Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, September 30, 2011

More Baby Orca Photos, Humpback and More

More photos of the New Transient Orca Calf. Humpback Whale 'KC' or 'Kelp Creature' has been doing his/her kelp play. A couple of other Transients, Dall's and Harbour Porpoise sightings. Looks like the Pacific White Sided Dolphins went to Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait and above while the Northern Resident Orca are still above Johnstone Strait somewhere.

Baby Transient Orca Spy Hop
September 28, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Transient Orca

September 29:

8:30 am 4 Transient Orca were by North Bluff, Campbell River towards Maude Island, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

11 am Found T20 and T21 in Seymour Narrows doing long dives and fighting the big ebb tide.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Newborn Calf
(about the size of a dolphin)
September 28, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

2:45 pm Transients were by Cape Mudge heading Southward.

Sometime around 2 pm 4 – 5 Orca, one tall, male dorsal were headed North between Cortez and Quadra Islands.
BC Ferry Tanaka

September 28:

Here are some pics of the T002C Gang with the new calf! These were taken today during our encounter starting at 1030hrs and ending at approx 1300hrs.They were travelling up Discovery Passage Northbound then went right thru Kanish Bay at the top of Quadra Island. There may have been a seal kill near the end as there was some feeding activity and birds around after. The calf is the smallest I have seen for sure, looking more like a dolphin! Also a shot of T002C2 that i thought really showed her scoliosis (This photo of T02C2 will be in the next Sightings posting - SM). They are my favorite gang of T's, love that T002c had the new calf, cheers!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures


Humpback Whales

September 30:

9:15 am A Humpback was by Eagle's Cove to Elk Bay slowly heading North.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

In between these two reports I was listening to a few comments about this whale rolling, slapping it's pectoral fin and playing in and with the kelp – possibly 'KC' again.

12 pm The lone Humpback Whale only made it as far as Rock Bay, by Chatham Point.

September 28:

This beauty (photo below) was doing doughnuts in Plumper Bay (Campbell River) this afternoon at approx 1600 hrs. Is it one we know? Cheers,
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
I wondered where he was! This is "KC" BCY0291 born in 2002. Again, really value getting this data! Jackie Hildering.
('KC' stands for Kelp Creature. He's regularly seen in the upper Johnstone Strait area. Susan MacKay)

'KC' Tail Flukes
September 28, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Dall's and Harbour Porpoise

September 30:

12:30 pm 5 Harbour Porpoise were in Chameleon Harbour, Thurston Bay Marine Park.
3 pm 5 to 6 Dall's Porpoise were foraging in Bute Inlet.

September 29:

11:50 am 3 Dall's Porpoise were foraging by Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Around 12 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise were bow riding (possibly Hybrids from behaviour – SM)
Fog Horn Jeff

2:30 pm 6 Dall's Porpoise by Jimmy Judd Island in the Yuculta Rapids.
Joel – Tenacious 3


Puget Sound Reports
Submitted by:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

September 28
Today around 2pm we found members of our resident pods K and L, almost 50 whales, spread out in Haro Strait heading up to Turn Point. We were able to identify K20, L87, L41, L88, and K40. We got to see a wide range of behaviors and all our passengers were very excited. On the way home we stopped along Spieden and saw many harbor seals on the rocks, as well as four-legged mammals grazing on the hillside including some bucks and a few rams. The icing on the cake was the Bald Eagle standing on the shore line with a salmon in its talons, and a handful of Steller Sea Lions lazing in the water at Green Point.
Mike, San Juan Safaris

September 28
Beam Reach students were with resident orcas off Hannah Heights, southwest San Juan Island at 11:01 am to northern Haro Strait between Henry Island and Stuart Island at 3:30 pm.