Hot weather, coastal morning fog has
been the scenario in upper Georgia Strait and Johnstone Strait. In
Georgia Strait it's been slower than usual for Orca till today and in
Johnstone Strait, it was whales by braille, a term used in the
kindest sense. The Resident Orca headed out West while the Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales reappeared. Humpbacks are in abundance in the
upper Johnstone Strait, but not as many as this time last year, while
the Pacific White Sided Dolphins have spread out, but are still seen
in numbers of 100 or more. A few Dall's and Harbour Porpoise
sightings, including ones killed by Transient (Bigg's) Orca, a few
Minke Whales, and a Fin Whale Sighting round out the reports.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
One of the two A36 boys
August 5, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August 6:
9:54 am A36's suddenly popped up
by Cracroft Point in the fog. They were heading up Blackfish
Sound to meet up with some other Orca, probably the A11's and maybe
more.
Later in the day: All Orca had
grouped up and were still headed West well past Bear Point,
Malcolm Island. This was more by sound than sight due to the fog.
August 5:
9 am The A36 brothers were in
Nodales Channel.
1 pm Left the Orca Westbound by Howe
Island.
3:15 pm Found them again on the way
back, still around Howe Island foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 5:
9:45 am A36's showed up in
Nodales Channel, I was on scene at approximately 9:45 at
Sonora Point Westing slowly. We left them at Davis Point
foraging at 10:45 am.
12:20 pm Sounds like they are at
Thurston Bay heading West with the ebb now.
5:55 pm A36's turned and went back into
Nodales Channel. Just left them again by Sonora Point. Might head
back after Bute Inlet to check on them.
7:15 pm Last update...the A36's
Nodales shuffle put them Westing again at Sonora Point.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 4:
10 am Orca – A36's + ?? were
Eastbound into Blackfish Sound. Yes, fog.
Another report of Orca Eastbound
by Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.
11:11 am Orca Eastbound nicely
towards Donagal Head, Blackfish Sound – fog is thick, but
lifting.
2:30 – 5:30 pm The A36 boys
were still in the Bight, but finally started heading out and
to the East.
In the meantime: the A30's were
Westbound by Round Island, just off Port Hardy.
8:25 pm The A36's were very
slowly working their way East between Naka Creek and Adam River.
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales
Transient (Bigg's)
Killer Whales
August 6, 2012
John Cook, Brown's Bay
August 6:
8:45 am Orcas reported between
the Red and Green can buoys off Cape Mudge.
9 am Another group of Orca
Eastbound bucking the ebb tide by Ripple Point off Campbell
River.
9:30 am T20 and T21 Northbound
in front of Campbell River.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 6:
8:55 am Sounds like we've got
Transients heading towards Cape Mudge. One big male
from fishing guide.
9:32 am The other group of Transients
are Eastbound at Rock Bay, by Chatham Point.
12:23 pm T20 and T21 turned at
Seymour Narrows by Walcan Seafoods plant half an hour ago.
3:26 pm The two groups of Transients
now totalling 6 Orca grouped up at April Point now doing 5 knots.
4:26 pm I left the 6 Orca Southbound
at Cape Mudge 15 minutes ago.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 6:
1:21 pm 4 Orcas in Brown's Bay, Campbell River heading for the Narrows now. They were moving rather quickly. Last I heard they were reported at Ripple Point. then to Duncan Bay. Here they were doing the three blows before a deep dive. They did stay down a long time her as well as Ripple Point/Copper point.. Hope they return south.
1:21 pm 4 Orcas in Brown's Bay, Campbell River heading for the Narrows now. They were moving rather quickly. Last I heard they were reported at Ripple Point. then to Duncan Bay. Here they were doing the three blows before a deep dive. They did stay down a long time her as well as Ripple Point/Copper point.. Hope they return south.
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown's Bay Summer
Resident
August 6:
5:18 pm The gangs of Orca joined up
and killed a Harbour Porpoise off Cape Mudge. Sent the porpoise
flying!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 6:
7:45 pm We had T18/19/20/21 in
town all day today. T18/19's came from the North and joined the
others. I just left them at Salmon Point, Campbell River still
Southbound. T20 and T21 came from the South this morning.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 5:
5:20 pm Some Transients coming
out of Barronett Pass. 4 small fins for sure.
George, Sailcone
August 5:
7:53 pm Still don't know who these 4
or 5 Transients are at the moment, but they're between
Cracroft Point and Hanson Island. They've taken at least one
Dall's Porpoise that they forced against the shore. One Male
was identified as T19B – no really young calves in the
group, but a couple year old juvenile.
Radio, Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins on the Move
August 4, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August 6:
2:33 pm 100+ PWS Dolphins at Hall
Point, Nodales Channel.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 5:
Report that there are around 400 PWS
Dolphins in Tribune Channel, just off the Broughton Archipelago.
(Erin and Rob have been doing the long run up there to study and
obtain photo ID shots of their dorsals. SM)
Erin Ashe, Oceans Initiative
August 4:
12:59 pm 200 PWS Dolphins at Ripple
Point heading East.
Later: Had a good Dolphin show!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Fin
Whale
August 5:
5:30 pm A report of a possible Fin
Whale feeding for about an hour off the lower reefs in Pearse
Passage. After heading out to help search for the whale, I had
just returned to Salt Wash and received a call that Erin and Rob
caught a quick grab shot to confirm it's species close to Port
McNeill around 7:20 pm. They lost it after that. It's amazing how
easily a very large animal like that can disappear so easily.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Humpback
Whales
August 4, 5 and 6:
Throughout the days the Humpback
Whales are usually in and around the 'golden triangle' between
Stubbs Island, Donagal Head, Bold Head and over to the Plumper
Islands. There are two regulars who venture into Weynton Pass and
feed in the tide rips. These two are known as 'Argonaught' and 'Black
Pearl'. There are forays out of this triangle other than Weynton
Pass, with at least one enjoying the tidal rips at Blackney Pass, the
bottom of Blackfish Sound. The ones by Bold Head, not sure if it's
only Mom and calf, tend to head over towards the Whitecliffe Islets
and there was one report from as far afield as Lizard Point, Malcolm
Island. The total numbers are remaining around 6 Humbacks so far
confirmed. With the fog in the mornings, some of the reports have
been by hearing their blows rather than seeing the animal.
Minke
Whales
August 4, 5 and 6:
There has only been one reported
sighting of a Minke Whale, that I'm aware of each of the days.
Unusual since there were so many just over a week ago. One report was
of a Minke headed towards Alert Bay from the Port McNeill area,
another at the top of Pearse Pass and another out by Lizard Point,
Malcolm Island.
Dall's
Porpoise
August 4, 5 and 6:
There are daily sightings of groups of
Dall's Porpoise foraging in the rips of Weynton Pass, around
Stubbs Island and over to the Plumpers as well as some down by
Blackney Pass also in the rips. See the Transient Orca report
of at least one taken off Cracroft Point, Blackney Pass. The groups
that are seen vary anywhere from 3 to 10 animals at any one time.
Harbour
Porpoise
The little Harbour Porpoise gets
quite neglected in reports when there are so many other Cetacean
sightings, but one specific sights report did come in – thank you!
See also the Transient Orca report for another one taken off
Cape Mudge, Campbell River.
August 4:
9:24 am Hi – Saw a harbour
porpoise heading north in Cordova Bay.(Haro Strait) He/she
was about 40 meters off shore travelling slowly. I did not see a pod,
just one. Cheers,
Anita