K12 with new calf K43!
Photo by Dave Ellifrit


K21 bellyflop
Photo by Dave Ellifrit


Spy peep
Photo by Emma Foster


Breach with Mt. Baker in the background
Photo by Emma Foster

K42
Photo by Emma Foster

L41
Photo by Erin Heydenreich

K36
Photo by Erin Heydenreich

Spyhop
Photo by Ken Balcomb

K27
Photo by Ken Balcomb

Encounter # 30 • June 8 • K pod and L12's

Departed Snug Harbor: 5:27 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 6:01 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 21.56 N
Start Long: 123° 12.85 W
End Encounter: 7:37 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 23.60 N
End Long: 123° 04.53 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 8:10 p.m.

Observers: Ken Balcomb, Dave Ellifrit, Emma Foster and Erin Heydenreich

Vessel: Shachi

We received a report of K pod coming in from the Strait of Juan de Fuca around 3 p.m. We encountered K's and L 87 spread out in groups traveling east. The L12's came from the south west side of San Juan Island and met up with the K's around Middle Bank. We observed lots of milling, tactile behavior with lots of breaches, taillobs, and logging. All K pod whales were photographed and accounted for, including a new calf. The new calf, K43, was seen traveling with K12. We were also able to determine that K36 is a female. The encounter ended at 7:37 p.m. north of Middle bank. The whales continued to travel east in spread out groups. They reportedly turned around later and went back out the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Go to: News - New Calf in K pod for more information about K43.

These photos were taken under MMPA permit #532-1822and/or DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.