CWR encounter #43-2 • Js and Ls

EncSummary: Mark and Joe had let us know that they were out on J pod and a part of L pod as the whales were coming in the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Encounter 43-1). They reported that L91 was traveling with a new calf. Eager to get the drone over some SRs and see the new calf, the SJI team headed to the boat once Mark and Joe went home, and after the whales had reached Discovery Island. We left Snug Harbor at 1827 and headed down the west side of SJI, splitting the difference between the west side and Beaumont Shoal.

We sighted our first whales halfway between the Beaumont Shoal buoy and Pile Point, and the encounter began at 1847. The first group we got on was the J19s, and they were traveling north fast, with J19 in the lead, with J41 and her kids behind in a tight group. To the south of them, the J40s and a few other random spread-out whales were traveling quickly towards the north end of False Bay. Offshore, we saw J38 and the L55s all spread out west to east as they headed north off Hannah Heights. By the time we had made it to Bellevue Point, the J19s and a few others, including J22, J39, and the J31s, were near the shoreline. J45 and L106 were socializing with one another further offshore. Even further offshore than these two, we finally caught a glimpse of L91 and the new calf. L91, L122, the new calf were traveling quickly north in a loose group. The calf (L130) appeared healthy and active. It had filled out, and the saddle was still visible, so we estimate the calf was between one and three months old. The calf was traveling with L91, but it was also interacting with L122, who is now almost sprouting. Once we had documented the calf, we moved inshore and found L115 by himself in Mitchell Bay. The J31s were near the rocks at the south end of Kellett, and the L72s were behind them. The L72s also headed north quickly while near the shoreline of Kellett Bluff. The L82s were following the L72s in another loose twosome. Off north Henry Island, we found L83 and L110 traveling together. Offshore of these two were other small loose groups spread out from one another, including the J40s and J46, the J37s, J44, and J53, and the J16s. J45 and L106 were still socializing with one another off north Henry. We ended the encounter at 2050 off north Henry Island with the J37s heading north a little offshore of the J16s.