Jeff LaMarche called Orca Network at 11:20 am to report ~ 6 Transient orcas 2.5 miles SE of East Sooke Park, S. Vancouver Island, taking a Steller Sea Lion. So far, ID's included 4 T30's, T172 & possibly T38. Mark Malleson was with them, hopefully we'll have more photos for tomorrow's report!
April 7
At about 11 AM Tuesday, April 7, While working as Lighthouse Keepers for a week at New Dungeness Spit Lighthouse, Karla Harrison saw a group of four orcas in Dungeness Bay at approximately N48.17974 W123.10975 (datum is that used by NASA's Worldwind. I've been trying to find it without success), directly south of the lighthouse and about 100 yards off the beach. They were moving West when first seen, but turned back to the east after rolling, blowing and displaying their dorsal fins several times. Several of us observed them from the lighthouse tower and Karla took the appended pictures with a Canon Powershot 590 camera. I thought they might be useful in identifying the individuals. In the picture with the male's fin showing, the whale in front of him seems to have a white spot near the tip of her fin. They did not appear to be feeding. After turning to the east to leave the bay and blowing three or four times, they were not seen again. Apparently they moved away without surfacing. After the whales left, we saw two groups of harbor seals quite close to shore, and wondered if they were taking refuge from the orcas, but the latter were not seen. I would appreciate hearing from you if you are able to identify individuals.
Mike Marsh
We forwarded the photos sent with this report on to researchers, and heard this back from Mark Malleson:
My guess is T14 with the T49A's as they were headed that direction last night. The fin shape is right for T14.
Mark Malleson, Victoria B.C.
Transient Orcas
T30, 30B, 30C and T172
E. Sooke Park,
S. Vancouver Island B.C.
April 7, 2009
Photo by Mark Malleson
T30 leaping during
Steller sea lion attack
SE of E.Sooke Park,
Vancouver Island, B.C.
April 7, 2009
Photo by Mark Malleson
April 7 w/Correction
The morning departure out of Victoria started out as any other normal wildlife tour, but that all changed at 1115 hrs. when I lucked out and found a small group of very active Killer Whales a few miles Southwest of Race Rocks Lighthouse. Upon arrival to this very active group of Orcas, I noticed that there was a large Sea Lion in the water with the whales. Whales were ID'd as T30, T30A, T30B, T30C and T172, respectively. (did not include the possible T38 included in the last report). Our location at this point was 2.5 nm SW of Church Rk. (Offshore of East Sooke Park). The five Transients were lunging and thrashing around frantically at the surface trying to stun or knockout this large Steller Sea Lion. For 25 minutes the five whales continually rammed the poor guy from all directionsuntil the Sea Lion magically caught a huge stroke of luck. Somehow the Steller Sea Lion had managed to drift right into the path of a giant floating kelp bed which he immediately took refuge in. I stayed on scene for as long as possible to see what was going to happen to the Sea Lion. At 1215, I finally had to leave the area to head back to Victoria to pickup the afternoon trip. As I left the area, the whales were still circling the kelp bed, taunting the Sea Lion. I never did see the final outcome of the encounter and the only two boats that were on scene were Mallard and myself. Absolutely brilliant Transient encounter off of East Sooke Park. Magic !!
On the afternoon trip, the five whales had moved well to the East of Race Rocks and were all grouped up in traveling mode doing long dives of 5-8 minutes. We picked the whales up at 1530 hrs. 3.5 nm SE of Race Rocks and left them one hour later at 1635 hrs. headed Southwest 3.9 nm SW of Race Rocks Lighthouse.
Jeff Lamarche, Seafun Safaris
