Center for Whale Research finds all three pods in Puget Sound

EncSummary: After receiving reports of residents heading south from south of where we were staying in Edmonds, the team met at Edmonds Marina and left in “KCB3” at 0850. We got on scene at 0922 about mid-channel between the north end of Elliott Bay and Yeomalt Point. J and K pods, along with the L4, L47, and L72 matrilines, plus L90, were heading south, spread out in groups, pairs, and singles. K43 and L82 seemed to be in the lead and were loosely spread from one another out in the middle of the Channel. To the west of us, we had the L86s and some of the L47s pass us to the west while spread out. We then had members of J, K, and L pods pass us on both sides as they went by, spread out in small groups and singles.

J, K, and L pods continued south past Blakely Island and kept going while spread out in several large groups with smaller, peripheral ones. The whales appeared to mainly be social traveling as they made their way further down into the sound. Multiple male pairs and trios were socializing together, backlit against the western shoreline. The large groups usually consisted of the bulk of one of the three pods, but there was also usually a matriline or two or individuals from the other two pods in there with them. The whales traveled down the east side of Vashon Island and were quite active as they passed close to Pt. Robinson. We ended the encounter at 1505 about a mile northeast of Piner Point at the south end of Vashon Island. J, K, and L pods were still pointed towards Tacoma but were beginning to spread out and forage.