Many local Sightings - Long report
covering a few days with some late reports too. The Northern Resident
Killer Whales came down Johnstone Strait for a short visit, but our
'Resident' Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales are popping up all over.
The Humpback Whales seem to have left our area, but the Pacific White
Sided Dolphins are spreading out in smaller groups. There have also
been a few Dall's and Harbour Porpoise sightings and one report from
the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Keep those reports coming
everyone – Great Network!
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient
Orca – Bigg's Killer Whales
Orca Breach- Northern
Resident Killer Whale
July 10, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
July 13:
1:40 pm After everyone had searched for
the Transients for a number of hours. The radio got extremely
active with the report from Joss, Eagle Eye Adventures that he
had found in the exact place the others had been. 6 Orca by Mary
Point, Cortez Island. The last report was at 5 pm that those
whales were heading into Desolation Sound past Kinghorn Island.
Around 3:30 pm Joss again found
the other group of Transients in Calm Channel right by Raza
Island. This time, I could get out to see them! Aaron from Sonora
Lodge was with them when I arrived. We counted a total of 8
Orca including T20 and two calves. They stopped for a bit of play
close in to the Raza shore and we had the opportunity to listen to
some very nice vocalizations and echolocation. They continued through
Raza Passage and into Pryce Channel. The thought is, that they
may be meeting up with the other Orca found by Cortez since they were
travelling loosely together by Savary Island. I left them at around
5:20 pm slowly making their way towards Desolation Sound.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 12:
We saw three adult Orca and one calf
swim past at 6:25 am. One adult
had a large fin.
had a large fin.
Bob Brooks
July 12:
7 am 6 Transient Orca right in
front of Powell River, just off the viewpoint heading North.
One huge dorsal and a couple of calves.
Then by email: Hi Susan, You must be on
the high seas by now and the Orca are here in Powell River. Last
night July 11 at about 10pm I saw 3 dorsals several times in the
growing darkness just off shore of my place in Westview. They seemed
to be heading towards the north end of Texada Island. This morning at
about 7:10 am I noticed a pod of 6 Orca, looked like the usual
transient pod with the large male and small calf, within 100
meters of shore right below our houses. 15 minutes later another
pod of 5 or 6 Orca caught up to the first group and they
proceeded to head out further into the Malaspina Strait in a
northerly direction. The morning light caught their blows beautifully
and I could see their markings very well from my deck using the
spotting scope. A great start to another beautiful day! Have fun
Susan!
Steve Grover, Powell River
July 12:
8:30 am Received two calls from a cell
phone number I recognized as one used on Savary Island. Calls
were all dropped in my location, but I could send text messages. So I
texted with the assumption that the call had to be about the Orca
showing up..... To my amazement, yes, the number belongs to a
regular contributor, but he texted back that he was in Chicago
and never placed the call. Boy does Ron have good eyes or well
trained cell phone! There were Orca right off his location on Savary.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 12:
around 10:30 am 5 or 6 orcas
travelling North between Lund & Major Rock, heading
towards Thulin Pass, but then there was a fair bit of boat traffic,
so they may not have continued North.
Christine Hollman, Terracentric
Adventures
July 12:
10:22 am 6 Orca between Savary and
the Mainland – no direction. Kurt just on scene. Anothe 6
still at Dinner Rock, below Lund heading North.
12:30 pm 8 – 10 Orca Close to Twin
Islands.
Jack & Kurt, Campbell River
Whale Watching
July 12:
2 pm Orca now Westbound out Baker
Pass between Hernando and Cortez Islands.
Joss, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 12:
4:10 pm Orcas are West side of
Twin Islands milling about towards Baker Pass Scotty,
Painter's Lodge
July 11:
9 pm 5 – 6 Orca including one
really big dorsal Northbound towards Powell River between
Albion Point and Myrtle Rocks.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
July 11:
9 pm 6 Orca Northbound by Myrtle
Rocks. One has a really big fin.
Nina Falls, Powell River
July 10:
8:40 pm 2 groups of Orca Northbound.
This was overheard on the radio while I was at Twin Islands.
Unfortunately, the boaters talking didn't get back to me as to the
whales' location. All I could tell is that they were somewhere South
of my position.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 9: (rec'd July 10)
Hello, Yesterday (9th) my husband and I
were lucky enough to spot a pod of killer whales just past Vivian
Island (off Harwood) heading towards Comox/Campbell River. The
group was actually split up in two, with approximately five orcas in
each group. I was able to get a couple of excellent photos and
identify the large male as T020.
Jessica Dohm
July 9:
Hi Susan, We were out sailing off
Westview, Powell River on the Ninth and at about 1 pm
witnessed a pod of Orca, about eight, including one large male and
a calf, and followed them under sail for a while as they headed
for Little River, Comox passing between Rebecca Rock and Vivian.
Lots of breaching and spy hopping. Wonderful. Pics may follow when my
crew member Harvey gets them off his phone.
Ray Hogan
July 10:
Late report re: July 7th:
Never saw the whales heading past Myrtle Rocks, but at around
11 pm we could hear their blows close to shore between Albion
Point and Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. Also, some friends had come
over and told us they had seen some Orca off the NW tip of
Texada from the Comox ferry earlier in the day.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
July 10, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
July 10:
1:18 pm Group of Orca at Greene
Point Rapids – Chancellor Channel. 4 small dorsals so far. 4:30
pm Northern Resident Orca Westing into Johnstone Strait –
it's the A35's
Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching
July 10:
4:45 pm 6 female Northern Resident
Orca by Harding Island Westbound. At first I thought they might
have been Transients because once the Orca got into Nodales
Channel and headed West, where there were some PWS Dolphins
Eastbound. It seemed once they got wind of the Orca, the Dolphins
headed quickly West at about 13 knots. Later, looking at the photos,
they were the A11's, Resident (fish eating) Orca. Just seemed
strange that the Dolphins turned and headed back out so
quickly...Coincidence.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
July 12:
8 am Approximately 100 PWS Dolphins
in a hurry Northbound between Shelter Point and the fishing Hump
off Cape Mudge.
?? Radio
July 12:
8 am 20 – 40 PWS Dolphins fast
foraging in Raza Pass heading towards Calm Channel. About 35
min. Later, they headed back towards Deer Pass then Pryce
Channel disappearing around the corner.
1 pm 30-40 PWS Dolphins slowly
foraging in Frances Bay across from Raza Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 11:
2:48 200 PWS Dolphins by Fawn Bluff
in Bute Inlet. Milling and feeding.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 11:
1:11 pm Approximately 200 PWS
Dolphins by Fawn Bluffs in Bute Inlet.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 11:
3:20 pm Just leaving 150 – 200 PWS
Dolphins heading South from Bute Inlet close to shore.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
July 10, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
July 10:
12:05 pm 40+ PWS Dolphins bow
and wake riding two larger boats heading towards Cortez Island
between Twin Island and Powell Islets. They left the boats by
Powell Islets and turned towards the Copeland Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 10:
4:20 pm 30 PWS Dolphins
Westbound by Chatham Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 10:
7 pm Caught bits of transmission of PWS
Dolphins in Nodales Channel.
Radio
rec'd July 10:
On Saturday, July 7th we also
spotted a pod of white sided dolphins between Harwood and
Savary Islands heading across towards Campbell River. I would
estimate the number to be between 30-40. Best regards,
Jessica Dohm
Jessica Dohm
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
July 13:
6:18 pm 2-3 Harbour Porpoise near
Simms Creek.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
July 11:
5:55 pm 2 groups of Harbour Porpoise
to report: 2-3 at Wilby Shoals off Cape Mudge and 3-4 closer to
Simms Creek.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
July 10:
8:15 am 2 Dall's Porpoise
foraging between Cortez and Twin Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
West
Coast – Fin or Sei and Gray Whale
I was on a kayak trip in the Broken
Group Islands last week. On Friday 7/6/12 (early afternoon) I saw at
least 1 whale very close up in rough waters (hence no picture). We
were on the outside of Wower island heading towards Batley (we had
just gotten past Wower and were starting to head North toward
Batley). At first the whale seemed to be heading with us Northish
surfacing a few times, each time very close to our kayaks, then was
headed South (toward open ocean). A few minutes later saw what was
probably a second whale heading south close to us again. I never saw
two fins or blows at the same time. Is it possible this was a Fin
Whale or a Sei? Any other reports? It was dark brown to black
with a smooth back and small curved fin set far back (but not far
enough for a Minke also to big for a Minke). I did not see any
mottling, color was solid. It was not blowing on every surfacing. I
never saw a tail, my partner saw a tail once. It seemed to surface
quite often. After looking at this link
(http://www.abc.net.au/oceans/whale/char.htm#fin)I
believe it to be Sei because the fin seemed to be in the middle
during the dive sequence. I have looked at many internet pictures and
there is no way it was a Gray, Humpback, or False Orca, and was way
too big for Minke. If you had any other reports or might know what I
say please let me know. When we made it over to the Southwestern side
of Batley we saw what I am sure was a Gray Whale there close to
the shore (No fin). It may have been a Juvenile because it did
not look very big. Thank You,
Debi Viniarski