Encounter Summary:

J2, aka "Granny", passed CWR at 1145 heading up Haro Strait, and she was followed a short while later by J19 and the J16s, and then the K13s and K14s who finally passed by at 1305. It was a very spread out morning of a few subgroups of whales that began their pass in an ebbing tide that turned to flood by the time the last group passed. At 1425 Ken embarked in "Chimo" with four friends that had visited here twenty years ago and went on to have careers in dolphin research and NMFS management. They were amazed at how respectful all of the commercial whale watch boats were toward the whales and each other - this respect and camaraderie does not exist in other regions where there is dolphin-watching and feeding, etc. There it is much more aggressive and close-mouthed amongst the operators. We went out to see and document K25, and when that was accomplished we returned to Snug Harbor. There was no immediate need to further document those northbound whales, and we elected to not head further south to the L12s and J17s that were reported at or going toward the south end of San Juan Island. We will check up on J28 tomorrow if those whales stick around.

Notes-Comments:The drone measurement team led by Dr. John Durban was out today and continued north with the Js and Ks that were headed to Swanson Channel, and thence through Active Pass into the Strait of Georgia. We await any reports of how the whale condition appears from the air.