EncDate:26/06/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:61

ObservBegin:12:31 PM

ObservEnd:03:02 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Other Vessel:

Staff:Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Alondra Caro Ruiz, Taylor Redmond, Arlene Vargas, Rachel John

Pods:J

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 38.49

Start Longitude:123 13.73

End Latitude:48 29.22

End Longitude:123 06.83

 

EncSummary:

The team received reports that southern residents were in Boundary Pass, quickly making their way towards Turn Point. Wanting to see whether it was just J pod or if the L54s might still be with them, they decided to head out for a photo-ID survey. They mobilized and left the dock at 1215.

After passing Henry Island, the team soon saw their first blows. These first whales were the females of the J16 matriline: J16, J36, and J42. They porpoised south, travelling very fast. The team got quick proof of presence shots as they zoomed by, and then found their next group.

The team next found a single whale, J41, also porpoising south with purpose. Behind her was J19, who soon caught up and porpoised alongside her daughter. After a pass on these whales, the team moved to a whale they had spotted just behind this pair. There, they found J58, doing her best to keep up with the adults and also porpoising.

The team spotted a tall dorsal fin offshore. They went out into the middle of the strait where they found J39 on his own, keeping a slightly more leisurely pace. After a few shots of him, they moved inshore to a pair of whales hugging the Henry Island shoreline.

These next whales proved to be an interesting pairing of J51 and J40. These whales took a quick opportunity to look for fish off Kellet Bluff, but didn't appear to catch anything. Ahead of them, approaching San Juan County Park, we saw yet another tall dorsal fin, which proved to be J26 travelling on his own.

The team backtracked up the San Juan shoreline, where they found there biggest group of the day: J37 with her calf J59, J46, J31, and J22. These whales also travelled quickly south, but J59 took a few opportunities to breach as they travelled.

The team once again moved offshore to a group they had spotted while photographing the J pod females. They found two pairs, both engaged in vigorous social behavior. Closer to shore was J53 and J56, two young females who, despite not being very closely related, seem to have a very strong social bond. Offshore of them was J49 socializing with his uncle J45.

Even further off, the whales saw another tall fin on. Making their way out into the shipping lane, the team found J27 foraging on his own, but also generally moving south down the strait.

From where J27 was, the team couldn't see any other whales, but a quick chat with Straitwatch confirmed there was another group further inshore approaching Hannah Heights. The team putted that way, where they found J35 with her two sons, J47 and J57, moving leisurely through a tide rip.

The team could not see any whales further up island. They had found everyone in J pod but J38 and J44, and were fairly satisfied members of other pods were not present. With the day getting darker and wetter, and the whales spread out, they decided to call the encounter at 1526 and head back to Snug.