EncDate: 27/10/20

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 57

Observ Begin: 12:20 PM

Observ End: 01:51 PM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Pods: Transients

Location Descr: Constance Bank

Start Latitude: 48 18.8

Start Longitude: 123 19.9

End Latitude: 48 20.5

End Longitude: 123 11.8

 

Enc Summary:

Mark received a call at 1001 that the leucistic white whale "T'luk"/T046B1B and family were south westbound, and several others were east bound near Race Rocks by a colleague monitoring the military blasting at Bentick Island. After Mark alerted the only commercial whale watch boat out of Victoria and got confirmation that the T046B1's and many other individuals, including two bulls, were all east bound towards Constance Bank, he departed Victoria harbour on Mike 1 at 1158.
At 1220 he spotted a single bull within a half-mile to the northwest of the rest of the group. After getting a proof of presence picture of T049C, Mark trolled over to the large group of Bigg's that appeared to be prey sharing south of Constance Bank (48 18.8/123 19.9).
They were milling about in 3 different social groups amongst the feeding gulls, and Mark was able to confirm the rest of the T046B's along with the B1's, the T035A's, T038A's, T123's and T137B and D. They eventually grouped up as they continued to socialize as they slowly worked their way east towards Coyote Bank. Mark left the group still tracking east at 1330 at Coyote Bank (48 20.0/123 12.6) and ended the encounter at 1351 (48 20.5/123 11.8) with a last look at T049C doing long illusive dives but appeared determined to shadow the group of 20.