Date: 09-Mar-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number:12

Enc Start Time: 17:15

Enc End Time: 18:30

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Andrews Bay

Begin Lat/Long: 48 32.35/123 10.12

End Lat/Long: 48 34.34/123 10.43

 

Encounter Summary:

Dave received a call from Jane Cogan in the late afternoon relaying a report that a group of whales were heading north up the west side of San Juan Island just south of the Lime Kiln Lighthouse. He headed over to CWR where he and Ken watched the whales, who looked like the T2Cs, through the scopes as they rounded Bellevue Point. Dave then left for Snug Harbor and left in the boat a little after 1700. The boat got on scene about ten minutes later to find the T2Cs milling off Low Island. The whales took about a ten minute long dive before coming up right at Sunset Point. T2C2 was a few hundred yards offshore where he began to fall behind. The other four whales eventually came up again between CWR and Smugglers Cove and began to mill around. T2C2 was several hundred yards behind at this point but still traveling slowly north. T2C and T2C1 both turned and pointed south before stopping and logging at the surface together while they waited. The younger whales milled around them. T2C2 finally caught up, and the group continued slowly north. At about 1800 as the light was failing, the T2Cs began a prolonged attack on a harbor seal at the south end of Mitchell Bay. The seal was still alive at 1827 and Dave had to call it quits due to darkness at 1830 right out in front of Snug Harbor.