Encounter 27 - October 20, 2021

Here is our next exciting sighting report!
What an INCREDIBLE day on October 20th! We observed two orcas on board with Monterey Bay Whale Watch! It was reported on the radio that the two orcas, who we identified as CA136 (female) and CA179 (male), popped up in the middle of a feeding group of humpback whales and sea lions. For several minutes, the orcas and humpback whales interacted with one another (report). The orcas did reportedly hunt and successfully kill a sea lion. Once we got to the sighting, we watched the orcas harassing the humpback whales, who were trumpet blowing and tail throwing. Two humpbacks then started to seemingly chase the killer whales south, pursuing them for over a mile! They eventually gave up and the orcas continued to travel south, picking up speed. This was an incredibly interesting encounter with reportedly a lot of interspecies interactions. What an experience!
Some background info on CA136 and CA179 :
We don't often see CA136 and CA179, but we did last have them in Monterey Bay in June. It is possible that CA179 was adopted by CA136 at some point, as they have been traveling together for several years now. We first sighted CA136 in 1996 and CA179 (as a sprouter male) in 1997. It is always exciting when we see rarely encountered orcas! Photos by Daniel Bianchetta and Research Biologist Colleen Talty