Dolphins, Porpoises, Orca and Sightings Updates

The Orca have still remained elusive around here. Tours again tried in vain to locate them even with one sightings report. There were, however Harbour and Dall's Porpoise and Pacific White Sided Dolphins sightings locally. Other than the Southern Resident Orca known as J, K and L Pods being farther south and over around Tofino, there have been no reported sightings of Orca....Odd.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

July 4:

5 pm Three Harbour Porpoises were foraging by Bold Point heading towards Quadra Island.

Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

July 4:

3 pm Six Dall's Porpoise were zig zagging by the entrance to Bute Inlet.

Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

July 4:

2 pm Three Orca were reported in Calm Channel heading Northward towards Church House. Overheard through broken radio receiption from an unknown source.- SM

July 4: Report of the day's tour:

What a beautiful day on the water...the update for today if you have not received it already is that we had a report of 3 Orca in Calm Channel outside of Churchhouse this afternoon at about 2pm. As the boater had already returned to the dock so the sighting was likely at about 12 or 1230pm. No one was able to find them - and between all the tour operators that were out we covered a lot of ground. Nonetheless, still an amazing day on the water, great Eagle Show at Jimmy Judd island with about 100+ eagles.

 

We also sighted about 7 or 8 pacific white sided dolphins foraging  just North of Hole in the Wall (Calm Channel) - plus, 1 harbour porpoise in Okissolo South - and a couple more in Hoskyns Channel. Wonderful Day,

Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 3:

5:20 pm Between 8 to 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were out in front of the Powell River Ferry Terminal foraging then made a decisive turn Southward. They even ignored the ferry wake they normally like to play in.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

And From Farther South - Happy July 4th! 

Including a report from Tofino, BC

Reports below submitted by: Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

July 4  

8 a.m. - orca parade off Lummi Island this morning in flat calm waters - very spread out in channel, across to Clark Island (going south) - couple big male dorsals - bunch of recreational boats out enjoying the morning sun (and parade)! Again, should be a great whale watch day on the west side.

Penny Stone, Lummi Island, WA

 

July 3

Just saw a pod of whales at the west entrance to active pass from the BC ferries (~9:30 pm).
Gary Jones

July 3- L pod off Tofino! 

11:45 am: 20+ Killer Whales heading W from Amphitrite (S. of Tofino, BC, west Vancouver Island - see photo below). 

Later: Southern Residents - L pod for sure, and estimates of 30+ orcas present! At 5:40 pm they're right off the entrance to Tofino and still heading West. Last seen 20:10 last night (7/3), 8.9nm off Lennard Island (SW of Tofino) @ 236'm. overall course is 226'm. Belly-belly activity seen.

Rod Palm, Principal Investigator, Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society, Tofino, BC

L72 with her distinct saddle patch, off Tofino, July 3, 2011 Photo courtesy of Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society, Tofino, BC

July  3 

We had some great views of L pod aboard our vessel NANUQ, as they cruised west along Tofino's coastline!!

West Coast Aquatic Safaris, Tofino, BC