A large catch up report. It's
surprising how much happened while I was out of cell and radio range;
and how much I missed! Apologies to any that were missed – please
let me know and I will make sure it's in the next update.
There were actually three groups of
Orca that converged in and around the Campbell River area on August
11th. The Southern Residents came up Georgia Strait and
some went down Johnstone Strait having circumnavigated Vancouver
Island. The Northern Residents were down Johnstone Strait and don't
know if they made it down as far as Brown's Bay or just into and out
of Nodales Channel. The Transients were around in and out of various
channels too and not sure how close they got to Campbell
River......Total confusion. I have sorted through it all and still am
not sure of a couple of the reports – they are noted.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient (Bigg's) Orca
T02C's
2012
Nick Templeman, Eagle
Eye Adventures
Northern
Resident Orca
August
13:
8:45 am A23's, A25's and A30's were
slowly Westbound in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. They took
till around 9:20 am to make it to Izumi Rock. From there they spread
out across over to Cracroft Point then slowly headed back to the
Bight. Considering the long run they had yesterday, they spent most
of their time resting.
2:45 pm All the Orca were Eastbound out
of the Bight and passing Naka Creek.
August
12:
Around 8:30 am 17 Orca Eastbound by
Kelsey Bay.
Little after 9 am Orca reported heading
into Nodales Channel. A23's, A25's and A30's
They went into Nodales and by 2 pm were
already one their way out. “Don't think I've seen the Resident Orca
go in and out of Nodales that fast.”
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys.
3 pm The whole bunch of them were
headed West past Kelsey Bay. They covered a lot of territory.
August
11:
9 am in the fog: 15 + Orca by the
rubbing beaches in the Bight. By 10 am it was figured out that it was
the A23's, A25's and A30's. During the day, they came out and around
1 pm headed up Blackfish Sound. Then around 6 pm they came down
through Weynton Pass into Johnstone Strait and headed East, back
towards the Bight, but continued down the Strait.
August
10:
8:30 am The Resident Orca were foraging
from Blinkhorn in Johnstone Strait down to Kaikash Creek heading East
towards the Bight. By 9:30 am All of the A23's, A25's and A30's were
inside the Bight. Then they came out, and then back in.
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales
August 13:
10:30 am 4 Orca were spotted on the
Gilford Island side of Knight Inlet. They travelled towards Village
Island and cut through Whitebeach Pass into Blackfish Sound where
they were Identified as the T18's and T19's. They stopped to take a
Dall's Porpoise while some others managed to get away up Blackfish.
These Orca continued down to Cracroft Point where they turned up
Johnstone Strait along the Hanson Island shoreline. Once at Weynton
Pass, they checked out some of the rocks by the Stephenson Islets and
continued up towards Mitchell Bay, Malcolm Island around 3 pm. I
believe they continued towards Port McNeill in Cormorant Channel, but
had no confirmation.
August
12:
The T02C's were by Dent, in the
Yucultas. then Arran Rapids, by Bute Inlet chasing PWS Dolphins.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
7:30 pm The Orca, T2C's were still in
pursuit hunting PWS Dolphins up Frederick Arm. No kill, but good
effort. Last seen heading deeper into Frederick Arm.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August
11:
9:32 am Orca by Refuge Cove. The 4
Transient Orca T02C's were hunting off Kinghorn Island by Sarah Point
at the entrance to Desolation Sound. Left them at Mary Point, Cortez
Island at 12:29 pm
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August
11: Note: This report may possibly have been
Southern Resident Orca
Evening: 6 Orca Southbound at Cape
Mudge!!! Just a quick follow up to my sighting last night; The Orca
travelled quickly from the lighthouse to Whilby Shoals at which point
they may have made a kill. I saw 2 Dall's Porpoise or Pacific White
Sided Dolphins quickly swim away (happened too fast to ID. Definitely
not Harbour Porpoise though). Lots of splashing, tail slaps,
circling. They hung around a bit celebrating and then *poof*
they vanished, possibly behind Quadra Island. Very neat to see, as
always.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
August
10:
7:30 am Transients in Brown's Bay,
Campbell River.
10:55 am T69D, the lone female Westing
at Ripple Point
12:30 pm I left the lone female Orca
T069D at Peterson Island, Kelsey Bay, still westbound at 7 knots!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
12:55 pm T069D was at Hickey Point
still going West at 6-7 knots.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:15 am 3 Orca including a calf popped
up by Mitlenatch Island.
Ted Douglas, Powell River
9:15 am In Johnstone Strait, other
groups joined up, the T18's, T19's as well as the T46's with the
brand new calf were together at the top of Cracroft Island by the
Sophias hunting Dall's Porpoise. By 12:15 pm this group had reached
Mitchell Bay, Malcolm Island and continued West. By 2:30 pm they were
seen, still Westbound by Pulteney Point Lightstation, across from
Port McNeill.
Southern
Resident Orca
August
11:
8 am a couple of Orca were spotted
between Telegraph Cove and Alert Bay in the fog.
9:30 am Some (no numbers or direction)
Orca were by Kelsey Bay.
Note: This report may possibly be
Transient (Bigg's) Orca:
Orca's thru the Bay area on Saturday
around 3:00pm not sure of exact time. There were two groups pretty
close together 6 in front and 4 behind. I think 10 total. They were
on the other side of the water from the bay so were only able to see
them thru the scope. Then about an hour hour and half later I heard
on the radio that they were breeching, spy hoping and generally
putting on a great show. I am anxious to hear if they were meat
eaters or fish eaters.
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown's Bay
Southern Resident Orca from K-Pod and
possibly a few L-Pod came up from Puget Sound area and into Discovery
Passage, by Campbell River. Some also did the complete
circumnavigation of Vancouver Island sneaking past the Northern
Resident Pods.
3 pm They were reported back down
Georgia Strait being spotted off Saturna Island.
For more information on Southern
Resident Orca, visit Orca Network
out of Puget Sound
Humpback Whale known as
'Argonaught'
August, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Humpback
Whales
August 13:
10:47 am Humpback Whale Northbound by
Cape Mudge, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
With all the Transient Orca activity,
not as many Humpback Whales were reported, so the total count around
the top of Johnstone Strait area for the day that I could figure was
8 to 10 whales.
August
12:
Throughout the day: 3 Humpback Whales
between Fife Sound to Penfold Islets, 3 or 4 between Stubbs and the
Plumper Islands, at least 1 big one by Trainer Pass giving a total
for the day of 8 whales.
8:15 am Humpback Whale Southbound by
Wai Kai Village (Cape Mudge) Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August
11:
7:27 am Humpback Northbound by Steep
Island, Seymour Narrows.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August
11:
5 pm One Humpback by Quathiaski Cove
going South slowly.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August
10:
3:30 pm 2 Humpback Whales were making
their way down Queen Charlotte Strait past Polkinghorne Island
towards Fife Sound or Whitecliffe Islets. Large flocks, as in
hundreds, of Rhinoceros Auklets were flying in the same direction.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Minke
Whales
August
13:
5:45 pm Two Minke Whales were spotted
in Cormorant Channel.
August
12:
Throughout the day: 2 Large Minke
Whales by Haddington Reefs, 1 by Alert Bay, and another 1 or 2 in
Cormorant Channel.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
August 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August
13:
10 am Around 60 PWS Dolphins were
reported heading West by Millie Island, Port Neville.
3 pm 50 PWS Dolphins were foraging by
Kelsey Bay.
4 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Ripple Point
area, just milling.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August
12:
Around 9 am 100 + PWS Dolphins were
being very playful around the Whitecliffe Islets.
August
11:
150 PWS Dolphins by Denham Island by
Dent Rapids.
August
10:
10:53 am 100+ Dolphins by Denham Bay,
Dent Rapids – same ones as almost every day lately.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
1:15 pm 15 PWS Dolphins just off
Donagal Head, Malcolm Island
3:08 pm 200 PWS Dolphins at Horn Point,
Dent Rapids area.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Dall's
Porpoise
August
13:
Dall's were spotted intermittently
around the top of Johnstone Strait, but around 12:30 pm 4 of them
were speeding up Blackfish Sound – see Transient Orca report.
August
12:
Although none specifically noted or
reported, they are seen darting here and there, usually at the top of
Weynton Passage.
August
10:
9:15 am Large group of Dall's Porpoise
heading East from Blinkhorn – little did they know they were headed
towards the Transients.