Orca
and Humpback Whales travelling back and forth in the strait. While
the Transient Bigg's Killer Whales have been covering a great deal
more territory and managing to disappear regularly, there have been a
couple of Humpback Whales travelling back and forth through Seymour
Narrows up to Brown's Bay and down to just below Campbell River over
the past number of days. 'KC' or 'Kelp Creature' BCY0291, the
Humpback that was struck by a boat last year, we believe somewhere in
Discovery Passage, is one of these whales. Travelling together, the
other Humpback may actually be 'KC's mom 'Houdini' BCX0002. Not quite certain.
Report
below compiled by Lynne Cracknell. Thank goodness she's back!
Susan
MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Fundraising
Draw:
Four
companies have kindly donated whale watching tours to help us raise
funds to cover costs and support our society's continued efforts.
Each
tour is for two people and we will be drawing the winners at the
Powell River Sea Fair again this year. NEW updated information coming! We now have 6 tours !
It
is thanks to people like you who help us continue. Your contributions
are greatly appreciated.
All
of us at Whales
and Dolphins BC
Every
sighting report is valuable!
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Transient
Bigg's Orca Tail Slaps
May
10, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
RESIDENT
KILLER WHALES
May
11:
A
report from the people on Mitlenatch that there were 20 resident
Orcas south bound this morning.
Fabian,
Way West Water Taxi.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
May
15:
12:20
pm: This morning I was out fishing with a buddy, caught 2 nice Ling
Cod. Heading back to Schooner Cove Marina from Winchelsea at 12:20
pm, we came across 10-12 Orcas. They were heading south towards
Nanaimo. The largest Orca had a V shaped cut out of the large fin, at
the rear section, halfway up. An awesome sight!
Mike
Lynch, Nanoose Bay.
May
15: (rec'd 16th)
9:23
am: There were 16 Orca off Neck Point yesterday afternoon. Hopefully
they are around today.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures
Transient
Bigg's Orca Tail Slap
May
10, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May
14:
7:00
am: Three to four Orca, one big fin, between Rebecca Spit (Quadra
island) and Marina Island.
Kevin
( from radio)
May
14:
9:20
pm: Looks like 3 Orca close to Harwood, westing. They are taking
really long dives, it took over 10 minutes to find them again and
they disappeared almost immediately. They continued while some PWS
Dolphins hugged the mainland shore.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
April
12: (this rec'd May 13)
Garrett
suggested that you might be interested in seeing these images. There
were 2 adults and a baby in this pod. Always difficult to get good
photos, and this occasion was no exception. When we saw the pod I
stopped my boat to give them the right of way. When I finally got my
camera in position, I was able to snap several photos of the pod and
was curious about the strange positioning of the baby with the adult.
When I loaded them onto my computer later I was surprised and
fascinated with the apparent behaviour of the adult with the baby. I
used my computer to get a close up view of the adult and the baby.
Indeed, it appeared that the adult was giving the baby a ride. The
pod was moving quickly and was in transit for the whole time that we
viewed them.(which was likely only 5 minutes or so). I have seen many
Orca pods over the years, but have never observed this behaviour.
Please note that my boat was en route slowly toward Lund harbour. The
other boat was also travelling slowly toward Thulin Passage and the
pod, travelling in the same direction as my boat, actually overtook
me and passed between our two boats. Hope you find the photos
interesting too.
Larry Belle, (via email.)
Larry Belle, (via email.)
.jpg)
Transient
Bigg's Orca by Lund
April
12, 2014
Larry
Belle
Thank
you very much for that Larry! Yes, Garrett was right. The report and
the photos are of great interest always. It helps to confirm which
pod is where. You might be surprised to know that you actually have 4
different adults photographed here (in the 6 photos). I believe they
are the T60's. The calf whose blow only is in the shot is T60F born
in 2012 and is travelling with Mom T60. They are sharing what looks
like a Dall's porpoise lunch. Dall's Porpoise are black and white and
appears to be what is in the mouth of the calf by Moms head. The
behaviour is typical of food sharing and teaching the young to eat
their prey without losing it to the depths while they travel.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
13:
A
group of Orca have been hanging around in Desolation Sound and at the
entrance to Toba inlet the whole past week. Four of them have been
seen regularly off Mink island.
Mike
Filewich, Powell River.
Humpback
Whale Tail Flukes
May
14, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HUMPBACK
WHALES
May
16:
2:42
pm But right now, we just drove past a Mother Humpback and her Calf
up by April Point resort.
Shayla,
Campbell River
May
15:
10:09
am Two Humpback whales northbound in Seymour Narrows.
11:49
am Leaving two Humpbacks at Browns Bay now. They are now southbound
close to the Vancouver Island side.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
15:
10:30
am Two Humpbacks in Seymour Narrows. No direction.
10:45
am: Update! The Humpbacks are with Jos and moving northbound fast at
Ripple Rock.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May
15:
12:26
pm I am with the 2 Humpback Whales now between Brown's Bay and
Seymour Narrows. They are on the Vancouver Island side, southbound.
1:00
pm: They are just passing Seymour Narrows now, travelling at about
three knots. I am leaving the scene.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
Humpback
Whale
May
14, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May
15:
1:18
pm: They are southbound at Race Point. Dejavu! Same spot and same
time as yesterday.
1:45
pm: Leaving the Humpbacks now at Copper Bluffs.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
14:
7:28
am: There are two Humpbacks with their noses pointed south by Copper
Bluffs, Quadra side across from Campbell River. They have been
around, on and off, the past week.
Jim
Leishman, Campbell River.
May
14:
9:35
am: There are two Humpbacks foraging at Race Point, no particular
direction. It's the end of the ebb tide.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
14:
11:55
am: The Humpbacks are dead centre of the Narrows, right between the
red and the green can buoys.
Radio
Humpback
Whale BCY0291 'KC'
Damaged dorsal from boat strike
May
15, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May
14:
1:06
pm: Two Humpbacks southbound at Race Point, Seymour Narrows. One
breach!
2:52
pm: Humpbacks still hanging around by Steep Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
13:
9:55
am Humpback whale at No Name Creek, Campbell River.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
13:
10
am The Humpback is northbound now, on the Vancouver Island
side.
Fabian,
Way West Water Taxi.
May
13:
1:57
pm There is a Humpback just milling
about
off Porlier Pass, between Valdes and Galiano Islands.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
10:
12:00
pm Two humpback whales were swimming south past Kelsey Bay pier in
Sayward BC. They swam through doing a few classic back and tail rise
and fall moves and blow hole blows (not sure of the technical term
for that)...hope this helps.
(You
are correct, the term is 'blow' or 'blows' and all reports are
helpful! - SM)
Jayne
Ryan, Sayward.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May
14:
9:20
pm: Six or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins close in to the Powell
River viewpoint. They are heading south, have gone down for a bit.
Hiding, I'm sure since there are 3 Orca by Harwood Island!
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
13:
8:36
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage near the
Campbell River Spit. They are travelling northbound.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
May
14:
4:00
pm: Four Harbour Porpoise milling around by Quathiaski Cove (Quadra
Island)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
14: (rec'd 15th)
Last
evening while fishing there were 3 then another 3 or so Harbour
Porpoise by Grants Reef, off Savary Island.
George
Belyas, Powell River.
May
12:
1:00
pm Pretty quiet on the cetacean front. One Harbour Porpoise above
Brown's Bay.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
LINKS:
Serious
concern about recent government plans to remove Humpback whales from
the “threatened” list. Is this just a move to enable the proposed
Northern Gateway pipeline to proceed more easily? The full story
here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/humpback-whale-losing-threatened-status-amid-northern-gateway-concerns-1.2617633
Many
of you will have heard about the endangered Blue Whales that
tragically lost their lives on the East Coast last month. The remains
of at least two of the whales are now being claimed and processed by
the Royal Ontario Museum for future display.
And
finally, some very good news here as an “old” friend shows up to
say hello.
Humpback
Whales
May
15, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society