Have You Seen Any of These?

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Killer Whales, Dolphins, Porpoise and even Grey Whales and Photos Galore

Transient Bigg's Orca everywhere! And so many photos. We have reports of Killer Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall's Porpoise as well as Harbour Porpoise, and even a Grey Whale report from Tofino, but still no Humpback Whales. Is it due to the seismic activity? It's been a question for years that has yet to be answered.
We also have been hearing about a few of the branded Sea Lions. If you do see one, we'd love to get the information please. These brands are large and quite visible usually comprising of three numbers and a letter. A photo, if possible would also help since often they are difficult to read. We are now compiling more information on these animals. Some of them return to our areas every year from Oregon, California and Alaska.
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.







Transient Bigg's off Savary Island
Photos were too late for previous posting
April 17, 2015- 6 PHOTOS
Gordie Coles, Lund / Savary Island

2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW!
Prizes are listed below our Report.

Raffle tickets will be available at our information tables at:
Town Centre Mall, Powell River: Thursdays and Fridays in May
Lund Shellfish Festival, Lund Harbour May 23 & 24
Trail Bay Mall, Sechelt May 28 & 29
Campbell River: Location and Dates to be confirmed
Other locations and times will be posted as soon as we confirm
And online using our Donate button – see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details.



TRANSIENT BIGG'S ORCA

April 25:
1:43 pm: Report of Transient Bigg's Orca at Churchhouse, Campbell River Whale Watching are on the scene. They are somewhere in Calm Channel, possibly northbound. There are apparently 3 big fins in the mix and approximately 12 whales in total.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

April 25:
1:30-2 pm 5-6 Orca were just off Crescent Bay, almost to Favada Point, by the NW tip of Texada Southbound after hanging around feeding on something for half hour or more. We were just walking when we spotted them. (from photos submitted ID's of T049A's - SM)
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island





Transient Bigg's Killer Whales – T049A's
April 25, 2015 - 5 PHOTOS
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island

April 25:
3:52 pm Leaving the Orca at Dent Rapids, Northbound. Definitely had the T002C's and will look at photos of others. Nick ID'd some of the others as T023's.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 24:
4:40 pm: At least 7 Transient Bigg's Orca by Viner Point angling towards Francisco Point, on the hunt.
5:05 pm: More animals off Marina Island, breaching. At least 3 big fins.
5:47 pm: At least 15 Transient Bigg's Orca in total. There are three calves, one being yellow. They are in between Marina Island and Rebecca Spit on Quadra Island, moving slowly southbound. Leaving the scene.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 18:
3:59 pm: Transients at Hein Bank in Juan de Fuca Strait. No more details yet.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

April 18:
Sad news. There is a report of a deceased Killer Whale which has washed up on the the shore near Fort Bragg California. Looks like it is an Offshore Killer Whale.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

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 included here were missed in the previous update, so we've included the report as well - SM)
Gordie Coles, Lund / Savary Island

April 17: (rec'd 18th)
One of our volunteers Maggie LeBanc through Camosun College Environmental Technology in Victoria BC was out with a group of Transients this morning. We got a call at 8:45 am of Transient Bigg's Killer Whales between the Inner Harbour Victoria and Trial Island, slowly heading east. We were able to ID the whales as the T065A's, T075Bs, T075C. The other day Candace Emmons with NOAA Fisheries noticed a new calf in the T075B's/T075C. This calf was associating with both females throughout the encounter. Today, the calf spent the majority of the time with T075B. We are confident this calf belongs to T075B, making it T075B2!
Josh McInnes, Victoria.





Transient Bigg's KWs – T002C's & T023's
April 25, 2014 - 5 PHOTOS
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Most are likely Transient Bigg's

April 24:
7:50 am: 4 – 5 Orca northbound in front of Powell River, Sunshine Coast.
Liz Douglas, Powell River

April 24:
8:00 am: Three Killer Whales swam by Marine Avenue in Powell River heading north at 8:00 am this morning. Photos below.
Michelle Pennell.

April 24:
8:20 am: 3-5 Orca close to shore, still moving northbound past the Ferry Terminal in Powell River.
Geri Kinrade, Powell River.

April 24:
8:43 am: A family of Orca heading south around Penticton Street now, close to Grief Point at Powell River. It looks like 5, 1 male at back, possible juvenile, possible smaller and a couple of females.
Janet Southcott, Powell River.

April 24:
8:43 am At the same time as the above report came in, I heard that there were Orca on the hunt in by the Powell River Mill sorting yard.
Radio

April 24:
10:33 am 8 Orca including one tiny calf and one big male southbound and moving quickly by Myrtle Rocks, just south of Powell River proper.
Jim Southern, Powell River.

April 23:
11:00 am: Several Orca were sighted on the Inside Channel/north side of the Trail Islands, by Sechelt. It was my wife Karen who saw them from Wakefield beach. She said she could identify 3, maybe 4 and possibly a young one. It was rough that day, but they were tucked beside the north most Trail Island and were surfacing regularly (not breaching ). She said she lost sight of them as they headed towards Halfmoon Bay, but then they turned and came back. She lost sight again in the wave action and figured they headed north.
Dave & Karen Heskin, Sechelt area




Orca by Powell River
April 24, 2015 - 4 PHOTOS
Michelle Pennell

April 23:
11:30 am: We spotted 2 Orca, feeding and hunting just north of the Trail Islands, they were in view for about twenty minutes as they made their way towards Sergeants Bay. One of the Orca had a very large fin.
Judy Marusiak, West Sechelt.

April 22:
7:00 am: I saw a few Orca, possibly 4 or 5. One or two go down, another couple pop up, you look back and see the first two again and think are those the same ones...hard to count for sure. 1.5 miles north east of Entrance Island yesterday, heading west, I think. I saw them on two separate flights, one at 7:00 am and again at 8:30 am.
Michael Grattan, Pilot for Harbour Air.

April 21:
8:30 am: Orca in Dodd Narrows between Gabriola Island and Vancouver Island, southbound. At least three including a calf. They were by Gabriola Island first and then moved through the Narrows. Check out the video:
Chad Giesbrecht, Gabriola Island


April 21:
1:00 pm: I wanted to report a sighting of a pod of Orca between Hernando Island and the southern tip of Cortez Island. It looked like about ten adults, feeding (and/or leaping and splashing) in one area for at least 30 minutes, then heading south towards Vancouver Island.
Sarah.

April 20:
3:44 pm: Orca off Sliammon Village, between Powell River and Lund, by Atrevida Reef. About 8 – 10 of them no direction visible.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

April 19:
1:48 pm: Orca off Powell River sea walk slowly Southbound.
2:00 pm About ten Orca just southbound by Grief Point, Powell River. I even had to borrow binoculars since the car and boat was about 2 km away and I was walking! I did see at least one big male and they moved as if they were on the hunt. Most likely Transient Bigg's.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

April 19:
4:35 pm: Have a solid report from my friend of Killer Whales southbound past Refuge Cove, West Redonda Island, right now. No numbers or ID's yet.
4:55 pm: He is with two females and two young Orca, and across on the Cortez Island shoreline there is another big group with one big male in the bunch.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

April 19:
6:54 pm: Three Orca heading north in Active Pass, between Mayne Island and Galiano Island.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.





Transient Bigg's Orca
April 25, 2015 - 5 PHOTOS
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

April 21:
3:30 pm: The Southern Resident Killer whales J-pod off the west side of San Juan Island.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

April 19:
3:00 pm: Southern Resident Killer Whales J pod heard on the Lime Kiln hydrophone. (Lime Kiln hydrophone is located at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island.)
Josh McInnes, Victoria.

GREY WHALES

April 25:
We followed the coast and found three juvenile Grey Whales foraging just 200 yards off shore. Watched them for a while and then a huge bull came right over near the tour boat and gave us a great show.
Lynne Cracknell, Sayward

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

April 22:
9:43 am: A couple of hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphin between Fawn Bluff and Clipper Point in Bute Inlet.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.

April 20:
2:23 pm: Large pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Knox Bay, West Thurlow Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 20:
2:51 pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Elk Bay, just north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 18:
4:36 pm: 6 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Whiterock Passage, which leads NE from Hoskyn Channel to Calm Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

DALL'S PORPOISE

April 19:
4:00 pm: I paddled around Harwood Island today with Claudia Boelcke, Janet May and Lot Spartham and when we were about one third of the way back to Gibson's Beach from the Island, Claudia spotted four or five Dall's Porpoise. At the time I took these pictures we were not sure what they were but they definitely had the white spot on he top of the dorsal fin. We did not see the white on the body. They didn't stay long as sea kayaks don't have bow waves. I only saw three but Claudia is sure there were four or five. The group split in two directions after it had come up in front of us a few times. The kayaker in the foreground of the photo is Claudia Boelcke, who saw them first.
Heather Harbord, Powell River.

(There were Orca in the same area earlier, presumably chasing the Dall's. S.M.)

April 18:
11:20 am: A few Dall's Porpoise at Orange Point, near Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.

Dall's Porpoise off Harwood Island
April 19, 2015
Heather Harbord, Powell River

HARBOUR PORPOISE

April 24:
(no time given) Around 15 Harbour Porpoise all feeding together off Crescent Bay, Texada Island.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island

April 18:
3:53 pm: 4 Harbour Porpoise at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

LINKS

Biologists with Fisheries and Oceans Canada are planning to dissect the body of a young Grey Whales that washed up on Wickaninish Beach near Tofino, Vancouver Island, this week:

Large numbers of Transient Bigg's Orca appearing off Vancouver Island:

Removing Humpback Whales from the endangered list would ease the way for increased offshore drilling:

2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
ALL PRIZES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE EACH

Early Bird Draw June 21, 2015:
1. Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours PLUS Large Print of Award Winning Photo as seen on the cover of BC Magazine Fall 2014
2. Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour PLUS return BC Ferries Pass including car
3. Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Tour

Final Draw July 26, 2015 at Powell River SeaFair:
1. Pacific Coastal Return Flight to/from Vancouver - Comox or Powell River PLUS Vancouver Whale Watch Tour
  1. Campbell River Whale Watching Tour PLUS 2 Nights Accommodation
  1. Discovery Marine Safaris Tour
  2. Eagle Eye Adventure Tour

Full 2015 Summer Raffle Details available at: http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/events-and-raffles-2/2015-raffle/

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

Friday, April 17, 2015

Killer Whales put on a Show by Campbell River and Savary, Pacific White Sided Dolphins but no Humpback Reports

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
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.

2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW!
Prizes are listed below our Report.

Raffle tickets will be available at our information tables at:
Lund Shellfish Festival, Lund Harbour May 23 & 24
Trail Bay Mall, Sechelt May 28 & 29
Town Centre Mall, Powell River: Dates to be confirmed
Campbell River: Location and Dates to be confirmed
Other locations and times will be posted as soon as we confirm
And on line using our Donate button – see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details.

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

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 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
ALL PRIZES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE EACH

Early Bird Draw June 21, 2015:
1. Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours PLUS Large Print of Award Winning Photo as seen on the cover of BC Magazine Fall 2014
2. Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour PLUS return BC Ferries Pass including car
3. Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Tour

Final Draw July 26, 2015 at Powell River SeaFair:
1. Pacific Coastal Return Flight to/from Vancouver - Comox or Powell River PLUS Vancouver Whale Watch Tour
2. Campbell River Whale Watching Tour PLUS 2 Nights Accommodation
3. Discovery Marine Safaris Tour 
4. Eagle Eye Adventure Tour

Full 2015 Summer Raffle Details available at: http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/events-and-raffles-2/2015-raffle/
 
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