Encounter Number: 35

Enc Start Time: 12:15

Enc End Time: 13:05

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Sydney Channel/Spit

Begin Lat/Long: 48 37.44/123 21.50

End Lat/Long: 48 40.12/123 21.30

 

Encounter Summary:

Jane Cogan called Dave at 1055 to relay reports of several groups of transients in the area. She could see one group west of Kelp Reef and there was another group north of Battleship Rock. There was also a report of a lone male heading south in Sidney Channel. The day before, T77A had become entangled in prawn fishing gear near Saltspring Island before being untangled by DFO. Thinking it would be a good idea to check and see if this whale was T77A, Dave decided to head in that direction when he left Snug Harbor around 1150. Unfortunately, the wind was starting to pick up and conditions were starting to get sloppy in some places. The lone male had last been seen heading south off the south end James Island but he could not be re-found. By this time, 2 more groups of transients had been found near the south end of Lopez Island.
Dave headed for the Kelp Reef group, who were now heading north in Sydney Channel, and got on scene around 1215 off the north end of James Island. These whales were the T11s and T100Bs, and they were traveling north fast and angling for Sidney Spit. The T11s and T100Bs went right over to the beach along the northwest side of the spit and slowed down while along it. Then the whales angled northwest and began fast traveling again. The encounter ended at 1305 between Forest Island and Dock Island with the group of four still traveling quickly north.