Hot
off the presses (and in our Links below): A dead Orca was slowly
drifting Northward and has been pulled up on the Bates Beach area
just north of the Comox ferry terminal. There may be a connection to
the November 28th sighting report of some Orca actually
inside the Comox bar, although unconfirmed. In the news video clip
below, there are some rake marks on the back of the whale that could
potentially be from other Orca attempting to pull a stranded whale
off the beach/bar. A necropsy is expected to be performed. It is
still unknown if this was a Northern or Southern Resident or
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale. Other reports below cover at least one
Humpback Whale that was in the Lund area, but possibly now heading
South. Photos submitted so far have only managed to eliminate some
Humpbacks from the identification list. Pacific White Sided Dolphins
round out the reports.
**Just
prior to publishing this report, word came in that it appears to be a
Southern Resident Killer Whale. What a huge blow to their population!
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call
1-877-323-9776
or Email
your
report.
Every
sighting report is valuable!
Humpback
Whale by Lund Harbour
November
30, 2014
Gord
Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn
UNIDENTIFIED
ORCA
Dec
3:
3:30
pm: We have a place on Quadra Island, at the south end looking at
Marina Island and Cortez Island. I was about to leave today, around
3:30 pm, when I heard a blow. It looked like a male and two females,
or two kids, cruising by, heading north. A few weeks ago we saw two
males and probably 4-6 Moms and/or kids cruising by, going south.
Anyway, it's always wonderful to see them.
David
Brown, Chair, Haig-Brown Institute.
Nov
29: report of 2 Orca by Walkem Islands group in Johnstone Strait,
also a large pod in Okisollo Channel in the last couple of days.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Nov
28:
11:30
am: We sighted Orca inside the Comox bar by Royston on Vancouver
Island. It was a lovely calm day for
a last boat run. Excellent visibility. Thought it was a sea lion or
log at first till I saw the blow about a half mile south of
Kingfisher. There were four moving two by two almost halfway
between Kingfisher and Cone Bar buoy about 11:30 am. Thought
I was in for a kill as porpoises on the other side of the boat. But
after half hour, no sign. There they were on the inside
of the harbour. Not much deep water there. Moved to close off
Royston Wrecks, breaching, till 1pm. Also
thought the sea lions might be hiding from them, as very close to the
spit and together. However, no sign of anything but whales in the air
over at the wrecks. They left very leisurely an hour before high
tide. 15 foot tide 2pm, then headed out of harbour. All were
smaller. No large males. Fins all smaller and curved back. Watched
through binocs from boat near Comox marina. 3 sea lions close to
Indian spit. Never seen Orca inside the bar before, lots of harbour
porpoises though, at least ten on October full moon. Curious
as to which way they came and left from Baynes Sound. They were all
smaller whales, looking at fins curved back as well. Lucky you
with Lund humpback! Thanx for your
reply and your dedicated monitoring. I love whales! And have been
surprised that there is very little reporting from our area.
(additional email
information and kind words has been merged with first email in above
- SM)
Wendy
Stevens, Comox area
HUMPBACK
WHALES
December
4:
12
pm One big blow (Humpback is presumed from telephone description -
SM) visible from the Grief Point area looking towards VanAnda.
The whale is moving South down Malaspina Channel. Saw single large
blows a couple of times then nothing more.
Eric
Green, Powell River
Humpback
Whale by Lund Harbour
November
30, 2014 – 2 photos
Gord
Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn
Nov
30:
10:19
am Humpback whale is between Lund and Savary Island – came up a
number of times, looks like he is feeding.
Gord
Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn, Sevilla Island.
Nov
30:
There
has been a Humpback whale hanging around our area for a couple of
months now. I have a cabin right on the water (mainland) facing
Savary and Hernando islands. Yesterday at about 3:30 pm the Humpback
was right out in front. He was with a group (5 or so) of sea lions.
They appeared to be working together to hunt fish. They were all so
close together you couldn't tell which fin belonged to who. The
Humpback would dive, then come up and spout making a big loud noise.
The sea lions were going up and down all around him. The carried on
for about half an hour, eventually working their way north out of my
sight. Is this normal behavior? Sure was fun to watch, will write
again if I notice any other strange behaviors.
PS:
Apparently it was cruising the Lund breakwater with 2 sea lions
yesterday as well, I also heard that someone had claimed to see two
of them, I have only seen the one with my own eyes.
Wendy,
Lund Harbour Wharfinger
Nov
29:
10:45
am: Sighted the Humpback whale again in the same area, around
“Natalie's Island, a rocky islet at the south end of Copeland
Islands, and had a great look at its tail. I just wasn't swift enough
to take photos, but it was quite white underneath, like it's frosted,
it was such a cold day that the description came easily to mind. I
will keep looking. (I've noticed that Dolphins passing by like to
explore around that little island also, must be good feeding). Then
it headed north into Thulin Passage. However around 11:00 am I
spotted a whale by its spouting off towards the west side of the
first Copeland Island, east of Major Rock, so could be more than one
whale here.
Mary
Tilberg, Lund
Nov
28:
5:14
pm: My place is on Rasmussen Bay, just south of the Copeland Islands,
north of Lund. Around 2:00 pm this afternoon, November 28th,
I first caught sight of a spray. The water was very rough but I
instantly thought, that had to have come from a whale. A few moments
later there it was right off the little island at the bay (I call it
Natalie's Island.) It was momentarily at the surface then lobbed its
magnificent tail and went under. I followed its progress south
towards Lund by its breathing sprays and caught sight of it several
more times at the surface before it disappeared. Very thrilled!
Perhaps it's been sleeping in the Copelands?
Mary
Tilberg, Lund
Nov
28:
First
seen on Nov 11, a Humpback whale off Dallas Road, Victoria, some tail
waving and a couple of breaches. Again this morning (Nov 28), same
pattern, swimming back and forth, tail waving and a breach. Just
heard he has been spotted off Clover Point. Again, sorry, no photos,
so no idea if it is the same whale or not.
Lesley
Lewis.
Humpback
Whale by Lund – Savary Island
November
30, 2014
not very clear, but a breach
Gord
Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Nov
26:
11:45
am-12:45 pm: We were watching four Pacific White Sided Dolphins
slowly working their way back and forth in an easterly direction at
the west end of the Trail Islands, in the Strait of Georgia. We saw a
huge leap by one but mostly they were just keeping close to the
surface along the flotsam as it was slack tide. There seemed to be
one large one staying aside and three smaller ones staying close. One
of the three may even be quite young.
Judy
Marusiak, Sechelt
LINKS
In
the News: Dead Orca near Comox / Bates Beach, Vancouver Island:
And
the News clip from Chek TV:
Huffington
Post piece on Orca Rescue with GoPro video clip:
Camera
captures birth of killer whale at SeaWorld:
Update
on the false killer whale calf rescued in July: “Chester”, as he
is known, has grown so much that staff at the Vancouver Aquarium have
moved him to a larger pool. Hopefully he will soon be strong enough
to be reintroduced to the wild.
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776
or Email
your report.
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
