Enc Date: 29/06/20

Enc Seq: 1

Enc#: 30

Observ Begin: 11:45 AM

Observ End: 01:30 PM

Vessel: Orcinus

Staff: Dave Ellifrit

Pods: Transients

Location Descr: San Juan Channel/Griffin Bay

Start Latitude: 48 30.15

Start Longitude: 122 57.82

End Latitude: 48 26.95

End Longitude: 122 57.31

​

Enc Summary:

Dave was in CWR’s Photo-ID office when he heard David Howitt announce over the radio that he and his crew aboard “Peniel” had just found the T46s near Friday Harbor. Dave then headed to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1100, arriving on scene at 1145 in San Juan Channel about midway down the mouth of Griffin Bay.
T46, T46E, T46F, and T122 were in the middle of a kill and were milling in the same area. T46D had been seen earlier and he was reported to be further down San Juan Channel by himself. The other four whales milled and fed for the next half hour-at one point launching a seal carcass in the air. They were slowly heading south but would often stop and mill. While those four were occupied, T46D traveled and foraged by himself at least 3/4s of a mile to the south of them. Dave last saw T46D heading off in the direction of Deadman Island as he approached Cattle Pass. T46 and her other three offspring had begun traveling south a bit more directionally in a tight group. The encounter ended at 1330 while the group of four were pointing south-southeast as they neared Whale Rock.