Encounter Summary: 

Following a report of a group of Transient (Bigg's) killer whales travelling slowly up Admiralty Inlet against an incoming tide, Ken departed Snug Harbor at 1329 and sped across the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca for an encounter to photo-identify them. Arriving on scene at 1457 just south of Marrowstone Point, he found the whales in mid-strait in very choppy seas due to tide rips. The whales were taking very long dives and generally facing north, but due to the strong incoming tide they weren't going anywhere. They had been reported in the same general area for two hours. They were taking very long dives, and apparently feeding, but no prey scraps were observed.

Notes-Comments:The whales at times surfaced very near "Chimo" as if checking out the boat or occupant, but they generally were very unpredictable in their travel pattern. A brief video was taken of their rather relaxed behavior.