Whales on a windy day
Photo by Dave Ellifrit


K16 and company
Photo by Debbie Sharpe

Encounter #2 �January 7 �J's, K's and L87 in Haro Strait

Departed Snug Harbor: 12:14
Begin Enc: 12:22
Start Lat: 48 33.99N
Start Long: 123 11.72W
End Enc: 14:20
End Lat: 48 26.80N
End Long: 123 11.32W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 14:54

Observers: Dave Ellifrit and Debbie Sharpe

On a rare clear and sunny day in January, vocalizations from the Southern Residents could be heard on the OrcaSound hydrophone. The whales were widely spread in Haro Strait. Under rough sea conditions, it was difficult to photograh all the whales present. We observed members of J's, K's, and L87. In general, the whales were moving in a SW direction, but each group seemed to be zig-zagging as they made their way toward Victoria. By the end of the encounter, however, the smaller groups joined up and we were able to get a couple group shots before they departed. The whales were left halfway between San Juan and Victoria, just over the Canadian border.

These photos were taken under whale watch guidelines.