Desolation Sound and Lower Johnstone Strait hosted both Northern Resident and Transient Orca. Pacific White Sided Dolphins in very large numbers with some making an appearance off of Texada. A couple of Humpback Whales and a few Dall's Porpoise reports round out the sightings for the upper Sunshine Coast.
A note of remembrance, on this tenth anniversary, for the victims and their families of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It affected us all.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Northern Resident Orca
September 11:
7 am Orca headed towards Chatham Point. By 8:30 am the Whales were between Walkem and Rock Bay lights, just above Campbell River.
Elvis
9:30 am the Orca were by Ripple Point, and at 11 am I heard AJ identify them as the A23's.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
We had the A23's Westbound at Camp Point, Johnstone Strait when we left them at 11:45 am. Looking for them again (on the way back down the Strait from spending some time with the Pacific White Sided Dolphins) now. 2 pm Found them Westing at Brasseau (sp?) Bay.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 10:
8:45 am A12 and the two A36 brothers were reported in the fog in Blackney Pass, upper Johnstone Strait.
11 am A30's Westing at Eve River.
AJ
3 pm A23's (5 Orca) Eastbound by Ripple Point.
Tenacious 3
4 pm A23's Eastbound at the Walkem Island Light across from Chatham Point.
5:30 pm The A23's decided to head into Nodales Channel by Davis Point.
Transient Orca
September 11:
7 am 3 Transient Orca were just at the entrance to Okisollo Channel heading West.
2 pm Transients by South Rendezvous Island in Calm Channel Southbound.
Broken radio transmissions
2:40 pm Received a radio call that there are Orca by Rendezvous Islands and Kelsey Point. No further details.
AJ
3 pm 2 Transient Orca went into Hole in the Wall from Calm Channel.
5:45 pm 2 groups of Transient Orca, one group of 5 Transients including T20, T21 and a calf, originally spotted by Rendezvous Islands and the other 2 Transients consisting of a "sprouter" (sub-adult) and a female joined up through Hole in the Wall, just below Big Bay, Stewart Island. Once through, they turned right continuing to Upper Rapids when I left them; by Owen Bay and Okisollo Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
September 11:
7 am A couple of Dolphins by Cinque Islands, Discovry Pass, Southbound.
2 pm We just left the 509 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at St Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait, zig-zagging. Looking for them (A23 Matriline of Resident Orca) again.
6 pm Looking at an unusual line on the water revealed between 80 to 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging back and forth off the NW end of Texada Island. A few left to wake ride with the Comox ferry while the rest did some high speed foraging.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
September 10:
11 am 500 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Millie Island, Port Neville.
AJ, Oak Bay Hurricane
Humpback Whales
September 10:
11 am 2 Humpback Whales first spotted Eastbound by Windy Point then Port Neville. Talk that it may by 'Chunky' and 'Stripe' two very large animals (unconfirmed - SM). A bit later on, they turned to head West back up Johnstone Strait.
Dall's Porpoise
September 11:
12 pm 2 – 6 Dall's Porpoise foraging by Camp Point.
5:30 pm 2 Dall's Porpoise Southbound at McMillan Point as I came out of Bute Inlet - bear tour.
Following reports submitted from the US by:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
Transient Orca
September 11
When kayaking from Vashon on Sunday Sept 11, 2011, we saw three orca swimming south about 1 mile south of Faultleroy and 1/2mile offshore. I saw from about 1/2 mile away with binoculars. One large fin surfacing and then one small right behind it. Not sure of the size of the third. Each surface and the big one spouted really well. Very exciting to the two others paddlers in our group.
Thanks, Jeff Miller.
September 11
Amy Carey just called and said the Transients in Puget Sound turned around - at 1:10 pm she got a report of them off Glen Acres, Dilworth, Vashon Island, heading north. They had been close to shore off Vashon Island all morning heading south, but turned around and headed north while no one was looking.
September 10
The T30's were off Sydney Island at 12:10, heading north. Two kills witnessed (one harbor porpoise, one unknown).
Tasli Shaw
Southern Resident Orca
September 11
Stephanie Raymond reported a Southern Resident superpod in Haro Strait at 12:50.
September 11
Stephanie Raymond reported a Southern Resident superpod in Haro Strait at 12:50.
September 11
12:18 pm -L pod is at False bay milling and socializing, while J and K are up farther maybe by Lime Kiln. There is alot of spy hopping, breaching, lunging and tail slapping and a TON of above water vocalizing from L pod!
Melisa Pinnow
September 10
Arlene Solomon called from Mayne Island to say there were six orcas headed north into Active Pass.
September 10
We spotted a small pod of about 5 or 6 orcas all females and young ones. One calf was so small and appeared grey in colour. I can't find any info on grey infant orcas. Is this common for newborns? The time was 5:30 on September 10th. The orcas were heading east towards Race Rocks and sticking within feet from shore. We noticed the large female would stop moving for a minute or so and just float. Is this possibly nursing the calf?
Thanks Sylvie