Have You Seen Any of These?

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Few Local Cetacean Sightings, but Great Links in the News including a Humpback close encounter

Transient Bigg's and Southern Resident Orca have been popping up in numbers along the Washington state / BC border. Humpback Whales too have been working their way South and West. Only a few local Sightings reports, including a number of Harbour Porpoise, and many interesting Links in the News.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

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

Humpback Whale known as 'Windy'
stopping by to say hello
Jim Maya, November 25, 2013

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

November 24:
10:05 am: Two Killer Whales have been seen off White Island, just outside Trail Bay, north of Sechelt.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

Humpback Whale known as 'Windy'
Close up mug shot
Jim Maya, November 25, 2013

HUMPBACK WHALES

November 23:
8:20 am: Humpback whale off Qualicum Beach. There's more than one whale. I can hear the really big blows. I heard blows first while I was walking the dog. Lots of seals and sea lions around. Didn't see a dorsal fin but saw some pectoral flipper slaps and there are at least 2 blows looking towards Lasquetti island. The direction of travel is SW towards Ballenas Island.
Don Chatt, Qualicum Beach.


HARBOUR PORPOISE

Harbour Porpoise
November 24, 2013
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek

November 29: (rec'd 30th)
I was out again yesterday (20th) and I saw 4 different pods of Porpoise! There were up 4-12 in each pod.
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek.

November 24:
I was on my board about 2 km out front of Roberts Creek in the Salish Sea on Sunday and had the pleasure of about 12 – 15 Harbour Porpoises circle around me for about 45 minutes. Last 2 times I have seen 2 or 3 from a distance, as they are usually very shy. It was a very special experience! I saw some more even further out. Nice to see the numbers!
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek.

Harbour Porpoise
November 24, 2013
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek


LINKS IN THE NEWS

An amazing encounter for all aboard Jim Maya's whale watching vessel. The boat had stopped at a good distance to watch the young Humpback known as 'Windy' when she decided to come over for a close visit; for about an hour! The video clip is around 10 minutes of some very special moments on Nov. 25th, thanks to Jeanne Hyde for the clip:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQBxGQKYqkE
Here is an edited link to the same story. Recently there have been an increasing number of close encounters with juvenile Humpbacks; the whale watching industry refers to these events as “muggings!”

SeaWorld is consistently in the news. The Canadian group Barenaked Ladies has made a stand by cancelling a concert there too after seeing the movie Blackfish. Two links:
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-reiman/a-mothers-plea-for-the-or_b_4311042.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=22990b=facebook
2. http://us.cnn.com/2013/11/27/showbiz/bare-naked-ladies-seaworld-blackfish/index.html?sr=sharebar_facebook
People may not realize that gases build up in decomposing bodies (whale or otherwise). At the start of a necropsy of a beached animal, the chances of bursting that bubble is inevitable:http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/world/archives/2013/11/20131127-101419.html

Humpback Whale known as 'Windy'
Close up mug shot
Jim Maya, November 25, 2013

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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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Fewer than usual Cetacean Sightings - But all Sightings are Good!

Short report today. The few Sightings reports include Orca, possible Humpback or Minke Whale and some Porpoise. There are a few links showing some Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Transient Bigg's Killer Whales in close proximity as well as Bryde's Whales and Basking Sharks. Lynne Cracknell is back in town, on stream and ready to type all your reports.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

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

Humpback Whale
2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
(assumed Transient Bigg's)

November 20:
6:20 pm With the radio on still as I finalize the Sightings Report, I suddenly hear that there are some Orca somewhere off of Denman / Hornby Island. The people talking were hoping that they'd take a sea lion or two. It's assumed that these are commercial fishermen.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

November 18:
3:15 pm 3 Orcas with small fins sighted moving southbound by Davis Bay in Sechelt. Someone else said they had seen a big dorsal. There were lots of seals around at the time. The Orca we saw were a couple hundred yards off shore.
Danny Bakan, Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast.

November 12:
5:00 pm There are several Orca northbound in front of the Campbell River Ferry Terminal. I saw four of them; there was one male and then three smaller fins. I just saw them surface once but it was getting dark. Don't know if there were any more.
Laura, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

September 12 (rec'd Nov):
I saw these whales (see photo) while sitting on the Rebecca Spit on Quadra Island on Sept 12th. Can you tell me anything about them? Thanks. (These Orca tie in with the Transient Bigg's that were reported at that time - SM)
Linnea Hansen
Orca off Quadra Island
Sept 12, 2013
Linnea Hansen

POSSIBLE HUMPBACK OR MINKE WHALE

November 13:
8:09 am Possible Humpback or might be a Minke whale northbound from Myrtle Rocks.
8:09 am, so too early to call you. Just been watching a lone orca slowly going up past Myrtle Rocks towards Beach Gardens. I wasn’t sure it was an orca as it has such a small curved fin, but it is much bigger than a dolphin. It’s definitely not the same Humpback from the other day; for sure. Hope you can see it shortly.
Holly Roy, Powell River

8:45 am Humpback or Minke Whale just passed by Powell River. Looked like it could be a Humpback, but can't rule out Minke Whale. It surfaced a couple of times and was definitely quickly on the move Northbound. Kept looking, but didn't see it again.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

November 13:
8:45 am Large, lone whale just south of the Powell River ferry terminal. It may be Crescent BCX1258? (without confirmation, it is very difficult to tell which whale it might be - SM)
Shirley Randall, Powell River

November 10:
11:30 am Possible Humpback whale southbound in Grenville Channel. That's located in the Inside Passage just south of Prince Rupert. When the captain of the ferry announced there was a whale off the starboard side, everyone went to look. It had a huge blow and a small dorsal.
Cameron Brant, Morristown, BC

DALL'S or HARBOUR PORPOISE

November 12:
I travel by boat from Fishermans Cove in West Vancouver to Gambier Island daily and quite often see dolphins right off Whytecliff Park. I saw 3 small black or dark grey ones today. I quite often see the larger pods of Pacific White Sided dolphins in Howe Sound between Bowen Island and Gambier Island, but these ones seem quite a bit smaller and have a smaller dorsal fin. They don’t come very high out of the water either and therefor are very difficult to get a good look at. I love seeing the dolphins and so am always scanning my eyes across the water in hope to see them. I am very curious as what the type of dolphins are that I am seeing by Whytecliff. I’ve seen them 3 out of the last 6 working days while passing through. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks. (Based on the description, they could have been Dall's or Harbour Porpoise. There is information available to help identify them on the Whales and Dolphins BC main website - SM)
Earl Paxton, West Vancouver

Dall's Porpoise
2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

LINKS

Rare new Sighting of Basking Shark off Brooks Peninsula on the west coast of Vancouver Island:

Dolphins and Transient Orcas - November 10, 2013 just below Victoria, BC:

80-year-old SRKW Orca 'Speiden' missing, presumed dead:

Bodies of gray whales wash ashore on Russian coast:

Genetics Used To Sort Out Poorly Known Bryde's Whale:


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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Monday, November 11, 2013

Humpback Whales, Orca, Grey Whale, NRKWs and Porpoise

Humpback Whale by Powell River was also seen in Hotham Sound. Unidentified Orca and Porpoise or Dolphin were reported, and the Northern Resident Orca known as G-Pod were uncharacteristically visiting the Victoria, BC area. A Grey Whale report, Dall's Porpoise and Links in the News rounds out this Remembrance Day Sightings update.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

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

Humpback Whale 'Crescent' BCX1258
Grief Point, Powell River November 11, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

Unidentified Orca

November 10:
11:46 am Large number 20+ of Orca spread out between Mitlenatch and Shelter Point, on Vancouver Island. Southbound?
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

November 10:
1 pm Number of splashes close to the Comox ferry terminal – based on the above report, there is a chance that it's the whales, but too far away to tell for sure.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

November 10:
1:26 pm There's a number of Orca blows at Shelter Point....heading towards the fishing hump.
Radio

Northern Resident Killer Whales

November 8:
No time given: Northern Resident Killer Whales were seen by Sooke off Vancouver Island. They were later identified as G-Pod. Information forwarded by;
Alison Barratt, Victoria

Humpback Whale 'Crescent' BCX1258
by the Hulks, Powell River November 11, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

Humpback Whales

November 11:
8:30-ish (rec'd 9:48 am) Breaching Humpback Whale at Sonora Point, Nodales Channel approximately an hour ago from a tugboat.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

November 11:
10:30 am A very big Humpback Whale is heading towards Westview from Myrtle Rocks area of Powell River. It's quite close to the mainland shore, surfacing for three breaths then down for a bit.
10:55 am It just rounded the Grief Point breakwater and may be moving out into Malaspina Strait a bit or more towards Texada Island.
Jim Southern, Powell River

November 11:
10:51 am We just saw a Humpback Whale going toward Powell River just past Myrtle Rocks.
Bob Brooks, Powell River

November 11:
11:15 am Easily picked up the Humpback Whale in the flat calm waters by the Grief Point marina shortly after getting out of Westview Harbour. The whale known as 'Crescent' or officially BCX1258 was doing the usual, not fluking (lifting the tail so a good ID photo could be taken) as it rounded Grief Point. With the ferry preparing to leave Powell River I tried to notify them to take care departing. They spotted the whale and took a wide, slow 12:15 pm departure. Crescent made his/her way to the Powell River Mill where a Sea Lion joined up around 1:30 pm as they worked some food. They travelled close together and maybe even a bit of play as they foraged Southbound close to the hulk breakwater and in towards Willingdon Beach. A number of people watched from shore. Once the Sea Lion was around, Crescent fluked a few times permitting the confirmation of identification.
2:40 pm Humpback 'Crescent' was angling towards Rebecca Rocks or the NW tip of Texada as we, my friend and member of Wild Ocean Whale Society, Judy and I, headed back to the harbour.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

November 11:
10:25 am (rec'd call 12 pm) A Humpback Whale was tight into shore by Myrtle Rocks. Took a few breaths then disappeared. It was a big whale heading North.
Liz Kennedy, Powell River

November 11:
12:28 pm Just saw a Humpback Whale surface right out in front of Powell River. There's a boat out there and it surfaced a ways in front of it. (The boat was us – SM). Unfortunately a tree got in the way of my view, but what a great sight!
Leigha Stewart, Powell River

Humpback Whale 'Crescent' BCX1258 with Sea Lion
Powell River November 11, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

November 11:
Approx. 1:30 pm (rec'd call 2:30 pm) We were out walking on the beach and saw what looked like possibly a mom and calf Humpback Whale just off the hulks and the Powell River mill. Definitely one Humpback. We watched from shore – pretty amazing. (The 'calf' was the sea lion surfacing which can look like a very small blow, in particular when it's very calm – SM)
Audrey Sullivan, Powell River

November 7:
4 pm Possible Humpback Whale at Willow Point, the end of Discovery Passage. It's close to shore. From my brother-in-law again. I may head down to shoot it (photograph it, in case there's any doubt – SM).
Few minutes later: Humpback for sure, smallish and non-fluker. Just passed the Pier Northbound mid channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

November 5: (rec'd Nov. 6)
The MNats ran a trip from Saltery Bay up Jervis to Princess Louisa Inlet yesterday, Nov.5. Almost immediately, we saw a humpback whale at the mouth of Hotham Sound and watched it surface and dive for about an hour. However, we wondered if there were in fact two animals as they seemed to surface in different places. What do you think? (There is a possibility there were two or more, but the photos submitted were all of 'Crescent' the whale seen in Powell River November 11th – SM)
Heather Harbord, Powell River

Humpback Whale 'Crescent' BCX1258
Hotham Sound November 5, 2013
Heather Harbord, Powell River

Grey Whale
(from description)

November 5: (rec'd Nov. 7)
7:30 – 8 am a large baleen whale surfaced very close to shore. We are one kilometre South of Royston on Vancouver Island. It's back was light grey with white blotches (this identifying feature is that of a Grey Whale – SM). I didn't see a dorsal or tail flukes and when it surfaced so slowly, it looked just like a rock. It moved very slowly Southward. Such a treat to look out the window and spot this whale. We regularly see Harbour Porpoise in the area, but not whales.
Julie Andrew, Royston

Unidentified Porpoise
(possibly Pacific White Sided Dolphins from numbers)

Saturday, November 9, 12:30 pm. There was an extraordinary large group of porpoise moving south just north-east (perhaps 1 Km) of Morseby Island. Unfortunately I could not make a count and was too far away (On North Pender) to take any photos. My guess is that there were 50 or more. I have not witness such a large group before although we do occasionally see small groups of 4 – 6 in front of the Magic Lakes estates on North Pender.
Dean Mills, Pender Island

Dall's Porpoise

1:30 pm 3 Dall's Porpoise were heading from Atrevida Reef towards the Harwood spit just North of Powell River. I spotted them, and their distinctive white patch on their dorsals, while waiting for the Humpback Whale to resurface.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Links in the News

Transient Bigg's Killer Whale attacks Dolphin;

Photographers capture rare footage of killer whales in Hawaiian waters;

Humpback dolphins discovered off Australia are new species;

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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Monday, November 4, 2013

1000 Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Transient Bigg's Orca, Humpback Whales and a Northern Pacific Right Whale

1000 Pacific White Sided Dolphins grouped up in the lower Georgia Strait, including a link to video of them in Links in the News. A few Transient Bigg's Orca made a brief appearance, and although I'm pretty sure there are more around, only one current report of a Humpback Whale and one inadvertently missed October report. News of another Northern Right Whale sighting is very exciting. Report and photo below. This is the second sighting in BC waters in 61 years!
There are fewer sightings reports coming in due to fewer boats on the water and some rough water making it difficult to spot Whales, Dolphins or tougher yet to spot Porpoise.
Reminder to please call or email your sighting report in. They are all valuable!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

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



TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
November 1, 2013
Steve Grover, Powell River

November 2: (rec'd Nov. 3rd)
Between 1 – 3 pm 6 Killer Whales in front of Campbell River by Dolphins Resort. They were headed North then turned South. (Late report from a Facebook friend.)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

November 1:
1:07 pm 4 to 6 Orca including 1 big dorsal fin half way across Malaspina Strait from Texada angling South towards Stillwater. Could see them only for a short time from Albion Point / Myrtle Rocks area.
Jim Southern, Powell River

November 1:
Approx. 11 am Hi Susan, I managed to get a few marginal shots of the Orca off Grief Point but couldn't get a more accurate count for you. My friend Julien was so excited as it was his first time to see Orca in his life and you know me, I always get excited seeing them too. The Orca seemed to be hanging around in the same place for about 30 minutes and might have possibly been feeding. We saw no breaching or porpoising behavior though! Thanks for giving me the heads up on them.
Steve Grover, Powell River

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
November 1, 2013
Steve Grover, Powell River

November 1:
10:15 am At least 6 Orca including a calf are Southbound in front of Powell River. They immediately disappeared behind a tree, from my vantage point, so called Steve (above) to get a better count. The whales ran beside a tug and tow for a while and reappeared briefly a couple of times before hiding behind trees again.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC


HUMPBACK WHALES

Humpback Tail Flukes
October 14, 2013
Ray Hogan
November 1: (rec'd Nov. 2nd)
3 pm Just saw a massive Humpback Whale leaping way out of the water. So cool! Was on the mainland side of Welcome Pass, just South of Sechelt. (From my brother-in-law.)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

October 26:
1:30 pm 3 Humpback Whales just off Earl's Cove ferry, Sechelt peninsula. Some Steller sea lions behind them.
Michael Stewart, Powell River

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

November 1 and November 3:
Nov. 1: 10 am & afternoon Various members of our family had the good fortune to see and follow a group of dolphins this weekend that numbered in the hundreds.
The first sighting was in the Strait of Georgia Friday morning around ten am, mid channel south of Point Roberts. We watched as hundreds of these animals schooled together playing and jumping.
Second sighting occurred in the afternoon in the same general area.
Nov. 3: 2:30 pm The third sighting occurred today around 2:30 pm. A school estimated to number in excess of 400 animals was observed travelling east along the US Canada border between Stuart Island and the south coast of Saturna Island. They were travelling at a high rate of speed. We observed them make at least four course changes as they moved through Boundary Pass towards the Strait of Georgia.
I have never seen such a large school of dolphins in these waters before. It was a real thrill.
Mark Kroeker

NORTHERN PACIFIC RIGHT WHALE

Northern Pacific Right Whale
October 26, 2013
John Ford, DFO (Facebook photo)

October 25 & 26:
Friend and colleague Brian Gisborne discovered a rare North Pacific right whale last Friday, October 25, while conducting a whale survey for the Pacific Biological Station! The whale was on Swiftsure Bank off the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait, mixed in with a group of humpback whales. Graeme Ellis, Robin Abernethy and I joined Brian the next morning and we found the whale again near the same location. It looks like a big old whale with a nasty looking but healed injury on its rostrum, likely from a past entanglement. This is a different individual than the one found off Haida Gwaii last June, and is new to the North Pacific right whale ID catalogue (less than 30 whales in that catalogue). Needless to say, we're all pretty amazed to have two North Pacific right whales in BC waters four months apart after more than half a century without any confirmed sightings!
John Ford, DFO Pacific Biological Station

IN THE NEWS
November 1: 1000 PWS Dolphins were spread out from the ferry that runs from Tsawwassen to Galiano Island. Someone managed a video clip that was shown in the news broadcast. This is unusual to see that many Dolphins in the lower Georgia Strait.

National Geographic Opinion: SeaWorld vs. the Whale That Killed Its Trainer

Quickly added link that was missed of a couple of fishermen rescuing a stranded Transient Bigg's Killer Whale in Alaska in September 2013....amazing video:

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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