Have You Seen Any of These?

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Cetacean Sightings Reports Update

Another delayed Sightings report to catch up including a few texted reports that I missed. Plenty of Cetacean activity out there, so a lot to cover.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Humpback Tail Flukes
2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Transient (Bigg's) (meat eating) Orca

September 8:
8:52 am 2 at least, Transients about 1 1/2 Km off Quadra Shore heading towards Rebecca Spit. There are more, spread out towards Plunger Pass / Whaletown / Rebecca Spit. There are at least two groups, one with at least 9 Orca and 1 male and 1 female closer to Whaletown.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 8:
10:10 am Left the Transients by Village Bay – time to head for the Grizzlies at Bute.
5 pm After a great bear tour, stopped to check out the Transients again and left Orca by Hoskyn Rock Southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 8:
11:30 am Transients spread out between Hoskyn Rock and Breton Islands including a sprouter (young male who's dorsal is sprouting) and a calf. Not sure who.
6 pm They're still around the Breton Islands.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

September 8:
1:30 – 2 pm Transient Orca are still between Read Island and Hill Island – not going anywhere fast.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures

September 7:
2:45 pm Just passing along a report from others who were fortunate enough to see them. 3 Orca northbound between Denman and Hornby Islands, "two with
large dorsal fins and one with medium sized".
Graham Blake

September 6:
11:30 am 5 – 6 Orca including 1 Male and 1 calf looking like they're hunting in the narrow part of the Copeland Islands – just back and forth.
Vessel Moondance

September 6:
12 to 12:30 pm 4 Transients did a loop around the Copeland Islands checking out rocks along the way. I picked up on them as they came between Major Rock and the Raggeds (a local name for the Copelands). I never saw a mom and calf and left the 4 headed towards Powell Islets above the Copeland Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

September 6:
6:45 pm 4 Transients Southbound towards Campbell River from Chatham Point.

September 4:
4:30 pm Some Orca Northbound by Cape Mudge.

September 3:
7:30 am Late Report of Transients last night by Copeland Islands.

September 3:
10:36 am As I rounded Raza Island, I picked up on at least 3 blows and when I got closer found 4 Transient Orca 1 adult male, 1 sprouter and 2 females. They headed, quite cooperatively in my direction, so I could enjoy watching as we transited down along the Cortez side towards Quadra Island. I left them around 1:45 pm close to Whaletown and Marina Island without ever getting a chance to actually ID them.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

September 3:
2:30 pm the 4 Transients were by Marina Reef and by 3:15 pm had picked up the pace to between Hernando and Mitlenatch Islands.
Joss Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

September 2:
Day: Some Transients Westbound by Izumi Rock at the West end of Robson Bight.

Northern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales

NRKW Calf Spyhop
2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images

September 7:
10:30 am Resident Orca Westbound by Eve River, Johnstone Strait
Found at least 20 Resident Orca from I-Pod by Broken Islands, by Port Harvey (Bill on the Naiad ID'd them as the I's). Left them around 1:50 pm still by the Broken group.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 6:
1 pm 2 – 4 Orca Westbound in Nodales Channel from Sonora Point down to Davis Point.
6:30 pm 2 Orca Westbound in Calm Channel – someone said they were the A25's

September 6:
2:38 pm I left the Orca at Bear Bay on the Thurlow side Westing in slow motion. 1 male 1 femal and 1 smaller one.
Joss Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

September 5:
8 am Orca heading into Nodales Channel.
10:14 Left the A25's in Frederick Arm foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 5:
8:45 am 6 Orca at the top of Nodales and by 10 am were in Frederick Arm foraging – someone said that it was the A25's

September 5:
9:50 am At least 4 Orca Eastbound into Chancellor Channel. A25's?
12:20 pm The Orca still Eastbound by Greene Point Rapids.
1:25 pm Resident Orca now Westbound by Howe Island into Johnstone Strait.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 4:
10:15 am 4 Orca Loughborough - Chancellor Channel area. On way back from Grizzly Bear tour we left the Resident Orca Westbound by Davis Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 4:
3:30 pm Orca between Phillips Arm and Frederick Arm in Channe Pass heading East.

September 3:
During the day: Orca in Robson Bight and Weynton Passage at the top of Johnstone Strait.

September 2:
8:20 am The 2 Resident A36 brothers are Easting by Howe Island heading into Nodales Channel.
10:53 am A36 boys still foraging around Davis Point. Must've found some good eats!
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 2:
10 am A36's Eastbound at Harding Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 2:
12:30 pm A36's heading West, down Nodales by Sonora Point.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures

September 2:
1:30 pm A36's now Eastbound up Nodales to Hall Point.
3 to 3:30 pm A36's were now down by Davis Point again and Westing; sort of!

September 2:
Day: Rest of the Resident Orca have exited out of Johnstone Strait to the West.

Humpback Whales

September 8:
7 am Humpback at Cape Mudge – just gave me a tail fluke wave :) First headed South then North and back again.
10:30 am Humpback was extremely tight into shore in and almost behind a large kelp patch in front of Simm's Creek then continued along the Vancouver Island shore Northbound.
1:20 pm Humpy is back!! Now headed South doing long dives. Big animal. Foraging towards Mitlenatch now.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

September 8:
12:20 pm Never saw the Humpback on the early run, but having lunch at the dock, he / she popped up just in front!
3:18 pm Left Humpback Northbound by Chatham Point.
4:30 pm (on third tour of the day) Humpback back 2 Km from green can buoy off of Cape Mudge resting and spyhopping!
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 8:
8:30 am Humpback blow SE from Whilby Shoal.
11 am Humpback by the fishing pier in Campbell River.
2 pm Whales off Elk Bay – 2 Humpbacks mid-channel Northbound by Eagle's Cove.
2:30 pm Humpback (originally sighted one of three today) still just off the fishing hump out from Cape Mudge.
5:40 pm 2 Humpbacks still or again back to Eagle's Cove.

September 7:
4:30 pm Humpback at Cape Mudge milling. From Garry, Aboriginal Journeys.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 6:
8:10 am Humpback Whale Southbound by Armour Road, Myrtle Rocks/Albion Pt. area of Powell River.
Nina Falls, Powell River

September 6:
9:15 am Big blow off the green can buoy at Francisco Point, Cape Mudge.
7:30 pm Humpback Whale back and forth by the Cape Mudge Village.

September 5:
7 am One of the ferry guys said there's a Humpback Whale by Grouse Island near Quathiaski Cove.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 5:
2:50 pm Humpback off of Maude Island, Discovery Pass.

September 2:
1:05 pm Humpback Northbound by Old Churchhouse.
1:30 pm Humpback made it by Sonora and headed right into Gillard Pass.
3:45 pm Large Humpback by the East side of Hole in the Wall heading South into Calm Channel. This Humpback stayed milling outside of Whiterock Passage looking as if it was trying to figure out whether it could go through the narrow passage till at least 5:30 pm

September 2:
6 pm Found the Humpback tight by Rendezvous Island heading South – possibly towards Whale Passage.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 1:
7:10 am Humpback Whale Northbound past Painter's Lodge in Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 1:
8:15 am Humpback out by Brown's Bay in the passage heading West, up island. My husband watched her do three shallow dives so we knew there was a chance we would not see her surface, and we didn't. Actually, he heard the Humpback before he saw it. Very loud (blow). That is so cool. We heard she came up on the other side of the canyon wall. Could be he.
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown's Bay

August 30:
3 pm Humpback Southbound at Salmon Point.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

August 30:
3:30 pm 2 Humpback Whales by Hoskyn Rock.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

Minke Whale

September 8:
2:30 pm Minke Whale in Seymour Narrows Southbound.
5:30 pm Minke must have turned North.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Wave Riding – 2012
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

September 8:
9:30 – 10 am 150+ PWS Dolphins from Deepwater Bay to Kanish Bay.
3:18 pm Dolphins still at Deepwater Bay.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 8:
1:30 pm and 2:30 pm and 5:40 pm 150 or so PWS Dolphins still foraging and playing around Deepwater Bay.

September 8:
6 pm Just spotted half a dozen dolphins off the west end of the Trail islands here in Sechelt. It’s 6pm, water is flat; there have been tons of seabirds collecting here since yesterday, as I see lots of shiners glimmering in the sunlight, jumping and swarming in mass.
Judy Marusiak, Sechelt

September 7:
8:30 am Some Dolphins reported around Horne Point, but en route:
9 am 300 or so PWS Dolphins were spread out by Edith Point, Walkem Islands area. At first it looked like a tide rip with all the boiling water.
Later: 300 PWS Dolphins Westbound at Vansitaart Light with another 300 MORE fishing at Earl's Ledge across from Kelsey Bay.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 6:
9 am 150+ PWS Dolphins by Turn Island headed towards Howe Island and Nodales Channel.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 6:
9 am Around 200 PWS Dolphins heading East by Chatham Point....bit later; More like 300!! They're heading East in Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 4:
8:45 am Small group of PWS Dolphins by Horn Point, Dent Rapids area.
12:18 pm 30 to 40 PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay, then on the way out to Discovery Pass:
1 pm 200+ PWS Dolphins spread out from Chatham Point to Turn Island putting on a good show.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 3:
8:20 to 9:35 am 50 to 100 PWS Dolphins by Frederick Arm with 1 or 2 by Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 3:
10:27 am Around 15 PWS Dolphins by Turn Island foraging.
11:30 am Larger group of PWS Dolphins went all the way to the head of Frederick Arm and were now coming out.
4:35 pm Smaller group of PWS Dolphins by Horn Point, Dent Rapids area.

September 2:
9:30 am PWS Dolphins by Copper Bluffs.
11:30 am PWS Dolphins in Brown's Bay, Northbound.

September 2:
5 pm Around 300 PWS Dolphins right across the channel from Chatham Point to Greensea and toward Elk Bay . They're going off like popcorn!! Left them around Cinque Islands 5:30 pm.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

Dall's and Harbour Porpoise

September 8:
7:30 am 2 Harbour Porpoise mid strait foraging close behind Humpback Whale. A second group of 3 or 4 Porpoise headed South.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

September 8:
3 pm 4 Dall's Porpoise by Clipper Point in Bute Inlet foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 7:
3 pm or so A few small groups of Dall's Porpoise in Bute Inlet; 3 or 4 in each group.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 6:
9:14 am 2 Harbour Porpoise foraging in Sutil Channel heading towards the Breton Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

September 6:
9:40 am 6 Dall's Porpoise foraging off Denham Island, Dent Rapids.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

September 6:
5:30 pm 1 lonesome Harbour Porpoise cruising by Simm's Creek.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

September 5:
10 am Some Dall's Porpoise foraging by Jimmy Judd Island, Gillard Pass.

September 5:
3:15 pm About 6 Dall's Porpoise on the way out of Bute from Bear Tour.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

September 3:
9:30 am 6 or so Dall's Porpoise off Rock Bay heading towards Nodales Channel.
4:35 pm Some Dall's Porpoise at Hall Point, Nodales Ch.

September 2:
8:20 am Group of active Dall's Porpoise back and forth by Rock Point. From Seaspan Commodore.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge