Have You Seen Any of These?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Lots of Cetacean activity - Orca, Humpback, Dolphins and Porpoise

Plenty of activity with Orca, Humpback, Dolphins and Porpoise appearing, disappearing, and reappearing along the Sunshine Coast and Georgia Strait. A reminder to all to keep an eye open and please report your sightings. We'd rather hear about it twenty times than not at all. The Humpback sighting is assumed Humpback rather than Grey based on description only. Does anyone have a photo to confirm, please? We may even be able to identify the individual from a photo. Also, some more information on branded Sea Lions below.
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

Young Bigg's Breaching
Grief Point, April 25, 2013
Steve Grover, Powell River

April 25:
11 am 4 Orca Northbound at Brown's Bay, above Campbell River. All small fins.
Jos Krojnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

April 25:
1:45 pm Orca, saw one for sure, right out in front of Westview.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River

April 25:
1:45 pm The call from Sherri (above) came in just as I picked up binoculars to scan the water after seeing something out of the corner of my eye. There were 4 Orca – they looked like the same 4 as last night's (I have not had enough time to review the photo's). A few breaches and a brief glimpse of the sea lion they were on, they continued towards Grief Point.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 25:
Transient Orca. Thanks for the heads up about the pod out front today. I drove down to Grief Point as they picked up the pace since we spoke and got a few shots from the shore. At 2:30 pm. The small one was splashing around quite a bit, porpoising, tail lobbing with the occasional breach thrown in because it felt like it. Always a treat to see these beautiful animals.
Steve Grover, Powell River

April 24:
8 am 4 Orca including one calf Northbound in front of Powell River fuel dock.
Pam Iwasiuk, Powell River

April 24:
You've probably already been flooded with sightings but... (photo) Taken from my deck around 08:25 this morning at least two individuals heading north between Westview and Harwood. Wish I'd grabbed my camera sooner!
(Thanks very much Peter and no, I wasn't inundated with calls. Like you, it seems everyone figures I already know....that's why it's so important to report. Every sightings report is important! - SM)
Peter Harvey, Powell River

Orca off Powell River
April 24, 2013
Peter Harvey, Powell River

April 24:
5:10 pm 2 Orca including one large male and a small calf off Whalen Road (Myrtle Point area) heading NW towards Myrtle Rocks.
Perk Percy, Persea's Dive Services

April 24:
5:45 pm Headed out to see about the above noted whales and found them at 6:20 pm just off Grief Point. They were travelling at an easy steady pace Northbound and continued past the Powell River mill angling towards Savary Island. Left them around 7:20 pm mid-channel.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 24:
2 pm 5-6 Orca right now off North side of Savary, mid-Island, working their way slowly towards Mace Point. Orcas at Savary.....Make it 8 at least..........
There were a couple of large fins and couple of really small ones with a total of close to 12 Orca! They headed towards Mace Point till a prawn boat ran right into the middle of the group. They turned towards Hernando and I lost sight of them.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River / Savary Island

April 23:
5:30 – 6 pm There were around 11 Orca including one very large male Southbound past Albion (Black) Point.
Bill Taylor, Powell River

Humpback Whale
(Unconfirmed but assumed rather than Grey Whale,
based on descriptions – SM)

April 23:
Sitting on the beach at Grief Pt. at sunset and a whale (grey?) surged by very close to shore. I think we were within 30 ft. of it! Saw a small dorsal fin when we first heard it, but after that he stayed just under the surface. How amazing! A student staying with us also saw it from the seawalk. Apparently, lots of people saw it. Our student also thought he saw a small dorsal fin. I really only got a flash of it. We were sitting on a log looking out at the water and we heard it first. I knew from the sound it was a whale, not a big blow but a powerful noise. We turned in time to see what I took to be a shallow hump of the back with a small dorsal fin. He was very close to shore. He moved powerfully past us but didn't completely break the surface again. From the glimpse I caught of him, my impression was of a smooth grey colour, but as I say, it was just a flash and I didn't get another chance to take note.
Madeleine Field, Powell River

April 23:
7:30 pm Noticed a huge blow tight to the breakwater at Westview's South Harbour. Possibly a Grey Whale? It headed South then angled towards the Texada side.
Pam Iwasiuk, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

April 25:
5:50 pm 25 to 30 PWS Dolphins are leaping and cavorting back and forth just of Grief Point, Powell River
John & Joan Treen, Powell River

April 24:
6 am 15 to 20 PWS Dolphins were headed South past Albion (Black) Point, South of Powell River. They weren't in a hurry.
Bill Taylor, Powell River

Harbour and Dall's Porpoise

April 25:
Two porpoises were sighted heading south just off Myrtle Rocks in the Malaspina Strait at 8:15 this morning.
Holly Roy, Powell River

April 24:
Some friends and I went to lighthouse park today in West Vancouver. We were hanging out on the rocks looking out at the water and I noticed something in the water to the left of us. At first I thought it was a seal but then we got a better look and it was a group of porpoises! There were about three or four. Very dark grey almost black. They seemed pretty small and we saw their fins pop up a few times. About 75 feet off shore. We were so surprised they were pretty close. This was today the 22nd at about 6-630 pm. Then we saw them again but they were further to the left about 150 feet away. So amazing!
The fins were triangle, and the color seemed very dark charcoal (on first glance I thought it was a seal until we saw their fins and more of them). I'm almost positive they were Harbor Porpoises based on the pics I checked out, there was no white like the Dall's porpoise... Was very magical! So surprised to see them so close to the city.
Kleah Marie Michnik

April 23:
4:20 pm 9-10 Dall's Porpoise in Lewis Channel off Teakerne Arm, Desolation Sound, foraging at the entrance.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale & Bear Excursions

Transient Bigg's off Powell River
April 22, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

Branded Sea Lion Information

Questions arose after my request for sightings reports and the photo of a branded Steller Sealion number 998R. Branding of sea lions for long term research and monitoring first started in Russia in 1989. Researchers found that the tags they used at the time would fall off and were difficult to read. Today, Stellers, California and many other sea lions and seals are being both branded and/or tagged for the purposes of tracking.

The majority of branding to date has taken place in Oregon, California and Alaska. Each location uses specific letter and number combinations indicating exactly where they were first branded or tagged, frequently as pups. With the information available, the location they were first branded and sometimes the age, sex and birthplace can be determined. 998R was branded at Rogue Reef, Oregon and the photo was taken at Mitlenatch Island, Northern Georgia Strait. Since these animals have already been branded and/or tagged, it's useful and interesting to note where they are from and their survival rate after branding. There are some reports that indicate that some branding was done while the sea lions were under anaesthetic, but not all. Some brands appear much deeper than others.

The most recent branding took place March 25, 2013 in Oregon, at the Port of Astoria, where they branded 30 sea lions by trapping adults and pups in a trap. Both Oregon and California have, over many years, branded “nuisance” sea lions that were to be destroyed if they returned to certain areas where they are considered trouble makers. It's unknown if this recent sea lion branding in Oregon is their standard method of branding, but if it is, it strikes me and many of you as cruel. Here's a link to this recent branding uproar: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2013/03/25/more-than-30-sea-lions-captured-and-branded-at-port-of-astoria-by-oregon-dept-of-fish-and-wildlife-1492 Although this is only one side of the story, a picture says 1000 words.
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!

The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOW)

Monday, April 22, 2013

Transient Orca, Dall's Porpoise and more Transients (Bigg's)

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, Dall's Porpoise, and more Transients in this report. They're making more appearances. Keep your eyes open, and call it in!
Due to lack of time, some updated information and answers to some questions people have raised about branding and branded sea lions will have to wait till the next report.
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 off Powell River
April 22, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images

April 22:
8 pm I'm seeing 4 Orca tight to Harwood shore. There could be more, but I've only seen 4 for sure.
Leigh Stewart, Powell River

April 22:
2 pm 9 Orca out between Harwood and the Powell River mill. I just happened to look in the right direction, and there they were. Of course I immediately grabbed gear and headed out into this perfect weather! Even from home I could tell they were T's on a kill from behaviour. After long dives and a few splashes I spotted the first of at least two sea lions they took down. They were back and forth from mid channel towards Harwood, then back towards the mill, almost to Willingdon Beach and back to mid channel out from the mill. I drifted and watched them head away, then back towards me. Suddenly I realized that at least three of them had disappeared entirely during one of the long dives. It was too noisy with boat traffic to hear much, but they appeared to be quiet until some of the others arrived back with the other sea lion. Then they became vocal and I could hear a few distant calls as well as some close ones. They fed again and I left them where I found them at around 6 pm. From home I could see the sun reflecting off their blows a bit closer to Harwood Island. Identifications will follow once confirmed through the photos.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 22:
2:30 pm A call came in to report the Orca, but she quickly realized it was me she could see with them. Thanks for the report!
Elizabeth Tenhoeve, Powell River

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
Gabriola Pass, April 21, 2013
Moira Parkinson

April 21:
Between about 3:00 and 4:40 today, we just saw four Orca feeding outside Degnan Bay at Gabriola pass. Photo
Moira Parkinson

April 20:
3:13 pm 4 Orca just South of Mitlenatch Island Northbound. There's 3 small fins and a calf. When I talked to you there where 4 orcas, they split up in two groups of two after about 30 minutes, and where cruising about 7 knots zig zag pattern.
Two headed for Mitlenatch and strait for the rock filled with stellars, and then they turned. We lost them for a while and then the poped up towards Rebecca spit. Then we left them near the green can when they where still cruising at that speed.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

April 19:
3:30 pm Second hand report of some Orca Northbound by Little River around.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Transient off Mitlenatch Island
April 20, 2013
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

Dall's Porpoise

April 21:
1:15 pm Had 4 Dall's Porpoise in front of Steep Island in Discovery Pass this trip.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 20:
10 am 3 or 4 porpoise (from description, I assume Dall's – SM) headed around the corner out of our view (SW side of Savary) heading North towards Hernando or Mitlenatch Island.
Jack McGuire, Savary Island

April 13 or 14:
Around 12 pm saw around 10 Dall's Porpoise hugging the Sevilla Island (by Lund) shore instead of their usual mid channel.
Bill McKee, Sevilla Island Boat Works

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

The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society (W.O.W.)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Four Cetacean Species - Things are picking up!

Cetacean activity is picking up slowly. Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall's Porpoise and even Harbour Porpoise spotted over the past few days. The Sea Lions have also been returning in numbers.
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 Orca
April 1, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 18:
3 pm 3 or 4 Orca just off the Westview ferry terminal, Powell River. There's at least one big male and looks like a small one too. They're down a long time, but looks like they're headed North towards the mill.
Mike Filewich, Powell River

April 18:
Thanks to Mike, I managed to spot them – more like 7 to 9 Orca. Definitely T's with one very large male with a floppy dorsal. My opinion, it looks like T87, but just an educated guess. There were at least two larger males, a possible sprouter (juvenile male whose dorsal is 'sprouting') and a calf. They appeared to be sharing some food, frequently back and forth towards one another till the ferry came closer. They disappeared into the rain fog around 3:45 pm Northbound.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 14:
1:20 pm Second hand report from a fisherman of 8 to 10 Orca at the North end of Savary Island heading South. They were seen by Twin Islands heading towards the Copeland Islands.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

April 14:
3 pm Saw a couple of blows angling towards Sarah Point. Looks bigger than dolphins, but too far to tell for sure. (posted with Orca due to assumption same as reported above - SM)
Cam M.

Transient Bigg's Orca
April 1, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

April 18:
9:40 am 30 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins Eastbound off Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.
Scotty

April 15:
Around 12 pm 10 or so PWS Dolphins Northbound by Atrevida Reef (between Powell River and Lund).
Kim Liseberg, Lund

Baby Bottlenose Dolphin – Awwww!
Photo received by email
Unknown news photographer

Dall's Porpoise

April 14:
5:10 pm 6 Dall's Porpoise between Mitlenatch Island and the green can buoy at Wilby Shoals, Cape Mudge. No direction – they're foraging and quickly disappearing.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Harbour Porpoise

April 14:
Three Harbour Porpoise in the middle of Malaspina St., between Grief Pt. and Vananda. This sighting was between 2:00 & 2:30 pm on Sun. Apr 14.
John & Joan Treen, Powell River

Branded Sea Lions: If you see one and can read the number, without disturbing the animal, I'd appreciate hearing about it please – these numbers are from very specific locations for tracking purposes. Thank you, Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Branded Sea Lion
Photo from early 2012
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

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

The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society (W.O.W.)

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Transient Bigg's Orca T086's and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales reappear in the upper Georgia Strait and Pacific White Sided Dolphins are still around the entrance to Jervis Inlet in numbers.
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 Orca known as T086A's
The youngest one with the larger split in the
dorsal is T086A3 born in 2011
April 13, 2013
Photo: Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 13:
2:35 pm A couple of Orca were spotted from the Quadra Island to Campbell River run. Message was passed on to me – will head back down to see if we can find them.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 13:
4:13 pm Orca x 3 Northbound at Tyee Spit (Campbell River). Garry is with them.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

Transient Bigg's Orca known as T086's
April 13, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 13:
4:15 pm 4 Orca Northbound right by the mouth of the Campbell River bucking tide. There's 1 larger calf. Stayed with them till Orange Point at 5:15 pm. Nick was with them. I think it may be the ones I saw with Captain Hook (T40). Young one has a notch that looks similar and one of the females has a clean dorsal while another has a couple of notches. Will send photos.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 13:
6:14 pm Just leaving the 4 Orca by Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage. There's an extra whale in the mix of the T086A's....it's T124A1!
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

Transient Bigg's T124A1
April 13, 2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions


Pacific White Sided Dolphins

April 12:
Between 9:30 & 9:45 this morning 100+ dolphins between the Saltery Bay ferry terminal and Scotch Fir Pt. In the entrance to Jervis Inlet. Jumping and cavorting around. They were observed from the ferry.
John & Joan Treen, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
and Great Scenery
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys


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

The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society....or....W.O.W. Paperwork is in the works.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Wild Ocean Whale Society - WOW!

Pacific White Sided Dolphins and quiet on the Cetacean front. Hummingbirds are in full force though. That's at least a smile. At least on this side of the continent we're getting a bit of Spring.
Progress report: The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society....or.... W.O.W. This seems very appropriate for some of the excitement with seeing whales in the wild. More paperwork is in the works.
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!

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Riding beside the boat in the clear waters
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 10:
10 am Heading out and just spotted 3 Pacific White Sided Dolphins on the crossing from Quadra to Campbell River....there's gotta be more than 3 out here.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 9:
2:45 pm 20 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Hernando and Twin Island back and forth including bow riding a boat out there.
Cam M.

April 7:
1 pm Dolphins splashing around in Sechelt Inlet. No other details.
Broken Radio Transmission

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Surface beside the boat
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 7:
10 am Dolphins spotted in Bute Inlet – from workers up there.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

April 6:
1:15pm - Approximately 70 Pacific White-sided Dolphins sighted heading eastbound past southeastern tip of Nelson Island.
Michelle Evelyn and Dave, Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project

March 30 or 31: (rec'd late)
Saltrey Bay to Earl's Cove Ferry was totally surrounded with Dolphins. I'd say easily 500 dolphins. They were riding in the waves and everywhere you looked. It was incredible!
Sylvie

Captain Hook – T40
photo from Okeover Inlet
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

Update on last sighting of T40 plus 3 other Orca was April 1st somewhere in Desolation Sound (no time and not confirmed from source) – SM

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

Friday, April 5, 2013

Dolphins, Killer Whales and Harbour Porpoise

Dolphins all over, some Orca pop up while the others disappear, and a rare, since last year, Harbour Porpoise sighting. A few links in the news below also.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Killer Whales

April 5:
An Anonymous 'comment' posted to the Sightings report that this Orca was seen near Gambier Island – no other details I'm afraid, but the report and photo were
sent in today at 2:20 pm - SM.
Anonymous

Orca near Gambier Island
sent in April 5, 2013
By Anonymous

April 2:
I think there are 4 whale in front of hauls. Hook fin. (no other details I'm afraid – I believe it may have been the Hulks, the old war ship breakwater off the Powell River mill, rather than 'hauls'.- SM)
Marion Blank

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Wake riding Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 4:
1:15 pm 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the mouth of Bute Inlet by Johnson Bluffs – 1:30 pm Actually there's 2 different groups of 25 each about 300 metres apart. They're headed out of Bute now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 3:
11:20 am Approx. 12 PWS Dolphins off Harwood Island out in front of Powell River. They're heading towards Vivian Rocks and out into the Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 1:
9:50 am While kayaking today in Jervis Inlet crossing between Egmont Point and Goliath Bay, we were mesmerized by a Line dance of ~100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins working their way across the channel, from West to East, with South most individuals off Captain Island in a line stretching North up to Saumarez Bluff. They worked their way to the Eastern shore and then proceeded North, finally appearing to close up into a large ring off in the distance. Quite the show.
Eric Schwartz

March 31: (rec'd April 2)
Sorry for the late posting; Early Saturday (Mar 31) morning, we were treated to a sight we don't often see in Sechelt Inlet. At the entrance to Narrow Inlet, we were surrounded by a large pod of pacific white sided dolphins. They were spread across the width of the inlet and travelling towards Skookumchuck Narrows. They're hard to count, but we estimate a group close to 100. It's a beautiful sight to see 4 dolphins jumping simultaneously. Beats hopping Easter bunnies any day!
Here is our attempt at trying to capture extremely fast moving targets.
Joan Bech, Roberts Creek

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Sechelt Inlet
Joan Bech

Harbour Porpoise

April 3:
11:27 am 2 or 3 Harbour Porpoise just out from the Powell River Viewpoint angling towards Willingdon Beach. Nice to finally see a couple around again.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Links in the News

The necropsy of the dead Humpback Whale found in a fish farm net by Tofino has been started:
While the bones have been retrieved for the Royal BC Museum in Victoria:

Levi, the Harbour Porpoise rescued off Victoria is very slowly improving at the Vancouver Aquarium's Rescue Center. April 4th update video:

Tourists have a whale of a time after 30-tonne mother and her curious calf pop up to say hello (and get a kiss for their troubles):

The Whales and Dolphins BC toll free sighting report number:
1-877-323-9776
Please bear with the quirks and need to streamline the message. It sometimes goes to voicemail sooner than anticipated, before there's a chance to pick up, so please leave a message with your sightings information. The voicemail will be changed, but currently still answers as Susan MacKay.
Every Sightings report is important – keep looking – they are out there!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins around the upper Georgia Strait. One male Orca, T40 has a very distinctive dorsal and is known as “Captain Hook” for a good reason. See photos below. The dolphins have been foraging around in groups of two to 100.
The toll free reporting number 1-877-323-9776 is working, but please bear with the quirks and need to streamline the message. It goes to voicemail sooner than anticipated, before there's a chance to pick up, so please leave a message with your sightings information. The voicemail will be changed, but currently still answers as Susan MacKay. Every Sightings report is important – keep looking – they are out there!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

'Captain Hook' T40
April 1, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales

April 1:
1:45 pm 4 Orca were right in Okeover Inlet (runs from Desolation Sound in behind Lund) for about an hour. There were 2 large fins (males) and 2 smaller ones (females or juveniles). One has a very flopped over dorsal – odd looking. They're heading North out of the inlet now.
Susan Hanson, Okeover Inlet

April 1:
3:08 pm Just leaving them heading out of Okeover Inlet. 4 or 5 total. 'Captain Hook' T40 plus 3 (for sure) small fins, T41, T41A and T41A1.
Aaron Webber & Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

April 1:
3:36 pm Just left 'Captain Hook' and the rest of the Orca at Sarah Point angling South-West towards the Copeland Islands. 4 Orca; 2 young ones, T40 'Captain Hook' and a mid-size female.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

March 31:
2:37 pm Call came in from a regular reporter that 3 Orca 1 male, 1 female and 1 young one were heading towards Powell River proper from the Armour Road (Myrtle Rocks) area South of town. Thanks, as always, for the heads up.
Nina Falls, Powell River

March 31:
3:40 pm Found the Orca, definitely Transient Bigg's, as they crossed in front of of Powell River. I did see 3 at first, then only 2. The very big male looked like T87 with a dorsal that slopes to his left. He and a female continued past the mill and I lost sight of just the two of them just past the Atrevida Reef buoy angling towards Major Rock and Mace Point on the Eastern tip of Savary Island.
Note: This male Orca was definitely not T40, so we've had a greater number of whales in the area than spotted or reported. Looking at the photos, the whales were: T40, T86A, T86A1 and T86A3 which would also make sense with having T87 in the neighbourhood. It's very possible that the T41's also were around, since T40 normally travels with them, but without photos this could not be confirmed.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

'Captain Hook' T40 and Juvenile T86A3 & T86A
April 1, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

March 31:
4:23 pm Just got a text from Janeen's brother of two Orca at Grief Point headed North. (I kept watch, but never saw these ones pass Powell River. The 3rd one may have hung back and waited from report above. - SM)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale & Bear Excursions

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

April 1:
4:01 pm 100 PWS Dolphins headed Southbound towards Mitlenatch Island. They're 2 miles from Mitlenatch going back and forth feeding.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

March 31:
2:38 pm Approximately 50 PWS Dolphins all spread out (with some friendly ones :)) at No Name Creek, just North of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale & Bear Excursions

March 30:
4 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Westbound in Cordero Channel.
3:10 pm 12 PWS Dolphins by Denham Bay heading towards Frederick Arm.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

March 30:
4:05 pm Another 20 PWS Dolphins Westbound at the mouth of Nodales Channel. (Other than the ones noted above). Another 50 PWS Dolphins by Howe Island just entering Discovery Passage, then another 10 more at Green Sea Bay, just around the corner. Great trip and nice escort back to the marina.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Pacific White Sided Dolphin in clear waters beside the boat
March 31, 2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale & Bear Excursions

March 30 to April 1:
Late reports, and a bit vague as to time and day, but there have been 2 to 4 PWS Dolphins seen during the long weekend out in front of Powell River and towards the Mill and Atrevida Reef.
Various casual discussion reports

Call Whales and Dolphins BC toll free Sightings Hotline: 1-877-323-9776
To report your whale, dolphin or porpoise sighting.