Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, June 29, 2012

Many Cetacean Sightings


Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales or Orca, Humpback Whales, Dall's and Harbour Porpoise. What's missing? Well, Resident Orca, Grey Whales, Minke Whales, and a few other cetaceans that we don't normally see in our immediate area. So, we're seeing our usual species of Cetaceans. It's nice to get reports of the smaller Harbour and Dall's Porpoise again. Glad to see people are noticing!
Susan Mackay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales

Playful Orca Belly!
June 25, 2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

June 29:
Early morning report from a fishing friend: Orca Northbound by Whiskey Point, Campbell River area.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 29:
9:20 am 3 Orca at Copper Bluffs now Southbound and moving fast. Looks like the same group as yesterday. Heading straight towards the humpbacks!
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 28:
Around 8:30 am One lone female Orca fin spotted in the distance heading North between Plunger and Quadra Island. (unconfirmed)
Tyler, Polar Bear

June 28:
12:50 pm One big bull Orca spotted by 'the hump' (by red can buoy) off Cape Mudge.
Curtis

June 28:
12:54 pm Orcas found off the reef by Cape Mudge heading towards the Lighthouse. They turned and headed South by Shelter Point. Left them close to Oyster River – just got too rough and uncomfortable.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 28:
1:55 pm Definitely 3 Orca 1 Male 1 Female and 1 Calf – possibly T20 and T21. Down by Shelter Point the Orca took off in a hurry. They were running faster than 12 knots – tough to keep up with. Almost to Oyster River not far above the Comox ferry terminal. 3 to 4 foot seas – turned back.
Kurt, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 28:
4:15 pm Six Orca in two groups, 2 Females and a calf in one and 1 Male with 2 Females in the other just off Coho Point, the NW tip of Texada Island. They were lazily milling about and resting. We saw one little spy hop from the Comox ferry on our way back to Powell River. They had their noses pointed towards Powell River. (weather made it difficult to see even as far as the Texada shoreline so no idea where they got to – SM)
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River

June 26:
I thought I had best email you with this very late, late update. (received June 28th) June 26 at 5 pm there were 6 orcas cruising by Donkersley beach, (Powell River South) 1 large male, 1 juvenille male, 3 females and 1 small one who was having such fun breaching. Lots of tail slaps, rolls by the females. They were travelling north. It is rare to have them this close, but we assumed they did because there was the usual tug and 3 barges with hog fuel between them and Texada. The seals were definitely hugging the black point reef.
Laura Johnson, Powell River


Humpback Whales

Humpback Head
June 29, 2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

June 29:
9 am 2 Humpbacks off Quathiaski Cove heading south slowly.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 29:
10:36 am Left the Humpbacks still Southbound by Cape Mudge in the huge waves and tide rips.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

June 28:
3 pm Two Humpback Whales by Brown's Bay heading South.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 28:
4:15 pm Left the Humpbacks by Brown's Bay Southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

June 28:
10 pm I am walking the Tyee Spit and I can hear them (the Humpbacks) breathing close to shore slowly going by. They're really close to shore – I can smell them! (fish breath – SM)
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Distinctive Tail Flukes of 'Stripe'
June 25, 2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

June 29:
11 am About 20 PWS Dolphins by Howe Island, just by Okisollo Channel then heading towards Nodales Channel.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 29:
1 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins in Bute Inlet and just at the entrance.
Joss, Eagle Eye Adventures

June 28:
9:40 am 40 – 50 PWS Dolphins spread out all over the place leaping and cavorting between Raza Island just above Desolation Sound and Church House across from Hole in the Wall.
Radio

June 28:
2:55 pm 15 + PWS Dolphins by Rendezvous Islands.
Kurt, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 28:
Afternoon 10 Dolphins by Denham Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Dall's and Harbour Porpoise

June 28:
9am 3 Harbour Porpoises foraging in Discovery Passage near Simms Creek.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River

June 28:
12 pm 6 Dall's by McMullen Point.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 28:
2:51 pm Approx. 8 Dall's Porpoise by Dent Rapids – fairly playful.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

June 28:
Afternoon 8 Dall's Porpoise by Horn Point. And 4 Harbour Porpoise by Jimmy Judd Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

June 28:
6:30 pm 1 or 2 Harbour Porpoise travelling North Cape Mudge area by Vancouver Island side.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River