Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been putting on quite a show. The Resident Orca are working their way down Johnstone Strait again, with Transient Orca still “out”. And Dall's Porpoise have been showing themselves in some numbers again confirming the Transients are not too close. A couple of Humpback Whales keep coming close then heading back up Johnstone Strait, but it's still early for them to start their long trek to Hawaii or Mexico.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Northern Resident Orca
September 18:
11:30 am A23 Matriline of Orca were slowly travelling East down Johnstone Strait towards Campbell River by Ripple Point.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
5:30 pm 14 to 16 Orca including the A23's were high-balling it into Nodales Channel. There were 3 big males in total in the group. (Possibly the A34's with the A23's ? - SM)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
3:30 pm Resident Orca A23's by Howe Island with some closer to the Thurlow Island Side of the Channel.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins 'Crazy Leap'
September 18, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 18:
5:50 pm 150 + Pacific White Sided Dolphins leaping, jumping and frolicking in Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
3:30 pm 150 or so Lags (Pacific White Sided Dolphins) headed down Discovery Passage. The Lags have been amazing :) I will try to send a couple of pics tonight. Today's pod was coming down to Seymour Narrows. Maybe they will head out your way tomorrow. I think the big bunch broke up and that's the reason the Residents (Orca) came down today finally.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
9:30 am 150 to 200 Lags by Chatham Point heading East into Discovery Pass.
11 am Around 25 Dolphins by Ripple Point – split off from rest of group.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 17:
Hi Susan, Went on a 5 hr wildlife tour at 11 today. Lot of different 'herds' of Dall's Porpoise about. Of note was running into what I believe to be 'Stripe' and a smaller very dark tail (photos to follow) Humpback Whales by Hardwicke Island at 1330 hrs. Nice fluking. Very close to shore. Then we had about 150 Lags Eastbound in a hurry at Hickey Point 1400 hrs. They continued east at 5 to 7 knots the whole time. Maybe they knew the Transients were up “above”...who knows...anyways, Cheers till tomorrow,
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
3 to 4 pm 200+ Pacific White Sided Dolphins were around Camp Point Easting. By 5:20 pm they were down to Rock Bay, just above Campbell River.
9:30 am 25 Lags were by Howe Island. No direction.
Unknown Radio Transmission
Humpback Whales
September 17:
(repeated from Pacific White Sided Dolphin report.) Of note was running into what I believe to be 'Stripe' and a smaller very dark tail (photos to follow) Humpback Whales by Hardwicke (and Yorke) Islands at 1330 hrs. Nice fluking. Very close to shore.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
'Stripe' Tail Flukes
September 17, 2011
Photo: Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Dall's Porpoise
September 18:
5 pm 8 Dall's Porpoise by Lawrence Point Bute Inlet.
5 pm Nice group of Dall's Porpoise as we were coming out of Bute Inlet from Grizzly tour.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Reports from the South by:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
Southern Resident Orca and Humpback Whale
September 16
It was late in the day, or at least felt like it. Everyone had left but one boat well to the south with a humpback. We shut down and did our 1700 count. Jaeda noticed a female trailing the last group we had watched pass by. The group with young ones was very active. There were other whales to the north and south of us all heading west, except for moments of surface activity and fishing. Since we had seen L-92 pass along that line a mile or so ahead, we thought she was the most likely candidate. We moved in to check on her, and yes, it was L-90 swimming alone steadily.
John Calogero
September 16
Superpod super spread out, we were hanging with some L's - positive id on L92, L54 and L117. Then! on our way back to victoria we were lucky enough to run into some T's not far from Trial Island!! No id on them but some of our guests said they'd email us their photos. Great day! We were very lucky :)
Mercedes Powell
September 16
Concerning my moms Wendy Pinnow post earlier, I talked to her and we have come to a conclusion that the whale she saw with the orcas was indeed a humpback, 15 foot long pecs with bumps on the edges and a small lump of a dorsal fin fits the description. She was concerned of odd behavior as it looked like it was behaving like it was stressed. When she last saw it, it was heading south following the resident orcas. Could it be Canuck struggling to still get free from the fishing gear? Did any of the whale watching boats see the humpback with the orcas today?
Melisa Pinnow
Transient Orca T100's
September 14
Monday the residents headed back out to the Pacific, and sure enough transient families are noticed! We went to Canada, south of Discovery Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, from about 3:55pm to 4:25pm, although a 4' flooding tide, the water was smooth, the sun came out for a bit! Reports were of 33 year old T100 and her 3 youngsters, 38 year old T101 with her 2 youngsters, and a 27 year old male T102. We also saw a third group I think may have been 44 year old T30 with her 3 offspring, as that male looked like her son, 25 year old T30A. Nice to see the youngsters from 5 to 14 years old, and the mature transients, all 12 killer whales, traveling close together. Unusually, one whale kept coming up sideways, showing its belly! No porpoise or seals out there- maybe they got the word! Back towards Salmon Bank and San Juan Channel appeared Dall's Porpoise, Harbor Porpoise and Seals, and Steller Sea Lions. Caroline Armon, CMN, SSAMN, San Juan Excursions