Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the
hundreds, a few Harbour Porpoise and the Transient Killer Whales are
here one day, gone the next. They're moving around, but where the
Orca get to once they leave our regular reporters is unknown. We're
in need of more updates from all over. The West side of Texada, Comox
to Nanaimo and Sechelt areas are of particular interest with these
Orca. It's believed that they are working their way around Texada
Island again. If you have friends or acquaintances that might be
willing to contribute to these reports, please have them contact me.
No sighting report is too small, every one is important and we'd
rather have repeated reports of the same sighting than none at all.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient
Killer Whales - Orca
Transient Orca
June 17, 2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
June 17:
9:20 am 7+ Orca by Francisco Point
tight into the Quadra shoreline in hunting mode. They're West bound.
Scotty, Painters Lodge
June 17:
10
am I can see the Orca from the ferry. They're moving quickly
heading North-West at Whiskey Point between Quadra and Campbell
River. Hope they turn with the tide.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 17:
11 am Orca by Race Point Westbound
in the Narrows.
Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching
June 17:
12 pm The Orca turned with the tide
in the Narrows and started heading South-East in perfect time for
the tour.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 17:
Had a brief encounter with this Gang of
11+ T's (Transients) today that started @1320hrs @ Cape
Mudge lighthouse and ended @1400hrs between Shelter Point and
Kuhushan Point on the Vancouver Island shoreline 2 miles
offshore. There seemed to be some hunting activity as they went right
thru a small herd of Harbour Porpoise but no confirmed kills. I am
forwarding unnamed images as without the new ID guide I am having a
hard time coming up with the right ID's. Of note is the fact that the
T002C gang is there for sure but they have picked up a new gang who
they were with on the 15th when we followed them out towards the
Little River ferry terminal And I got the amazing breach pic of
T002C and T002C2. (see previous Blog posting – SM)
Hopefully we can get some proper ID's on this gang. Thanks so
much.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Orca
June 17, 2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
June 17:
around 5 pm Last report of the
Transient Orca for the day was that they were still Southbound
close to Vancouver Island by Black Point.
Pacific Yellow Fin talking to
Tenacious 3 on Radio
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
June 18:
2 pm 12 PWS Dolphins off Quartz Bay,
Cortez Island. Radio relay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 17:
10:50 About 200 PWS Dolphins at
Viner Point with Scotty right now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 17:
3:15 pm 200 to 300 PWS Dolphins in
Calm Channel by Rendezvous Islands Southbound towards Lewis
Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 16:
9 am One lone PWS Dolphin in Seymour
Narrows.
Scotty, Painters Lodge
June 16:
I had 200-250 Lags (short for:
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, the Latin name for Pacific White Sided
Dolphins) at the East End Hole in Wall/Calm Channel. The Lags
were having a feeding frenzy in Calm Channel.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 16:
200 Dolphins Calm Channel by
Hole in the Wall. No time or direction given.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
June 2, 2012 Bute Inlet
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
Harbour
Porpoise
June 17:
See Orca report above of Transients
passing through a group of Harbour Porpoise. From Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 16:
2 herds of Harbour Porpoise in
Discovery Passage 3-4 each herd. Point 45 and Kanish Bay.
No time or direction.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
From our friends at
Orca Network in the US:
Howard Garrett & Susan
Berta Orca Network
Southern Resident orcas were south of
San Juan Island Saturday morning, then up Haro Strait in the
afternoon, as the choir was warming up for OrcaSing at Lime Kiln
Point State Park.
Members of L pod were found off the
northern Washington coast on Friday by a team from Cascadia Research,
along with transient killer whales, humpbacks, and gray whales.
On Friday the T30 transient group came
down from Rosario Strait along the west side of Whidbey Island in the
morning, down Admiralty Inlet to just south of Point No Point against
a strong tide, then they did a 180 degree U-turn and headed back up
Admiralty in the evening.
June 15:
Cascadia Research conducted surveys
with two RHIBs (rigid hull inflatable boats) off the northern
Washington coast (15 June 2012) in excellent weather and covering
close to 200 nmi. Personnel included Greg Schorr, Erin Falcone, John
Calambokidis, and Kiirsten Flynn. Sightings for the two boats
included:
12-14 Southern Resident Killer Whales about 20 nmi offshore of La Push, identifications still pending (will be sent to CWR for confirmation) but included members of L Pod including L77 and her calf
· 4 transient killer whales
· more than 50 humpback whales mostly in and around Juan de Fuca Canyon
· 20-30 gray whales feeding in coastal waters mostly north of La Push
Additionally a medium duration LIMPET satellite tag was deployed on one of the humpback whales.
Surveys were conducted as part of a collaborative research effort with WDFW with support from NOAA.
John Calambokidis
12-14 Southern Resident Killer Whales about 20 nmi offshore of La Push, identifications still pending (will be sent to CWR for confirmation) but included members of L Pod including L77 and her calf
· 4 transient killer whales
· more than 50 humpback whales mostly in and around Juan de Fuca Canyon
· 20-30 gray whales feeding in coastal waters mostly north of La Push
Additionally a medium duration LIMPET satellite tag was deployed on one of the humpback whales.
Surveys were conducted as part of a collaborative research effort with WDFW with support from NOAA.
John Calambokidis