The
Transient Bigg's Orca are keeping a very low profile lately, but the
word is that the Northern Resident Killer Whales known as the A5's
finally showed up around the Blackfish Sound area after having been
seen a while ago much farther up the coast. The Humpback Whales are
showing up with a couple travelling back and forth through Johnstone
Strait. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are staying in smaller groups of
25 being the most common number, but occasionally up to 50 or 60 in
numbers. A few Dall's Porpoise make brief appearances as do the
little Harbour Porpoise. We are truly wondering where some of these
Cetaceans are travelling. Please remember to call or email your
sightings in to us. We will post some more information on the Orca
with the damaged dorsal in the next update. We have been working hard
to prepare for Powell River Sea Fair July 25, 26 & 27 and hope to
see you there. Our Fundraising information is farther below. Have you
bought your Raffle tickets yet?
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Transient
Bigg's Orca (above three photos)
July 11, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
July
13-16 there was only one report of Unidentified Orca sightings – the Transient
Bigg's appear to have disappeared since it is quite likely that the sightings was of Southern Resident Orca in the Sooke area.
July
12:
9:15
pm Some Orca just popped up in front of Powell River heading South
about mid-channel. They looked like they came from the top of Texada.
Couldn't tell how many but one large one breached! They were obscured
by a tree for a bit and never saw them afterwards. Neighbours from
three houses were all looking, so lots of eyes, but no-one saw them
again.
Jim
Bradley, Powell River
July
11:
10:45
am: Orca out at the top end of Turn Island, off the south end of East
Thurlow, mid strait, westing. There are a small group of Pacific
White Sided Dolphins out in front of them.
10:50
am: 6 Orca westbound at Turn Island. Could be that there are just 5
animals.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
11:
11:35
am: Orca by Ripple Point, near Turn Island. Not sure who they are
yet.
12:05
pm: Leaving the scene now. The Orca are at Bear Point, still in
Johnstone Strait, moving north at 6 knots.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
11:
1:23
pm: Killer whales just east of Camp Point, south of Kelsey Bay, now.
Geord
Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
UNIDENTIFIED
ORCA
July
16:
11
am
We
had the pleasure of sighting a small pod (1 M, 4FM) of Orca's while
fishing at Beecher Bay, in the Sooke area, around 11 this morning! No
wonder there weren't any Salmon. LOL
from
an unsigned email with a return address to “Dad”
Transient
Bigg's Orca (above two photos)
July 11, 2014
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
July
15:
2:30
pm: Lots of Humpback activity at Bold Head, in Blackfish Sound, at
the top of Johnstone Strait.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
15:
7:10
pm: A guy on my dock told me he saw a Humpback Whale near Miracle
Beach, just South of Campbell River, a couple of hours ago. I was
just there an hour ago and didn't see anything.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Humpback Whale
July 12, 2014
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
14:
2:00
pm: Two Humpbacks at Cracroft Point, at Blackney Pass, top end of
Johnstone Strait.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
13:
2:40
pm: Two Humpbacks (K.C. And Guardian) in Blackney Passage, in between
Hanson and Parson Islands.
Roger,
“Lukwa” Stubbs Island Whale Watching,Telegraph Cove.
July
12:
11:02
am: Humpback at York Island, Johnstone Strait, southbound.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
12:
12:24
pm: With the Humpback at Hickey Point, north of Kelsey Bay,
Westbound.
12:40
pm: Just found a second Humpback at Hickey Point.
12:50
pm: The second Humpback is Eastbound and is ”KC”.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
(From
photos submitted to us, Susan MacKay identified the second whale as
“Stripe”.)
Humpback Whale "Stripe"
July 12, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
12:
1:11
pm: Leaving the Humpback at St. Vincent's Bight, westing,
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
11:
10:30
am: Humpback out from Vivian Island moving towards Comox.
(from
radio)
July
11:
10:55
am: Humpback Whale just off Vivian Island, moving slowly southbound.
Resting mostly, for about an hour so far.
Pleasure
Boat, “Bella Vida”.
July
11:
2:30
pm: Humpback Whale off Harwood Island, across from Powell River.
After seeing it's blows a number of times and tail flukes once, I am
finally heading out!
6:04
pm: Saw the Humpback twice from quite a distance then could not find
it again.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
July
11:
3
– 4:00 pm We got to see 3 or 4 Humpback Whales together, just East
of Naka Creek, in Johnstone Strait above Kelsey Bay. They made a
brief appearance before diving away heading East. What a treat!
Tara
Bladon, Campbell River
July
10:
11:50
am: Humpback Whale in Dent Rapids, between Dent Island and Sonora
Island.
5:40
pm: Two Humpback Whales southbound at Chatham Point, at the eastern
extremity of Johnstone Strait.
6:20
pm: “K.C” (Kelp Creature) has turned into Nodales Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Humpback Whale "KC" Kelp Creature enjoying a favourite rub in the kelp.
July 12, 2014
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July
10:
12:18
pm: Two Humpbacks by Kelsey Bay, southbound.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
10:
12:24
pm: There are two Humpbacks in Dent Rapids, a mom and a tiny calf.
1:00
pm: The Humpbacks in Dent appear to be bubble net feeding.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
10:
1:00
pm: Leaving the Humpbacks still southbound at Camp Point. (These
would be the two who were spotted earlier at Kelsey Bay - LC.)
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
10:
1:55
pm: Leaving the smaller Humpback doing donuts between Dent Island and
Sonora Island, still close to Devil's Hole.
Never
did see a second whale. This
(photo) was the smaller HB that we had in the Devils Hole/ Dent
Rapids area doing doughnuts in the big flood current. He would push
himself up the back eddy and into the wash of the current running a
good 14 knots and get swept back and all of a sudden pop up way on
the other side of the channel and below you by 400 mtrs. Must have
liked the bubble bath. We did only see this one animal at the time,
so if there were two we would need photo confirmation. We were there
for 45 min and only the one animal. Was an interesting spot to watch
a HB play......kept wondering if he/she was going to all of a sudden
pour on the power and get through the tide. Sounded like it waited
for the current to slow and then went through.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Humpback Whale
July 10, 2014
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July
10:
5:15
pm: Humpback northbound at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
July
16:
11:35
am: 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out at Horn Point.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
15:
6:35
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Dent Island headed to Hall
Point, Nodales Channel.
Colin
Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin.
July
15:
9:50
am: 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Davis Point, Nodales Channel,
heading east.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphin Back Flip
July 15, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
July
15:
1:30
pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Gomer Island, the entrance to
Frederick Arm, feeding.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
14:
9:22
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Frederick's Arm.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
14:
11:45
am: 20 – 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins feeding in Denham Bay,
above the Yuculta Rapids.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
July
14:
11:58
am: 25 Pacific
White Sided Dolphins foraging in Denham Bay.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
14:
3:45
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins still in the Denham Bay area.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
13:
1:30
pm 50-60 PWS Dolphins going into Frederick's Arm.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
13:
2:15
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling quickly northward, just
south of Petersen Island, near Kelsey Bay.
Lynne
Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC.
July
13:
3:47
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins just north of little Dent Island.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
13:
7:18
pm: With Pacific White Sides at Denham Island, they are headed for
Frederick Arm. There is a big – no, very big – Stellar Sea Lion
hauled out at Jimmy Judd Ilsand.
Colin
Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
July 15, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
July
12:
9:30
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins just above Dent Rapids.
(from
radio)
July
12:
12:25
pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading down into Nodales
Channel, eastbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
12:
1:22
pm: 4 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Brown's Bay. Two Moms, two
calves.
3:16
pm: There are more Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Horn Bay, just
above the Yuculta Rapids, at the old shack.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
12:
4:27
pm: Leaving the Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Denham Island, above
Dent Rapids.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
11:
10:45
am: Small group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the top end of
Turn Island, mid Johnstone Strait, westing. There are Orca behind
them, heading in the same direction.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
11:
12:40
pm: 12 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Hall Point, at the
entrance to Nodales Channel.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
11:
1:24
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out by Denham Bay, Dent
Rapids.
(from
Radio)
July
11:
6:15
pm: 30 plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Greensea and Howe
Islands. Same group as yesterday, still fishing.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
10:
9:15
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Frederick Arm.
(from
radio)
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
July 15, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
July
10:
1:05
pm: 20 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins just off Gomer Island
angling towards Hall Point on Sonora Island. Lots of moms and calves.
1:15
pm: Just left the PWS Dolphins at Hall Point, Nodales Channel, quite
spread out.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
10:
2:00
pm: 20 – 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out between Chatham
and Howe Island, at the southern reach of Nodales Channel.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
10:
2:59
pm The Dolphins are just North of Cinque Island now – mid channel.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
10:
5:00
pm: Left the Dolphins milling at Howe Island. They were feeding on
young salmon. Several schools were near the surface.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
July
15:
2:10
pm: One Dall's Porpoise fishing in the shallows off Salmon Point,
just South of Campbell River.
Lynne
Cracknell,Whales
and Dolphins BC.
July
13:
8:50
am: 3 Dall's Porpoise at Orca Point (aka Harbott Point) at the south
tip of Stuart island, at the South entrance to Yaculta Rapids.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July
11:
1:19
pm: 8 Dall's Porpoise at Owen Point.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
11:
2:00
pm: 4 Dall's Porpoise at Hall Point.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
11:
3:15
pm: 1-2 Dall's Porpoise off Harwood Island, foraging. Am out looking
for the disappearing Humpback!
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
July
10:
2:30
pm: 3-4 Porpoise, can't quite tell if they are Dall's or Harbour
Porpoise from here.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
July
10:
12:45
pm: 6 Dall's Porpoise at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
July
15:
4:25
pm: Two Harbour Porpoise at Aran Rapids, on the Bute Inlet side.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
14:
3:52
pm: We have 10 or so Harbour Porpoise feeding between Shelter Point
and the red can buoy off Cape Mudge.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
FUNDRAISING
2014
Fundraising
2014:
Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell
River
Town Centre Mall on Sat., July 12 & Sea Fair July 25, 26 &
27th
Campbell
River
Discovery Marine Safaris office & at the Discovery Marina dock
offices of: Eagle Eye Adventures & Aboriginal Journeys Whale &
Grizzly Tours
2
GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE
#1:
- Aboriginal Journeys Whale 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.
Both
raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea
Fair
Thank
you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
From
all of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
LINKS
Some
interesting whale news for you in this report; the Canadian Military
halted an exercise to allow L pod to pass safely through their firing
area, and a very unusual visitor arrived on our coastline, badly in
need of help. And lastly a link about Dolphins attacks on Porpoise in
the UK. Those stories below.
The
next article discusses some unusual behaviour of Bottlenose Dolphins
attacking Porpoise. We also have had a limited number of these
attacks on juvenile Porpoise by Pacific White Sided Dolphins
witnessed in BC waters. It's uncertain as to whether it's over
exuberant play, or something of a vicious or bullying nature.
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Gaming
Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your
limit, play within it.