EncDate:06/10/24 

EncSeq:2

Enc#*:101

ObservBegin:03:33 PM

ObservEnd:04:27 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:Sombrio Point

Start Latitude:48 23.36

Start Longitude:124 15.03

End Latitude:48 24.20

End Longitude:124 12.90

 

EncSummary:

Upon departing the SRKW at the west entrance (see Encounter 100), Mark and Joe turned east, back into the western Juan de Fuca with the intention of stopping off at a group of Bigg’s killer whales near Sooke, recently reported by the commercial whale-watch fleet. Instead, they were interrupted by more killer whales just southeast of Sombrio Point!
They first spotted a female and juvenile, but as they approached to capture some ID photos a large male appeared, closer. His distinct, familiar fin gave him away as T123A, and the others proved to be his mother and younger sister, T123 and T123C. T123D was not far, and the group soon came together, travelling northwest for Sombrio Point. As the whales dove, Mark spotted a bull elephant seal not far inshore of the Bigg’s, and wondered if he could be their target. They passed him by though, and after a few more moments of westward travel the matriline put the brakes on and turned east, easing further into the Strait.
The guys watched as young T123D toyed with a common murre, pulling it beneath the surface for a few moments before leaving the battered bird at the surface and carrying on her easterly path. Murres are often unfortunate victims of assaults from young Bigg’s killer whales, perhaps in play, perhaps as practice for hunting larger mammals. The entire T046 matriline, of which the T123s are assumed to be a part, has developed quite a reputation for this behaviour.
T123D and her kin continued east, spread over approximately half a nautical mile, and the CWR team ended the encounter to continue home. This is the T123s’ first visitation to the region since spending much of June in the Strait of Georgia.