Date: 10-Nov-18

Sequence: 6

Encounter Number: 96

Enc Start Time: 15:15

Enc End Time: 15:30

Vessel: Morning Star

Observers: Melisa Pinnow, Jane Cogan, Tom Cogan

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Rosario Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 29.872/-122 45.818

End Lat/Long: 48 30.347/-122 45.722

 

Encounter Summary:

After ending Encounter 95 with J pod in Admiralty Inlet, the seas flattened out and more whales were discovered by whale watching boats in Rosario Strait. “Morning Star” had a little time left to see who they were before needing to head back to Snug harbor in time to beat sunset. “Morning Star” arrived on scene at 1515 with the T137s near Belle Rocks in Rosario Strait.

The whales were mellow, grouped up, and slowly zigzagging their way north. They were so relaxed and sleepy that it was a surprise when T137 belly flopped twice towards the end of the encounter. Her first belly flop was so high that her whole body was clear and perfectly horizontal over the water. No other surface activity occurred before or after.

The encounter was ended at 1530 as the whales continued to meander north in Rosario Strait, north of Belle Rocks.