More of the Northern Resident Orca came
into the top of Johnstone Strait and some more ventured down into the
channels around Campbell River. There has been a distinct lack of
whales and dolphins in and around Powell River and Savary Island
areas with finally a couple of Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales
showing up. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been making their
way out of the lower channels and working their way up the coast,
while a few Humpback Whales have worked their way down. Dall's and
Harbour Porpoise round out the sightings.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
NRKW in Race Passage
August 29, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 29:
8:30 am Orca reported by fishermen at
Davis Point, Nodales Channel inbound towards Frederick Arm.
August 29:
8:30 am At least 12 Resident Orca
Northbound from Cinq islands in Discovery Passage. A few minutes
later there were 2 or 3 more heading out of Nodales towards Howe
Island. Unsure if they're the ones that were at Davis Point. There
was a bit of a split as they foraged spread across the strait over to
Chatham Point Lightstation and continued West around to Rock Bay by
around 9 am. There were at least 16 Resident Orca spread out by
Walkem Islands by 9:30 am
Scotty,
Painter's Lodge
August 29:
9 am Report that some of the other
Resident Orca headed out of the Robson Bight Reserve heading West in
the fog.
August 29:
10 to 10:30 am The lead group
consisting of the A23's had rounded Ripple Point in lower Johnstone
Strait with some of the others still foraging by Walkem Islands as
well as some more reported still in Nodales Channel by Hall Point,
which turned out to be the A36's.
With such a huge spread, and the back
and forth foraging, there were various numbers in the counts making
it difficult to say who was where. But for sure, the A8's, A23's,
A25's and the two A36 boys for a definite total of 14 Orca throughout
the day, with more possible, but unconfirmed. One report described
the very unique split topped dorsal of I64 from the I11 Matriline.
But this male was not spotted again, nor were any of the other I11's.
I do not know if the I11's have even come into the inside waters, but
this unique dorsal and the variations in number of Orca makes me
wonder.... It is more likely that we had the A24's, but again,
unconfirmed.
By 11:42 am Nick, Eagle Eye
Adventures was leaving one group at Bear Bight on the Vancouver
Island side heading up, and I had picked up on the lead group, the
A23's who were with Sean, Tenacious 3 making their way up from
Vansitaart Point to Ripple Shoal while being harassed by a couple of
Dall's Porpoise. They were bucking the tide and stalled, as they had
yesterday, by Camp Point where they had a rub on the shore and
foraged. As the current settled, they worked their way up Race
Passage past Helmken Island when I spotted a very small Humpback and
left this lead group around 3 pm.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 29:
1:28 pm A36's still at Hall Point.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 29:
2 pm The A36 brothers spent the day in
Nodales again. I last saw them swimming along the Sonora shore
Westbound at Sonora Point.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Resort
August 29:
2:30 pm (approx) Some Orca were at
foraging at Palmer Bay heading West slowly.
4 pm At least 6 Orca had made a turn
and were now working their way East below Camp Point on the Vancouver
Island shore.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 29:
6:05 pm The A36's had turned also and
were now at Davis Point heading back into Nodales Channel.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 28:
8 am Orca headed into Nodales Channel
with another 16 Orca by Chatham Point from a fisherman. They spread
out all the way from Thurston Bay Marine Park with some heading into
Frederick Arm by 11 am. A few PWS Dolphins were harassing some of the
Orca which were all of the A5 Pod.
12 pm With some of the whales still in
Frederick Arm, the rest worked their way down Nodales, still being
pestered by some Dolphins and started to head West. They were
foraging and taking their time till they got to Turn Island where
they were clocked at 10 to 12 knots, but slowed again soon after.
5 pm I picked up the A8's and A23's at
Camp Point continuing up Race Pass after a brief stall by Camp Point
to forage and have a bit of a rub on the beaches. A short time after,
I got a radio call from Sean, Teancious 3 that the A30's were just on
the West side of Kelsey Bay. Sounded like there was going to be an
Orca party. There were lots of vocalizations. The A30's appeared to
turn back to West just as the others were arriving at the East side
of Kelsey Bay where they again stalled for a nap.
7:30 pm As I headed back to my
anchorage, I saw the last of the A5's who had taken the Current Pass
side of Helmken instead of Race Pass. These whales all grouped up
around Earl's Ledge and headed East again down Race Pass.
I could hear their vocalizations till
around 10 pm.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 28:
11:30 am A30's were at Swaine Point
being harassed by a few PWS Dolphins and heading East.
3:50 pm The A30's were at Cedarstead
Creek, past Naka, still headed East towards Kelsey Bay. (see above
for their turn)
August 27:
9:10 am “Fair number of Orca” by
Donagal Head spread out to Bold Head and Stubbs Island. There were
between 40-50 Orca.
9:30 am Residents A30's, plus so many
more entering Johnstone Strait, some via Weynton Pass, and some by
Blackney Pass.
11 am A30's and I15's were by the
Sophia Islands and headed to the Bight – very vocal.
2:40 pm Some Orca were continuing East
passing Naka Creek.
August 27:
6 pm Tenacious 3 was leaving the Orca
Easting against the ebb by Windy Point. They were spread out and
doing long dives. It was the A8's, A23's and A25's.
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales
Transient T102
August 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August 27:
7 – 8 pm 2 Transient Orca were slowly
heading West doing long dives and hunting on the South-West side of
Savary Island. A seal was as high as possible on a rock and looked
worried.
Lesley Roberts, Savary Island
Humpback
Whales
August 29:
3 pm (approx) 1 very small looking
Humpback Whale was headed East in Race Passage while the Resident
Orca headed West.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 29:
4 pm Humpback Whale in Baker Pass,
between Hernando and Cortez Islands.
Radio
August 27:
10:30 am 2 Humpback Whales were feeding
by Cracroft Point.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 27, 28 and 29:
Lots of Humpback activity still in the
upper Johnstone Strait.
Humpback Whale
August 29, 2010
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 29:
No PWS Dolphins were reported!
August 28:
8:30 am 20 – 30 PWS Dolphins at
Denham Island / Hall Point area at the top of Nodales Channel. Looks
like a nursery pod.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
Few were harassing the Orca – see
above reports.
August 28:
Friends on their way south near Burke
Channel yesterday took videos of the 100 or so PWS Dolphins that
followed their boat for about an hour.
Michael Stewart, Powell River
August 27:
9:30 am 150 PWS Dolphins around Yorke
Island – zig zagging and sort of heading South. They were still
there on my second pass through at Noon.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
9:50 am 40 – 50 PWS Dolphins by the
Broken Islands, Port Harvey.
10 am 20 – 25 PWS Dolphins by Ripple
Point
3:30 pm 12+ PWS Dolphins by Denham
Island heading South.
5:40 till 6 pm 80+ PWS Dolphins off
Earl's Ledge foraging towards Kelsey Bay with a bit of play thrown
in. Lots of very young calves.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
August 29:
12:20 pm Couple of Dall's Porpoise bow
riding and harassing the Orca close to Tyee Point, Ripple Shoal.
Sean, Tenacious 3
August 29:
4 Dall's Porpoise foraging at Bear
Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 27:
8:30 am 4 Harbour
Porpoise just as we left the harbour. Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 27:
No time given: Pretty quiet down here.
6 or so Dall's Porpoise playing in Dent Rapids.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge