EncDate:09/11/23 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:69

ObservBegin:02:58 PM

ObservEnd:03:59 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:George Hamilton

Pods:J, K

LocationDescr:south of Constance Bank

Start Latitude:48 18.15

Start Longitude:123 19.91

End Latitude:48 19.42

End Longitude:123 15.95

 

EncSummary:

Mark received a call at 1349 from Joe, who came across some Southern Resident killer whales southwest of Constance Bank while guiding a whale watch trip. He didn't confirm any IDs but felt that it may have been J pod spread out foraging with a potential easterly trend.

With the short window of light remaining in the day, Mark jumped into action and made his way to Mike 1, docked in Victoria Harbor. George Hamilton met him at the boat at 1430, and they headed off. Knowing that they would be limited in time for the encounter with the diminishing daylight, Mark had earlier called Gord Rowles to track the group from his 23rd-floor perch so the Mike 1 crew would not waste any time relocating the group.

Within 15 minutes of departing Victoria Harbor, Gord put them on the lead animals approaching the southern edge of Constance Bank heading east. 
The first animal they came across was J40, leading the charge with J37 close behind. Mark and George worked as efficiently as possible with the large spread to get as many animals confirmed as possible. The next pair they encountered slightly south and west of the two lead animals was J38 along with K42. Mark was shocked at how big K42 had gotten since the last time he saw him in July near Swiftsure Bank! 

They found K26 close by on his own before they had to work their way to the south close to a mile before they came across any others. J47 was the first whale they came across, along with J35 and J57. The animals to the south appeared to be tracking northeast towards the lead animals they were with previously. 
The first decent-sized group they came across included K16, K22 with three bulls, K33, K35 and K37. K20 and K45 were amongst others that soon joined as the whales started grouping up. J27 was alone shadowing this group
but soon joined in. 

It appeared that the group was on a line for Middle Bank. The wind was starting to build, and the light was fading, so unfortunately, Mark felt it was time to end the encounter at 1559 despite knowing that the entire J and K pods would likely be together in the next 30 minutes and they could have cleaned them up.

*note- Mark got confirmation from Rachelle Hayden/Salish Sea Orca Squad that at least J pod went northeast through Active Pass the following morning at 0915.

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