Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, June 24, 2011

Humpback Whales, Dolphins and Other Sightings Updates

Locally we had the same two Humpback Whales and a couple of groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins. The Transient Orca were elusive again after their appearance yesterday - tomorrow they can be expected to make another appearance.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

June 24:
10:20 am Around 20 to 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins slowly and steadily cruised past Westview, Powell River headed towards Grief Point. I was disappointed not to see them leaping, but the water was so calm, they're always a pleasure to see.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

June 24:
10 am The same (although I didn't receive the photos to confirm IDs - SM) two Humpack Whales from yesterday were spotted again in Discovery Passage close to Brown's Bay.
Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 24:
10 am Around 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins just above Discovery Passage closer to Okisollo Channel.
Jeff (Fog Horn) running a tour out of Painter's Lodge

From Farther South, five J and K Pod Reports below submitted by:: Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

June 23 
Bumpy day today on the west side of San Juan! We got soaked on the way down but it was worth it! We spotted a small group of J's around False Bay, one of which was J26. The water was pretty choppy so ID's were difficult but J26 did a couple bellyflops for us which made it a bit easier. Here's a picture of it 
Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver

June 23 
Lots of great Orca calls, possibly J Pod on Lime Kiln right now at 4pm this Thursday afternoon June 23rd. Always good to hear especially having seen them two hours ago. I was out earlier on the Ocean Magic out of Victoria at noon, and saw several Orca, J pod and L 87 foraging and heading north toward the park off San Juan Island in choppy seas and windy conditions. A joy to see and hear.
Marie O'Shaughnessy.Victoria BC.

June 22   
A wonderful parade of whales passed our Orca Rock on Galiano today around 2:20 pm. About 10 whales, fishing as they progressed through Active Pass.  A resting line for a short period of time, then many tail slaps as they went by us. 
Karoline Cullen, Galiano Island

June 22   
The Center for Whale Research were with Js and Ks from NW San Juan Island at 6:30 am, up to S. Pender Island at 10:12 am. At 11:23 they were off the south end of Saturna Island, appearing to be continuing travel to the NE.   

June 22
Resident killer whales were reported at nearly the farthest point we can travel on our trips and they weren't coming our way south either. We crossed the border into Canada at the Haro Straight, went into Plumper Sound and  between Mayne and Saturna Islands to pop out on the other side in the Strait of Georgia: along Mayne Island and BAM: whales!J30 "Riptide" and friends/family from J-pod were together, with several cow-calf pairs. Even further, many of the calves--and some of the adults--were incredibly active, with tail slapping, pec slapping, upside down tail slapping, SPY-HOPPING, and breaching!  And not just the lazy kinda-sorta breaches; we're talking full on clear-the-water breaching! we could see the city of VANCOUVER! A little farther north They were all over the place and being a little sassy too. It looked like
Serena, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris

And a Transient Report from Alaska submitted by: Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

June 23
Heard today captains saw super pod (of Transient orcas) here took adult humpback. Resurrection bay three miles west of cape. Last couple days been 7 super pods in Puget bay. Went out yesterday didn't see one orcas but lots of humpies where close to where they got it today. 
Kim Larson, Seward, AK