Northern Resident Orca, Humpback
Whales, Minke Whales and Dall's Porpoise sightings from mostly the
upper Johnstone Strait area with Pacific White Sided Dolphins and a
late report of Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales in the Sunshine Coast
– upper Georgia Strait area.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
NRKW A75 with Her New
Calf
August 2, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 3:
Throughout the day: the A30's
have been from the top of Blackfish Sound down Johnstone Strait to
just East of The Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, back up the
Strait as far as Beaver Cove, by Telegraph Cove and then back down
towards the Bight.
August 2:
Throughout the day: the A30's
were again, spotted at the top of Blackfish Sound in the
morning and worked their way down the Sound towards the Bight.
Later in the day, they had ventured up Johnstone Strait to Beaver
Cove and turned back towards the East at 7:30 pm
August 1:
Throughout the day: the R4's, A11's,
I15's and A30's were spread out all over Blackfish Sound
then Johnstone Strait foraging, went back towards the Bight, when
around 1 pm the R4's and I15's popped up in Weynton Pass
while the rest were close to the Bight. These Resident Whales also
turned back to the bight till 6 pm when the R4's, on their own
were spotted by the Stephenson Islets at the bottom of Weynton
Pass. They continued West in Johnstone Strait and I left them around
7:30 pm still headed West past Alert Bay. Overnight: The I15's
and A11's possibly joined the R4's to head out West into Queen
Charlotte Strait.
The R's are not regularly seen in
the area so it was a treat – I also managed to get some great vocal
recordings. Their vocals are quite a bit different than the A Clan or
G Clan calls. I'm working on getting a few short audio clips up –
SM
NRKW's the R4's
August 1, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Transient
Orca – Bigg's Killer Whales
July 30:
Second hand report of Transient Orca
passing Cortez and up into Surge Narrows.
Humpback
Whales
August 3:
Throughout the day: The total count
today was only 5 Humpback Whales that I heard about. One of
them was Breaching at Cracroft Point as the A30's headed closer to
Blackney Pass.
August 2:
9 am Humpbacks: 1 at Whitebeach Pass,
Mom and Calf at Bold Head, 1 at Parsons Bay.
9:30 am Humpbacks: 2 at Bold Head, 2 at
Flower Island, 1 in Weynton Pass.
10:30 am 4 Humpbacks at Wells Pass.
4 pm – 7:20 pm Humpback lunge feeding
between the Stephenson Islets and just off Pearse Islands. It left
the area in Johnstone Strait heading towards Weynton Island.
Total number unique animals
during the day: 9 Humpback Whales
August 1:
Throughout the day: 1 Humpback
Weynton Island, 1 by Plumper Islands and 1 putting on a huge show
with enormous tail lobs, breaches and pectoral slaps after lunge
feeding in Blackney Pass while the NRKW's were also there.
August 1:
11:46 am 2 Humpback Whales –
'Chunky' and her calf (photos in yesterday's post) at Camp Point
close to Kelsey Bay headed West against the current.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback Whale (Salt
Wash at anchor behind)
August 2, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Minke
Whales
August 3:
12:30 pm Minke at top of Pearse Pass
headed towards birds picking off feed. Too long dives for any photos.
August 1:
4:42 pm Minke angling
from Pearse Islands toward Weynton Pass.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 3:
3:45 pm 100+ Leaping PWS Dolphins in
Denham Bay by Dent Rapids.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Dall's
Porpoise
August 3:
1 pm Dall's bow riding by Telegraph
Cove and Stephenson Islets – no numbers.
August 2:
7 pm 2 Dall's Porpoise between
Stephenson and Pearse Islands.
August 1:
No time recorded 2 Dall's Porpoise
foraging by Pearse Islands.