Orca, both Northern Resident and
Transient (Bigg's), spread out all over the place from Denman Island
in Georgia Strait to reports of a very large group by Cape Caution.
Humpback Whales have again ventured down towards Campbell River as
well as new ones entering the top end of Johnstone Strait. Minke
Whales have also spread out with at least one spotted across Queen
Charlotte Strait yesterday. Dall's Porpoise are in abundance near the
top of Johnstone Strait while Pacific White Sided Dolphins are still
in abundance in the inside lower channels with a few showing up the
top of Johnstone Strait. The little Harbour Porpoise, as always, take
a back seat when there are so many larger, more visible, animals to
report.
And for the unusual sightings, I've
posted a separate catagory since there are a few very interesting
reports.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient (Bigg's)
Killer Whale Breach
August 9, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
Northern
Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales
August 9:
During the day, there were rumours of
Orca being spotted in so many areas that it took till the
afternoon to sort out that the A30's and A36 boys were the
ones heading West up Johnstone Strait. The first reports which can
only now be confirmed came in about 12 pm from Nick Templeman,
Eagle Eye Adventures that a private boater reported 15 or so
Orca Westbound in Race Passage, just below Kelsey Bay. The A30's
and A36's are now, 6:30 pm, right around the Robson Bight Ecological
Reserve.
August 9:
7:30 pm A30's, A36's, A23's, A24's
and A25's turned East by Kaikash Creek heading back towards Robson
Bight.
Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island and
Jared Towers
August 8:
First report that came in was that at 3
am (yes, that's three in the morning) the kayak camp at the Sophia
Islands saw and heard around 14 Orca heading West past
their camp and spread out.
Larry, Discovery Skiff
They must have snuck past cause then:
9 am 4 Orca heading West along
the Vancouver Island side across from Boat Bay, just below the
Sophias.
And not long after, the 4 Orca
turned out to be a lot more..... the A30's and even more were
spread out from the Bight to Blinkhorn Island, by Telegraph
Cove. Later they turned and headed East at the aptly named 'Turn
Point'.
August 7:
9 am A36 boys were found in the
fog at Donagal Head, Malcolm Island The A30's and the A11's
were all soon spotted heading down Blackfish Sound to the Robson
Bight Ecological Reserve.
Throughout the day they did what they
have been doing, foraging and back and forth from Cracroft Point,
Blackney Pass to the Bight.
August 7:
Afternoon: A HUGE pod of Orca
numbers up to maybe 100 (Superpod) were reported just around Cape
Caution....no updates.
Bill Mackay, Mackay Whale Watching
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales – (meat eating) Orca
August 9:
Email Timestamp 12:34 pm: A pod of 3
Transient Orca on the southeast side of Denman Island. The
bull came to the shore to rub his belly on the pebble beach. He was a
few meters from our kids swimming and playing at the shore. Wow! The
kids minds were blown!
Keith Porteous, Denman Island
Keith Porteous, Denman Island
August 9:
Once reports got sorted as to Transient
vs. Resident Orca:
9:10 am 2 Orca reportedly
Southbound by Eagle's Cove.
9:56 am Orca in Brown's Bay too.
Don't know numbers or direction.
1:15 pm 3 Orca reported by Hole
in the Wall AND 6 Orca by Granite Point.
6:48 pm Left the Transients at Elk Bay
Westing – the new Calf looks nice an healthy!
Garry Henkel Aboriginal Journeys
Transient (Bigg's)
Killer Whale
August 9, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August 9:
10 am One lone female Orca in
Brown's Bay – (very odd to have only one – SM)
3:17 pm T19's all 4 here in Brown's
Bay.
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown's Bay
August 9:
12:51 pm More Transients at Willow
Point – female met up with them.
2:29 pm T046/046D/046E and T122 plus
the new calf Southbound in Discovery Passage still North
of Brown's Bay.
3:15 pm Met up with the T018/019
gang at Brown's Bay – they turned Northward.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 9:
1:15 pm 3 Orca Southbound at the
Lighthouse and 2 Orca Westbound in Hole in the Wall.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 9:
1:26 pm 5 Transients Northbound
by Lighthouse just left them. 2 or more reported by Hole in
the Wall.
6:52 pm Just leaving T19B and T46's
with little squirt (calf) Westbound by Elk Bay.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
Humpback
Whales
August 7, 8 and 9:
Getting a daily count has been
difficult especially with the fog; today for example I was out and
thought I heard a blow. About half an hour later this Humpback Whale
came from the area I was just at..... how did I miss it? Was it
resting in the kelp? In any case, it headed off with very long dives
towards the Whitecliffe Islets. All I saw was that it had all white
tail flukes. No time for camera – it was gone off in the distance.
Then another came from the Whitecliffe Islets and did the same thing
only in the other direction. Leaving me in the middle, feeling
neglected! There are the same numbers around – give or take. There
have been huge tail lobs, mostly seen by the Whitcliffe
Islets, breaches, mostly by Cracroft Point it
seems, and lunge feeding in all areas including Fife Sound.
'Arogonaught' seems to really enjoy the Weynton Pass tide rips and is
usually found there, 'Freckles', well known from last year's reports
has been spotted a few times, and of the whales I had seen yesterday
lunge feeding in Fife Sound, I could not identify from the references
I have, so are possibly new ones to the area. Counts range from 6
to possibly 8 animals. Also:
August 9:
9:56 am Humpback Whale or possibly 2
spotted at Green Sea Bay across from Chatham Point near
Sonora Island, just above Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback Whale Lunge
Feeding
Mouth Open Throat
Expanded
August 8, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Minke
Whales
August 8:
1:20 pm One Minke Whale popped
up just outside Booker Lagoon, off Fife Sound, to feed around
the reefs. I believe this one is known as 'Bolt'. It was doing very
short, small lunges, gulping some fish and continuing towards Wells
Pass.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 9:
1:15 pm Over 100 PWS Dolphins around
Denham Bay, Dent Rapids area.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 9:
1:30 pm 6 – 8 Pacific White Sided
Dolphins stopped and rested in a kelp patch for a few minutes
then disappeared off Sunday Harbour.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 8:
12:26 pm 12+ PWS Dolphins at Ripple
Point playing and foraging doing circles!
Later: 100+ PWS Dolphins milling
and fishing at Hall Point, Nodales Channel and another 12
or so at Kanish Bay doing the same thing.
Scotty, Painters Lodge
August 8:
7:22 pm 100+
Lags in Denham Bay!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Dall's
Porpoise
August 7, 8 and 9:
Dall's all over – playful –
bowriding, wake riding and just foraging.
August 8:
There was a large group of Dall's
Porpoise just outside Telegraph Cove that seemed to spread
from Blinkhorn all the way down East below Robson Bight.
Afternoon: 4 Dall's came flying
through and disappeared after I watched the Minke Whale – SM
August 8:
9:40 am Pod of 12 or so Dall's
Porpoise by Naka Creek. Really playful. I stopped the boat and
they jumped all around us. They were a super happy little pod!
Later: Little pod of Dall's at
the mouth of Bute Inlet foraging – they've been pretty
steady there all week.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 7:
Late Afternoon: 4 Dall's between
Whitecliffe and Sunday Harbour, 2 Dall's in Sunday Harbour, 2-4
Dall's in Marsden Passage, 2 Dall's beside Joe's Cove.
Harbour
Porpoise
August 7:
11:13 am Lots of Harbour Porpoise
out here, just below Campbell River.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Unusual
Sightings
Great
White Shark
Sperm
Whales
August 7:
Morning: 2 Whales that had every
indication of being Sperm Whales were seen just off Pine
Island, Queen Charlotte Strait.
Cruise Ship Volendam
Around August 1st:
Received report on the 8th:
While fishing off Duval Point, at the entrance to Port
Hardy, there was a large bait ball and an 18+ foot long Great
White Shark lunged into the middle of it slashing back and forth
with it's mouth open grabbing fish.
Although a second hand report, the
fisherman was adamant that after checking all possibilities on line
and in books, that this actually was a Great White Shark.
To answer the questions these
sightings raise:
Yes, there have on occasion been
Great White Sharks in waters close to the open ocean such as Prince
Rupert and Port Hardy.
Sperm Whales were hunted to near
complete extinction. This would be a significant sighting and an
indication that our oceans are recovering from our abuse.
And No, unfortunately no photos were
taken or submitted.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC