New orca encounter by Center for Whale Research

||| Center for Whale Research |||

Dave was working in CWR’s photo-ID office when he heard over the radio that whales had been spotted near Eagle Point. Apparently, J pod had snuck in during the night and had been lost in the fog at the south end of Haro Strait for most of the morning.

Dave headed down to Snug Harbor and left in the boat around noon. “Orcinus” arrived on scene at about 1220 and soon got on some whales about 3/4s of a mile off Pile Point. J16, J19, J36, J37, and J49 briefly formed up in a tight group heading slowly down island. J49 was being very active and did several half breaches. Two other females were spread out inshore of this group. A few minutes later, J26 showed up out of nowhere and began chasing a salmon. The group broke up and began milling in the same area. J42 showed up, logged at the surface, and then rolled over to do a pec slap while blowing a raspberry.

About a half mile to the southeast of these whales, J39 was cruising north by himself. Further east and inshore of J39, J38 was chasing a salmon. J22 showed up, breached twice and then headed southeast. To the north and inshore of the J22s, J27 was heading slowly up island near Kanaka Bay before he turned abruptly and headed offshore. J35, J45 and others were foraging in a tide rip right off Pile Point. Several of the young J17s were in the area as well as the J31s and J42. J53 and J56 spent some time playing together.

As these whales approached Hannah Heights, Dave went offshore to briefly see J39 again before deciding to head north to find some of the leaders. A loose group of 4-5 whales were found off the County Park and this was the J41s, J37, and J40. Dave left this group as they were passing CWR and went back south and offshore to try to get a better shot of J22. Dave arrived in the right area only to discover that J22 and J38 had gone on a long dive and came up way inshore and heading south off Bellevue Point. Eventually, J38 arched nicely and gave a good right side shot but J22 was inshore of him and Dave gave up on them as they approached Lime Kiln.

The encounter would have ended there but there was still a group of whales between here and home. A tight group of the J19s, J35s, J40, and J45 were now heading south past CWR tight to the shoreline. The encounter ended there at 1540. All members of J pod were present and photographed. There was lots of foraging and fish chasing on the west side today so let’s hope the whales are finding plenty to eat.