2021 Encounters

EncDate: 21/11/21

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 88

ObservBegin: 10:23 AM

ObservEnd: 01:15 PM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff: Mark Malleson

Other Observers: Joe Zelwietro, Brendon Bissonnette

Pods: J and K Pod

LocationDescr: SW Race Rocks

Start Latitude: 48 15.8

Start Longitude: 123 38.2

End Latitude: 48 15.65

End Longitude: 123 30.45

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe had plans to depart Victoria early Sunday morning for a survey of the central Juan de Fuca, as the past week had seen several groups of both resident and Bigg’s killer whales enter the area. They were joined by Brendon at the boat and departed Victoria at 0915.
The three stopped to document the presence of two humpback whales just southwest of Race Rocks before continuing west along the traffic lanes of the Juan de Fuca. As they were coming up to speed, Mark spotted a distant splash on the horizon before he and Joe spotted the unmistakable profile of a male killer whale dorsal fin. Several more fins appeared and the crew slowed to begin the encounter at 1023 at 48° 15.80 ’ N / 123° 38.20 ’ W, south of Beechey Head.
The whales were spread across at least a mile north-south, and apparently travelling east. Southern Residents were shortly confirmed with photos of the J14s travelling loosely together. J35 was travelling alone to the north of the group, but her yearling J57 was found just a few hundred meters southeast of her, travelling exuberantly with J51 and company. J41 was travelling just east of them with her mother, J19. Over the next hour, all members of J pod were identified but J44, who was likely present but eluded detection in the 2.0 nautical mile spread of long-diving residents.
As they were waiting for an opportunity to photo-ID J26 and end the encounter, Joe spotted several more killer whales approximately 1.5 nm northwest of their location. As the spread of Js was to the southeast, and he was seeing at least two additional bulls, the crew assumed new whales. Sure enough, after confirming J26, Mike1 shifted roughly 1.0 nm north-northwest to find several members of K pod shadowing the Js past Whirl Bay. These whales were also well spread, but the guys were able to pick out many of the K13s and some K14s, who were shortly followed by K26 and K36. Neither K16 nor K35 were spotted, and it is possible that they were present in the large spread or travelling apart from the rest of K pod for the moment. The encounter ended at 1315 at 48° 15.65 ’ N / 123° 30.45 ’ W as the whales continued east, south of Rosedale Rock, only occasionally pausing to forage as they approached Race Rocks.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 21238/ DFO SARA 388