Northern Resident Orca just above
Campbell River, Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales below Mitlenatch Island and
above Johnstone Strait. Minke Whale avoiding the Transients, Humpback
Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins in numbers and some Dall's
Porpoise. Although there are many species sightings, they are spread
out. When spotted though, there can be some great excitement in
watching them.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales
Northern Resident Orca
July 27, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
July 27:
10:28 am Resident Orcas in Nodales
Channel. Not sure who yet, but believe it's the A36's and
A11's. Must be feeding on Spring Salmon in there.
2:20 pm I left the Orca Westing at
Rock Point, by Chatham.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 27:
4:25 pm A36's and A11's
Westbound at Camp Point – by Helmcken Island.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 26:
8:45 am A36's, and more by Chatham
Point.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
July 26:
8:50 am A36's at Chatham Point
heading to Nodales Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 26:
10:41 am We only have the A36's and
A11's in Nodales Channel, no A30's...
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 26:
12:30 pm Orca's the A36's and A11's
are now Westing at Davis Point.
3:23 pm Sounds like Orca are at
Ripple Point now – still Westing.
5:30 pm Orca still headed West by
Camp Point now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 26:
5:30 pm Left the A36's and A11's at
Camp Point having a rub, slowly moving West.
Tenacious 3
Transient
(Bigg's – meat eating) Killer Whales
July 27:
10:30 am till around 1:30 pm The
Transient T77 and T75B groups of Orca were spotted off Lizard
Point, Malcolm Island heading West towards and beyond
Numas Island in Queen Charlotte Strait. They were very vocal and
social; breaching, tail lobs, spy hops.
Various Radio including:
Alexandra Morton and Bill Mackay,
Naiad Explorer
July 26:
8:50 am Transients at Stuart Island.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 26:
1:30 pm I was out out fishing today
with my brother Mark from California when we sighted a pod of Orca
in the Georgia Strait about 1 Nautical Mile SW of Vivian Island
at around 1:30 pm. We were fishing by the end of Harwood Island
when I noticed a breach and some blows out in the strait. We headed
closer and saw 3 females as well as 1 male some distance to
the north. They seemed to be slowly moving towards Mittlenatch
Island. We saw some tail lobbing, spy hopping and other playful
activity. It was a treat for my brother as it was the first time he'd
seen Orca in the wild. Hope things are going well for you up north.
Steve Grover, Powell River
July 26:
3 pm Transient (Bigg's) Killer
Whales spotted by Ledge Point heading West. Possibly the
same Orca spotted by Bear Point, Malcolm Island early in the day.
5 pm 6 Transients T77/T75B's were
between Alert Bay and Alder Bay, playing vocalizing and generally
having a good time. Very slowly they were working their way East down
Johnstone Strait.
Jared Towers, DFO & MERS
(don't know which hat he was wearing
– sorry - SM)
July 26:
5:45 pm till 7:30 pm The 6 T77's and
T75B's picked up the pace when three cruise ships came down past
Alert Bay. The Orca headed into Beaver Cove, beside Telegraph
Cove, and were in, around and by various log booms, possibly checking
for seals. They were still slowly heading East past Telegraph Cove
and disappeared in the fog.
Jeff, Lukwa
July 26:
8:30 pm Message on answering machine:
“There are Orca.....Oh....Ahhh....” Someone in the
background yelled “Breach!” more Oh's and Ahh's and very
briefly mentioning that they (no numbers) were Southbound by
Armour Rd – Myrtle Rocks area of Powell River. (Thanks
Nina! - SM)
Nina Falls, Powell River
Humpback
Whales
Humpback Whale, Weynton
Pass
July 26, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
July 27:
Throughout the day there were various
sightings of Humpback Whales in the Blackfish Sound,
upper Johnstone Strait area. The count, as far as I could tell today
was 5 distinct animals at any one time.
SM
July 26:
8:38 am was the first report of 2
Humpback Whales off Bold Head, Blackfish Sound from Roy.
Throughout the day there were a couple around Stubbs, a couple
by Bold Head and one down by Flower Island almost in
Blackney Pass.
Various - SM
3:30 pm till 5 pm one large Humpback
fluked, indicating a deep or long dive, in Weynton Pass, then
another one just around the corner by Double Bay did
the same thing angling towards Flower Island. Not too long after, as
I crossed Weynton Pass again, close to the Stephenson Islets, one
Humpback surfaced directly behind me. I stopped, of course and
managed a couple of photos. This is a whale I'm not familiar with,
and I understand is new to the area.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Minke
Whales
July 27:
6:30 pm One large Minke Whale
was feeding including one lunge I saw off of Double Bay,
Hanson Island in Blackfish Sound.
Susan MacKay Whales and Dolphins BC
July 26:
9 am Minke Whale just in front of
Alert Bay.
Dave Towers, Tuan
July 26:
5:20 pm As I was sitting at the bottom
of the Pearse Islands, patiently waiting for the Transient
Orca to work their way closer, I spotted a Minke Whale moving
very quickly down the center of the Strait and once at the bottom
of Weynton Pass, slowed, but continued to get out of the area.
Transients will and do kill Minke Whales, but I believe these
Transients were too busy socializing to take notice – fortunate
Minke!
Jared Towers had mentioned
earlier there were 6 Minke Whales seen during the day in
Pearse Passage. He has and is continuing to catalogue and
identify the individual animals.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided
Dolphin Wake Riding
July 27, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
July 27:
Around 1 pm 6 PWS Dolphins in Bute
Inlet right by Arran Rapids.
3:35 pm 100 PWS Dolphins by
Henrietta Point in Bute Inlet....Upgrade that to 200!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 26:
10:41 am 100+ PWS Dolphins at Jimmy
Judd Island in the Yuculta Rapids.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 26:
1 pm 75 PWS Dolphins at Horn Point,
Dent Rapids area.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Dall's
Porpoise
July 27:
5 pm 2 Dall's Porpoise were
foraging in Weynton Pass.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 26:
3:30 pm 10 + Dall's Porpoise
foraging around Stubbs Island in Weynton Pass.
6:20 pm 8+ Dall's Porpoise
foraging at the bottom of Pearse Islands appear to be unaware
of the Transient Orca headed their way.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC