in there also
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
Fri, May 23 - Eastern San Juans
16:45 - Off the southeast point of Lummi Island headed east towards Samish Bay. Link to more photos. -photos by Mike Turner, May 23, 2025
*
Fri, May 23 - San Juans (T68 & T75Bs)
16:20 - Approaching Lopez ferry terminal eastbound.
15:10 - The T75Bs with T68 are northbound in San Juan Channel approaching Friday Harbor.
12:00 - Aiming across Haro towards San Juan Biggs heading northeast from Discovery [T75Bs + T68]. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [SSCH]
*
Fri, May 23 - Admiralty Inlet
16:26 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 16:42 to report: 1626hrs: KENNEWICK Vessel reports 3 orca NB in the NB traffic lanes east of Marrowstone Point
*
Fri, May 23 - Possession Sound/Saratoga Passage (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds)
20:48 - Trailers have passed the south end of Camano Island State Park, very spread out. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
20:30 - More loosely grouped northbound midchannel past East Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
20:37 - Leaders northbound on Camano side now, passing the south end of Camano Island State Park. Saw some splashes looking towards Bells Beach, likely from the trailers, just before seeing this group.
19:54 - Another group with a male northbound Whidbey side of midchannel just south of Mabana boat launch.
19:48 - At least three northbound midchannel off Mabana. I thought I saw one pass here about 10 minutes ago, but couldn't confirm. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
19:15 - Seeing from Langley Marina heading north close to Camano. -Francie L Dailer
*
19:07 - Northbound just passed Sandy Point. Very spread out. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
19:05 - They are headed north into Saratoga Passage passing Sandy Point. T49A2 cut close to point in lead. T100s & T124Ds coming in next more midchannel. T124A2s trailing also coming in more mid but not quite to Sandy Point yet.
18:50 - Approx. northbound [48.021860, -122.358767]. Spread out. Earlier spread was .5 - 1 miles. Saw 2-3 at pin. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
18:33 - Whales went north between Whidbey and Hat. Jude maintains his presence close to Whidbey. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
18:15 - Saw three spouts north of the Mukilteo ferry route. -Laura Shenk
*
17:56 - Seem to be milling a little north of Glendale - close to shore. Still trending north. -Sarah Schmidt
*
17:25 - Northbound just south of Mukilteo. Seem to have moved more mid maybe? -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
17:45 - Off the shore of Whidbey! We only saw this lone orca, none close to it. [T49A2 Jude] Link to FB video. -Charlotte Whiting
*
17:56 - In the ferry lanes,mid to Whidbey, northbound.
17:29 - Whales are spread, but Jude jump scared us about 20 feet off shore at Glendale. They are headed north. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
17:00 - Just passed Possession Point mid channel. -Jody Siderius Crabb
*
16:58 - Heading north fast towards Mukilteo mid channel.
16:54 - 4+ milling off Possession Point heading back towards Haines.
16:46 - Two heading south past Haines Wharf.
16:41 - North of Sunset Bay heading north. -Francie L Dailer
*
16:08 - Viewing from Stamm with Possession Point in the background - at least 8 pointing northeast towards Possession Sound. -Kas Alexis
*
15:26 - They are continuing north, pretty much in line with Stamm Overlook Park, 1/1.5 miles off Edmonds. -Grayden Kelbert
*
15:00 - Heading northbound at the Edmonds marina. Link to FB videos. -Heather Pressha
*
14:40 - John, Miller, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: 1440hrs: SUQUAMISH Vessel reports 6 orca moving in a northbound direction, just east of the traffic lanes, 1/2 mile south of the route crossing.
*
14:30 - Saw from Marina Park Edmonds. -photos by Duane Beekly, May 23, 2025
*
13:49 - Still viewing from Kayu seem to be northeast bound. East side of channel now.
13:29 - Viewing from Kayu. This group is slowly approaching the yellow channel marker going northbound, trailed by whale watch boat. Not super surface active. Mid channel. -Kas Alexis
*
13:13 - Viewing from Richmond Beach right in front of Point Jefferson. -Cari Brumfield
*
13:11 - Watching from Kayu Park, Point Wells mid channel northwest bound.  -Joni Barnes Pollino
*
12:30 - Orca group has stalled, or hunting south of Jefferson Point mid or west of mid channel. Very calm seas, Jude’s (I think) big fin visual aid. Richmond Beach. -Justin Goslin
*
12:00 - Orcas now north of Golden Gardens heading northbound mid-channel. -Stephen Dalton
*
11:53 - SJC leaving T049A2, T100s, and members of T124/As traveling smoothly northbound in the middle of the traffic lanes in line with Carkeek! -Alli Montgomery
*
11:30 - Directly out from the start of Golden Gardens. Victoria Clipper and other small boats with them. Northbound. -Summer Staley
*
10:44 - Viewing from Skiff Point. Still northbound. Out from Shilshole. -Vanessa Franz
*
10:56 - Directly out from Sunset Hill Park, northbound, 6-7 of them plus a calf. Perfectly mid channel. The Wenatchee ferry is hanging out in the water where they are, Victoria Clipper catching up to them too.
10:45 - I am seeing maybe 6 and pretty confident one has a calf. One large male.
10:20 - I am seeing 4 and maybe a calf.
10:09 - They are milling just south of the lighthouse still.
10:05 - Spotted from Sunset Hill Park, about to pass Discovery Park lighthouse, East of mid channel, northbound. -Summer Staley
*
Saw the whales outside Golden Gardens today (we were west of the SJC) and managed to capture a little one. -photo by Andrea Michelle Young, May 23, 2025
*
09:09 - Bradley Coombe, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: TACOMA Captain reports 3-4 Orca Central Sound West of Elliott Bay heading North in the traffic lanes via 800MHz.
*
My friend texted me to say they saw orcas from the Fauntleroy/Vashon ferry this morning. She didn’t give me a direction or an exact time, so I asked her and am waiting on a response. [Update:] She said they were headed north. Still don’t have a time but it was before 07:15. -Ellen Weir 
*
Fri, May 23 - South Puget Sound (T65A5) - T65A5 Indy
16:25 - Mid-channel between Raft Island and Glen Cove headed south. He's certainly in no hurry considering how long it took him to arrive from northern Henderson Bay.
14:10 - Moving to the Key Peninsula side of Henderson Bay about a half mile south of the Purdy Spit boat ramp. Looping to head south?
13:50 - I'm now at Purdy Spit boat launch. Visible on the Gig Harbor side and continuing north.
13:00 - Continuing north past Allen Point. Almost out of my sight. Likely viewable with binoculars on the far horizon from Purdy Spit boat launch.
12:50 - Spotted just north of Raft Island headed leisurely north. Gig Harbor side of Henderson Bay. Long dives. -photos by Randy Witter, May 23, 2025
*
06:50 - 2 orcas reported in Henderson Bay, no other details. -WA app
*
T65A5 Indy
06:43 - This video was taken in Henderson Bay. -photo by Alejandro Campos, May 23, 2025
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri, May 23 - Haro Strait
07:55 - 2 humpback whales just east of Grandma’s Cove heading southeast. Close to shore. -Jill Waldron [WSSJI]
*
Fri, May 23 - Puget Sound
14:52 - Report of one orca off Tahlequah ferry terminal on south end of Vashon, photo sent with report shows humpback. No direction given. -WA app
*
GRAY WHALES -
Fri, May 23 - Port Susan
20:00 - Gray outside the buoy at Tillicum, southbound. -photo by Susan John, May 23, 2025
*
Fri, May 23 - Possession Sound
17:15 - Gray whale continuing northeast on the north side of the Mukilteo ferry lane. -Kas Alexis
*
16:45 - Gray whale just went by Mukilteo Lighthouse northbound about to cross ferry lanes. -Joe Dreimiller
*
16:13 - Only seeing spouts to the left so far.
16:06 - About to pass Mukilteo! -Natalie Rutledge
*
Fri, May 23 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch)
13:08 - SJC has noted CRC53 Little Patch currently zigzagging off SE Possession Point! -Alli Montgomery
*
12:26 - Spotted single whale southbound gray near Possession Point State Park . Close to Whidbey side. -Jody Siderius Crabb
*
Fri, May 23 - Saratoga Passage (CRC2356 Stalwart) - CRC2356 Stalwart - This gray whale quickly cruised through our neighborhood (Polnell Point in Oak Harbor) [in the] evening and left almost as quickly as it appeared. -photo by Greg Parham, May 23, 2025
*
12:16 - Gray northbound outside the buoys just south of Camano Island Yacht club CRC2356 Stalwart. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
11:28 - This was just north of Indian Beach about 10 minutes ago. -Cynthia Boirum
*
10:32 - Humpback [probable gray] at Saratoga Shores now. Between State Park and Cama Beach. Close in West side. -Ginger Desy [CWW]
*
MINKE WHALES -
Fri, May 23 - Hood Canal
20:00 - Minke whales in Hood Canal sorry no pictures; [at] Quatsap Point. -Mike Nelson

UNIDENTIFIED WHALES -
Fri, May 23 - Admiralty Inlet
15:45 - Baleen whale near Fort Casey - spotted from the WSF ferry at 15:45 possibly heading north but not certain. Not certain of the species. -Rebecca Berger

May 22
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, May 22 - San Juans (T123s)
18:45 - Presumably the same whales: westbound from Crane Island.
15:10 - These whales went to the very top of East Sound and are now southbound again.
09:50 - Approaching Point Caution, possibly T123s.
08:40 - East side of Jones Island, looks like 4 animals. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [SSCH]
*
Thu, May 22 - Puget Sound (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds) - T124A2 Elkugu - Tacoma. Link to more photos. -photos by Mollie Segall, May 22, 2025
*
T49A2 Jude - Fun day whale chasing in the South Sound today. From Browns Point and Tacoma Waterfront. Link to more photos. -photos by April Basham, May 22, 2025
*
T124A2B Litton, T100C Laurel, T100 Hutchins - T124A2B Litton, T100C Laurel, T100 Hutchins -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Saw the pod early in front of Shilshole working southbound throughout the day. Link to more photos. -photos by Ben Callahan, May 22, 2025
*
From Dash Point. Link to FB reel. -Keli Márquez 
*
Visit from T49A2, T100s, T124Ds, and T124A2s. Link to FB videos.  -Melissa Bird
*
21:56 - Last seen near Browns Point. Reviewing photos and I can confirm 3 total that were in Commencement Bay this evening. -Darren Robinson
*
21:23 - Almost to Browns Point. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
*
20:57 - Spotted just north of the port, still along the eastern coast of Commencement Bay. -Joe Guidi
*
20:45 - Still deep in the port, near yellow buoy between port and red hulled ship. -Eileen Mccaffery-Lent
*
20:44 - Deep in the bay following the port facing the Browns Point side of the bay. -Evan Grose
*
20:43 - Have eyes on them again. Heading east along the base of the port! -Ashley Fry
*
20:28 - They've probably passed the navy ships down here and they're still moving into the bay. -David Bennett
*
20:23 - Deep in Commencement - near black and red ship anchored.
20:19 - [approx. 47.284521, -122.444921].
20:13 - Facing more north east now. Trending towards the middle of Commencement. -Evan Grose
*
20:17 - Heading south more into the bay. Viewing from Chinese Reconciliation Park. -Ashley Fry
*
20:14 - Three orcas in Commencement Bay headed towards Foss Waterway. -photo by Clint Berreth, May 22, 2025
*
20:13 - 2-5 orcas heading east from the red X in this map pic [approx. 47.318244, -122.471369]. -Melissa Gunn
*
20:07 - They're in Commencement Bay. They've already passed Brown's Point from Les Davis pier and they seem to be north of midchannel. Not going to Reconciliation Park. Movement is more northerly. -David Bennett
*
20:05 - Headed directly towards Chinese Reconciliation Park. -Evan Grose
*
20:04 - At least 2 deep in Commencement Bay. -Darren Robinson
*
20:00 - [approx. 47.290993, -122.478845].  -Evan Grose
*
19:54 - Just passed Point Ruston heading towards Commencement Bay, mid channel. Long down time. -Alyssa Maldegen Hagmann
*
19:45 - Viewing from Dune Peninsula. Heading in to Commencement Bay. -Jessica Huie
*
19:45 - Just passed Dune headed toward Commencement Bay, along Ruston side. 4-5! -Jennifer Tabor
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Linda Cohan
Date of Sighting: May 22, 2025
Time: 7:41 PM
Species seen: 5 or so orcas just passed Dune Peninsula Park heading towards Commencement Bay
Number of animals seen: 5-6
Where seen:
Direction of travel : south
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 1 male
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
19:19 - Mid channel Dalco approaching ferry lane. -Jason Cook
*
19:12 - They are eastbound hugging the southern shore of Vashon. Viewing from Owen Beach. -Neon Stern
*
19:06 - Mid Dalco north northeast of Sunrise. Not far from the group of kayaks & long boards. -Jason Cook
*
18:21 - Confirmed both groups have met back up, one to the south trending north & 2nd group just north of them milling, mid channel, just south of the beginning of Sunrise Beach housing. Last report from me. We also saw a pod of about 8 harbor porpoise at Dune, & and otter!!!
18:08 - I think group 1 that entered Narrows has come back out & met back up. But unsure if that was them or if it was a split in group 2. -Melissa Bird
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Amy Gerdes
Date of Sighting: May 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: Point of Point Defiance off of Gig Harbor
Direction of travel : Nw meander
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Baby or juvenile
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Amy, May 22, 2025
*
18:05 - The group of 4 that were trending south towards Narrows flipped and now trending north midchannel between tip Point Defiance and Gig Harbor.
17:40 - Four orcas (one adult male) passed close by tip Point Defiance by lighthouse, trending south towards Narrows Bridge. Other group still milling between Point Defiance and Sunrise Beach.
17:42 - From the northwest tip of Point Defiance beach by the old lighthouse. Link to FB video. -Jas Minka
*
17:45 - Group 2 of at least 4 still just north of Point Defiance Lighthouse trending south, more mid channel.
17:43 - Three off Point Defiance Lighthouse southbound into the Narrows right off shore. -Melissa Bird
*
17:39 - Viewing from Gig Harbor old ferry dock close to the white boat in the middle. No committed direction [approx. 47.325497, -122.555176]. -Torry Chamberlayne
*
17:32 - Group of 3 and group of 2 milling between tip of Point Defiance and Sunrise Beach Gig Harbor.
17 26 - Flipped popped up around Red Point [approx. 47.326817, -122.548439], slowly trending towards Gig Harbor. -Jas Minka
*
17:30 - Lost everyone for a while but still have at least 5 milling off Gig Harbor Viewpoint, including bull. -Melissa Bird
*
17:20 - Just watched a group come from Dalco and head back east, past tip of Vashon now. Seen from Gig Harbor old ferry dock.  -Janelle Avice McDonald
*
16:53 - Just passed Owen Beach, heading toward Narrows bridge. -Emily Sherwood
*
16:37 - Second group of 5 or so passing the Dune towards Owen’s! -Ashley Fry
*
17:15 - Trending slowly west from last pin drop into Dalco Passage.
17:13 - 3 spotted at pin drop [approx. 47.327047, -122.551323] 17:11, moving slowly northeast. -Jas Minka
*
17:10 - Group 2 (pod of 3 with Bull) now Eastbound back towards Dune off Gig Harbor Viewpoint on 5 mile.
17:07 - Second group is just north of mouth of Gig Harbor southbound. Both groups trending south now.
17:01 - The 3 that made the close pass at Dune are at Point Defiance Lighthouse gently trending north. Haven't spotted the others.
16:38 - SURPRISE close pass at Dune by 3 members including one bull! Westbound. -Melissa Bird
*
16:50 - 4-5 orcas trending towards Gig Harbor and at the mouth of Colvos. -Molls Segall
*
16:50 - Orcas off the southwest tip of Vashon. -Vicki Flood
*
16:39 - Point Ruston ferry terminal 4 minutes ago. -Dallas Braham
*
16:32 - Leaders coming up on Vashon ferry terminal steady westbound.
16:25 - Crossing Quartermaster Harbor fairly grouped up, westbound towards ferry terminal.
16:16 - From Dune a group of at least 6 (1 bull) [approx. 47.335419, -122.449193] are westbound towards Vashon ferry terminal, all grouped up, just south of Piner Point. -Melissa Bird
*
16:07 - After a hunt, at least 3 (probably 4) continued southwest past Browns Point lighthouse. They were mid channel at the mouth of Quartermaster, continuing towards Ruston/Dune at my last sighting.
15:40 - Tail slapping several time between Browns Point and Dash Point. On a hunt it appears. Right up against mainland shore. -Molls Segall
*
15:43 - Viewing from Woven Seafood in Tacoma Commencement Bay. Tail slaps and spy hops. Seeing them head toward Brown Point lighthouse area. Still trending south. -Torry Chamberlayne
*
15:40 - Breaching! South of Dash headed to Browns Point. -Ed Rickert
*
15:35 - Heading fast past Browns Point. *West. -Mackenzie Baker
*
15:33 - Seeing them from Browns Point, closer to Vashon. Still southbound.  -Justis McLaren
*
15:30 - The group looks to be right off Dash Point as viewed from above Point Ruston.  -Ed Rickert
*
15:26 - Southwest, more or less paralleling the shore.
15:23 - In line with Des Moines as viewed from Dash Point. Closer to this side. -Steve Rice
*
15:22 - They passed Dash, heading south still.
15:03 - Visible now from Dash Point far out. Looking towards Poverty Bay. -Mairenn Dumont
*
15:14 - See them now heading south. Nearly straight out from Dash Point. -Michele Jaenke
*
14:25 - Four or five, including T49A2, passed just south of Redondo, close to east side. -Steve Rice
*
14:05 - Not sure which group this is but there are 5 currently hugging Point Robinson lighthouse [approx. 47.385265, -122.367442]. -Sandra Hartline
*
13:39 - Visible now from Saltwater State Park. They are in front of Des Moines pier. -Mairenn Dumont
*
13:22 - Southbound approaching Des Moines Beach.
13:12 - Getting close to Marine View Park. East side of channel a little north of Marine View. -James Hartline
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jackie Ellenberger
Date of Sighting: May 22, 2025
Time: 12:58 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: (47.4422450, -122.4286828)
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Playing?
If orcas, any males?: Yes - 1
Any unusual markings?: Too far away
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
12:50 - They are south of Three Tree. Still pretty close to east side. -Steve Rice
*
12:26 - Just passed 152nd in Burien. 4 of them southbound. -Noelle Ronning-Richards
*
12:20 - Approximate location [47.477897, -122.388931]. Edit: Maybe a bit further south.
12:10 - Spotted from Three Tree Point, still far north. Close to east side, southbound. -Steve Rice
*
12:10 - The orcas are at Seahurst. -Amy Manzo
*
12:07 - T49A2 and a female are traveling in the shipping lanes. Everyone else is east of the shipping lanes and closer to the mainland.
11:54 - All appear to be traveling south and committed between Vashon Island and the mainland. PSE (Swiftshure) just left.
11:49 - Viewing from Shorewood on the Sound... all our spread out east and west across from Blakely Island. Traveling southbound. PSE is on scene. -Shari Tarantino
*
11:27 - Approaching Lincoln Park. Still with whale watching boats. -Steve Rice
*
T124D Field & T124D1 Salish II - T124D Field & T124D4
11:00 - 12:00 - We watched those 11 killer whales southwest of Alki Beach. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 22, 2025
*
11:00 - T49A2 trailing behind the T100s and T124Ds. T124A2s as well.  -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
10:57 - Passing the north end of Blake Island, east side, as viewed from Emma Schmitz. PSE & San Juan Clipper with them. -Steve Rice
*
10:54 - Southbound passed Alki Point ~20 minutes ago. -Jennie Tang
*
10:41 - Southbound south of yellow channel marker that is between Alki and Bainbridge. East of mid channel. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
09:52 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:09 to report: 0952hrs: Vessel TACOMA reports they've spotted 3 orcas east of the traffic lanes, just off Alki Point, heading southbound.
*
Thu, May 22 - South Puget Sound (T65A5)
16:06 - Deep dive! Seals hugging the shore.
15:58 - Single male orca mid channel Carr Inlet across from old navy pier on southwest side of Fox Island. -Blake-Linda Worland Little
*
T65A5 Indy
14:30 - Just saw what looked like a lone orca traveling south from the south end of Fox Island. -photos by Scott Gardner, May 22, 2025
*
12:29 - Passed Tahlequah ferry/sound Vashon going west. -Kayla Bigelow
*
12:15 - Saw one male orca approaching Quartermaster Harbor at around 12:00. Have not seen since. -Oscar Brown
*
11:45 - He’s moving more with purpose southbound now, still on island side of channel, off shore a little, passing Gold Beach.
11:32 - He’s logging/resting straight out from Gold Beach pushed off shore a bit, very very slowly drifting south bound.
11:14 - Seeing single orca straight out from Maury Marine Park, island side of channel. Pretty positive is lone adventurer Indy/T65A5 moving southbound. Do not see any others from this perspective. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
09:55 - Approaching Dilworth [southbound]. -Monika [SSCH]
*
COASTAL KILLER WHALES -
Thu, May 22 - Oregon Coast
18:45 - During an overnight stay in Brookings, OR, this orca surprised us as it cruised inside the buoy markers in Chetco Cove. Traveled northwest to leave the cove and meet up with at least 1 other orca further out. Couldn't get a very good pic due to distance, but posting in case it's of interest. -photo by Krista Paulino, May 22, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Curtis Day
Date of Sighting: May 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 12
Where seen: 44°20'14.7"N 124°06'02.2"W (2 mi N of Yachats OR)
Direction of travel : S ~100 meters in 3-5 minutes
Behaviors observed: traveling south, no stops
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: We saw 12-15 spouts within a few minutes at the same location and then again ~100-200 meters further south three times.
Photos available?: No
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, May 22 - San Juans (BCY0324 Big Mama & calf) - Big Momma off Stuart Island. Link to more photos.  -photos by Ian Myerscough, May 22, 2025
*
Thu, May 22 - Hood Canal
14:30 - I saw one off Pleasant Harbor, wasn't sure the whale type and only saw it surface one time. -Bryan Wood
*
06:48 - Humpback or gray whale seen near the following location [approx. 47.678597, -122.885971] in Hood Canal traveling north just now. Shrimp day so there’s about to be lots of boats out here  -Megan Cihak
*
GRAY WHALES -
Thu, May 22 - San Juans
08:45 - Gray whale in San Juan Channel. Southbound off Reuben Tarte. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [SSCH]
*
Thu, May 22 - Admiralty Inlet
17:13 - WIWS just got a report of a gray whale northbound mid channel off Lagoon Point. -Kevin Phillips
*
Thu, May 22 - Port Susan
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natalie Forrest
Date of Sighting: May 22, 2025
Time: 6:10 PM
Species seen: Grey
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Off of Country Club. Midchannel out from Beach 2
Direction of travel : Looked like it was headed SE
Behaviors observed: It fluked
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Thu, May 22 - Possession Sound
08:45 - Just south of Clinton ferry close to shore, 2 gray whales headed south. -Melissa Simmons, WSF
*
Thu, May 22 - Saratoga Passage (CRC22 Earhart)
10:45 - Friend reports: Viewing from Hidden Beach, gray whale is south of here and southbound into Holmes Harbor, not far off shore. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
CRC22 Earhart
10:50 - Looks to maybe be heading to Holmes Harbor. I’ve never seen so many dives in a row getting out of my range.
10:35 - Off Hidden Beach now moving closer to Baby Island lots and lots of dives and a little breach.
10:24 - Right off Hidden Beach.
10:15 - Moving pretty quickly for a gray whale should now be able to see him if you’re at Hidden Beach.
10:05 - Gray whale heading south 1.5 miles north of Hidden Beach close to shore Whidbey side.
08:40 - Whale heading down Saratoga 1.5 miles north of Hidden Beach mid channel going south, probably a gray. -photos by Aaron Gill, May 22, 2025
*
Thu, May 22 - Port Susan (CRC2356 Stalwart) - CRC2356 Stalwart
13:30 - 14:00 - We found gray whale 2356 on the southeast corner of Camano Head. -photo & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 22, 2025
*
13:45 - Stalwart here [approx. 48.070050, -122.333152]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
MINKE WHALES -
Thu, May 22 - Hood Canal
Between 08:00 & 09:00, I saw what I now realize was most likely a minke whale surface three times as it headed south. We were just north of the Hood Canal bridge. At first. I thought it was the orca, but it was way too small, seemed slicker and the curved dorsal fin seemed further back. -Carolyn Gary Barry

May 21
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, May 21 - San Juans (T19s)
14:38 - At least two males two females northbound Boundary near South Pender, slow and possibly sleeping. -Nate Rooks
*
10:25 - T19’s northbound passing Friday Harbor. -Barbara Howitt [WSSJI]
*
Wed, May 21 - Admiralty Inlet (T65A5)
17:33 - We saw two small orcas, one juvenile male and an even smaller one milling about 500’ off Pilot Point north of Eglon. We thought it was strange to see two youngsters unattended, like two toddlers alone at the mall. -Ben Blankenship
*
12:15 - 13:00 - I live north of the Port Ludlow Marina. We had a single orca come through, spending about 45 minutes right in front of our house! He moved in fairly close, chasing a seal. What an amazing sight to see. He/she had a grey closed saddle but I couldn't get any pictures as I didn't want to miss this experience. I would love to know more about who this may have been. After lunch, he moved south in the direction of the Hood Canal.  -Stacey Bryant David
*
09:28 - "One orca headed south very close to shore appeared to be hunting seals". Report from south end Marrowstone Island between Nodule Point & Liplip Point. -WA app
*
07:28 - At least 2 orcas southbound between Coupeville and Port Townsend. -Blake Berry
*
Wed, May 21 - Possession Sound (T49A2, T100s, T124A2s, T124Ds) - T100C Laurel & T124D FIeld -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Picnic Point. Link to more photos. -photos by EZ Lorenz, May 21, 2025
*
T100C Laurel -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - At Mukilteo - I was lucky this group decided to pass by during my lunch hour on my WFH day. Link to more photos. -photos by Jason Luc, May 21, 2025
*
20:55 - They just passed Lighthouse Park. -Pamela Shepard Peterson
*
20:25 - Friend reports seeing orcas approx. here [47.995545, -122.283547 (1 mi. SE of Hat Island)] headed southeast. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
17:50 - They passed Tyee, heading south.  -Susan John
*
16:50 - Orcas now southbound.
16:40 - Orcas are mid channel northbound out from CC2 on Camano.
15:40 - Seeing several orcas including a large male across from Tillicum Beach northbound south of Mckees. -Linda Aitkins
*
Believe lead group was T100s & T124Ds. Trailing group was T49A2 & T124A2s. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:30 - These orcas passed Edgewater Park northbound one to two hundred meters from shore. Also a park ranger said there was a report of a sinking boat about the same time south of Everett. Search boats and a Coast Guard helicopter are still there now at 14:40. -Eric Nordstrom
*
13:20 - T49A2 & three more have passed eastbound in front of dock KITSAP ferry, -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:12 - [approx. 47.967637, -122.286032 (1 mi. NE of Mukilteo)]. -Sarah Geist
*
13:11 - Another group passing Mukilteo now, very close to shore. 3 females and one giant male. This one might be Jude instead of the big male in the first group. Lead group is deep east towards Everett.
13:00 - Main group of 6ish, including Jude, is eastbound here. I haven’t seen this trailing group at all [approx. 47.979279, -122.296129].
12:55 - Main group turned east towards Everett after the lighthouse. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
12:57 - KITSAP slowed to let 1st group past angled towards Everett. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
12:44 - Northbound mid-Mukilteo lighthouse park. Main group looks like 3-4 females/young, 2 calves and Jude.
12:35 - ~6 northbound between Mukilteo and Possession Point on the mainland side of mid. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Joe Gaddy
Date of Sighting: May 21, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Off Picnic Point - North Edmonds
Direction of travel : Northbound
Behaviors observed: Sauntering
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 -photo by Joe Gaddy, May 21, 2025
*
12:40 - Slight split. There’s a trailing group about a mile behind the leaders. 1 male in each group.
12:29 - Just east of this tug [approx. 47.932086, -122.322498].
12:22 - Out from Glendale. Steady northbound. Still mainland side. -Sarah Geist
*
12:13 - Viewing from Glendale - I can just make out fins mainland side just south of me moving north. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
11:30 - My brother is near the Sunset Bay hydrophone at the Lynnwood treatment plant. He just saw 4 orcas. Looks like a mom and baby pair. -Kaylee Fennel
*
11:30 - Still trekking north now at Haines Wharf, still east side of the channel.
11:25 - Just passing Stamm Overlook, moving fast with long times under, in front of the whale watching boat. -Elena Sarah Kuo
*
11:10 - Already north of Edmonds heading toward Possession Sound.
11:00 - Just passed Edmonds marina close, now headed north fast, north of the ferry dock on Edmonds side. -Rubie H Baker
*
10:30 - Orcas spotted from Richmond Beach headed north towards Edmonds. Passing Point Wells. Link to video and more photos. -photo by Alice Shugart Wrolstad, May 21, 2025
*
Wed, May 21 - Puget Sound (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds) - T49A2 Jude, T124A2A Agafia, T124A2 Elkugu, T124A2B Litton
09:25 - 10:05 - We watched those 11 killer whales off of north Edmonds. T100s, T124Ds, T124A2s, T49A2. -photo & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 21, 2025
*
08:50 - 09:40 - I watched this group from the Indianola sandspit for quite some time. They were in this exact map area over an hour, breaches, perhaps hunting. I lost sight of them as they moved in closer to Seattle side close to 9:40, no directional change at that time. I have continued to scan periodically but no luck.  -Deanna Deery-Schmitt
*
07:58 - 6 orcas reported approximately midchannel south of Jefferson Head. No other details given [approx. 47.72107, -122.42619]. -WA app
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, May 21 - Haro Strait (BCY0324 Big Mama & calf)
14:38 - Humpback and calf off Mandarte Island. -Nate Rooks
*
Wed, May 21 - Hood Canal
11:40 - Humpback near Pleasant Harbor [near Brinnon in the Hood Canal]. Direction of travel unknown [video shows humpback, video by Jason S. shared courtesy of Ashley].  -Ashley Whitman
*
GRAY WHALES -
Wed, May 21 - Admiralty Inlet (CRC2362 Thidwick) - CRC2362 Thidwick -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
16:00 - Humpback [confirmed gray whale] at Bush Point, heading north towards Lagoon. Traveling fast. -photo by Marlene Norton Naughton, May 21, 2025
*
16:00 - I think a grey! At Bush Point heading to Lagoon Point. -Marlene
*
Wed, May 21 - Lower Saratoga Passage
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Luanne Seymour
Date of Sighting: May 21, 2025
Time: 8:28 AM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Sandy Point cove, Whidbey
Direction of travel : Slowly moving SW near Sandy Point, Whidbey
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Wed, May 21 - Port Susan (CRC22 Earhart & others) - Earhart and two friends from Port Susan this morning. -photos by Susan John, May 21, 2025
*
08:00 - Three grays between McKees and Sunny Shores now going northbound. -Linda Aitkins
*
06:40- Grays off South Mountain View [Camano] headed south. I can hear them, can’t see them well. -Lois Carlson [CWW]
*
Early morning visit by three gray whales headed south towards Bretland from Port Susan Terrace Beach. Not feeding, just cruising by. -Melanie Serroels [PSWW]
*
Wed, May 21 - Possession Sound
13:53 - There are 2 grey whales on the west side of Hat Island. -Serina Patel
*
Wed, May 21 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart, CRC383 Cascade, CRC2362 Thidwick) - CRC2362 Thidwick - We then found gray whale 2362 west of Hat Island and two spyhopping grays (22, 383) on the southeast side of Hat Island. -photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 21, 2025

May 20
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, May 20 - Discovery Bay (T99s minus T99B)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kristin Bohreer
Date of Sighting: May 20, 2025
Time: 9:33 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Discovery Bay, south of Mill Point
Direction of travel : northbound, heading out of bay
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?: ??
Any unusual markings?: ??
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: 2 larger, 1 smaller
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org - T99C Barakat -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network -photos by Kristin Bohreer, May 20, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Matson Contardo
Date of Sighting: May 20, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM
Species seen: Bigg's killer whale
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Discovery Bay (South end, along western shoreline)
Direction of travel : N, 5 mph
Behaviors observed: Traveling close to shore, sometimes surfacing
If orcas, any males?: Yes, 1 male
Any unusual markings?: Unclear
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: When they reached Diamond Point, the male continued north in the middle of the bay, while the other two explored just south of Diamond Point before leaving the area while submerged.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Matson Contardo, May 20, 2025
*
Tue, May 20 - Puget Sound (T49A2, T100s, T124A2s, T124Ds) - From Saltwater State Park this afternoon. -photos by Molls Segall,
*
As they passed the Bremerton ferry, looking from Constellation Park.  -photo by Steve Rice, May 20, 2025
*
21:05 - Northbound just passed Point Robinson, west side of channel. -Deb Cronheim
*
20:07 - Right of the ship. -Blaire Bradley
*
19:54 - Appear to have flipped northeast near the Vashon side [approx. 47.371698, -122.397423]. -Evan Grose
*
19:58 - Looks like they flipped & are headed back towards Point Robinson. =-Mother Goose
*
19:48 - North of Gold Beach steady southbound travel. Viewing from Ruston Way. -Jason Cook
*
19:35 - They are now moving quickly, west bound and shifted closer to Vashon side. Still east of Gold Beach. -Molls Segall
*
19:27 - Viewing from Dash Point beach. Traveling. Southbound. -Evan Grose
*
19:28 - Still surface active don’t seem to be moving too quickly [south].
19:23 - About here! [approx. 47.368279, -122.383679 (1 mi. S of Pt. Robinson)]. -Alexandra Spallone McDermott
*
18:34 - Still viewing out from Redondo. They have moved into the sun glare. Still southbound. -Vanessa Franz
*
18:37 - They are well past Point Robinson, passing through Redondo and heading south towards Dash Point. Slightly west side of channel. I was just viewing from Redondo boardwalk a couple of minutes ago and decided to call it a night.
18:17 - I see them directly out from Redondo now. Past Point Robinson.
18:01 - Heading southwest towards Point Robinson now.
17:50 - Mid channel near the channel marker between Point Robinson and Des Moines.
17:33 - Just saw one breach! East channel on the Des Moines side. I am viewing from Redondo.
17:27 - Just spotted them about 5 minutes ago almost mid channel slightly east of the channel marker directly out from Des Moines. They went back down for quite a while and haven’t seen them since. -McKenzie Gomes
*
18:00 - Looks like they are back in travel mode (with the occasional breach!). Moving southwest, but still east of mid.
17:41 - These whales are very slowly making their way southeast, east of mid off of Saltwater still. Lots of breaches, tail lobs and slaps!
17:30 - Breaching and surface active mid channel off of Saltwater. Appears to be post-hunt celebrations!
17:15 - Some surface activity between Point Robinson and Saltwater! Lots of splashes. -Molls Segall
*
17:15 - Surface active now, may be on a hunt, directional changes, still mid channel to slightly west of.
17:11 - Passing Point Robinson now, mid channel, southbound, only saw about 3-4, includes T100C/Laurel. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
17:07 - Not sure if the group split but just saw at least two orcas on the east side of the channel off of Des Moines pointed west.
16:57 - Viewing from Saltwater State Park. Slightly west of mid channel, travel mode southwest bound. Have not passed Point Robinson yet! -Molls Segall
*
16:44 - Closer to point Robinson now, crossing more west of mid, still southbound
16:35 - Approaching Point Robinson, south of Three Tree east side of mid, southbound, fins pointed towards the point. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
16.10 - Still southbound, now past Thee Tree Point, west side of mid channel.
15.55 - Southbound, mid channel, just past the yellow mid channel marker that is north of Three Tree Point. -Mark McGough
*
14:44 - Saw them from ferry coming back from Bremerton. Always fun when I tell a few people, look, we might see orcas, and then we really do see them. -Carl Furfaro
*
14:40 - Heading southbound on the east side of Vashon past the ferry lanes. -Sarah Fay
*
14:29 - Southworth ferry about to get a good look. Southbound quickly view from Emma Schmitz. -Mary Hartmann
*
14:22 - In line with Southworth after passing on east side of Blake Island, as viewed from Constellation Park. Still steady southbound.
14:05 - Past Restoration Point as viewed from Constellation Park. Approaching area of stopped ferry. -Steve Rice
*
13:55 - Approaching red channel marker off Restoration Point. Southbound travel still. -Taylor White
*
13:50 - Passed Blakely Rock as viewed from 64th Alki.
13:35 - Visible from 64th Alki, approaching Eagle Harbor. Far side southbound. -Steve Rice
*
13:36 - Currently straight out from Space Needle slightly west of mid channel. Big splashes. -BT Gifford
*
13:30 - Still on the westside approaching/passing Eagle Harbor. Southbound with longer down times.
13:09 - Viewing from Discovery Park, they’re on the west side of the channel cruising southbound. -Kas Alexis
*
12:37 - Directly out from Sunset Hill Park. -Summer Staley
*
11:40 - Generally mid channel south of Jefferson Head transect Richmond Beach. Seem to be nudging closer together, but still in few groups. Steady southbound travel. So pretty when they all surface together [approx. 47.733229, -122.442163]. That’s my last update.
11:28 - There are 2-3 orcas leading in front of that 11:20 reported group (same line) and 2-3 further west of the lead group. All steady southbound Richmond Beach to approaching in line with Jefferson Head.
11:20 - I see at least 5-6, including male, just north of the yellow mid channel buoy off Kayu Kayu Ac park, Richmond Beach and just west of mid channel. Steady southbound loosely grouped. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
*
11:20 - Viewing from Richmond Beach, northwest (from Richmond) way out on the other side, PSE is with them, hard to spot a few tails even with binos. -EZ Lorenz
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Eileen Sickle
Date of Sighting: May 20, 2025
Time: 11:08 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Puget Sound off Kingston [approx. 47.774036, -122.453447].
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Traveling? Only saw once
If orcas, any males?: Not seen
Any unusual markings?: Tip of large dorsal fin bent. Large orca
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Unique bent tip of dorsal fin
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photo by Eileen Sickle, May 20, 2025
*
11:01 - South of the Kingston Edmonds ferry lanes, very west southbound. Viewing from Marina Beach. -Kristine Stevens
*
Tue, May 20 - Puget Sound (T49A2, T100s minus T100E, T124A2s, T124Ds) - T124A2 Elkugu, T100 Hutchins, T100F Estrella - T124A2 Elkugu with T124D Field in the background
10:00 - 11:00 - We found these 11 killer whales and watched them head towards Kingston. T124Ds, T100s, T124A2s, and T49A2. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 20, 2025
*
10:52 - Spread across west/mid channel southbound. T49A2 is with them too! [approx. 47.812937, -122.469186 (2 mi. NE of Kingston]. 
10:04 - T124Ds, T124A2s, T100s! Southbound [47.837438, -122.432297 (mid-Possession triangle)]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
GRAY WHALES -
Tue, May 20 - Saratoga Passage
21:00 - One gray off Mabana in the sunset. Southbound [video in FB comments]. -Susan John
*
Tue, May 20 - Crescent Harbor (CRC22 Earhart) - CRC22 Earhart -ID by Serena Tierra, Orca Network
13:46 - Near the shoreline slowly moving west [approx. 48.297071, -122.599790].
13:39 - Whales deep in Crescent Harbor. -photo by Miguel Ruiz, May 20, 2025
*
13:22 - Correction 3 whales [near Polnell Shores].
12:04 - Two grays feeding in Polnell Shores. -Terra Parham
*
Tue, May 20 - Port Susan (CRC356 Carson)
11:58 - Gray whale 356 is northbound off of Tulalip shores [approx. 48.080293, -122.330338]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
Tue, May 20 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch & CRC2362 Thidwick)
13:21 - Well this is unexpected. Two more grays northbound off of the south end of Whidbey Island heading to Glendale. It’s 2362 Thidwick and 53 Little Patch! [approx. 47.906694, -122.372166]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
Tue, May 20 - Possession Sound (CRC531 Gretchen)
12:57 - There’s another gray whale (531 Gretchen) eastbound off the the southeast corner of Hat [approx. 48.007551, -122.281469]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
Tue, May 20 - Possession Sound & Port Susan (CRC53 Little Patch, CRC356 Carson, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC2356 Stalwart) - CRC2362 Thidwick & CRC53 Little Patch - CRC356 Carson - We found 4 gray whales on May 20. One was 356 in Port Susan off of Tulalip Shores (12:00 - 12:30) then 531 Gretchen was on the southeast side of Hat island (12:40 - 13:00) and finally we found 53 and 2356 south of the Clinton ferry terminal (13:25 - 13:45). -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 20, 2025

May 19
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, May 19 - Rosario Strait/Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (T49A2, T100s, T124A2s, T124Ds) - T124A2B Litton on the right - T124A2 Elkugu -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - It was a wild T Party on the water today. Link to photos. -photos by Donna George, May 19, 2025
*
18:55 - Now south of Deception Pass, drifting more offshore west now.
18:35 - Eastbound inching closer to Deception Pass...
18:20 - From West Beach, Deception Pass, can see orcas headed east towards us. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
18:11 - Got eyes from Moran, northbound, two boats. -Eliseanna Morrison
*
17:20 - Last update from me. They were pretty far out and seemed to be milling so unsure of direction did still seem to be heading south but unsure if continuing west or not.

17:05 - Visibility is no longer great. I last saw them at the south end of Lopez probably a little bit closer to Lopez, but unsure of which direction at this time.

16:05 - Southbound mid channel. Past Bird Rocks.
15:28 - Flipped back west.
15:14 - May possibly be a youngster with them as well.
15:13 - Still currently eastbound at least five, possibly a couple more still aimed for the channel, but unsure yet if they will continue that direction currently still at the southern end of Cypress.
15:04 - At least one large male, whale boat with them.
15:04 - Orcas just south of Cypress viewing from Washington Park at Green Point. -Silver Hubble
*
Mon, May 19 - Saratoga Passage/Deception Pass (T99s minus T99B) - T99C Barakat - Hidden Beach. Link to more photos. - From Deception Pass Bridge. Link to more photos. -photos by Kim Parry, May 19, 2025
*
T99 Bella - T99s. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, May 19, 2025
*
T99E Qwiin qwiin oo quii la - T99 Bella, T99D Puck, T99C Barakat, T99E Qwiin qwiin oo quii la - T99s. Link to more photos. -photos & IDs by Sarah Geist, May 19, 2025
*
T99 Bella - T99s from Hidden Beach to Crescent Harbor, Ala Spit and Deception Pass Bridge. Link to more photos. -photos by Patrick Sylvester, May 19, 2025
*
Just what my soul needed. Link to more photos & FB video. -photo by Mel Nasby, May 19, 2025
*
Today, T99s made their way from Holmes Harbor all the way north to Deception Pass, making it there just before dark - westbound as they neared the bridge. Link to FB video. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
20:35 - They went under bridge, now northbound out from Rosario Head. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
20:01 - Passing Cornet Bay now toward the bridge.
19:49 - Headed past Hoypus Point looks like baby.
19:32 - I see a large male at Ala Spit right now. -Steve Perea
*
19:42 - Visible from Deception Pass bridge, look to be westbound off Yokeko Point. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
19:27 - First group is heading towards the bridge from Ala Spit now.
18:57 - Can see them from Ala Spit now. Moving slowly north. -Patrick Sylvester
*
18:32 - Spotted them from Dugualla Bay, passing Goat Island. Still heading north. -Ashton Mead
*
17:58 - North of Borgman Road. Still slow.  -Sarah Geist
*
16:45 - Continuing east sloooowly along shoreline between Polnell & Mariner’s Cove.
16:10 - East of Polnell Point eastbound. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:52 - Orcas east [still west at the moment] of Polnell Point. -Terra Parham
*
15:35 - Exiting Crescent Harbor pointing towards Polnell.
15:19 - Deep in Crescent Harbor. Hunting. -Sarah Geist
*
14:50 - Now look northeast/east bound.
14:30 - From my odd perspective, they are northbound of green buoy that's east of Long Point, but appear aimed west towards Penn Cove at the moment. Maybe N/NW. Hard to say. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
14:17 - Off Long Point, but way on the Camano side now. Still northbound. -Patrick Sylvester
*
13:43 - Still northbound very close to Whidbey. Next viewing is Long Point. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
13:40 - Still northbound. Out from Onamac. Very Whidbey side. -Sarah Geist
*
13:05 - 1.5 miles north of Hidden Beach, Whidbey, slowly going north. -photo by Aaron Gill, May 19, 2025
*
13:01 - SJC leaving T99s (minus Holly) still northbound, north of Hidden Beach, slowwwww travel. -Alli Montgomery
*
12:47 - Past Hidden Beach. Close to Whidbey. Slowly northbound. -Sarah Geist
*
12:34 - Nearly to Hidden Beach still northbound, inshore of WW vessels.
12:15 - Northbound approximately [48.107797, -122.551423]. Hidden Beach get ready, should be a decent pass soon!
12:00 - There were direction changes & stalled a bit, but now seem again slow northbound approximately [48.103382, -122.557685].
11:40 - Still making their way slooowly northbound approximately [48.092369, -122.551460]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
11:50 - Four or five orcas west of Baby Island, heading north out of Holmes Harbor. -Martha Poppy Sinclair
*
Mon, May 19 - Holmes Harbor (T99s minus T99B) - T99D Puck & T99E Qwiin qwiin oo quii la - T99E Qwiin qwiin oo quii la
11:15 - 14:00 - We watched the T99 family in Holmes Harbor. While Barakat and Bella were mostly resting, Puck and Qwiin Qwiin hunted and auklet! They gave us a cool pass where Qwiin's eyes were open and she showed us the auklet in her mouth. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 19, 2025
*
10:35 - Just took photos of 2 male orcas breaching near the golf course in Holmes Harbor. -Jan Willis
*
11:17 - T99s northbound close to shore past Dines Point.
10:45 - T99s northbound close to shore west side north of Honeymoon Bay.
10:19 - Two just surfaced maybe 50 feet offshore, male not much further out, still northbound [approx. 48.035526, -122.536893].
10:15 - At least 4 orcas, male inside buoy line, calf was surface active near him, then 2 others further out. Slow northward trend.
10:12 - Milling, with north trend, hugging west side of Holmes Harbor just a bit north of golf course.
10:05 - Mom & calf approx. here, my previous pin was inaccurate [48.030267, -122.530725]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
10:04 - I’m seeing one moving north/milling, some surface activity. East side of harbor. Seeing 2 now. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Harold Drews
Date of Sighting: May 19, 2025
Time: 9:50 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Holmes Harbor west side at golf course
Direction of travel : South into harbor, then north out of harbor
Behaviors observed: surface active for a time
If orcas, any males?: 1 Male
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 - T99C Barakat - T99C Barakat -photos by Harold Drews, May 19, 2025
*
09:42 - South end of Holmes Harbor. Two males milling about.  -WA app
*
GRAY WHALES -
Mon, May 19 - Upper Saratoga Passage
16:06 - Gray at Madrona beach at yacht club southbound. -Thomas McKane
*
13:05 - Gray heading slowly east towards Polnell Shores. 
12:41 - Gray is feeding off Mariner's Cove.  -Terra Parham
*
Mon, May 19 - Port Susan (CRC22 Earhart & CRC2356 Stalwart) - CRC22 Earhart - CRC2356 Stalwart & CRC22 Earhart - Earhart and a friend were inside the buoys at Tillicum and Tyee beaches.
13:20. Southbound -photos by Susan John, May 19, 2025
*
Mon, May 19 - Lower Saratoga Passage
18:32 - Two possibly three whales off Mabana and Irenella. Seeing the blows. -Gary Leonard
*
Mon, May 19 - Possession Sound (CRC531 Gretchen)
14:00 - SJC leaving CRC531 Gretchen traveling southbound from west Hat down to the southern tip! -Alli Montgomery
*
Mon, May 19 - Possession Sound 
13:44 - At Mukilteo Lighthouse gray whale northbound close to Mukilteo side, a nice surprise. -Joe Dreimiller
*
Mon, May 19 - Possession Sound (CRC56 Stardust, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC543) - CRC531 Gretchen - CRC543
10:00 - 10:30 - We watched gray whales 56 and 543 on Possession Bar on the south side of Whidbey. Later we found 531 on the NW side of Hat island and watched her for a few minutes (~12:45 - 13:00). -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 19, 2025
*
Mon, May 19 - Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (CRC56 Stardust & CRC543)
09:54 - Gray whales! #56 and #543 [47.899741, -122.435479] no solid direction. [These whales were later seen headed north in Admiralty Inlet]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE

May 18
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, May 18 - San Juans (T19s) - Per Sara Baldwin in WSSJIs, these are the T19s.
*
17:00 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 17:26 to report: 1700 hrs: MV CHELAN Captain reports 2 orcas EB about a 1/2 mile east of Brown Island.
*
Sun, May 18 - San Juans
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Nate Rooks
Date of Sighting: May 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: Between Yellow and Jones Island
Direction of travel : Northbound pretty fast
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 2?
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
*
Sun, May 18 - Admiralty Inlet (T99s) - Hunting a harbor porpoise - I was out with Puget Sound Express when we saw the T99s in Admiralty Inlet. -photos by Bridget Brown, May 18, 2025
*
18:25 - Southbound east of cruise ship [approx. 47.964290, -122.557067].
18:10 - I see some surface active orcas due south of me at Shore Meadow Road, south end Mutiny Bay, Whidbey side of mid. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:17 - Viewing from Bush Point - whales are other side of mid. Just seeing blows. Look to still be southbound. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
14:30 - Saratoga just left the T99s southbound 2 miles north of Point Marrowstone. -Christopher Lewman, PSE
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Aaron bu
Date of Sighting: May 18, 2025
Time: 2:25 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Marrowstone Lighthouse
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: hunting
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It was nice
Photos available?: No
*
14:17 - MV KENNEWICK Captain reports there are 4 orcas NB on crossing the ferry lane about 1/4 mile south of Admiralty.
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sun, May 18 - Crescent Harbor
15:45 - 2 gray whales moving east towards Seaplane base Whidbey Island. -Miguel Ruiz
*
Sun, May 18 - Saratoga Passage
11:40 - Gray whale at Indian Beach, north of Cama Beach, feeding. -Mark Severson
*
Sun, May 18 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch, CRC56 Stardust, CRC543, CRC2356 Stalwart)
13:17 - SJC leaving 4 grays all skirting the Delta line. Good social behaviors. CRC53 Little Patch (yay!), 56 Stardust, 543, and 2356 Stalwart. -Alli Montgomery
*
09:15 - At least 2 grays in the [Snohomish] delta. One feeding for sure. Closer to the port. -photo by Jaime Shields, May 18, 2025

May 17
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, May 17 - Haro Strait (T123s) - T123D Darcy
17:00 - T123A - Stanley! Taken near Sidney. -photos by Molls Segall, May 17, 2025
*
I've stitched together a composite video of my lengthy Encounter with the T123s. Link to Youtube video. I filmed the T123s northbound in Haro Strait: Link to Youtube video. This particular video, one of several I took of the T123s, was filmed at 12:47 PM PDT. At the time of filming, the animals in the clip were approximately mid-channel in Haro- three nautical miles off of Cadboro Point on nautical charts, For the record, this same pod was Encountered earlier that same day, eastbound in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, off of Clover Point in Victoria. -Gerald Graham
*
Sat, May 17 - Saratoga Passage/Possession Sound
17:56 - Just saw an orca passing south past the Clinton ferry dock close to the Whidbey shore. -Natalie Scantlen
*
10:15 - 11:00 - [From Race Lagoon, Whidbey] "Saw a smallish solo orca heading north through Saratoga observed starting around 10:15am until 11am". -WA app
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sat, May 17 - Birch Bay
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Lisa Mahendran
Date of Sighting: May 17, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Birch Bay
Direction of travel : W
Behaviors observed: Milling and traveling
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: Rowan Brown
Date of Sighting: May 17, 2025
Time: 5:07 PM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: 48.92669° N, 122.74539° W (Birch Bay)
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: None
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Couldn’t identify using CRCs codes, will check and send photos later The sighting was of at least 3 Grey Whales, all of which were breaching, but had feeding behavior. They were not travelling, as I initially put down on the sighting
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Rowan Brown, May 17, 2025
*
Sat, May 17 - Possession Sound (CRC56 Stardust, CRC383 Cascade, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC543 & others)
12:48 - Hello! SJC is leaving at least 7 grays whales all milling and circling between southeast Hat Island and the Delta. CRC56 Stardust, 383 Cascade, 531 Gretchen, and 543 among them! -Alli Montgomery
*
Sat, May 17 - Port Susan (CRC2356 Stalwart & others)
15:27 - Just passed Kayak Point going north. -Amber Rose Morrow
*
CRC2356 Stalwart
13:20 - At CC1 southbound now.
13:09 - Mid channel.
13:07 - Two grays in Port Susan as well. One at CC2 northbound and another at Sunny Shores northbound.
12:20 - This was at CC2. But Stalwart is still in the same general area last seen northbound. -photo by Thomas McKane, May 17, 2025
*
DOLPHINS -
Sat, May 17 - Strait of Georgia
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Daniel Donnecke
Date of Sighting: May 17, 2025
Time: 8:52 AM
Species seen: pacific white-sided dolphins
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: off Hornby Island - St. John's Point
Direction of travel : N, fast
Behaviors observed: milling about in the shallow waters for about 2 minutes before headed due north
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: tiny scars in the fin seen in one photo
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I have seen them off Read and off Quadra but never before from Hornby Island
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Daniel Donnecke, May 17, 2025

May 16
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, May 16 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T49As) - T49A6 Charlie II & T49A Nan - T49A3 Nat & T49A4 Neptune - We were treated to lovely close passes as they meandered west. -photos & IDs by Bonnie Gretz, May 16, 2025
*
GRAY WHALES -
Fri, May 16 - Possession Sound (CRC56 Stardust & CRC2362 Thidwick)
12:38 - SJC is leaving at least 4 grays whales including CRC56 and 2362 splitting between southeast Hat Island and the shallows of the Snohomish Delta! -Alli Montgomery

May 15
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, May 15 - Puget Sound (T65A5)
19:14 - Indy moving slowly north in Colvos past Command Point.
18:45 - Indy swimming under the Washington Monument in Colvos Passage! -photo by Ryan Dicks, May 15, 2025
*
17:27 - Orcas heading north past the tip of Point Defiance towards Colvos. Closer to Gig Harbor side. I saw at least two blows and a tail slap from Owen Beach. -Kevin Respicio
*
17:15 - Same single whale breached twice. Slightly further north into Colvos.
17:00 - I saw one whale in Dalco closer to Gig Harbor. Milling. Saw a fluke. No clear direction. -Stace Gordon
*
16:30 - Four orcas seen just southwest of Point Defiance. Northbound swimming mid channel. Lots of tail slaps. -Taylor Frierson
*
08:10 - I *may* have seen 2 fins between Blake and Bainbridge west of mid channel near the Bremerton ferry lane from the Bainbridge Island ferry A few minutes ago (8:10ish) But I don’t have binoculars, haven’t had coffee and if I did see them they dove before I could get direction of travels and we moved away from them so… -Amy Douglas Ramos
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jennifer Hrachovec
Date of Sighting: May 15, 2025
Time: 7:30 AM
Species seen: Orcas
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Vashon to Seattle passenger ferry, East of Blake Island at the marker buoy
Direction of travel : E
Behaviors observed: Splashing, fin slapping, blowing, breaching
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES -
Thu, May 15 - Gulf of Alaska
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ian Connor
Date of Sighting: May 15, 2025
Time: 6:05 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: 60 km south/south east Kayak Island
Direction of travel : E
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes at least 1
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Spotted starboard side of Celebrity Summit head due west.
Photos available?: No
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, May 15 - Haro Strait - Humpback whale BC0946, known as “Slits” was tangled in a steel rope in 2022 and rescued by Paul Cottrell and team from DFO. I’m grateful for good humans! She subsequently went on to produce a calf in 2024. Here she is making her way down Haro Strait this past rainy Thursday. Fluke! Link to FB video. -Jenna Darcie 
*
GRAY WHALES -
Thu, May 15 - Possession Sound (CRC56 Stardust & CRC2362 Thidwick)
12:39 - Hello! SJC is just leaving two grays CRC56 and 2362 currently milling off southeast Hat [Island], as well as two other grays further off the Snohomish Delta line as well! [48.003980, -122.290996, 47.992248, -122.247611, 48.015312, -122.258903]. -Alli Montgomery

May 14
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, May 14 - South Puget Sound (T65A5)
09:30 - Lone orca back side of Raft Island. Very quiet, stayed under than up and down many times. Breathing echoed loudly. Usually the seal will be cruising in ahead of any whale activity, but they weren’t around. Have had lots of eagles, herons, otters, seal congregating/eating small fish last 48 hours. -Marycatherine MC Lanzon Stubbs
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, May 14 - San Juans
15:45 - 16:15- Ferry slowed for what they thought was a humpback near Lopez Island. I saw it heading west. -Andrée Hurley
*
GRAY WHALES -
Wed, May 14 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch, CRC56 Stardust, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC543, CRC2249 Hattie, CRC2356 Stalwart, CRC2362 Thidwick) - CRC56 Stardust -ID by Alisa Lemire Brooks
16:25 - One gray spotted so far in the delta. Mid channel heading closer to Jetty Island. -photo by Jaime Shields, May 14, 2025
*
10:56 - CRC 2249 and 2356 are milling at my map spot [approx. 47.996103, -122.286258].
10:36 - Crc 543, 531, and 2362 milling within 300 yards of each other at my map spot [approx. 48.003753, -122.294832].
09:54 - ‘Little Patch’ is back from BC! CRC 53 and 56 are milling at my map spot [47.994327, -122.308306].  -Bart Rulon

May 13
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, May 13 - South Puget Sound (T65A5)
17:59 - Single orca in Carr Inlet heading into Henderson Bay [northbound]. Looks like the same lone whale that was here last Sunday.  -Laura Chandler
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, May 13 - Haro Strait (BCX1705 Ocular & other)
19:00 - Two humpbacks heading up island towards Landbank. I photographed the fluke of one of the humpbacks. He was BCX1705 Ocular. -MHalli [SSCH]
*
Tue, May 13 - Haro Strait
14:45 - Pair of humpbacks northbound 1 mile offshore of County Park, San Juan Island. -Barbara Howitt [WWSJI]
*
GRAY WHALES -
Tue, May 13 - Southern Strait of Georgia (CRC2383 & CRC2557) - CRC2557 - CRC 2383 and CRC 2557 just north of Lummi Island. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, May 13, 2025
*
13:38 - There are two gray whales on the north side of Lummi. -Tyson Parker Reed, Island Adventures
*
13:38 - We are on Island adventure, and were just with 2 grays just north of Lummi Island. Gray whales CRC2557 and CRC2383, IDs by Tyson Parker Reed and Alexandra Vandezee. -Sarah Geist
*
13:15 - My father-in-law let me know there are a minimum of three orcas [corrected to grays] north of Lummi Island.  -Ellesa Hunter

May 12
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, May 12 - Possession Sound (T23Cs)
13:44 - 3 orcas [seen from] ferry, Mukilteo to Hat?
13:12 - Orcas heading north from Picnic Point near Mukilteo lighthouse. Whidbey Island side. -photo by Donna Kimball, May 13, 2025
*
13:47 - [delayed report] Orcas Possession Sound northbound from Glendale; video shows probably 5-6 animals and hunting behavior reported to me at WIWS by Wylie Dogwood. -Kevin Phillips
*
13:40 - KITSAP slowed to let them pass eastbound between us & Mukilteo ferry terminal.
13:35 - Appear eastbound out from Mukilteo ferry terminal.
13:10 - Northbound passing Glendale about mid/east of. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:35 - Passed by Mukilteo lighthouse fairly close and then rounded the corner and headed northeast toward Everett. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
13:15 - Getting close saw blows just south of here [Mukillteo], but under now. -Joe Dreimiller
*
12:50 - Across from Possession Point northbound slowly, closer to mainland side. Whale watch boat behind them. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Marty Songstad
Date of Sighting: May 12, 2025
Time: 12:50 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Shipwreck North of Picnic Point
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Travelin
If orcas, any males?: No
Any unusual markings?
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
12:23 - Northbound more mainland side of mid. Just south of Possession Point boat launch. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
12:23 - SJC leaving the T23Cs post meal sharing traveling northbound soon to be in line with Picnic Point. -Alli Montgomery
*
12:05 - Viewing from Sunset Beach Camp whales just south of the whale watching boat.  -Jo Ann Syron
*
12:02 - Orcas heading north between Edmonds and Mukilteo. -Robert Magrino
*
11:59 - Alongside whale watch boat west of Haines Wharf. Slowly heading north. -June Mansfield
*
11:45 - They are still just north of the big whale watching boat just across from Haines Wharf... Just saw a nice jump!  -Elena Sarah Kuo
*
11:43 - Our view watching the T23Cs hunting. -photo by Elisabeth James, May 12, 2025
*
11:42 - Very slowly north. Seem to be milling just south of Haines Wharf.
11:33 - Viewing from Haines Wharf. They are near the two whale watch boats. -June Mansfield
*
11:05 - Milling slowly northbound, it’s the T23Cs [47.832731, -122.373253]! -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
10:55 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:07 to report: 1055hrs: [SUQUAMISH] vessel reports via 800MHz they've spotted a pod of 5 orcas currently located north of the EDM terminal, heading north towards Possession Sound
*
Mon, May 12 - Puget Sound (T23Cs)  - T23C4 Bunzie - T23C3 Durban
10:30 - 11:30 - We saw the T23Cs off of Edmonds. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 12, 2025
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Mon, May 12 - San Juans
09:15 - We spotted (1) humpback whale traveling along the south side (South Beach) of Friday Harbor. -Paige Evans
*
GRAY WHALES -
Mon, May 12 - Birch Bay
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Crystal McMahon
Date of Sighting: May 12, 2025
Time: 3:23 PM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: (48.8813498, -122.9747011 [5 mi. S of Pt. Roberts])
Direction of travel : South down the channel.
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I believe these were the whales that I saw earlier hunting in Birch Bay. I couldn’t verify that 2 were hunting, but definitely saw 2 farther out in the street, possibly even with a juvenile.
Photos available?: No
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Crystal McMahon
Date of Sighting: May 12, 2025
Time: 2:45 PM
Species seen: Gray whale spotted feeding in Birch Bay
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: (48.932877, -122.7688023 [N end of Birch Bay])
Direction of travel : Mostly stationary, stayed within a 200 yard range, moving back and forth, diving and resurfacing
Behaviors observed: Definitely Hunting
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Server at the restaurant we were at said other people had also seen it recently
Photos available?: No
*
Mon, May 12 - Possession Sound (CRC2356 Stalwart & others)
17:45 - 3 grays feeding mid delta, closer to Jetty Island. But this one came cruising by about 100 feet off of Mission Beach, feeding, moving north towards Tulalip marina. -photos by Jaime Shields, May 12, 2025
*
13:09 - SJC leaving at least 5 grays currently milling between southeast Hat and the Delta. However we had heard word of potentially up to 7! Stalwart among them. -Alli Montgomery
*
Mon, May 12 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart, CRC56 Stardust, CRC2249 Hattie, CRC2356 Stalwart, CRC2362 Thidwick) - CRC56 Stardust - CRC2362 Thidwick & CRC56 Stardust
12:00 - 12:45 - Five gray whales on the southeast side of Hat Island. The gray whales were 22, 56, 2356, 2362, and 2249. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 12, 2025
*
11:53 - 7 grays south east of Gedney [Hat Island] right now!  -Trevor Tillman, PSE
*
UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Mon, May 12 - Rosario Strait
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: David Geist
Date of Sighting: May 12, 2025
Time: 1:46 PM
Species seen: Quick single surfacing of what really seemed like a dolphin and not a harbor porpoise
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Quarter a mile out from Anacortes ferry Landing
Direction of travel : SE
Behaviors observed: Almost porpoising
If orcas, any males?: Unknown sex
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No

May 11
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, May 11 - Oregon Coast (T49Bs & T50D) - T50D Lyrical & T49B Van - A very cool sighting off the Oregon Coast shared with us by Léna Hardivillier! She was lucky enough to be on the Newport crabbing pier as the T49Bs and T50D entered Yaquina Bay. The T49s are among the matrilines with a long history of being seen in Oregon. The T49Bs are the least frequent members of the extended T49 family to visit the Salish Sea (compared to the T49As and T49C), but it's cool to note that when they were seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on April 13th of this year, they were also with T50D! There's an ongoing interesting association between the T49s and T50s in general, as earlier this year T49A2 was seen traveling for weeks with T50B1. Thank you so much Léna for sharing your images for all to enjoy! These types of openly shared reports make it possible for all researchers and whale enthusiasts to ponder over one more piece of the puzzle of how these mysterious creatures utilize their vast west coast range. -Orca Behavior Institute -photos by Léna Hardivillier, May 11, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kelly Feeney
Date of Sighting: May 11, 2025
Time: 2:15 PM
Species seen: Possible orca, only saw fin
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Devil's Punchbowl, Oregon
Direction of travel : N
Behaviors observed: Milling
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: Amy Lesan
Date of Sighting: May 11, 2025
Time: 2:05 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Newport, Oregon
Direction of travel : In the bay headed back to the ocean
Behaviors observed: Mom and calf swimming
If orcas, any males?: No
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Sun, May 11 - Haro Strait (T63 & T65) - T65 Whidbey II & T63 Chainsaw - T063 Chainsaw plus one other orca, Haro Strait. Link to more photos & video. -photos by Jenna Darcie, May 11, 2025
*
Sun, May 11 - Guemes Channel (T86A1s, T87, T124A2s) - T87 Harbeson - Looks like T86A1B Denali is a boy! - I decided to go on a Mother's Day adventure today. I went to Anacortes to see some orcas. Link to more photos. -photos by Sarah Geist, May 11, 2025
*
A study in contrasts: T124A2 Elkugu led her family on a successful harbor seal hunt today with the Anacortes Refinery in the background. If mammal-eating Bigg's killer whales can not just survive but thrive in such an urban environment in the Salish Sea, it offers hope that one day, so too can the endangered fish-eating Southern Residents. -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, May 11, 2025
*
In Guemes Channel. Link to FB video. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
[video in FB comments]. -Alexie Gregory
*
14:50 - These whales are now northbound on the east side of Guemes Island.
14:44 - T86A1s, T87, T124A2s are correct. My apologies for any confusion!
14:05 - They flipped with current, eastbound nearing Cap Sante, drifting north.
13:45 - Just east of Guemes ferry terminal. Getting slowed by strong current. Westbound still.
13:25 - T87 & T124A4s [corrected to T124A2s & T86A1s] eastbound Guemes Channel close to Anacortes past Cap Sante.
13:08 - Orcas southbound approximately [48.522283, -122.567982]. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
Sun, May 11 - Rosario Strait (T100, T100C, T100F)
18:46 - They are past Libbey. Southbound still. -Kevin Phillips
*
17:15 - Continuing southbound. Between Hastie Lake and Smith Island. -Sarah Geist
*
16:59 - Three to four orcas southbound from Swan Lake overlook look headed towards Hastie Lake Park. Per Marcy WIWS. -Kevin Phillips
*
14:30 - They passed Rosario Beach and were heading south. They went to the west of Deception Island and then I lost visibility. -Grace Seidel
*
14:08 - Was taken on their pass by at Sare’s Head.
14:01 - Correction. The rest snuck around. All just passing Sare’s Head now. One male, two females, not sure about a calf.
13:54 - Southbound just north of Montgomery-Duban Headlands. Viewing from Sare’s Head still. Only seeing a lone male but he’s still a bit far so it’s possible there are calves with him.
13:27 - Viewing from Sare’s Head. South side of Allan Island. -Sarah Plane
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Nicole Casper
Date of Sighting: May 11, 2025
Time: 1:27 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: South side Allan Island
Direction of travel : North East
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Yes
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Male with 2 calves
Photos available?: No
*
12:20 - T100s southwestbound passing Green Point, Washington Park. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
12:15 - We saw them from Green Point too. For sure 3, but at one point early on, there appeared to be 4. -Candace Daigle Tracy
*
12:16 - Orcas viewed from Washington ferry to SJI.  At least one male off Washington Park. Whale boats on scene. -Julie Page
*
Sun, May 11 - Rosario Strait (T100s minus T100E) - T100F Estrella - T100C Laurel
12:30 - We then went to the east side of Rosario to watch the T100s. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 11, 2025
*
Sun, May 11 - Saratoga Passage (T23Cs)
20:47 - Southbound past Sandy Point. Long down times. Saw juvenile and female.
20:40 - Southbound almost to Sandy Point. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
19:42 - Just north of Bells Beach, there’s a boat with them. Not sure on direction. -Rachael Kvig
*
18:56 - I see dorsal fins north of Baby Island southbound.
18:52 - Looking from Mabana, I can see blows looking towards Greenbank. -Susan John
*
16:15 - From my perspective the orcas are north of Hidden Beach slowly going southbound. They have been very surface active. -Linda Aitkins
*
15:04 - Eyes on them from Hidden Beach, closer to Camano side traveling north. -Kelley Moss
*
14:40 - Northbound Whidbey side of midchannel with some surface activity. Looking from Camano Island State Park boat launch, line of sight to Hidden Beach. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
14:21 - This group has spread out north/south and east/west. They have passed East Point and have continued north, Camano side. These guys are stealthy. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
13:43 - Orca passing Mabana, Whidbey side of mid, northbound. -Susan John
*
13:40 - Very distant fins closer to Camano near Elger Bay, long down times. -Lucy Miller
*
13:17 - Just saw the orcas! Are on their way to Langley! -Maria Berardo
*
13:14 - Past Sandy Point, Whidbey side of mid. Still northbound. I counted at least 5. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
13:13 - SJC is leaving the T23Cs currently northbound traveling, split in groups of 2 and 3 closer to Langley! -Alli Montgomery
*
12:53 - Eyes on them from Maple Cove. Spread out. Northbound near Clipper. -Heather Hardin
*
12:31 - Still between Hat and Whidbey - northbound.
12:22 - Orca are headed north between Whidbey and Hat. Closer to Hat. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
12:06 - Look to be heading towards the west side of Hat Island.
12:04 - Just spotted them facing north at the Clinton ferry dock. -Natalie Scantlen
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Hannah Johnson
Date of Sighting: May 11, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Just south of Clinton ferry dock
Direction of travel : South, slow
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?: No
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Looked like one adult female and two juveniles
Photos available?: No
*
Sun, May 11 - Puget Sound
11:15 - Another group reported them south of Magnolia/ north of the ferry lines at 11:15. I’ve been waiting at Daybreak/Discovery Park since 11:30 and haven’t seen anything. -Summer Staley
*
10:31 - "3-5 orcas heading north from West Seattle through the Bainbridge ferry lanes and continuing north. Seen from downtown Seattle."  -WA app
*
Sun, May 11 - South Puget Sound (T65A5) - T65A5 Indy
*
14:00 - The time of my last sighting. Indy had committed to Carr going north and mid-channel with 3-5 minute downtimes.
13:57 - Looks like he’s trending back north towards Carr with long down times.
13:45 - Indy entered Hales Passage briefly and flipped back before the bridge. Currently milling at the mouth of Hales off of Bella Bella.
13:23 - Now moving northbound between Bella Bella and Penrose. Closer to Key Peninsula side of the channel.
13:04 - Passing between Penrose and Bella Bella mid channel. Seems to be moving at a leisurely pace southbound. -photo by Molls Segall, May 11, 2025
*
13:51 - Watching Indy from Bella Bella! -Lauren Ochoa
*
12:52 - Just spotted from Penrose. Headed south on the Horsehead Bay side/Gig Harbor. Long ways out from Penrose. -Nathan Haven
*
11:26 - No direction, still milling.
11:25 - Still milling at the area.
10:58 - Key Peninsula side. It’s nearer to Key side.
10:55 - Carr Inlet in front of Glen Cove.
10:50 - Going out to Carr Inlet.
10:24 - Henderson Bay. In front of Raft Island. -Adana Scotty
*
10:33 - Long down times. I think he was pointed south at last sighting.
10:23 - Slowly moving north.
10:19 - I see him south of Minter. Key Peninsula side of mid channel. -Gary Furuheim
*
10:19 - Sighting in Henderson Bay [no other information given]. -Cynthia Macfarlan
*
T65A5 Indy
09:29 - Orca heading toward Purdy Spit. -photo by Billie Jean Hirko, May 11, 2025
*
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES -
Sun, May 11 - Queen Charlotte Strait, BC
11:37 - Sighting 4 orca tails off Robson Bight going down Queen Charlotte Strait. No photos. -Sandy Williamson
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sun, May 11 - Rosario Strait
12:30 - Shortly after my orca report from the SJI ferry I saw a humpback whale around Cypress Island. Again, whale boats were on scene. Definitely a humpback, but ferry was moving fast in opposite direction! -Julie Page
*
Sun, May 11 - Rosario Strait (BCY1225 Scuba & other) - BCY1225 Scuba
11:15 - We saw Scuba (BCY1225) with an un-ID'd friend west of Bird Rocks in Rosario Strait. -photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 11, 2025
*
Sun, May 11 - Puget Sound
09:33 - Good morning - humpback off the south end again this morning. Reported eastbound, but they often make direction changes in this area, so it could be anywhere along the south end of Maury.  -Sound Action
*
GRAY WHALES - Sun, May 11 - Possession Sound (CRC383 Cascade, CRC2356 Stalwart & others) - Staying in a house on Priest Point. My wife and I have been watching grey whales feeding almost every evening for over a week. You can see one pectoral fin and about one quarter of their tale as they turn on their side and burrow they open mouth through the bottom mud and sand. -John Brown
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jason Brunet
Date of Sighting: May 11, 2025
Time: 6:42 PM
Species seen: Probably, I only see spouts from where I am
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Between Jetty Island and Hat Island. No real direction. I am seeing them from American Legion Park in Everett, above the
Snohomish river delta.
Direction of travel : No real trend
Behaviors observed: Spouts
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
16:55 - 4 grays feeding by Jetty Island, right by navy base [video in FB coments]. -Jaime Shields
*
16:15 - From Legion Park I can see at least two feeding off Jetty Island. -Emily Horton
*
14:04 - SJC is leaving a total of 6 gray whales all spread between southeast Hat and Snohomish Delta. CRC383 Cascade and 2356 Stalwart among them! -Alli Montgomery, SJC

May 10
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, May 10 - Strait of Juan de Fuca (T65As minus T65A5) - From OPWS, this is the 65As. -Sarah Geist
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kay Thoreson
Date of Sighting: May 10, 2025
Time: 6:15 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen:
Where seen:
Direction of travel : South along Adelma Beach in Discovery Bay
Behaviors observed: Slow traveling, dorsal find, rolling, blowing ..
If orcas, any males?: Yes, one
Any unusual markings?: Couldn't see
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Awesome,overwhelming . . right in front of my place, not far out, on the edge of the Adelma Beach shelf.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
Sat, May 10 - Puget Sound (T23Cs)
21:03 - Made it past the mouth of the inlet - headed west along Vashon now, almost to ferry lane.
20:53 - Back and forth between Maury and Vashon - feeding?
20:50 - Viewing from Dune. Headed quickly toward ferry lane, westbound along Vashon (between Maury and Vashon). -Janelle Avice McDonald
*
20:40 - Just a small video clip of the porpoising they were doing from about Gold Beach all the way around the corner past Quartermaster Harbor towards the ferry lanes. As viewed from Browns Point. -April Basham
*
20:46 - Seeing them slightly south Browns Point lighthouse milling and trending southbound. Still 2 groups. -Justis McLaren
*
20:40 - Been moving at high speed/porpoising past Browns Point more mid. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
20:30 - They are headed towards Browns Point - very long down times but moving SLOW.
20:12 - Spotted from Dash Point straight across closer to Vashon side. -Bronwyn Schroeder
*
19:31 - Just saw a group of them south bound mid channel just past Redondo now and heading past Dash Point soon. -McKenzie Gomes
*
19:13 - Just saw two pass south of Saltwater State Park.  -Addison Elkins
*
18:36 - Slight split in two groups of 2 & 3, southbound past Des Moines Pier east side of channel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
18:17 - Possibly 2 groups one closer to Point Robinson side.
18:09 - Slowly making their way to Des Moines pier southbound mid channel. -Steve Czerniak
*
17:59 - Visible from the cove at Normandy Park! Mid channel.  -Becca Bowdey
*
17:40 - Southbound past Three Tree Point close to point.
17:24 - East side southbound north of Three Tree Point headed this way. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
16:50 - Southbound past Brace Point, split into two groups - one closer to east side and one further out in the channel. -Steve Rice
*
16:40 - Continued southbound travel from Lincoln Park passed through ferry lanes.
16:26 - Viewable from Lincoln Park. East in channel southbound. -Padmini Harchandrai
*
16:20 - Seen from Lowman Beach Park a couple miles out, heading south. -Sarah Audley Kelly
*
16.09 - Southbound FAST, now passing south end of Blake Island, still well east of lanes.
16:03 - From Emma Schmitz, group just passed yellow buoy southbound, east of traffic lanes. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
*
16:01 - Lost sight west of Alki. They're heading southwest towards mid of channel. -Jason Luc
*
15:56 - 16:03 - From Constellation.
15:19 - 15:30 - From Don Armeni. -photos by Robin Sinner, May 10, 2025
*
15:57 - Southbound past Alki Point east side channel. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:43 - Visible from Alki Beach. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
15:24 - They’ve left Elliot Bay headed west, past the black and white channel marker.
15:29 - Research boat still following. Westbound with a southward tilt. -Taylor White
*
15:24 - Westbound out from Alki Beach pier. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:18 - [video of T23Cs in comments]. -Diane Knoll
*
15:20 - By marination, very close to shore.
15:15 - Right by Salty's. -Amy Chung
*
15:12 - Two orcas coming back on Seattle from ferry. Link to FB reel. -Racheal Gager
*
15:11 - Heading west on the Alki side. Passing in front of Salty’s towards Duwamish Head. -Kas Alexis
*
15:12 - Passing below the self storage and docked container ship. About to spraying fire boat. Viewing from 70.
15:00 - Deep in the bay. By the SSA terminal cranes and green cranes. Moved to Pier 70. -Taylor White
*
14:44 - Viewing from downtown. Heading southeast further into Elliot Bay. moving quickly. -Kas Alexis
*
14:38 - Caught a glimpse of fins and spouts. Research boat trailing them. Still southbound east of mid. Viewing from Myrtle Edwards.
14:22 - Definitely angling into Elliot Bay. -Taylor White
*
14:35 - They just passed the cruise ship parked by the marina heading east. -Jennifer Michael
*
14:20 - Look to be turning east into Elliot Bay. -Kas Alexis
*
14:16 - Passing Magnolia bluff, a white boat is following them. -Amy Chung
*
14:15 - Viewing from Magnolia. They’re traveling southbound east of mid. Visible naked eye. Angled slightly southeast. -Kas Alexis
*
13:36 - Two across from Discovery Park Lighthouse traveling south.
13:30 - Looking up the channel from Discovery Park Lighthouse, see a couple maybe traveling south/west bound towards us, surfacing near the large black sail boat that’s circling - still far out from us. -Tim Krutov
*
13:30 - I saw what I believe were two from the Seattle Great Wheel. -Jade Graddy
*
13:33 - Update on the T23C pod southbound [approx. 47.669882, -122.447745].
13:15 - Southbound [approx. 47.696506, -122.419161]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
13:06 - Moving south, in line now with north end of Golden Gardens. West of green buoy.
13:02 - At least a couple whales visible from north end of Golden Gardens, viewing towards the north. Mid channel, seems probably parallel to Carkeek Park at the moment. -Marty Garner
*
12:50 - Out from Carkeek. Southbound. Bit of a spread from east to west. One is closer to east side and rest are a little further out but all east of mid. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
12:22 - Passing Richmond Beach, averaging 5-6 minutes down times, and 1-2 minutes up. East and still southbound. -Kristine Stevens
*
12:06 - SJC is leaving this lovely group still southbound, now closer to Richmond Beach! -Alli Montgomery
*
12:06 - From Richmond Beach, can see without binos, headed south. -Kristine Stevens
*
12:00 - Kayu Kayu southbound east of mid, easily visible without binoculars. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
12:00 - [time of photo report].
11:31 - From Clipper. Headed southeast [approx. 47.806642, -122.433509]. -photo by Paul Davis, May 10, 2025
*
11:30 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: SPOKANE Captain reports vessel is backing down due to a group of 4 Orca mid channel en route to EDM.
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Alex Beekman
Date of Sighting: May 10, 2025
Time: 11:25 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen:
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: Maybe 1, not sure
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
11:23 - Hello! SJC has just spotted the T23Cs currently southbound, center of channel crossing the Kingston/Edmonds ferry lanes.  -Alli Montgomery 
*
Sat, May 10 - South Puget Sound (T65A5)
14:35 - Off Cutts Island continuing south. This will be my last report.
14:20 - Headed south off of Raft Island. Mid channel, but favoring the east side. -Randy Witter
*
13:03 - He's milling southeast of Purdy Spit. 
12:37 - Indy was getting close to Purdy Spit but changed his mind and flipped back south and east.  -Catherine Alvarado Soto
*
10:53 - Still way out from Purdy Spit milling and lots of bird activity above him including 2 eagles and seagulls. Possibly feeding.
10:34 - Viewing from Purdy Spit one male orca way in the distance. Was committed east and then started milling. -Robyn Riley
*
09:20 - Orca in Carr Inlet mid channel heading north just passed Kopachuck. -Gillian Baldwin
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, May 10 - Spieden Island - Spieden Island. Link to FB video. -Jenny Holmes
*
Sat, May 10 - Puget Sound (CRC-22858, the 2024 calf of BCX1416 Phi) - This is the 2024 calf of BCX1416/CRC16012 Phi. Cascadia Research Collective has added this little one to their catalog with the number CRC22858. Link to more photos. -photos by Jason Cook, May 10, 2025
*
Olalla to Manchester. Truly an unforgettable day. Lost count of the amount of breaches. Their beauty and power is very fitting for this Mother's Day weekend. Link to more photos. -photos by Mairenn Dumont, May 10, 2025
*
18:14 - Half hour ago gray [likely humpback] whale thru Agate Pass [time of sighting ~17:45]. -Anne Miller 
*
14:15 - Just saw from south end of Fort Ward. He’s headed around Point Glover, northwest, moving fast in ferry lane. -Amy Douglas Ramos
*
14:03 - MV WALLA WALLA Captain reports the humpback is now just off Orchard Pt. moving SB.
*
14:01 - Breaching resumed [approx. 47.567948, -122.511063].
13:36 - Straight out from Manchester dock/boat launch. Trending northbound.
12:55 - Breaching the length of Blake.
12:45 - Breach fest at Southworth in ferry lane. -Jason Cook
*
13:29 - Viewing from port of Manchester blows and a few breaches just north of Blake now.
13:06 - Still breaching a lot! Right about here [approx. 47.549824, -122.522725].
12:50 - West of Blake Island still viewing from Manchester ferry tons of breaching!
12:42 - Breaching! Just south of Blake Island seems to be heading north west to Manchester area.
12:36 - Viewing from Southworth ferry northbound out of Colvos. -Andrea Facer
*
CRC-22858
12:55 - Kids here at Southworth ferry terminal just counted 23 breaches as this humpback progressed up west side of Blake Island! The sequence indicated it is heading northwest at a good clip. -photos by Scott Veirs, May 10, 2025
*
12:50 - Humpback! Southworth ferry terminal. These videos have 12 of 23 breaches most while the ferry unloaded. Link to FB videos. -Bee Lorenzen McVicker
*
12:50 - From the ferry terminal. So cool! -Ashley Fry
*
11:20 - Seeing from Olalla Bay moving north slowly with white artemis boat. Hugging Vashon side. -Mairenn Dumont
*
CRC-22858
11:03 - Almost to Lisabuela.
10:35 - Humpback has entered Colvos heading north. -photos by Ryan Dicks, May 10, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jen G
Date of Sighting: May 10, 2025
Time: 9:25 AM
Species seen: Humpback
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Owens Beach, Point Defiance, Tacoma
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?: No
*
09:16 - Just saw the fluke passing directly in front of the dock ferry/yacht club appears to be westbound. -Stephanie Morris
*
09:15 - Off Owen Beach heading south.
09:00 - Heading towards Dune midchannel. -Jennifer Tabor
*
08:10 - Humpback whale off Brown's Point entering Commencement Bay. -Lynn Eric Noa
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sat, May 10 - Rosario Strait (CRC2557 & other)
12:00 - 2 grays northbound here. 2557 is one of them [approx. 48.661516, -122.733651].
11:43 - Gray northbound northeast corner Guemes Island. -A
*
Sat, May 10 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart, CRC383 Cascade, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC543, CRC2362 Thidwick & others) - CRC543 -ID by Orca Network - Found 6 gray whales near Everett. Link to more photos.  -photos by Janine Harles, May 10, 2025
*
13:27 - The San Juan Clipper is leaving these whales. Four grays clustered together and appear to be resting near the Southeast end of Hat Island. One whale further east towards Jetty Island and a sixth whale slightly south of the group of four. -Lauren Ryan Booth
*
CRC383 Cascade -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
13:07 - [CRC383 approx. 48.008043, -122.282210]. -photo by Paul Davis, May 10, 2025
*
CRC531 Gretchen & CRC22 Earhart -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network
12:50 - I took while kayaking. This was in Possession Sound, approximately a mile east of Hat Island.  -photos by Alex Sidles, May 10, 2025
*
11:43 - At least 6 in groups of two near southeast Hat and Everett, one is 2362.
11:42 - They're all over, just doing circles, milling.
11:00 - 4 grays at least at southeast Hat. -Janine Harles
*
11:00 - East of Hat Island. Happy Mother’s Day to me! -photo by Amy Kelly, May 10, 2025

May 9
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, May 9 - Puget Sound (T23Cs)
17:47 - I feel like I am seeing the orcas here westbound between Mukilteo and Hat Island [approx. 47.998038, -122.289965]. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
17:28 - Last update, I’m leaving because they’ve drifted pretty far from where I’m at. I can only see exhales from this location [approx. 48.012739, -122.269366], so I can’t tell what direction they’re traveling, but from where I saw them it seems like they’re still trending towards Jetty.
16:20 - Trending north to Everett again. On another kill.
16:13 - Just kidding in the time I wrote that they flipped back south. Not sure if it’s a commit or if they’re just milling.
16:10 - From my vantage they are passing the mouth of Port Susan, so based on current movements, it appears they are heading towards Jetty and the downtown area. On another kill, I think that’s 4 in the time I have been watching! It’s like an all you can eat buffet over here.
15:38 - Approximation [47.996659, -122.313998].
15:35 - Stalled out in front of Harborview Park in Everett. Lots of directional changes appears they may have got something. No committed direction as of this time. Whale watch boat is with them.  -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
*
15:10 - Headed towards Everett as of 10-15 minutes ago. -Joe Dreimiller
*
14:34 - They’re here! At the lighthouse in Mukilteo behind the boat. -Cindy McDonald
*
14:06 - At least one is between PSE and Whidbey. Continuing northbound towards Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes.
14:03 - Same as Michele said with some leading the PSE and some training it. Passing Glendale, center to Mukilteo side northbound. -Ed Pearson
*
14:00 - Viewing from Glendale. Northbound more Mukilteo side of channel. Long down times. Short surfacing.  -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
13:52 - Trending north towards Everett. From my line of site directly in front of Island. Lots of breaching, spy, hopping and surface active. Appears to be a few different kills based on bird activity as well. Whale watch boat still following behind. -Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy
*
13:47 - Just spotted on of the T23C orcas northbound at my map spot [approx. 47.916647, -122.365876] as we are returning from watching gray whales. Very spread out and stealthy.  -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
13:00 - Orca group committed travel passing Possession Point into Possession Sound. Spaced group of 3 and 2. Calm seas. Whales boats have left.  -Justin Goslin
*
12:30 - Viewing from Edmonds Pier still in-front of the PSE. long down times. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
12:12 - Now in front of the Edmonds ferry terminal. Slightly east of mid. Northbound with long down times.
12:00 - Just south of the Kingston ferry, east of mid channel. Saratoga is with them. Clipper and Swiftsure left. Long down times but don’t appear to be moving very fast. -Sara Frey
*
12:00 - SJC leaving the T23Cs northbound midcchannel about to cross Kingston/Edmonds ferry lanes. Longer downtimes, 4-6 minutes. -Alli Montgomery
*
11:59 - Northbound right near Kingston ferry, few whale boats with them. -Kristine Stevens
*
11:40 - Orca group stealthily coming into view at Marina Beach. Continued north quickly in calm seas, both whale boats south as very visual aid.  -Justin Goslin
*
11:22 - Viewing from Richmond Beach northbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
1:15 - T23C pod update northbound [approx. 47.756514, -122.436995].
10:48 - Northbound. Just spotted them [approx. 47.730900, -122.437281]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
09:33 - Found them! Mid channel mid Bainbridge near Yeomalt, headed north! A very small boat is watching them.  -Amy Chung
*
08:18 - Blurry zoomed in photo of a T023C member moving west out of Elliott Bay in line with West Point taken from 1200 block of Alki.  -photo by Robin Sinner, May 9, 2025
*
08:14 - Continued westbound travel, having passed Duwamish Head. Can’t tell if there’s a commitment north or south yet.
08:07 - Appear to be 5 orcas heading west out of Elliot Bay, from my perspective have passed Salty's and the Tacoma has slowed for them. -Kas Alexis
*
07:46 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: WALLA WALLA reports they have pivoted east.
*
07:36 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed to report: TACOMA Captain reports 3 Orca milling in Elliot Bay on approach to SEA. Vessel has slowed down.
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Fri, May 9 - Haro Strait (BCX1057 Divot)
11:45 - Humpback whale in Haro Strait. Divot milling offshore of County Park. -Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [SSCH]
*
Fri, May 9 - Elliot Bay (CRC-22584, the 2024 Calf of Anvil)
20:00 - 1 (possibly 2) humpback whales heading south about a mile south of Fay Bainbridge Park. They turned around and headed back north. -Dave Slade
*
17:00 - Whale(s) (maybe humpback) were visible from the Bainbridge to Seattle ferry perhaps south of Magnolia and in the middle of the bay. -Róisín O'Dowd
*
15:05 - Viewing from Magnolia with Restoration Point in the background - able to see blows, unsure of direction. But appears mid/west of mid channel. -Kas Alexis
*
14:54 - Looking toward Skiff Point from Duwamish Head, humpback was very far out. -Steve Rice
*
14:42 - Lots of breaches! Looks like it’s heading into Eagle Harbor. -Summer Staley
*
14:24 - Westward travel. Mid bay. Past the Magnolia water tower as viewed from Duwamish Head. -Steve Rice
*
14:23 - Viewing from Pier 70 - the humpback is northbound pointed towards to docked cruise ship. Surface active and witnessed an amazing breach. -Kas Alexis
*
14:19 - SJC leaving a beauuuutiful breaching juvenile humpback whale currently cruising past Pier 91. -Alli Montgomery
*
14:00 - Whale tale spotted from Pier 70: north of the pier Clipper boat out with them. -Theresa Rivkin
*
14:01 - Headed northwest towards Pier 91.
13:52 - Viewing from Elliot Bay! Humpback directioned west, but still in the bay. -Summer Staley
*
13:30 - Humpbacks still here in Elliot Bay! Viewing from the new waterfront. -Evan Wakefield
*
CRC-22584 - Per Alisa Lemire Brooks, this humpback was ID in Happy Whale as CRC-22584 aka HW-MN0510750 (2024 calf of Anvil) from Alli's submission.
13:42 - Directly in line with Space Needle as viewed from Don Armeni boat ramp. Far side of bay. -photo by Steve Rice, May 9, 2025
*
13:05 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 13:05 to report: TACOMA @1300 Captain reports one Humpback whale breached in Elliot Bay.
*
11:31 - Humpback cruising SE [southeast] across Elliott Bay towards Alki Lighthouse. -Patty Moriarty
*
Fri, May 9 - Port Susan (CRC-22858, the 2024 calf of BCX1416 Phi)
12:30 - Port Susan [video in FB comments]. -Thomas McKane 
*
GRAY WHALES -
Fri, May 9 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC2249 Hattie, CRC2356 Stalwart, CRC2362 Thidwick)
18:25 - Both grays are feeding now. Pretty right below Mount Rainier.
18:00 - Two gray whales in the Snohomish River delta. At least some feeding behaviors. Between Jetty Island and the channel marker. Observed from Mission Beach. -photo by Jaime Shields, May 9, 2025
*
13:13 - Gray whales crc 2356, 22 and 2249 off the southeast corner of Hat Island.
12:42 - Gray whales crc 531 and 2362 milling at my map spot [approx. 48.002123, -122.293318]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: John Shackman
Date of Sighting: May 09, 2025
Time: 5:58 AM
Species seen: Possible gray
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: East of Hat Island
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Fri, May 9 - Possession Sound (CRC356 Carson & CRC383 Cascade)
11:39 - One of the grays is passing Glendale Beach now heading north. -photos by Kim Parry, May 9, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Jill Lipoti
Date of Sighting: May 09, 2025
Time: 10:25 AM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: South of Scatchet Head, Whidbey Island
Direction of travel : east
Behaviors observed: traveling slowly, maybe foraging?
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
09:59 - CRC 383 and 356 milling off Possession Bar [approx. 47.890216, -122.417145]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
09:30 - Spouts and a large whale fluke near-ish the green buoy off Possession Bank. Looks like maybe feeding and not really traveling? -Alice Thuy Talbot
*
08:52 - Have angled close to the point.
08:45 - Have passed the boat launch Whidbey side of mid heading towards Possession Point southbound.
08:30 - Thank you Melissa - they are so beautiful. Both greys are approaching Possession Beach Park. Southbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
07:40 - They are approaching Glendale.
07:25 - Appears to be two grey whales just south of the Clinton ferry headed south, close to shore [47.941136, -122.349244]. -Melissa Simmons, WSF

May 8
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, May 8 - Haro Strait (T65Bs & T124Ds) - T124D Field, T65B2 Corvus, T124D1 Salish -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Today near Lime Kiln, T65B's, T124D's. Link to more photos.  -photos by Janine Harles, May 8, 2025
*
T65B2 Corvus
11:15 - We saw the T65Bs and T124Ds in Haro Strait.  -photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 8, 2025
*
I filmed the T100Bs [corrected T124Ds] and T065Bs southbound on the west side of Haro Strait this afternoon. Link to Youtube video.  -Gerald Graham
*
12:05 - Still hearing faint Bigg's KW calls on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone in Haro Strait. Link to audio clip. Link to audio clip two. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound 
*
Thu, May 8 - Holmes Harbor/Saratoga Passage (T65A5)
16:17 - Got Indy again, we're leaving him west of hat Island southbound. 
15:50 - Got Indy off of Langley again. Southeast bound. -Brian McGinn, PSE
*
15:45 - We saw T65A5 on the west side of Hat Island. -photos by Kyla Bivens, May 8, 2025
*
13:00 - (neighbor alert) - lone orca (possibly Indy, T65A5?) spotted heading north in Holmes Harbor under golf course. -Sandy Pollard
*
09:09 - I am seeing an orca in Holmes Harbor, close to the Greenbank side. He appears to be more drifting with the current, stays on the surface for quite some time, I am not seeing much in the way of spouts. He is right now closest to the actual point of Dines Point. My neighbor and I have both been watching him; we had the same sense, something is off with this one.  -Kate Sheppard
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, May 8 - South Puget Sound
17:25 - Saw possible a whale at Point Defiance point, west side of channel. Not sure if humpback. -Doug Bud
*
17:05 - Passed Salmon Beach heading north. -Gill Chard
*
16:20 - Humpback northbound towards Narrows Bridge, Gig harbor side. Link to FB video.
16:10 - About midchannel between Point Fosdick and Day Island a humpback breached twice very close to a barge. I was lucky enough to capture his second breach, a spinning breach, after we heard the first one and saw him from our deck on Day Island. What a thrill! He continued south briefly then resumed his journey northbound towards the Narrows Bridge on the Gig Harbor side. I haven’t seen him surface since about 16:20. I assume he continued northbound and is probably under the bridge by now. Link to FB video. -Karen Caldwell
*
12:03 - [approx. 47.172710, -122.790436 (Nisqually Reach)]. -Ash Land
*
10:56 - Humpback is near the north end of Herron Island in Case Inlet.  -Gypsea Salt 
*
GRAY WHALES -
Thu, May 8 - Birch Bay
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Breelynd Huntley
Date of Sighting: May 08, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Birch Bay, WA
Direction of travel : North and south, back and forth, slow pace
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
Thu, May 8 - Saratoga Passage
15:40 - Gray off of Onamac Point [videos in FB comments]. -Matt Henning
*
Thu, May 8 - Saratoga Passage (CRC531 Gretchen) - CRC531 Gretchen
09:30 - Gray heading north 1.5 miles north of Hidden Beach mid channel closer to Whidbey. -photos by Aaron Gill, May 8, 2025
*
Thu, May 8 - Port Susan
05:57- Gray whale at Mountain View [Camano], headed north.
Lois Carlson [CWW]
*
Thu, May 8 - Possession Sound
16:35 - Also four or five grays way up on the Delta. -Brian McGinn, PSE

May 7
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Wed, May 7 - Saratoga Passage (T65A5) - A few of our friend T65A5 Indy. Link to more photos. -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, May 7, 2025
*
I was able to spend a little time with T65A5 today. Link to more photos. -photos by Sarah Geist, May 7, 2025
*
16:18 - From Camano, I see him past Langley. -Susan John
*
15:40 - Has entered Saratoga Passage just on the north side of Sandy Point 1/4 mid channel out from Whidbey side.
15:37 - Video taken as he had just rounded the corner of Sandy Point northbound.
15:35 - Out from Sandy Point northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
15:23 - He’s made north progress. But not a lot. Veeerrrry slow. With some circling mixed in. - I’m giving up. The sun just went away. And the wind picked up. And the water got rough. So he’s getting super hard to track. -Sarah Geist
*
15:07 - Still northbound, Marilyn Armbruster coming your way [approx. 48.012401, -122.356999]. -Lori Christopher
*
14:53 - Looks like a flip north, but with Indy, who knows. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
14:45 - I see him. Mid Brighton/Hat. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
14:36 - Back and forth and circles just north of Clinton. I think he’s snoozing. -Sarah Geist
*
14:23 - Location of pin [approx. 47.995181, -122.347504] was southbound, but just flipped and is heading north again
14:22 - Just north of Clinton ferry terminal. -Lori Christopher
*
14:18 - Indy is slowly southbound, between Hat and Whidbey. Closer to Whidbey. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
13:57 - T65A5 Indy should be viewable from the Clinton ferry terminal here soon.
13:55 - Slowly southbound, closer to shore [approx. 48.011398, -122.365745].
13:15 - We then found Indy north of the Clinton Ferry Terminal. -photos by Kyla Bivens, May 7, 2025
*
13:24 - Past Sandy Point. Right off the beach. Continuing southbound.
13:14 - He pushed out a bit. But is continuing south. Not really pointed at Camano anymore.
13:07 - Approaching/out from Langley. Whidbey side. But looks pointed towards Camano. Still south bound, with an edge of east. -Sarah Geist
*
11:40 - Single orca (transient?) heading [south] past East Point towards Langley [video showed orca breaching close to shore]. Link to FB video. -Julie Williams
*
11:05 - At least one orca west of Baby Island [Saratoga Passage], heading north. -Martha Poppy Sinclair
*
Wed, May 7 - Puget Sound (T23Cs)
16:36 - They appear to be milling in the same general area between Maury and Saltwater. Still midchannel. -Molls Segall
*
16:20 - They have left Des Moines going south. -Bridget Gallagher
*
16:22 - Directly out from Saltwater State Park, appear to be midchannel. Long down times and facing southwest.
15:57 - Currently mid channel but moving quickly towards Point Robinson. Between Point Robinson and Des Moines. -Molls Segall
*
15:31 - Approaching Des Moines Marina. -Ali Saccone
*
14:54 - Seeing blows south of Three Tree Point, hugging the mainland, very east in channel, southbound. -Marla Smith, Orca Network
*
13:05 - Just north Three Tree Point southbound west mid. -Tracey Carrillo
*
12:48 - They are south of the Fauntleroy ferry and they are mid channel southbound. East of Vashon. -David Bennett
*
12:26 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:35 to report: 1226hrs: Vessel SALISH reports they've spotted 4 orcas at their crossing on approach to the FAU terminal. Pod is headed south.
*
12:25 - South of Vashon ferry lanes moving very slowly (rest mode?). Closer to east side now as viewed from Brace Point. -Steve Rice
*
11:45 - Between Lowman and Blake Island, closer to Blake. -Laura Moffett King
*
11:52 - Approx. location, slightly south of the [highlighted] PSE boat.
11:42 - Line of sight to Vashon ferry dock from Emma Schmitz Park, mid channel. Slowly southbound. PSE boat nearby. -Steve Rice
*
T23C6 Cascade spyhopping - T23C4 Bunzie
10:50 - Southbound from blue dot [approx. 47.568300, -122.434445]. T23C family of 5, PSE leaving now.
10:30 - We saw the T23Cs outside of Elliot Bay. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 7, 2025
*
10:52 - PSE leaving scene. Squall eating up my visibility, looking committed to southbound travel.
10:26 - Fins approaching yellow channel marker. PSE on scene. Viewing from Myrtle Edwards footbridge. -Taylor White
*
10:15 - Approximate location near whale watching boat. Slowly southbound [approx. 47.592372, -122.418908]. -Steve Rice
*
09:44 - 1700 block Alki still visible without binoculars but further west. Moving southbound.
09:35 - Still southbound hugging Alki.
09:34 - Three breaches 1300 block. -Mary Hartmann
*
09:30 - Moving southwest from Duwamish Head after predation event.
09:15 - From Duwamish Head. -Steve Rice
*
09:18 - Heading straight for us 1200 block Alki. -Mary Hartmann
*
09:00 - In front of Salty’s! -Amy Chung
*
08:55 - Midchannel (north of ferry lane) heading westbound. -Kas Alexis
*
09:00 - Moving quickly west (vaguely southwest) past the grain silos, as viewed from Duwamish Head.
08:56 - They’re in line with the left radio tower in Queen Anne, moving slowly west. 
08:30 - They’ve slowly moved east into the bay, in front of the grain silos. Occasionally long down times. Viewing from Duwamish Head.
08:00 - Milling about off eastern end of Elliott Bay Marina.
07:30 - From Duwamish Head looking north. -Steve Rice
*
07:27 - Approaching Alki Point in Elliot Bay. Viewing from Pier 69. Lots of ferry traffic out here.
07:25 - Headed back out of the bay northbound.
07:15 - Orcas in Elliott Bay passing the Edgewater [Hotel] southbound. -Robyn Riley
*
07:15 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 07:28 to report: 0715hrs: Vessel PUYALLUP reports they've spotted 3 orcas heading west bound from Elliott Bay.
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Wed, May 7 - Haro Strait
16:28 - And breaching far to the south now, near the green buoy/marker. The wind is carrying the splash up into the air!
15:46 - Beautiful humpbacks offshore of Granny’s Cove! I believe a mom and calf, (or youngster). Last few surfacings they were pointing west, but moving very slowly. -Lodie Laurieanne Gilbert Budwill [WSSJI]
*
Wed, May 7 - South Puget Sound
19:35 - Visible from Harstine Island bridge! Currently just north of the bridge, heading south still. -Shelley Grossman Schneider
*
18:15 - Just passed Hartstine Pointe, heading south toward Jarrell Cove. -Donna DeCew
*
16:08 - Heading towards Allyn.
16:01 - Beautiful humpback in Case Inlet between Stretch and Reach. Lots of tail slaps. Very active. -Donna DeBree-Moore
*
09:25 - Whale just surfaced twice in Pickering Passage. Headed towards Harstine Island Bridge. Could not capture a photo. Huge, small fin on back and very dark color. South and under Harstine Island Bridge. -Gretchen Stewart
*
GRAY WHALES -
Wed, May 7 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart, CRC56 Stardust, CRC531 Gretchen, CRC2249 Hattie, CRC2362 Thidwick) - CRC56 Stardust - CRC531 Gretchen
12:00 - We had a cuddle puddle of 4 gray whales (22, 56, 531, 2362) off of the east side of Hat Island. We then saw 2249 sort of join the aggregate a bit later. -photos by Kyla Bivens, May 7, 2025
*
Wed, May 7 - Saratoga Passage - Grey whales slept off Fox Spit west of Langley. I heard breaths a few times but couldn't spot them until they started waking up and breathing more often. When we first saw the first one it was about 300 yards off the beach north/northwest of Fox Spit. Eventually the first one start moving slowly west, then fluked and sounded, probably for breakfast. He/she did this a couple times then headed slowly further west and south into Holmes Harbor. About the time that one rounded Baby Island I saw another one much closer to Fox Spit. It took a few breaths on the surface then fluked and dove too before disappearing to the west. On a calm morning you can easily hear them up to at least a mile away. I wanted to tell the Langley Whale Center so they could update their live whale sightings chart, but we had to check out and head for home by 10AM.  -Alan J. Moum
*
MINKE WHALES -
Thu, May 8 - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Minkes in the Strait. Link to more photos. -photo by Janine Harles, May 8, 2025
*
13:00 - We saw a minke whale on Partridge Bank on our way back into the Sound. -photo by Kyla Bivens, May 8, 2025
*
Thu, May 8 - Admiralty Inlet
15:40 - Fort Casey, Whidbey Island One whale (not sure if humpback or minke, had pronounced dorsal fin) heading southeast around Admiralty Head. I’d say it was a minke whale, the dorsal fin was clearly sickle-shaped. -Martha Poppy Sinclair

May 6
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Tue, May 6 - Boundary Pass (T19s) - T019 family. Link to FB videos. -Sheila Bolin Browning
*
Tue, May 6 - Vancouver, BC (T86As & T124A2s)
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ana Arozarena
Date of Sighting: May 06, 2025
Time: 12:40 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 2
Where seen: Vancouver Harbour in front of Canada place, spotted from North Vancouver’s Vancouver Shipyards
Direction of travel : W
Behaviors observed: Travelling through Vancouver Harbour and towards Lions Gate Bridge
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
*
Tue, May 6 - Puget Sound (T23Cs) - I'm always on the wrong boat! Orca passing right in front of the M/V Puyallup. -photo by Michael Ostrogorsky, May 6, 2025
*
This was on the Bainbridge ferry. So fun! The ferry stopped, made an announcement there were orcas, then cut the engines entirely and waited as they crossed in front. Link to FB video. -Amy McDavid
*
17:00 - Observed from Edmonds Brackett's Landing, northwest of ferry terminal, west side of channel off Rose Point -ish (Kitsap). -Scott Frank
*
16:36 - I've got eyes on them in Edmonds. With that uncomfortably small boat west of mid [approx. 47.793101, -122.451798]. -Jason Luc
*
15:59 - Just spotted from Kayu Kayu. -Lori Ormerod
*
15:45 - Group observed from Richmond Beach. Slowly meandering north bound, mid channel. Calm seas. North of single boat visual aid. -Justin Goslin
*
15:33 - Still northbound mid channel slightly closer to east side now, approaching President Point.
14:55 - Viewing from Carkeek Park. Northbound slowly with some surface activity, looks like approaching level with fay Bainbridge Park. -Rubie H Baker
*
14:57 - Milling in the same area, directly out from Sunset Hill. Seems like a calf is with them!
14:05 - Viewing now from Sunset Hill Park. Slowly northbound, perfectly mid channel. -Summer Staley
*
14:03 - 5 of them just north of Discovery Park east of the lanes headed northbound. -Ryan Robert Dimock
*
12:46 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 12:56 to report: 1246hrs: [PUYALLUP] Vessel reports they are coming to all-stop for 4 orcas, located 2 miles north of Alki Point, heading north.
*
12:55 - They were still milling north of Bainbridge ferry lane.
12:43 - Ferry has been stopped for orcas.
12:37 - Maybe caught something, many gulls. Just northeast of Murden Cove.
12:31 - Milling in line with Murden Cove view from 64th and Alki west of mid channel. -Mary Hartmann
*
12:02 - Same 5 heading north between lighthouse and Bainbridge. Whale watching boat has backed off.
11:57 - At least 5 northbound midchannel between Blake and Bainbridge.  -Patti Waterfall
*
12:17 - Passed Eagle Harbor as viewed from 64th Alki. Steady northbound.
12:02 - Past Restoration Point. Northbound.
12:10 - Approaching Eagle Harbor as viewed from 64th Alki. Northbound East of mid
11:56 - Group of at least 5. Reached the north end of Blake Island northbound, slightly further east now. Right with whale watching boat. Viewing from Constellation Park.
11:42 - There’s a group of orcas northbound between Vashon and Blake Island as viewed from Constellation Park. East of mid. -Steve Rice 
*
Tue, May 6 - Puget Sound (T65A5)
10:17 - One lone male orca northbound almost at West Point now. Ferry TACOMA slowed to let him pass in front. Flat calm out there today and no sign of any other orcas nearby. Maybe this guy is indeed just a loaner, a rebel, a trail blazer, or the Jack Kerouac of whales. Too bad he doesn’t have any fingers because I’m sure he could write quite a ‘tail’.  -Paul Mooselips Dudley
*
10:00 - Lone orca Elliot Bay seen from the ferry making its way north. Link to FB video. -Mollie Louise
*
09:57 - One northbound about a mile east of Tyee Shoal marker. -photo by Zachary Heistand, May 6, 2025
*
09:55 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:01 to report: TACOMA Vessel reports they've taken way off after spotting one orca heading northbound, located at the SEA/BI [Seattle/Bainbridge] ferry lanes in the TSS [traffic separation scheme/shipping lanes].
*
09:07 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:01 to report: SEA/BI vessels notified of a single orca located west of Alki Point, west of the traffic lanes, heading north.
*
08:49 - Just saw a single orca at the mouth of Rich Passage. Milling [approx. 47.573178, -122.526055]. -Jessica Gasperini
*
08:49 - Just watched the one pass me going south from Fort Ward, right as a sub was coming back in. -Josie Meier
*
08:31 - Orcas spotted heading into Rich Passage toward Bremerton. -Alison Hatletveit
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Tue, May 6 - South Puget Sound
18:30 - Around McMicken Island. -Spencer Olmsted
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ian Leslie
Date of Sighting: May 06, 2025
Time: 12:45 PM
Species seen: Believe it was a humpback but may have been a grey whale. I could see the hump and it surfaced twice.
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: I saw it from North Point Harstine Island. The whale was coming up - north- Pickering Passage.
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: It surfaced 2 times and exhaled.
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: No, usually it only surfaces the two times so was hard to track.
Photos available?: No
*
12:18 - Still headed north past Walkers Landing
11:13 - Spotted from Harstine Island Bridge. Headed north.  -Dana Adams
*
09:18 - Humpback in Pickering Passage. Link to FB reel. -Steven Venetta
*
09:00 - From Fred Felleman: Humpback southbound Harstine bridge. -Howard Garrett, Orca Network
*
GRAY WHALES -
Tue, May 6 - Birch Bay - They have been coming most evenings at sunset, according to family who can see the bay. They seem to be trending to coming earlier in the afternoon the past few days. -Jennifer Hunt
*
14:30 - Two gray whales in Birch Bay [Bellingham] They have been here every day for over a week. Spouts, backs and rolling over showing pectoral fins. Birch Bay is in North Whatcom County north of Ferndale and south of Blaine. Whales are easy to see from Birch Bay Drive and Birch Bay State Park. -Susan Fairbank Matyszak
*
Tue, May 6 - Port Susan
08:00 - We had a gray in Port Susan this morning. It was southbound on the Camano side, last seen off Tyee headed south. -photo by Susan John, May 6, 2025

May 5
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Mon, May 5 - Spieden Channel (T100Bs, T100E, T124As, T124A1, T124A4s)
12:59 - Orcas heading east in Spieden channel. Currently in front of Sentinel. -Liz Ziffren Makofsky [WSSJI]
*
Mon, May 5 - South Puget Sound (T23Cs) - T23C4 Bunzie - T23C6 Cascade -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - It was great to catch the T23Cs from the Tacoma Narrows bridge. Link to more photos. -photos by Jason Cook, May 5, 2025
*
T23C3 Durban -ID by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - From Narrows Bridge. Link to more photos.  -photo by Jami Cantrell, May 5, 2025
*
Incredibly beautiful pass at Point Defiance [video in FB comments]. -Jennifer Barnswallow
*
20:50 - Gorgeous pass at the tip of Point Defiance [video in FB comments]! -Jordan Caple
*
20:45 - Just north of Salmon Beach. Still northbound. Closer to Tacoma side. -Stace Gordon
*
From Narrows. They were split in two groups approaching the bridge, did a long dive, then surfaced all grouped up closer to mid channel /Gig side of mid. They kind of just floated against current before slowly paralleling the bridge toward the Tacoma side, close to the surface. As they straightened out to make the push north near the Tacoma tower, I watched two of the saddle patches just under the surface, stationary for what seemed like eternity as the orcas again "floated" against current. Two or three slow surfaces and they were under the bridge continuing north in Narrows. -Ashley S Whitman
*
20:39 - Slow pace northbound half way past Salmon Beach. Mid channel. -Stace Gordon
*
20:25 - Almost to Salmon Beach. -photo by Ryan Dicks, May 5, 2025
*
20:23 - Moving north mid channel in Narrows. Zig zagging the Narrows!
20:11 - North of Narrows bridge on east side going north. -Susan White
*
19:58 - They're northbound under the bridge closer to the Gig Harbor's side.  -David Bennett
*
19:55 - Just went under the Narrows Bridge northbound. -Heather Hamashima
*
19:51 - Just popped up again.
19:49 - Took a long dive just south of the Narrows, haven’t seen for a few minutes. -Joe Guidi
*
19:39 - Appears they’ve committed to the Narrows [northbound approx. 47.262933, -122.557530]. -Evan Grose
*
19:30 - Heading north again now on the Gig Harbor side.
19:25 - Milling in mouth of Hales Pass. Taking long dives.
19:07 - Heading north toward Day Island. -photo by Cari Black, May 5, 2025
*
19:17 - Across from Day Island Tacoma side of mid. Almost in the shiny patch of water. -Jason Cook
*
18:48 - Approaching Chambers midchannel headed north. -Jami Cantrell
*
18:48 - They are heading north along Chamber Bay almost now past the golf course. -Steve Czerniak
*
18:48 - Headed generally towards the Narrows.
18:47 - Sped up quite a bit. At the south end of Fox Island. -Evan Grose
*
18:41 - Almost to the buoy between Chambers and McNeil.
18:24 - Spy hopping and tail slaps in the middle of the bay, appear to be getting closer to the Chambers Bay Park. -Evan Grose
*
18:13 - They are leisurely northbound, mid channel maybe closer to mainland side, just south of the Chambers Creek railroad bridge [approx. 47.187232, -122.609937].
18:05 - From Anderson Island, they look close to shore near Sunnyside Beach, about here but barely visible for us [approx. 47.176048, -122.621485]. -Belen Bilgic Schneider
*
17:57 - Visible from Chambers. Moving fast between Anderson and Ketron [approx. 47.173104, -122.629857]. -Evan Grose
*
17:47 - Still northbound along the Ketron Island shoreline, probably close to the north tip of Ketron now.
17:33 - Northbound at the south end of Ketron from Anderson Island east side. -photos by Belen Bilgic Schneider, May 5, 2025
*
17:00 - They are at the south tip of Anderson Island. Getting ready to go up east side of island. -Paul Davis
*
15:00 - 4 orca reported in "Moving southbound fast by Harstine". Map of report submitted -WA app
*
08:04 - Looking at [orcas] off of Chambers Bay Bridge. Link to FB video. -Janice Jordan
*
GRAY WHALES -
Mon, May 5 - Saratoga Passage
12:00 - Gray whales came for lunch today! Fox Spit on Whidbey Island. Link to FB videos. -Julie Williams
*
07:30 - Two grey whales out from Harrington Lagoon, about 1/2 mile off Whidbey side headed south. -Erik Anderson
*
Mon, May 5 - Lower Saratoga Passage
05:45 - Gray off of Sandy Point [Whidbey]. Link to FB video. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
Mon, May 5 - Port Susan
13:31 - I believe the two grays are now around Warm Beach area. Still hear them from Kayak Point heading south again. These were the two earlier today at Kayak Point regional park. They made their way north to Warm Beach then headed south from there doing another pass by Kayak Point earlier this afternoon [video in FB comments]. -Laury Smith
*
13:22 - They are still there! [Kayak Point]. -Brandy Wahlstrom
*
11:57 - Two grays north end of Kayak Point in shallow area. -photo by Laury Smith, May 5, 2025

May 4
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sun, May 4 - Gulf Islands, BC
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Riley Scholten
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 6:00 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 5
Where seen: (49.1251065, -123.7580386 [5 mi. SE of Nanaimo])
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?: No
*
Sun, May 4 - Admiralty Inlet (T23Cs) - T23C5 Grym - T23Cs at Bush Point. Link to more photos.  -photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, May 4, 2025
*
T23C6 Cascade - T23C3 Durban & T23C Cindy - T23Cs at Bush Point. Link to more photos.  -photos by Sarah Geist, May 4, 2025
*
Duwamish Head, West Seattle. -photo by James Tilley, May 4, 2025
*
T065A5 with T023Cs. -photo by Ling's Cetacean Photos, May 4, 2025
*
T23C6 Cascade is a boy! -photos by Jeff Berry, May 4, 2025
*
Out in front of Shilshole Bay. Link to FB reel. -Jim Rowe
*
20:45 - From Emma Schmitz Memorial Lookout. Link to FB reel. -Alysse Daniels
*
20:30 - They were headed southbound more towards Alki (maybe even past Alki).
20:10 - Viewing from Alki southbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
20:01 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 20:11 to report: 2001 hrs: MV WALLA WALLA Captain reports via 800MHz, the pod is now about ½ mile west of Duwamish Head.
*
19:59 - My family is out and they’ve spotted a few in the middle of Elliott Bay! They saw a baby breach. -Conni Navarre
*
19:51 - Viewing from Magnolia. They are flipping between west and east bound travel between Alki and Duwamish Head. -Kas Alexis
*
19:35 - Viewing from Anchor Park seeing spouts and did see a breach a couple minutes ago. No direction at the moment. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
18:59 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 19:08 to report: 1859 hrs: MV PUYALLUP Captain reports via 800MHz, 4-5 orcas, travelling SE near ferry lanes in Elliot Bay.
*
18:43 - Now east of Elliott Bay marina, as viewed from Alki Bathhouse.
18:37 - Approaching soon to approach Elliott Bay Marina, as viewed from 63rd Alki.
18:28 - Heading southeast [approx. 47.629160, -122.424769]. -Steve Rice
*
18:40 - Watching them from Magnolia heading into Elliott Bay. -Nicole Schleich Abbott
*
18:01 - (Approx. location) [47.612564, -122.433270]. They are west of the channel now.
17:53 - One just popped up facing north, so maybe milling? Mid channel, doesn’t seem like going into Elliot Bay. Kind of long down times, there’s a trail of boats with them.
17:49 - Hard to tell right now. They seem east of mid channel, but not like they’re heading towards Elliot Bay.
17:43 - I can see them from Magnolia Viewpoint, just now rounding the corner. -Summer Staley
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Arkadiy Tseytlin
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 5:35 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Off West Point (Discovery Park in Seattle)
Direction of travel : SE
Behaviors observed: Hunting (looked like eating the fish, there was fish jumping)
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
*
17:11 - Passing West Point southbound. -Zach Meves
*
17:06 - Viewing from Golden Gardens pier, blows visible south of Golden Gardens, west of mid. Southbound. -Nikol Damato, Orca Network
*
17:01 - At Discovery Park. They're mid channel still going south. -Emerson Collin
*
16:29 - Headed south at Golden Gardens. -Owen Fish
*
16:28 - Viewing from Sunset Hill, southbound eastside of channel. Passing a group of sailboats. -Kas Alexis
*
15:42 - Southbound between Richmond and Carkeek on the mainland side. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
15:20 - Passing southbound right near weather buoy at Richmond Beach. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
*
15:05 - Southbound off Kayu closer to our side. -Beriah SoOrio
*
14:46 - Moved very quickly past Edmonds!
14:38 - Seeing at least 3-4 off the Edmonds pier. Southbound. -Anna Hogenson
*
14:37 - I think we’ve finally figured out that this southbound Edmonds group is probably the 23C. Nearing the Edmonds/Kingston ferry
lanes, mainland side.
14:25 - Southbound near here [approx. 47.822612, -122.422467]. Counted at least 5 with a young one. Not 100% sure which group yet.
14:13 - Seeing a group much closer to the mainland side, between Stamm and Eglon, grouped up. It seems like too many to be the T23Cs, so I’m assuming it’s this group, but there are long downtimes and it’s tricky out here. Seemed to be pointed south/southwest. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
14:24 - We have a southbound group off Edmonds, 1/2 mile+ north of terminal, east side of the Sound. Not sure which group [approx. 47.826171, -122.405311]. -Alisa Lemire Brooks
*
12:23 - South of the yellow channel marker between Point No Point and Maxwelton. East side of marker. Still southbound. -Sarah Geist
*
12:18 - Seeing fins southbound from Norwegian Point Park. Still closer to Whidbey. -Vanessa Franz
*
11:30 - Past Limpet Lane. Close to Whidbey. Steady south. Longer downs. -Sarah Geist
*
10:58 - Group is out from Mutiny Bay. Two tour boats are following, still southbound. -Heidi Bruns Shank
*
10:58 - The T23C pod is southbound at my map spot [approx. 47.998582, -122.593366].
10:38 - The T23C pod southbound just cub passed Bush Point. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Brian DePew
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 10:45 AM
Species seen: Dorsal fin and spouting
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Off Bush Point
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?:
Photos available?: No
*
10:34 - After being stalled on a hunt, they are now southbound past Bush Point close to shore.
10:15 - Just north of Bush Point. Sailboat regatta is out here too. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
09:52 - Several orcas southbound off of Lagoon Point 1/2 mile off shore, moving fast. -Bill Setter
*
Sun, May 4 - Puget Sound (T100Bs, T100E, T124As, T124A1, T124A4s)
20:48 - Marie Waterman, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 20:58 to report: 2048 hrs: MV KENNEWICK Captain reports via 800MHz, 4-5 orcas NB about 1/4 mile south of Admiralty.
*
20:40 - From friend… Directional changes at the south end of Fort Casey. They might’ve flipped or they might just be chasing something south. Surface active.
20:21 - From a friend… Passing the south end of Fort Casey, right outside the tide line, in two groups, just slightly apart. Includes at least one little. -Sarah Geist
*
18:40 - Northbound Whidbey side of mid, passed Lagoon Point. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
17:41 - They are on their way to Bush Point [northbound]. No more frolicking.
17:23 - There are at least six and I guess they’re moving a little bit to the north but not very fast they are frolicking.
17:14 - A pod of orcas to the right of Shore Meadows. -Dena Marie
*
13:57 - Seeing very spread out blows between Stamm and Eglon midchannel-ish. Really hard to see right now, though, and hard to tell direction currently.
13:22 - Here-ish [approx. 47.833067, -122.425495], northbound. Still hard to tell if they’re angled towards Saratoga or Admiralty. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Traci Trubiano
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 1:08 PM
Species seen: Orca- Edmond/Kingston Ferry Run
Number of animals seen: 8
Where seen:
Direction of travel :
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?: 2
Any unusual markings?: No
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Off ferry boat
Photos available?: No
*
13:01 - Seeing them about here [approx. 47.812156, -122.454044]. -Michele Dobin
*
12:42 - Almost to the Kingston ferry terminal, still northbound at a steady pace. Still adorable.
12:23 - Almost to the yellow channel marker between Kayu and Jefferson, east of midchannel, steady northbound with some adorable surface activity.
12:03 - Northbound here-ish [approx. 47.737529, -122.434811], maybe a little further south. Steady clip with surface activity. -Sara Montour Lewis, Our Wild Puget Sound
*
12:02 - Viewing from Carkeek, they are west of mid channel (from my view), steadily moving northbound. Victoria Clipper is no longer with them. -Summer Staley
*
12:00 - Been visible from Carkeek for about twenty minutes, closer to sailboats to the north. -MC Spencer
*
11:45 - Group gliding north in glassy, shimmering seas. Slow sunday stroll pace, west of mid channel. Whale boat is visual aid. Richmond Beach. -Justin Goslin
*
11:23 - Visible from Golden Gardens northbound west of mid in front of whale watch boat. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
11:20 - For land-based observers, the San Juan Clipper AIS track provides a nice opportunity to calibrate your estimation of the across-channel distance of your observations. Today, the Clipper was working along the eastern edge of the northbound shipping lanes (see vesselfinder.com screenshot with red indicating the portion of the track when they were likley with the Bigg's orcas at ~11:20 local time [18:20 UTC]). So, if the whales were in front of or on the starboard side, then the whales were about 1/3 of the way across Puget Sound's main basin from Golden Gardens, and about mid-Channel from Carkeek Park (looking towards President Point. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
11:15 - Passing through Golden Gardens now, with the US Coast Guard?  -Jason Luc
*
11:06 - Orcas off of Sunset Hill. In front of the Victoria Clipper. Boats are stopped, possible predation event? -Jessica Luchsinger
*
11:01 - Clipper is approaching them, and they are still steady northbound east of mid channel. Viewing is slightly to the south for reference.
10:53 - Breachfest off of Sunset.
10:40 - Approaching green channel marker off of West Point, northbound. Surface active, tail slaps.
10:33 - Viewing from sunset in Ballard - looking over Discovery Park they have come to the east side and are surface active heading north. -Kas Alexis
*
10:30 - In the shipping channel, headed south, opposite Magnolia. By Blakely Rock. Link to FB video. -Eric Breekha
*
10:15 - There is a group of 6 orcas on the central Puget Sound on the south side of Bainbridge closer to the ferry landing.
10:31 - Moving up north towards Golden Gardens. -Dany Ramo
*
10:10 - 10:20 - 5-7 orca, possibly including calf, very surface active. Heading northbound to West Point leaving Elliot Bay. In shipping channel. -Brent Cullimore
*
10:06 - They have passed me at Rockaway Beach northbound. Trending more midchannel. VERY surface active. -Vanessa Franz
*
09:19 - Viewing from Magnolia. They are heading north, maybe northwest off the northern tip of Blake Island. South of the ferry lanes. From my perspective “close” to Blake shore. -Kas Alexis
*
09:00 - We were headed home from Opening Day in Seattle southbound approaching Blake Island. We were alerted to an orca pod heading north over the radio by fellow boaters on our course. We spotted them passing to our west, we shut down, and deployed our Orca Flag as it was safe to drift, they changed course and swam by and under our boat. We see them in the South Sound often; this was certainly our closest encounter. My observation was one of the smaller/younger whales thought it would be cool to swim under the boat and see if we were harboring any seals… [video in FB comments]. -Brennan Phillips
*
08:42 - Just went to the east side of Blake heading north. -Jeff Jennings
*
08:22 - Just passed Point Southworth, headed north, 6-7 whales including a calf. Continued north out of Colvos, very close to the Kitsap side. Lots of surface activity, splashing and breaching! -Hunter Sasser Oetinger
*
07:59 - Orcas passing Driftwood Cove, north in Colvos [Passage], Vashon side, spy hopping and breaching. -Kristi King
*
Sun, May 4 - South Puget Sound (T65A5)
16:09 - Super quick pass by Southworth then I believe it went east towards West Seattle. -Laura Walsh Stewart
*
15:55 - 16:05 - This orca sped through the north end of Colvos, past the Southworth ferry, past the west side of Blake. Northwest bound. Haven't seen him come back. Presumably off the shores of Harper. -Kathleen Cage
*
15:39 - Still jumping and getting closer to the ferry lane top of Vashon.
15:28 - Moving fast northbound, no boats with it.
15:22 - Breaching in front of Command Point! -Kathi Salmon
*
13:46 - Seeing from Owen's Beach with binoculars he was closer to the Gig Harbor side bunch of boats were speeding through and I lost him. I thinking he went up Colvos? -Teri Gage
*
13:35 - Super close pass at Point Defiance where the seals haul out. Appears to be traveling north, but did not see if he went up Colvos or not. -Stephanie Morris
*
13:01 - At the park now. -David Bennett
*
13:10 - [Passed Narrows bridge].
12:54 - Will be passing through Narrows Park shortly. -Mike Gaube
*
12:20 - Yeah, Indy's definitely passed the Fox Island bridge heading east. Closer to Gig side. -David Bennett
*
11:44 - Heading around Horsehead with one boat harassing him! 
11:30 - Just surfaced heading south mid channel just north of Home. -Michael Rodenbaugh
*
10:25 - Just sitting at the surface taking in the sun. Mid-channel between Raft Island and Glen Cove.
10:15 - Headed south (slowly) mid-channel off Raft Island. He's down for long periods. Cropped video of Indy as he approached Glen Cove headed south at 10:30 [video in FB comments]. -Randy Witter
*
09:45 - Indy the large lone orca headed toward Purdy in Henderson Bay. -Gypsea Salt
*
T65A5 Indy
09:10 - Single orca loitering on the surface for about 5 minutes in Henderson Bay just south of Minter Creek on the Key Peninsula side. Not seen in the last 10 minutes. I haven't spotted him since. Likely an indicator of him heading north towards Minter Creek.   -photo by Randy Witter, May 4, 2025
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sun, May 4 - South Puget Sound
17:00 - 17:30 - We watched a humpback in Case Inlet. The whale was hugging the east side of Harstine Island at Fudge Point. Slowly heading south. -Charlotte Smothers
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sun, May 4 - Saratoga Passage
18:07 - Two grays are passing Cama northbound.
17:27 - Both grays have come out of Elger Bay and are northbound Camano side.
17:00 - There are at least 3 grays in the area - 2 in Elger Bay and the one that came from the north that I have been reporting.
16:54 - Gray whale south bound Camano side - passing Fox Spit.
16:37 - Moved to Camano Island State Park - seeing blows.
16:15 - Just had a very close pass of a gray whale going southbound from Cama State Park. -Linda Aitkins
*
16:40 - Saw couple gray whales passing through from Camano Island State Park heading south. -Peter Chen
*
15:15 - Gray whale south bound passing Onamac mid channel. -Kristina Trowbridge
*
15:04 - Past Bells [perhaps Cama] Beach, northbound.
14:45 - Spotted off Lowell Point. -photo by Peter Gebhard, May 4, 2025
*
Sun, May 4 - Saratoga Passage
14:08 - Both greys have moved off shore a bit and are now north of the Langley Inn northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
13:55 - One grey whale headed north in Saratoga Passage. In downtown Langley now.
13:40 - Grey whale sighted in bay at Langley headed north. -photo by Jennifer Robichaud, May 4, 2025
*
13:50 - Feeding off Seawall Park to a delighted crowd! -Donna George
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Luanne Seymour
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Just northwest of Sandy Point near Whidbey bluff
Direction of travel : Milling and feeding
Behaviors observed:
If orcas, any males?:
ny unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
13:20 - Northbound just south of Marina.
13:13 - Possibly just milling a bit.
13:10 - Not moving too fast slowly trending north.
13:00 - 2 grays northbound closer to Whidbey now.
12:50 - Grey north of Sandy Point Whidbey side of mid northbound. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
Sun, May 4 - Port Susan (CRC531 Gretchen, CRC543, CRC2362 Thidwick)
12:26 - Gray whales crc 543, 531 and 2362 northbound at my map spot [approx. 48.081718, -122.326521]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
Sun, May 4 - Port Susan 
09:00 - There were two gray whales feeding at Tillcum. They headed south. -photo by Susan John, May 4, 2025
*
Sun, May 4 - Possession Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kayla Zabecki
Date of Sighting: May 04, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM
Species seen: Gray
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: From SW Hat Island viewing towards Clinton [approx. 48.008666, -122.332347]
Direction of travel : SW
Behaviors observed: Slow travel
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: 3-4
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org

May 3
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Sat, May 3 - Haro Strait (T49As followed by T49A1) - "Noah" (T049A1) passed close to shore (Glencoe) up Haro Strait hours after a cluster of others from his pod. I'm fascinated by the details on his magnificent fin and elsewhere! Link to more photos. -photo by Jenna Darcie, May 3, 2025
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Roland Rabien
Date of Sighting: May 03, 2025
Time: 6:18 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Latitude: 48° 25’ 33.72” N Longitude: 123° 17’ 24.36” W
Direction of travel : North
Behaviors observed: travelling
If orcas, any males?: 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
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Colleen Smith
Date of Sighting: May 03, 2025
Time: 5:18 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: 48.4056982, -123.3572244 (S. of Victoria)
Direction of travel : East
Behaviors observed: Travelling
If orcas, any males?: Large dorsal, single orca
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Watched the orca for 3 surfacings. Mo others observed in area.
Photos available?: No
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Paul Deman
Date of Sighting: May 03, 2025
Time: 5:10 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Tip of Ogden Point breakwater
Direction of travel : East
Behaviors observed: Hunting?
If orcas, any males?: Think so
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 - T49A1 Noah -photo by Paul Deman, May 3, 2025
*
15:58 - T049As filmed northbound off of Cadboro Point in Haro Strait. Link to Youtube video.- Gerald Graham 
*
Sat, May 3 - Admiralty Inlet (T100, T100C, T100F) - T100C Laurel while out with PSE. -photo by Kelly Dawson, May 3, 2025
*
T100F Estrella, T100C Laurel, T100 Hutchins - T100C Laurel - Great day with Katie Davis Watkins and the T100's! Katie first spotted them from the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry as we were on our way to get on Saratoga! -photos & IDs by Bonnie Gretz, May 3, 2025
*
16:55 - Long down times, northbound right by green marker off Fort Ebey. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
15:51- Just passed Fort Casey. Close to shore. Continue northbound. -Leo Leo
*
15:33 - Saw them in Fort Casey. -Abhishek Nalla
*
14:07 - At least 3 orcas close to shore… heading to Lagoon Point, traveling away from the sailboats. -Anderson Anderson
*
13:50 - Saw a group headed north off of Bush Point. -Ben Barnhart
*
10:55 - Update on the T100 pod southbound [48.019990, -122.652300 (2 mi. W of Bush Pt.)].
10:29 - T100 pod southbound at my map spot [approx. 48.039207, -122.653610 (2 mi NW of Bush Pt.)]. T100, T100C and T100F. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
T100 Hutchins & T100F Estrella - T100C Laurel
10:15 - We found the T100s southbound off of Marrowstone Island. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 3, 2025
*
09:01 - Bonnie G. Called to report at least 2 orcas spotted from the Coupeville to Port Townsend ferry about midchannel or just west of - the orcas were southbound in Admiralty Inlet.
*
Sat, May 3 - Puget Sound (T100Bs, T100E, T124As, T124A1, T124A4s) - T100E Tharaya, T124A7, T100B Freya -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - At Des Moines Marina. -photos by Jason Luc, May 3, 2025
*
T100E Tharaya, T124A1 Bonapartes, T124A Kittiwake, T124A7 -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - At Browns Point Lighthouse. Link to more photos. -photos by Jolena Tagg, May 3, 2025
*
T100B Freya, T100B3 Selkie, T124A4 Sabio, T124A4A, T124A1A -T124A7 -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Spent Saturday watching the T100Bs, T100E, and T124As from Des Moines to Tacoma and then to Fox Island. Link to more photos. -photos by Matthew Pfab, May 3, 2025
*
T124A7 - Two different locations in Tacoma. Link to more photos. -photos by Stephanie Morris, May 3, 2025
*
T124A7, T100E Tharaya, T124A1 Bonapartes -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Intercepted some whales from shore in Tacoma on the drive home.  -photo by Kelly Dawson, May 3, 2025
*
19:30 - Spouting between Ketron & Anderson. -Evan Grose
*
19:24 - Directly in front of McNeil prison. -Jeanne Hopkins
*
19:18 - Downtimes/distance/sun making them difficult to spot Appeared to be favoring the south side of Anderson but difficult to tell
exactly where they headed
19:04 - Milling in this area [approx. 47.209077, -122.612263].
18:54 - Approaching the buoy in between Chambers and McNeil. Southwest bound. Moving slowly. -Evan Grose
*
18:54 - Milling in this general area [approx. 47.210516, -122.604586 (.5 mi. S of Fox Is.)].
18:39 - Passed Fox Island Pier, fast southbound on Fox Island side. -Matthew Pfab
*
18:33 - Approaching Fox Island pier southbound Gig Harbor side. -Robyn Riley
*
18:17 - Just passed under the Narrows heading southbound. -Jennifer Rada
*
18:17 - Under the Narrows heading south. -Makayla Wilson
*
18:15 - Directly out from Narrows Park. Southbound fast pace, midchannel and some closer to Tacoma.
18:14 - Deep dive under the bridge.
18:12 - Approaching Narrows bridge southbound. Tacoma side of midchannel. -Jolena Tagg
*
18:15 - Passed Narrows Park heading south. -Katie Bryant
*
18:05 - Viewing from Gig Harbor. They're down by Point Evans. southbound in Narrows. Closer to Tacoma side. Pec slaps! -Kathleen Cage
*
17:57 - Both groups at Salmon Beach. -Ryan Dicks
*
17:46 - After an hour of zillions of directional changes… Owen… to the ferry dock, quick donut up Colvos and back... they all seem to be headed southbound to Salmon Beach/at Salmon Beach. Viewing from Gig Harbor. We in the harbor enjoyed these beautiful orcas, so much! -Kathleen Cage
*
17:48 - We see them from Five Mile viewpoint headed south [approx. 47.309157, -122.562362]. -Paul Davis
*
17:50 - Trailing group appeared out of nowhere west of mid-channel southbound & Narrows. They appear to be more in a travel mode. The little one is in the trailing group.
17:40 - Still in the same general vicinity with several spy hops moonwalking and some flukes. Possible stall, possible feeding behavior.
17:30 - At least 7 west of mid-channel entering Tacoma Narrows proper southbound at a slow pace with long down times. Some directional changes observed, but mostly committed south right now.
17:24 - In the triangle between Gig Harbor, Tacoma, and Vashon, pointed south, but no commitment yet. Long down times. Only seeing about 4. -Ashley S Whitman
*
17:29 - Going south towards Narrows. They are hugging Gig Harbor side. -Makayla Wilson
*
17:10 - Split in 2 groups. One group off tip of Point Defiance heading west in Dalco. Other group with surface activity off southwest corner of Vashon. -Jolena Tagg
*
17:07 - Switched to west right away.
17:01 - Orcas heading east. So lucky - at Anthony's at Point Defiance. -Sharon Myers Andersen
*
17:07 - Finn's westbound in Dalco. -Ashley S Whitman
*
16:58 - Viewing from Gig Harbor. Big splashes off Owen. North of Owen, mid channel... about 3... with long down times. -Kathleen Cage
*
16:57 - East of Owens Beach 1000 yards off shore. -Dallas Braham
*
16:52 - In front of Anthony’s now. -Kelly Townsend
*
16:44 - Viewing from Dune (very limited parking) heading west maybe a little north?  -Kolea Caverly
*
16:43 - Point Ruston made it mid channel. -Da Is
*
16:36 - They are heading towards Cunnings Park. Four. -Fu Lu Amy
*
16:35 - Northbound 10 minutes ago [16:25] Commencement, past Harbor Lights. Headed towards Owen Beach. Link to FB reel. -Jr Swifty
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ryan Moore
Date of Sighting: May 03, 2025
Time: 4:35 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 10
Where seen: (47.2920498, -122.4942461 [Ruston Way))
Direction of travel : Northwest
Behaviors observed: Hunting
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
*
16:29 - Commencement Bay. Looking towards the lighthouse. -Fu Lu Amy
*
16:26 - Orcas Commencement Bay right in front of Katie Downs. -Brenden Schmitt
*
16:25 - At Dukes Seafood restaurant along Ruston waterfront. -Kevin Byrd
*
16:23 - Spotted orcas along Tacoma waterway. Trajectory Ruston and Dune. Viewing from Browns Point lighthouse. -Jennie Wike
*
16:20 - Just passed Silver Cloud Inn. Heading towards Ram.  -Greg Brossart
*
16:14 - Currently 5 in front of Chinese Reconciliation Park. We are heading out. What a great day!
16:08 - Heading northwest out of the bay moving faster.
16:05 - 4 in Commencement Bay. See map. X on last sighting [approx. 47.273645, -122.451354]. They have been going back and forth along that line for the last 10 minutes.  -Kara Main
*
16:02 - Viewing from Jack Hyde they are heading back west. -Joe Smith
*
16:01 - Just saw one singular orca popping up from the water from the RAM brewery, seemed to be in the middle of Commencement Bay. -Sydney Suzanne Stoewer
*
16:00 - Counted a minimum of 8 orcas in Tacoma in front of Katie Downs Restaurant on Ruston Way. Headed to the point. -Matt Graham
*
15:52 - Viewing several from two groups converge… heading northwest from Foss waterway exit.  -Greg Brossart
*
13:43 - Definitely on the hunt! 4 bald eagles and gulls picking up the scraps.
13:36 - Still between Woodmont Beach and Point Robinson east of mid channel. Lots of direction changes and tail slaps and spy hops. Counted 5 or 6 with one big male. -Dan Hyde
*
15:29 - Still headed into Commencement. Viewing from Browns Point lighthouse.
15:25 - They just entered Commencement Bay. They’re moving slowly, spy hopping along the way. I’d say head to Dune now - might catch them as they swim out.
15:20 - Passed Browns Point headed into Commencement Bay.  -Jennie Wike
*
15:24 - Several are in Commencement Bay by the Blair channel marker.
15:11 - On sail boat off of Browns Point. Two groups. Two or three went past Browns Point and into Commencement Bay towards grainery. Larger group south of yellow mid channel marker heading south. -Chris Gan
*
15:07 - Off Browns Point heading south/southwest. -Kara Main
*
14:56 - Just passed Dash Point dock. Southbound. -Judy VanderHoeven Walsh
*
14:48 - They’re at Dash Point headed south. -Erinn Osley
*
14:56 - Southbound from Dash Point.
14:47 - Dash Point viewing. -photo by Deanna Hume-Cheatwood, May 3, 2025
*
14:47 - Right off Dash Point moving rapidly southwest. -Evan Grose
*
14:40 - Seeing them north of Dash Point moving southbound. Grouped up east of mid channel. -Candace Gavin
*
14:10 - Viewing from Woodmont. Mid channel They made a catch and now slowly heading south between Redondo and south Vashon. -Ali Saccone
*
13:55 - Fllipped southbound again. Between Des Moines & Redondo. -Jason Cook
*
13:25 - Found them at Redondo heading north. -photo by Hope Harrigill, May 3, 2025
*
13:13 - 4 northbound off Woodmont Beach east of mid channel. -Dan Hyde
*
13:07 - Two separate groups headed north bound. Second (smaller) group of 3-4 just passed Redondo aquarium.
13:03 - Passed Redondo toward Saltwater State Park.
12:55 - Group of 6-7 turned northbound toward Redondo. -Neon Stern
*
13:00 - FLIP! northbound past Redondo now. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
13:00 - Whales on Redondo Beach in Washington! -Hope Harrigill
*
12:44 - Southbound, south of Vashon, heading towards Point Defiance. -Ali Saccone
*
12:40 - Approx. location [47.38772, -122.34337 (1 mi. E of Pt Robinson], eastbound at that time -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
12:43 - SJC leaving this group of 11 split in two groups - half close to the shoreline of Redondo, slow southwest travel, then the second closer to midchannel with the youngsters in tow. -Alli Montgomery
*
12:18 - Aboard Clipper the two groups (matrilines?) are spreading out, one continuing south the other moving southeast towards Highline MAST Aquarium at Redondo about 300m SE of this location. Recent approximate dive durations [2:50, 5:27, 3:54, 7:37] [approx. 47.380401, -122.357383]. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound
*
12:16 - Rounding Point Robinson. Traveling slowly southbound [approx. 47.388063, -122.361756]. Off the bow of the SJC. -Evan Grose
*
11:54 - Passing Des Moines Pier/Marina, southbound on east side of midchannel. Tightly grouped, long-ish downtimes. Seems to be more than the initially reported 5? -Matthew Pfab
*
11:50 - Off Marine View Park. southbound. Mid channel. -Walter Smith
*
11:28 - Still viewing from Des Moines Pier. From this view, orcas are between Dilworth and KVI, long downtimes, still midchannel and tightly grouped. San Juan Clipper is over a mile past them, not sure why.
11:11 - Viewing from Des Moines Pier, midchannel heading southbound. Visibility looking north isn’t great. -Matthew Pfab
*
11:08 - Looks like they’re around the Point Robinson lighthouse on Vashon right now! Looking from Normandy Park. -Becca Bowdey
*
10:37 - Continued slow southbound travel all past Three Tree east of mid. -Padmini Harchandrai
*
10:15 - Nearshore southbound south side of Three Tree Point.  -Beriah SoOrio
*
10:15 - Southbound Three Tree Point, east of mid. -Samiksha Gulrajani
*
10:15 - Passing Three Tree Point east of channel. -Mandy Michelle
*
09:11 - They are going south near Vashon. Half way down the island. -Rory Kelleher
*
08:54 - Continuing southbound briskly headed east side Vashon.
08:47 - Southbound mid between Blake and Lincoln troll. -Beriah SoOrio
*
08:22 - Viewing from Me-Kwa-Mooks, directly out from the park traveling southbound. mid/slightly east of mid channel. -Kas Alexis
*
08:19 - From Constellation southbound east of mid channel between Blake and Southworth. Some large males, at least 6 orcas. -Mary Hartmann
*
07:50 - Saw a group heading towards Alki from the Bremerton Ferry a few minutes ago. -Justin Vierela
*
07:30 - Saw at least 5 orcas and a baby on the Bainbridge ferry heading towards Seattle. -photo by Megan Foley, May 3, 2025
*
07:35 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 07:37 to report: [PUYALLUP] Captain reports 5 ORCA in Elliot Bay heading WB [westbound].
*
COASTAL KILLER WHALES -
Sat, May 3 - California Coast - Orca off Gualala today. Single. -Scott Mercer
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Sat, May 3 - San Juans (Schooner) - While on the water with our Bigg's 201 class we came across a humpback that has attained legendary status in the Salish Sea: a 4 year-old whale that is nicknamed Schooner. Schooner was born in 2021 to BCX1193 Zigzag. In June of 2024, Schooner was reported in the Canadian Gulf Islands possibly entangled in fishing gear and also showing wounds consistent with a vessel strike. DFO's disentanglement team was keeping an eye out for the whale to try and assist if needed, but Schooner wasn't seen in July as far as we know. By August, when Schooner was photographed again, they had completely lost their left tail fluke. This could have been caused by the vessel strike or potentially also by entanglement. According to Happywhale, Schooner was seen in the Salish Sea through October, and then in February had their first breeding ground match to Hawaii. Amazingly, just 44 days later Schooner was one of the first humpback whales to return to the Salish Sea. That's a distance of about 2680 miles, or approximately 60 miles a day. Not bad for a humpback with only one tail fluke!  It was an honor to meet this courageous whale, and Schooner's story carries with it several important reminders: the risk vessels and fishing gear can play to humpback whales, the resilience of nature, and the incredible power of community scientists to help piece stories like this together! -Orca Behavior Institute -photo by Monika Wieland Shields, May 3, 2025
*
Sat, May 3 - Puget Sound
20:13 - I am at the north end of Shilshole Marina breakwater and saw a small humpback whale heading south. Just outside breakwater. Saw the small fin and fluke. -Torrey Volk
*
GRAY WHALES -
Sat, May 3 - Rosario Strait
10:25 - Donna McCrea, WSF Marine OPs, emailed at 10:26 to report: [SAMISH] Captain reports the vessel has come to a complete stop for a single Minke in Rosario Strait. [confirmed gray whale -RH]
*
Sat, May 3 - Upper Saratoga Passage
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kevin Butler
Date of Sighting: May 03, 2025
Time: 7:36 PM
Species seen: Gray whale
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Crescent Harbor seaplane base Oak Harbor
Direction of travel : Back and forth adjacent to the beach
Behaviors observed: Swimming
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?: Couldn't tell spent a lot of time under water
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Usually we have 3 to five whales, last year only one came in. About a month ago there was a whale in the harbor and today this one.
Photos available?: No
*
18:05 - Gray heading into Crescent Harbor (Polnell Point).
09:35 - Gray whales are feeding at Polnell Shores. -Terra Parham
*
Sat, May 3 - Lower Saratoga Passage
19:30 - Christy spotted a gray north side of Sandy Point east bound. -Marilyn Armbruster
*
Sat, May 3 - Lower Saratoga Passage (CRC356 Carson)
08:15 - Gray whale moving southbound near the shore of Camano across from Langley. -Margaret Marshall
*
08:00 - [CRC356] Mabana, headed south.  -Susan John
*
Sat, May 3 - Possession Sound (CRC543)
12:40 - CRC 543 is northbound at my map spot [approx. 48.003936, -122.286733]. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
12:00 - We found gray whale #543 on the southeast side of Hat Island. -photo & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 3, 2025
*
09:35 - Gray feeding in the delta. Between Hat and Jetty, closer to Jetty. -photo by Jaime Shields, May 3, 2025

May 2
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Fri, May 2 - Port Susan/Possession Sound (T100Bs, T100E, T124As, T124A1, T124A4s) - From Country Club Beach 2. -photo by Thomas McKane, May 2, 2025
*
19:45 - Still similar spot in front of Possession State Park... Just south of the boat that's out there... man, they are getting a great show! -Elena Sarah Kuo
*
19:00 - Over at Haines Wharf Park and I can see them over in front of Possession State Park and they're just hanging out.  -Jason Luc
*
18:46 - Slowly trending south after a show! Still splashing with directional changes but moving towards Picnic Point.
*
18:30 - They’ve stalled they’re hunting at Chennault Beach. 
18:15 - In front of Chennault Beach moving slowly south.  -photos by Alice Thuy Talbot, May 2, 2025
*
18:23 - Viewing from Haines looking north. Tons of surface activity in the distance. They’re heading southbound appear to still be east of mid. -Kas Alexis
*
17:30 - They've cleared Mukilteo Lighthouse and are on their way south. Link to FB video. -Jason Luc
*
17:25 - South of the light house very much on the Mukilteo side. -Dori Johnson
*
17:25 - They are pretty south of the lighthouse but still on Mukilteo side. Saw from the ferry. -Kristina Brown
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Kelsey Curran
Date of Sighting: May 02, 2025
Time: 5:15 PM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Just off Mukilteo Ferry terminal
Direction of travel : South
Behaviors observed: Splashing, blowing
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Too far away for details! Number is an estimate
Photos available?: No
*
17:00 - They are north of the Silver Cloud hotel and traveling west towards the Lighthouse Park. Off shore 2 or 3 blocks. -Greg Heiss
*
16:55 - They are just north of the Mukilteo ferry dock still traveling south.
16:35 - They’re approaching the ferry lanes from the north, closer to the Mukilteo side. -Natalie Scantlen
*
16:35 - North of Boulevard Bluffs moving west. Maybe a 1/4 mile off of shoreline. Some jumping. -Greg Heiss
*
16:00 - Heading east/southeast from Hat. -Cynthia Boirum
*
15:45 - SJC leaving these whales still surface active halfway between E Hat and the Delta. Bird punting and amorous chasing! -Alli Montgomery
*
14:52 - SJC with them [approx. 48.025498, -122.295807]. -Patti Trosper
*
14:20 - Still surface active, leisurely southbound. Confirmed mating! -Sarah Franzen Sadid
*
13:40 - They are in no hurry. Still southbound. If they continue the line they are on, they will go on the east side of Hat. Still pretty surface active.
13:14 - The 100Bs, 124As and 100E have exited Port Susan - they appear to be mainland side of mid and are slowly southbound. PSE boat is with them. -Cindi Crowder Rausch
*
13:09 - They have exited Port Susan around mid channel. Southbound for the time being. -Surface activity as they travel. -Sarah Geist
*
13:00 - Port Susan. -photos by Karie Low Carter, May 2, 2025
*
T124A4A - T124A7
11:45 - We found the T124As (-A2s), T100E, and T100Bs in Port Susan. They were super playful, especially all of the youngsters. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 2, 2025
*
11:27 - T100Bs, T124As southbound at my map spot [approx. 48.130934, -122.376171]. T100E is in here too. -Bart Rulon Wildlife
*
09:56 - Orcas at Beach #3 Country club cruising toward [Camano Country Club Beach] #2 [northbound]. -Troy [PSWW]
*
06:35 - I spotted approx. 4 orcas circling just north of the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry lanes on the Clinton side. Seen from the ferry as it departed Clinton.  -Bart Rulon, Puget Sound
*
GRAY WHALES -
Fri, May 2 - Admiralty Inlet
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name:
Date of Sighting: May 02, 2025
Time: 11:20 AM
Species seen: Humpback [confirmed gray]
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Approx. 1 mile west of Lagoon Point on west side of Whidbey Island.
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Traveling, maybe hunting
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Whale would surface once for breath then disappear for several minutes in between sightings. Showed tail each time. One surface event was in an opposite direction. Circling, hunting? 6 total surface events. Then lost sight.
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org -photos by Lachlan Pope, May 2, 2025
*
Fri, May 2 - Saratoga Passage (CRC22 Earhart, CRC56 Stardust, CRC383 Cascade, CRC2356 Stalwart)
17:00 - CRC56 Stardust just blew past Camano Island State Park going north. Moving fast. 
16:40 - It’s Earhart again. She’s being slow. Maybe sleeping a bit. Turned around just south of Mabana Beach, so might be waiting for the tide to come in to forage. 
16:10 - Whale directly off of Mabana. Slow southbound. Maybe feeding. About as close to shore as possible.
15:40 - A whale, I’m not sure if Earhart, still in the shallows just north of Mabana. Cascade and Stalwart are midchannel several miles south of Mabana. Going south, *might* be drifting towards Camano side. Can’t see them anymore; wind is keeping their blows down. Last saw them about twenty minutes ago (15:10).
15:00 - This whale is Earhart. She’s seemingly drifting northwards slowly. Currently between Mabana and Camano Island State Park.
14:10 - At least one whale off Mabana.
14:00 - Blow seen from Sounder a bit north of Langley. They’re not stopping but it’s out there. -Sam Wallace
*
CRC22 Earhart
15:36 - The gray [CRC22] that passed Mabana, southbound. Has disappeared now. -back of camera photo by Krista Paulino, May 2, 2025
*
CR383 Cascade
09:45 - Three grays feeding off the point between Elger Bay and Mabana. -photo by Kasey Shepard, May 2, 2025
*
Fri, May 2 - Possession Sound (CRC531 Gretchen)
15:07 - Seeing blows off the south end of Hat Island. -Sarah Franzen Sadid
*
10:00 - We found gray whale #531 on the west side of Hat Island.  -photo & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 2, 2025
*
10:35 - Onboard the Swiftsure SW of Hat Island, Bart ID’d as Gretchen. -Amy FowIer
*
Fri, May 2 - Possession Sound (CRC356 Carson & CRC531 Gretchen)
14:18 - Friend reports: he’s milling/feeding here right in ferry path.
14:10 - Friend reports: Grey whale just south of Clinton ferry terminal, close to Columbia Beach, maybe northbound/maybe milling. -Rachel Haight, Orca Network
*
13:10 - Swiftsure is on scene with Carson, he is northbound [approx. 47.941714, -122.352009]. -Amy FowIer
*
13:00 - We found #356 Carson just south of the Clinton ferry terminal. -photo & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 2, 2025
*
12:09 - Past Glendale steady southbound. Close to shore.
11:44 - [CRC356 Carson] Gray whale approaching Glendale. -Sarah Geist
*
11:00 - Gray whale southbound on Clinton side just north of ferry terminal. -Michele Tosh Brodsky
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Beverly Yoshioka
Date of Sighting: May 02, 2025
Time: 9:17 AM
Species seen: Grey
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: About 1 mile north of Brighton Beach, Clinton
Direction of travel : S
Behaviors observed: Feeding, was moving north, now south
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: Beverly Yoshioka
Date of Sighting: May 02, 2025
Time: 9:06 AM
Species seen: Grey
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Witter Beach Community, about 1.2 miles south of Sandy Point, Langley
Direction of travel : Milling
Behaviors observed: Feeding about 200 yards offshore
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES -
Fri, May 2 - Commencement Bay
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Ben Ehrens
Date of Sighting: May 02, 2025
Time: 12:55 PM
Species seen: Unknown
Number of animals seen: 1
Where seen: Commencement Bay Tacoma
Direction of travel : West
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

May 1
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES (mammal-eating ecotype) -
Thu, May 1 - San Juans (T49As & possible T124Ds)
19:00 - 19:15 - Was not a pleasant evening for this sea lion out by the lighthouse on Patos Island. Per Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute, looks to be T49As & possible T124Ds. Link to more photos. -photos by Paige Evans, May 1, 2025
*
Thu, May 1 - San Juans 
07:38 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 07:43 to report: 0738hrs: SAMISH [ferry] reports via 800MHz they've come to all-stop for a single male orca heading northbound toward Reid Rock.
*
Thu, May 1 - Penn Cove
22:04 - We got a report of orcas in Penn Cove around 20:30 from team member Robert Kiesser and his wife. Link to FB video. -Kevin Phillips 
*
Thu, May 1 - Possession Sound
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Natasha Petrovich
Date of Sighting: May 01, 2025
Time: 10:01 AM
Species seen: Pod of Orcas
Number of animals seen: 6
Where seen: In front of Ferries
Direction of travel : Staying still for last 20 min
Behaviors observed: Playing?
If orcas, any males?: 2?
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?:
*
Thu, May 1 - Puget Sound (T65A5)
19:15 - I saw a lone orca between Point Defiance and Vashon from the ferry! It delayed the ferry. Possibly Indy? Big dorsal.  -Jill Freeman
*
13:51 - I saw some sprays as we were headed from the Bainbridge ferry to Seattle. Mid but closer to Bainbridge Island, on the left, a boat was observing and another was headed towards. This was about 15 minutes ago. -Heley Babrak
*
10:15 - This is Indy, T65A5, southbound mid-channel off of Point Jefferson. -Brian McGinn, PSE
*
09:45 - We found T65A5 Indy off of Jefferson Head. -photos & ID by Kyla Bivens, May 1, 2025
*
09:08 - Donna called to report at least 3 orcas passing Apple Tree Point southbound on west side of channel.
*
Thu, May 1 - Puget Sound (T100E, T124As, T124A1, T124A4s) - May Day in Tacoma. Link to more photos.  -photos by Molls Segall, May 1, 2025
*
Beautiful afternoon viewing from Old Town Dock in Tacoma. Link to more photos. -photos by Cherie StOurs, May 1, 2025
*
Happy to see the 124As and T100E. Link to more photos.  -photos by Amber Stanfill, May 1, 2025
*
T124A7 - T100E Tharaya -IDs by Rachel Haight, Orca Network - Point Defiance Marina whale trail. Link to more photos.  -photos by Jason Cook, May 1, 2025
*
T100E Tharaya - T124A Kittiwake - May 1st orcas. Link to more photos.  -photos & IDs by Hongming Zheng, May 1, 2025
*
From Point Ruston heading into Dalco Passage. Link to FB reel.  -Mark Verburg
*
This morning heading west from Seattle. Link to FB video. -Shanda Russell
*
This was so special! My daughter’s 4th grade class was on the Bainbridge ferry this morning for a field trip and they all got to see orcas! What an amazing day! -Katie Domingue
*
20:15 - Heard what sounded like blows close to shore here at Command Point ten minutes ago. Close to shore, to close to see from our high bank view. Around dark they were hanging near Fragaria. A friend a mile north of us sent pictures. They were still there for 20 minutes, so likely had a successful hunt. -Mark Reddish
*
19:35 - Passing Olalla Bay Market northbound. -Robyn Riley
*
19:30 - Beautiful fast pass! Olalla Bay Market, Colvos. Link to FB video. -Kristen George 
*
18:43 - Northbound Colvos. A mile south of Point Richmond. -Chris Tolman
*
18:28 - 3 orcas spotted about 1 hour ago [~17:30] spotted from the deck of Katie Downs. -Alison Wigstrom-Hoseth
*
18:24 - North of Sunrise, hugging the Gig Harbor shore appear to be hunting.  -Stephanie Morris
*
18:23 - Orcas passing through Point Defiance now. -Brenda Morales
*
18:06 - Looks like they’re headed towards Gig Harbor/Narrows. -Dallas Braham
*
18:08 - It looks like they flipped all the boats came to a stop and now I just saw two of them going towards back towards Vashon and the channel.
18:02 - Looks like they're committed to Owen Beach.  -Da Is
*
18:01 - Passed Dune Peninsula, heading west. -Alyssa Somers
*
18:00 - Just let everyone in Anthony's know they were passing us. That was fun! Steady westbound! -Melissa Bird
*
17:58 - In front of Anthony’s now! -Nancy KF
*
17:57 - Just popped up past the ferry at the Dune - lots of boats out here. There are two groups of two. -Da Is
*
17:52 - They just went by Wildfin. We are at the restaurant. -Rosanna Hogarty
*
17:43 - Passing me on the last turnout along Ruston, approaching Point Ruston, mid channel westbound. -Melissa Bird
*
17:45 - My last comment was either way off or they flipped back. They’re next to the black and white boat mid Dalco. Still westbound.
17:35 - Approaching Quartermaster Harbor still heading west. I’m viewing from my car driving along Ruston.
17:29 - All orcas have passed Northern Fish mid channel heading west. -Amber Stanfill
*
17:29 - At least 7 mid channel passing The Ram -Brenda Cave
*
17:18 - Ruston in Tacoma. Link to FB video. -Ally Fraley
*
17:17 - They've drifted off to mid channelish angling for Ruston/Dune, westbound.
17:13 - Coming up on Brown's Point, westbound. -Melissa Bird
*
17:07 - Steady westbound travel; from ferry perspective blue & orange sets of cranes on the right slope of Mount Rainier is the backdrop. -Jason Cook
*
17:04 - They may have split again. One group is now trending northwest, others milling in the same area in Commencement Bay. -Molls Segall
*
17:01 - They seem to be more committed to westbound movement now, towards Brown's Point. We aren't seeing anyone near Puyallup River, rom Thea Foss. -Melissa Bird
*
16:57 - Group of 4 or 5 approaching Puyallup River exit into Commencement Bay. 300 yards north of shoreline. Heading towards Foss waterway. -Greg Brossart
*
16:47 - Near the Marina along Marine View Drive, milling near grey pontoon boat & small white boat. -Melissa Bird
*
16:32 - No direction [approx. 47.277041, -122.450612]. -Krista Baker
*
16:30 - Watching from Northern Fish pier they are by the cranes. -Paul Davis
*
16:29 - Seen in Commencement Bay from Cliff House now. Think there are 5. -Chris Gan
*
16:27 - Commencement Bay, nearing the port. -Jennifer Barnswallow
*
16:25 - Some are milling in Commencement Bay as viewed from Cliff House. Mid channel in front of blue cranes. -Candace Gavin
*
16:03 - At least one was off the south tip of Browns Point nearing Tyee Marina. Viewing on the ferry. -Jason Cook
*
16:00 - Half of the pod hunted in front of Browns Point. Moon walking, spy hops and tail slaps after the kill! -Molls Segall
*
15:45 - Seen from Browns Point lighthouse just north of mid channel marker heading south. -Chris Gan
*
15:44 - Heading straight towards Dune... mid channel. 
15:30 - Passing Dash Point State Park… Vashon side. 2 groups.  -Greg Brossart
*
15:20 - Directly out from Dash Point pier, west bound and mid channel. -Molls Segall
*
15:11 - I was just at top hill at Dash pier lost sight between Gold Beach and Point Robinson southbound. -Tracey Carrillo
*
15:39 - Heading towards buoy end of Vashon. Southbound.
15:09 - I see them now mid channel out from Point Robinson. -Tiffany Russell
*
14:47 - Not sure if they have ALL rounded Point Robinson, but at least some of the leaders are already around the point and continuing southwest.
14:41 - Swimming straight for Point Robinson. Some surface activity. On the west side of the channel.
14:28 - Seeing some surface activity (tail slaps) in the same area midchannel between Des Moines and Point Robinson. Viewing from Redondo, so perception may be slightly off.
14:16 - Seeing splashes and fins north of Redondo, east of mid channel between Saltwater State Park and Point Robinson. Direction unknown. -Molls Segall
*
14:15 - Still slowly traveling south between Redondo and Des Moines (as observed from Redondo).
14:09 - My parents are at Redondo now. They spotted them just north of Redondo but are headed south now. -Laura Walsh Stewart
*
14:06 - Just off of the Point Robinson Lighthouse now. -Corinne Wright
*
13:40 - Trailing group just south of marina heading to Redondo.
13:23 - Viewing from Des Moines marina - just north mid channel to east. -Mandy Michelle
*
13:28 - They are just north of Des Moines. -Bridget Gallagher
*
12:40 - Lead group has passed Three Tree Point, second group trailing east of channel. -Mandy Michelle
*
11:54 - Now out of sight from Fauntleroy going south closer to mainland now. -Mairenn Dumont
*
11:45 - Viewing from Southworth. Group just passed the north end of Vashon. They're southbound, east pass, mid channel. Moving fast, lots of surface activity as they head south.  -Kathleen Cage
*
11:38 - Group is about to pass Fauntleroy ferry lanes southbound. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
11:37 - Viewing from Fauntleroy ferry terminal landing.
11:22 - Viewing from Lowman Park. Closer to Blake heading south. -Mairenn Dumont
*
11:17 - [approx. 47.551580, -122.434148]. -Isabela Garcia
*
11:15 - Group is spread from midchannel to the beach in two groups of 4. Southbound [approx. 47.558701, -122.433536]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
11:14 - Viewing now from Emma Schmitz Park looks like they have headed west of mid. PSE is leaving. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
11:05 - Passing Emma Schmitz southbound, one group much closer to eastern shore, the other group offshore ahead of PSE boat. -Stephanie Raymond, Orca Network
*
11:00 - Viewing from Weather Watch Park. Traveling southbound mid channel. PSE is behind the pod. -Hannah Marie Munro
*
10:30 - 11:00 - From Duwamish Head at 10:30 and from Constellation Park around 11:00. -photos by Robin Sinner, May 1, 2025
*
10:48 - T124As moving around Alki Point [approx. 47.582422, -122.423128]. -Kyla Bivens, PSE
*
10:47 - Saw them last 30 mins [since approximately 10:17] straight out from ferry terminal outside our office in downtown Seattle! -Kerri Benjamin Bates
*
10:43 - Three or four just passed Alki Beach, heading west toward the lighthouse. -Alicia Barnes
*
T124A7 & T124A Kittiwake - T124A7, T124A Kittiwake, T124A1 Bonapartes
10:30 - We then found the T124As with T100E off of Alki Point. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 1, 2025
*
10:41 - Southbound, towards Alki lighthouse/open channel.
10:26 - Breach off Alki by checker buoy, groups have tightened back up.
10:20 - Spilt into two groups, leaders are passing Alki fast ferry dock. Second is lingering between the tied barges before Salty's. -Taylor White
*
10:15 - From Fred Felleman: 4+ orca w/ calf milling west side Elliott Bay. -Howard Garrett
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Amy Turcinov
Date of Sighting: May 01, 2025
Time: 10:13 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Middle of Elliott Bay just south of ferry path
Direction of travel : Moving west out of the bay
Behaviors observed: Milling
If orcas, any males?: Too far to tell
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
10:09 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 10:13 to report: 1009hrs: TACOMA[ferry] reports 5 orcas located 1/2 mile north of Harbor Island, travelling westbound.
*
10:03 - Hunting activity viewed from Myrtle Edwards footbridge. In Elliot Bay, close to the three docked ships, the one with the star/compass/sun. Starting an eastern trek.
10:05 - Just passed little grey boat, flipped back southwest. -Taylor White
*
10:02 - Can see at least four orcas from Pier 70. -Theresa Rivkin
*
09:57 - Spotted from West Seattle Don Armeni Boat ramp sightline towards Seattle Wheel. -Nick Pavelic
*
09:46 - Looks to be like roughly 8, at least 6 just surfaced together. Milling activity. “Double emc” barge in background when viewed from Pier 70. -Kas Alexis
*
09:41- Orcas in Elliott Bay right now, west of Bell Harbor Marina. -Albert Seafeldt
*
09:20 - From the ferry. Two groups, this was the first. -photo by Brent Cullimore, May 1, 2025
*
09:29 - Viewing from Sculpture Park - still appear eastbound into Elliot Bay. Line of sight to Jack Block Park. -Kas Alexis
*
09:35 - Milling in same area.
09:27 - In line with the cruise ship terminal. Group of at least 4. No big males seen.
09:22 - Eastbound nearing the Space Needle, as viewed from Duwamish Head.
09:09 - Straight out from Elliott Bay marina as viewed from Duwamish Head. Lots of bird activity. -Steve Rice
*
09:09 - Viewing from Magnolia. They turned east into Elliot Bay - roughly midchannel (north to south) out from Duwamish Head. Seeing some surface activity and seek to be milling. Seem to be eastbound further into Elliot Bay. -Kas Alexis
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Stephanie Hon
Date of Sighting: May 01, 2025
Time: 8:15 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 4
Where seen: Victoria Clipper route heading north between Bainbridge and West Seattle
Direction of travel : Orcas traveling south
Behaviors observed: Traveling
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Two groups of 2-3 traveling separately
Photos available?: Yes, I will email the photos to sightings@orcanetwork.org
*
COASTAL KILLER WHALES -
Thu, May 1 - Washington Coast
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: James King
Date of Sighting: May 01, 2025
Time: 9:13 AM
Species seen: Orca
Number of animals seen: 30
Where seen: 40 miles off La Push Washington
Direction of travel : West⁹
Behaviors observed: Hunting
If orcas, any males?: 1 for sure
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: Spotted in the Quileute River a few days later
Photos available?: No
*
HUMPBACK WHALES -
Thu, May 1 - Admiralty Inlet
18:10 - Must be feeding, came up 50 yards away from first sighting 10 minutes after. Then again close to last surface.
18:00 - Humpback northbound off Lagoon Point. Close to shore, we saw it once. Long down time.  -Bill Setter
*
GRAY WHALES -
Thu, May 1 - Deception Pass
19:00 - 19:15 - This [gray] whale of some kind just swam by Yokeko Point heading west through Deception Pass. I hope someone gets a good view from the bridge. Link to FB video. -Jeannie Marin Lone
*
Thu, May 1 - Upper Saratoga Passage
07:18 - Saratoga Passage, gray whale feeding off of Madrona beach, Camano side of the passage. -Kevin Phillips [WIWS]
*
Thu, May 1 - Saratoga Passage (CRC531 Gretchen & others) - At Elger Bay. Link to FB reel. -Melia Adams Wilkinson
*
19:46 - Confirmed 4 grays. One close to shore, likely feeding, in the same area as my last report. Two others offshore northwest of that whale. Fourth whale is northwest of the pair, in line with the south end of the state park (viewing from Mabana boat launch).
19:16 - The group of three is stalled in the same area as my last report, there may be a fourth south of them.
19:00 - Slowly southbound off Camp Diana.
18:49 - Seeing blows from 3 grays off the point between Elger Bay and Mabana, on Camano side of Saratoga. Possibly still southbound, doesn't look like they're feeding at the moment. -Serena Tierra, Orca Network
*
17:56 - In Elger Bay now.
17:13 - At least 3 grays mid channel blowing slightly north of boat launch at Camano Island State Park. Trending south very slowly. Lots of blows, staying close together. -Krista Paulino
*
Sent via form submission from Orca Network
Name: Janett Wingett
Date of Sighting: May 01, 2025
Time: 10:14 AM
Species seen: Grey
Number of animals seen: 3
Where seen: Baby island, Camano side
Direction of travel : West toward Cama beach
Behaviors observed: 3 traveling close together…surfacing often
If orcas, any males?:
Any unusual markings?:
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:
Photos available?: No
*
10:28 - Viewing 3 from Camano State Park. Mid channel heading north. -Jill Peeps
*
09:00 - Saw three grays heading into Elger Bay but have lost them. I believe they’re deep in Elger Bay on the east side. -Kasey Shepard
*
07:55 - 3 feeding north of Mabana. -Thomas McKane
*
Thu, May 1 - Possession Sound (CRC543 & CRC2362 Thidwick)
14:08 - Small group is now southbound slow, crossing back over bank off southeast end of Hat Island.
13:20 - Hat Island group (2?) heading north or northeast across line from Rucker Mansion to southeast end of Hat, likely over the outer bank there. About here [approx. 48.003103, -122.293660].
12:50 - Swiftsure with same group (2-4?). Made a slow turn to port with grays now moving slowly north. -Scott Veirs, Orcasound 
*
CRC2362 Thidwick & CRC543 - CRC543
12:15 - We finished our tour with #543 and #2362 off of southeast Hat Island. -photos & IDs by Kyla Bivens, May 1, 2025
*
06:48 - Maybe three or four [gray] whales between Hat & Jetty [Islands]. -Alice Moyal [HIWS]