EncDate:23/07/22 

EncSeq:2

Enc#:42

ObservBegin:04:40 PM

ObservEnd:05:50 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

Staff:Dave Ellifrit

Other Observers:Stewart MacIntyre

Pods:J

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 37.92

Start Longitude:123 11.40

End Latitude:48 35.00

End Longitude:123 12.02

 

EncSummary:

After receiving reports of J pod coming down near Stewart Island, the team headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1620. We arrived on scene at 1640 west of Spieden Island. J pod was very spread out and, after seeing J16 plunge south to the east of us, we had a hard time at first finding any other whales. We eventually saw a group to the southwest of where we saw J16. This group, including J35, J36, J42, J46, J53, and J57, was tight together and active with a lot of tactile and rolling behavior as they headed south. J26 showed up to the northwest of the group and turned inshore toward them. He followed the active group briefly before eventually passing them to the east near Kellett Bluff. The group had loosened up some but was still active. Both J57 and J53 breached several times. As these whales passed south off the north end of Mitchell Bay, we stayed near the south end of Kellett Bluff to catch the stragglers as they went by. J38 foraged briefly off the bluff while J22 passed by offshore of him. J31, J56, and J56 were loosely spread out as they passed us closer to the rocks at Kellett. We ended the encounter at 1750 after these last three whales passed us at the north end of Mitchell Bay.