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EncDate:16/09/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:96

ObservBegin:09:30 AM

ObservEnd:10:11 AM

Vessel:Orcinus

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Charli Grimes

Pods:L

IDsEncountered:L90, L128

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 28.59

Start Longitude:123 09.47

End Latitude:48 28.10

End Longitude:123 09.66

EncSummary:

The morning began with reports of what sounded like L90 and L128 being on the west side again, with the hope of others being there too. The team met at Snug Harbor and left on “Orcinus” at 0910. We got on scene at 0930 about a mile off Hannah Heights. L90 and L128 were tight together, as one would expect, and pointed slowly up Haro Strait. Despite early hopes of other whales being around, L90 and L128 were the only two SRs seen in the strait. The pair were near the border but not so close that we couldn’t get the drone up over them. We attempted one photo-ID pass but L90 turned away from us before we could even get within 200 hundred yards. It was clear she was not ready for anyone to be close yet, so we stopped trying and took proof of presence photos from a distance while we flew over them. We were able to get good enough shots with the drone to confirm a right eyepatch, should we need to. The calf was also seen nursing, which is good news. L90 and L128 turned northwest and neared the border so we landed the drone and ended the encounter at 1011.