Encounter Summary: 

After receiving several reports of L pod whales on the west side of San Juan Island from Jane Cogan and Jeanne Hyde, Dave headed down to Snug Harbor and left aboard Orca at 1316. L pod had stalled out in Mitchell Bay and were still off southern Kellett Bluff when Orca got on scene with them at 1325.
L91 was foraging by herself off the south end of the bluff while a few other groups were loosely spread out and socializing a couple hundred yards farther up the bluff. Some individuals were spread out farther offshore. The next closest group was a play group of young animals involving L108, L109, L110, L116, and L117. As this group began to break up a little, Orca moved up to another group about a hundred yards to the north. L54, L55, L86, L103, L118 were soon joined by L117 and these whales were social and rolling around with one another. L95 was also very interested in this group and following them closely. These whales soon moved in closer to the bluff near the cormorant rookery and Orca took a short break while waiting for the whales to move into better lighting for ID shots.
It began to rain around 1400 as the whales moved north of the bluff and they were still loosely spread out in groups and individuals slowly heading north. By this time, L54, L55, L82, L83, L86, L103, L117, and L118 were traveling together, while L84, L95, and L106 were socializing with each other a little behind them. L108 and L109 were playing with each other about a hundred yards inshore of L84, L95, and L106. A little behind and offshore of those three, L110 and L116 were still goofing around and L117 had rejoined them.
The offshore individuals began to show up as they moved back inshore following the other whales. L92 went by heading north while L91 and L90 were much farther inshore and traveling by themselves in single file spread out by about a hundred yards. L47 and L115 appeared together from offshore and moved inshore toward the leaders. L88 was bringing up the rear and traveling by himself. Orca ended the encounter at 1424 off Battleship Rock with L88 heading north to catch up to the others.

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• Encounter #74 - Sept 3, 2015 •