Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, May 12, 2017

Humpbacks Returning and Lots of Orca


Humpback Whales are finally reappearing in the our inside waters as they work to feed on some of the herring that's been spotted in various areas including one staying in Howe Sound. Our regular Humpback visitor known as 'KC' which is short for Kelp Creature is back to cruising close around Campbell River and Brown's Bay as well as a few others seen foraging from a distance off Powell River.

Orca have been abundant with mostly Transient Bigg's travelling up and down Georgia Strait. They have been seen in mixed family groups, possibly for mating purposes. The T002Cs and their new calf are staying in the channels close around Cortez Island again. There was a brief visit off the Comox area from Southern Resident Orca populations reported as they headed back to the south.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been reported in small to average sized groups and a few Harbour and Dall's Porpoise have been reported.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Humpback Whale tail off of Sentry Shoal



Society News & Events

Mark your calendars for June 10th ! Join us to celebrate World Oceans Week. Enjoy an evening of great food, music, silent and live auctions and fun atDwight Hall in Powell River. Tickets are available at Hindle's Gifts and Taws Cycle and Sports or at our information tables at Town Center Mall and by Quality Foods. Or give us a call. Reserve your tables early!

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Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-010

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES

Wed May 10 2017

17:12 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south off Mink Island towards Sarah Point, Desolation Sound. One bull, big female, maybe two teens and one baby. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Graham Evans, Stowaway Adventures

11:52 • Biggs Orca heading south approaching Walcan Seafood Quadra Island in the middle of Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

08:45 • est. 6 Biggs Orca ◦T100C◦ heading north in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Possibly the T023s pod there as well.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures


Tue May 09 2017

16:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T002s◦ heading north off Rendezvous Islands, Drew Passage. Passing Whiterock Passage close to shoreline of Maurelle Island.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T002s, off Rendezvous Islands in Drew Passage
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 5 items






SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T002s, off Rendezvous Islands in Drew Passage
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 5 items


15:10 • 1 Biggs Orca heading north in Whale Passage off Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. It may be Transient Orca, possibly T002Cs.

Mon May 08 2017

17:10 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s; T023s◦ heading south at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. Heading towards Comox ferry area. ▫ Leaving the Scen


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T018s and T023s, moving south at Grants Reef
Mon, 8 May 2017 - 5 items






SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T018s and T023s, moving south at Grants Reef
Mon, 8 May 2017 - 5 items


16:28 • Biggs Orca heading south from Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait. Viewed through binoculars from Emmonds Beach.
16:09 • Biggs Orca heading north at Mystery Reef.

Sun May 07 2017

14:00 • est. 12 Biggs Orca hunting, heading north-east off Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait. Two pods circling the area for 1 hour, then crossed north-east into the strait. One pod with 7 Orca and one pod with 5 Orca. Both pods had very young calfs. ▫ On Scene
Maurizio Hublitz, Bianca boat


Sat May 06 2017

21:49 • Biggs Orca off of Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Kind of dark but the fin of one was big.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG

19:59 • est. 6 Biggs Orca heading south between Westview and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC

13:10 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T002s; T018s◦ heading south just south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, T002s, T018s, heading south just off of Sentry Shoal
Sat, 6 May 2017 - 8 items









SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, T002s, T018s, heading south just off of Sentry Shoal
Sat, 6 May 2017 - 8 items


09:14 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s; T019s; T002Cs◦ heading south at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
08:57 • Biggs Orca near ferry dock Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

08:47 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s; T019s; possibly T002Cs◦ heading south at Shark Spit, Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ On Scene
08:17 • 1 Biggs Orca heading south by Powell River Ferry terminal, Malaspina Strait. A lone male, had prawn trap entangled but free now.
Julie Leon, Powell River, BC

08:10 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south off the north end of Marina Island near Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand

Fri May 05 2017

13:20 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south just north of Junction Point near Squirrel Cove, Lewis Channel.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale heading south off of Junction Point near Squirrel Cove
Fri, 5 May 2017 - 7 items








SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale heading south off of Junction Point near Squirrel Cove
Fri, 5 May 2017 - 7 items


12:07 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south by Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel. T002Cs were with other Orca.
10:54 • Biggs Orca heading south just above Teakerne Arm. ▫ Second Hand
08:30 • 6-8 Biggs Orca heading north in Whale Passage by Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand

Thu May 04 2017

19:27 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south at Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Accompanied by at least three other Orca.
16:45 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south 3 miles north of Little River and 4 miles offshore of Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

13:18 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
12:30 • Biggs Orca heading north just off Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals.
10:20 • 1 Biggs Orca heading west off Johns Point, Nodales Channel. One lone bull.
09:20 • Biggs Orca at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. From fishing guide. ▫ Second Hand

Mon May 01 2017

16:36 • Biggs Orca ◦T011s◦ bucking tide, off of Little Dent Island, Dent Rapids. Trying to catch a sea lion.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale, T011s, bucking the tide off of Little Dent Island
Mon, 1 May 2017 - 6 items







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale, T011s, bucking the tide off of Little Dent Island
Mon, 1 May 2017 - 6 items


16:05 • Biggs Orca ◦T011s◦ heading north in Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T011s, in Dent Rapids
Mon, 1 May 2017 - 7 items








SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T011s, in Dent Rapids
Mon, 1 May 2017 - 7 items


15:07 • Biggs Orca ◦T011s; T011A◦ heading north off of Kellsey Point on Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.

Sun Apr 30 2017

17:00 • Biggs Orca, Nodales Channel. Jack on scene. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:15 • Biggs Orca heading north by Howe Island, Johnstone Strait. Observed by Jos. ▫ Second Hand

Fri Apr 28 2017

20:36 • 10 Biggs Orca ◦T018s; T023s◦ between Blubber Bay and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
19:53 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ close to the shore of the north-east tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
19:51 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ moving slowly, heading east towards Grief Point in the middle of Malaspina Strait. Seagulls and eagles picking up debris stretched from Blubber Bay half-way to Grief Point.
18:45 • 10 Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T018s◦ circling prey and feeding, near the north marker at Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

17:28 • 10 Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T018s◦ in Blubber Bay, Texada Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
17:01 • 10 Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T018s◦ milling, in Blubber Bay, Texada Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Ten Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, milling about in Blubber Bay
Fri, 28 Apr 2017 - 8 items









SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Ten Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, milling about in Blubber Bay
Fri, 28 Apr 2017 - 8 items


13:48 • 10 Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T018s◦ resting, off the light at Blubber Bay, Texada Island. Orca resting on the surface. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:23 • est. 5 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north by Van Anda on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Bruce Magee, Texada Island


Thu Apr 27 2017

20:20 • est. 3 Biggs Orca heading south halfway between Grief Point and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC

18:14 • Biggs Orca by the lighthouse at Blubber Bay on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster

14:11 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south about 3 miles off of Little River, Georgia Strait. Surfacing regularly. ▫ Leaving the Scene


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales moving slowly near Little River
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 - 6 items







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales moving slowly near Little River
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 - 6 items


13:42 • Biggs Orca 3 miles off of Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:08 • 8-9 Biggs Orca ◦T019B Galiano◦ south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. Another unidentified large male in the group.
11:14 • 1 Biggs Orca taking long dives, heading south between Sentry Shoal and Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Female Orca.
08:45 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south at Cape Mudge Fishing Hump off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Aventures

07:31 • 4 Biggs Orca bucking tide, heading south off Argonaut Wharf in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Four females; one of them is 400-m in front of the other three. Porpoising hard against the tide. Not making headway about mid-channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours



SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Wed May 10 2017

17:12 • SRKW Orca spread out, heading south off Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait.
15:12 • SRKW Orca heading south off Little River, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

13:36 • est. 12 SRKW Orca spread out, heading south about 1-mile off of Bates Beach, Georgia Strait. From Fishing Guide. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive



UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Wed May 10 2017

07:55 • Orca heading north off Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand

Tue May 09 2017

19:05 • 6-7 Orca milling, in Davie Bay, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Eventually headed north after spending some time in the area.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales milling in Davie Bay on Texada Island
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 2 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales milling in Davie Bay on Texada Island
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 2 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



Mon May 08 2017

18:40 • 3 Orca heading north off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Leaving 3 small fins. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:27 • 2 Orca heading north off Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. At the north end of Savary west side.

Sat May 06 2017

20:27 • est. 4 Orca heading south at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Wed May 03 2017

15:18 • 2-3 Orca heading north just south of Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. By old quarry area.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north just south of Van Anda on Texada Island
Wed, 3 May 2017 - 5 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC






SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north just south of Van Anda on Texada Island
Wed, 3 May 2017 - 5 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC




HUMPBACK WHALES

Wed May 10 2017

21:30 • 2-3 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading south between Sisters Islets and Finnerty Islands, Georgia Strait. Initially headed south, then turned and headed north. A series of shallowish surface and dives, then gone deep for 5 minutes or more.
Gabriele Matheson,

13:18 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; Apollo◦ moving slowly, heading south off Race Point, Discovery Passage.
12:18 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; Apollo◦ heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Taking 5 minute dives. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

10:56 • 2 Humpback Whales off Separation Head, Discovery Passage. Heard from radio. ▫ Second Hand

Tue May 09 2017

20:30 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, off Salmon Point, Georgia Strait. Reported by Greg from the fuel dock. ▫ Second Hand
17:01 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ milling, in Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCY0291 KC, milling about at Eagles Cove
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 2 items



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCY0291 KC, milling about at Eagles Cove
Tue, 9 May 2017 - 2 items


15:44 • 1 Humpback Whales off Granite Point at the north-west tip of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Reported by a boat from Sonora Resort. ▫ Second Hand

Sun May 07 2017

16:09 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ at Hole in the Wall. Information came from Nick. ▫ Second Hand
15:45 • 1 Humpback Whales off Bassett Point at entrance to Hole in the Wall.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:49 • 1 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge at the south end of Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
04:05 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north-west off Sunset Beach, Queen Charlotte Channel. In the morning moonlight, the Humpback whale was slapping water with its pectoral fin and tail. Then headed slowly NW.
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC


Sat May 06 2017

16:12 • 2 Humpback Whales across from Powell River by Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Two large HB size blows seen.

Thu May 04 2017

17:12 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading west off the north end of Bowyer Island, Howe Sound. Rolled onto its back while in the air and 4 breaches were observed.
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching off of the north end of Bowyer Island
Thu, 4 May 2017 - 2 items
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching off of the north end of Bowyer Island
Thu, 4 May 2017 - 2 items
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC


16:00 • est. 2 Humpback Whales moving quickly, heading south off Egmont near Earls Cove, Sechelt Inlet. ▫ Observed from Shore
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet, BC

10:30 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, off Lawrence Point, Bute Inlet. A juvenile.

Sun Apr 30 2017

20:45 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, off Whytecliff, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. East side of channel near shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Tanja Totzauer, North Vancouver, BC

17:37 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Thrasher Rock near Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, Eagle Harbour, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. Tale fluke...diving about 200m off shore of Eagle Harbour. ▫ On Scene
Andrea Kelsall, West Vancouver, BC


Fri Apr 28 2017

16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north-west off Brunswick Beach, Howe Sound. I'm not an expert on whales, but there is a whale that has been seen rather frequently during the month of April 10-20 meters from shore along Brunswick Beach and more than likely to Lions Bay. It has a small dorsal fin, white tail fin and so I believe it to be a Humpback. It looks as though it is relatively young, although large not huge. I have tried to get a video, but this has proven difficult. My husband saw her this afternoon. There have been at least 6-7 sightings. ▫ Observed from Shore
Cayla Brooke, Brunswick Beach, BC


Thu Apr 27 2017

18:14 • Humpback Whales by Blubber Bay on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Announced by Ferry. ▫ Second Hand
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster


Sun Apr 16 2017

--:-- • 1 Humpback Whales heading north between Sunset Beach and Bowyer Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. Headed towards Lions Bay.
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale between Sunset Beach and Bowyer Island heading towards Lions Bay. The white marks on the skin are scars most likely cam from a cookie-cutter sharks. It is likely as the whale has travelled through warm waters as cookie-cutter sharks are only found in tropical waters.
Sun, 16 Apr 2017 - 4 items
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC





SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale between Sunset Beach and Bowyer Island heading towards Lions Bay. The white marks on the skin are scars most likely cam from a cookie-cutter sharks. It is likely as the whale has travelled through warm waters as cookie-cutter sharks are only found in tropical waters.
Sun, 16 Apr 2017 - 4 items
Darren D, West Vancouver, BC




PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Wed May 10 2017

11:00 • 20 PWS Dolphins milling, off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.

Sat May 06 2017

14:23 • PWS Dolphins by Sonora Lodge on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out


Tue May 02 2017

16:24 • 30-40 PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Okisollo Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:47 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins at the end of Kanish Bay.
Radio, overheard or call out


Fri Apr 28 2017

14:39 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins heading south off the Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait. Should be interesting with Transient Orca across the channel by Texada Island.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



DALLS PORPOISE

Wed May 03 2017

11:45 • 6 Dalls Porpoise off Granite Point off the northwest tip of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.


HARBOUR PORPOISE

Wed May 10 2017

15:00 • Harbour Porpoise milling, about 1-km northwest of Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. They were in very close to shore. They were in the area for 15 or 20 minutes. They didn't jump or anything and they looked much like the photos on the website. There were also a few seals in the area at the same time.
Bill Hepler,


Sun May 07 2017

14:30 • Harbour Porpoise milling, around Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. The Harbour Porpoises were around from 14:30 to 15:30. They were seen frequently.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce


Wed May 03 2017

16:52 • 5-6 Harbour Porpoise heading south in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. In a hurry.

Mon May 01 2017

13:12 • 5 Harbour Porpoise off of April Point on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. They are feeding.

Sun Apr 30 2017

16:24 • Harbour Porpoise off Little River, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

13:10 • 2 Harbour Porpoise milling, Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.

Fri Apr 28 2017

19:30 • 4 Harbour Porpoise foraging, in front of Comox Harbour, Baynes Sound.
13:51 • est. 4 Harbour Porpoise about 1.5 miles off of Kitty Coleman Beach Park north of Comox, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce


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Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE

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The Magazine



REGIONAL & WEST COAST


HAKAI Magazine, BC


The multi-hour experience of whale watching can generally be edited down to a few key frames: a burst of action on the clock face of the sea; the animal’s slow, elegant arc; and the Y of the tail, slipping below the surface. At that point, most whale watchers get distracted, turning back to their cameras to check if they pressed the button at the exact right moment.

There’s actually more to see. Just as patient moviegoers are treated to “credit cookies” at the end of a film, those who keep watching the water are rewarded. Look where the whale was and you will see in its place, for a short time, a completely smooth, undisturbed crown of glassy water. ...


National Observer, BC


“....There’s no coastline like this on the planet, I think we need to seriously think about setting aside an area along the coast of B.C. that is ‘critical habitat for whales.’”

Under the federal Species at Risk Act, a critical habitat designation could help prevent large-scale industrial development that produces intense noise, contaminates or alters the habitat, as it has done for Canada’s North Atlantic right whale.

It’s especially important for the southern resident killer whale, which hunts just below the Great Bear Rainforest, as it faces a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic through its favourite feeding grounds.

The proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion — whose Alberta-B.C. pipeline and crude oil tanker traffic has already been approved by governments — will almost certainly drive them into extinction, says Jason Colby, a University of Victoria professor and expert on orca-human conflict.

It’s impossible to claim you are serious about saving the species, he adds, if you also support projects that result in increased tanker traffic through their habitat.

“Those are absolutely, fundamentally, contradictory positions,” he says in an interview. “We need to ask ourselves what this place will look like, and what our identity is if we lose the southern resident killer whale.

“What will we have lost in our regional and cultural identity, along with our tourist economy?”


La Jolla Light, CA


Rissos Dolphins are ... a very playful species, interacting often with other dolphins and whales. Either they are playing, or pestering! I've seen them bothering migrating groups of gray whales off our coast.

Generally, the dolphins initiate the contact with the whales, surrounding them tightly in a circle, and then brushing past. They may swim directly toward the whales until..


KOMO News,WA



SEATTLE -- A transient orca pod went for a swim in Puget Sound on a sunny Monday afternoon.
The pod was spotted by KOMO News helicopter "Air4" swimming off Richmond Beach, near Shoreline.
During their jaunt, the pod stopped for a late lunch.
At least one sea lion was killed, though several orcas appeared to continue the hunt.
Many orca pods were spotted in Puget Sound on Monday, the Orca Network reports.
These seal-eating transient orcas usually spend their time off the California coast.
Unlike the salmon-eating southern resident orcas that call Puget Sound home, the transients live on a diet of marine mammals like seals and sea lions.
They've been known to attack humpback whales, and are sometimes even thwarted by the humpbacks who come to sea lions' aid.
Transients can be identified visually by their robust size and a solid saddle patch behind the dorsal, compared to the open saddle patch of a southern resident whale.


Monterey Bay Whale Watch, CA



A pod of killer whales is stalking baby grey whales off Monterey Bay in California, but a patrolling group of humpback whales is doing everything in its power to foil the killer whales' attacks.

At this time of year, gray whales and their calves are making their way up the California coast as part of their annual migration from Mexico to Alaska. A bounty of young, harmless grey whale calves is an irresistible lure for the top ocean-predators. [Watch Video of the Humpbacks Trying to Save the Gray Whale Calves]

Killer whales (or orcas) can always be found in the area off Monterey, but this year has been particularly grim for the killer whales' prey. One orca gang, led by an adult female named Emma, has been camped out in Monterey Bay for the past few weeks, said marine biologist Nancy Black, who works with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, a whale-watching outfit. In the last 12 days, the deadly orcas have killed seven gray whale calves, she said.

Meanwhile, humpbacks have been in the area to feed on anchovies. They do not appear to be fans of the orcas' deadly onslaught. Whenever they see an orca attack a gray whale calf, they rush in to stop it.


Malibu Times, CA


During the last 10 years, whale sightings in Southern California have been on the rise.
“Southern California is one of the best places in the world to spot gray whales and is arguably where whale watching eco-tourism was born,” Diane Alps of the American Cetacean Society (ACS) and whalesafe.org said.
For residents of Malibu, spotting whales is as easy as a stroll down the beach around Point Dume, a favorite spot among migrating gray whales, which can be seen right off shore in the surf. For a bigger adventure, a trip on one of the many whale watching boats in the area not only yields gray whale sightings, but boaters may also encounter blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, sea lions and killer whales.


CBC Manitoba


A study suggests a warming climate and more killer whales could spell bad news for beluga whales in the southwestern portion of Hudson Bay.
The study included researchers at Oceans North Canada, the federal government and the University of Manitoba.
It looked at an attack by killer whales on belugas near the mouth of the Seal River in northern Manitoba in August 2012.
Research showed that after the attack, the belugas scattered northward along the Hudson Bay coastline, away from a traditional calving area near the Seal River.
The study suggests such scattering could impact the survival rate of young belugas.
Hudson Bay beluga cam allows viewers to get close, help scientists
It also notes that as the climate warms and the water in western Hudson Bay sees longer ice-free periods, the presence of killer whales may grow.


INTERNATIONAL


NPR News


Baby humpback whales seem to whisper to their mothers, according to scientists who have captured the infant whales' quiet grunts and squeaks.
The recordings, described in the journal Functional Ecology, are the first ever made with devices attached directly to the calves.
"When they're born, these whales are around 5 meters long," says Simone Videsen at Aarhus University in Denmark, who notes that this is "pretty big considering it's a baby."
Calves must travel with their mothers for thousands of miles during an annual migration to the food-rich waters of the Antarctic. Exactly what happens during that period is a mystery.
"These early life stages of wild whales are so elusive because they're an aquatic animal," Videsen explains. "We can't follow them around all the time to see what they're doing."
However, she and some colleagues recently were able to track eight baby whales, using special sound and movement recorders.


BBC News


One of the UK's last killer whales was contaminated with "shocking" levels of a toxic chemical, scientists say.
The animal, called Lulu, was found dead on the Isle of Tiree in Scotland last year after becoming entangled in fishing lines.
But tests now reveal her body contained among the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, ever recorded.
The chemicals were banned from the 1970s but are still in the environment.
Researchers now fear that other animals in Lulu's pod also have similarly high levels of contamination. The group, which is found off the west coast of Scotland, is thought to consist of just eight animals.
Dr Andrew Brownlow, head of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and veterinary pathologist at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), told BBC News that Lulu had "shocking levels of PCBs".
He said: "The levels of PCB contamination in Lulu were incredibly high, surprisingly so. They were 20 times higher than the safe level that we would expect for cetaceans to be able to manage.
"That puts her as one of the most contaminated animals on the planet in terms of PCB burden, and does raise serious questions for the long-term survivability of this group (of UK killer whales)."


Resource, NL


In the summer of 2016, the European researchers counted the numbers of sea mammals in the European part of the Atlantic Ocean from boats and airplanes.
Previous counts were done in 1994 and 2005. The researchers did not discover any major fluctuations. They concluded that the number of porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and common minke whales has remained stable in the last 22 years. However, the researchers will require one more count to be able to make any substantiated statements about the other dolphins and whales. ....


GIZMODO


“This is the first confirmed account of an orca predation on a white shark from South Africa,” ‎Marine Biologist Alison Kock from ‎South African National Parks told Gizmodo in an email. “It’s mind blowing to think that a white shark of that size (almost 5m) was a target.”

Another South African marine biologist who organized the autopsy, Alison Towner, told Gizmodo that she could only think of a few other times killer whales preyed on great whites. Boaters filmed a pod of orcas attacking great whites in California in 1997.

A few shark carcasses have turned up in the area around the Gansbaai beaches since 2012—dead great white sharks washing ashore is a rare event itself. But on the morning of May 3rd, someone spotted a 16-foot, 2500-pound dead behemoth. That’s around the same length and half the weight of a full-size Mercedes-Benz....


GEO TV, Pakistan


Wild dolphins are exposed to more pollutants than their captive counterparts, which could explain why they face higher rates of illness and disease, US researchers said Wednesday.

The study in the journal PLOS ONE analyzed the health of two wild dolphin populations -- one group in Florida and another in South Carolina.

They were compared to two populations of captive dolphins in Georgia and California, which turned out to be far healthier.

Fewer than half the wild dolphins studied were "clinically normal," and many had chronically activated immune systems, signaling they were fighting off disease.

"This is likely a result of encountering pathogens, parasites and anthropogenic pollutants in the ocean that do not exist in closely managed zoological habitats," said lead author Patricia Fair, research professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.

In humans, this kind of chronic immune response has been linked to cancer, heart disease and increased vulnerability to infectious disease.

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