Encounter # 39 • July 29 • Superpod!

Platform: Orca
Departed Snug Harbor: 12:18 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 12:40 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 29.442N
Start Long: 123° 09.291 W
End Encounter: 8:50 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 36.55 N
End Long: 123° 12.55 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 9:10 p.m.

Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Erin Heydenreich and Emma Foster

We encountered mixed groups of J's ,K's and L's milling in tight groups two miles off Hannah Heights. The whales were close in shore for about an hour and then started moving off shore just south of False bay. We observed a lot of milling and socializing behavior. J38 rolled over in front of the boat and has been confirmed male. The whales were spread out in groups and non directional. At 3:45 p.m. the whales made a turn back toward the south end of San Juan Island. They continued traveling up island in spread out groups. The encounter ended just after sunset a mile north of Kellett Bluff.