⚡️🧡⚡️Thu, Jan 22 Bigg’s orcas (mammal-eating type) are back plying the waterways in the north end around Whidbey & Camano Islands. Thor is present so likely his siblings are too. Gray whales are in that neighborhood as well. 📸T46E Thor last fall, by Kayla Mogensen 11/27/25 #psws

Jan 22 at 4:30-5:20 pm learn about the History of #SalishSea Basking Sharks from @drkelpy.bsky.social Kelly Bushnell PhD. Free registration alumniq.wwu.edu/index.cfm/ev...

💚 Wed, Jan 21 Yesterday whales were visible around the Sound, Aurora was too. "Almost as bad as whale luck" (reply to missing the lights) & "chasing the extraordinary" said a friend. Another heard whale blows while watching the lights. 🥹 📸 By Marilyn Armbruster ~ 11pm on 1/20 from S Whidbey. #psws

🫧🐳🫧 Mon, Jan 19 Yesterday ended just as predicted; fog lifted, orcas & grays showed up, friends gathered. Despite areas again enveloped in fog, we think today will mirror yesterday in its own lovely way. 📸 Gray whale Little Patch; signature head lunge & patch. By Marilyn Armbruster 1/18 #psws

🧡 ☀️ Sun, Jan 18 Sunshine & blue sky graced us yesterday along w/orcas & gray whales. A repeat today w/some areas enveloped in fog, incl. South Sound where whales were heard. The fog will burn off, whales will be seen, & today will shine then end in golden hues. 📸 PNW Friday by Alisa LB #psws

♥️ Sat, Jan 17 Absolutely stunning day yesterday here in the Pacific Northwest! Complimenting the atmospheric beauty were several groups of orcas: K pod (fish-eating Southern Residents) & two groups of Bigg's (mammal-eating type). Who stayed over? 📸 K22 Sekiu on Jan 7th by Ashley Whitman. #psws

🖤🤍 Fri, Jan 16 Intriguing when a number of orcas go unreported, but the endangered SRKWs did! Yesterday, it wasn't until late morn when Ks were seen in Possession Sound & late afternoon when likely J pod was seen exiting Admiralty. 📸 Sweet calf K47 by @whaleresearch.bsky.social on 1/3 #psws

A few more stats from December 2025 orca sightings in the Salish Sea! - A new calf was seen traveling with T252. - Another new calf was seen in K-Pod, K47 is the first known offspring of K36. - The 6th month of the year where Biggs sightings were down Vs 2024. Which one surprises you the most?

🐬🤍🐦‍⬛ Thu, Jan 15 J & K pods spent yesterday traveling up Saratoga Passage (between Whidbey & Camano Islands), tucking into Holmes Harbor & out, & ended the day in upper Saratoga. Let’s see where they show up today. 📸 Southern Resident male & bird off Point Robinson. By Ashley Whitman 1/7. #psws

♥️ Wed, Jan 14 Lovely Tuesday it was w/J & K pods! Js at least stayed overnight; loud calls audible on Sunset Bay hydrophone until 04:15. Wonder where they, the grays & T90s (who were in yesterday too) will show up this morning... 📸 Js & Ks yesterday from Tacoma, by Donnie Gagldari . #psws

We'll have an overall summary of 2025 to share soon, but for now here is our final monthly sightings map of the year summarizing killer whale sightings in the Salish Sea in December. Read the full description for this map on our website here: tinyurl.com/obidec2025 #orcas #whalesky

💛🧡💛Tue, Jan 13 Southern Resident orcas are back inland Puget Sound! They were audible on the hydrophones overnight & currently orcas, presumably them, are moving down the Sound. Good luck! Please share sightings. 📸 J44 Moby launches during their last foray inland. By Jami Cantrell 1/7. #psws

🫧🐳 Sun, Jan 11 While the orcas have exited Puget Sound proper, we revel in the gray whales who arrived last month & continue to feed in the shallows in the Whidbey Basin. Today Gretchen & others have been reported. 📸 More from 1/7/25 when Js & Ks headed up Colvos Passage. By Jason Cook. #psws

🩵 Fri, Jan 9 Yesterday morning, Southern Residents Js & Ks exited Puget Sound proper out Admiralty Inlet. Today, a group of orcas are northbound in Colvos Passage, possibly yesterday’s South Puget Sound Bigg’s. 📸 Members of J & K pod - Colvos Passage - Jan 7th by Jason Cook. #psws

💜☔ Thu, Jan 8 Yesterday, J & K pod traveled about Puget Sound. This morning they were audible on the Sunset Bay hydrophone placing them somewhere in the north end. Hopefully they are finding enough salmon for themselves & the new little babe K47! 📸 New calf K47 by Rachel Haight 1/7. #psws

🧚 ✨💛 Wed, Jan 7 Endangered Southern Resident orcas are back inland Puget Sound! They were audible throughout the night & morning on the hydrophones & w/daylight now visual sightings in Central Puget Sound. 📸 K pod members in Commencement Bay on December 22nd. By Nikki Verbonus. #psws #srkw

The last episode of our three-part Q&A with Monika from OBI and Michael from CWR is already up on our YouTube channel! Make sure to check out the full video, you definitely don’t want to miss this one. ℹ️ You can find the link to the third episode in the comments below. #whalesky #orca

🩵🪅 Sun, Jan 4 Gray whales being seen in the Whidbey basin. Currently watching at least one feed mouth of the Snohomish River. 14:07 - at least one gray still in the Snohomish Delta, feeding off north end Jetty Island due south of Priest Pt. #psws

🐬 🧚 Sat, Jan 3 - Orcas in Haro Strait (west side San Juan Island) 11:26 - Orcas approaching Eagle Pt. Southbound. 4 or 5 w two large males. 11:31 - More. Not sure how many. Spread out. Minimal surface activity. [Neill via wssji] #wssjis #wwsji #harostraitorcas

💜 🐳 Wed, Dec 31. A belated welcome back to CRC2246 Azulão (f) who was confirmed on 12/28 off Hat Island by Tony T. Azulão makes the 4th Sounder to arrive this December. Azulão was 1st ever documented inland Puget Sound in 2018. Yesterday ended w/Bigg's T124Ds off Vashon, did they stay? #psws

🖤🤍 🤎 Tue, Dec 30 Orcas & grays again today plying the inland waterways of Puget Sound. We share a beautiful place w/our beautiful marine mammal friends. If you see any today would love to hear about it. 📸 Another look at T46E Thor gliding through the Sound. By Catherine Soto 12/28. #psws

🧡🌲Mon, Dec 29 Yesterday was beautiful w/sun & mountains out, glassy seas, three groups Bigg’s orcas (T37As & T99s, T46s (minus Strider), & T124Ds. AND, a 4th Sounder gray whale showed up, CRC2246 Azulão (a female, first documented in 2018). 📸 T46E Thor off Southworth by Jason Cook 12/28. #psws

🧚💚🧚 Sun, Dec 28 Whales abound inland Puget Sound; orcas, grays, a humpback & a minke have all been documented recently! So far this morning: orcas (in 3 locations) & two grays have been reported. See previous post about Sounder gray arrivals. 📸 Members of the T37As by Julie Davis 12/27. #psws

🐳🐳🐳 Yesterday, per reports to ONCG, a 3rd Sounder arrived; welcome CRC2440 Tahoma! ❤️ I believe this is first on record of 3 Sounders documented inland Puget Sound arriving in December. 📸 1 & 2 Little Patch's head & Gretchen's pec fin by Marilyn Armbruster 📸 3. CRC2440 Tahoma in 2022 #psws

💛🐣💛 Tue, Dec 23 On Dec. 10th, K pod was in Puget Sound w/a new calf, since designated K47. Yesterday, K pod was back in Puget Sound, little babe included❣️ SRKWs were audible on Sunset Bay hydrophone ~3am, let's see what daylight tells us 💛 📸 K47 & K36 by Maya Sears NMFS/NOAA Permit 27052 #psws

🩵🫧🩵 Mon, Dec 22 Orcas reported this morning in Central Puget Sound. We look forward to seeing who it is. A gray whale, presumably CRC53 Little Patch, has been keeping a presence around Whidbey/Camano. 📸 J45 Se-Yi'-Chn launches while inland Puget Sound on Dec 14th. By Hongming Zheng #psws

📣 Important action alert: your comments are needed by December 22nd to help protect the Endangered Species Act! Our BOLD Action guide helps guide you through the process: tinyurl.com/boldactionesa Comments can be brief but it's important many people register their opposition to these changes!

Here’s a wonderful recording of a humpback picked up on the @orcasound Orcasound Lab hydrophone yesterday, Dec 19, just before 5am. 🐋🩵 #salishseahumpbacks #psws #wssjis live.orcasound.net/reports/cand...

🩵🐬 Fri, Dec 19 - San Juan Islands ~12:10 - Three orca’s heading west in Spieden channel! Moving quickly! [Cari via wssji] #wssjis

🪅☔️ Thu, Dec 18 Bigg’s orcas spent yesterday in southern Puget Sound. Did they stay overnight? Tuesday, J pod exited the Sound & met up w/Ks & Ls off San Juan Island, we look forward to the next SRKW foray this way. 🩵 📸 Matriarch J16 Slick off Point No Point 12/14 by Hongming Zheng. #psws

🌬️💨🤍 Tue, Dec 16 Yesterday, J pod traveled Puget Sound in rough seas while onshore observers navigated high winds. By days end Js were audible on the MaST hydrophone, making it likely they’re still in the Sound this morning. 📸 J62 & J41 powering by Point No Point. By Hongming Zheng 12/14. #psws

💦💚🌊 Mon, Dec 15 Beloved J pod made their way inland Puget Sound yesterday. It was so heartwarming to see so many orcas we love. Today, orcas again reported, presumably it’s Js coming up the Sound. Good luck! 📸 J pod member breaching off Point No Point Sunday Dec 14th. By Hongming Zheng #psws

🫧💜🫧 Sun, Dec 14 Endangered Southern Resident orcas are back inland Puget Sound! J pod at least was audible on the @orcasound Bush Point hydrophone ~08:00. Have a beautiful day w/these beauties. If you see them please share. 📸 J pod during an early November foray. By Catherine Soto. #psws

🖤🤍🖤 Thu, Dec 11 Endangered Southern Residents remain inland Puget Sound. They went south earlier then flipped at the north end of Vashon & are traveling north up the Sound. 📸 Little K pod baby. Framegrab from video by Conner Helms 12/09. #psws

🩷🧡🤍 Wed, Dec 10 K pod stayed overnight! A little newborn was documented w/them yesterday. Official confirmation will come from @whaleresearch.bsky.social after more encounters. Currently Ks are audible on Sunset Bay hydrophone (link in replys) 📸 screen-grab of April Basham PSWS post. #psws

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 Tue, Dec 9 Residents! K pod at least, inland Puget Sound making their way down the Sound, east side of the Sound, tightly grouped, currently off Richmond Beach as of 12:30 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵 #psws

A killer whale undergoes many changes in its first year of life! They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.

🏔️🤍🏔️Sun, Dec 7 Yesterday, the T46s (minus Strider) & T46B2s continued their prolonged stay inland Puget Sound, last reported in Saratoga Passage. Did they stay over another night? If they have & you see them we’d love to hear. 📸 Beautiful Puget Sound in mid November. By Thomas McKane #psws

🌊🩵🌊Sat, Dec 6 Bigg’s orcas the T46s (minus Strider) & T46B2s have been keeping a presence inland Puget Sound. Good chance the orcas reported this morning in Possession Sound is that group. 📸 More from Deception Pass end of November: T137A Jack by Kat Martin from atop the bridge. #psws

🌊🧚 🌊 Wed, Dec 3 After exiting Port Susan, yesterday's pod spent at least part of Tuesday in Possession Sound, between Hat Island & Everett. Looking forward to seeing if they, or anyone, show up today. 📸 T137D Wright (F, born 2012) from atop the Deception Pass bridge. By Kat Martin 11/30. #psws

🩵 🫧☔️ Tue, Dec 2 Orcas keeping a presence inland Puget Sound. Reports this morning have a group up in Port Susan, east side of Camano Island. 📸 A member of the T137s navigating Deception Passage on Nov 30th. The family exited via Canoe Pass. By Michelle Brodsky from the bridge. #psws

A new hydrophone went up last week in Haro Strait, located between Lime Kiln and Orcasound Lab. 🎵🐬🎶🐋

💦🌪️💦 Sun, Nov 30 Yesterday: several groups of orcas & at least one humpback were inland Puget Sound. Today: orcas reported somewhere in southern Possession Sound and/or North Puget Sound proper. 📸 Another peek at last week's breaching humpback (see yesterday's post). By Hongming Zheng. #psws

🫧🐋🫧Sat, Nov 29 Today: reports of orcas by Whidbey & a humpback off Edmonds. Hope you have a chance to see these lovely beings, would love to hear if you do. 📸 A humpback, seen here breaching backdropped by Golden Gardens, has been keeping a presence this week. Photo by Hongming Zheng. #psws

☀️🍁💛 Fri, Nov 28 Opportunities present themselves again today to see some whales. So far, seeing some orcas in Possession Sound right now (12:45) heading north off Everett. Wonder if any others stayed inland. 📸 T137A Jack off Point No Point yesterday. By Catherine Soto. #psws

Fri, Nov 28 - ORCAS - Haro Strait 09:04 - Group of Orca moving North. Between Edwards and Pile Point. 1 Km offshore. Viewing from Canada. [George via WSSJI] #wssji #wssjis

🌲⛰️ Thu, Nov 27 At least two inland Puget Sound whale watching opportunities today: Orcas reported in Hood Canal & a 2nd group in Possession Sound. Bundle up, be safe & have a lovely day. 📸 A member of the endangered Southern Resident orcas spyhops under Tahoma. By Hongming Zheng 11/2/25. #psws

🩵🤍🩶 Wed, Nov 26 ~ Lovely whale week it is. Yesterday’s happy heartwarming news: gray whale CRC53 Little Patch was up off Sechelt, BC! So happy he’s alive and back in the Salish Sea. ❤️ Today, Bigg’s orcas inland Puget Sound. 📸 T46E Thor & sis T122 Centeki by Padmini Harchandrai 7/19/25. #psws

Sun, Nov 23 at 11:40 - report of 4 Bigg’s orcas northbound in Haro Strait ~1 mile north of County Park [WA app] #wssjis #wssji

Thu, Nov 20 - Orcas in Haro Strait 12:40 - Four orcas (with possible calf) headed toward Smugglers Cove. [Northbound from]: approximately 1/4 mile south [of Smugglers] when I spotted them. Definitely four individuals counted. [video showed them fairly close to shore] [Tricia via wssji] #wssjis