Date: 21-jul-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 50

Enc Start Time: 16:30

Enc End Time: 17:00

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Flora Miles

Pods or ecotype: J Pod

Location: Haro Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 28.54, 123 06.60

End Lat/Long: 48 28.32, 123 04.56

 

Encounter Summary:

Coming off an encounter with California transients (encounter 49), the team found the J16s travelling down island from Lime Kiln. J16, J42, and J50 were trailing behind, and were being targeted by another research vessel, so the team went ahead to quickly document the remaining pair of whales. They quickly found J26 travelling down island off Kanaka Bay at 1630, along with J36 travelling a couple hundred yards in shore. J26 moved in steady, straight lines, while J36 was moving much quicker, with more frequent direction changes, indicating possible foraging. After photographing both whales, the team left them off False Bay at 1700, and headed back north towards the pair of Californian transients.