There was great anticipation to see the
Southern Resident Orca from L-Pod coming down our way. Yes, I said
down! They circumnavigated Vancouver Island and decided to treat us
to a showing in the inside waters on their way “home”. Thanks to
our expanding network, we knew they were on the way (see previous
report). They did not disappoint. See the photos below. These whales
do not come this way very often. See January 11 & 12, 2012
reports for last time we had Southern Resident Orca from J-Pod come
up the Strait and December, 2010 prior to that. With all this
excitement, the Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and
Porpoises truly received minor billings and sightings reports. Even
the Transient Orca we've become used to seeing in our neighbourhood
were 'somewhere' out there.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Southern
Resident Orca
Southern Resident
Double Breach!
June 8, 2012 Campbell
River
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
June 9:
I sent a heads up to Howard Garrett of
Orca Network on Whidbey Island, Washington State:
Just got word they're (L-Pod) in
front of Chemainus right now 10:35 am
Susan MacKay,
Whales and Dolphins BC
Reply:
Great, I just (11 am) called the
Center and Dave says the word is they’re porpoising south past Turn
Point, Haro Strait, right now. Whee!
Howard Garrett, Orca
Network
June 8:
Hi Susan, Sorry for the late report,
but it has been a long day. And what a day it has been as it happened
to be World Oceans Day and the one day of the year that we get to see
the L Pod Southern Resident Orca's come thru Campbell river on
their way back to the Salish Sea!
I picked up the report Yesterday
evening as did you from Jared Towers who left the L's easting in JS @
Naka Creek @ 1900hrs. After some quick calculations of the tides i
estimated them to be at Seymour Narrows either for slack tide Which
was 0830ish or just before. As we were getting ready to head out in
the rain the first report came in of Separation head @ 0745....right
on time! We picked them up coming down the Maude Island shoreline
Just before the light @ 0820......haha right on time! We followed
alongside as the pod went through Discovery Passage for 3 hrs,
escorting them thru the pass. It was a very busy day today when they
came through and i included a breach right off the bow of the Seaspan
Royal to give you an idea....as he trucked right over the whole pod
doing 14-16 knots.....good thing these southerns are used to lots of
large commercial traffic around them in their home waters. 3-4 times
they would all pause and the fireworks would begin!! Multiple
Breaches, spyhops, upside down taillobs, upside down swimming,
pectoral slaps....you name it, we saw it all today!! ( as the
pics show )
We left them at approx 1200 hrs
and they were between the Red Can off of Cape Mudge and the
Vancouver Island shoreline. I just love this Pod of KW's.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Southern Resident
Breach!
June 8, 2012 Campbell
River
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
June 8:
12:20 pm I did manage to get out on the
skiff to see L-Pod - some K's too, I believe, but haven't had
time to confirm from photos. Garry, Aboriginal Journeys and Jen,
Campbell River Whale Watching helped me to locate the whales
since they were already on scene. They were incredibly spread out
from just above the Little River ferry terminal by Comox to Texada
and could see breaching down by Denman and Hornby Islands!
Also thought there was some splashing almost by Harwood Island.
A huge spread over 20+ miles! It was like glass and sunny out
there so they were very easy to spot. They would slow down for very
short periods of time then pick up the pace again doing about 6 - 7
knots. Guess they got the scent of their home territory! Great vocals
though, even with the boat noises. The last few passed the North tip
of Texada Island about 5 pm. Curious as to what time they made it
"home". (reported: on June 9th!)
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
June 8:
Hey Everyone, For you Powell Riverites
there have been lots of Orca in the area, I have seen them the
past 3 days in a row and was lucky enough to go out on the water on 2
of those days. If you are near the water during your travels (not
just in Powell River – SM) stop and take a good look for their
splashes or blows. For the Non Powell Riverites on this list it's OK
if you visit occasionally. The June 6 images (some posted in
previous reports – SM) are of a small pod of Transient(meat
eating) Orca that had made a kill, possibly a seal while we were out
watching. The June 8 images(today) were a large pod( 35
Orca) of Southern residents usually living near the San Juan islands
and Juan de Fuca Strait. The Southern residents were spread in a
wide loose group from Comox to Texada Island and heading south
quickly. My Whale Watching Friend Susan MacKay put down the
hydrophone and we listened to these very vocal animals even though
seeing them was a challenge at times. Suffice to say that I'm
sunburned, tired and happy! Cheers,
Steve Grover, Powell River
Southern Resident Orca
& Comox Ferry to
Powell River
June 8, 2012
Steve Grover, Powell
River
Unidentified
Orca
June 9:
11:52 Orca reported between two
boats talking over the VHF radio. I could not raise them to find out
their exact location, but later communications indicated that these
Orca were Southbound close to the bottom of Texada Island.
It's possible that these were just a few stragglers from the large
Southern Resident group, or perhaps they were the Transient
Orca from the other day. All that's known is that they were
Southbound and Orca somewhere near the bottom of Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
June 9:
1 pm Orca, probably Transients, by
Hill Island close to Evans Bay headed towards Viner Point, bottom
of Read Island. - no-one found them after the original report so
there is no confirmation.
Radio/Text Msgs: Scotty, Painters
Lodge & Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback
Whales
June 9:
Hi Susan, I was lucky enough to spot 2
Humpback Whales from my patio in Willow Point this
evening! It was about 4:45pm, they were hanging out close to
the beach near Cape Mudge, just south of the lighthouse. They
swam back and forth (North/South) for a good half hour, and then I
lost them. Later on, around 7:30pm, I saw them again (I'm assuming
the same ones)! From the beach near Erickson Road, they were a good
distance away, seen with my binoculars near Mitlenatch Island,
heading NE when I lost them again.
Haven't sorted through my photos yet, I
do know that because they were so far away, my zoom lens could only
do so much. But you may be able to get some ID's from them- worth a
shot. I'll send them tomorrow :) Cheers!
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
June 9:
7:45 am 2 Humpback Whales off
Shelter Point, just south of Campbell River, doing circles. No
Direction. Report from a sports fisherman.
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
June 9:
12:30 pm 2 Humpback Whales by Steep
Island, Discovery Passage/Seymour Narrows. One was 'KC' for
sure and only a guess to assume the other was 'Arial', but no
fluke.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 8:
12 pm One Humpback Whale is right
outside of Discovery Harbour, Campbell River heading North-West.
Quadra ferry: Powell River Queen
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
June 8:
11:50 am 2 groups of about 30
Pacific White Sided Dolphins were foraging just off the Grief
Point Park, Powell River tight into shore. They're heading
South.
John Treen, Powell River
Harbour
Porpoise
June 8:
6 pm One lone Harbour Porpoise was
foraging just off Texada Island heading North. Spotted on the
way back to Powell River from being with the Southern Resident Orca.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
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