Southern Resident Killer Whales made
their annual December trip up around the Powell River area. Other
Orca, thought to be Transient, Bigg's Killer Whales also swung by.
(Apologies for the delayed report.)
Remember ALL sightings
reports are important!
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Southern
Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Orca
Porpoising
by Grief Point December
14, 2012
Steve Grover, Powell
River
December 14:
10:40 a.m. Watching a pod of orcas,
heading north. Two of the smaller females were in quite close to
Black Point (Albion) the pod is scattered, some mid strait. Saw two
males, at least two other females. Think we have spotted a few more,
but they are very scattered, can barley locate the blows in the
moderate waves, northwest wind 10 knots.
11:10 a.m. more stragglers, in fairly
close to Donkersley beach, half a km from shore, could hear the
blows. Appeared to be all females; one juvenille and two young ones
swimming quite close together with a male in the far distance.
Laura Johnson, Powell River
December 14:
11:15 am At least 4 Orca, didn't notice
any big fins passing by. Really spread out, hard to tell for sure how
many. They're doing long dives, I think as they work their way slowly
North in front of us. (Albion Point area – SM) A couple of
them are right in close to shore and a seal is popping up watching.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
Southern Resident Orca
by Albion Point
December 14, 2012
Bill Taylor, Powell
River
December 14:
Thanks for the advance notice of orca
coming up the Malaspina Strait today.
At 12 noon we saw 3 or four orca, very
spread out, slowly making their way north west up past Myrtle Rocks,
Powell River. One was quite large and had a very long thin dorsal
fin. Then we saw at least eight more, a lot further behind the first
ones. These two second groups had about four or five in each group
with two small ones. Unfortunately they were too far out from shore
for us to get photos.
12:19 pm Large group heading north past
Beach Gardens now.
Holly Roy and Bob Brooks, Powell
River
December 14:
12 pm At least 6 including 1 big male
about mid-channel between VanAnda (Texada Island) and Grief Point.
There's one closer to the mainland side. Another group or two showed
up closer to Grief Point.
12:20 pm Last group of 8 Orca just
rounded Grief Point.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River
December 14:
12:15 pm Went down to the Powell River
viewpoint, since the skiff is still in the shop, with the hopes of
having the whales come closer after the heads up call received. But,
they didn't come close; disappointing. I did see between 12 to 18
Orca heading North-West towards Rebecca Rocks and Harwood. They were
in 2 or 3 groups with some tail slapping and at least three full
breaches that I saw.
2:19 pm they're still off Rebecca Rocks
heading towards Vancouver Island still really spread out. By 3 pm
they had all turned South-West and I lost sight of them behind Texada
Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
December 14:
Thanks for the heads up on the Orca
passing by. I think they must be the same large pod of transients
that passed by on Wednesday. (These ones turned out to be Southern
Residents - SM) I think there were at least 20 animals in total
that I could count. When my friend Dave and I got to Grief Point we
could only see 5 or 6 on the far side of the Strait close to Texada
Island. That group had a bull with them. Three more were cruising
north about mid Strait and then a few minutes later we saw 3 more
about 200 meters off shore. I actually heard their blows because I
was trying to photograph the other group. I heard some more blows and
saw at least 5 animals between Grief point and the Beach Gardens
breakwater and about 100 meters off shore. This group seemed to be on
the hunt as they were porpoising and changing direction quickly while
near the surface. About 15 minutes later I noticed 2 more Orca at mid
Strait one of which was a bull too. Lots of fun and it was a first
for my friend Dave Glace, he got some nice shots too. I think some of
the saddle patch is visible on the image of the bull's dorsal if you
zoom in.
Steve Grover, Powell River
Southern Resident Orca
J28 plus
by Grief Point December
14, 2012
Steve Grover, Powell
River
Orca
– Probably Transients (Bigg's)
December 12:
11:15 am 4 Orca 2 in closer to
Westview, Powell River and 2 closer to the Blubber Bay light off
Texada Island.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River
December 12:
From the call above till 12 pm I
counted between 10 to 12 Orca with 2 males and one juvenile angling
North-West towards Rebecca Rocks and Harwood while 2 females angled
towards the Powell River mill.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
December 12:
2 pm The Orca are still between Rebecca
Rocks and Harwood.
Steve Grover, Powell River
December 12:
3:45 pm Pod of Orca just off the Comox
ferry terminal heading North. Seen from ferry.
Don & Karen MacAndrew
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