Have You Seen Any of These?

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sightings: Resident, Transients and Humpbacks Together


Resident and Transient Orca were again in close proximity as well as Transients all over a couple of Humpback Whales. And some great photos from yesterday's Transients by Savary Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Northern Resident Orca


August 10:

The A23's were once again in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve this morning, and had once again, made a slow exit from the Bight as Transients passed to the East. 2 pm They were at the West end of the Bight and were making their way to Cracroft Point. Later (no time noted) they made their way up the Strait to Blinkhorn, just before Telegraph Cove and turned back towards the Bight. At 5:30 pm they were only about half way there mid- Johnstone Strait. This seems to be quite a pattern for them.

1 pm till 3 pm 7 Resident Orca including the A8's were being harassed by Pacific White Sided Dolphins as they travelled East by Davis Point in Nodales Channel, just above Campbell River.

3 pm The A30 Matriline of Resident Orca headed down Blackfish Sound to Cracroft Point, Johnstone Strait.

The two males I saw this afternoon were the two from the A-8's and A-25's. They made it into Nodales Channel as far as Sonora Pt. where they did some foraging amongst the guide boats, sometimes right alongside and underneath them. Then at 16:45 just after the change to ebb tide they made an abrupt turn to the west. Last report I had was from Foghorn at 1800 hrs that they were still westing at the 'tie up' on Sonora Island...(just east of the beginning of Johnston Strait.)
Guess we will have to see where they end up in the am.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures


Transient Orca

August 9:

Hi Susan, here are a couple of photos from our amazing encounter today! (August 9th - SM) Hope everyone enjoys them. Cheers! Nick
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Baby Transient Orca Breach
August 9, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Double Transient Orca Breach
August 9, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Transient Orca Tail Lob
August 9, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

August 10:

11 am 5 Transients headed down Blackfish Sound and wound up on top of a couple of Humpback Whales. It looked like there may have been an attempted attack, but later reports said the Humpbacks were OK.

2 pm These Transients were Eastbound by Boat Bay, Johnstone Strait.

Humpback Whales

August 10:

1 pm 'Freckles' was in the tide rips by Cracroft Point Johnstone Strait, as were a couple of larger Humpbacks who worked their way from Parson's Bay after their encounter with the Transient Orcasee above report. The two were soon spotted with the Resident Orca at Cracroft Point.

(no time noted) 3 Humpback whales were in Blackfish Sound. It sounded like these were different Humpbacks from the previous report.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall's Porpoises

August 10:

1 pm till 3 pm 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were harassing Resident Orca in Nodales Channelsee Resident Orca Report above.

1 pm A number of Dall's Porpoises were with 'Freckles' the Humpback at Cracroft Point.

Small groups of Dall's Porpoises were seen all around the area throughout the day.