EncDate:20/09/22 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:60

ObservBegin:02:20 PM

ObservEnd:03:00 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:Transients

LocationDescr:Port of San Juan

Start Latitude:48 31.26

Start Longitude:124 29.25

End Latitude:48 32.20

End Longitude:124 32.96

 

EncSummary:

Day one of the CWR’s annual survey from Port Renfrew got off to a great start, when Mark came across a pair of westbound Bigg’s killer whales just west of Sombrio Point, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, while delivering Mike 1 to Port Renfrew. He was able to document T060C and T002B travelling together, and while he did not find the remainder of the T060s, knew they were likely near after coming across a large slick indicative of recent predation just ahead of the two killer whales. He continued to Port Renfrew to meet Joe, and they topped up the fuel before heading back out into the western Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Departing Port San Juan, the trio (Fin included) set out offshore and steered straight to a few spouts, which were found to be the remaining three members of the T060s! T060 and her two youngest, T060F and T060G were westbound in a tight group, though T060F occasionally moved off from the other two for a breath sequence or two before rejoining. They made quick work of (likely) a harbour seal south of Cullite Cove, before continuing on their westerly track.  
Having documented the expected remainder of the T060 matriline (males T060D and T060E have dispersed from the group for the time being) Mark and Joe decided to idle east for a bit to see if they could determine how far astern the original pair may be, and soon spotted them just under two miles behind the three. They were moving quickly west, perhaps to catch their cohorts. The team ended the encounter after collecting left-side ID photos of both T002B and T060C, at 1500 ~ 1nm south of Camper Creek.