Encounter Summary: 

After receiving a report of transients at the south end of Sydney Channel, Dave jumped in Orca and left Snug Harbor at 1600. Orca arrived on scene at 1630 at the north end of Sydney Channel.T49A1 and T49A2 were both showing great interest in a crab pot on the Sydney Island side of the channel. T49A1 would surface right next to a black buoy before going on a long dive and then T49A2 would surface before also going on a long dive in the same area. It was unclear whether they had a seal pinned on the bottom or they were just goofing around with the crab pot.At about 1645, T49A1 and T49A2 moved on and began heading northwest. A few more whales appeared about 3/4 of a mile ahead and this was T49A, T49A3, and T49A4. They went on a very long dive before coming up milling and then heading toward T49A1 and T49A2. By 1700, all five whales were together and heading northeast toward Sydney Spit. The whales went past the tip of the spit and headed north in resting mode. They made it past the west end of Forrest Island before Orca left the T49A's pointed northwest toward Coal Island.

Notes-Comments:photos are cropped