Have You Seen Any of These?

Monday, July 8, 2013

NRKWs, SRKWs, T's, Humpback, and Minke Whales; Dolphins and Porpoise Too!

So much going on with the preparations for Sea Fair, this report is another long catch-up report.
Some exciting news today about the Northern Resident Killer Whale, Springer A73, now 13 years old, who was successfully rehabilitated in 2002 and re-released in Johnstone Strait; she was seen along the North Coast of BC with her newborn, healthy calf, first spotted July 4 (See Links in the News below)! Some of the other NRKWs are still up in the Bella Bella area and North Coast, while a few other A clan Northern Residents made their way into closer cruising grounds around the top of Johnstone Strait. The upper Georgia Strait still has a few Transient Bigg's Killer Whales that are very good at sneaking around, a few Humpback Whale reports, and Minke Whale reports. The inlets and channels have also had spotty Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Harbour and playful Dall's Porpoise sightings.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Powell River Sea Fair July 26 to July 28, 2013:
Our NEW fundraising DRAW for Two 6 hour whale watching tours donated by one of our regular reporters, Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tickets are available on line until July 25th
and throughout Sea Fair – come visit our table
Winner will be drawn at the closing ceremonies July 28th.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

Orca (unconfirmed Northern Residents?)
July 2, 2013
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella

Unconfirmed Species of Orca
(believed to be Northern Residents - SM)

July 2:
Pod of orcas close to Bella Bella - at least 12 in number including two, large but aloof individuals keeping a distance from main pod. 1 large orca with a curled over and gnarly looking dorsal stayed in the pack. They travelled slowly north to south down far side of Lama Pass about 2 km away from Bella Bella wharf but then angled back towards the northwest and came straight for the wharf area giving all watchers a great show (no breeching though).
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella

Northern Resident Killer Whales
(fish eaters)

July 6:
2:50 pm The A30's and A36's just came into the Blackfish Sound / Johnstone Strait area.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions &
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching


Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
(meat eaters)

July 8:
2 pm 6 Transient Orca at Cracroft Point, top of Johnstone Strait including a couple of calves. ID'd as the T137's plus others.
Leif, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 7:
12 pm Just got a report (4:19pm) of 3 or 4 Orca at Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage, Northbound.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 7:
8:14 pm Just got a text from a friend....Orcas Northbound mid-channel level with Westmin Terminal, in front of Campbell River.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 6:
9:32 am 2 Transient Orca, so far, are Southbound in Seymour Narrows close to the Quadra Island shore. Confirmed: T020 and T021
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 6:
12:30 pm Left the 2 Orca () at the Cape Mudge Village, still Southbound after a quick seal kill.
3 pm Elvis just found the 2 T's 2 miles off Mitlenatch Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions &

July 2:
Yesterday, we had the T 75, T75A and 4 others, the T77's apparently according to Mark Malleson, who is an expert at ID's on the whales seen around our area, from Prince of Whales. These were seen off San Juan Island, False Bay, where many of L Pod whales had been seen in the morning.
Marie O'Shaughnessy

Transient Bigg's Orca T072
July 1, 2013
Marie O'Shaughnessy

July 1:
We had T072 a rare Transient visitor, and possibly the three T75B's.
Marie O'Shaughnessy

Southern Resident Killer Whales
(fish eaters)

July 8:
I missed the Superpod of Southern Resident Orcas, J K and L Pod that came in (Strait of Juan de Fuca / Victoria area) with all the fog here today.
Marie O'Shaughnessy.

July 2:
We did find L 85 with a female and y oungster, looked like L 77 with her L119 baby from 2012 and much the same time as the T's... Interesting times. Both kinds of Orca near one another, perhaps less than half a mile away from each other. L 85, 'Mystery 'and a female, looked like L 77 with her baby L119 from last year.
Marie O'Shaughnessy.

Humpback Whales


July 8:
5:44 pm Humpback Whale was reported at the South end of Quadra Island all day.....from a fisherman.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 30:
On Sunday we were sailing back from Malcolm Island and saw what I think is a whale just passing alert bay harbour and headed North passing in between Haddington and Sointula. The first two photos are of the same whale moving past Alert Bay towards Sointula. (Confirmed Humpback Whale from photos - SM) We also saw .... see Minke report below.
Gill Threadgold

June 27:
We had two Humpbacks, and many harbour porpoise, probably around 15-18 in slow motion which was a real change for us, in flat water. (Humpback known as 'Cassiopeia' was identified from photo - SM)
Marie O'Shaughnessy

Minke Whales

July 3:
10:13 am a Minke Whale is Southbound by Quathiaski Cove.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

June 30:
.... continued from Humpback report.... what I think were two porpoises heading down from Port McNeill along the Vancouver Island side of Haddington Isle. ....the second two are what I thought were maybe porpoises moving down the coast between Haddington and the Nimpkish coast...I will read your website and learn more now that I found it !! (Confirmed Minke Whales from photos - SM)
Gill Threadgold

June 30:
We had 4-5 Minke whales at Hein Bank. Awesome sightings. Feeding all the time with many bait-balls on the surface. (With photo submitted: Q:Cookie Cutter attacks or just some kind of Fungus on its skin? A:Looks like cookie cutter marks rather than a fungus, but yes, there's a lot. - SM) Other photos: of two Minkies, possibly a mother and her calf, of the 4-5 we saw.
Marie O'Shaughnessy

Minke Whale off Nimpkish River
June 30, 2013
Gill Threadgold

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

July 8:
9:17 am 25 or so PWS Dolphins at Menzies Bay.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

July 8:
11:04 am 20 or so PWS Dolphins above Brown's Bay, Discovery Passage, foraging.
2:40 pm 20 PWS Dolphins Sonora Point, Nodales Channel, Eastbound. There's 3 young calves in the group.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

July 8:
5:19 pm 20 or so PWS Dolphins at Duncan Bay, Discover Passage.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 7:
10:21 am 15 – 20 PWS Dolphins at Barnes Bay in Okisollo Channel.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

July 7:
3:39 pm 12 PWS Dolphins at Walcan, in Discovery Passage, foraging in the tide rip.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

July 6:
3pm PWS Dolphins between South end of Quadra Island and Shelter Point on Vancouver Island.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
July 5:
6:29 pm 40 - 50 PWS Dolphins have been found in Dent Rapids Northbound; from Richard.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions &
July 4:
12:40 pm 50-60 PWS Dolphins spread out Southbound by McMullen Point in Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

July 4:
1:39 pm PWS Dolphins by Ripple Rock, Seymour Narrows – spread out and foraging. Hard to count in smaller groups heading South towards Race Point.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions &

July 4:
3:23 pm 20 PWS Dolphins Northbound now by Walcan while another 12 are by Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 3:
10:13 am 50 + Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Hall Point in Nodales Channel.
10:58 am 25 PWS Dolphins at Little Dent Island, just above Stewart Island/Big Bay area.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

July 3:
12:15 pm 25 PWS Dolphins by Denham Bay (above Yuculta Rapids) foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

July 3:
12:52 pm Dolphins at Horn Point (above Yuculta Rapids).
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris

Dall's and Harbour Porpoise

Dall's Porpoise
July 5, 2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

July 5:
2:17 pm 8 – 10 Dall's Porpoise foraging in the current by Old Churchouse, Stewart Island. The Dall's were super playful when I had them, then they went quiet.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions &

June 27:
(repeat from Humpback Report above): we had two Humpbacks , and many harbour porpoise, probably around 15-18 in slow motion which was a real change for us, in flat water.
Marie O'Shaughnessy

June 25:
Down Victoria Way, we had, Dall's Porpoise and Harbour Porpoise.
Marie O'Shaughnessy

Links in the News

Northern Resident Killer Whale Springer, A73 has given birth to a calf on July 4th near Bella Bella: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/07/08/bc-springer-killer-whale-calf.html

Comment: Based on the photo 'at moment of impact' it looks as if the whale was being harassed severely. SM

Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs) Links:

Financial Status and accounting after initial (March 2013) Fundraising Draw: http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/wild-ocean-whale-society-wows/


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More web site updates are to follow, but as the saying goes,
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Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report. Every sighting report is valuable!

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