L110 with mom L83
Photo by Stefan Jacobs


L115 and mom L47
Photo by Astrid van Ginneken


L118
Photo by Ken Balcomb


L22 Spyhop
Photo by Dave Ellifrit

L41
Photo by Gail Richard

L89
Photo by Erin Heydenreich

Encounter # 39 • July 6 • L's and K's

Vessel Orca:
Departed Snug Harbor: 7:50 a.m.
Begin Encounter: 10:05 a.m.
Start Lat: 48° 29.088 N
Start Long: 123° 07.220 W
End Encounter: 1:30 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 25.397N
End Long: 122° 49.990 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 2:30 p.m.

Observers:
Vessel Orca: Dave Ellifrit, Erin Heydenreich, Astrid van Ginneken and Stefan Jacobs
Vessel Shachi: Ken Balcomb and Gail Richard

After leaving the J's and K13's off Stuart Island, we headed south and encountered L's and the rest of the Ks spread out off False Bay. Ken was already on scene in Shachi. The whales were traveling southeast. We encountered most of the L's and the rest of the K's. This was our first encounter with several of the L pod sub groups. The only L's we did not see were the L2's. the L54's and the L9's. However these whales were photographed in February and we have no reason for being concerned that there were not present this day. The encounter ended 1 half mile off Davidson Rock at the south end of Lopez Island. The whales were still spread out or tin tight groups heading east.

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