North Puget Sound/Whidbey
July 3, 2008
It’s 4:00 PM and we just spotted a gray whale, mid chanel heading over to Camano from northwest of Langley.
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
June 28, 2008
I’m almost certain I saw an Orca about 11:30am in Sinclair Inlet at Bremerton, Washington, near the Manette Bridge. It was headed from the interior of the inlet toward Puget Sound. I realize that’s an unlikely spot, but I understand there was a pod of Orcas in this inlet a couple of years ago. When I saw it, I was “positive” it was an Orca. So I visited your web site to research what I saw. I’m still fairly certain it was an Orca, and I wanted to report it to you as a possible sighting. I was about 50 to 100 feet away from it (I live on the water). It was sleek and black, and I could see the typical white markings as it surfaced and “blew.” It was probably 20+ feet long, and the spray from its blow was maybe six to eight feet high. It surfaced several times (moving maybe 50 feet farther away each time) in a graceful “dolphin like” motion, and it blew each time it surfaced. It had a dorsal fin that looked like some of the photos on your web site, although perhaps a bit more rounded and not quite as “spikey” as some of them.
Rebecca Preston
We were at The Boat Shed Restaurant at 11AM when a single adult grey whale sighting by a neighbor was reported. Within 2 minutes, it surfaced three times. It had just passed under the Manette Bridge and was heading North towards the Sound (Sinclair Inlet?).
Margie Schmelzer
We had the privilege of seeing the whale off the Bainbridge ferry.
Macy Ratliff
This report was received on the 28th, but no date or time was given as to the actual sighting – S&H
June 25, 2008
At 7:25, I saw a gray whale heading from northwest to southeast about a quarter of the way between Langley and Camano. The whale was too far out to ID and was not doing any deep diving (or showing its fluke).
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
June 24, 2008
Gray whale off mutiny bay (SW Whidbey Isl) northbound at 0900 . At 09:15, just south of Bush Pt, heading north.
Marc Bissonnette, Clipper 3
June 22, 2008
I saw either a gray or humpback between rocky point on camano and polnell pt on whibey at 6:00 pm. It blew once then sounded.
Marc, Victoria clipper 3
I just wanted to tell you that the same (gray) whale has been hanging around now for the last week. Coming in and feeding in the evenings for long stretches and we have heard him off and on through the night and into the early morning! It has truly been an amazing treat and we have whale holes galore here now. We are on Saratoga Passage facing the backside of Hat Island and the lights of Everett.
Sharon Wandler, Whidbey Island
June 21, 2008
We saw this gray whale feeding in Maple Cove around 7 pm. This whale stayed in the area for well over an hour foraging very close to shore.
Phil & Debby Ellis, Coupeville, WA
On the 8:10 pm ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle, a gray (?) whale gave all of us the show of a lifetime. About midway, the captain announced gray whale off in the distance, slightly starboard, between us and and a westbound ferry. Several minutes later the whale came straight up (not just a breach) out of the water right in front of the bow. Then it dove going under the ferry. Standing on the starboard side at the bow, I could see it diving under. Needless to say, locals and tourists alike were in awe. As the captain said, “in 25 years, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Cynthia Wood
This may have been a humpback, not a gray – given the behavior of breaching up out of the water, which grays rarely do up here. Did anyone on that ferry happen to get any photos?! S&H
1440 pdt, One humpback (medium confidence, did not see fluke, definitely not a gray) whale sighted 1nm south of buoy SG, entrance to Elliott Bay 47 38.7N 122 27.9W. Traveling westerly, sounded twice then dove, blew on second sound.
Robert Reeder
Orca Network received a report from Joanne Brayden, who was on the Bremerton/Seattle ferry when just before noon, between the ferry & Alki Pt. a small whale surfaced & spouted, with its back showing. It surfaced again – this time showing its flukes when it dove. The whale was gray colored, and when it surfaced they saw a hump as it showed its back, and the spout was visible.
This could either be the humpback whale that has been in the area, or possibly a gray whale – S&H
A confirmed humpback whale sighting this morning at 7:45 between Whidbey and Hat Island very close to Whidbey shore.
Bill saw it “breach.” And got a good look at the whole body.
Frances Wood, Whidbey Island
A gray whale came by feeding up and down the coast north of the ferry dock past Witter Beach (SE Whidey Island) very early this morning.
Sharon Wandler
On the 8:10 pm ferry from Bainbridge to Seattle, a gray (?) whale gave all of us the show of a lifetime. About midway, the captain announced gray whale off in the distance, slightly starboard, between us and and a westbound ferry. Several minutes later, with most of us at the bow watching, the whale came straight up (not just a breach) out of the water right in front of the bow. Then it dove going under the ferry. Standing on the starboard side at the bow, I could see it diving under. Needless to say, locals and tourists alike were in awe. As the captain said, “in 25 years, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Cynthia Wood
This may have been a humpback, not a gray – given the behavior of breaching up out of the water, which grays rarely do up here.
A confirmed humpback whale sighting this morning at 7:45 between Whidbey and Hat Island very close to Whidbey shore.
Bill saw it “breach.” And got a good look at the whole body.
Frances Wood, Whidbey Island
A gray whale came by feeding up and down the coast north of the ferry dock past Witter Beach (SE Whidey Island very early this morning.
Sharon Wandler
June 20, 2008
Around 8:30 pm or so a gray whale came by feeding up and down the coast north of the ferry dock past Witter Beach (SE Whidey Island). He was around for quite a while and came back periodically throughout the night.
Sharon Wandler
June 18, 2008
My mother and father called me at 11:00 am today to share they encountered a Humpback off the north side of Bainbridge Island outside of Port Madison. The Whale surfaced near them four times as they sailed by.
Karl, Alki
At 6:15 PM, while flying towards Everett, we watched a grey whale feeding in the mud flats created by the Snohomish River in front of Everett.
Veronica von Allwörden, Langley
June 16, 2008
I saw three blows this evening at around 7:15. couldn’t even tell what kind or which direction it or they were going because of the wind and waves, but definitely three sprays just north of Hat Island and south of Sandy Point in Saratoga Passage.
Sharon Wandler
This is a popular feeding area for grays, so that is our guess – but there are also some minkes and a possible humpback around the area as well – S&H
We watched a whale blowing and diving about a mile off shore from Spee-bi-dah in Port Susan Bay. Could not tell if it was a Gray, but following a similar pattern of the Grays when in deep water. A little bit of back after each blow and a lot of back before diving. We first saw it at 2:05 pm and last about 2:25 pm.
Malcolm & Tarry Lindquist
June 15, 2008
Several weeks ago my wife, son and I saw what was probably a Minke whale from our living room in Richmond Beach (Shoreline). I spotted whale spouting in and around the same location as Leonard and Julie Vaughn did. The first blow I noticed happened around 7pm, and spouting continued sporadically until at least 8.30pm. Between my wife and I we probably saw 20-30 different blows. We watched as the whale spouts move lazily from south of the mid-channel buoy, then north of the buoy, then south again. The majority of time the spouting we saw was north of the buoy, relative to our view. We estimate the blows rose to a height of about 5-6 feet off the surface of the water, with clusters of 3-5 per minute, then disappearing for random periods of time, only to re-appear again later. Through binoculars I had more than one decent but not great view of the whale’s dorsal fin, which appeared to be sickle-shaped, similar to either a Minke or a humpback, as the Vaughns suggested. I have to wonder if the Minke spotted moving southeast from Point No Point around 6.30pm and the spouting we saw were associated the same whale, or if this was in fact a different whale altogether, whether Minke or humpback?
David Haas
Still a difficult call on this one – Minke spouts are often inconspicuous, but not always.
We spotted a single Grey whale traveling towards Hat Island (Gedney Island) from the Everett area. around 3 pm, when we stopped to watch him we are at NW 122 66.00 I believe. He was moving along quite fast, he did slow down a bit once north of us.
The Clifton’s
Sighted a single whale off Point No Point at approximately 6:30 pm. The whale was offshore cruising southeast past Point No Point. It surfaced 3 times before we lost sight of it. It appeared to be a Minke whale based on the shape of the dorsal fin.
Patty Michak, MarineView Fisheries Consulting, Inc.
We have been watching a whale spouting in the setting sunlight – mid-channel off Richmond Beach (Shoreline), in the vicinity of the “Sierra Foxtrot” mid-channel buoy. First sighting about 8:45pm. Possibly humpback. First spotted moving north, but then he turned a few minutes before 9pm and headed south. We’ve been able to follow him for nearly 30 minutes so far.
Leonard & Julie Vaughn, Shoreline, WA
June 14, 2008
There was a [probable gray whale] sighting from the ferry between Clinton and Mukilteo.
Sharon Wandler
June 11, 2008
Barbara Anderson of Camano Island called at 5:55 pm to report 1 gray whale off Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island, heading north.
June 10, 2008
Glanced out our window about 7 PM and was surprised to see the spout of a gray whale feeding on the ghost shrimp flats off Mabana Road (west Camano Island). This is the latest in the season I’ve seen grays. Even more surprising was that the boat that hydraulically harvests ghost shrimp in the area had just left the same area!
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
Orca Network received a call from Tom Wood, reporting 2 orcas in Skunk Bay near Hansville (N. Kitsap Peninsula) at 10:30 am, about 400’ offshore, heading west toward the entrance to Hood Canal. They were 2 miles west of the Lighthouse, at 47 55N 122 34W.
June 8, 2008
Single Minke Whale was feeding on bait balls of candlefish or herring, 2:30 pm, 1/2 mile off McCurdy Point in 40 feet of water W of Point Wilson, Port Townsend, traveling East towards Whidbey Island.
Capt. David Drewry, owner/ operator, Peninsula Sportsman Guide and Outfitting Service, Port Townsend
Chatted with a friend on North Bluff, Greenbank, Whidbey Island. She heard about ½ dozen [gray] whale blows around 7:30am this morning. No spouts or fins tho.
Kathy Fritts, Freeland
June 7, 2008
Our neighbors, who live on the cove on Leach Street, sighted the Penn Cove gray whale. Several blows were seen and it’s back was visible.
Susan Winkler, Coupeville
Orca Network received a call from Curtis Ozwald at 1:28 pm, reporting 2 gray whales between Hat Island and Everett, 1 mi SE of Hat Island.
June 5, 2008
A single gray, having a snack, shortly after midnight. For next 2 hours heard close to 50 or more spouts, swooshing around activity right in front of our place in Mariner’s Cove, on Skagit Bay. Actually, more of a feast. Even a whiff of spout sulfur smell. Looking out the window at extreme low tide, seeing a bunch of craters left in the sand. Evidence of last night’s visit.
Robert Stonefelt (Oak Harbor)
June 4, 2008
I saw the grey pictured just south of Oak Harbor.
James Hodgson, WDFW Aviation
June 2, 2008
We’ve been watching a gray off Race Lagoon for over 30 minutes, since 8:30 am. Saw his dorsal a couple of times, but too far away to ID (If I had to guess, I’d say Dubnuk, simply because of the barnacle patch in front of the blowhole – but still no photo). He was feeding fairly close to shore, going back and forth and then seemed to disappear when a crab boat came by. Difficult to say what direction he was heading.
Jill Hein, Race Lagoon, Coupeville
Sandy Poust of the Windjammer Gallery in Coupeville called Orca Network at 11:40 am to report a gray whale in Penn Cove, near the wharf heading east.
At approximately 11:50 AM, spouts were seen near the Coupeville, WA dock in Penn Cove, east side of Whidbey Island. Believed to be a gray whale.
Deanna Rogers
May 26, 2008
It’s possible that what we saw was in fact a Minke whale and not an Orca. Some others in the Edmonds, Kingston, Bainbridge area have spotted a couple of Minke whales lately. And I guess they also can exhibit the breaching or “porpoising” behavior we saw the other night.
Dave Haas, Shoreline, WA
May 25, 2008
The gray whale was again in front of our community. I was looking down on the beach at yesterday’s feeding pits about 3:30 PM and spotted the gray whale spouting out over the drop-off (The tide was still out quite a ways). This evening about 10 PM, I stepped out on the deck, and could again hear the whale feeding close in below the bluff as the tide was now in and it could get into the ghost shrimp beds. Maybe our ghost shrimp have reached just the right state of tastiness! It’s such a privilege to share with them.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
May 24, 2008
About 1:30 pm I saw several porpoises playing over by Cama Beach (west Camano Island) and also heard 2 whale blows. ( I was visiting on North Bluff about 2 miles from you)
Kathy Fritts, Freeland
We had the pleasure of having one gray whale spend from at least 5:30 PM through past midnight(!!) in the shallow ghost shrimp beds close in in front of our community south of the Mabana Rd. (west Camano Island). Having such a large creature so close for so long was an unforgettable experience for us, and especially for our company. Usually the whales don’t linger, but feed as they are passing by. There was the usual lying over on it’s side with pec fin and tail fluke up, but there also seemed to be an unusual amount of sidewise tail thrashing.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
May 23, 2008
Early Friday evening from 5PM to 6:30PM; watched/enjoyed from theatre type setting on a sloping hill, a single gray whale. N.E. side of Polnell Point (Oak Harbor) is a half moon bay. Totally calm, as gray kept slowiy cruising along the half moon shoreline. Going one direction, then turning around and going along the half moon bay in opposite direction. Possibly, feeding on something, other, than ghost/sand shrimp. Some, but not much swooshing around as is usually observed, when feeding on shrimp. Maybe, needlefish, as I have seen grays before feeding on needlefish on Crescent Harbor side of Polnell Point.
Robert Stonefelt
Mark from the Victoria Clipper called at 9:30 to report a gray whale in Admiralty Inlet, heading north, just south of Double Bluff, about 1 mile from shore.
May 21, 2008
Judy Moore of Greenbank, Whidbey Island called in a report of 2 gray whales apparently feeding about 100 yards from the beach off Greenbank in Holmes Harbor at 9:30 AM. She estimated that one was about 40’ long and the other was about 25’ long.
May 20, 2008
Two adult grays put on quite a show this evening for an hour and a half or more before sunset. They were feeding about 30-50 feet from shore. There were quite a few shows of pectoral fins and flukes.
Peter DeLuca
Camano Island
Windwalker Taibi called in a sighting of a gray whale off East Pt., Whidbey Island, heading south at 9 pm.
May 19, 2008
Susan Berta called at 7:30 AM from the Clinton- Mukilteo ferry reporting 2 gray whales heading west near the Clinton side, between the two ferry lanes.
May 18, 2008
Re: “lone Gray Whale” off East Pt. I was in my kayak around 6:15 along Bells Beach heading toward a boat in the cove, when all of the sudden, “WHhoooosh!” a gray whale exhaled right off my shoulder very close to shore heading south! I nearly jumped out of my kayak! I thought it looked like a calf and raced out deeper (gray being shoreside) to give it some room. I was also bracing for an adult, but it was alone- definitely a gray with the white crab patches/barnacles. The boat took off, probably thinking I was coming to report it, but they must have seen my surprise. Of course, I didn’t have my camera.
Kathy Carr
We encountered what were probably the same two grey whales reported by others around Mukilteo/Clinton ferry route on our way north in the morning.
Darcie Larson
Naturalist on Clipper III
We saw a full tail on the 9am ferry out of Clinton. It was 30-40 feet right in front of my eyes on the starboard side of the ferry. Not sure if it was a grey or orca. They made an announcement on the ferry. It only happened once and we did not see other whales.
Pat Hamilton
On my way over on the 9:00 ferry from Mukleteo to Clinton I saw 2 gray whales spouting and moving slowly. I was able to see them again from the beach after I got off the ferry. They were close enough to the shore that I could hear them spouting. When I saw them on the beach they were between the beach and the ferry as the ferry traveled back to Mukleteo.
Beth Swanser
We enjoyed seeing a lone gray whale at east point between 5:30 – 6:30 this morning.
Roger Clark
May 17, 2008
Sighted a whale this AM approximately .75 nm west of the Tahlequah Ferry dock, Vashon Island. Solitary, inconspicuous blow, prominent dorsal fin, didn’t show fluke when it dove – looked more like a minke but we did not see white sides.
Step Williford, M/V Saratoga
Sue, out of Oak Harbor, WA
Near Strawberry Point (NE Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island). Around 10:30 PM or so, I heard a sound like a neighbor opening/closing sliding door. When it happened 30 seconds later right in front of me I knew it was sound of a whale spout. Stepped outside tent and heard/saw puff of a third spout in light of a full moon. Neat stuff!!! Heard fourth and final spout as whale was just passing through heading southwest towards Polnell Point. Most likely a single gray as we have had prior gray visits this spring.
Robert Stonefelt (N.E. Oak Harbor)
At 9:25 AM a gray whale swam by Langley, right along the drop off (it was low tide), traveling from southeast to northwest. The whale did not seem to be doing any feeding just traveling slowly along.
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
May 16, 2008
I was sailing with 3 friends yesterday evening around 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. and three of us sighted what appeared to be a fin whale. The whale (or whales. Ken saw one first and Mark & I saw one a few minutes later) was dark sable brown, very large, moving slowly on the surface for about 10 seconds. It dived, keeping its back low in the water, bending at the base of the tail without exposing its tail. At the break in its back (i.e., the flex point between the body and tail), a small, scimitar shaped dorsal fin was seen clearly. The whale was very large, on the scale of a grey or humpback (which it did not resemble). Two of us have seen fin whales in the Bering Sea, so they aren’t unfamiliar to us. Still, a live fin whale would be unusual in Puget Sound.
Later that evening, I also saw an unusual orca whale, what I think might have been a lone female. It seemed unusually large for a female, but it had a very “bent” scimitar-shaped dorsal fin, so I assumed it must be female. Its back was all black, no visible saddle, no notches or distinctive marks. (The light level was good enough to have seen a bright saddle, but maybe not a dark grey one.) It did not show its head or tail and I didn’t see it again.At the time of the whale sightings, we were west southwest from Shilshole marina, slightly north of Murden Cove , in the south- bound shipping lane. Murden Cove is Degrees Minutes Seconds: Latitude: 473906N Longitude: 1223022W Decimal Degrees: Latitude: 47.65167 Longitude: 122.50611
Allison Reak (report forwarded by the Whale Museum)
May 15, 2008
Orca Network received calls from Carolyln Mercer and Mary Pacher, at 3 pm and 3:05 pm, reporting a gray whale off Hidden Beach, N. of Greenbank. We got down to the beach at 3:25, and watched one gray feeding back and forth, in and out, until after 5 pm when we had to leave (it was still there feeding!). It didn’t show its back very often, but from what we could see of the dorsal ridge and the flukes, we are pretty sure it was Dubnuk/#44. (see photo above – the left side of the fluke has a flattened tip with 3 distinctive white circles on it.
2:20 pm: I just talked to Captain Pete on the Odyssey and they are with J Pod (2:00pm) about ½ mile south of the Lime Kiln lighthouse on the Westside of San Juan Island.
Erin Ancich, San Juan Excursions
Update at 3:25 pm: We have confirmation. We saw J19, J41, J16, J36 and J42 ½ mile south of the lighthouse on the West Side of San Juan Island.
Captain Pete, Odyssey,
Erin Ancich, San Juan Excursions
Bill Applegate called Orca Network to report at least 2 orcas, observed from Joseph Whidbey State Park from 10-10:15 am. They were between NW Whidbey and Lopez Island, way out in the channel, heading SW toward Smith Island. There was one adult male and one female. The timing is right that this could have been some of the J’s coming down from up north before swinging up the west side of SJI – Sb
May 14, 2008
I was at Marina Beach Park in Edmonds around 8 pm when I happened to look out at the end of the pier, probably about 400-500 feet away. I saw a gray breaking the water in a slow leisurely roll, never showing its tail and heading North. All I saw was the back of its back, starting about a foot in front of the “bumps” and then continuing on through all of the “bumps”. What I saw was probably about 6-10 feet long.
John
May 13, 2008
I was driving into Langley village, just passing Overlook when I saw spouts so I dropped down to the marina and walked out along the pier. They (gray whales) were cruising along mid channel, heading south at a leisurely pace, about 200 meters off shore.
Sue Morrow Flanagan, Bayview, Whidbey Island
May 12, 2008
Nancy Nolan called Orca Network at 3:45 pm to report a whale in Saratoga Passage, off Baby Island Heights, heading south toward East Pt. and Langley. She said it was close in, she heard it blow and saw the flukes, probably a gray whale?
May 11, 2008
We didn’t get an exact time, but approximately 5pm two grey whales slowly worked their way along the south end of Camano Island, south of Pebble Beach; they were also spotted yesterday morning heading north. Most of our sightings this Spring have been one or two whales heading south to the Gedney/Hat Island area. Perhaps they travel between Gedney and Camano each day to feed?
Peg Boley, South Camano
May 10, 2008
Single Gray whale visited us approximately 1 PM. Moving east along the southern edge of Gedney/Hat island. Probably 150 yards offshore, surfaced within 50 feet of our boat, quite a show and surprise!
Brian Fleming
Barbara Anderson of Camano Island called Orca Network at 1:53 pm to report 3 Gray whales feeding close in off Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island.
I looked out our office window this morning, picked up my binoculars, and immediately spotted a spout out in Saratoga Passage!! One Gray whale was mid-channel, closer to the Camano Island side, heading north at a pretty good pace at 11:25 am. I first saw it just north of Camano Island State Park.
Susan Berta, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
Windwalker Taibi called Orca Network at 10 am to report two Gray whales coming in to the beach at East Pt (Saratoga Psg, near entrance to Holmes Harbor). There were some kayakers nearby. Then emailed us this update: Well, the two grays that we saw turned out to be three. They moved off pretty fast, so we didn’t get pictures. We did get a look at one that was a much lighter color then any Gray I’ve seen before. Maybe it was the lighting, but I don’t think so.
Windwalker Taibi, Whidbey Island
A gray whale just past by Langley at 7:35 to 8:15 AM, moving from the SE to NW and feeding close to the shore.
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
8:00am, 3 grays feeding north end of Port Susan.
Gary Lingenfelter
May 9, 2008
At 5:30pm, flying in a small plane at 3000 ft I saw about 4 whales. One looked about 2/3s the size of the others. They were stationary. Not Orcas. Maybe grey? From my point of view they looked white. Location was between 1 mile south of Camano Island State park.
Rodney Tong
Noon, Gray at Kayak Point moving south. Neighbor said he saw 3. 11:30pm, heard at least 1 feeding in front of my house in the cove just north of Kayak Point.
Gary Lingenfelter
We just saw a gray whale 1/4 to 1/2 mile offshore, just north of meadow point (golden gardens) in seattle and heading south. 9:00 PM. As far as we could tell there was only one whale.
walt & nan spady, Seattle
Two gray whales currently (7:15 PM) feeding in the shallows off Mabana Rd (SW Camano Isl). We just got back on Camano after being gone for several days, and our neighbors told us that last night about the same time, several grays were feeding in the shallows in front of the house, also several nights prior.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
9:00am, 2 grays feeding north of Kayak Point, moving north towards Warm Beach (Port Susan).
Gary Lingenfelter
May 8, 2008
While we were in Coupeville looking for the Gray whale in Penn Cove today, we met some folks who relayed a sighting of two orcas in Penn Cove on May 8th at 6:30 pm in front of the Mad Crab Restaurant.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network
Heard a Gray feeding and blowing tonight at 9:30 pm near the shore off Edgecliff, just west of Sandy Point.
Gail Fleming, Langley
5:30 PM – Saw large gray whale off of Langley 100 yards out traveling SE. Later – 6:30 pm, walking along the Langley waterfront we saw what appeared to be mother and child off of the Camano Island side.
Wayne & Linda Furber
At 5:30 PM a gray whale swam by from northwest to the southeast past NW Langley. The tide was still pretty far out and the whale was just past the drop off doing deep dives and showing its fluke. The whale stopped in front of Langley at about 5:45 and in fifteen minutes it had sky hopped three times! That’s the first time I’d seen a whale spy hop- it was wonderful. Of course I did not have my camera, by the time I had it the whale was headed to the SE (6:05 PM), I got one shot of its back and I think it is whale # 723.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley
We were on the 1 pm Mukilteo/Clinton ferry, and saw a whale watch boat and two spouts off Camano Head from about 1-1:15 pm. We drove over to Sandy Pt. south of Langley, to discover the two [gray] whales (and the boat, giving the whales lots of room) had moved south and were off the west side of Hat/Gedney Island. They were feeding VERY close to the shoreline! We watched them from 1:40 – 1:50 pm, they seemed to be slowly heading south as they fed.
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island
We have had two greys off our beach on Edgecliff Drive, Langley, just west of Sandy Point for about 90 minutes (8-8:30 am) at this writing. Appears to be a female with a youngster.
Dan Prewitt, Edgecliff Drive, Langley
Note – according to Cascadia Research, the local whales that feed in Saratoga Passage tend to be adult males rather than females with calves. However, one of the whales is smaller, and is often mistaken for a calf. sb
About 3:45 pm I spotted what looked like a minke heading north bout 1/4 mile south of Point Wells (near Edmonds). It was about 1/4 mile off the beach. I saw it surface twice so got a pretty good look at it thru the glasses.
Dan Leyde, Richmond Beach
I believe I saw a Minke whale. I saw the rear portion with the small dorsal fin as it rose out of the water. It was much smaller than an orca or a gray whale. Black or dark gray. I saw it just north of Rolling Bay on Bainbridge Island, and just south of Faye Bainbridge State Park. It was about 150 yards off-shore, travling north along the shoreline at 11:15 am.
Spencer Lemons
May 7, 2008
This was an amazing evening for gray whales! I thought they had finished feeding here NW of Langley but, at about 5:30 PM we heard a whale breathe and then accompanying splashing of a whale close into shore feeding. Sure enough it was Patch. He stayed for almost an hour and then suddenly took off very fast to the southeast. He was shallow and literally left a wake. We watched him head out to deeper water toward Camano Head and then at 6:30 PM we saw another whale blow off in the distance. The two whales met almost mid channel between Langley and Camano Island. They spent about 15- 20 minutes sort of milling about. At 6:50 they began to head back to the NW and 7:00 PM both whales were feeding side by side NW of Langley. They continued to work their way to the NW feeding and then swimming out to deeper water, then back in to feed. We thought they had left but at 8:30 PM they were back NW of Langley. At 9:45 PM they were still here feeding. It was wonderful to see them again!
Veronica von Allworden, NW Langley
A repeat performance of the day before, a large Gray was feeding close to shore at 6:30 am just north of Kayak point, moving north toward Warm Beach (Port Susan). Don’t know ID’s but saw two brushstroke-like markings on either the top of left fluke or bottom of right fluke.
Gary Lingenfelter, Kayak Point
May 6, 2008
Around 6:00 p.m I looked out and saw a lone (gray) whale outside my window feeding in front of my house. I am on Witter Beach (SE Whidbey) and face directly east toward Hat Island and Everett. He hung around for quite awhile making his way south.
Sharon Wandler, Whidbey Island
Derek Whitmarsh of Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island, called Orca Network to report 2 gray whales heading south, closer to the Camano side of Saratoga Passage, at 3:35 pm.
One Gray feeding in shallow water between Kayak Point and Warm Beach (in Port Susan) at 7:30am. Moving north.
Gary Lingenfelter, Kayak Point
May 4, 2008
Sighting began at 12:45, 1 gray (#49) milling, traveling north bound, off the shallows NE of Gedney Ils. Second gray spotted at 12:50 much further north, SW of Tulalip. Sightings ended at 13:11.
Kwasi, Salish Sea Charters
May 3, 2008
We observed single gray whale pass through Mariner’s Cove (near Strawberry Point) and feed very close along the shoreline at 7PM Saturday evening. A lot of swirling around with flippers exposed for 15/20 minutes before heading south towards Polnell Point.
Robert Stonefelt, Oak Harbor
Our first whale sighting began at 12:12 – The small/juvenile Humpback NE of Possession Pt. (N 47’ 54.195 W 122’ 21.995). The whale was traveling south bound, taking two to three breaths before diving. The sighting ended at 12:27, the whale did not fluke. Our next sighting began at 13:07 – 2 grays moving SSW of the dolphin day marker E of Gedney Island (N 48’00.268 W 122’15.863). Then a third Gray whale spotted at 13:15. All three whales were foraging in the shallows, with pectorals and flukes out of the water. One whale was #49. We left the whales at 13:35
Kwasi, Salish Sea Charters
Orca Network received a call from Kwasi Addae of Salish Sea Charters at 12:15 pm, with a report of the juvenile humpback that’s been hanging around lately. It was off Possession Pt, South Whidbey Island.
May 2, 2008
(1) very large Gray whale, west Camano Island 1/2 mile north of Onamac Beach, Observed from High Bank Waterfront. First seen 5:55 PM and was still at location @ 6:15 PM moving north and south within 1/4 mile feeding.
Tom & Vicki Perry, Camano Island
May 1, 2008
Probable grey whale spouting just off Camano Head (S. Camano Island) visible from above the Langley marina 10:40 AM May 1. Appears to be one individual. It was heading slowly northerly and disappeared behind the east side of Camano by around 10-15 before 11 AM.
David Daye, Langley, WA
April 30, 2008
Tim, a deck officer for the Ferry Spokane on the Edmonds/Kingston route, called Orca Network to report seeing a whale hanging around the area the past few weeks that they believe is a Minke. They never saw any flukes come up, & we have had several other minke sigthings in the area, but we also alerted them to the presence of the juvenile humpback in the area in case they catch a glimpse of that one too!
April 29, 2008
12:11 – First gray sighted, 1 mile NE of the Green Can buoy off the Southern point of Gedney Island. ID’d as #49 (patch). Patch was milling, doing very short shallow dives. 12:24 – We spotted another gray in the shallows of Tulalip. Too far in for ID. 12:45 – Our third whale sighted, actively feeding about .5 miles SE of the dolphin day marker. again no good ID shots. 12:52 – We departed the animals.
Kwasi, Salish Sea Charters
Derek Whitmarsh called Orca Network to report 2 grays between south of Camano Island and Whidbey Island, heading toward Everett at 8 am.
April 28, 2008
Bill Irvin called Orca Network to report what he is pretty sure was a Minke whale 150-200 yards offshore at Useless Bay, SW Whidbey Island, feeding & heading south at 4:15 pm.
April 27, 2008
Just wanted you to know that there is a humpback in Skunk Bay. It has been here most of the afternoon. Pretty sure it is the same one as yesterday. Passive early but seems to be more active right now. Mulling around – currently heading East.
LuAnn Fortin
My husband and I watched what might have been the same reported juvenile humpback in shallow water in Skunk Bay (Hansville- NW of Point No Point) casually staying on the surface for long periods of time. Later in the afternoon and early evening it was more active (feeding?) closer to the shipping lanes off Double Bluffs, a little south of Mutiny Bay. We never saw its fluke, but it appeared to roll, exposing large pectoral fines, and what looked like open jaws breaking the surface. In the deeper waters, the whale would dive for a minute or two, then surface, roll, double back as if making circles.
Peggy Dow
Saw two grays off of Clinton Sunday around 11:30am. One appeared to have a cut on its back.
Doug Miller
We saw several grays (6 or 7) in different directions. Three were south of Hat/Gedney Island, two were south east of Hat, towards Mukilteo, and at least one more even further south of the first three. I’m fairly positive we saw #21, #22 and #44, but photos were not clear enough to even try to identify the others.
Jill Hein, Coupeville
April 26, 2008
It looks like we saw the juvenile Humpback off of Possession Point from our sailboat at the north end of Rolling Bay on Bainbridge Island. Time was 10:20am and the whale was heading south close to shore. It was fishing along the current line and had a distinctive dorsal fin and the tail fin was quite obvious before long dives.
Doug Miller
Nice to see the photo of the humpback in Mutiny Bay. This time of year there are lots of food for humpbacks in the nearshore. The most likely would be “clouds” of juvenile chum and pinks outmigrating. This is juvenile pink year for many streams and the little pinks often school with chums in great numbers. Juvenile sandlance are also out now and herring ought to be joining them too, all major humpback foods. I also got an interesting email last week from Hood Canal where it is reported that “krill” has been washing up on shores in large numbers. Maybe that humpback found a bundle of krill drifting around?
Ron Hirschi
Hello, my wife and I sighted a juvenile humpback whale feeding on sand shrimp in Mutiny Bay this afternoon . Some photos attached for you to enjoy.
Chris Akker
Mark on the Victoria Clipper called Orca Network at 9:20 am to report a humpback whale in Admiralty Inlet, between Useless Bay and Pt. No Point. They watched it raise it’s huge pectoral fin, and it did about 20 tail-lobs as it slowly moved NW.
John Herman saw the humpback in Admiralty Inlet, and observed it crossing from mid- channel over to Skunk Bay, where it was last seen still slowly heading NW at 11:20 am.
April 25, 2008
Saw two adult Grays from the Clinton Ferry.
Doris Newkirk, Greenbank
We saw a total of five [gray] whales from mid- channel off Mukilteo to the south, north to Camano Head. We saw resting behaviors, traveling behaviors, feeding behaviors and, remarkably, SEVEN spyhops – from the same whale. He certainly seemed quite interested in us.
Annette Colombini
We first saw Patch, #49, & #21 just off Gedney Island about 1/2 mile. We then found #383 who became the showstopper with 7…yes 7 spyhops just off the southern tip of Gedney Island!!! Amazing, my first time seeing a Gray Whale spyhop and it simply just took my breath away! Before heading back to the dock we found another whale, #22 near the delta.
Kate Janes, Naturalist, Island Adventures
April 23, 2008
Mary Powers reported 2 gray whales 1 mile west of the Everett Marina, heading toward the tip of Gedney/Hat Island, from 11-11:30 am.
April 21, 2008
On the Island Explorer 3 we found Gray whales #22, #383, #49 and another whale that remained anonymous! We first found #22, #383 & #49 on the western side of Gedney/Hat Island. Patch, #49, was moving towards Everett and the southern portion of Gedney. We then witnessed #22 & #383 resting just slightly north of where we first saw #49. We found another whale just south of Camano Head. This unidentified whale had long down times and we left it off the eastern north side of Gedney. We saw Patch, on our way back to the dock, on the south eastern side of Gedney.
Kate, Island Adventures Naturalist
Frances Wood of Langley reported 2 grays between Hat/Gedney Island and South Whidbey, heading south at 11:42 am.
April 20, 2008
My husband and I went for a flight at about 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon. I had seen the whale watching boat head over towards Everett, so we flew that direction hoping to see some whales. Sure enough, we spotted FIVE gray whales feeding close to the Marine Marker between Gedney (Hat) Island and the entrance to Steamboat Slough! To see it on a chart click here. The whales were right near the marker, feeding close to the edge of the drop off. It was amazing watching the whales rolling on to their sides, feeding with big plumes of mud streaming out behind them and then coming up to breathe! (see photo above) There was a raft of scoters and other sea birds feeding on whatever the whales missed. Patch was easy to ID.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley, Whidbey Island
There were (still) gray whales close in to shore at First Beach at La Push, WA. I saw one good spyhop, several briefly emerging heads and many bits of backs. At least one pair of blows close together, half a second apart and nearly side by side: mother/baby?
Miriam Bobkoff, Port Angeles 
When we got near the shallows just west of Priest Point, there they were. Three grays, one of them was Patch I believe. Lots of feeding and blowing. They seemed comfortable. Then as we were about to leave, one of them did a SPY HOP!!! Slowly and gracefully.
Beth Ann Daye, Langley, Whidbey Island
April 19, 2008
A series of low, smallish [gray whale] spouts Saturday at 11 AM, close to the tip of Camano head viewed from Sandy Point. There appeared to be at least two animals, and the spouts were coming at about a minute apart. We saw no fins but a small glimpse of back once.
David Daye, Langley, WA
April 18, 2008
I am reporting a single gray whale passing through Mariner’s Cove area; heading south towards Polnell Point, 7:45PM. No feeding. Last spout seen at 8:20; just before dark; between Polnell Point and Camano’s Rocky Point. Possibly heading towards Snakelum Point.
Robert Stonefelt, Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island
April 16, 2008
Fred Lundahl sent us a second hand report of about four or five gray whales today mid day – mostly down by Camano Head, Sandy Point and Hat/Gedney island triangle.
April 14, 2008
Watched a Minke off of Kingston, heading South along the edge of the traffic lane at 1:40 pm.
Pamela Benson, Sv Spirit of Freedom
Will Elmquist called Orca Network at 10:50 am, to report a whale approaching his boat while he was fishing west of Possession Pt, S. Whidbey Island. The whale came up to within 5’ of the boat & looked right at him! He was in 50 – 60’ of water, the whale had a pointed rostrum, he saw some white underneath it, & it was sort of rolling around. The whale was headed SW.
At first we thought it was a Minke, as we’d had several reported in the area, but then when we got the report & photo, of the possible juvenile humpback that also approached a boat yesterday – it is possible this could be the same whale.
1 Grey 100 yárds off East side of Polnell Point on èast side of whidbey Island at 2200 this evening.
Stephen Rothboeck
Learned something new as a single gray whale was feeding off Mariner’s Cove, south of Strawberry Point. First seen, at around 6:30 PM and watched gray feed for next half hour, as it slowly made its way heading south; towards Polnell Point. What was surprising is it was at a low tide (1.0 at 7PM). Always thought feeding took place at a much higher tide.
Robert Stonefelt
Barbara Anderson called Orca Network at 11:45 am to report 1 gray whale heading north in shallow water off Pebble Beach, SW Camano Island.
April 13, 2008
We received a report today from Penny Blankenship of a dark whale, with small dorsal fin and audible blow sighted off Port Madison on Bainbridge Island. Penny observed the whale resting on the surface for a while, then watched it raise its “big nobby” pec fins into the air. Apparently, there was a whale sighted off the northern tip of Bainbridge Island on Saturday (4/12) which may have been the same animal sighted on Sunday. There has been no confirmation of species, however it sounds as if many people were present for the Sunday sighting, and maybe photos will show up.
Annie Douglas, Cascadia Research, Olympia, WA
Orca Network has received several reports of Minkes in this area (see below), but today received a report & the photo above, which John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research believes looks more like a juvenile humpback than a Minke. Also, the fluke showing when this whale dived is more of a humpback than Minke behavior. Let us know if anyone else out there happened to see or get photos of this whale – thanks! sb
We had the extreme luck of observing what I believe to be a Minke [note: probably a humpback, see above] whale today in Port Madison (N. of Bainbridge Island, WA). We were in our sailboat and when we saw the whale in the distance we approached it and then turned our engine off and just drifted while observing it. The whale seemed content to just rest around 150m from us. Then the whale decided to check us out and started coming towards us. Unfortunately our camera’s battery died as soon as we were closer. While we were observing the whale from a distance it would show its back and fin and never pull its head out of the water. It would also occasionally show its tail just before diving only to resurface after a few minutes. It would do so in a nice controlled manner without any tail slapping or any other sign of aggression. We were observing it for perhaps close to half hour at about 150 meters from our bow. Then suddenly it took a dive and disappeared for a while. After a few minutes we heard a noise near our stern, we looked and saw that the whale had resurfaced about 60 feet away. Then it slowly but deliberately started moving towards us. We could clearly see its back and fin and the top of its head, but it never pulled its head out of the water. When it came to about 30 feet of our boat, I was forced to steer away from it as a few people on the boat became uncomfortable. The whale looked jet black while it was far, but we found out it was dark gray when it approached us. I would say it’s length was about 20-25 feet judging from the length of our boat (32 feet). It never showed its head fully to us but the top of its head looked somewhat flat although I think there were some bulges around its blow hole. It was very gentle while approaching us and did not make any sudden movements
Bill Zissimopoulos
We live in Greenbank on Camano Vista Street. This [gray] whale stayed for almost 90 minutes feeding, rolling and showing off.
Pia and Greg Carruth, Greenbank, WA
2 or 3 gray whales were right out at La Push in front again but, this time they were spy hopping in the large rollers. We even got to see tails and fins.
Phyllis Alexander
Elaine Richards of Camano Island called to report 1 gray whale off Camano View, south of Onamac, west side of Camano, at 12:50 pm. She felt one boat in the area was too close.
2 grays feeding at drop-off at Mabana on Camano from 1:45pm until now….2:30pm. Yesterday at noon 1 gray feeding at Mabana for approximately half an hour, traveling North into Saratoga passage.
Dodie on Camano
April 12, 2008
We were on the Kingston Ferry when we saw the minkes.
Rich Kiepke
Just had dinner with the neighbors and several saw a Minke off Suquamish.
Jean Boyle, Director, Tourism Development, Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau
Again, was this the minke that was sighted & photographed above, or was it the possible juvenile humpback sighted & photographed in Port Madison on Sunday?! sb
We found two gray whales swimming close together just north of Mukilteo heading toward Everett today at about 2:30pm. They were #22 and #383. I also saw two whales from the ferry in Clinton at 8:30am this morning heading south. We found one gray whale, at 11:45 just south of Jetty Island, that I was not able to identify.
Bart Rulon, Island Adventures Inc.
We found 2 grays between Everett and Hat Island – one looks to be #383 (see photo below), couldn’t get a good photo of the 2nd whale.
Jill Hein, Coupeville
On the Beach Watchers fundraising cruise we watched two gray whales, traveling closely together in the deeper water, from about 2pm to 3 pm, down south in the Clinton, end of Gedney Island, near Everett area. Saw a lot of the two backs and flukes. One whale was definitely #383. There were only 2 whales, but they provided us with some great viewing.
Sandy Dubpernell, Coupeville
A friend saw greys while sailing off Possession Point and said that they were heading north. So I drove over to Possession Beach State Park to watch them go by. There were a series of spouts but no dorsals, flukes or fins. There were glimpses of their backs. They were in mid channel between Possession Beach State Park and Mukilteo at 11:45AM. They were slowly heading north. There was considerable boat traffic that was oblivious to them. The whales would disappear while the worst of the traffic passed and then surface behind them. I was able to watch them for about 15 minutes during which time they traveled less than a mile (guesstimate).
Tom Trimbath
2 grays feeding at drop-off at Mabana on Camano from 1:45pm until now….2:30pm. Yesterday at noon 1 gray feeding at Mabana for approximately half an hour, traveling North into Saratoga passage.
Dodie on Camano
I have attached a picture of a whale I saw at Noon today while halibut fishing. This whale was seen north of Protection Island on the north end of Dallas Bank. The whale’s presence coincided with a large school of baitfish. I suspect I’ve seen this lone whale before in this area and read reports of it of recent, but I would like to know if it is a false Killer Whale, a Pilot Whale, or ?.
Jeff Dodd, Langley, WA
This whale is a Minke. I have heard locals call orcas, & sometimes pilot whales “blackfish”, but have not heard this term applied to Minkes before. sb
2 possibly 3 Minke whales sighted just off Kingston on the Edmonds- Kingston Ferry, at 47 deg 47’ 37” N 122 Deg 29’25” W.=, traveling south at 1:50 pm.
Rich Kiepke and Judy Thomas
Veronica von Allworden called to report “Patch” feeding NW of Langley from 10-10:50 am. After going back & forth feeding, he finally headed out into deeper water & seemed to be heading SE.
10:30am – “Patch” has been feeding leisurely for a good half hour close to shore along upper First St in Langley. Veronica, our neighbor, is out there with binocs and clearly id’d the familar fins.
Sharen Heath LANGLEY
Kathy Fritts of Freeland called to report seeing 2 gray whales from the 8:30 am Clinton/Mukilteo ferry. The whales were heading south toward Possession Pt.
April 11, 2008
A grey whale was spotted near the Snakelum Point buoy between Penn Cove and Saratoga Passage at 6:45 PM as we were out on our deck describing last Sunday’s grey whale visit to friends. The whale seemed to loll around taking short breaths and short dives, meandering back & forth between the buoy and our wreck, where just 3 hours earlier the sand was exposed (~40’ past the wreck) at low tide. I don’t know the specific depth there but it’s shallow. It hung around for ~30 minutes.
Also, the morning after Jill Hein’s 4/5/08 sighting report at the same location, Clay spotted several feeding holes on the east side of the point. We’re thrilled we have more feeding activity here than in the past few years, as our beach changes with the alluvial flow up Saratoga Passage.
Suzy Smith, Coupeville, Whidbey Island
Orca Network received a call from Sarah Schmidt of Coupeville, reporting a gray whale feeding in the shallows off Snakelum Pt, near the entrance to Penn Cove at 10:55 am, then it swam out deeper into the channel, going both west & east, so likely still feeding. She said the underside of the flukes had a lot of white, & the tip of the right fluke was missing or angled off differently – possibly # 44?
At least two Gray’s were spotted feeding in Elger Bay, W. Camano Island around 9:00 AM.
Dena Jordan, Camano Island
I was at Elger Bay this morning about 7:30 to help with the beach seining, when I heard the familiar “whoosh”. A lone gray spent a leisurely 45 minutes or so feeding on his side in the shallows just outside the buoy line.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island, WA
Bob Whitney called to report a Minke whale off Pt. Wilson, in Admiralty Inlet at 9 am.
April 10, 2008
We had a great day watching gray whales today. We spotted Three Gray Whales between Whidbey Island and Hat Island around noon today. #21 and #22 were swimming closely together and #49, Patch, was nearby, but on his own. #21 and #22 made their way over to the shore of Hat Island for some feeding and they did spy-hop after spy-hop (5x) right next to the shore. By 2:00 pm all three whales moved east and were between Hat Island, Whidbey Island and Everett.
Bart Rulon, Naturalist, Island Adventures Inc.
11:20 AM. I just watched a gray whale close to Langley, head out to the center of the channel, do some deep dives and then head to the north. And earlier in the day: There were, what sounded like, two gray whales back again this morning at 4:20 AM, splashing and blowing as they fed along the beach. They moved along, heading southeast after about 25 minutes.
Veronica, NW Langley
We had just boarded the ferry at Clinton, 10:30am today, when the captain announced there were [gray] whales off the bow. I saw two whales, heading southwest about 400 yards offshore. A couple blows from them, swimming in tandem, then they disappeared.
Ron Rhinehart
Blows heard at 3am off Bells Beach. It was a still night and they sounded close.
Peggy Sullivan, Bells Beach, N. of Langley, Whidbey Island
April 9, 2008
About 1:30 pm: We were privileged to see three gray whales feeding in the waters between Mukilteo and Everett, about 1/4 mile from shore. We watched for about 1/2 hour. Another brief sighting of one whale off the north coast of Gedney Island, about 1:00 pm.
Anne Hayden, Clinton
I woke up this morning at 4:15 AM and listened to the blows and splashing of at least two gray whales feeding in the shallow water NW of Langley. I listened to them for about half an hour.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley
We were in our hot tub about 12:10 am & heard what sounded like 2 grays blowing right off Hidden Beach/North Bluff, just north of Greenbank. We listened for about 20 minutes as they passed by heading south. Given the timing of the above report, it’s likely these were the two whales that showed up off Langley in the wee hours as well.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank, Whidbey Island
April 8, 2008
Several grays between Polnell and Maylor Pts neár Oak Harbor at 1730 today 1 mile off shore.
Stephen Rothboeck, Whidbey Island, WA
One Gray was seen at 9:15 this morning feeding in the cove just north of Kayak Point.
Gary Lingenfelter
April 6, 2008
I was out with Mystic Seas today – Patch (Gray whale #49) did a beautiful breach at the entrance to Holmes Harbor. Then northbound we found two grays between Harrington and Race Lagoons, they were slowly heading south, AND about a half mile east of the wharf in Coupeville there was ANOTHER gray whale. I tried following him (via car) and caught up with him at Suzy Smith’s house on Rhodena Drive, where we watched him slowly traveling south- eastward for about a half hour.
Jill Hein, Coupeville
Carolyn Mercer called us at 12:55 pm to report seeing a gray whale breach right off North Bluff, north of Greenbank. By the time we were able to get out to the bluff for some whale watching, it was 2:10 pm. Howie spotted 1 gray whale diving, & ID’d it as Patch by the fluke pattern. He was out a ways & slowly heading north. We watched him spout a few more times. Then from the beach from 3:18 – 3:40 pm, we saw a spout SW of Rocky Pt, Camano Island. The whale seemed to be heading west toward the entrance to Penn Cove at a pretty fast pace.
Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Greenbank
Phil Litrenta called at 9:52 am to report 2 or 3 gray whales west of Polnell Pt, feeding off the mouth of Crescent Harbor near Oak Harbor.
Jack Jessup called at 8:10 am to report 2 grays headed north off Madrona Beach, west Camano Island, 60 – 70 yards from shore.
0800 – several Gray whales one half mile West of onamac point on West side of camano Island.
Steve Rothboeck, polnell shores, whidbey Island.
April 5, 2008
One Gray was seen at Kayak Point at about 10:00 am.
Gary Lingenfelter
Saw 2 [gray whale] blows from far off Clinton/Mukilteo Ferry on Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Blows were toward So. side Camano Island.
Lynn Brevig, Seattle
3:45 pm, Bells Beach: Two grays slowly gliding by two kayaks. The grays proceeded toward Langley with more speed.
Peggy Sullivan, Bells Beach, Whidey Island
Orca Network received a call at 3:30 pm from a Bell’s Beach resident reporting a gray whale at Bells Beach.
Around l:00 pm two [gray] whales on the flats at Mabana, west Camano Island (drop-off due to low tide)
Dodie on Camano
April 4, 2008
One Gray was seen at Kayak Point at about 7:00pm.
Gary Lingenfelter
Heard two grays feeding this morning between 3:00 and 5:00am, north of Kayak Point (Port Susan, between Stanwood & Everett), close to shore. It was very calm and quiet so I could clearly hear their blows and flukes swirling.
Gary Lingenfelter
April 3, 2008
About 5:30PM, 3-maybe 4 grays- very close to shore feeding in the shallows, working their way north past Mabana. Lots of fins and tails as they lay on their sides feeding.
Barbara Brock, Camano Island
Large lone grey whale sighted heading north between Onamac on Camano Island and Whidbey about 3:00 p.m..
Jan Nicholson, Camano Island
All Gray’s going north, 1- 2 miles from shore off Gualala, CA. Not doing more than swimming, unlike yesterday. 4-8 pm, 24 total, including 2 pairs.
Rizal Minon, Gualala, CA
2 grays feeding at Mabana Shores on Camano at 6:00pm, heading North on the tidal flats.
Dodie, Camano Island
I observed a minke whale between 0950-1030 Hrs. The whale stayed in mid channel, north of Point Wilson feeding. Most likely on herring, working the area where the Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot, Double- crested Cormorant and Glaucous-winged Gulls were also feeding. This behavior is typical of the Minke I have seen in Admiralty Inlet.
Bob Whitney, Port Townsend, WA
April 2, 2008
Whidbey Island Gray whale ID’s so far this season, from John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research:
With the IDs obtained by Bethany from the Island Adventures whale-watch trip on 1 April, we have now confirmed 7 different gray whales in the Whidbey Island area this season.
The ID of the whales seen so far are:
#21: 1st sighting this year: 1 April; 1st ID’d: 1990; sighted in this area 14 years
#22: 1st sighting this year: 1 April; 1st ID’d: 1990; sighted in this area 12 years
#44: 1st sighting this year: 20 March; 1st ID’d: 1991; sighted in this area 12 years
#49: 1st sighting this year: 8 March; 1st ID’d: 1991; sighted in this area 16 years
#56: 1st sighting this year: 8 March; 1st ID’d: 1991; sighted in this area 10 years
#356:1st sighting this year: 22 March; 1st ID’d: 1999; sighted in this area 5 years
#531: 1st sighting this year: 8 March; 1st ID’d: 2000; sighted in this area 5 years
John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research, Olympia
It’s 1:20pm... looks like a pair of grays out in Saratoga Passage on the West end of Langley, middle of the passage. They seem to be heading toward Langley, toward the East. They seem to be headed to the Dog House, and beyond.
Sharen Heath, LANGLEY
Fred Lundahl of Langley also relayed reports to Orca Network from Monte Hughes of Mystic Sea that he had sighted grays off Langley earlier in the morning.
April 1, 2008
This morning at 5:45, 2 gray whales were feeding in the shallow water. They worked their way back and forth from NW Langley to downtown Langley. At 6:15, a third whale came from the NW and joined them. The third whale stayed till about 6:45 and then headed off to the NW. The other 2 whales were feeding until 7:30 and then headed to the southeast.
Veronica von Allworden, Langley
My daughter and I just saw five [gray] whales off Langley, two just north of the main town and three just north of Sandy Point. I’d say the time was around 6:30 am. would have doubted that were that many, but we saw all of them (in each group) separately at roughly the same time.
Mara, Whidbey Island
Phil Litrenta called Orca Network at 8:30 am to report 1 gray whale just south of Polnell Pt, near Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, in the kelp.
1 gray whale at 5:30 PM off of Bush Point, west Whidbey Island. Looked to be headed North.
Connie Hoidal, Whidbey Island
Nat Scholz called at 7:25 pm to report what looked like a young gray whale in shallow water, near the Dave Mackie Park boat ramp on Maxwelton Beach, Useless Bay. It was going back & forth in the shallow water – he thought it might be in distress, but from the description it sounds like it was likely feeding off the mudflats –
maybe the Bush Pt. gray turned & headed south to Maxwelton? sb
12:30 AM listened to two [gray] whales feeding directly off of East Point. 12:30 PM watched a small troop of Dall’s porpoise (6 or 8) in Saratoga Passage.
David Day, Fox Spit Rd, Whidbey Island
