Humpbacks, Dolphins, Porpoises by Powell River

Humpback Whales, Dall's Porpoise and some Pacific White Sided Dolphins round out the minimal sightings by Powell River over the past number of days. The storms made sightings very difficult if any Cetaceans were in the neighbourhood, but even when it was calm, there were very few sightings.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Humpback Whales

November 15:

4:10 pm 3 or possibly 4 Humpback Whales between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island out in front of Powell River. The sun was shining and the seas were flat calm when I noticed two magnificent big blows glistening in the sunshine as these breaths hung high in the air. And that was without the binoculars! Once I grabbed the binoculars I saw the backs of a couple of a couple of whales, then noticed at least one, but possibly two more off closer to Harwood Island. As I watched them travel first South-East, then North-West it was a treat to see not only their blows, but three large tail flukes simultaneously raised as they sounded. They were too far away for any ID's, and it was getting too late to get out there. I watched them till it was too dark to easily spot them.

Susan MacKay

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Powell River, November 3, 2011

Photo: Steve Grover, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

November 17:

9 am 10 to 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were spread out between the North Harbour breakwater and Willingdon Beach Park, Powell River. I didn't have time to stop for more than a moment to watch them slowly foraging.

Susan MacKay

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Powell River, November 3, 2011

Photo: Steve Grover, Powell River

Dall's Porpoise

November 15:

4:40 pm While watching the Humpbacks 6 to 8 Dall's Porpoise came closer to Westview, Powell River foraging back and forth in the the current line.

Susan MacKay

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Powell River, November 3, 2011

Photo: Steve Grover, Powell River

Lower Georgia Strait & Juan de Fuca Strait reports submitted by:

Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

Transient Orca

November 16:
T20 & T21 were spotted near Spieden Isl earlier today
Andrew Lees

Two Orcas headed East @ Green Pt. (eastern tip of Speiden Island) right now...Male and Female 1100 hrs, Wed
Jim Maya

Southern Resident Orca

November 15:

Jeff Lamarche called about 5 pm to say that thanks to Mark Malleson he was with J and K pods 7 miles west of Sooke Harbour, on the US side of the imaginary dotted line, "foraging big-time" as they moved slowly westward.

I heard Mark from POW found J & K-pod off East Sooke Park this afternoon heading west, great job Mark:) They must have poked their noses in and then turned back around.

Andrew Lees

I came across J's and K's on the afternoon of November 15th very spread out foraging as they travelled west out the Juan de Fuca Strait.

Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

Humpback Whales

November 15:
Jeff Lamarche from Eagle Wing Tours found a humpback whale about 1.5 miles SW of Sooke Harbour, heading east in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

We saw a humpback whale off of Sooke, thanks to Jeff Larmarche, which turned out to be an animal which I hadn't seen since 2007 (BCX0470).
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

Jeff Lamarche called at 3:35 with a report of 6 humpbacks coming in the Strait of Juan de Fuca past East Sooke Park in 4-5' seas. The three that were identified were BCY0160 ("Heather"), BCZ0298, and BCX1068.