EncDate:06/10/24 

EncSeq:3

Enc#:102

ObservBegin:05:32 PM

ObservEnd:06:03 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:Victor Foxtrot

Start Latitude:48 15.36

Start Longitude:123 33.62

End Latitude:48 14.44

End Longitude:123 33.50

 

EncSummary:

Upon departing the T123s (see Encounter #101), Mark and Joe were hoping to spot the Bigg’s initially reported off Sooke and now closer to Race Rocks. They finally reached the loosely grouped whales south of Race Rocks, near the VF buoy, and began their third encounter of the day at 1732.
They were quickly able to confirm that all members of the T046B1 and T099 matrilines were present along with T046C2, who has been spending much of her time alongside the T046B1s the past few years, for a total of nine killer whales.
The group was relaxed and playful, and the two youngest – T046B1C and T099E – were perhaps the most excitable, rolling and chasing one another often with T046B1A. The group was wholly non-directional, and save for a brief tide line inspection from T099B and T046C2, likely searching for seals, stuck more or less together as they weaved north, then south, then east, netting no movement over the sea floor.
With daylight fading and the whales showing no sign of imminent behaviour change, the guys ended the encounter at 1803 just west of the VF buoy and returned to Victoria.