EncDate:01/01/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:01

ObservBegin:11:10 AM

ObservEnd:11:50 AM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods: Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:Muir Creek

EncSummary:

Mark and Joe decided to ring in the New Year with a survey of the Juan de Fuca, departing Victoria just before 1000 on the first day of the year. They were abeam Race Pass when they received a report of killer whales being seen from shore near Sheringham Point. They turned through the Pass and reached Otter Point less than a half hour later, though with the moderate outflow winds they found themselves in building 2’ seas and spotting was not easy. After about ten minutes of careful scanning while idling west, they finally spied a large bull killer whale burst through the waves just offshore of them.
They angled out to meet the incoming whales, and when they surfaced for their next breath cycle, the CWR team quickly identified the T060 matriline of Bigg’s killer whales! The T060s are regular visitors to the Salish Sea throughout late summer and autumn, and usually return to the area early in the new year. The four animals – T060 and her offspring T060C, T060F and T060G – were grouped tightly and travelling northeast, toward Otter Point. They paused very briefly to nab an unassuming small mammal, perhaps a harbour seal, carrying on eastward after a spyhop from the matriarch and 45-second prey-share.
The whales quickened their pace, making over seven knots into the head seas, and the guys saw them to Otter Point before ending the encounter and heading offshore and east to follow up a new report of westbound killer whales near Constance Bank.
Note: T060 has two other living offspring, T060D and T060E, but they have dispersed from the matriline. They still travel with one another, but are rarely seen with the rest of the T060s anymore and were not present today.

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