Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales, and more Dolphins. Rumour has it, from
talking to boaters arriving in Powell River harbour, that the Orca
had been hiding out in Desolation Sound! The Dolphins too. Other
reports from boaters coming up from the South said they saw
absolutely nothing moving! Looks like the rumours may have been
right. Remember, no report is too small or late. Read on....
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales – Orca
Double Back Stroke
June 25, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
June 25:
11:15 am 15 or so Orca by Marina
Island / Baker Pass area. Very active.
Tyler, Polar Bear
June 25:
12 pm Report to confirm that these were
definitely the same 'Resident' Transient Killer Whales we've
had around for many months including T02C, her calf and the
'gang'. They headed around Cortez and Marina reefs Northward.
By 2:15 pm they were by Hoskyns Rock. They really haven't been
in any hurry to go anywhere from yesterday! (around 4:30 pm)
They looked like they were going to head through Beazley Pass,
Surge Narrows bucking the tide, but changed their minds and aimed
towards Whiterock Pass.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 25:
3:15 pm Biggs Killer Whales between
Shalaligan Pass and Dunsterville Islands headed into Hoskyns
channel. Leaving scene in 10 min. 16-20 animals.
On the trip back: Left the big gang
bucking the flood tide speed swimming and breaching, double
breaching, triples, tail lobbs, head stands, in a cool spot. They
were behind the Settlers Group of Islands, between them and
Maurelle Island side. They were trying to get to Okisollo Channel.
Left Gang @ Approx 1835hrs. T02C's, T090's, T100's and T102.
16 animals, I think. Cheers, Haywire!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Spectacular Scenery
and Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales
June
25, 2012
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
June 24:
7:45 pm Got a call from Steve
Grover, Powell River of Orca at a quite a distance, but
their blows were being lit up by the sun! At first glace it
looked like it could have been the sun reflecting off a boat, but
then it was very clear that these were truly whales. They were
somewhere between Cortez and Savary Island. As we spoke on the
phone, I could hear Steve's wife, Susan say that she could see a very
large tail slap! Their company was happy since it was the first
sighting, albeit distant, of whales in all the times they had been up
this way over the past number of years. There were at least 3 Orca
but looked like it could have been more. Tough to tell direction,
but I watched for a while and they were headed Southward. Around 9
pm in the fading sun, I saw a few blows angling towards Lewis Channel
and Desolation Sound.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
June 24:
I post this because I spoke to at
least 10 different people on various boats in the Powell River
harbour that had been in Desolation Sound: Orca – a large
group – around Kinghorn Island then up around Walsh Cove.
Orca – about 5-6 animals up near the top of Waddington
Channel (this is also Walsh Cove area). A huge pod of
Orca spread out Homfray Channel towards Toba Inlet. These
reports covered a timeframe of about 3 weeks – a long time, but
it's interesting that we never had other reports of them there. Most
people couldn't agree on exact dates or even time of day, so no
posting of that mixed information here.
Then, another report that the Orca
from a few days ago (June 21) that Dee Ingraham reported
off the South-West side of Savary Island were hanging around
Grant's Reef till late in the day. Too bad that these people
don't think to report their sightings without seeing me on the docks
or asking!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Transient Breach
June 25, 2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
June 24:
Afternoon: 2-300 PWS Dolphins by
Estero Basin in Bute Inlet.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 24:
A very late report of around 100 PWS
Dolphins on Tuesday, June just outside of Tenedos Bay in
Desolation Sound. They were bow riding, wake riding and generally
having a great play time around the boat. Later they even came into
the bay which was quite a surprise.
MV Hope Island