Happy
Canada Day to Everyone!
Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Orca in front of Powell River delayed
this Sightings update by a number of hours. The T002C's seem to love
this area and have become our “Resident” Transients, a term I
coined over a year ago indicating that they remain in this area and
the surrounding inlets more so than other Bigg's Orca. In this
report, we also have a couple of Humpback Whales that are working
their way up to usual feeding grounds around the top of Johnstone
Strait and farther, as well as some Pacific White Sided Dolphins in
the inlets and a few Dall's and Harbour Porpoise.
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Fundraising
2014:
Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell
River
Town Centre Mall on Thurs., July 3 and Friday, July 4 and Sat., July
12
Campbell
River
Discovery Marine Safaris office & at the Discovery Marina 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)
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
T002C's
by Powell River
June
30, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
July
1:
8
am Yesterday's Orca spotted heading up Lewis Channel, between Cortez
and West Redonda Islands.
Colin
Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin
June
30: There was a report from a tugboat of 6 Orca southbound early this
morning, no other details available.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
30:
3:38
pm: Orca southbound at Viner Point. Just left them ten minutes ago.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
30:
6:30
pm Just spotted one big Orca in front of Powell River, southbound.
7
pm Being quite elusive. There are a lot of fishing boats out there,
as well as the ferry. I have 5 – 6 Orca total so far, taking long
dives. I just got back from my boat but may head out again.
8:35
pm I'm with them now finally. 8 Orca between Texada Island and
Rebecca Rocks.
9:12
pm: Am about to leave T101/102/T002C's heading north west in Georgia
Strait by Vivian Island. They are moving very slowly, lots of resting
and passing on having seal meals. I watched at least 8 different
seals pop up and the Orca just passed close by them. Still doing long
dives.
9:30
pm: Left them resting about 1.5 miles off Vivian Island with their
noses aimed towards Campbell River. Waited a bit longer to watch them
since they made a bit of a turn angling more towards Vivian, but they
stopped again.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June
29:
10:13
am: Sounds like there are Orca at Reid Island.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
29:
10:19
am: Orca at Breton Islands, Hoskyn Channel, milling.
11:43
am: T101's, T102 and T002C's Should be eight animals then.
3:38
pm: Orca at Viner Point southbound. Left them 10 minutes ago.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient
Bigg's Orca
June
26, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June
29:
4:25
pm: Coming up on Twin Bay, Reid Island, with T's basically northbound
up Reid Island.
5:32
pm: Leaving T101's, 102,002C's in Evans Bay, spread out. Now again
grouped up and heading out of Evans Bay for Whale Passage. All
grouped up. T101B hanging back with T002C2 Tumbo. T002C2 always seems
to be lagging behind during our encounter.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June
29:
10
am There
are 9-10 Orca at Read Point, moving slowly southbound.
Brad,
Painter's Lodge.
June
29:
11:43
am: Orcas between Viner Point and Read Point, milling. They are
T101, T102, and T002c's.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
26:
10:00
am: 2 Orca southbound at Mitlenatch Island with Mark.
11:17
am: Orca have turned and are heading north back towards Mittlenatch.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
26:
12:14
pm: 2 Orca are between Mitlenatch Island and Grant's Reef, off Savary
Island.
1:16
pm: The Orca are just north of Grant's Reef, near the green can buoy,
eastbound.
1:35
pm: Leaving them south-eastbound at Vivian island, south end of
Harwood.
Fabian,
Eagle Eye Adventures
June
26:
1:47
pm: More whales just out from Vivian Island heading up. Just spotted
the blows.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June
26:
2
pm It's the T101's, and the rest of the gang. (The big gang from
yesterday). The T02C's and the others are just below Vivian Island
still.
3:05
pm: Leaving the scene with the 8 Orca between Mystery Reef and
Grant's Reef – they are travelling very slowly northbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
26:
3:30
pm: Leaving Orca halfway between Grant's Reef and Mystery Reef, off
Savary Island still slowly northbound.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
June
26:
4:05
pm:
Leaving
Orca halfway between Grant's Reef and Mystery Reef. They are still
heading slowly northbound.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
25:
7:45
am: Around 10 Orca inbound towards Jervis Inlet, just passed Saltery
Bay ferry terminal, milling by wires. This is from the Ferry. There
are some bulls and some calves.
Bob
Steer.
June
25:
7:50
am: I just got an email that apparently around 6:00 pm last evening
there were 2 + Orca southbound by Powell River. I missed them!
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June
25:
2:15
pm: Found them! 13 Orca very far up Jervis Inlet, about 20 miles
after the power lines.
Left
the Orca, still heading into Jervis Inlet.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Transient
Bigg's Orca
June
26, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June
25:
5:15
am: Orcas off Westview, (Powell River)
Peter
Harvey.(via email)
June
24:
8:10
am: Orca have been spotted on the last 2 Ferry runs (between
Vancouver Island and Quadra Island.) They are near Whiskey Point.
8:15
am: They have swung north and are at April Point now.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
24:
8:20
am: Orca at Steep Island, northbound.
11:21
am: Transients southbound slightly towards the red can off Cape
Mudge, Quadra Island.
Brad,
Painter's Lodge.
June
24:
8:43
am: With the Orca at the south end of Steep Island,Discovery Passage.
9:15
am: Leaving the Orca now southbound at April Point, there are 10 or
so whales.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
Humpback
Whale
June
25, 2014
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
June
30:
4:50
pm: Humpback whale milling off Kelsey Bay. (Report from Tugboat)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
29:
3:30
pm: Hi, This is the info that was requested about my whale sighting
today, Sunday June 29. About 3:30 pm and the whale seemed to be
milling around Kelsey Bay. I saw one yesterday Saturday June 28 about
2 pm. Someone had seen the Humpback that morning around 9:30 am and
it seemed to be milling around and maybe feeding. I hope this info
helps. I am a photographer so am always at the water trying to get
whale photos.
Joyce
Ellis, Sayward.
June
28:
09:45
am: Humpback whale off Kelsey Bay, possibly feeding, moving slowly to
the south. We were on the beach at a considerable distance, so
difficult to get a photo or describe in detail. Stayed in the area
for about 20 minutes.
Glenn
Mackie, Sayward.
June
26:
Report
of a Humpback in the bay near Port Neville this morning.
Chris
Murdock, Port Neville.
June
25:
4:30
pm Small Humpback foraging at Plumper Bay, southbound Discovery
Passage.
Brad,
Painter's Lodge.
June
25:
5:09
pm: Humpback at Race Point, Seymour Narrows now, still southbound.
5:40
pm: Left the Humpback travelling south past Copper Bluffs at 3 – 4
knots. It has a wide narrow tail, some white, pics to follow.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Young
Pacific White Sided Dolphin
June
27, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June
30:
3:40
pm: Report of 15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins eastbound at Erasmus
Island, off East Thurlow.
Fabian,
Eagle Eye Adventures
June
30:
4:50
pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Camp Point, northbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
28:
10:24
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Mayne Passage.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
28:
5:48
pm: Pacific White sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage, southbound.
Fabian,
Eagle Eye Adventures
June
27:
12:52
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins potted between Davis and Sonora
Points, Nodales Channel.
(From
Radio)
June
27:
1:30
pm: Apparently there are some Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Sonora
Point.
4:42
pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out around Howe Island,
Chatham area.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
26:
10:12
am: Sounds like Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Thurston Bay, (from
Brad.)
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June
25:
3:03
pm: Ladyhawk has approximately 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins
spread out in Elk Bay.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June
25:
3:15
pm: The Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in Eagles Cove. Still spread
out and southbound.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
25:
4:00
pm: 60 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at 45 Point Discovery
Passage.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
24:
Today
we were accompanied for almost an hour at N50 47 W126 13 by dozens
(of Pacific White Sided Dolphins) breaking water and occasionally
jumping all over the channel in every direction and alongside the
boat. These are grey on top, although some are almost black, with
white bottoms. I have at least 20 minutes of incredible close up
video on my phone. I actually got tired of filming and quit after
twenty minutes or so.
Allen
Dick (via email)
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
June
30:
3:44
pm: 3 Harbour Porpoise at Jimmy Judd Island, between Stuart and
Sonora Islands.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
28:
3
pm 2 Harbour Porpoise in Bute Inlet by Lawrence Point.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
24:
10
am One Harbour Porpoise at Brown's Bay. No direction.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
June
27:
4:00
pm: 4 Sea Cheetahs (Dall's Porpoise) at Denham Islet. (These
animals zip around very quickly and it's easy to give them nicknames,
such as Cheetahs or, as I call them, Speed Demons - SM)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
24:
12:00
pm: 3 Dall's Porpoise foraging at Mermaid Bay by the Yuculta Rapids.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
LINKS:
Just
when you thought it was safe to relax! The Japanese Government
announces it's intent to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean,
despite the recent World Court ruling:
Whale
numbers are up delighting watchers.
T002C's
Heading up past Vivian Island
June
30, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
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.