Puget Sound Whale Sightings

17:24 - after heading up colvos and unreported most of the afternoon… a humpback, presumably Malachite, has been reported back in Dalco Passage east of the Tahlequah ferry dock. [Whale Alert app]

#psws

🐋 HUMPBACK Malachite - South/Central Puget Sound

Came up the Narrows then Jesse’s north up Colvos Passage, here’s the latest:

11:45 - haven't seen anything since 11:15. Last sighting was almost to Pt Richmond. Still northbound at that time. [Candace via oncg]

#psws

🌕🧡☀️Tue, Oct 7
It’s a wonderfully gorgeous day after that gorgeous full Super Harvest Moon. It would have been amazing to see 🐋 Malachite the humpback swimming around in moonlit waterways. Sighting chances today under sunshine are positive!

📸 Malachite by Jason Cook earlier this month.

#psws

A map of the Salish Sea with different colored dots indicating sightings of different populations of killer whales that were seen throughout September 2025

Here's our September Salish Sea orca sightings map! For once it was a busy month not just on the Bigg's killer whale front, but for both Southern and Northern Residents as well!

Read all the details here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...

#whalesky

Most current update on Malachite:

14:12 - 1/2 way between Sunrise [Gig Harbor] and SW Vashon swimming east. [Cindy via ONCG]

#psws

2/2
…Once he came back up he maybe went down 2 more times before he floated and log rolled for probably 30 minutes at least. Right now it is 12:40 & he is still doing so but floating closer to Gig Harbor now (…north of inlet and around the corner)
[Debbie via #psws]

1/2
12:40 - He has been doing a ton of log rolling! I mean A LOT! When we first came up in him he was just laying at the surface without moving... Smooth creature at rest then he blew and dove deep….

#psws

🐋HUMPBACK (Malachite) - Central Puget Sound

11:45 - Humpback @ PT Defiance now 10/6 11:45am (Did anyone catch a photo) [Debbie via psws]

#psws

💦💙💦Mon, Oct 6

Reports today tell us Malachite the humpback continues to hold court in and around Dalco Passage.

📸 Being in the presence of Malachite in general is delightful, and extra fun to bear witness to enthusiastic bursts of tail-lobbing.
Photo sequence by Cherie StOurs Oct 4th.

#psws

13:16 - Just saw him south end of Vashon Island. [Tom via psws]
-
13:36 - viewing from GH [Gig Harbor] old ferry dock just saw him fluke right about here [west of SW Vashon/see map]. Can see with the naked eye. [Torry via oncg]

#psws

Malachite ♥️
12:33 - SJC is leaving Malachite the HB currently off SW Vashon. They've been milling and patrolling off the edge of the shoreline of Vashon just dipping into Colvos. [Alli via oncg]

#psws

Delayed report just in to Whale Alert App:
11:09 - Humpback whale was reported still in Colvos Passage out from Paradise Cove. No direction included, whale might just be foraging around in there...

#psws

🐋 HUMPBACK - Central Puget Sound

09:58- Humpback reported southbound near Paradise Cove [southern Colvos Passage] . It should be viewable from the south end soon, likely shuffling back and forth in that area for the day. [Sound Action]

#psws

🍂☀️🧚‍♂️ Sun, Oct 5
Lovely Malachite's prolonged stay continued through last night. This morning a humpback, likely Malachite, reported by Sound Action in the same general area of S Vashon/Gig Harbor...

📸 Humpback Hemlock's fluke & pectoral fins (🧡)
Juan de Fuca Strait - By Janine Harles Oct 2

#psws

15:04 - Humpback Malachite milling in Dalco Passage, southwest of Vashon Island. [ON]

#psws

🐋🐋 HUMPBACK- Admiralty Inlet

12:04 - single humpback logging on the east side of the north bound traffic lanes outside of Mutiny Bay. Pretty close to the north side of Double Bluff. I didn’t stay to watch it but it’s there. [Kyla via oncg]

#psws

12:34 - SJC is leaving Malachite the HB currently trending W right off the SW shoreline of Vashon! [Alli via oncg]

#psws

🐋HUMPBACK - Central Puget Sound

11:59 - Humpback whale (likely Malachite) breaching in Dalco Passage about one mile north of Gig Harbor, visible from Owen Beach, was trending northbound. [ON]

#psws

🩵🚀🩵 Friday, Oct 3
Our beautiful friend Malachite the humpback has been keeping a presence around S Vashon/Tacoma/Gig Harbor & looks to be extending their stay.
Like yesterday, a humpback was breaching out there a short time ago.

📸 Malachite breaching by Haley Ameline Thursday 10/02.

#psws

Our friend still hanging out:

17:57 - Humpback Malachite slowly westbound in the Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry lanes. [ON]

#psws

13:20 - Likely humpback Malachite milling, slowly surfacing off Point Ruston [Tacoma]. [ON]

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🐋 HUMPBACK (Malachite) - Central Puget Sound

No updates yet, but here’s earlier sighting of our friend:

10:36- [humpback] malachite doing lots of pectoral slaps in Dalco Passage heading slightly north from owen beach promanade. (Cherie via oncg)

#psws

💦💙🐋💦 Tue, Sep 30

On this last day of September we celebrate Malachite, the humpback who has the hearts of many. Malachite continues to spend time around S Vashon/Tacoma/Gig Harbor & places to the south, hope you all have a chance to see this beauty.

📸 Malachite - by Sarah Winter 9/27.

#psws

16:27 - Humpback east of Tahlequah/Pt Defiance ferry traffic lanes about mid channel. Possibly facing north, but could just be milling. [WA app]

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13:35 - Malachite moved up the Narrows earlier and is killing off the SW corner of Vashon.

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09:54 - [humpback] still hanging out entrance to Wollochet [Bay]. [Carol via psws]

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09:15 - Humpback southbound and breaching in Hale Passage, between Wollochet Bay and Point Fosdick. [Cheryl via oncg]

#psws

Working on specifics of location & direction:

09:15 - [humpback] Gray whale in Hales Pass now!
[Carol via psws]

#psws

After exiting inland Puget Sound last Sunday they went north, then came back down to San Juans and believe went west. They or another pod may be back inland Salish Sea somewhere today, but that is unknown at this time.
Hopefully some Bigg's/Transients come see you in the near future.

🐋 HUMPBACK - South Puget Sound

08:10 - Humpback! Viewing from Day Island I heard the blows and then saw him surface through my cellphone. Headed towards Pt. Fosdick possibly. [Karen via oncg]

#psws