EncDate: 06/09/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 64

ObservBegin: 11:36 AM

ObservEnd: 02:21 PM

Vessel: Orcinus

Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers: Charli Grimes

Pods: J

LocationDescr: Haro Strait

Start Latitude: 48 26.46

Start Longitude: 123 02.49

End Latitude: 48 29.48

End Longitude: 123 07.10

​

EncSummary:

Despite some fog in the area, we had been getting reports that J pod was off the west side of San Juan Island since early in the morning. After giving some of the fog a chance to burn off, Michael, Charli, and Dave met down at Snug Harbor and left in the boat a little after 1100. We arrived on scene at 1136 about one and a half to two miles due south of Eagle Point.
The whales were spread out in singles and small groups and were all generally heading up Haro Strait. The first whales we saw were a loose group that contained all the J19s plus J42 and J53. These whales looked like they may have been chasing a fish as we were arriving. J53 broke off and left while the other five whales formed a bit tighter group while heading due north inshore toward Eagle Point. This group was acting social and there was some tactile behavior going on. We left them and headed south and found J26 traveling up island by himself off American Camp. After leaving J26, we found J38 chasing a salmon south of False Bay. South of J38, we found J44, J47, and J49 in a group together. These three were being social, tactile, and non-directional. About a quarter mile to the south and offshore of this threesome, we found another group that included the J31s (minus J51), J35s (minus J47), J40, J46, and J53. This group was loosely spread and seemed to be actively engaged in chasing fish. Both J31 and J35 drifted off in opposite directions although they stayed in the general area and occasionally drifted back nearer to the action.

In an effort to find some of the J pod whales we had not seen yet that day, we then headed further south. Even though we scanned with binoculars, we could only find J45 foraging by himself down there. We left him pointed southeast and headed back north toward False Bay. We saw J40 again and then J22 and J38 off False Bay. J22 and J38 were spread out, foraging and non-directional. North of these two, we saw J26 again as he headed northerly up island and inshore. We ended the encounter at 1421 with J26 about a quarter mile southwest of Edwards Point.