T046s

Nov. 16
Had the T046's this afternoon east bound along the shoreline of Vancouver Island west of Race Rocks. Strong south-west winds and heavy rain made for a brief encounter.
Mark Malleson, Victoria B.C.

Nov. 16
I am reporting the sighting of 6 or perhaps 7 Orca on Monday November 16, 2009 about 1/2 mile NNE of Race Rocks, British Columbia. The Orca were all female with 1 yearling calf. When first contacted the Orca were swirling in a feeding pattern but I did not see any sign of mammals on the surface so I am assuming these animals were residents.
The Orca stayed in one area and then moved away at a high rate of speed (~10 NMPH) moving in dolphin fashion rather than their normal movement. After moving for about 5 minutes they again swirled for several minutes and then moved away again and again at a high rate of speed. Direction of movement was NNE towards Constance Bank but we did not follow them that far.
Contact time was 1510 - 1530. We were in pouring rain the entire 20 minutes we were with the Orca. Surface was choppy with occasional whitecaps. Saw 3 spy hops. No photographs were taken.
And an update:
Yesterday (November 16) I reported contacting 6 or 7 Orcas NNE of Race Rocks, Victoria. I speculated that these were resident Orcas. In conversation with another driver today I was informed that they were only 5 Orcas and they were the T46 pod. The other driver had been with this pod earlier in the day as they moved east from Beacher Bay. He left the Orcas as they entered Race Passage as this is a no-go area for whale watching boats. I had the good fortune to contact the pod as they came out the other side of Race Passage. Sincerely,
Submitted by James Cosgrove, M.Sc., Driver/Biologist of Fastide, SpringTide Whale Watching, Victoria, B.C.