EncDate*:29/04/23 

EncSeq*:1

Enc#*:15

ObservBegin:12:28 PM

ObservEnd:02:30 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

Staff:Dave Ellifrit

Pods:J

LocationDescr:San Juan Channel

Start Latitude:48 28.94

Start Longitude:122 57.35

End Latitude:48 28.23

End Longitude:122 57.64

EncSummary:Dave received a call from Lodie saying that her neighbor was seeing a few orcas off of Eagle Point. There was also a report of J pod off Fisherman Bay in San Juan Channel. Dave then headed down to the boat and left Snug Harbor in “Orcinus” at 1120. Dave decided to head down the west side of San Juan Island first to see if he could find the whales off Eagle Point. Haro Strait was a little breezy and no whales were found on the way down so “Orcinus” headed through Cattle Pass and up San Juan Channel. J pod was still a little south of Fisherman Bay and the encounter began at 1228. The J11s, J14s, J17s, and J19s were in a tight group moving slowly south. Since J pod appeared to be resting and were not arching enough for good ID photos, Dave stayed for three series of surfacings to make sure all were photographed before deciding to go look for the remaining whales. The J16s were likely the whales seen off Eagle Pt. and they were still out there somewhere in southern Haro Strait.
“Orcinus” headed back out of Cattle Pass and searched southwest past Salmon Bank. The seas were a bit lumpy which made sighting things difficult but Dave slogged on to about halfway between Salmon and Hein banks before heading back toward South Beach. After not finding anything, Dave returned to the J pod whales in San Juan Channel by about 1350. J pod had split up some more with the smaller group near Harbor Rock off Cape San Juan. This was the J14s and the J22s, who had shown up from somewhere. The J14s and J22s began some rather intense milling a little east of Harbor Rock. It was unclear whether they were fishing or something else was going on but they eventually moved around Cape San Juan toward Cattle Pass. While this group was milling, the J11s, J17s, and J19s had started coming back from a little ways to the north. They arrived to the same area and, after surfacing from a long dive, also began milling. This was a more relaxed and indecisive milling with several whales briefly logging at the surface. The whales became non-directional and milled about for several series of surfacings. Finally, after a long dive, they committed south and all came up together pointed south out of the pass. The encounter ended there at 1430. After “Orcinus” had left, it was reported that the J16s had shown up off Whale Rock.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 21238/ DFO SARA 388