Sightings reports of Northern Resident
Killer Whales, Transient Orca, (Bigg's Killer Whale) sightings,
Humpback and Minke Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, including a
photo of a Mom and Calf leaping together, and Dall's Porpoise. I have
summarized the radio reports received throughout the day or this blog
would be miles long, but the individual reports are as submitted.
During the summer 'season' for whale watching, there are so many
boats passing information that it's difficult sometime to keep track
of who said what unless they specifically submit a report.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Northern
Resident Orca – Killer Whales
A36's & A11's NRKWs
July 28, 2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
July 29:
8:40 am Orca Westing from bottom
of Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
9 am 4 Orca at Swaine Point Light and 1
Orca, possibly more in the Bight.
Till after 7 pm The A36's and A11's
continued to Blackney Pass, not very far at all, and stopped to
forage. They continued West along the Hanson Island shore as far as
Weynton Pass to a spot that a few years back was dubbed “Turn
Point” since that's where the whales usually made their turn
back East. They did the expected, and turned. Spread right across
Johnstone Strait they worked their way back towards Cracroft Point
and the Sophia Islands at Blackney Pass. They've stopped to socialize
and continue to fish. Apparently they are being quite vocal still.
8:20 pm Orca still by the Sophia
Islands with A75's calf rolling around on the surface, playing.
Various Radio
July 28:
9:15 am Report that the 2 A36
brothers had been spotted just out from Lizard Point, Malcolm
Island.
By 11:30 am It was confirmed that the
A11's were together with the A36's, in the fog, and had
made their way East into Blackfish Sound continuing past Flower
Island towards Cracroft Point. They would slow to forage and vocalize
as they worked their way towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
5:45 pm A36's and A11's still in the
Bight having a good rub on the beaches.
7 pm The Orca came out of the Bight and
started West for a bit, but turned back towards Cracroft Point and
the Bight.
7:40 pm They turned again – must be
some good food!
Various Radio
July 28:
10 am till 1 pm Here are 3 pics (one
posted tonight - SM) from today's trip with the A-36's, A-11's
and Humpbacks in Blackfish sound And Blackney Pass today! Was a
chilly ride up but flat as a pond both ways! Nice to see the N/W
Winds gone! We arrived on scene with the 36's and 11's in a picture
perfect resting line pattern slowly rolling through the fog in
Blackfish Sound. Followed them East as they headed for Blackney Pass
and some foraging with the 3 humpbacks that were there as well! Some
vocals and foraging then grouped up with A-11 in the lead they headed
east for the Bight. When we left to head for the barn, they were
abeam the Cliff! Great day, Cheers!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient
Orca – Bigg's Killer Whales
July 28:
Mark and I were sitting on the deck
tonight and noticed 3 Orca at 8:10 pm just in front of the
Westview wharf. They proceeded to slowly follow a tide line
towards Grief Point. 2 females and a male in the pod. A couple of
tail slaps and some surface resting were seen. They were doing
shallow dives and were on the surface a lot. Got some great looks
with the spotting scope when they were right in front of the house.
My brother Mark from California thinks this is normal seeing Orca 2
times in 3 days in Powell River. He's the only one of our
visitors that ever has. Take care up there!
Steve Grover, Powell River
July 26:
I was lucky enough to encounter another
pod of orca on July 26th at approximately 5pm just off the
southeastern tip of Harwood Island, Powell River. There were
what looked to be about six (four together and another two off a
ways) traveling south. I got a couple of shots, but so far have been
unable to identify any of them. There was a large male that I thought
was T020, but my photos are pretty far off and aren't quite at the
proper angle to be sure. Happy Orca Hunting,
Jessica Dohm
Jessica Dohm
Humpback
Whales
Humpback Whale by
Cortez Island
July 17, 2012
Rob Ridley
July 29:
9 am 4 Humpback Whales by Donagal Head,
Blackfish Sound, 2 Humpbacks by Lizard Point, Malcolm Island, 1
Humpback by the Blow Hole, Plumper Islands and 1 Humpback by Bold
Head.
10:45 am 2 Humpback Whales by Baronett
Pass, just above Cracroft Point, then a bit later, 4 Humpback Whales
by Cracroft Point including a Mom and Calf. One of the Humpbacks was
identified as 'Conger'.
7:20 pm Humpback is breaching by the
Sophia Islands.
Of these reports, there are at least
8 different Humpbacks in the area.
Various Radio
July 28:
9 am Humpback Whale between Telegraph
Cove and Weynton Island.
9:30 am 2 Humpback Whales in Beaver
Cove, 2 at Bold Head, 1, maybe 2 at Blackney Pass and 2 by Flower
Island!
Total for morning alone count = at
least 8 different Humpbacks in the area.
Various Radio
July 28:
See also Nick's NRKW report for
Humpback info. 3 Humpbacks at Blackney Pass foraging close by
Orca.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 17:
2:25 pm The location was Lewis
channel between Cortez Island and West Redonda Island. We were
averaging about 4 knots Northbound, so 4 nautical miles South of
Cortez Northern tip in Lewis Channel would put your pin pretty close.
We never did see the tail. There would be a blow, with no body
apparent – then the dorsal fin for about three seconds – then
gone. Repeated several times about 1 minute intervals from the
picture times. I’ve been pouring over dorsal fin photo’s and
profiles for days, and I just wasn’t getting anywhere that I had
confidence in. You have been very helpful and I can’t adequately
express our gratitude.
Rob Ridley
(I looked at some of the photos Rob
sent and let him know that he had seen a Humpback Whale.
The surprise was when he sent another photo, I realized that there
were actually 2 different Humpbacks! One of them looks
like 'Arial's' dorsal. – SM)
Rob's Earlier Email:
My Brother and I were recently on a
sailing trip around Cortez Island –and we were blessed with
a sighting of a whale – clearly not one of the oft seen orcas. I’m
hoping you can shed some light. We would really like to know what
we’ve seen. I’m attaching the pictures unedited in the hope you
can zoom in and offer some guidance. I don’t know if it helps, but
we both guessed 10 to 12 feet from blow to dorsal fin, though there
is a time lapse that might affect that judgement.
Thanks for any help you can offer –
and thanks for your support of cetaceans.
Rob Ridley
Minke
Whales
July 29:
10 am (approximately) Couple of
Minke Whales on the East side of Cormorant Island.
Radio
July 28:
11 am Minke Whale by Blinkhorn
Light.
11:45 am Minke by Stephenson Islets
(possibly the same one) into Weynton Pass.
Radio & SM
Mom & Calf Pacific
White Sided Dolphins Leaping
July 27, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
July 29:
2 pm 100 PWS Dolphins in Frederick
Arm, just above Desolation Sound. Just leaving them now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
July 28:
12 pm PWS Dolphins (no numbers
or direction given) by Hickey Point, Kelsey Bay area and a few
in Robson Bight.
Radio
July 28:
4:33 pm 60 + PWS Dolphins
swimming around Denham Bay, Dent Rapids for the past couple of
hours.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 28:
5:31 pm 75 PWS Dolphins at Hall
Point, Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Dall's
Porpoise
July 28:
8:45 pm 5-6 Dall's Porpoise
foraging in the tide rips between Pearse Islands and the Stephenson
Islets.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC