A back lit heart forms from water swept up by the pec fin of this  beautiful breaching humpback in Dalco Passage, off Point Defiance. Photo by David Earl, November 4, 2016

 

Sadly, here are a few pictures of my last experience with J28 (Polaris), and her son, J54 (Dipper) on October 11, 2016 in Saratoga Passage.  During the experience with J and K pod, I remember feeling sad that J54 looked smaller than he should be for a calf his age, and that he definitely had the malnourished, "peanut head", look. I've never seen the peanut head phenomenon on a calf like this before.  It was noticeable almost every time I saw him this summer, but it seemed particularly obvious on this encounter.  J28 was one of my favorite's in J pod partly because she was so easy to identify from a long distance with the distinctive notch on her dorsal fin.  If you were looking for the J17 subpod it was easiest to look for Polaris first.  We all feel fortunate to be able to watch many of these killer whales grow up into adults and have calves of their own, but that also makes it especially sad when any of them passes away long before they naturally should.
Bart Rulon 

J54 and his mom J28, on what would  sadly be their last (documented) visit to Saratoga Passage. Photo by Bart Rulon, October 11, 2016

 

J28 in her last days during a visit by Js and Ks in Saratoga Passage. Photo by Bart Rulon, October 11, 2016

 

J54. Rest sweet little guy. Photo by Bart Rulon, October 11, 2016

12:38 p.m. - I'm only seeing spouts, but there's a whale north of Edmonds ferry! It seemed to be just north of the ferry and west of it, and heading south. I only saw it's tail so I'm not sure what it was. Either grey whale or a smaller humpback. (Humpback was in area- ALB)
Sofia Cardozo

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Humpbacks on the Lime Kiln hydrophones right now at 7:10 pm!
Laurie Barber


3:31 p.m. - Got flukes in front of the Space Needle. The whale is still Northbound. Closer to Bainbridge. Roughly off Elliott Bay.
3:09 p.m. - Northbound off Alki. Mid channel.
James Gresham

A humpback and the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry. This afternoon outside Elliot Bay. Photo by James Gresham, November 6, 2016

Same Humpback as above backdropped by Seattle's Space Needle and skyline. Photo by James Gresham, November 6, 2016

Humpback's Fluke with chunk out of right side. Photo by James Gresham, November 6, 2016

Humpback's left side. Photo by James Gresham, November 6, 2016

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2:50 p.m. - Looks like mid-channel now trending toward Alki northeast.
2: 40 p.m. - Just saw a spout, been Blake and Alki, look for a sailboat.
Neil Hathi
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1:00 p.m.  - Maia at WS Ferries reports a humpback heading north off the north end of Vashon Island, between the ship traffic lanes.
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7:15 a.m. - Mike at WS Ferries reports one humpback was seen south of Tahlequah ferry landing on the south end of Vashon Island. No direction of travel given.

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Listen to humpback(s) in Haro Strait recorded by Traci Walter.
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Humpbacks on the Lime Kiln hydrophone! Pretty loud. 9:45pm
Kayli Ann Breitweiser


2:43 p.m. - He was heading towards Owen beach, lost visibility in the rain so not too sure now.
2:18 p.m. - Visible from Dalco viewpoint, making small dives and surfacing
Eldridge Eldridge
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2:21 p.m. - Humpback now going east. Viewing from Dalco viewpoint, Point Defiance.
1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - We watched the humpback surface twice from Narrows viewpoint. Going south.
Ronda Walters
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Approx 2:00 p.m. - Humpback surfaces in Dalco Pass off of Point Defiance, Tacoma. Photo by Connor O'Brien, November 5, 2016

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2:04 pm. - Now east bound.
1:16 p.m. - Humpback right off west side of Point Defiance, milling.
Scott Jacobsen
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12:40 p.m. - Just saw a lone humpback, a few hundred yards north of Point Defiance moving southward.
Michele Riley Campbell
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Humpback! Pt Defiance in Tacoma, Owen Beach. At 1100 it was out by Maury Island and disappeared into the fog. It reappeared 100-300 yards off shore at 11:15, swimming toward Dalco slowly. We walked along as it swam leisurely toward Dalco until the west end of Owen Beach around 11:40. It mostly stayed shallow with a couple of deep dives along the way. Video to be added later.
Lissa Brod Anderson
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10:30 a.m. - Over 30 lob-tailing flaps seen from probable gray whale (other reports/photos confirm humpback) in Dalco Passage this morning between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. Many sprays, a few breaches....Moved back and forth in front of Point Defiance ferry terminal. Seen from Tahlequah.
Janice Stixrud

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5:28 p.m. - I am at Point Defiance on the boat I just saw a humpback heading east down Owens beach.
Andrew Potter Maul
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1:07 p.m. - I am at Point Defiance now. Looks like the humpback is heading north up west side Vashon island.
Kerry Truax
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1:00 p.m. - Humpback between Gig Harbor and Vashon. 3 big breaches.
Gaby Kinner
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12:50 p.m. - Humpback breaches right off Point Defiance, Tacoma. Photo by David Earl, November 4, 2016

Photo by David Earl, November 4, 2016

Photo by David Earl, November 4, 2016

Photo by David Earl, November 4, 2016

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12:30 p.m. - Humpback off of Owen Beach now.
Approx. 10:00 a.m. - From Owen Beach Large Humpback? Headed south past Point Defiance (Tacoma area) on the near near side... Moving fast. Heavy fog is obscuring viewing from point South to Titlow and beyond.
Ryan Spence

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5:05 p.m. - Humpback in Possession Sound just south of Clinton ferry terminal heading south. Spotted from Mukilteo Lighthouse.
Trent

Approx 6:00 p.m. - I watched the whale heading up north mid-channel until I could barely see him/her.
5:25 p.m. - Found it! Dalco, headed northwest toward Gig Harbor
Lissa Brod Anderson
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3:45 p.m. - Still in the area just saw the fin a few times again seems to be feeding.
3:30 p.m. - Just spotted a few spouts and a fin, most likely humpback while waiting for the ferry headed to Point Defiance from Vashon!... Headed west along the Tacoma side.
Brindi Marina Jackson
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1:30 p.m. - Commencement Bay at Copper Point. Humpback. Saw fluke tail and spouting. Traveling toward the port. Shortly after that, saw undulating orca. 2 p.m. saw humpback sticking it's face out of the water.
Bernadette Ronan
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10:45 - Sighting of one off Camp Sealth, mid Colvos. Heading north towards Lisabuela. Just traveling.
Meaghan Baumgartner
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Approx 9:30 a.m. - Two humpbacks in Dalco travelling north toward Colvos! Just saw 5 breaches!!
Michele Riley Campbell
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8:40 a.m. -  Humpback heading north from Salmon Beach, hugging Gig Harbor side.
Dino Martini

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1:25 p.m. -  saw some splashes by a small boat. Humpback just dove pointed SW in Dalco Passage just out from the Point Defiance ferry dock.
Cathy Baker
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Approx 1:20 p.m. - I saw him/her at Dalco Pass... Lots of jumps! We went back to the beach, I'm obsessed with this Humpback! This time he/she wasn't doing much, I was getting a little worried. I think it was having a nap. Then, a boat went zooming past, I'm sure the people on board didn't even notice. After the boat went past He/she jumped out of the water about 5x!!! (photo below) BEAUTIFUL, the sound was incredible and so indescribable!
Desiree Sauve

Begin the breach sequence!  Dalco Pass humpback. Photo by Desiree Sauve, November 2, 2016

Photo by Desiree Sauve, November 2, 2016

Splash down! Photo by Desiree Sauve, November 2, 2016

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11:37 a.m. - Also, it's closer to the Gig Harbor viewpoint (I can hear it blow) but stick with Dalco- you can't get close enough to the water to see it at the Gig Harbor point.
11:07 a.m. - Getting a lot of surface blows. Seems like a smaller whale but might be the height/distance.
10:59 a.m. - Humpback is back off Dalco viewpoint, 5 mile drive, Point Defiance. Just saw a small fluke.
Danielle Vance

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4:52 p.m. -  s/he's visible from the Dalco Viewpoint
Edlridge Eldridge
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3:13 p.m. -  the 2nd smaller Humpback is below Dalco Passage Viewpoint, more towards Gig Harbor side, trending towards Colvos.
3:09 p.m. - still circling in Dalco, trending more towards Vashon and Colvos at the last surface (around 3:00). I'm leaving the beach.. Good luck everyone!
2:45 p.m. -  still surfacing below Dalco Passage Viewpoint.
2:25 p.m. -  larger one just surfaced about 400 ft. Off shore from me, below Dalco Passage Viewpoint! (see photo below)
2:01 p.m. -  2nd Humpback now approachin Vashon Ferry dock. Closer to Vashon side, heading towards Commencement Bay. This whale is much smaller.
1:50 p.m. -  between Owen and Vashon, just west of the Vashon Ferry Terminal. More on the Vashon side. Few shallow dives followed by a deep dive. Still traveling towards Commencement Bay.
Melissa Burke

I had packed up and was heading for the trail, when I turned for one last look and guess who was about 400 ft. from me coming up for a breath?? This guy or gal. It's HUGE! Largest one I have seen down here. Photo by Melissa Burke (Bird), November 1, 2016

Going on a deep dive...underside of her/his fluke. Photo by Melissa Burke (bird), November 1, 2016

Dalco Pass humpback breaks the surface revealing her/his blow hole and dorsal fin. Photo by Melissa Burke (Bird), November 1, 2016

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1:40 p.m. -  starting to head east toward Owens beach. Near Point Defiance side still. Surfacing every 4 min or so.
1:10 p.m. - one humpback still at Dalco. Seems to be staying in same place closer to Point Defiance side. Not showing much. 7 blows then a little tail and diving.
Jeannette Dorner
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Just saw this one around 12:30-1pm, going back and forth in front of Owen's Beach
Jessica Maybe
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12:49 p.m. - I've lost them... they weren't far apart. 2 separate blows.. then a deep dive on the one. More mid channel.
12:35 p.m. - there are at least 2 humpbacks in Dalco now.
Cathy Baker
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12:31 p.m. - It's heading back towards Colvos Passage now.
12:18 p.m. -  slowly moving towards Vashon.

Inverted tail lobbing humpback, Dalco Passage, Tacoma. Photo by JJ Davern, November 1, 2016

Beautiful underside fluke! Photo by JJ Davern, November 1, 2016

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12:10 p.m. - Whale still at Dalco passage viewpoint. Pointed east, by the grey boat. Midchannel, a little closer to Point Defiance side.
11:55 a.m. - a few shorter dives and one deep dive by the Mulberry. Pointed east on last dive.(from Dalco passage view still)
11:22 a.m. - I'm at the Dalco passage viewpoint. It just surfaced really close. Heard it but didn't see it. Close!
Jilll Clogston

Humpback seen from Dalco Passage at Point Defiance Park. (commentary courtesy of a cute 6-month-old baby who was also whale watching) Video by Jill Clogston, November 1, 2016

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I observed the whale from on the water this morning moving north and south (back and forth) in the center area of the Dalco/ Narrows/ Colvos Passages (the area between Point Defiance, Gig Harbor and Vashon Island). Slow surface rolls and breathing followed by dives. Same patterns I've seen the last several days. Was paddling and did not manage to get any good fluke shots. But a good size and healthy looking whale.
Dean Burke
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9:40 a.m. - another large humpback this morning heading south in the same Dalco spot. (around Point Defiance/Owens Beach, Tacoma)
Cathy Baker


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3:00 p.m. - Humpback pectoral fin, Dalco Passage, off Point Defiance, Tacoma. Still from video by Caleb Ambideckstriks, October 31, 2016

Same humpback as above, Dalco Pass. Still from video by Caleb Ambideckstriks, October 31, 2016

 

(Unconfirmed gray. There was a gray included in our last report (October 30th) during the time this whale has been moving back and forth in same vicinity. - ALB)
10:24 a.m. - Hi there, we're at the Cliffside RV park on Whidbey Island NAS, near Rocky Point. There's been a whale, possibly 2, in the waters since last evening. Has it been reported or checked on? I find it strange to be hanging around vs traveling. I have not seen a dorsal fin nor fluke. It seems to be on the smaller side too. Just checking in. Thanks for your time and efforts!
Gretchen Shephard

Received 3:52 p.m. - Last Thursday, 27 Oct 16, I noticed there was a single gray or humpback whale outside of where I work.  He/she has been to the East of Smith Island cruising up and down along NAS Whidbey Island. We have seen it every day for the last eight days and he hasn't traveled more than two to five miles up and down the coast. It seems unusual that it hasn't moved on and it's not in a pod. I have worked here for two years and usually the whales just pass through if we see them at all. At first it was great to see it, but now we are worried.  The crab pots were here, and we don't want him to be tangled.  Our address at work is 3675 W Lexington St, Oak Harbor WA 98278. Our Latitude 48.3434 Â and Longitude -122.6814 is for my work. My guess is, it is between 200 and 400 yards off base.  If someone could check it out, that would be great.
Sandy Mattingly 

12:15 p.m. - 2-4 Dolphins just passed by on east shore of Puget Sound, just south of the Des Moines Marina, traveling south.
Sue Jarvis 

11:15 AM - Dash Point (north of Commencement Bay, Tacoma) - Small pod of what appeared to be Orca. Rounding Dash Point close to shore, heading south - definitely too large for porpoises. No large male dorsal fins observed. Unknown numbers, maybe 5 or 6.
(this pod was never re-sighted and we had no other reports of orcas. Possible this was a small pod of the common dolphins who have stayed over from June, or another group. See Dolphins section above of November 7th dolphin sighting- ALB).
Eric Elgar