Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales put on quite a show right in front of Campbell
River! Lots of photos below. At the time of working on this report
there is another show of leaping Transient Bigg's Orca going on just
between Lund and Savary Island. Howe Sound was not to be outdone and
also had an Orca show. It's amazing when they have full bellies how
they love to breach and play! Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been
spotted in larger groups again and are moving around, presumably to
avoid meeting up with the Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Orca who
will attack them as food.
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales
and Dolphins BC
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Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales - T087
April 14, 2015
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
TRANSIENT BIGG'S
ORCA
April 17:
7:55 am There are about
6 Orca and a sea lion off Lund heading towards the Raggeds (local
name for the Copeland Islands).
8:30 am The Orca were
jumping out of the water and landing on the poor sea lion. I bet it
hurts!! I think they're teaching the young ones. There's one big male
for sure.
9:50 am They just off
Mace Point, Savary Island looking like they're about to head towards
Powell River. Photos will follow. (we will have them in the next
update - SM)
Gordie Coles, Lund /
Savary Island
April 14:
1:27 pm: One lone Orca
northbound by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island. Relayed
through radio report.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
1:58 pm Lone Transient
Bigg's Orca at Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island side northbound.
(from radio discussion and Fabien's description this lone male was
tentatively identified as T087 by Susan MacKay)
2:25 pm: More Orca,
southbound, in Discovery Passage, meeting up with lone male. Getting
a better count now and will get back.
2:34 pm: The lone male,
(Transient Bigg's Orca T87) has continued north, and the
second group of 5 Orca are moving slowly south towards Campbell
River, possibly on the hunt. There is one male and one calf in this
group.
3:17 pm: Another pod of
five Transient Bigg's Orca, one male and four females, have joined
the second group by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island. Some
hunting. Total of ten Orca altogether. The lone male off somewhere
and not seen. This third group of Orca came up from the south. They
are very active, full breaching. Still by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse
but look like they are starting to head south.
4:30 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca still by Cape Mudge Village, slowly southbound. Leaving
the scene.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales – T063 plus
Campbell River,
April 14, 2015 – 5 photos
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures
April 14:
4:35 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca T087 is by himself about 200 metres off shore in front of
Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 14:
4:50 pm: With Transient
Bigg's Orca T063 (nicknamed “Chainsaw,” because of the shape of
his dorsal fin) and others. They ares leaping about, still off Cape
Mudge.
5:15 pm The Orca have
now turned and headed slowly Northbound angling towards the Campbell
River side towards the Discovery Marina.
5:30 pm: Left the Orca
northbound on the Quadra Island side of Discovery Passage.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
April 13:
7:00 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca T011's were in Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, today.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
April 12:
1:51 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca, T049's are milling near Lopez Island, one of the San
Juan Islands.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales – T063 plus
Campbell River,
April 14, 2015 – 5 photos
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
UNIDENTIFIED
KILLER WHALES:
April 13: (rec'd 17th)
There were 2 groups of
Orca a couple hundred meters apart and about 150 meters out from Sea
Bay, off Comox. One group looked like maybe 8 to 10 animals and the
other looked like 5 to 6 Orca.
Bradden Kiley
April 12:
Saw
pod of Orcas heading north. Not sure just what the time was but would
guess they were headed towards Halibut or McCall Bank. Was on 8:30 am
ferry going to Departure Bay from Horseshoe Bay. They were quite far
away but distinctly saw at least 4 or more dorsal fins.
Lyndell
April 12:
I saw at least 8-10
Orca through my binocs about 2-3 km off Roberts Creek pier this
Sunday. There was a large Bull several other large Orca and smaller
ones. It appeared they were hunting as they were first heading east
then did a 180 and headed west for a few minutes. They stopped and
there was Lots of, splashing and breaching for a bit. They were in
two groups not far from each other. First real sighting this year
from the Roberts Creek Pier.
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
April 10:
9:38 am: Orca
southbound in Discovery Passage by the Walcan building in Campbell
River. Just saw one big male. Reported by a friend.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 10:
11:50 am: Orca –
three small ones and one large fin out by Painter's Lodge and
Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island, just milling.
(from radio)
April 10:
12:15 pm: Orca at
Duncan Bay now, on the Vancouver Island side of Discovery Passage,
still milling around.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 8:
These
three photos were taken by my friends between Sunset Marina and
Lion's Bay in Howe Sound this Wednesday, April 8th.
There were about 12 Orca including a baby, they enjoyed the show for
half an hour. We were out with them on Monday and although a
beautiful day, we did not get the show. I live in Lion's Bay and have
an amazing view, although we haven't seen the Orca yet, lots of
Dolphins, though.
Gord Broughton,
Lion's Bay, BC.
Orca in Howe Sound
April 8, 2015 – 3
photos
Photos courtesy of
John and Brenda Gable
PACIFIC WHITE
SIDED DOLPHINS
April 17:
7:35 am A dozen Pacific
White Sided Dolphins at Brew Bay (not clear if this is Brew Bay,
south of Powell River or another one – SM)
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
1:26 pm: A dozen or so
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Duncan Bay, just north of Campbell
River on Vancouver Island.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
4:30 pm: About 50 plus
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of Powell River, on the
Sunshine Coast.
Steve Grover, Powell
River.
April 14:
5:00 pm: There are
closer to 80 – 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins, feeding back and
forth in front of Powell River. Make that between 100 and 150!
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins B.C.
April 12:
1:50 pm: A dozen
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 12:
4:06 pm: Approximately
200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins Chasing Feed
Powell River, April
14, 2015 – 2 photos
Susan MacKay, SG
Images
LINKS:
Underwater sounds
captured near the South Shetlands belong to an unconfirmed type of
whale, leading to speculation that this may be an entirely unknown
species:
A
gray whale has just been recorded as having completed the longest
ever migration for the
species, a stunning fourteen thousand miles return trip:
2015
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