May 6th - Case Inlet split to Tacoma

8:32 p.m. -  watching from Southworth ferry dock - 3 including a baby just passed still northbound looks like they are headed northeast towards the Seattle side. 

Brittany Gordon

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8:30 p.m. - Pod of 3 with little one exited Colvos Passage@8:30 traveling Northeast of Blake Island at a fast pace...lost them fading into the darkness of the sky.

Kathe Bradley

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7:54 p.m. - Whale Sighting. 6-7 Bigg's, n ow passing Cove (neighborhood northern Vashon) with beautiful sunset to boot!

Mark Timken

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7:31 p.m. -  adding to my last comment. Now seeing 2 breaches and a spyhop 

7:20 p.m. - viewing through binoculars from 1/2mile north of Al's store-Olalla. Seeing six or more(orange color on baby) traveling northbound in Colvos toward Southworth. Steady pace. Appear closer to Vashon side

Katie Schmelzer

Here is a track of the Case Inlet break away pod. Starts at 2:22, ends at 7:00. I watched from start of track to point 6. 7 through finish are estimates from posts. Map/Photo y Doug Olson, May 6, 2017

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6:57 p.m. -  they've arrived at Olalla

Danielle Clark

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6:25 p.m. - heading fairly quickly into Colvos. Viewing from Dalco Passage at Point Defiance.

Jill Clogston

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6:25 p.m. - Northbound through the Colvos passage headed toward Olalla. Between Vashon and Sunrise Beach. 

Gaby Kinner

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5:50 p.m. - We just saw 3-4 Orcas heading northbound in the Narrows, mid-channel, going pretty fast, one half mile north of the Narrows bridge. All boaters keeping good distance and we were treated to one spy hop by the large male. One youngster in the bunch. We have been on a staycation for the last two weeks here at home and what a treat this has been.

Susan Dynes

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5:40 p.m. - Right at the Narrows Bridge, west side. There is a teal and white boat that can't be more than 10 yards from the pod, with several other boats racing towards them. It's heartbreaking to watch. We watched this pod from the east end of Fox Island to the Narrows Bridge and this boat full of people almost on top of the pod at times. Sounds like people at the Tacoma Narrows Park witnessed it too?

Phil Caldwell

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5:42 p.m. - counted 4 (1 little one) No big males. Traveling fast. Going under bridge. Just saw a breach before the train tunnel; 5:28 p.m. - seeing them between Fox Island & Gig Harbor (Point Fosdick). Heading east

Heidi Armstrong

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Young whale watcher watching young whales... "We sat at the Beach yesterday, with one of the best Orca Spotters you can ask for. It was nice and sunny but that made Sea-Spray making the already far away Orcas look soft and out-of-focus in my pics but that didn't take any beauty out of the moment! We also saw 2 Boats driving far to close and approaching much to fast.Remember to stay 200 YARDS AWAY and keep path way clear. They are wild Animals!" Photo by Desiree Sauve, May 6, 2017

Photo by Desiree Sauve, May 6, 2017

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5:10 p.m. - Looks to be southbound for the moment in front of the Fox Island pier.

Gaby Kinner

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4:28 p.m.- at least 5, northbound, north of Ketron, headed toward Steilacoom ferry dock. One boat is being super aggressive and cutting ahead of them and/or chasing them. 4:15 p.m. - passing Anderson island on the east side, close to Ketron, boats in heavy pursuit according to AI FB report. Northbound, don't have a count yet, but getting to the water now

Belen Bilgic Schneirder

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2:50 p.m. - group of 7-8 cruising past Devils Head towards Anderson Island.

Kelly Ockerman

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2:42 p.m.- Zittles toward Nisqually; 2:38 p.m. - Pretty sure they are heading east of Johnson Point; 2:22 Pod of at least 6 southbound Case Inlet mid channel approaching Wilson Point

Doug Olson

May 6  -  Squaxin and Pickering Passages

8:55 p.m. - 3 HUGE Orca in Pickering Passage heading north to Jarrell's Cove. 

Gretchen Stewart

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6:00 pm. - Sighting of five killer whales unknown if resident or transient heading west by Hope Island around 6pm.

Bill Bryant

May 6 - larger pod Case Inlet

We saw them about a hour ago (approx 8PM) entering into Vaughn Bay and and then heading back out. There were two groups each with two babies and a mature whale.

Kaitlyn Goodeve

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5:10 p.m. - They were headed north to Victor when we saw them last and that was about 15 minutes ago.  4:10 p.m. - Group of about 15 orcas west of Stretch Island point heading north towards Vaughn.

Izzy Edwards

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Found them mid channel right at the mouth of Fair Harbor 3:30 then they went under and I lost them.

Steve Nieto

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3:15 p.m. - They are heading South past Treasure Island / appear to be heading out.  3:00p.m. - Orca in Case Inlet just North of Treasure Island. Many directional changes. 

Beverly Lynch McCallum

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2:41 p.m. - 10-12 Orcas NW side of Herron Island. 2-3 little ones. Breaching spy hopping and slapping in the water. We were suddenly surrounded in our jet ski. Please note we slowly backed the jet ski to the shore of Herron and took these pictures standing in 2-3 feet of water to not disturb them.

Kathy Edwards

T124D in Case Inlet on the NW side of Herron Island. Photo by Kathy Edwards, May 6, 2017 (see above) (ID confirmation by Melisa Pinnow, CWWR)

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2:30 p.m. - They were just hanging in the area for quite awhile and now heading north. 2:00 pm. -Watching about 6 orcas north of Herron Island, we are at Herron Ferry Landing Dock looking west towards Harstene Island. Photo by Marilyn Armbruster, May 6, 2017

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2:15 p.m. - We live on very southern tip of Herron Island. A pod of Orcas - approx 6 - moving quite fast - just came into view (2:15 PM) on the west side of Herron Island moving south heading 155 degrees. If you are on the east side of Harsteine - south of Herron Island they are coming your way!!!

Karen Dorans 

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1:58 p.m. -  Pod(s) have been between north ends of Harstine and Herron Islands for last hour. Now due north of Herron. 1-2 minute down times, perhaps longer - hard to track at my distance. A couple of boats being respectful.

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12:42 p.m. - Large group NW of Herron Island in Case Inlet. Too far to count or to determine direction; seem to be hanging in that area, with surface activity and splashing visible.

Dave Berliner

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11:18 p.m. - seen heading towards Northbay. 

Garrett Aries

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10:17 a.m. - Orcas heading north in Case Inlet. Past Herron heading to Harstine Point. At least 10 of them.

Jerilyn Evans

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9:26 a.m. - ...We just counted about 10. We think. They are heading south towards Herron Island. Lots of splashing and some breaching by the mid sized Orcas. (as viewed from top of Harstine Island)

8:50 a.m. - We are sitting on the Northern tip of Harstiene Island on the beach. Using binoculars and a long lens we are watching at least 6 orca outside the mouth of Vaughn Bay. They seem to be just hanging out.

Cindy Faker

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8:03 a.m. - They are still down South by Rocky Bay/ Vaughn. 

Beverly Lynch McCallum

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7:05 a.m. - Orcas sighted just north of Treasure/Reach Island in Case Inlet.

There was at least 10 seems like 2 groups they were heading south 

Also saw what I thought was a humpback...we are about 1.5 miles south of Allyn.

Lisa van Dam

May 6 - Budd and Hammersley Inlets

7:10 p.m. - Pod of 6+ orcas headed towards Oakland Bay Hammersly inlet lighthouse road. 

Shantelle Silva 

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7:08 p.m. - slow approach into Shelton, long dives...easily missed, this pod appears different than the one that we observed earlier in the day...more and varied sizes, though this group wasn't one for picture-taking. They stayed under the surface as they traveled.

7:02 p.m. - Orcas at Church Point, Hammersley inlet,  deep dives traveling towards slowly Shelton 5-7 individuals

Jodi Johnson Pardi

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6:59 p.m. - Just spotted entering Hammersly Inlet west bound towards Oakland Bay.

Dawn Shaver

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6:35 p.m. - Saw at least 3 heading up Hammersley Inlet towards Shelton (Westbound)

Sheila Bayard

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6:30 p.m. - 4 large orcas heading to Steamboat Island from Hunter Point

Jim Chamberlin

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4:15 p.m. -  The Budd Inlet group was spotted briefly (north of Boston Harbor) heading north. I only saw a few of them surface once. And then they disappeared. LONG down times.

Kim Merriman

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3:15 p.m. - Two maybe three orcas Hunter Point toward southern tip Squaxin/Harstine island.

Jim Chamberlin

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2:45 p.m. - Group of 5-6 orcas east of Hope Island traveling fast with deep dives.

Mary Jordan

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Can anyone ID this little one? He/she has freckles on their eye-patch! Photo taken at 2:40pm at Arcadia. Photo by Izzy Edwards, May 6, 2017 (ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR "It's one of T68Bs kids")

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2:30 p.m. - Just watched the Orcas come out of Hammersley Inlet, 4 Orcas headed South at slow pace Photo by Norma Herrera, May 6, 2017

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2:13 p.m. - Spotted three (could be more) heading out Hammersley Inlet. Traveling out of the inlet heading east. 

Sheila Bayard

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2:00 p.m. -  passed Libby Point eastbound

Pamela Burger

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1:38 p.m. - 3-5 individuals passing Church Point leaving Hammersley very relaxed pace, some deep dives.

Jodie Johnson Pardi

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1:16 p.m. -  Hammersley Inlet Old Arcadia Rd, pod of about 3 medium sized orcas heading eastbound toward Libby pt moving slow.

Patricia Lambert

Approx 1:00 p.m. eastbound Hammersley. Photo by Larry Majercin, May 6, 2017 (ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR - "probably one of T68B's kids again.")

Photo by Jeanne Majercin, May 6, 2017 (ID notes by Melisa Pinnow, CWR: "looks like T68B for the adult female")

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12:38 p.m. - Looks like three of them just west of Walker Park in Shelton. They have been stalled about 20 minutes

Brian Winkler

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12:05 p.m - 4 orcas just passed Libby Point, Hammersley Inlet @12:05pm, headed into Oakland Bay. 

Jody Johnson

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11:50 Passed Church Pt heading west toward Shelton. Taking very long dives between surfacing events.

Bill Pardi

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11:00a.m. -  5-6 heading west into Hammersley. They are doing long dives and a few short surfacing series. Dove between Hope/Steamboat islands and came out on the north end of Steamboat Island before heading into Hammersley. Distant photo w/ people who missed seeing them. Photo by Kim Merriman, May 6, 2017

10:30 - 5-6 orca heading north out of Budd Inlet toward Dana Passage. Slowly surfacing. I thought I saw them heading east about 30 minutes ago and then lost them. Resighted just now. 

Kim Merriman

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9:20 a.m. - Hunter Point (Olympia)  3 orcas heading toward southern tip of Squaxin island.

Jim Chamberlin

May 5

Day: Orcas were seen coming out of Hammersly inlet and playing out in front of Squaxin Island at around 4:20pm. Stayed in sight for approximately 1/2 an hour. Appeared to be playing. 2 small Orcas kept flipping out of the water and splashing with their tales. 2 large males, 2-4 females, and 2 small infant whales noted. Headed up towards Harstine Island after playing. My husband and I saw them this morning in front of Steamboat Island and counted 9 in the pod. This was around 10:15 am. They then headed down into Totten Inlet. The pod came back around 11:15 and headed to Arcadia Point and then into Hamersley Inlet.

Monica Gray

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7:07 p.m. -  pod in front of Joemma, all on course for Taylor Bay. Also large male bringing up the rear.  7:00 p.m. - Male @ Joemma, pod just North of Mcmicken

6:51 p.m. - Big Male .5 mIles ahead of pod southbound.  6:40 p.m. - Southbound 1 mile north Mcmicken Island

Doug Olson

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7:00 p.m. - Pod of orcas off Harstine Island. We are on the very south of Herron Island and they are heading south away from us. They were moving north and south down the east side of harstine!! It was hard to keep up with them, must have been hunting!!

Karen Dorans

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6:10 p.m. -  rounded the north point of Harstiene Island into Case Inlet. Heading south now between the Harstiene and Herron. Moving quickly and hard to spot at times with the white caps. I think six of them. What a treat. iPhone only. so no good pics.  5:50 p.m. -  just passed us at the North point of Harstiene. We are watching them from beach. They are traveling swiftly towards North Bay/Allen. Spectacular! At least 6. So happy to see them!!

Cindy Faker

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5:30 p.m. - Pod of 3 passing Jarrell's Cove Harstine Island heading toward Case Inlet. 

Teresa Saunders Westcoat

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5:20 p.m.  they've passed Walkers Landing northbound Pickering Passage!!! Beautiful! Large group in the lead with adult male and calves. Smaller group in the middle and another with 2-3 adult males (probably T101s) trailing about a minute from leaders. All Powering northbound in mild chop.  

5:00 p.m. -  They went on a long dive just south of the bridge and surfaced well north of it, pods now a bit more spread but in general together. Now a little more east of mid channel, steady northbound in travel mode. 

4:50 p.m.-  Made it just in time to see them in Pickering Passage approaching Hartsine Bridge from the south, loosley group in pods, mid channel. steady northbound. 

Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

The T86As, T100s, T101s, T124As & T124Ds have been traveling together in South Puget Sound for the past week. I'm not sure who all was in this group as they came north through Pickering Passage, went on a long dive just south of the  Harstine Bridge and surfaced pretty far north of the fridge,  by-passing all of us on shore at the boat launch. Still breathtaking. 2nd part is from shore further north in the Passage, even more breathtaking. Little babes in their backdropped by gorgeous Harstine Island. Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network, May 5, 2017  .

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4:07 p.m. - We just saw a pod going around Steamboat Island bridge area

Jordan Owen

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2:55 p.m. -  They were 8-12 of them. They split in two for a few min. Then they joined again. We saw them from Arcadia point heading south heading into Totten inlet. They were cruising.

Rachel Glenn Rygiel

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2:00 p.m. - 10 orca pass Libby point heading east toward Acadia point.

Debbera Coker

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1:20 p.m. -  (Flipped) heading east from Walker Park in Hammerlsey Inlet. 

12:50. Just passed Walker Park heading west toward the marina in Shelton. Oakland Bay

Rachel Glenn Rygiel

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12:25 p.m. -  westbound Hammersley Inlet. West of Skookum point  (photo)

Just passed Skookum point westbound. Looks like 5 or 6 @12:25

Pamela Burger 

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12:11p.m. -  Heading west into Hammersley Inlet right now!

Renee Beitzel

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12:02 p.m. - Headed past Steamboat toward Arcadia. 

Thomas Laxson

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11:26 a.m. - Chilkat currently with them south of Steamboat Island/Totten Inlet, northbound. Same group from yesterday. ( Including members of

Renee Beitzel

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10:45 a.m. - Orca pod off the tip of Steamboat Island. Looks like 7-9 of them. A couple small ones. Heading towards Totten Inlet. About 10:45am Traveling

Monica Gray

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10:50 a.m. They are currently heading south in Totten Inlet. They passed between Hope Islands and Steamboat Island and circled around Steamboat and into Totten. can't tell how many. More than a dozen. Split in two groups but surfacing in tandem. Very windy and rainy here so there is lots of chop.

10:15 a.m. - Just saw them. They have exited Dana Passage and are heading west between Hunter Point and Squaxin Island...(added 11:45) They were headed south when I left them. Spread out clear across the inlet with tide going out.

Kim Merriman

10:30 a.m. - From Steamboat Island Bridge. T86As and T101B in fore. Photo by Kim Merriman, May 5, 2017

T102 (left) Photo by Kim Merriman, May 5, 2017

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9:29 a.m. - Orcas spotted in Case inlet heading south to Dana passage looks like 2 pods of maybe 5-6 orcas / pod.

David Pierce

May 4

Hi.  What a lovely evening...in between some of the most glorious hours of stormy weather, to hear and see this super pod. I saw a seal very close to shore once the thunder and lightning and rain had moved north.  Wondered why.  It wasn't 3 minutes later when the calm turned to a chorus of blows punctuated with rows of whales moving with a purpose into Eld Inlet....It was the most FABULOUS storm.  EVER.  I loved all 6+ hours of it.  After the orca left during the break in such wildness, the storm started all over again.  It seemed totally magical that they showed up in this carved off hour of magic...Here are a few other images as they were heading north out of Eld.  There were so many of them it was hard to tell where to shoot.  These are all from my beach.  The only sounds were of a few way off squeals and the 'Oh My God" from others.  Then the beginning sounds of water and breath breaking the surface before it blasted through the silence with such force and stuttered fashion.  Each whale bursting forth.  So incredible.  After the swam off into the misty fog bank, we were greeted by failing light and another round of fireworks in the sky. But they were off traveling somewhere into northern water.

Kim Merriman (see photos below)

Photo by Kim Merriam, May 4, 2017

They were staggered (front to back) and also side-to-side. Hard to get all of them at once. Left north in Dana Passage approx. 7:30. Photo by Kim Merriman, May 4, 2017

Some of the T101 big boys and others. Photo by Kim Merriman, May 4, 2017

Close up of Orcas coming out of Eld Inlet  about 6:40pm. Photo by Kim O'Farrell, May 4, 2017

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7:30 p.m.  - They went into Eld as 3 close together groups! 2-3 very large males in the group! This group was actually more like 14! 

6:34 p.m. - Just saw them come out of Eld Inlet about 6:40pm. Possibly 8 Orcas.

6:30 p.m. - Eld Inlet...very large pod of Orcas! 

Lynette Fox

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5:00 p.m. a pod of eight orcas (inclu 2 males) were seen traveling in Dana Passage, heading south along southwestern shore of Hartstein Island.

Pam Rhubart

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3:43 p.m. -  huge pod heading south from the north end of Stretch Island probably 15 couldn't get pic because of thunderstorm. It was amazing there were at least 15 that went through. Looked like two separate pods. I saw them cruising past the state park on stretch

Garrett Aries

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3:15 p.m. - Several Orcas Case Inlet off N end of Stretch Isl. Lightening bolts. Thunder, Rain. Heavy rain. Heading south. 

Pamela Jarrett Berger

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2:55 p.m. - directly across from Vaughn bay heading south

Kathleen Brown

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2:20pm - The same group of Orca are in Case Inlet. Heading North slowly to the town of Allyn. Truly spectacular.  Flying breaches and tail slapping.  All with bolts of lightening all around.  They are down by Rocky Bay / Stretch Island. 

Beverly Lynch McCallum

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2:15 p.m. - Just saw a few heading south in Case Inlet just south of Victor. 

Shirley McNeil

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1:40 pm. - The pod is back north of Stretch Island heading towards Rocly Bay

Garrett Aries

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12:30 p.m. - This afternoon 5 or more Orca traveling northbound through Pickering Passage adjacent to Jarrell's Cove.Two of them appeared to be juveniles and atleast one bull.  My neighbors tell me this is the third day in a row they have cruised through Pickering Passage!

Michael Hunter

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12:30 p.m. - They about faced before bridge. Now going north. 

12:05 p.m. - We found them! Pickering Passage heading south toward bridge.

Renee Beitzel

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Found a group of at least 20 transient orcas in Pickering Passage in the south sound. Members of T086As, T100's, T101's, T102 (part of T101's) and T124A's and T124D.

Janine Harles (see photos below)

A female blanketed by two of the youngest members.  Photo by Janine Harles, May 4, 2017 (see notes above)

Photo by Janine Harles, May 4, 2017 (see notes above)

Photo by Janine Harles, May 4, 2017

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11:56 a.m. - Just left. They are headed south, prob 15 of them 11:48 a.m. - Found em. On the west side of Harstine in Pickering passage. Photo by AJ DeBeck, May 4, 2017  (I'm up in a helicopter )

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9:30 a.m - Pod of at leas 5 Orcas (incl. 2-3 adult males) currently in Purdy at the spit, out mid channel. (north end Henderson Bay/Carr Inlet)
Amy Burnson

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I saw them cruise past my house on Pickering Passage about 7:20am headed towards the Harstine Island bridge. They moved by quick but there where 5-6 or so including a large male. They were maybe 50 yds offshore.

David Coates

6:20 a.m. -  approximately 7 orcas splashing around in fog at hunter point heading towards Steamboat island/Hope island.

Jim Chamberlin

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May 3

6:00-7:30 p.m. - Orca Sighting - Pickering passage, N end of Harstene transiting northbound towards Allyn, east side of Stretch and treasure island. Large group of 12 to 16 Orcas  Northbound at the north end of Pickering Passage. 

Group went north towards Allyn near mid channel eastside of Stretch and Treasue Island. Orcas observed from approx 6pm to 7:30. Last seen North of Treasure Island.

John Murray

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We enjoyed an awesome drive-by today at Stetch Point State Park around 2:00pm. Looked like 9 Orcas, breaching, splashing, and enjoying life in this placid inland sea. The "whoosh" sound of their breathing was unreal and could be heard a mile away.

Mike Benson

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May 1

12:30 p.m. - Whale Signtings around Anderson Island- Ray Mohr, Anderson Island, took this picture as the whale went by his location after Noon on Monday rather fast. You see see a Baby Whale following. This was taken off the South end of Anderson island. He said they were moving too fast but others count between 6 to 10. Traveling

Robert Lyden (see photo below by Ray Mohr)