EncDate: 13/05/22 

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 23

ObservBegin: 12:27 PM

ObservEnd: 02:20 PM

Vessel: Orcinus

Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers: Mia Lybkaer Kronborg Nielsen

Pods: Transients

LocationDescr: San Juan Channel

Start Latitude: 48 32.55

Start Longitude: 122 58.10

End Latitude: 48 29.84

End Longitude: 122 57.82

 

EncSummary:

After hearing over the radio about a pair of male killer whales being found near Point Caution, we headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1147. We got on scene at 1227 with the two whales being T87 and T124C near Turn Island’s eastern shoreline. A single sea otter was seen on the west side of Turn Rock. T87 and T124C pointed south along the east side of Turn Island for a few series of surfacings and we were able to get one brief photo-ID pass. The pair then turned southeast and traveled slowly toward the Lopez Island shoreline. Michael and Mia got the drone up and we followed the two whales from a distance. When T87 and T124C were about a half mile off the Lopez shoreline, they turned south down San Juan Channel. We left the pair at 1420 off Rock Point on Lopez Island as they turned south-southwest toward Cape San Juan.