Date: 05-Jan-17

Sequence: 2

Encounter Number: 2

Enc Start Time: 15:50

Enc End Time: 16:36

Vessel: Morning Star

Observers: Jane and Tom Cogan, Melisa Pinnow

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Haro Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 29.117/123 13.287

End Lat/Long: 48 25.267/123 11.299

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Encounter Summary:

After leaving the T11s, T41s, T109s near Port Renfrew in the Strait of Juan De Fuca, Tom and Jane Cogan and Melisa Pinnow started back home for San Juan Island aboard “Morning Star”. As they were heading northwest from Victoria and across Haro Strait at 15:50, a small group of killer whales popped up off the port side of the vessel. These whales were T124A3, T124A2, T124A2A, and T124A2’s new calf. They headed south at 10-11 knots for a few minutes before it was realized they were joining up with other whales. Two more groups appeared: the rest of the T124As, as well as the T86As and the T124Ds. All the whales almost regrouped before they split up again and spread out. The T86As and T124Ds moved closer to Discovery Island before continuing south while some of the T124As stayed southbound in the middle of the strait before turning west and aiming for the T86As and T124Ds. With light fading as the sun set, the whales were left east of Seabird Point, Discovery Island at 16:36.