EncDate:31/08/23 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:47

ObservBegin:02:05 PM

ObservEnd:03:24 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

Staff:Dave Ellifrit

Other Observers:Alyssa Kelley, Molly Henling

Pods:Transients

LocationDescr:western Spieden Channel and Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 37.33

Start Longitude:123 09.98

End Latitude:48 38.14

End Longitude:123 13.46

 

EncSummary:

The team was working in the office when we heard over the radio that a group of whales identified as the T59s were found heading west in Spieden Channel. Since the T59s were not a group that gets commonly seen around our area, and it had turned into a beautiful day, we drove down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at about 1355. We headed north through Mosquito Pass and got on scene right at Barren Island at 1405. A couple minutes later, T59 and a medium sized juvenile (later ID’d as T59A4) surfaced just east of the northwestern entrance to Roche Harbor. Shortly afterwards, another pair of whales (later ID’d as T59A2 and T23D3) surfaced about 200 yards to the north of the other two whales. All whales were pointed west. After another long dive, one of the pairs came up near McCracken Point and aimed for the gap between the point and Battleship Island. The two whales that had pointed southwest turned around and joined the other pair on the east side of Battleship. The group then moved north around the east side of the island and then pointed west into Haro Strait. Several minutes later, all four whales began milling non-directionally about a half mile northwest of Battleship. T59A2 spyhopped twice as the whales appeared to be feeding on something. There were not many gulls in the area but we saw a least one swoop down and pick up one small bit of blubber. After the whales were done feeding, they began traveling west in a tight group. They gave us several good passes and we ended the encounter at 1524 about two miles west of Battleship Island.

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