EncDate:15/06/23 

Enc#:02

ObservBegin:04:20 PM

ObservEnd:04:55 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

UAV ID:Columbia

Pilot:Michael Weiss

Operators:Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Darren Croft, Rachel John, Alyssa Kelley

Pods:Transients

IDsEncountered:T65A, T65A2, T65A3, T65A4, T65A6

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 33.37

Start Longitude:123 10.86

End Latitude:48 35.97

End Longitude:123 12.60

 

EncSummary:

The team learned about a group of whales making their way up the west side of San Juan Island in the mid afternoon, and at 16:10 got off the dock at Snug to attempt a drone encounter. The T65As were just a bit south of Snug when the team arrived on scene after a very short transit at 16:20.

The whales were making their way up island, with T65A2 separated from the other four whales (T65A5 was not present and is regularly seen with other groups of whales). They were taking long dives and were very difficult to follow as they made their way around Kellet Bluff.

The team finished one flight before getting north of Kellet and then attempted a second flight, however the wind began to pick up and the team decided it was prudent to end the encounter at 16:55.