Date: 26-Apr-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 30

Enc Start Time: 15:15

Enc End Time: 16:38

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Melisa Pinnow

Pods or ecotype: T63, T65​​

Location: Georgia Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 51.845/-123 12.127

End Lat/Long: 48 57.599/-123 15.531

 

Encounter Summary:

With whale watching boats reporting that T63 and T65 were in the area, Dave and Melisa met at Snug Harbor and left aboard “Orcinus” at 1355. At 1515, “Orcinus” arrived on scene with T63 and T65 slowly traveling west about three and a half miles off of the Belle Chain Islets in Georgia Strait. T65 was in the lead with T63 trailing behind her by a hundred yards or so.

At 1602, the two whales came together and briefly milled about three miles off of Active Pass before slowly traveling west again. At 1620, T63 and T65 came together again and started charging north. It appeared that they had detected other Ts in the area and were eager to reach them. “Orcinus” left T63 and T65 for a bit to scout ahead for other whales but were unable to locate any. The encounter was ended at 1638 as T63 and T65 briefly milled about again three miles north of Active Pass before continuing their charge north.