Date:14-jul-18

Sequence:1

Encounter Number: 47

Enc Start Time: 10:58

Enc End Time: 13:40

Vessel: Chimo

Observers: Ken Balcomb

Pods or ecotype: J and K pods

Location: Seabird Discovery Island to San Juan Island

Begin Lat/Long: 48 24 55.62N/123 13 46.24W 

End Lat/Long: 48 28 16.2N/123 05 59.1W 

 

Encounter Summary:

Whales were spotted heading east off Clover Point around 0930, and Ken launched “Chimo” from Oak Bay where he had been waiting for two days for SRKWs to exit the inshore waters, as they had indicated they might at any time. Instead, they made a big swoop to the south in the evening of 13 July and disappeared in the night, only to be seen again in the morning coming back in. Maybe they have found some fish to pursue – must check the Albion Test Fishery in the next few days. The whales were spread out in matrilineal groups as they passed south of Discovery Island and fanned out across Haro Strait toward the west side of San Juan Island. It was difficult to determine if all of the J and K matrilines were present because the whales were spread over many miles. Since the whales were coming back into interior waters instead of leaving, the opportunity was taken to focus on a few whales to observe if any foraging occurred. None was apparent, but the occasional tail slap indicated they might be following some fish that were moving toward San Juan Island. By the time the whales arrived at San Juan they were spread from Lime Kiln to Eagle Point.