Whales and Dolphins BC Sightings: January 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Both Fish Eating and Meat Eating Killer Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise are Around

The Northern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales known as the A42's may have headed down towards Sechelt as they we last seen in Malaspina Strait. The Orca noted under the Unidentified Killer Whales heading may very well be Transient Bigg's, but it's difficult to be sure as we do not have photos or known specific pod movements to confirm identities. We do know that the Transient Bigg's (meat eating) known as T087 was wandering about on his own. The information on the satellite tagged Southern Resident (fish eating) Orca J27 is infrequent, but it is known that J-Pod had gone out to the Carmanah area of the West coast of Vancouver Island and were last know to be heading back towards Victoria. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are still in Georgia Strait and Dall's Porpoise were seen above Johnstone Strait.

Our governing body Wild Ocean Whale Society held its Annual General Meeting and there many exciting things happening in the background. We will be bringing you updates as soon as we can.

Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

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Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

Transient Bigg's Orca T087 by Davis Bay

January 18, 2015

Becky Wayte, Sechelt

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Most likely Transient Bigg's Killer Whales

January 25:

12:15 pm: Spotted 5-7 Orca Stuart Channel. First spotted south of Round Island. Then came slowly with lots of tale flapping and full body splashes on the west side of Round Island. They were headed for Dodds Narrows and I am sure gave the Sunday hikers on Cable Bay a Show. Always a thrill!
Janette Dyck

January 24;

1:55 pm 7-8 Orca are Westbound towards Porlier Pass. No large male dorsals spotted. Seeing them from the ferry.

Bill Kennedy

Jan 20:

2:30 pm: Between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm watched 5 Orca off Mace Point, Savary Island, heading towards Hertado Point, Lund, then south towards Dinner Rock. There were 2 very large dorsals, two smaller ones, and one quite tiny calf. (with the 2 big dorsals, doesn't fit with the NRKWs known as the A42's who were in the area earlier - SM)

Garry Primrose, Savary Island.

Jan 17:

12:23 pm: About one hundred, yes, ONE HUNDRED Orca near Camp Point spread across Johnstone Strait. From a Fisherman friend Steve.

Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.

Jan 16:

2:20 pm: Report from a ferry worker of 6 Orca southbound past Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Jan 16:

3:00 pm: About a dozen Orca including two big dorsals leaping and looking like Transient Bigg's Killer Whales on the hunt by the Anchor Inn, in Campbell River. No final direction, just back and forth.

3:22 pm: The Orca are now center channel northbound passing Tyee Spit at Campbell River.

Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.

NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Jan 20:

11:15 am: Just saw 4 Orca out in the middle of Malaspina Strait angling towards Beach Gardens, Powell River. Looked more like they were headed almost north-east. (Later identified as 4 out of the 5 Northern Resident Killer Whales known as the A42's. S.M)

Clyde Burton, Powell River.

Jan 20:

1:00 pm: Spotted the Northern Resident Killer Whales known as the A42's off Vananda, on Texada Island, moving slowly south.

Geord, Roger and John, Discovery Marine Safaris/Stubbs Island Whale Watching.

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Jan 18:

3:30 pm: Spotted a lone large looking Orca off Davis Bay, Sechelt yesterday afternoon at around 3:30 pm heading south towards Gibsons, on the Sunshine Coast. Here's a photo I managed to grab before he disappeared. (Identified as Transient Bigg's Killer Whale T087. S.M.)

Becky Wayte. Sechelt

Combination Report from Port Renfrew

Grey Whale Bones

in Port Renfrew – 2 Photos

Lynne Cracknell, Sayward

January 20:

First thing that caught my eye was the skull and jaws of Grey Whale leaning against the motel we're staying at. I saw two Grey Whale (?) blows only off China Beach, but some Albertans staying closer to Jordan River told me they saw 5 Orca Jan 20^th and 8 Orca January 19^th. (No other information provided)

Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Jan 21:

2:00 pm: Perhaps someone else has already reported the large pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins we saw near Secret Cove on Wednesday January 21 between 2:00 – 2:30 pm. A group of us were one a boat heading from Jedediah Island to Secret Cove Marina in the Strait of Georgia when we saw them in the distance and then caught up to them. What a thrill! There was a large pod of them spread out over a large area. Sorry but I don't know enough about the area or the animals to give much more detail but you can check out my amateur video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVW6PIPC_I&feature+youtu.be

Laurette Hamoline.

DALL'S PORPOISE

Jan 16:

4:11 pm: Herd of 8-10 Dall's Porpoise at Lewis Rocks, at the entrance to Well's Passage in Queen Charlotte Strait.

Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

LINKS:

Ex Dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry is pleased to see that his long term efforts to end the keeping of dolphins in captivity are starting to bear fruit:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/12/activist-sees-public-shif_n_6454262.html

The US navy has applied for permission to detonate explosives and use harmful sonar in an area known to be home to Grey whales, Fin whales, the highly endangered Southern Resident Killer whales, porpoises and dolphins.

http://earthfix.info/news/article/navy-seeks-permits-to-expand-testing-off-northwest-coast/

Some disturbing news reports that a Humpback whale was illegally hunted and killed off the coast of Haiti.

http://uk.whales.org/news/2015/01/possible-illegal-humpback-hunt-in-haiti-reported

Three men in a boat experience a visit from curious Orca. One man describes the encounter as “possibly the best moment of my life.”

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/killer-whales-surround-3-men-din

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

For our DONATE page click here.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Northern Resident Killer Whales, Southern Resident Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

What a pleasure to finally see the Northern Resident Orca known as the A42's back in the area where the calf A103 'Albion' was born, Powell River. Since we had so much tidal debris such as logs in the area of Malaspina Strait, any whales that passed were out on the Georgia Strait side of Texada and Harwood. Now that the debris has dissipated, we are finally getting whales back in the areas closer to shore from where we seem to receive the majority of reports. Southern Resident Orca, J-Pod, as of today are also working their way up Malaspina Strait. We have had so few sightings reports come in and we had been feeling left out (LOL). Some other Orca, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Links in the News complete this report.

In the meantime, we have also been working hard with our Society Annual General meeting coming up. We'll look forward to updating you soon.

Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

For our DONATE page click here.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

A66 'Surf' shows off beautiful tail

A42 'Sonora' in middle with two of her offspring

Northern Resident Orca – A42's

January 14, 2015 – 4 photos

Susan MacKay, SG Images

Jan 14:

1:59 pm: 5 Orca off south west corner of Harwood Island, no apparent direction yet. Just popped up in front of CG Cutter, Cape Caution.

Eric Green, Powell River

January 14:

2 pm - ish: I grabbed gear and headed out to see about some ID's. Huge thanks to crew of the Cape Caution who pointed me in the right direction off the end of Harwood. Rounding the point towards Vivian I picked up the A42's. They stayed quite close to the Harwood Island shore slowly working their way around the island.

3:35 pm: After dropping the hydrophone, I heard some very distant Orca vocals which were definitely not Northern Resident calls, but couldn't quite hear enough over a distant boat to tell if the calls were Transient Bigg's or Southern Resident calls. I scanned out towards the center of Georgia Strait and spotted a couple of big dorsals in the distance, but too far to tell any more than that. I tried the hydrophone a few more times. It was quiet except for a very few faint squeaks and clicks of echolocation from the A42's. They behaved as if they were hiding staying tight to shore all the while.

4 pm Just off Harwood Spit now still continuing around slowly. Left the 5 Northern Resident Killer Whales A42's tucked right up to the south-east corner of Harwood Island shore across from the Powell River Mill. It was a cold, but gratifying run out on the water.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Northern Resident Orca – A42's

January 14, 2015

Elaine Sorensen – taken from CG Cutter Cape Caution

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

January 15:

Satellite tagged J27 with the rest of J-Pod have found their way back up Malaspina Strait and with their last position noted close to the Lang Bay, south of Powell River area. Map and information courtesy NOAA where you can find additional information including the prior map showing their travels in the Georgia Strait up past Savary Island and to Cape Mudge and back down the Strait: http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cb/ecosystem/marinemammal/satellite_tagging/blog2015.cfm

Jan 14:

3:35 pm: Got more Orca out in the Strait closer to Vancouver Island. I think they are Transient Bigg's but the calls are too distant to be 100% certain. (Note: This sighting has been moved up to Southern Resident Killer Whales based on the above update although there is a possibility that the calls heard were Transient Bigg's - SM)

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Southern Resident J27 Track

January 12 - 15, 2015

NOAA

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Jan 5:

3:30 pm: I saw approximately 6 Orca swimming between Entrance Island and Gabriola Island, probably less that 1/2 km out. You could see them clear as day. They were headed towards Nanaimo, north bound. There was a cluster of 5 or 6 varying in sizes and one large male, this guy was really big, following behind them. I don't know enough to give you more information. They were beautiful to watch.

Is there a way to tell the difference between Resident and Transient? They didn't appear to be hunting just swimming past. There was however a seal on high alert as they swam by. The seal is actually how I first noticed them. Usually the seals in that area bob up and down and watch me on the rocks. I have noticed the last month or so that there are fewer seals in that particular area. I did find a dead one on the beach a few months ago. The seal popped his head up but was looking out instead of at me, he only stayed up for a few seconds then went under. When he came back up he was stretching up as high as he could to see. That is when I saw the fins as well. I walked away in case he was scared to jump on the rock with me there LOL. I didn't want to see anything if it were going to happen. The whales showed no interest in the seal or me. They just swam by at a pretty quick pace. Hopefully this helps a bit.

Angela Prive, Gabriola Island

In response to Angela's question:

Not an easy answer to your question. It takes a keen eye since they look so similar. Many Transient Bigg's have more triangular / pointed shaped dorsals, but not all. Many of the Southern Residents have open saddle patches, but not all. It takes really knowing the animals and seeing and studying them over time, and even then we can sometimes be fooled until we verify with a photo and compare their scratches and markings to the identification catalogues or manage to hear them communicate by means of a hydrophone. There are well over 300 Transient Bigg's, 78 (now with J50) Southern Residents, and over 300 Northern Residents. Then we sometimes get a few up from California in the winters and spring to really confuse us!

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Jan 4:

9:55 am: My husband and I were sailing from Nanaimo to Gibsons on January 2^nd 2015 and at 1:45 pm we believe we saw a pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins. I would estimate there were over 100 Dolphins. At first we thought it was a giant wave coming towards us and were pleasantly surprised when we saw the playful Dolphins. It was a great way to start the year. Thought you might enjoy these videos. I have also attached a couple of photos. The photo are gps stamped as well if that is helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm9lbZmmUAI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1zbp2p1H-A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2nnNHg8Ow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05QHHua91w

Kaitlin and Dave Ellis S/V Cutty Too.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

January 4, 2015 – 3 photos

Kaitlin and Dave Ellis S/V Cutty Too

LINKS:

A great piece of video showing the new SRKW baby J50 traveling with J pod through Admiralty Inlet in Puget Sound on January 10^th. The video was taken by Alisa Lemire Brooks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQobGD48ncM&sns=em

How important is it to get the garbage out of our oceans? Very important, as this National Geographic video will show; a 45 foot long Sei whale was killed by a discarded CD case:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150107-sea-trash-whales-dolphins-marine-mammals/

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

For our DONATE page click here.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Southern Resident New Orca Calf, Transient Bigg's Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Good News for the Southern Resident Orca population and a great way to end 2014 and start 2015. A new calf known as J50 was first spotted December 30^th. There is a bit of question as to who the mother is since the calf was seen beside 42 year old J16, Slick. Slick is most likely the Grandmother. It's surmised that the Mother is 16 year old J36, Alki. With rake marks on the calf's dorsal, there is a chance that the rest of the pod had to assist with a difficult delivery and Alki was recuperating before assuming motherly duties. We can only hope and monitor their welfare.

NOAA once again has tagged, for the purpose of monitoring, a Southern Resident Killer Whale (J27) and has reported J-Pod between Nanaimo and Comox on December 31^st, and by Savary Island on January 1^st. We have included a link to their 2015 satellite tagging page in the Links section below.

Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

For our DONATE page click here.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

(presumed Transient Bigg's)

Orca off Cape Mudge

(possibly T37A's)

December 30, 2014 – 2 photos

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

January 2:

12 – 12:30 pm: At least 4 Orca Northbound in Lambert Channel. There appeared to be two large whales with very straight and tall dorsal fins, one very small whale with them and one medium sized whale. (Tagged Southern Resident Orca have been around this area and this could be a few of them rather than Transient Bigg's - SM)

Cindy McDonald, Hornby Island

December 30:

10:40 am: At least 5 Orca heading past Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, northbound.

Michelle, Discovery Marine Safaris / Stubbs Island Whale Watching.

December 30:

11:00 am: Killer whales breaching mid channel between Cape Mudge and Vancouver Island.

Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.

December 30:

11:18 am: I see them (the Orca) but they are quite far away. Saw a big splash, off Cape Mudge, by Big Rock area.

11:30 am: See them again. Looks like more than 5 of them. Looks like they are a bit farther south.

11:48 am: They are in line with the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, mid channel. Going around in circles.

12:00 pm: Lost track of them, last seen they were south west bound in Georgia Strait towards Vancouver Island. There are at least 5 animals, one large fin and a young Orca.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Orca off Cape Mudge

(possibly T37A's)

December 30, 2014 – 2 photos

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Dec 30:

10:00 am: Overheard some Sports Fishermen talking about large groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging off the NW tip of Texada Island. They are out of my view.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Dec 25:

2:16 pm: Just passed a pod of about 80 Pacific White Sided Dolphins on the 12:50 ferry to Nanaimo. They passed close to Gabriola Island and headed north. Great Christmas show!

Eric Foster.

Dec 24:

11:35 am: Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins just passed by Fisherman's Wharf in Campbell River as I was locking up the office! Merry Christmas from everyone at Stubbs and Discovery Marine Safaris!

Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris and Stubbs Island Whale Watching.