Date: 09-April-2019

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 26

Enc Start Time: 09:33

Enc End Time: 10:16

Vessel: Mike 1

Observers: Mark Malleson

Pods or ecotype: Bigg's Transients

Location: south of Kelp Reef

Begin Lat/Long:48 29.8/123 13.3

End Lat/Long:48 31.7/123 13.0

 

Encounter Summary:

At ~0800 Hanna and I saw killer whales while having breakfast in Oak Bay between Chatham Island and the Chain Islands traveling north for Baynes Channel. We could see 1 bull that looked like T011A, a cow and what looked like a juvenile. At 0810 it looked as though they got a seal along the shoreline of Vantreight Island as I could see them milling about for several minutes with lots of gulls gathered around them.

We left the house as they exited Baynes channel to go to the boat. I left the Victoria Habour at 0850 and spotted them at 0930 a few miles south of Kelp Reef still traveling north. At the start of the encounter I saw them grab a likely seal and prey share while they continued to saunter north (48 29.8/123 13.3).

I left them at 1016 3.5 miles south of Henry Island traveling slowly north against the ebb current (48 31.7/123 13.0).