Date: 10-February-2019

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 09

Enc Start Time: 12:18

Enc End Time: 12:48

Vessel: Mike 1

Observers: Mark Malleson, Duncan Stamper, Steve Isbister, Chris Vesalo

Pods or ecotype: Bigg's Transients

Location: East Sooke

Begin Lat/Long: 48 18.3/123 38.9

End Lat/Long: 48 17.8/123 36.5

 

Encounter Summary:

I decided to head out on Mike 1 with the sailing crew when no one showed up to race against for Sunday's "Around the Buoys" at the yacht club due to the frigid temperatures. I had received a report from Jane Cogan that she had heard loud transient calls on the hydrophone at 0600 as well as hearing a report of 3 killer whales southbound past Eagle Point at 0715.
We had a quick look from Gonzales lookout before heading to the boat. With a large ebb and strong south east winds forecasted for the afternoon we decided to head west towards Race Rocks leaving Victoria's harbour at 1145. After a brief stop at Race Rocks to check out the sea lions, harbour seals and elephant seals we continued west a couple miles offshore. At 1218 as we were approaching Bechey Head I spotted a bull dorsal fin what appeared to be coming straight at us. We stopped and waited while I scanned in case they were going away form us and then T100 E and T100F popped up close to us east bound (48 18.3/123 38.9). We tracked them them for ~ 30 minutes while they travelled east. No predation was observed for our encounter. We left them at 1248 slightly offshore of Becher Bay (48 17.8/123 36.5)