EncDate: 15/06/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 39

ObservBegin: 06:40 AM

ObservEnd: 07:23 AM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff: Mark Malleson

Other Observers: Joe Zelwietro

Pods: Transients

LocationDescr: Otter Point

Start Latitude:4 8 21.0

Start Longitude: 123 48.4

End Latitude: 48 20.0

End Longitude: 123 44.2

​

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe departed Victoria at 0530, shooting for a full day at Swiftsure Bank and the western entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait. Conditions were ideal as they turned west at Race Pass, and they spotted their first dorsal fin just east of Otter Point. It appeared to be female, though they didn't see another for almost 7 minutes! They began the encounter at 0640 at 48° 21.0' N / 123° 48.4' W with a spread group of eastbound Bigg's killer whales.

They quickly noticed two or three more offshore, and the animal they were with was identified as T036B1. They scanned south for more, but other than the tight group of three, saw none. Roughly 15 minutes into the encounter, T036 was spotted about a half-mile north of the single T036B1 and the trio of T036Bs. The whales soon came together, with T036B1 catching up to mom and T036 angling back offshore to the group. All then quickened their pace eastward, and Mark and Joe ended the encounter south of Whiffin Spit at 48° 20.0' N / 123° 44.2' W at 0723 and forged west.