EncDate: 11/02/22 

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 12

ObservBegin: 10:20 AM

ObservEnd: 11:08 AM

Vessel: Mike 1

Staff: Mark Malleson

Other Observers: Joe Zelwietro

Pods: J

LocationDescr: Becher Bay

Start Latitude: 48 18.40

Start Longitude: 123 36.12

End Latitude: 48 18.50

End Longitude: 123 33.58

 

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe were preparing to haul Mike 1 for maintenance when word came in of an eastbound group of killer whales offshore of Sooke. They revised the plan and departed Victoria at 0940 on a heading for Race Pass. They were approaching Becher Bay when the sun lit up a series of blows against the Beechey Head shoreline, and started the encounter at 1020.  
The animals were travelling steadily east, but moving slowly over the ground against the start of the ebb current, and in a tight group of 20-25 individuals spread laterally. They were quickly identified as members of J pod when Mark picked J26’s notably wavy fin out of the crowd. The whales dove as Mike 1 neared, but over the next few breath sequences they were able to confirm each member of the pod. As the animals approached Church Rock they angled into shore, and the J16s pulled ahead slightly, while J19 led the rest toward Race Pass.
The Mike 1 crew ended the encounter at 1108, and slipped through the narrow passage between Bentinck and Vancouver Islands for Victoria as the whales eased into Race Passage. J pod was last seen travelling west in Harney Channel on January 26th by Dave and Katie (see Encounter #09), and they were thought to have left the area for the Juan de Fuca Strait shortly thereafter.