The first of the North Puget Sound Gray Whales or “Sounders” has returned to the Salish Sea early, continuing a recent trend of early arrivals. Cascadia Research and Orca Network have confirmed that the whale, known as Little Patch (CRC-53), was first identified and photographed in Saratoga Passage on December 11. 

“After I spotted the whale, I was joined by other Camano whale watchers who were excited to greet the first Sounder of the season,” said Serena Tierra, Co-Coordinator for Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network. “This is such a special time of year for residents of North Puget Sound because it provides an opportunity to see whales close to shore and form connections as you get to know them as individuals.” 

This is the fifth season in a row that Little Patch has shown up in either December or January, choosing to return to the Salish Sea early and forgo the migration to winter breeding areas in Mexico. The other Sounders are expecting to arrive between January and April, with most returning in early March.

The Sounders are a group of gray whales who annually detour from their migration between the Bering Sea and Baja, Callifornia, to spend time in the waters of the Salish Sea. Cascadia Research first documented the group in 1990, and has been studying them ever since. Little Patch was first identified in 1991 and has been seen 26 different years since.

While in the Salish Sea, the Sounders primarily feed on ghost shrimp in the intertidal regions around Whidbey and Camano Islands and the Snohomish River delta. Gray whales went through an Unusual Mortality Event from 2019 to 2023 that killed thousands of whales in the eastern North Pacific population. During that time, the number of Sounders increased to almost 20 individuals as hungry whales discovered the abundant ghost shrimp here, and a few enjoyed extended stays in the area rather than continuing on their migrations.

Vessel operators of all types are reminded to be on the lookout for these slow moving animals and to share the water. Gray whales can surface anywhere unexpectedly. Follow all Be Whale Wise laws/guidelines (www.bewhalewise.org) while on the water. At first sight of any whale all vessels should slow to under 7 knots and keep at least 100 yards distance from gray whales.

Whale sightings from the public provide critical information about the travels of the whales, and timely reports enable Orca Network to alert community science volunteers, the public, and researchers who can then obtain identification photos, and collect data and prey and fecal samples from the whales during their time in Puget Sound. Sighting reports are also forwarded to Washington State Ferries and other large vessel traffic in an effort to prevent ship strikes.  The official Sounders population count is maintained by Cascadia Research. Orca Network and Cascadia Research Collective have partnered in monitoring the Sounders gray whales since 2001, and produce a photo identification guide that whale enthusiasts can purchase (available at https://www.orcanetwork.org/webshop/p/a-guide-to-the-gray-whales-of-north-puget-sound-the-sounders).

Whale sightings of any species can be sent to sightings@orcanetwork.org, or via https://www.orcanetwork.org/report-sightings

For additional information on the Sounders contact John Calambokidis at Cascadia Research 360-943-7325.