Date: 28-Mar-18

Sequence:1

Encounter Number: 20

Enc Start Time: 17:04

Enc End Time: 19:18

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Melisa Pinnow

Pods or ecotype: T49A1, T124C

Location: Haro Strait/Gulf Islands

Begin Lat/Long: 48 25.207/-123 12.191

End Lat/Long: 48 27.429/-123 16.715

 

Encounter Summary:

At about 1330, killer whales were spotted heading north in San Juan Channel. A few hours later, Dave and Melisa met at Snug Harbor and left aboard “Orcinus” at 1657. At 1704, “Orcinus” arrived on scene with T49A1 and T124C traveling west a few hundred yards off of Kellett Bluff, Henry Island.

The two males often surfaced side by side as they zig-zagged their way across Haro Strait toward Sidney and Halibut Islands. They reached the east side of Sidney Island by 1755 and traveled a few hundred yards off of the shoreline, still heading west/northwest.

At 1805, T49A1 and T124C disappeared between Sidney and Halibut Islands. At 1821, they were relocated a few hundred yards off the east side of Halibut Island. They were on a kill and milled about the same area for half an hour. A nervous Steller sea lion looked on and a large flock of gulls fed on the scraps. Blood was seen in front of T49A1 and photos reveal the he swam past the boat with a chunk of seal meat in his mouth. T49A1 also celebrated the kill with tail slaps and a spy hop.

After the kill, T49A1 and T124C momentarily played in the Halibut Island kelp beds before traveling right up the west side of the island, spooking a Canada goose and the same Steller sea lion along the way. At 1918, “Orcinus” left T49A1 and T124C off the east end of Mandarte Island as they headed toward Gooch Island.