EncDate:17/08/23 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:44

ObservBegin:08:55 AM

ObservEnd:10:40 AM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:J, K, L

LocationDescr:Whirl Bay

Start Latitude:48 18.281

Start Longitude:123 35.604

End Latitude:48 18.378

End Longitude:123 32.490

 

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe departed Victoria at 0820 and headed southwest for Race Passage and reports of eastbound killer whales near East Sooke. They paused for a scan at the west entrance to the Pass, but feeling the strong ebb current decided it was unlikely that the animals had made it so far, and continued west.
Shortly after they had accelerated and moved offshore of the sport fishing fleet around Whirl Bay and Church Point, they spotted a small cluster of killer whale spouts against the Bedford Islands. They slowed and began the encounter at 0855. With the number of whales visible, the guys thought it likely that the Southern Residents were making their long-awaited return to the Salish Sea. Sure enough, sprouting male K42 was the first individual photographed, apparently socializing with J47 and another individual. Mark and Joe made their way to a mix of J and L pod which seemed to be the northeastern-most group of inbound animals. The whales passed through the kelp at Church Rock before stalling in Whirl Bay to socialize. Several spyhops and breaches ensued, before they eventually collected themselves and carried on east toward Christopher Point. Individuals present included many or all of the J14s, J16s, J17s, J22s and L55s.
Two large, tight groups trailed them offshore, with scattered individuals and pairs spread out in between. Mark and Joe worked their way southwest, documenting the bulk of K pod along the way – including young K45 and mother K20 – before meeting the southernmost group, with included the extended L12 subgroup, L72 and L105, and L83 and L110. L85 was travelling alongside L22, as he had been each time they were encountered off the outer Washington Coast in July, and both of the youngest L pod calves were present and energetic.
The whales were now approaching Race Rocks, and the bulk of the spread Ks had joined most of J pod at the northwest edge of the park, while the large L12-plus group aimed straight into the main channel inside Race Rocks. They turned out of the strong current just before reaching Great Race Rock and passed through the park near North Race Rocks instead (i.e. northeast bound for Victoria).
Mark and Joe sat idle in Race Pass as the whales pushed past the reserve, documenting the trailing J11s and J19s just ahead of L87, who was in turn just ahead of the remaining L4s (L86s, L55). They ended the encounter there at 1040, having confirmed the presence of 55-60 individuals, including K37, the only one missing from CWR’s recent West Coast survey. As members of each matriline but the L54s were observed, it seems likely that 71 of 75 living Southern Residents entered the Salish Sea that morning!