Date: 25-Aug-21

Sequence: 2

Encounter Number: 58

Enc Start Time: 20:00

Enc End Time: 20:22

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Michael Weiss, Charli Grimes, Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Flora Miles

Pods or ecotype: L Pod

Location: Mitchell Bay

Begin Lat/Long: 48 34.702 N/123 11.356 W

End Lat/Long: 48 34.813 N/123 12.018 W

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Encounter Summary:

The team had all settled in back on shore after their earlier encounter with the T34s and T37s (see Encounter 57). At 19:30, both Charli and Sara saw a single male killer whale on the Westside of San Juan Island, between San Juan County park and the Center for Whale Research. Both recognized that the whale had a large finger on its left saddle, a distinctly resident killer whale feature. They contacted Michael, and the team met at Snug just a few minute later, getting off the dock at 19:54.

The team headed out to Mitchell Bay, initially heading down island before seeing blows to the north, off the south side of Henry Island. The team started their encounter at 20:00. They found two whales, a young male and a juvenile, that they initially could not identify in the dark. In front of this pair was an adult female with an open saddle patch on her left side. The team soon realized that these whales were L108, L117, and L54, the remaining members of the L54 matriline, and that the large male seen off the west side was likely L88, a whale who consistently travels with them.

L54 occasionally tailslapped as she dove, while the two young males socialized and moved a bit further west. The team stayed with L54 for a while, keeping her on their starboard, while the two young males eventually made their way to the team’s port side. Flora spotted a large fin further off shore, presumably L88. Michael was initially unsure about whether the team could safely get to him out in the strait as the light was fading. However, he soon surfaced only a few hundred yards further out than the team, so they made their way to him. Photographs of his right side confirmed that it was L88. He surfaced slowly and frequently, apparently quite relaxed. The team stayed with him for a few minutes, before calling the encounter and heading back to the dock at 20:22.

The team got up early the next morning to search the area for the L54s, along with SR3 and UW research vessels, but despite a large coordinated search no one was able to relocate them the next day.