The Whale Hotline

Have you seen the whales?
Call the Whale Hotline and report your sighting!
800-562-8832

The Whale Hotline Recent Data

Hotline Last Updated:

9/1/2010


Blank fields mean no information was provided by caller.

View a series of graphs that show since 1978 when the orcas were seen in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf islands, and in Puget Sound (south of the San Juans).

Also see monthly arrivals and departures of each pod since 1976.


SightDate Time Location Species Count Direction Pod Comments
9/1/2010 8:13 Church Island Orca   W    
8/31/2010 13:45 Sooke Gray 1      
8/31/2010 13:35 Colville Island Orca   NW   10' seas
8/31/2010 12:00 Thatcher Pass Orca   S    
8/31/2010 11:15 Blakely Island, SE of Orca   S    
8/31/2010 7:30 Ten Mile Point Ecological Reserve Orca 4 N Ts  
8/30/2010 14:30 Victor Gulf buoy Humpback 1 S    
8/30/2010 14:20 Cape Keppel Orca   N Ts  
8/30/2010 14:05 Active Pass Orca     SRs Leaders
8/30/2010 14:00 Swartz Bay, BC Orca   W Ts  
8/30/2010 11:55 Turn Point, Stuart Island area Orca   N SRs  
8/30/2010 10:40 Stuart and Henry, b/w Orca   N SRs  
8/30/2010 9:24 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca   N SRs S19 calls
8/30/2010 8:48 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca   N SRs S1, 2, 10 and 16 calls
8/30/2010 8:45 Pile Point Orca   S SRs  
8/30/2010 8:45 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N KL  
8/30/2010 8:45 Open Bay Orca 6 N Ts  
8/30/2010 8:00 San Juan County Park Orca 6 N Ts  
8/29/2010 15:00 Rocky Bay Orca 4 S    
8/29/2010 12:00 Pickering Passage Orca 4 N    
8/29/2010 11:30 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Faint calls
8/29/2010 10:46 Kellett Bluff Orca   S SRs  
8/29/2010 10:32 Oakland Bay Orca 4+ SE   1 male
8/29/2010 10:30 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/29/2010 9:29 President Channel, N end Orca     Ts?  
8/29/2010 7:00 Squaxin Island Orca 3 N   No adult males
8/28/2010 19:18 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/28/2010 19:00 Lime Kiln State Park California Sea Lion 1 N   1 adult male
8/28/2010 17:00 Case Inlet Orca 4 NW    
8/28/2010 16:22 Danger Shoal Orca 8-10 N    
8/28/2010 14:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N JpK  
8/28/2010 13:45 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N SRs  
8/28/2010 12:30 False Bay Orca   N SRs Trailers
8/28/2010 12:30 Kellett Bluff Orca   N SRs Leaders
8/28/2010 12:15 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca   N SRs  
8/28/2010 12:11 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/28/2010 11:45 Orca Cam Orca   N    
8/28/2010 11:15 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/28/2010 11:08 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/28/2010 10:40 Griffin Island Gray 1      
8/28/2010 10:00 False Bay Orca   N    
8/28/2010 9:00 Lime Kiln State Park California Sea Lion 1 S   Male
8/28/2010 7:30 Flint Beach Minke 1      
8/27/2010 21:33 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/27/2010 20:51 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/27/2010 20:30 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/27/2010 20:20 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/27/2010 19:30 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/27/2010 19:11 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/27/2010 15:00 Monarch Head Orca 4 SW Ts T168s and 169
8/27/2010 14:44 Sooke Orca   E SRs  
8/27/2010 14:00 Neck Point Minke 1 NE    
8/27/2010 13:38 East Point, Saturna Orca 4 SW Ts  
8/27/2010 13:30 Sucia Island to Patos Island Orca 2 SE Ts  
8/27/2010 11:23 Chatham Islands Gray 1      
8/26/2010 17:32 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/26/2010 17:30 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Faint calls
8/26/2010 16:30 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca   S    
8/26/2010 16:00 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/26/2010 16:00 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/26/2010 15:58 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/26/2010 14:10 Monarch Head Orca   SW SRs  
8/26/2010 13:30 Tacoma Narrows Orca   S    
8/26/2010 9:33 Point Roberts Orca   S SRs  
8/26/2010   Sucia Island Orca   N Ts T18s - report from evening
8/25/2010 19:40 Active Pass Orca   E J  
8/25/2010 17:52 Open Bay Orca   N T T18s
8/25/2010 17:15 Lime Kiln, N of Orca   N Ts T18s
8/25/2010 17:05 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N Ts T18s
8/25/2010 16:25 Danger Shoal Orca 6-8      
8/25/2010 16:24 Stuart and Henry, b/w Orca   N JKL  
8/25/2010 15:11 Orca Cam Orca        
8/25/2010 14:49 San Juan County Park Orca     JKL  
8/25/2010 14:36 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/25/2010 14:30 Sheringham Point Orca   E L12s  
8/25/2010 14:18 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     SRs Leaders
8/25/2010 14:14 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Faint calls
8/25/2010 14:13 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     KL?  
8/25/2010 10:54 Sidney Channel Orca   N Ts  
8/25/2010 10:02 Race Passage Orca     SRs  
8/25/2010 9:31 Race Rocks, W of Orca     SRs Thick fog
8/25/2010   Beaumont Shoals Orca     Ts T18s
8/25/2010   Elliott Bay Gray 1      
8/25/2010   Swanson Channel, entrance Orca   N JKLp Just L7 and L53 traveling with Js
8/24/2010 17:55 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/24/2010 16:00 Deep Bay, BC Orca 4 S    
8/24/2010 15:48 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/23/2010 19:45 Tsawwassen ferry terminal area Orca     SRs  
8/23/2010 15:20 Hannah Heights Orca   S SRs  
8/23/2010 12:00 ODAS buoy Orca        
8/23/2010 10:55 Salmon Bank Minke 1      
8/23/2010 8:15 Active Pass Orca     SRs  
8/23/2010 1:13 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca   N SRs  
8/23/2010 0:05 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs Loud calls and whistles
8/23/2010   San Juan Island, S end (default) Orca     L12s  
8/22/2010 23:11 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/22/2010 22:59 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     J?  
8/22/2010 22:47 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/22/2010 21:45 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/22/2010 21:42 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/22/2010 21:35 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Loud clear calls
8/22/2010 21:00 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       faint
8/22/2010 20:45 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/22/2010 20:45 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       faint
8/22/2010 16:30 OR - Sea Lion Caves Orca 2 S    
8/22/2010 15:50 Sooke Orca   E JKL  
8/22/2010 15:37 Secretary (Donaldson) Island Orca   E    
8/22/2010 11:38 Waldron Island, W side Minke 1      
8/22/2010 11:17 Sea Bird Point Gray 1      
8/22/2010 0:05 San Juan Island, W side (default) Orca   N JK  
8/20/2010 14:00 Sucia Island to Patos Island Minke 2     Foraging
8/20/2010 13:57 Albert Head Gray 1 mill    
8/20/2010   Whale Rocks Steller Sea Lion        
8/19/2010 17:50 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/19/2010 15:28 Monarch Head Orca   W SRs  
8/19/2010 14:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N SRs  
8/19/2010 8:26 Secretary (Donaldson) Island Humpback 2     mom and calf
8/19/2010 8:15 Spieden Channel Orca   W SRs  
8/19/2010 8:00 Eagle Point Orca   mill SRs  
8/19/2010   San Juan Island, W side (default) Orca     JKL  
8/18/2010 16:55 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/18/2010 16:23 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/18/2010 15:42 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/18/2010 15:34 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs faint
8/18/2010 15:34 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/18/2010 14:54 Kellett Bluff Orca   N SRs  
8/18/2010 14:54 False Bay Orca   S SRs  
8/18/2010 14:03 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/18/2010 14:00 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/18/2010 13:35 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/18/2010 13:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca 15-20 N SRs  
8/18/2010 12:00 Hein Bank Orca     JKL  
8/18/2010 10:07 Eagle Point Orca   SW SRs  
8/18/2010 7:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     L Got pics of L115 and L47
8/18/2010 7:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S SRs  
8/18/2010 6:45 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/17/2010 13:50 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/17/2010 13:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S Lp  
8/17/2010 5:55 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/16/2010 17:53 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/16/2010 15:00 Waldron Island, N end Orca 15+ N   Canadian WW vessels with this group of whales
8/16/2010 14:20 Trial Island Orca   E L  
8/16/2010 14:20 Victoria Orca   E JK  
8/16/2010 14:00 Waldron Island, N end Minke 1      
8/16/2010 12:56 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/16/2010 11:00 Race Rocks Orca   E SRs  
8/16/2010 10:35 Becher Bay Humpback 2      
8/16/2010 10:35 Spieden Channel Orca   E Ts T10s
8/16/2010 10:15 Spieden Island, NE side Orca 4 W    
8/16/2010 10:10 Battleship Island Orca   N Ts  
8/16/2010 9:40 Green Point, Speiden Orca   S    
8/16/2010 9:20 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N Ts T10s?
8/16/2010 8:50 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     Ts T19B and T18s
8/16/2010 7:00 Sooke Orca 8 E Ts  
8/15/2010 17:15 Cattle Pass Orca     KL  
8/15/2010 16:40 Hannah Heights Minke 1      
8/15/2010 15:31 Upright Channel Orca   S SRs  
8/15/2010 15:31 Hein Bank Orca   mill SRs  
8/15/2010 14:16 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/15/2010 14:14 Peapod Rocks Orca   S SRs  
8/15/2010 13:30 Lawrence Point Orca 18-20 S    
8/15/2010 13:30 Salmon Bank Orca     SRs  
8/15/2010 13:00 Lawrence Point Orca ~20 S    
8/15/2010 10:17 Hannah Heights Orca   S SRs  
8/15/2010 8:55 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/15/2010 8:52 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/15/2010 8:18 Kellett Bluff Orca   S SRs  
8/15/2010 7:50 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/15/2010   Lopez Island ferry dock Orca     L  
8/15/2010   Chatham Islands Gray 1      
8/14/2010 20:00 Point Roberts Orca   S    
8/14/2010 15:09 South Beach Orca        
8/14/2010 12:15 Aleck Bay Minke 1      
8/14/2010 12:00 Orca Cam Orca        
8/14/2010 11:26 Andrews Bay Orca   N L  
8/14/2010 11:00 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/14/2010 10:00 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/14/2010 10:00 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/14/2010 9:29 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/14/2010 9:16 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Loud chatter
8/14/2010 9:00 Flint Beach Minke 1      
8/14/2010 9:00 Flint Beach Steller Sea Lion 1      
8/14/2010 8:58 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N SRs  
8/13/2010 20:02 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/13/2010 19:45 Iceberg Point Harbor Porpoise       One of them breached!
8/13/2010 19:25 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/13/2010 19:23 Land Bank West side preserve Orca   N JKL  
8/13/2010 19:12 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/13/2010 19:05 Orca Cam Orca   S    
8/13/2010 15:53 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/13/2010 15:45 Victoria Harbor Orca 4   Ts T101s and T102
8/13/2010 14:18 Race Rocks Orca   E L  
8/13/2010 14:18 Constance Bank Orca   E JK  
8/13/2010 12:30 Race Rocks Orca     JKL  
8/13/2010 12:27 Secretary (Donaldson) Island - keep Orca   E SRs  
8/13/2010 11:30 Race Rocks Orca   E SRs  
8/13/2010 9:00 Neah Bay Orca 15-20 W    
8/13/2010   Hope Island Steller Sea Lion 1      
8/13/2010   Trial Island Orca     JL  
8/12/2010 17:03 Hannah Heights Orca   S JK  
8/12/2010 15:58 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca   S JK? S1, 2, 7, 10 plus more calls
8/12/2010 15:58 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca   S JK  
8/12/2010 15:58 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S SRs  
8/12/2010 15:19 Kellett Bluff Orca   S SRs  
8/12/2010 15:10 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/12/2010 14:00 Turn Point, Stuart Island area Orca     J  
8/12/2010 12:43 Oak Bay, BC Orca        
8/12/2010 11:30 Ten Mile Point Ecological Reserve Orca 4      
8/12/2010 11:19 Pile Point Orca     L  
8/12/2010 10:34 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     L  
8/12/2010 10:34 Alden Bank, N of Orca   S SRs  
8/12/2010 10:13 Kellett Bluff Orca   S L  
8/12/2010 10:13 Point Roberts Orca   S SRs  
8/12/2010 8:43 Turn Point, Stuart Island area Orca   SW L  
8/12/2010 7:15 Edwards Point, SJI Minke 1     Breached 4-5 times!
8/12/2010 6:00 Moclips Orca 3 W   1 male
8/12/2010   Stuart Island Orca     JK  
8/11/2010 20:00 Yellow Island Orca 7-9 N Ts Including T19B
8/11/2010 18:30 Jones Island State Park Orca 8-12 N   2 males
8/11/2010 17:00 Tumbo Channel, BC Orca     JKLp  
8/11/2010 14:50 Pile Point Orca   S SRs  
8/11/2010 14:13 Pile Point Orca   N SRs  
8/11/2010 9:40 Coal Docks (Westshore Terminals) Orca   N SRs  
8/11/2010 7:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S SRs  
8/11/2010 7:00 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/11/2010 6:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S L  
8/10/2010 20:30 Jackson Beach Harbor Porpoise 1     Dead on beach; volunteer couldn't locate that night. Called in again following day when it was picked up.
8/10/2010 14:11 Sand Heads Orca   S SRs  
8/10/2010 13:30 Cattle Point Minke 1      
8/10/2010 13:00 Point Grey Orca   N SRs  
8/10/2010 12:30 Constance Bank Orca 4   Ts 1 male
8/10/2010 10:40 Victor Hotel buoy Orca   S Ts  
8/10/2010 10:15 Tsawwassen ferry terminal area Orca   N    
8/10/2010   Sooke Orca   E    
8/9/2010 19:30 Keystone ferry Orca 2     1 male
8/9/2010 19:15 Keystone ferry Orca 3-4      
8/9/2010 18:07 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/9/2010 18:02 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S JKLp  
8/9/2010 17:07 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/9/2010 16:30 Orca Cam Orca        
8/9/2010 16:30 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/9/2010 15:49 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N JKLp  
8/9/2010 14:15 Beechey Head Orca   E SRs  
8/9/2010 14:15 False Bay Orca     SRs  
8/9/2010 13:00 San Juan Island, W side (default) Orca ~12 N    
8/9/2010 12:10 Hein Bank Orca   N SRs  
8/9/2010 12:00 Sheringham Point Orca   E SRs  
8/9/2010 10:30 Secretary (Donaldson) Island Orca   W Ts  
8/9/2010 9:30 Beechey Head Orca   W    
8/9/2010   OR - Cape Blanco Orca ~20 N   2 males and 3 calves in group
8/8/2010 23:34 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/8/2010 23:12 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs S16s and S17s
8/8/2010 11:45 Sand Heads Orca ~20 S SRs  
8/8/2010 9:30 Roberts Bank Orca   N SRs  
8/8/2010   Sand Heads Orca     JKL  
8/7/2010 20:20 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N Jp  
8/7/2010 17:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S Jp  
8/7/2010 14:52 Kellett Bluff Orca   N JKL  
8/7/2010 11:27 False Bay Orca   N JKL  
8/7/2010 10:29 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/7/2010 10:23 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   S JKLp L7 and L53 only
8/7/2010 10:02 Kellett Bluff Orca   S SRs  
8/7/2010 9:50 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/7/2010 9:21 Spieden Channel Orca   W SRs  
8/6/2010 19:01 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     JKL  
8/6/2010 18:54 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/6/2010 16:44 Bellevue Point Orca   S KL  
8/6/2010 16:18 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     SRs  
8/6/2010 16:01 Kellett Bluff Orca   N SRs  
8/6/2010 16:01 False Bay Orca   mill SRs  
8/6/2010 14:11 Sea Bird Point Orca   NE SRs  
8/6/2010 11:28 False Bay Orca   N SRs  
8/6/2010 10:57 Salmon Bank Orca   mill SRs  
8/6/2010 9:36 False Bay Orca     SRs  
8/6/2010   OR - Depoe Bay Orca 4     1 male
8/5/2010 18:46 Kingston Orca 1 N   male
8/5/2010 18:10 Kingston Orca 4 N Ts T101s and 102
8/5/2010 15:41 False Bay Orca   mill SRs  
8/5/2010 14:30 Edmonds Orca 5 S   2 males, 2 females and a juvenile
8/5/2010 13:30 Edmonds Orca 3 S    
8/5/2010 12:38 Sand Heads Orca   S SRs  
8/5/2010 12:01 Pile Point Orca   S SRs  
8/5/2010 11:30 Waldron Island, N end Minke 1      
8/5/2010 10:38 Discovery Island Orca   E    
8/5/2010 10:38 Sand Heads Orca   S SRs  
8/5/2010 9:49 Sand Heads Orca   N SRs  
8/5/2010 7:30 Active Pass, E end Orca     SRs  
8/5/2010   Sand Heads pacific white-sided dolphins 100+      
8/5/2010   Edmonds Orca 3-4 N Ts T101s and 102
8/4/2010 21:38 Mitchell Point Orca   N    
8/4/2010 17:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca     JpKp Group B per JH
8/4/2010 14:42 Bellevue Point Orca   S K  
8/4/2010 11:53 Cattle Point Orca   N K  
8/4/2010 11:42 Cattle Point Orca   N SRs  
8/4/2010 11:42 Blunden Islet Orca ~15 SW JpKp  
8/4/2010 9:54 Eagle Point Orca   E SRs  
8/4/2010 8:30 Bird Rocks Orca   SW    
8/4/2010   Point Partridge Minke 1      
8/4/2010   Cattle Pass Orca        
8/3/2010 16:19 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/3/2010 14:50 Orcasound hydrophone array Orca        
8/3/2010 14:25 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca        
8/3/2010 14:00 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N JKLp Only L7 and L53 were traveling with the group
8/3/2010 8:42 Eagle Point Orca   mill    
8/2/2010 15:08 Mitchell Bay Orca   S    
8/2/2010 14:55 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N    
8/2/2010 14:15 Cattle Point Orca   N    
8/2/2010 11:45 Boundary Pass Orca   NE    
8/2/2010 11:35 Battleship Island Elephant Seal 1     Male
8/2/2010 10:20 Kellett Bluff Orca        
8/2/2010 9:30 Eagle Point Orca   S   Fog and gillnetters
8/2/2010 8:30 Lime Kiln State Park Orca   N    
8/2/2010 7:24 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca       Loud!
8/2/2010 6:20 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     K+ Really loud! S33, S16, and S40 calls
8/2/2010 5:19 Lime Kiln hydrophone array Orca     K+ Faint calls
8/2/2010   Smugglers Cove Orca   N   early in the morning
8/1/2010 14:50 False Bay Orca   N   Leaders
8/1/2010 14:19 Eagle Point Orca   S    
8/1/2010 12:09 Lime Kiln State Park Orca        
8/1/2010 11:10 Eagle Point Orca        
8/1/2010 10:04 False Bay Orca        
Abbreviations:

SRs = Southern Residents

T=Transient orcas
Offs=Offshore orcas
SJI=San Juan Island
BC=British Columbia
VI=Vancouver Island, BC

If you see whales or marine mammal strandings in the Puget Sound and Washington coast area, call the Whale Hotline and report your sighting: 1-800-562-8832 (this number is to report sightings only).
OR e-mail us at hotline@whalemuseum.org. Please give us the date, time, location, species, and if possible, number of animals, and direction they were traveling.

Note: The Whale Museum does not have the resources to confirm the accuracy of the Hotline reports it receives.

© 2005, The Whale Museum. Information contained in the Hotline Update is the property of The Whale Museum, and reproduction or reprinting of Hotline material requires written permission from The Whale Museum.