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A pod of killer whales swam into Dyes Inlet Tuesday evening to the delight of local residents who quickly gathered at the Tracyton boat launch, where the orcas put on an impressive display of splashing.

Video: Whales Frolic At Dyes Inlet

Many of the observers recalled a similar scene in the fall of 1997, when 19 killer whales swam into Dyes Inlet and stayed for a month.

This time, observers estimated the number of whales at five to nine, including at least one youngster.

Dave Ellifrit, of the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, tells The Sun newspaper of Bremerton that Tuesday's visitors were most likely so-called "transient" orcas -- unlike the "resident" orcas that spend more time in the Northwest's inland waters.