EncDate:02/11/24 

EncSeq:2

Enc#:112

ObservBegin:03:33 PM

ObservEnd:04:15 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Molly Henling, Monika Wieland Shields, Jason Shields

Pods:L

LocationDescr:Camano Head

Start Latitude:48 04.20

Start Longitude:122 21.08

End Latitude:48 02.96

End Longitude:122 21.60

 

EncSummary:

After we left J and K pods, we headed down to Shilshole Marina. We checked into our boat slip, picked up Monika, Jason, and Molly, then topped off at the fuel dock, and headed back out to go up to L pod in Saratoga Passage around 1340. We found L pod heading north, mid-channel, at the bottom of Port Susan and the encounter started at 1533. L pod was mostly in one tight group with the exception of one male and one sprouter who were on the periphery of the group and appeared to be socializing with one another. L pod soon turned around and headed southwest towards Camano Head. They were briefly heading west right off Camano Head before they started milling. The whales were pointed south, but were still milling and not really going anywhere, when we ended the encounter at 1615 due to failing light, poor water visibility for the drone, and the fact that the whales were not saying anything on the hydrophones.