Enc Date: 29/10/19

Enc Seq: 1

Enc#: 89

Observ Begin: 01:30 PM

Observ End: 03:35 PM

Vessel: Orcinus

Staff: Dave Ellifrit

Other Observers: Katie Jones

Pods: J, L

Location Descr: Haro strait

Start Latitude: 48 40.36

Start Longitude: 123 15.00

End Latitude: 48 34.22

End Longitude: 123 11.19

 

EncSummary:

Dave received a call from Tom Cogan saying that they had Js and some L pod whales off Turn Point. Dave then called Katie and they met at Snug Harbor in the early afternoon. We got on scene off TipTop Hill on Stuart Island just a little before 1330. J pod and the same Ls that were encountered on October 24th were spread out in singles and groups across Haro Strait heading south. J26 was the first whale we encountered as he traveled southeast along the Stuart Island shoreline by himself. About a half mile behind him was a group that included the J22s, J35s, L47s, J27, J45, and L90 and they traveled down Haro Strait in a tight group. Other whales were very spread out in singles and loose pairs on the Canadian side of the strait and further south of us. We headed across the strait toward a couple of blows near Halibut Island that turned out to be a pair of humpbacks. Another humpback had traveled up mid-Haro Strait through the southern residents a little earlier. A pair of killer whales did show up off Halibut Island but they were being extremely hard to follow and were taking long dives. These two turned out to be J44 and J53 although J53 snuck away un-photographed. Another group was forming back across Haro Strait off Kellett Bluff so we headed back that direction. We found a loose and active group that included the J31s, J37s, J46, and J51. The young animals were socializing and rolling around together. L105 was also foraging by himself in the general area. Next, we found J19 a little further offshore by herself. After that we moved back inshore to get L72 and L105 who came together off south Kellett Bluff. Several whales including the J22s and members of the J16s and L47s were spread out and foraging deep in Mitchell Bay and we had to wait for them to pass before we could return to Snug Harbor. The encounter ended near the south end of Mitchell Bay at about 1535.