Date: 01-Sep-18

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 65

Enc Start Time: 12:35

Enc End Time: 14:05

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: J Pod

Location: Georgia Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 56.16/12314.47

End Lat/Long: 49 01.01/12312.33

 

Encounter Summary:

After a call from Jane Cogan relaying a report of whales heading north in Swanson Channel, Dave headed for the boat and left Snug Harbor at 1120. The whales had already exited Active Pass and the trailers were over halfway across the Strait of Georgia heading for the Coal Docks when “Orcinus” saw its first whales around 1230. J27 was the first whale seen but other whales were hard to find as they were all very spread out. J39 and J42 were also seen traveling alone without anyone near. Dave headed up to where he hoped the leaders were and found J19 and J36 loosely spread out but no others although the whales were spread out enough that someone could have been missed. Since that looked like all the whales who were up there, Dave headed back southwest and found J39 again but this time chasing a fish with J47. The two of them quickly wrapped up their chase and continued speeding north.
A little while later, a group of four was seen heading slowly north inshore off of the Coal Docks and this turned out to be the J22s and J37s. Behind them were two spread out individuals who turned out to be J31 and J40. Behind them and further inshore was a loose group of most the J17s and J51. J51 and J53 were playing with one another and enjoying themselves. L87 was inshore of this group and was traveling north by himself. The encounter ended with him off the Coal Docks at 1405.

Notes-Comments: