Transient orcas
T97 and T93
Haro Strait
Jan. 13, 2010
Photo by
Dave Ellifrit,
Center for Whale Ressearch
Jan. 13
Had Transient orcas T093 and T097 again on Jan 13th off Victoria headed east (see photo). At 1230 I got a tip from a fisherman on Constance Bank of a single bull killing a seal. At 1345 I found them south of Discovery Island headed east for Middle Bank. Thanks to Gord for keeping track of them with the Big Eyes.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales, Victoria, B.C.
Jan. 13
Here's a continuation of Mark's sighting (above). I received a call from Mark Malleson around 1315 today of transients off Seabird Pt. heading east. I arrived on scene at 1420 and joined Mark who had T93 and T97 still heading easterly. Mark left soon afterwards and I stayed with the pair for another hour as they continued east in the great wide open on a line between Seabird Pt. on Discovery Island and Iceberg Pt. on Lopez Is. Other than one brief period of milling around 1526 (I could not confirm a kill here), they kept heading east at a slow to medium pace. I left them at 1537, closer to Hein Bank than Salmon Bank pointed toward Iceberg Pt.
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research, San Juan Island
Jan. 13
I received a call from Mark Malleson around 13:15 on the 13th reporting transients heading east off Seabird Pt. on Discovery Island. I departed Snug Harbor at13:40 and arrived on scene at 1420 (48 23.93N 123 08.22W) several miles ESE of Seabird Pt. where Malleson had T93 and T97 (two transient bulls) heading easterly at a medium speed. Malleson left soon afterward and I continued on with the pair as they traveled on alternating between a slow and medium pace. There was a brief period of milling at 1526 (48 23.76N 123 01.62W) by both whales but I could not confirm a kill. The whales continued traveling easterly at a medium speed and I ended the encounter at 15:37 (48 23.84N 123 00.72W) a couple of miles NE of Hein Bank.
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
Click here for photos
