— from Center for Whale Research —
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Dave was in the photo-ID office when he heard over the radio that “J1” had found killer whales in Spieden Channel. Since the boat needed topping off with fuel anyway, he decided to go take a quick look. Dave then headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat at 1300.
“Orcinus” arrived on scene at 1320 as the whales were traveling northwest along the Stuart Island shoreline under Tiptop Hill. The three whales were T65A2, T137A, and T137B and they were taking 6-7 minute long dives as they headed slowly up the Stuart Island shoreline. They milled briefly in the little cove just south of Turn Point before moving on.
The trio split at Turn Point with T137A turning east while T65A2 and T137B continued north toward Swanson Channel for one series of surfacings. Then, after another lengthy long dive, all three came up together about a mile north of Turn Point. They milled in the same area for two series of surfacings before turning north toward the Pender Bluffs and crossing the border. The encounter ended there at 1405.
