Humpback Whale in Puget Sound

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Robbi

New member
There have been a number of very unusual visitors to Puget Sound, and especially to the South Sound this year. One species that has never been recorded in Puget Sound is the long-beaked common dolphin. One or two of them are in the area of Olympia right now. These are usually not seen north of the central California coast. Bryde's whales have also been in the South Sound this year. Unfortunately, two did not survive.

And now, an adult Humpback whale is feeding in the area just south of the Tacoma Narrows. I have seen the whale on two different days, and it is an amazing animal to watch. The pictures are not very good, and do not show the huge size of this whale. The first time I saw this whale, I was cruising home at about 18 knots and it came out of the water about 300 yards to my starboard side. Unbelievable!!!

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Robbi
 
We saw them two weekends ago feeding right off Pt Defiance. Came within 15 ft of our boat. Thought there were 2, a smaller one maybe a calf? and a unbeliveably huge one. Did not know they were humpbacks. Thought Gray. What a sight.
 
I thought that it was a Minke Whale, but when I sent other pictures to the whale reporting folks at the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, they identified it as a Humpback. On their hotline sheet, they list that a humpback was seen at Pt Defiance on the 12th of June. No mention of a calf.

Robbi
 
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