EncDate: 06/06/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 33

ObservBegin: 03:21 PM

ObservEnd: 04:28 PM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff:  Mark Malleson

Pods: Transients

IDsEncountered: T046B

LocationDescr: SW of Discover Island

Start Latitude: 48 22.5

Start Longitude: 123 14.6

End Latitude: 48 21.6

End Longitude: 123 16.0

​

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe were following the movement of a group of killer whales heading south in Haro Strait through the morning. By early afternoon, they had made it as far as the Sea Bird Point, Discovery Island, and turned west. The two departed for a short encounter off the Victoria waterfront. They passed Ogden Point in Mike 1 at 1515 and met the whales 6 minutes later at 48° 22.5 N and 123° 14.6 W, just southwest of Discovery Island. The five animals were the T046Bs, less the dispersed T046B1s, and they were slightly spread while traveling west-southwest steadily toward Constance Bank.

The whales suddenly turned and porpoised roughly a half-mile south before apparently corralling a harbour seal under the surface. The hunt lasted roughly 20 minutes until the distinct smell of pinniped hit the air at 1600. Young T046B4 seemed particularly satisfied with the effort, spyhopping and rolling around with a mess of innards for over ten minutes. The animals eventually finished sharing the spoils and turned west again, T046B4 still with her prize, all surfing the southeast seas toward Constance Bank. Mark and Joe ended the encounter at 1628 at 48° 21.6 N and 123° 16.0 W, the whales still cruising west-southwest at a good pace.