Gray Whales Spotted in Saratoga Passage, Sandy Point and Langley Feb. 24-26

Multiple independent observers reported gray whale activity in and near Whidbey Island waters over Feb. 24–26, 2026, with entries pointing to sightings in Saratoga Passage, Sandy Point and Langley. The Original Report that compiled the local claims cites an Orca Network public sighting log for Feb. 24 that names a gray whale near Sandy Point and feeding off Mabana and Hidden Beach.

The Orca Network entry recorded feeding behavior at Mabana and Hidden Beach on Feb. 24; the Original Report does not provide timestamps, observer names, photos or counts beyond that log reference. The Original Report text provided to this newsroom ends mid-sentence after "on Feb," and did not list specific numbers of whales seen on Feb. 24–26, 2026.

Commercial trip logs in a Dolphinsafari sightings table show multiple days with gray-whale counts in the Jan–Mar range, including Jan 25 with 9 Gray Whales, Jan 31 with 6 Gray Whales, Feb 7 with 12 Gray Whales, and Mar 22 with 22 Gray Whales. The Dolphinsafari excerpt also lists large dolphin and other species counts on individual days (for example Feb 9 listed 1 Gray Whale, 1,500 Common Dolphins, 140 Bottlenose Dolphins). The Dolphinsafari extract did not state the geographic coverage for those entries in the supplied text.

Regional monitoring and historical tracking provide context but do not explicitly tie tagged individuals to the Feb. 24–26 Whidbey reports. NOAA Fisheries noted a September 2020 satellite-tagging pilot of Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales and referenced PTT 197158, nicknamed "Chocolate." NOAA reported that the tagged whale "was behaving, feeding, and swimming normally" in pre- and post-tagging observations and that observers on July 12 described behavior as: “Behavior was exactly what we'd expect for this whale: 4-5 breaths, fluking, and a 2-3 knot travel speed, and 3-4 minute dives. They were heading down the coast.” NOAA observers also noted the animal was "actively feeding."

Broader reporting totals underscore elevated regional marine mammal activity. The Pacific Whale Watch Association recorded 43,258 reports of whales and other wildlife in and around the Salish Sea in 2024 and documented gray whales on 205 days that year. The Marine Mammal Center, which has responded to stranding events around the Bay Area, emphasized the continuing northward migration, saying in part that "there continues to be a significant number of gray whale sightings in San Francisco Bay as this species continues their northern migration to their arctic feeding grounds," and urged boaters that "if you see a blow, go slow."

Local counts and photographic confirmation for the Feb. 24–26 Whidbey sightings remain to be produced publicly; the Feb. 24 Orca Network log provides the clearest on-the-water detail so far, recording a gray whale near Sandy Point and active feeding off Mabana and Hidden Beach.