March 19
Orca Network received a call from the Ferry Kitsap at 10:50 am, reporting a pod of orcas 1 mile off Alki Pt, between Alki & Restoration Pts, near the Tango Buoy, heading south.



March 19
We are watching what looks like 4 Orcas in a line between Rolling Bay, Bainbridge Island and Carkeek Park, Seattle. They are close to the south bound shipping lane heading south. Looks like one male, two females and not sure about the 4th one. Saw the first one at 8am.
UPDATE 8:30am: The four came in by Skiff Point, Bainbridge Island still heading south. A mother and a juvenile are also out in the south bound shipping lane off of West Point. The juvenile is particularly frisky - jumping clear out of the water. Pictures are attached (see above).
Doug Miller

March 19
11:58 pm. Just started hearing lots of J pod calls on the Port Townsend hydrophone. Seems like they may be getting closer... Will post recording to OrcaSound once they pass.
Scott Veirs, Beam Reach, Seattle

March 19
I finally saw some fins at 7:30 pm, just as it was starting to get dark. They were just coming into view from the south of Bush Pt, Whidbey Island. All I saw was a very tight group of fins-no backs, just fins sticking out of the water, very close together. Probably four or five. They were moving slowly and were pretty close to our side. I never saw more than that, altho I kept looking till dark. Weird, eh?
Elsa Leavitt, Whidbey Island

March 19
I saw the orcas heading north past Hansville at around 5:20 pm. I have attached some photos (see above), not the best as they were mid- channel and moving at quite a clip. I cropped the images but if you zoom in the big male fin has some pretty distinctive markings (definitely J1/Ruffles!) . Looked like 3 whales traveling together. Thanks,
Patty Michak, MarineView Fisheries Consulting, Hansville

March 19
Brad Hanson of NOAA Fisheries said they caught up to J pod at 2:30 pm, off Kingston, just west of mid-channel. They were slowly heading north. They followed them to just south of Pt. No Point at 4:30 pm but had to head back in due to high winds. They reported all J pod members present, and that they were successful in collecting 1 fecal sample.

March 19
Lori Robinson called at 1:25 pm to report orcas south of Port Madison, heading north.

March 19
Two pods heading southward off Rolling Bay/Skiff Point on Bainbridge Island, 8:15am. At least two males close in shore, feeding.
Nancy Houghton

March 19
Amy Carey called to relay a report from Argossy Tours of Seattle - they were anchored off Alki Pt. with a group of students and saw the orcas (J pod) head by going north across Elliott Bay at 11:15 am.