So
much activity to report! And, there is also so much going on behind
the scenes that this report was delayed twice.
We
now have a total of 6 Tours donated to us to raffle as fundraisers!
We've gone through the Gaming Commission hoops for our fundraising
licence requirements and have been put in a position to split the
raffles, so we now have TWO really great raffles...see below.
They are both being drawn at the same time.....read more at the
bottom of this long report. We know that you want to see all the
photos and reports first!
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Every
sighting report is valuable!
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Orca
Leap
May,
2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
May
24:
2:20
pm: The T100's and 187 are by Qualicum with noses pointed towards
Comox, there are about 8 of them.
John,
Comox.
May
24:
4:30
pm: Orcas just south of Hornby island, saw T101 and T102 travelling
away to the south. Mad our way down there to find 8 Orca then on the
way back found another 3 Orca northbound for a total of 11 Orca.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
24:
5:00
pm: 6 Orca mid channel northbound at Cape Mudge Lighthouse.(Quadra
Island.) From radio
Leigh
Nelson,Adventure Quest Tours.
May
24:
5:15
pm: The 6 Orca by Campbell River are moving quickly northbound,
centre Discovery Passage.
Elvis,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
24:
5:45
pm: 8 plus Orca between the mainland and Denman Island, northbound.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
24:
5:50
pm: 6 Orca northbound in Discovery Passage are now by Duncan Bay.
6:05
pm: There are 6 Orca – I male, 3 females, 2 juveniles (not overly
young) approaching Maud Island in Discovery Passage, now.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
24:
6:38
pm Orca caught up to me heading back. Left the 6 Orca still
Northbound by no name creek above Campbell River.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
23:
1:00pm:
Orca off Lund. They are southbound between Savary Island and Lund.
There are 3 for sure, one big male.
Daryl
(she works at Knight Inlet Lodge in the summer)
May
23:
2:32
pm: Orca between Sliammon Village and Harwood Island with Leigh and
Garry. There are 4 Orca, 101/102.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
23:
3:20
pm:
Left
Orca.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May
23:
3:30
pm: Left Orca in front of Powell River still southbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Orca
Breach
May,
2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
23:
I
just spotted blows between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood so the Orca are
now headed into the Strait.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
23:
4:
00 pm: T086's and T124's northbound at the Winchelsea Islands, moving
at 7 – 10 knots.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures
May
22:
8:30
am: Six Killer Whales southbound past Sonora Dock.
9:30
am: They are headed into Bute Inlet past Henrietta Point.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
May
22:
9:50
am: There are a couple of Orca by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse
northbound by the Lodge.
Curtis,
Coast Wild Fishing.
May
22:
10:30
am Three Killer Whales off Cape Mudge Light in tide rip line
northbound. Large male, sprouter (juvenile male), and female. Guess
might be T010, T010B, T010C as the male has a very pronounced fat
dorsal in middle. Northbound still approximately 300 meters off
Quadra shoreline.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May
22:
11:05
am: Six Orca at Fawn Bluff heading up Bute Inlet. From boater.
11:30
am: Orca at We Wai Kai Village (Quadra island) northbound. Confirmed
T10's.
2:24
pm Leaving the T010's at McMullin Point northbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
21:
11:20
am: Orca at Hole in the Wall, heading in to Big Bay, (Stuart island.)
Radio
message relayed by Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Orca
Grouped up
May,
2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May
21:
4:45
pm: Four Orca northbound just off Rebecca Spit Light. (Quadra Island)
angling towards Hoskyns Ch. Looks like T87.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
21:
5:51
pm: Leaving Orca still heading up Hoskyns Channel.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
21 (rec'd May 22):
Day:
Three different groups of Orca yesterday. Closest to you were at
Gerald Island northbound last night at dark. (This came from a
fisherman.) Another group came through Dodd's southbound, but no-one
went to them. We also had the T100's and the T101's off Active Pass
northbound last night.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
20:
9:30
am Couple of Orca just off a log boom being towed.
Heather
Harbord, Powell River
May
20:
9:30
am Some Orca splashing close to log boom off the Powell River Mill.
Elizabeth
Tenhoeve, Powell River
May
20:
9:30
am: There's a pod of Orca by Willingdon Beach in Powell River. No
numbers, but looks like they're headed towards the Westview Harbour.
Mike
Filewich, Powell River
May
20:
9:55
am Lots of Orca just off the Powell River ferry terminal, I'm in the
line up watching. Lots of splashing, so they may be on a kill. Saw
sea lions before.
Liz
Kennedy, Powell River
May
20:
10
am There are a bunch of Orca out in front of the Harbour, Powell
River. Some people just came over to tell me.
Dave
Carbery, Wharfinger, Powell River
May
20:
10:38
am: After all the calls, I headed out to find the Orca. Got 'em!
There are about 9 of them by Grief Point, heading slowly, but
steadily south. Plenty of splashing, breaching and playing. The two
small calves had such a good time practising tail slaps at each
other. The others were quite spread out so a definitive count was
difficult.
10:59
am Almost to Myrtle Rocks, I can see 9 or more Orca. There's a report
of 2 more close to Myrtle Rocks, I'm on the Texada side of Malaspina
Strait.
12:25
pm Leaving the Orca still southbound on the Texada side across from
Albion Point.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
20:
10:59
am Two big male Orca just passed Myrtle Rocks close to the mainland
shore.
Jim
Southern, Powell River
May
20:
4:07
pm: There
are about 8 Transient Orca off Thrasher Rock, (at the southern tip of
Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo) headed your way. (Towards the Sunshine
Coast.)
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
20 (rec'd May 21):
7:30
pm: Report of 5 Orca milling out between Middle Point and Race Point
in Seymour Narrows. From a friend.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
20: (rec'd May 23):
We
saw this pod of Orcas travelling from Lund down past Powell River on
Tues May 20th. The top picture is of one Orca that was travelling
away form the pod a bit, much closer to shore (about 6 feet offshore,
close to some wary looking seals) I was wondering if this was
transient T020 or if it was part of a resident pod. Are you also able
to tell me which pod it is that we saw? The pod was maybe larger that
shown on my pics. I think there were more Orcas swimming a way ahead
of these. I'm a British girl new to BC and this was my first Orcs
sighting :) (the photo was of T087 - SM)
Bec
Gillham
Orca
off Lund
May,
2014
Bec
Gillham
May
19:
8:30
am: Jos is tracking down an Orca report in Surge Narrows.
10:43
am: Orca (a lot of them) heading from Sentry Shoals towards Grant's
Reef, off Savary Island. This information from a fisherman.
11:49
am: There is an Orca show going on right now on the west side of
Mitlenatch Island! This information from a fishing guide.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
19:
11:35
am: There is a small group of Orca, three at least, in Hoskyn
channel, between Quadra Island and Read island. They are heading
towards the Breton Islands.
(From
radio)
May
19:
12:10
pm: 4-5 Orca southbound by Marina Island. The Orca are at the south
end of the island and doing 13 knots, headed towards Mitlenatch
Island. There are 8 animals at least and they are just flying!
Amazing!
12:40
pm The Orca are still running around 8 – 12 knots headed south
towards Sentry Shoal. There are other blows down there; they will
group up just north of Sentry.
1:40
pm. Garry and I are with at least 20 Orca about one kilometre north
of Mitlenatch. They have stalled there.
5:22
pm: All Orcas are now in Homfray Channel, at the south end of Horace
Head, between East Redonda Island and the Mainland.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
19:
1:50
pm: They are T18/19/002/101's/102. A bunch!
They
are between Mitlenatch and the north end of Hernando Island.
2:48
pm: Looks like T19b and others are heading towards Baker Pass,
between Hernando and Cortez Islands. Might have been a split! Long
dives now.
3:05
pm: Leaving them now at Sutil Point, eastbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
19:
7:48
pm: Picked up 12 Transient Bigg's Killer Whales off Nanaimo this
afternoon, 5 went north towards you (Sunshine Coast) and 7 went south
through Dodd's Narrows.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
18:
6:34
am: There are at least four Orca in front of Powell River. They're
about 1 mile off shore from the ferry terminal. Lots of spy hopping
and tail lobs. No direction.
Steve
Grover, Powell River.
May
18:
8:11
am: Two Orca with pretty good size dorsals spotted heading south by
Myrtle Rocks.
Jim
Southern, Powell River.
May
18:
8:30
am: I just spotted two or more Orca between Harwood and Atrevida
Reef. No idea what direction as yet. There
are three, maybe four of them, looks like they are angling towards
Mystery Reef, Savary Island.
9:15
am They must have turned. I see one dorsal by Harwood, on the Powell
River side, just below the Spit.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
18:
1:00
pm: 16 Killer Whales off Gibsons, Sunshine Coast.
4:40
pm: The T100's and T124's are Northbound off Nanaimo.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
18: (rec'd May 19):
Afternoon:
I just wanted to let you know we had by far the best Orca watching
ever in my many years here. We first saw whales in front of Lund and
then on the way back to Savary we saw at least 9 playing and
frolicking between Lund and Savary. Everything!!! Spy hops,
breaching, tail and fin slaps the works. Unfortunately our pictures
are not so great. We were still talking about how wonderful it was
about 4:30 when we were sitting on the beach and they swam on by and
made their way to Indian point. Huge splashes against the dark sky
behind Campbell River. I am sure you will have got many reports.
(Reminder to
all...please report your sightings – SM)
We would love to know if you hear which whales were in this pod? So
exciting!!!! I will
send the best of our bad photos. There were several smaller whales
and at least one young with the white still yellowish and a huge we
thought male who was doing the breaching display. But several whales
were porpoising and tale slapping and spy hopping.
Bruce
and Dulcie Macdonald, Savary
Island
Orca
off Savary Island
May,
2014
Bruce
and Dulcie Macdonald, Savary Island
May
18: (rec'd 19th)
Afternoon:
Lund enjoyed a long afternoon sighting of J-pod on Sunday May 18 if
you haven't heard! We have a couple of pics and will be receiving
more sometime soon. What kind of details would you like about the
sighting? (Later
received a video clip – yes, Transient Bigg's Orca - SM)
The
Team at Terracentric, Terracentric Adventures, Lund.(via email)
Response:
Thanks for that. We log and post Date, Time, Location, Number of
Whales, Dolphin or Porpoise and their direction. Yes, I'd love to see
some photos. I somehow don't think J-Pod was around, but some photos
should confirm it. Thanks very much for that, (Received a video clip
– yes, Transient Bigg's Orca - SM)
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May
17:
11:43
am: Jos is reporting Orca in Discovery Passage.
3:28
pm 7 Orca in Ramsay Arm, above Desolation Sound. Three big fins,
three small dorsals and a calf.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
17:
1:18
pm: Just heard on radio, there are approximately seven Orca entering
into Ramsay Arm, at the south end of Bute Inlet. Two big fins. Benito
called them in.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May
16:
8:30
am: There were Killer Whales off Nanaimo northbound at 8:30 am.
That's all the info I have for now.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
16:
9:34
am: Orca in Blind Channel. (Between
East and West Thurlow Islands.) from our
pilot.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
UNIDENTIFIED
/ UNCONFIRMED WHALES
May
22:
10:10
am: Spotted a couple of blows off Twin islands towards Cortez Bay.
Cam
M.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
May
24:
Morning:
I watched a Humpback for about an hour and a
half off Roberts Creek pier this am about 1 km out. Another one was
sited in Howe Sound today too around the same time. Love it.
Geordie
Harrower, Roberts Creek
May
23:
11:20
am We just watched a humpback whale off Ripple
Shoal in Current Pass. It breached once.
Christine Smith, Motor Vessel David B
Christine Smith, Motor Vessel David B
May
22:
3:16
pm Humpback Whale Southbound by April Point.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Humpback
Whale Tail Flukes
'KC'
May, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May
21:
2:57
pm: Humpback south of Campbell River, southbound.
Jos
Krijnen,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
21 (rec'd May 22):
8:30
am: Yesterday there was a Humpback off Bowen Island lunge feeding.
Simon
Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May
20:
10:25
am: Humpback Whale in Seymour Narrows, no direction.
Jos
Krijnen,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
20:
2:30
pm: A Fisherman saw two Humpbacks off April Point around 2:30 pm Jack
got the call.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
May
20:
4:00
pm: Report from April Point Water Taxi to say there are Humpbacks in
front of the Campbell River river mouth.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
18:
9:25
am: There are two Humpbacks at Quathiaski Cove, (Quadra Island)
northbound. A
tail fluke photo from one of the Humpbacks that have been hanging
around here, this picture was taken yesterday at about 9:15 a.m. in
front of Q-Cove. (HB
is KC or Kelp Creature BCY0291 Born 2002 - SM)
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May
18:
11:30
am: We are camping at Brown's Bay, just saw two Humpback Whales
travelling north through the Passage. Yippee! Hope to see them again,
it was a quick sighting, they both took deep dives and disappeared.
Tara
Bladon, Alberta.
May
18:
11:40
am (approx) Found 2 Humpbacks off Brown's Bay.
12:30
pm: Leaving the Humpbacks now at No name Creek (Campbell River)
northbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
18:
3:04
pm: Humpbacks in Elk Bay, Discovery Passage (from a boater.)
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
18:
4:50
pm: Humpback at Chatham Point, foraging.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
17:
10:12
am: 2 Humpback Whales by April Point.(Quadra island.) And report of
Orca in Discovery Passage.
11:03
am I'm with the two Humpbacks. They have crossed over to the
Vancouver Island side and are at Orange Point, (near Campbell River)
southbound.
11:43
am Leaving the Humpbacks between Orange Point and Dolphins Resort
angling back to the Quadra Island side.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
17:
1:08
pm: 2 Humpbacks mid channel off Orange Point. They are moving slowly
southbound.
1:18
pm Have left the Humpbacks at the south end of Steep Island, still
moving slowly south.
2:44
pm Picked up the Humpbacks still southbound by We wai kai Village
(Cape Mudge).
2:52
pm: Leaving the Humpys at Cape Mudge. (Quadra)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
17:
2:07
pm: The 2 Humpbacks are now approaching Quathiaski Cove, (Quadra
island) Staying more on the Quadra side now. Putting on a show!
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
May,
2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May
24:
5:15
pm: 12 or so PWS Dolphins off the entrance to Okisollo Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
23:
10:57
am: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick's Arm.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
21:
7:00
pm: I'm paddle boarding with about twenty Pacific White Sided
Dolphins between Jimmy Judd island and the Dent Rapids in the Yuculta
Rapids.
7:10
pm: They are playing with me!
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
May
21:
3:10
pm: Twenty Pacific White Sided Dolphins, together with some Dall's
Porpoise at Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
19:
9:24
am: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Race Point.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May
18:
11
am Two Dolphins seen coming from Silva Bay to Vancouver at 1100
hours. 4 more seen at 1300 hours 2 km. west of Racon (light buoy)
off Point Grey.
Allen
Dick, Vancouver.
May
18:
4:50
pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Okisollo Channel.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
May
24:
3:26
pm: Dall's Porpoise at Horn Point between Dent Rapids and Frederick
Arm.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
23:
9:44
am: 10 Dall's Porpoise in Browns Bay, north of Campbell River.
10:57
am: 20 Dall's Porpoise at John's Point, Nodales Channel.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
23:
11
am
We also had a group of Dalls on our bow at Turn
Island around 11am.
Christine
Smith, Motor Vessel David B
May
21:
3:10
pm: Six Dall's Porpoise with some Pacific White Sided Dolphins at
Jimmy Judd Island (between Stuart and Sonora island.)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
19: Saw two again today in the same spot as I was crossing from
Vancouver to Porlier. They swam with me and came out of the water
numerous times. These today were black and white, like little orcas.
Allen
Dick, Vancouver.
Harbour
Porpoise
May
24:
6:40
pm 6 Harbour Porpoise milling off Mitlenatch Island on the Vancouver
Island side.
JJos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Branded
and Entangled Sea Lions
May
23:
Branded
Steller Sea Lion on Mitlenatch Island: 882R from Rogue Reef Oregon
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
22:
Branded
Steller Sea Lion on Mitlenatch Island: 251F (see above)
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Rec'd
May 19:
Was
not able to find Steller Sea Lion with the rope around his neck
yesterday (18th). I spoke with one of the coastguard guys stationed
at our marina and he said he could clearly see rope and it also
looked like it was seeping blood and other fluid. This was 2 days
ago, (first sighted May 16) but not sure if he is even there anymore
as I couldn't see him when we were out there yesterday. I did manage
to get a good shot of another Steller with a big brand on his side
and have included that in the attachments. (Brand is 251F from
Forster's Island in Alaska this is the second sighting of this animal
on Mitlenatch Isl.- SM)
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Orca Big Blows
May,
2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
HUGE
FUNDRAISING EVENT
2
GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE
#1:
- Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours – Whale Watching for Two
- Discovery Marine Safaris – Whale Watching for Two
- Stubbs Island Whale Watching – Whale Watching for Two
RAFFLE
#2:
- Adventure Quest Tours (Kayak Tour for Two)
- Eagle Eye Adventures (Whale Watching for Two)
- Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions (Whale Watching for Two)
Tickets
are 5 for $10 – Please make sure you specify what Raffle you'd like
in the notes.
Gaming
Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your
limit, play within it.
Both
raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea
Fair
For
On-line Entries: enter here: http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/donate/
Tickets
will also be available for direct purchase at:
Powell
River:
-
the Powell River Spot Prawn Festival, June 7, 2014
-
a table in the Powell River Town Center Mall (dates and times to be
announced)
-
our Powell River Sea Fair booth July 26-27, 2014
Vancouver
Island & Sechelt Penninsula:
-
we are working on locations for ticket sales
Updated
ticket sale locations will be posted through our Sightings Reports
and on our Web site at Whales
and Dolphins BC.
Thank
you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
All
of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society