First a correction in the last posting:
the Humpback Whale Flukes photo was taken at Ripple Shoal this year
August 29, 2012 not as stated, and may be a new whale to the area.
Due to lack of internet connection,
reports were delayed. The August 30th Orca reports follow
the separated Resident Orca and Transient Orca sightings reports to
September 1, 2012.
August 30, 2012 was another very busy
day, mostly with Orca. Where these Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales
were hiding is anyone's guess, but late Powell River reports give
some indication. Humpback Whales have appeared again in the Savary
Island – Campbell River area, with the start of their migration to
their breeding grounds in Mexico and Hawaii. Pacific White Sided
Dolphins appear to have moved their larger numbers up to the top of
Johnstone Strait but a few smaller groups are still around.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
NRKW the A23's Nodales
Channel
August 31, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
September 1:
8:47 am Orca at Hall Point Nodales
Channel report from sports fisherman.
September 1:
9:29 am As I rounded Davis Point, I
came across 4 Orca foraging very tight into shore headed into Nodales
Channel. I cruised very slowly watching them right against the shore
inside of over twenty sports fishing boats trolling up to Sonora
Point. There were 3 smaller splashes around them, in particular
around the lead male. I couldn't tell which species of Dolphin or
Porpoise was harassing him. At one point the A23's stopped to rub
against the rocks with a bit of spy hop slowly settling back into the
water as they had a good scratch. Once they made it up to Sonora
Point around 10:30 am I noticed a Steller Sea Lion foraging with
them. The Orca continued up towards Hall Point foraging all the
while. They crossed over to Frederick Arm where they met up with the
A36 brothers and contined to forage
a short distance up the Arm turning back down towards Nodales at 1
pm.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
September 1:
10 am Watching the 4 Resident Orca just
below Sonora Point with 3 Harbour Porpoise harassing them.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 1:
10:53 am 2 Orca by Hall Point confirmed
as A36's and crossed to Gomer Island at the entrance to Frederick
Arm.
2 pm A36's together with the A23's had
continued down Nodales and were by Davis Point.
September 1:
4:10 pm Orca headed West passing
Chatham Point.
Joss, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 1:
5:20 pm The two A36's were at Hall
Point, nodales aiming for Denham Bay, but instead started back up
Frederick Arm.
Pacific Yellowfin Tender
August 31:
9 am 4 Resident, for sure, Orca
Eastbound by Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 31:
10 am the Resident I15's were at the
bottom of Hanson Island, top of Johnstone Strait foraging and
resting.
10 am Some Orca Eastbound by Eve River
Johnstone Strait.
10:15 am 4 Orca in Bear Bight tight to
shore, slowly Eastbound making it to Rock Pt. by Chatham Point
Lightstation by 11:53 am. Someone reported them as the A25's and left
them angling towards Nodales Channel.
August 31:
3:31 pm Orca by Gomer Island, Frederick
Arm. They turned back down Nodales and were at Hall Point at 4:30 pm
Elvis, Eagle Eye
August 31:
4 pm 4 Resident Orca now Westbound down
Nodales Channel with some Dall's Porpoise.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 31:
Around 5 pm I picked up on the Orca
just below Sonora Point and managed to hear a few calls on the
hydrophone and later confirmed ID's as the A23's from a few photos.
They foraged as they slowly Wested down Nodales Past Davis Point and
Thurston Bay. I last saw their blows by Howe Island at the entrance
to Johnstone Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales
August 31:
8:30 am 6 Orca Southbound by Marina
Island heading towards Mitlenatch Island.
10:33 am Orca by Blind Bay – broken
radio call.
August 29:
there were a few whales in front of the
concrete break water at the mill, yesterday?? August 28th
3 or 4??
Marion Blank, Powell River
August 29:
Late to post this Susan but we have had
2 sightings this week. Friday Aug 24th mid morning 5 orcas heading
south at Grief Point very close to shore. They hit the point and
disappeared. It is a very heavy boat traffic area. Tuesday August
28th 2 groups heading south at Grief Point about 7 PM. Traveling
about 150 m apart. Again very close to shore. One group with 5 or 6
individuals and the other with 3, maybe 4 (one very small possibly a
calf).
Heather Dickson, Powell River
Orca
– August 30th
with
simultaneous sightings this is all Orca reports in time order
Northern
Resident and Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales
Transient (Bigg's) Orca
August 30, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 30:
8:45 am 4 Transient Orca Northbound
heading towards Chatham Point from Elk Bay. As they worked their way
past Turn Island they spread out with one male and a smaller fin in
the center, one on the Vancouver Island side and one by Turn Island
still heading West. (these later became known as Group #2)
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
9:15 am Orca reported from fisherman
between Mitlenatch and the fishing hump off the red can buoy at Cape
Mudge.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
9:45 am Just found another group of 5
Orca 2 big fins 2 small at Palmer Bay, Westbound also. (these became
Group #1) Unsure if Transient's or not. They crossed over to
Vansitaart Point by 10 am.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
9:50 am 4 Transient Orca (Group #2)
were just coming up to Ripple Pt. running tight to shore when we
noticed some other Orca (Group #1) just across the Strait hugging the
other shore close to Vansitaart Point. The 4 were moving quickly and
made it to Palmer Bay, just above Humpback Bay in Johnstone Strait by
10 am.
10:30 am on the way back to go into
Bute for our Grizzly bear tour, we came across some more Orca! There
were blows by Bear Point (these became Group #3) and at least 2 male
Orca were across the Strait by Knox Bay. (these were not seen
specifically again, so no Group # was given - may have been the
Resident A36's and possibly turned, but unconfirmed - SM)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
10:35 am I picked up on 5 Transients
(Group #1) later ID'd as including T93 and T97, just below Ripple
Shoal off Vansitaart Point. It took them quite a while to get across
to Camp Point where they had a quick rub on the beach before
continuing past a lone Harbour Porpoise and a very small seal which
quickly porpoised away. They continued pushing against the large ebb
tide up Race Pass to Petersen Island by Kelsey Bay where they rested
and had another beach rub. I left them there at 12 pm to head back to
look for Group #2.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
11:30 am One side of the Strait had
Transients (Group #2) the other side had a group that looked like
Residents (Group #3). The Resident Orca (uncertain of numbers)
stalled at Palmer Bay while Group #2 Transients were almost to
Vansitaart Point looking at their blows.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
12:30 pm Waiting patiently, the 4
Transient (Group #2) Orca, later ID'd as the T69's were finally
visible at the Vansitaart light. They were fighting a large tidal
current and when a container ship passed, they surfed a bit in it's
wake then worked their way across to the range light below Camp Point
to have a quick rub and a look in the kelp beds. This short distance
took them one hour against the 5 knot flood tide. Surprisingly, they
crossed back over to Ripple Shoal and ran up the center of the shoal
angling to known seal covered rocks. I watched as they passed the
rocks and entered into Billygoat Bay on Helmken Island then rounded
one of the islets and headed right towards Salt Wash, anchored in the
bay. They swiftly took at least one Harbour Seal and shared the meal.
I wonder what my cat on board thought about it all. I returned to
Salt Wash while the Orca hugged the shore out of the bay into Current
Pass at 2:20 pm still Westbound. I did not make it to see who Group
#3 was.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
3:15 pm 5 Transients (Group #1)
Westbound by Windy Point.
Sean, Tenacious 3
3:30 pm 3 Orca (assumed to be the last
of Group #3) made it to Camp Point and stalled till left them at 4
pm.
Elvis, Eagle Eye
5:10 pm Orca (no numbers and unknown
who possibly Group #2) at St Vincent Bight then
5:30 pm 6 to 8 Resident Orca including
1 large fin headed West right in front of Kelsey Bay. (probably Group
#3)
Sean, Tenacious 3
Transient (Bigg's) Orca
take a seal
August 30, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Humpback
Whales
September 1:
8:20 am Humpback Northbound past
Campbell River and now in Brown's Bay.
September 1:
9:29 am Small Humpback by McMullen
Point Westbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 1:
10:26 am Small Humpback by Little Elk
Bay Northbound.
10:49 am Large Humpback in Otter Cove
below Chatham Point Lightstation.
3:06 pm Humpback by Tyee Point, Ripple
Shoal area – no direction.
August 31:
8:35 am Small Humpback Northbound by
Campbell River McMullen Point.
10:15 am Humpback, but not the same
small one, by Rock Point light Westbound.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 30:
9:45 am Humpback just off Seymour
Bluffs.
AJ
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
reports with NRKW's not
duplicated here
September 1:
9:53 am 80+ PWS Dolphins foraging by
Brown's Bay.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
September 1:
Morning sometime: Around 400 PWS
Dolphins were spread out from Escape Reef to Cracroft Point.
3:14 pm Small group of around 12 PWS
Dolphins Southbound by Kanish Bay.
August 31:
9 am 50 PWS Dolphins foraging from
Sonora Point into Frederick Arm.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 31:
6:30 pm 40 or so PWS Dolphins by Kelsey
Point in the Dent Rapids area. They're foraging with some Sea Lions.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
reports with NRKW's not
duplicated here
September 1:
8:45 am 3 Harbour Porpoise
foraging in Thurston Bay.
Susan MacKay, Whales and
Dolphins BC
August 31:
10:30 am 20 playful Dall's
Porpoise by Shoal Bay.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 31:
11:40 am 10 Dall's Porpoise
at the entrance to Phillips Arm.
AJ
August 31:
2:30 pm 10 Dall's Porpoise
right by Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel. I heard some thumping under
the boat, which is always disconcerting, and didn't see any splashes
of animals beside till suddenly the thumping stopped. The Dall's have
done this before, riding the push from Salt Wash's hull but from
underneath instead of in front till they need to take a breath.
Susan MacKay, Whales and
Dolphins BC
August 30:
2 pm Some Dall's Porpoise at
Horn Point, Dent Rapids area.