Date: 01-Sep-18

Sequence: 3

Encounter Number: 67

Enc Start Time: 15:30

Enc End Time: 16:30

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: Transients​

Location: Boundary Pass

Begin Lat/Long: 48 44.50/123 01.19

End Lat/Long: 48 42.29/123 10.44

 

Encounter Summary:

After leaving the T37As near Tumbo Island, Dave headed south around East Point and pointed for Johns Pass. Another group of transients that included T37, the T37Bs, and the T34s had headed north up Andrews Bay earlier and had been heading east in Spieden Channel when “Orcinus” headed north for the residents late morning. They had moved around upper San Juan Channel for the last several hours and just happened to be north of Johns Pass when “Orcinus” was at East Point. When “Orcinus” was mid-Boundary Pass between the Java Islets and Skipjack Island, “Victoria Star” reported that they were seeing breaching orcas just north of Skipjack Island. Perfect. So, a hard left and Dave headed toward Skipjack to see who that group was.
“Orcinus” arrived on scene at 1530 less than a mile north of Skipjack Island. About four whales including a couple of the T36As were milling and may have made a kill. Other whales appeared close to the north side of Skipjack and the previously milling whales soon started swimming fast in that direction. The groups met up and all the members of the T36As and T99s traveled southwest toward Sandy Point on Waldron Island in a tight group. “Orcinus” left this group at about 1555 to head to the other group who were a couple miles away and a ways northwest of Johns Pass.
“Orcinus” arrived on scene with the T34s and T37s about fifteen minutes later. This group was moving very slowly west in a tight group and were clearly resting. The encounter ended at 1630 not very far from where it began.