Date: 28-Apr-19

Sequence: 2

Encounter Number: 30

Enc Start Time: 14:15

Enc End Time: 17:35

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit

Pods or ecotype: J pod and L87

Location: Rosario Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 38.52/122 45.02

End Lat/Long: 48 38. 06/122 36.02

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Encounter Summary:

Ken called Dave a little before noon to relay a report that residents had been found near Matia Island. After a quick lunch, Dave grabbed his stuff and headed to Snug Harbor and left in the boat early in the afternoon. The whales had headed southeast towards Lawrence Point on Orcas Island and the leaders were just rounding the point when “Orcinus” arrived on scene around 1415. J pod and L87 were strung out in small groups over a half mile with most of them within a quarter mile of the Orcas Island shoreline. The whales moved offshore near the Peapod Rocks with most of the whales passing them on the east side. J pod then traveled slowly down Rosario Strait, loosely strung out, but still mostly in one group. By 1525, the whales were off of Peavine Pass when they took a hard right and headed inshore towards both Peavine and Obstruction Passes. Some whales spread out and seemed to be foraging along the Orcas Island while others socialized. The leaders moved slowly to the north over a half mile away from the trailers. The trailing group was a large group of socializing whales with a few foraging outliers. L87 made his way back out into the middle off Rosario Strait and was lost from sight although he could be heard blowing when the engine was off. The lead animals formed up into a group that included the J11s, J19s, and J22s. This group made it to about Doe Bay by 1655 before they turned around and headed back toward the trailers. The trailers, meanwhile, had picked up their pace and were heading towards leaders. The groups soon met up and, with the exception L87 and maybe another straggler or two, most of J pod headed slowly north together in a loose group. The encounter ended off Doe Bay at 1735.

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