EncDate: 26/01/22 

EncSeq: 1

Enc#: 09

ObservBegin: 02:05 PM

ObservEnd :03:50 PM

Vessel: Orcinus

Staff: Dave Ellifrit

Other Observers: Katie Jones

Pods: J

LocationDescr: Harney Channel

Start Latitude: 48 35.04

Start Longitude: 122 54.50

End Latitude: 48 35.81

End Longitude: 122 58.57

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EncSummary:

Dave was working in the CWR photo-ID office when he received a call from Mark relaying a report of J pod at the south end of Upright Channel. Dave then called Katie and they met down at Snug Harbor, leaving in the boat around 1315. “Orcinus” arrived on scene in eastern Harney Channel at 1405 to find J pod heading west in two tight groups. Most of J pod was in one large resting group closer to the Orcas Island shoreline while J38, J44, and J45 were rolling around and socializing together a few hundred yards to the southeast. Around 1445, just before coming around the point to the east of the Orcas Island ferry landing, the large group began waking up and spreading out. The J16s were the first to break away from the group and they traveled ahead of the others. There were lots of tail lobs from many individuals as the whales picked up a little speed. J44 had joined the larger group as they were beginning spread out while J38 and J45 continued to socialize on the outer periphery.
J pod spread out into groups and individuals as they passed the Orcas ferry landing and headed into West Sound. J27 followed a tight group that included J19, J22, J37, J39, and J41. There were two loosely spread groups a couple of hundred yards north of this group. These groups were playful and socializing. The larger of these two groups included J35, J40, J46, J57, and J58. The group about seventy five yards to the east of them was J49, J51, and one or two others rolling around together. These groups turned west and headed toward Pole Pass. Other whales were spread out deeper into West Sound and may have been foraging. We stayed with the whales near the mouth of West Sound that included J57 and J58 playing around with one another. Near the southwest corner of the mouth to West Sound several whales began logging and milling like they were waiting for the whales deeper in West Sound to come back out. We decided to end the encounter there at 1550. All members of J pod were present and photographed.