L pod returns to join J pod traveling north through Haro Strait,
June 13 2008

photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.

J's and L's travel in tight groups up the west side of San Juan Island.

photo by Astrid van Ginneken. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.

L72 and baby L105 going past Spieden Island.

photo by XXXX. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.

photo by Stewart Macintyre. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.

Two juveniles take a peek above the rough water in Haro Strait.

photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.

BREACH!.


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Encounter #16-1
June 13, 2008
J and L pod
Platform: Orca
Departed Snug Harbor: 2:39 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 3:15 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 28.990 N
Start Long: 123° 07.665 W
End Encounter: 7:00 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 40.190 N
End Long: 123° 13.760 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 7:30 p.m.
Observers: Astrid van Ginneken, Dave Ellifrit, Erin Heydenreich, and Stewart Macintyre

Center for whale Research staff responds to a call that J pod and possibly K pod are traveling with J pod east from Beaumont Schoal toward the west side of San Juan Island. The Center arrives on scene at 3:15 p.m. and confirms that some members of L pod are present along with all of J pod. No members of K pod were sighted. After milling off of Pile Point the whales grouped up and traveled North. The Center staff followed them up to Stewart Island. About fifty of L pod whales were present. The L 9 sub group, L 54 subgroup, L 2 subgroup, L 22 subgroup and L 12 were not seen or documented.

POSTED: 3:10 p.m. June 16, 2008