Date: 20-Jun-19

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 38

Enc Start Time: 12:50

Enc End Time: 14:30

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: David Ellifrit, Michael Weiss, Katie Jones

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Haro Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 28.4/123 6.46

End Lat/Long: 48 38.6/123 10.25

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Encounter Summary:

There had been reports of multiple groups of transient killer whales around San Juan Island in the morning, so around noon Dave, Michael, and Katie met at Snug to document them. They headed south along the west side of the island, and arrived on scene off False Bay with the T124As. The whales were fairly spread out and travelling north. After a quick look, Dave identified T86A1 in the group as well, but did not see T123A3 and her calf, or T124A4. After a single quick ID photo pass, the team headed north up the strait, where they encountered the T65As about a mile east of Sydney Island. The whales were zig-zagging and apparently socializing after having made a kill earlier in the day. The team stayed for a couple surfacing sequences and made sure that the whole group was present. Reports over the radio indicated that there were whales inshore of the southern group that may have been the missing whales from the previous passes. The team headed southwest and waited for the group north of Lime Kiln. Soon, the group came travelling north, keeping close to the shoreline, still steadily travelling and spread out. After a few surfacing sequences, the team did get ID shots of T124A3, T124A3A, and T124A4. At 1430, the team ended the encounter, although there was word on the radio that there was another group of whales nearby, other than the whales that had already been documented.

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