EncDate:09/11/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:119

ObservBegin:09:52 AM

ObservEnd:11:02 AM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Sara Hysong-Shimazu, Molly Henling, Monika Wieland Shields, Jason Shields

Pods:J

LocationDescr:Puget Sound

Start Latitude:47 49.81

Start Longitude:122 27.72

End Latitude:47 46.64

End Longitude:122 26.79

 

EncSummary:

The morning began with reports of J pod in the Possession Triangle again so the team left Shilshole Marina at about 0910 to head in that direction. We saw our first whales on the Kitsap Peninsula side of the channel and encounter began at 0952 about a mile or so northeast of Apple Cove Point. J pod was spread out in small groups and singles and heading south or southeast on the west side of the Sound. We had two loosely spread out groups within a few hundred yards of one another. Both groups were active and social. The western group was all of the youngest members of J pod playing around together - J53, J56, J57, J58, and J59. Multiple little whales breached repeatedly in all their excitement while charging around with one another.  
The eastern group was a few of the moms-J31, J35, and J37 plus J40 and J46. J47 and J49 were also on the periphery of this group but soon moved off to the southeast. These whales were all milling and socializing as they headed south through the Kingston-Edmonds ferry lanes. Other spread out individuals were to the west of us closer to the peninsula side. We saw J26, J27, and J44 plus one or two others over there-all spread out and foraging as they headed south. The weather was deteriorating and we were no longer able to fly the drone so we ended the encounter watching J38 chase a fish before he straightened out and resumed heading south. The encounter ended at 1102 about a mile and a half northeast of President Point.