Date: 19-Aug-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 60

Enc Start Time: 13:54

Enc End Time: 14:04

Vessel: Chimo

Observers: Ken Balcomb

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca

Begin Lat/Long: 48 19’ 14.286”N/123 11’ 31.57”W near ODASS Buoy

End Lat/Long: 48 19’ 9.51”N/123 10’ 53.87”W​

 

Encounter Summary:

Ken had just launched and was returning from Port Angeles in “Chimo” in early afternoon when news came over the PWWA trunk radio that a small group of Bigg’s Transient killer whales had been found south of Hein Bank; and, the only boat anywhere near them had found and then lost track of them as they travelled Northwest (presumed direction when last seen) toward a fog bank. Diverting slightly to the East, to join the search, Ken was surprised to encounter the whales about one and a half mile South of their previously reported position. The first whale encountered was the very distinctive T99B, an eleven year-old juvenile that has a very ragged trailing edge of the top half of its dorsal fin. Then mom, T99, surfaced with her other two young offspring and all travelled in a large clockwise circle presumably in a foraging event. That activity was very brief, and then the group travelled in a southeast direction