Date: 07-Dec-17

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 105

Enc Start Time: 12:30

Enc End Time: 14:41

Vessel: Morning Star

Observers: Melisa Pinnow, Jane Cogan, Tom Cogan

Pods or ecotype: J pod, K pod

Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca

Begin Lat/Long: 48 14.740/123 28.092

End Lat/Long: 48 15.545/123 44.842

​

Encounter Summary:

At 1030, Melisa, Tom, and Jane left Snug Harbor aboard "Morning Star" in search of whales. As “Morning Star” approached Constance Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, reports came in of Js and Ks up ahead. At 1230, the first whales, J22 and J37, were found a few miles south of Race Rocks as they traveled west together. The two were elusive and were not sighted again after a deep dive. J38 was trailing behind them by a few hundred yards.

The whales were extremely spread out as the search continued. “Morning Star” ended up covering about 13 miles during the encounter but only found about 14 different whales in that distance. At 1310, J26 and J36 were found traveling west together a few miles west of Race Rocks. By 1330, J17, J44, and J53 were located foraging a few miles west of J26 and J36. J17 seemed to be chasing a salmon while J44 and J53 raced around a few hundred yards behind her. After a few minutes, J44 and J53 joined J17 and they continued west together.

At 1351, J41 and someone else (perhaps J19 but the whale was never photographed) were found traveling westbound and going down on a long deep dives. About a half a mile west, L87 was found traveling west. At 1409, J39 was found milling about and foraging a few hundred yards ahead of L87. After chasing a salmon, J39 continued west.

More blows could be seen spread out a mile or two to the south but it was almost time to start heading back since “Morning Star” was so far from Snug Harbor. Quickly, a few of the blows were investigated and they belonged to K14 and K42. The pair were also traveling westbound. The encounter was ended at 1441 as J26 and J36 were found again still traveling west together about a mile east of K14 and K42.