EncDate: 23/12/21

EncSeq: 2

Enc#: 91

ObservBegin: 03:21 PM

ObservEnd: 03:28 PM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff: Mark Malleson

Other Observers: Joe Zelwietro, Eric Eisenhardt

Pods:Transients

LocationDescr: Albert Head

Start Latitude: 48 20.91

Start Longitude: 123 26.35

End Latitude: 48 21.41

End Longitude: 123 26.91

EncSummary:Upon departing T251 (see Encounter #90), Mark noticed that he had missed an earlier call from a friend on shore in Victoria, likely to report separate sighting. It turned out that roughly an hour prior two male killer whales had been seen exiting Enterprise Channel and heading west along the Victoria waterfront. Gord Rowles soon picked them up from his Victoria condo, and was able to help the Mike 1 crew zero in as they headed home. Some days it takes a village!
At 1521, Mark and Joe identified T049A2 and T049C as the southwest-bound duo. They were travelling side-by-side from the VH buoy for Race Rocks. Just prior, the trio on Mike 1 had paused to document a pair of humpbacks travelling a reciprocal course to the bulls, and as both species dove it appeared that they were on a collision course. When the T049 pair surfaced from their dive it seemed likely that they had surfaced prematurely due to a close (underwater) pass to the humpbacks. With the whales apparently committed to continuing their circuit – the same pair was seen travelling the same path less than a week prior, on December 17th – the encounter was ended at 1528 and the guys continued into the harbour.