Have You Seen Any of These?

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Orca News! Another calf spotted for the Southern Resident Killer Whales J-Pod! The population was in desperate need of a boost and we welcome J-052! This is incredibly good news for their population. Farther up the coast, we have Transient Bigg's Orca making appearances with Pacific White Sided Dolphins near by, plus a few other unconfirmed identities of whales. We are still expecting to get reports very soon of Humpback Whales coming through our inside waters, while Gray Whales are already migrating up the outer coast of Vancouver Island.

Non-Profit Society News:
Our main web site is now 'mobile friendly' even though it is still in need of a few updates.
We received a second quote from another company for our live feed web camera which shaved $1600 off the original quote for the same camera! We are working on options since it is still very expensive.
To this end, you might consider ordering your raffle ticket for our 2015 Summer Raffle. It truly is bigger and better with seven tours, a Pacific Coastal Flight, BC Ferries travel, accommodation, and an award winning framed print combined into this huge raffle. We do have an Early Bird Draw which will also allow for entries to qualify for the final Draw. Get your tickets now! Click here for Details!
Tickets will also be available soon in Campbell River, Sechelt and Powell River locations – we will keep you posted. Thank you all for your support.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES:

March 30: Just got a report that the Southern Resident Killer Whales known as J-pod were in Active Pass earlier today. There is a rumour of a possible new calf! J052. (which has been confirmed – Exciting News! - SM)
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES:

Transient Bigg's known as T011A
older photo of Whale spotted March 29, 2015
Josh McInnes, Victoria

April 1:
11:35 am: Orca near Johnston Bluff, in Bute Inlet. Not on scene yet, but report says there are 4 – 5 Orca.
Fabien Minfray Campbell River Whale Watching

April 1:
12:33 pm: 3-4 Orca by Stuart Island heading into Bute Inlet. All small fins.
1:49 pm Turned out to be only 3 Orca, all small fins, one was very small but no yellowing.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 1:
3:47 pm: Six Transient Bigg's Orca in Juan de Fuca Strait. heading east of Beachy Head, off Sooke on Vancouver Island.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

March 29:
12:00 pm: Lone Orca heading north at Bolmont Shoals in Haro Strait.
10:09 pm: The lone Orca turned out to be two Orca – Transient Bigg's T011 and T011A – someone I know ID'd them and sent the info to me.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

March 28:
3:04 pm: Five Transient Bigg's Killer Whales heading west at Beecher Bay, near Sooke on South Vancouver Island.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

March 26:
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales known as T101s and T124C were sighted heading south in Trincomali Channel, which is between Saltspring and Galiano Islands.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES:

March 30:
8:00 pm: At least 2 big fins earlier today in Blind Channel, West Thurlow Island. (presumed to be Transient Bigg's, but no confirmation - SM)
Fabien Minfray Campbell River Whale Watching

March 30:
I just wanted to report that I have seen a pod of what looks to be like Killer Whales. (These could be either Southern Resident or Transient Bigg's Orca – SM) I first spotted them on Friday and was able to capture some video of them (not great quality), and saw them again this evening. I saw them in the area just off Benwalden Road in Lantzville outside of the “Bay” by Nanoose First Nations and the Navy Base. My neighbour and I were trying to count and I would say between 5 – 7 whales! It was so amazing to see. When I saw them they were just spending time going back and forth in the Bay area so not sure which direction they ended up going. Thanks for all you do,
Erin Pollock.

Video clip of Orca in Nanoose Bay
March 30, 2015
Erin Pollock
March 29:
Wow! Sunday saw at least 5 or 6 Orca feeding on herring in Nanoose Bay! At least two were babies. They followed two herring fishing boats for about 1 hour in a rather shallow area of Nanoose Bay, between Nanoose Bay Spit and Lantzville Beach on Vancouver Island.
Nancy Page.

Mar 26:
6:50 pm: Orca mid Strait between Duke Point on Vancouver Island, and Vancouver. No direction given.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.

GRAY WHALES

Mar 25: I am in Ucluelet, west coast of Vancouver Island, for my Spring whale watching trip. Saw about 1/2 a dozen Grays off the Lighthouse headed west yesterday afternoon. I am going to Tofino today as the big boat here is not going out today but I will go out on Jamie's big boat there.
Don McBain. North Vancouver.


PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

April 1:
9:52 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Seymour Narrows, north of Campbell River in Discovery Passage, northbound.
From Radio.

April 1:
10 am Pacific White Sided Dolphins westing in Seymour Narrows.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 1:
Shortly after 10 am: Web cam capture shows at least 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Brown's Bay, which is just north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, and about 50 more Dolphins on the other side.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
off Brown's Bay breakwater, Discovery Passage
April 1, 2015
Web Camera Screen Capture

April 1:
Large group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins reported at Davis Point.
(from Radio)

April 1:
Summary Report received later: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Davis Point, easting. 3O Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Brown's Bay, northing, and 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Frederick's Arm.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.


LINKS

It looks like more good news for the Southern Residents with the birth of another baby to J pod!


A resident of Hornby Island was out kayaking when he caught this footage of a couple of Transient Bigg's Orca hunting sea lions.

Great aerial footage by Jeremy Williams using a drone during the herring spawn in Powell River. Sea Lions were playing and feeding in the spawn.

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