Sightings updates are below, and it's a
lengthy report, but first a brief, but enthusiastically large Thank
You to everyone who helped make the three days of Powell River Sea
Fair 2013 a success for us. Even the Humpback Whales just off the
fair grounds helped us raise awareness!
Congratulations to Joan Bech of Roberts
Creek, the winner of the draw for two 6 hour whale watching tours.
We raised close to $600 from both on
line entries and over the three days. Thank you to all who
contributed and participated!
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
Call
1-877-323-9776
or
Email
your report.
Every sighting report is
valuable!
Humpback
Whales
Humpback Whale off
Grief Point
July 25, 2013
Chris and Danielle
Bratseth, Powell River
July 29:
9 am One Humpback Whale is inside the
reef off the Meadows at Savary Island. First heard the blow at 6:30
am. We'd seen blows over the past 3-4 days, but was too far out
towards Vancouver Island to tell what species.
Lesley Roberts, Savary Island
July 28:
11:56 am Humpback Whale off VanAnda,
Texada. I could see the blows from Willingdon Beach Sea Fair grounds.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 28:
2 pm We watched 2 Humpback whales, only
one tail fluked, but definitely two animals back and forth by the
Westview side of Grief Point, then Southbound slowly.
Janet Southcott, Powell River
July 28:
5:30 pm Humpback off Grief Point,
Powell River.
July 28:
7:30-8 pm 2 Humpback Whales off
Vananda, Texada. Possibly 3 of them, but definitely 2. One breached
and then few breathes, showed tail flukes and gone.
Tom Adamack, Powell River
July 27:
3:30 or 4 pm Looked like 4 Humpback
Whales were Southbound by Powell River Mill mid-channel angling
towards Texada.
Darcy Gaudet, Powell River
July 27:
3:46 pm It was nice meeting you
yesterday. I'm sure you've already heard, but there are two humpbacks
right in front of town right now, heading north towards Harwood. They
were here last night as well, with one full breach and a big splash.
5:41 pm I amend my report- I think it's only one whale and it turned
around at about the mill and is now heading back south. At this time
it is just south of beach gardens.
Jessica Dohm, Powell River
July 27:
3:48 pm Humpback off Grief Point again.
6 pm Humpback spotted off Grief Point.
July 26:
7 am Just to let you know that I saw a
single Humpback this morning at 7:00am towards the north eastern end
of Texada , (below the microwave tower on Pocohantas Mtn) and about
2/3 across the Malaspina Strait. The same 5 or 6 blows at the surface
and then a deep dive, could be same Humpback again. At 7:30 I saw
blows further south along Texada Island in the large bay before
Vananda. One peculiar observation was that this whale did the surface
breathing and then a deep dive as I was expecting but then about 15
seconds later was back at the surface a short distance away. Could it
be 2 whales again? I tried to get the scope on the area but tree tops
obscured a lot of my view. I did see further blows at 7:45 further
south again before I lost them.
Steve Grover, Powell River
July 26:
8:49 am 2 Humpback Whales still out in
front of Powell River between Grief Point and VanAnda.
July 26:
11 am 2 Humpback Whales with Kurt and
Leif half way between Grief Point, Powell River and VanAnda, Texada.
Jack Springer, Campbell
River Whale Watching
July 26:
1:30 – 2:30 pm 1 Humpback was off
Beach Gardens, Grief Point.
John Carter, Powell River
July 25:
6:30 am Just spotted the humpback out
front of Texada St heading south. Rats...have to get ready for work
and can't watch.
Joanne Brough, Powell River
July 25:
7 am Two Humpback Whales right out in
front of Westview, Powell River.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 25:
10:07 am This Humpback Whale off Grief
Point is HUGE – the largest I've seen.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 25:
11:50 am One very large Humpback is by
VanAnda, Texada Island.
12:42 pm One Humpback off Grief Point
and the larger of the two Humpbacks is somewhere off Texada.
1:28 I'm still off Grief Point with
Humpback Whale. Some Transient Orca are off the Powell River mill
heading this way.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 25:
2:30 till 4 pm We watched 2 Humpback
Whales off Beach Gardens, Grief Point, Powell River. One big yacht
came VERY close to one. We had also seen them Sunday, July 21st
by Myrtle Rocks.
John Carter, Powell River
July 25:
3:08 pm Left Orca heading South at
Grief Point, Powell River. One Humpback Whale in the same spot. That
Humpback had a close call with a white motor yacht.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
3:46 pm Possible other Humpback just
South of Mitlenatch Island – just saw flukes. (Confirmed after)
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
4 pm Here are some photos from a large
humpback that put on quite a show for us on Thursday off Grief Point.
See above photo.
Chris and Danielle Bratseth, Powell
River
July 25:
9:30 pm Sighting July 25 - just saw 2
spouts and backs of whales, assumed Humpbacks, heading SW down
Agamemnon channel near southernmost hydro crossing.
Also saw 2 harbour porpoises at south
end of Lewis channel on July 15.
David Stiles and family
July 24:
Since I am not up on my species, I am
going to presume it was a Humpback whale we watched performing out
front of the beach gardens..later after helping friends we went back
and spotted it out front of Vananda! We had quite a show from the
first viewing..jumps, tail. flippers..which were white with black
circles underneath. First one flipper, then the other flipper, tail,
jump, both flippers waving..exciting most beautiful show!!
Joanne Brough, Powell River
July 23:
8:29 pm Humpback(s) just showed up
again below VanAnda on Texada side. Chance there are two. We watched
them from 8 – 8:20 pm what a great show.
Jim Southern, Powell River
July 22:
9:25 am Humpback spotted approximately
1 1/2 miles off Myrtle rocks. Might be the same seen near Texada
about 5days ago.
Arlene Simonar, Powell River
July 21:
Two friends reported watching several
Humpbacks blowing and diving just south of Myrtle Rocks Powell River
on Sunday PM ..Activity went on for 4 or 5 hours.
John Carter, Powell River
July 20:
1 or 2 pm at low tide, 1 or 2 Humpback
Whales were off Mahood Beach, Lang Creek area south of Powell River.
Patrick and Laura Elworthy, Powell
River
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's T101
July 26, 2013
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July 29:
8:25 am Orca reported at the mouth of
Frederick Arm at 8:10 am – I'm on my way.
8:45 am 5-6 Small fin Transients at
Gomer Island, Frederick Arm Southbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 29:
9:27 am 4 Orca reported heading SW
between the reefs off Savary Island and Cape Lazo about 45 minutes
ago. Other T's by Horn Point above Yucultas.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 29:
11 am 5 Transient Bigg's Orca
Southbound at South end of Stuart Island (Orca Point).
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 29:
11:31 am 5 Transient Bigg's Orca
heading into Bute Inlet.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 29:
6:32 pm 5 T's all the small fins are at
Hill Island Westbound towards Beazley Pass. They're 1/4 mile off Hill
Island heading NW into the sun glare.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 28:
2 pm T90's and T100's Eastbound by
Robson Bight.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 28:
3:55 pm Left 5 Transient Bigg's Easting
at Naka Creek, Johnstone Strait.
6 pm We passed the Transients at St.
Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait Eastbound. They just started to angle
over towards Port Neville – may head into Sunderland Channel.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 28:
Night: Orca were off Marina Island, by
Cortez Island from fisherman.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 27: ?Date?
4 pm 6 Orca Southbound by Myrtle Rocks
playing and cruising.
Dan Simmons, Powell River
July 26:
11:41 am 4 Orca Northbound at the red
can off Cape Mudge.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 26:
11:42 am Orca moving fast at Cape Mudge
Lighthouse now.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 26:
12:50 pm 4 other Orca at Junction Point
in Lewis Channel heading North.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 26:
1:51 pm Orca at Brown's Bay milling
mid-channel Discovery Pass.
2:59 pm T's are at Race Point Seymour
Narrows Southbound. T101's/102
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 26:
4:16 pm Leaving Orca Southbound at Cape
Mudge travelling 11 knots!
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
12:42 pm On the way down to see the
Humpbacks off Powell River, the T101's popped up off the East tip of
Harwood Island, in front of Powell River, Southbound.
Kurt Staples, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
1:28 I'm still off Grief Point with
Humpback Whale. Some Transient Orca are off the Powell River mill
heading this way.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
July 25:
Around 2:30 – 3:30 pm 3 Orca spotted
Southbound in front of Powell River – there was one big dorsal.
John Carter, Powell River
July 25:
3:08 pm Left Orca heading South at
Grief Point, Powell River. One Humpback Whale in the same spot.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
9:20 pm at least 3 Transients turned
North back up from Albion (Black) Point/Myrtle Rocks. They were
possibly on a kill since there were lots of big splashes.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
July 25:
9:25 pm 6 Orca – 2 males, 2 females
and 2 smaller were rolling, spyhopping and playing close to shore. We
watched for around 45 minutes till too dark and they headed North.
Jim Southern, Powell River
July 25:
9:30 pm or so there were 3 Orca, 1
calf, 2 big males and 2 females below Armour Road Northbound.
Nina Falls, Powell River
July 24:
3:27 pm So the Transients T101's and
T102 are Northbound between Mary Point, Cortez Island and Kinghorn
Island, just above Sara Point.
4:53 pm Left the Killer Whales with
Garry. Had 1 or 2 possibly seal kills. Lots of great breaches and
spyhops.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 24:
4:23 pm I'm with the T's now.
5:30 pm left the T101's and T102 by
Squirrel Cove heading North.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 24:
4:55 pm Left T's Northbound passing
Teakerne Arm in Lewis Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 24:
6:10 pm Left the Orca still Northbound
up Lewis Channel North of Teakerne.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 24:
Evening: Thought you would enjoy a
video of an orca that took great interest in our 19 ft boat last
evening in Lewis Channel. (Unfortunately I can't include the video
clip in the report due to it's size – SM)
Harold Robertson, Lund
July 24:
6 pm We spotted around 7 Orca off
Tribune Bay, Hornby Island.
Ray Hogan
July 23:
3:48 pm T30A's and T75B's are about 10
miles below Lasquetti Island Northbound at 4-5 knots aiming for
Hornby Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Northern
Resident Orca
July 29:
10:16 am At least 3 or 4 Orca (later
confirmed to be Resident – SM) Southbound at Ripple Point.
11 am A23's and A25's Easting by Walkem
Island.
11:31 am Resident Orca now at Turn
Island
Radio
July 29:
11:54 am A couple of Northern Resident
Orca heading towards Thurlow Island and Nodales Channel with some PWS
Dolphins.
Radio
July 29:
11:54 am The NRKW - A30's are at Bold
Head, the top of Blackfish Sound.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 29:
1 pm Resident Orca (A23's and A25's)
are between Howe and Harding Island heading towards Davis Point into
Nodales Channel.
Lee, Kakawin
July 29:
3:05 pm 6 Resident Orca (A23's and
A25's) Westbound at 8 knots out from Frederick Arm into Nodales
Channel. A60 was the last KW past us into Fredericks Arm. He all of a
sudden made an abrupt turn, called so loud coming past us we heard it
through the hull, and took off to the West. The rest turned and
followed. Seemed like he was leading the pod. I have seen older
matriarchs do it, but never a male.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 29:
4:05 pm Left the Orca (A23's and A25's)
still Westing out of Nodales.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 28:
1:25 pm Beautiful day here with the
Orca up at Telegraph Cove, Eastbound for now.
1:59 pm The A23's/25's and A30's have
turned to the East from Beaver Cove.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 28:
2 pm A30's, A23's and A25's in Robson
Bight Ecological Reserve.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 27:
11 am Left A23's and A25's Eastbound at
Hickey Point, Kelsey Bay. There are 8 to 10 foot seas!
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
July 27:
1:58 pm AJ (Andrew Jennings) is with
Orca at Camp Point....report is Westbound. Second hand report through
Hurricane Jack.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 27:
11:02 6 Orca Easting now across from
Port Neville.
2 pm A23/A25 Westing two miles past
Camp Point.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 25:
3:40 pm A23's and A25's at Kaikash,
Johnstone Strait, moving slowly East.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 24:
3:27 pm NRKW are back in
town....they're at Lizard Point, Malcolm Island heading East towards
Johnstone Strait. Not sure how many or who, but will be on scene in
30 minutes.
5 pm Left the A23's and A25's at
Donegal Head, Malcolm Island at the top of Johnstone Strait
Eastbound.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
Southern
Resident Orca
You can see the tag half way down the
rt side of the dorsal fin. Stopped working I believe in April /13. It
looks nasty when I crop in.
Marie O'Shaugnessy, Orca Magic
Unidentified
Orca
July 22:
4 pm Four Orca in Stuart channel
yesterday.. It seemed the whale watching boats had followed them up
from Victoria… The whales lingered outside of round island for
quite a while and then disappeared.. Seemed the boats were too close
and I felt so sorry for the whales. We live on DeCourcy Island so
this was all going on in front of our house… around 4 PM
Moira Parkinson, DeCourcy Island
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
July, 2013
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 29:
9 am Large group PWS Dolphins by
Chatham Point.
Radio
July 29:
10:07 am 100 PWS Dolphins at Chatham
Point, across from Nodales Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 29:
10:30 am 24 PWS Dolphins fled from the
Transient Orca and headed North from Jimmy Judd Island, Yucultas.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 29:
11:54 am PWS Dolphins in Rock Bay /
Chatham Point with a couple of Northern Resident Orca heading towards
Thurlow Island and Nodales Channel.
Radio
July 29:
12:22 pm Small group of PWS Dolphins
with a really tiny calf in Devil's Hole, by Dent Island.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 29:
12:30 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at Greensea
Bay, Discovery Passage.
Lee, Kakawin
July 29:
4:30 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at Elk Bay,
Campbell River area, Northbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 29:
6:32 pm Dolphins at Deepwater Bay
milling around.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 28:
9:35 am PWS Dolphins in Duncan Bay.
11 am 75 PWS Dolphins off Howe Island,
Nodales Channel.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 28:
10:34 am 15 PWS Dolphins at Steep
Island, Seymour Narrows frolicking.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 28:
10:59 am 35-40 PWS Dolphins spread out
between Duncan Bay to Walcan. They're slowly working their way North.
Leaving them now.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
July 28:
12:18 pm 200 PWS playful Dolphins at
Greensea Bay. Just leaving them.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 28:
12:30 pm 50 PWS Dolphins Southbound
above Cinque Islands, Discovery Pass.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 28:
3:09 pm Dolphins Westbound past Chatham
Point fast!
5:55 pm PWS Dolphins Southbound at
Kanish Bay towards Campbell River.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 27:
2 pm Dolphins in Nodales.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 27:
2:56 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Westbound by
Howe Island, Nodales Channel/Discovery pass.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 26:
8:10 am 75-100 PWS Dolphins in Denham
Bay above Yuculta Rapids. No direction – foraging.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 26:
9 am PWS Dolphins in Seymour Narrows
Northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 26:
9 am 50-100 PWS Dolphins from John's
Point heading down Cordero Channel to Dent Rapids now. Spoke to
private boater on radio.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July 25:
10:07 am Hundreds of PWS Dolphins off
Chatham Point heading into Nodales. They're spread right across the
channel.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 25:
1:27 pm 150 Dolphins at Denham Island
now.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 25:
5:53 pm 50 PWS Dolphins at Horn Point
Southbound now towards Gillard Pass.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
July 24:
9 am Dolphins in Nodales Channel.
Radio
July 24:
12:45 pm PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 24:
11:02 am PWS Dolphins in Nodales
Channel.
2:28 pm Left the Dolphins on the East
side of Little Dent Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 23:
9:02 am large group of PWS Dolphins at
Frederick Arm and a smaller group at Chatham Point.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 23:
10:27 am Big group of Dolphins
Southbound by Cinque Islands, Discovery Pass.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 23:
1:25 pm Dolphins couple miles off
Deepwater Bay.
July 23:
2:09 pm 100+ PWS Dolphins Southbound at
Bodega Point spread out across the channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 23:
3 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at Plumper Bay.
3:30 pm Dolphins at Separation Head,
Discovery Pass.
Radio
July 23:
5:02 pm 8 PWS Dolphins foraging at Howe
Island, Nodales Channel and a really big bunch at Seymour Narrows.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July 23:
8:52 pm I left the Dolphins at Browns
Bay doing circles.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
Harbour
Porpoise
July 28:
3:37 pm 1 Harbour Porpoise at Breton
Islands off Quadra.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 25:
2:15 pm I saw a group of 3 harbor
porpoise at the NE entrance to Manson Passage Savary Island at 14:15
today.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island
July 24:
3:02 pm 8 Harbour Porpoise are in the
mouth of Aran Rapids in Bute Inlet.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 23:
4:12 pm 6-8 Harbour Porpoise at Dent
Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July 23:
5:02 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise by Penn
Islands, Sutil Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
July 22:
Out with Mike and Sabina for Hernando
Reef trip today. Scheduled Malaspina Nats trip. Spotted several
harbour porpoises. I reported them to the Captain as Dall's, but was
immediately corrected...shows you how little I know about marine
mammals!
Andrew Bryant, Powell River
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776
or Email
your report.
Every sighting report
is valuable!
Whales
and Dolphins BC is officially the non-profit Wild Ocean
Whale Society (WOWs)
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