Date: 03-Apr-17

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 27

Enc Start Time: 12:20

Enc End Time: 13:38

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: J16s

Location: Haro Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 32.95/123 10.83

End Lat/Long: 48 29.60/123 08.16

 

Encounter Summary:

Jane Cogan called Dave at home at 1125 to relay a report of a few whales heading south in Haro Strait just a little north of San Juan Island. Jane called back about twenty minutes later saying she could see whales at Kellett Bluff so Dave grabbed his gear and headed to Snug Harbor. “Orcinus” left Snug at 1215 and arrived on scene off Sunset Point about five minutes later.

J42 began chasing a fish off Small Pox Bay and then J16 with J50, who were a couple hundred yards further southeast than J42, turned around and came back to join the chase. The three of them continued to chase and mill for the next few minutes before joining up and heading slowly southeast inshore toward Bellevue Point at 1233.

J26 was foraging by himself almost a mile to the west of J16, J42, and J50 when “Orcinus” began observing him at 1250. By this point, it was clear that the J16s were the only residents around. J26 was first pointed southeast down Haro Strait before he turned due south and briefly pointed toward Sea Bird Point. He had turned back southeast by the time Dave left him at 1315. The humpback whale known as “Big Mama” was also in Haro Strait today and had re-appeared a little southeast of Kelp Reef. Since J36 and J52 were being so hard to find, Dave thought he might go take a look at “Big Mama” but Mark Malleson soon pointed him in the direction of J36s, who were back toward Edwards Point on SJI.

“Orcinus” found the J36s inshore right off Edwards Point at 1330. J36 and J52 were foraging separately at first but then they moved a small ways offshore and began chasing a fish together. They milled around for a few minutes before charging back inshore side by side toward Edwards Point and Dave ended the encounter there at 1338.