Date:16-jul-18

Sequence:1

Encounter Number: 48

Enc Start Time: 14:30

Enc End Time: 16:20

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: David Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Seattle Times team

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Hein Bank

Begin Lat/Long: 48 20.25 123 08.30

End Lat/Long: 48 19.11 123 04.40

 

Encounter Summary:

At around 1 pm, Dave received reports of transient killer whales near Hein Bank. Dave called Michael and the media team from Seattle Times, and they met at the boat at 1:30. The team headed down island, and arrived on scene west of Hein Bank with the T34s, T37Bs, T37, and dispersed male T73B. The whales were in a tight formation moving slowly, likely resting. The whales occasionally circled, but generally moved slowly to the south. T73B stayed primarily on the outside of the group and surfaced less regularly, while T37B1 surfaced much more regularly than the rest of the group. The whales continued their resting pattern for the duration of the encounter. After getting ID shots from several close approaches, Dave ended the encounter at 4:20, as the whales continued slowly south.