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EncDate:10/12/23 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:72

ObservBegin:01:21 PM

ObservEnd:02:45 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:Transients

LocationDescr:south of Jordan River/mid strait

Start Latitude:48 16.54

Start Longitude:124 00.33

End Latitude:48 15.91

End Longitude:123 57.62

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe departed Victoria for a survey of the Juan de Fuca, taking advantage of a break in the weather after the deluge that was Saturday. Turning offshore from Race Rocks, they aimed for Pillar Point in calm seas. About four nautical miles north of Low Point, on the Olympic coast, they spotted the first and second of nine humpbacks they would document throughout the day. Humpback whales have been plentiful throughout the central Juan de Fuca recently; between killer whale encounters, the Victoria CWR team has been able to document more than 25 unique individuals over the past week and a half, supporting the region’s long-term humpback population studies.
At 1315, they were abeam Pillar Point and quickly approaching a wall of misty rain, so decided to stop and scan before losing visibility and heading north toward Vancouver Island and the northeast. Quickly though, Mark spotted a reason for them to stay west a little longer! A mile or so northwest of the boat, he caught a glimpse of two male killer whales slowly moving into the mist. They approached the area carefully and began the encounter at 1321.
The males did not immediately reappear, but the first whales the guys saw were Bigg’s, T077D and T037A4 among them. Those two and several others appeared to be in the early stages of predation; sure enough, a young harbour seal soon appeared in their midst. T037A, T075A and T077 appeared from beneath and appeared to be doing the lion’s share of the work. The three matriarchs made short work of the small pinniped, taking it below for the last time at 1330. T037A3, T037A4 and T077E shared in the spoils, but were more playful than hungry. The prey-sharing was chaotic and lasted just a little longer than the short hunt. The team was able to get some updated photos of T037A4’s odd dorsal fin warp and enjoy the chorus of vocalizations that followed the hunt, audible above the surface!
Meanwhile, the bulls had resurfaced on the horizon to the south, and they appeared to actually be three animals. Mark and Joe angled that way, and by the time they arrived T075 had joined the others – T075A, T037A2 and T077C. It is unclear whether these animals had a simultaneous meal or simply did not join in the prey-sharing. T037A2 and T077C were particularly social throughout the encounter.
After some mingling, all of the whales began meandering east loosely abeam one another, though they made little way against the ebb current. T075 and T075A seemed the most efficient, aiming almost straight and swimming slowly; the bulk of the T037As and T077s were only slightly off the pace to the southwest, and T037A2 and T077C seemed interested only in each other as they zigged and zagged playfully between the others. Mark and Joe ended the encounter in the Separation Zone at 1445 with all 10 animals working slowly eastward, less than a quarter mile between the northern- and southern-most individuals.

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