Orca in and all over the place then off
they go again. For the Resident Orca, the smaller numbers of fish
appears to be causing their long treks. The Transient (Bigg's) Orca
are following what's following fish. Pacific White Sided Dolphins
have had the run put on them a number of times. Humpback Whale
numbers are staying around the same at the top of Johnstone Strait,
but seem to be increasing down closer to Campbell River. Dall's
Porpoise are here and there, while Harbour Porpoise are seldom
noticed until there's a lack of other Cetaceans.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
This posting was delayed due to lack
of signal. Orca update from early today August 24, 2012: 8 am Some
Orca (probably Transients) were spotted heading into Frederick Arm
while some more of the Resident Orca are heading East down Johnstone
Strait. SM
Northern
Resident Killer Whales – Orca
NRKW Munching on a
Halibut in Blackfish Sound
August 21, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 23:
8 am A23/25/30's and the I15's
are the Residents in the Bight trying to avoid being harassed
by PWS Dolphins. By 9:30 am Some of the A's and I's headed
West by the Sophia Islands and along the Hanson and Vancouver Island
shores. The headed up Weynton Pass around 1:30 pm and spent some time
foraging around the Plumpers while a few headed to the East.
August 23:
9:20 am Orca Eastbound at Camp
Point. Some PWS Dolphins met them and were all over them – no
ID's yet.
2:25 pm They are at Rock Point now
still Easting. Nick figures A25's.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 23:
11:52 am The A25's are now at Bear
Point heading East....not Transients as initially thought!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 23:
1:04 pm A25's at Ripple Point
Easting with 6 to 7 PWS Dolphins harassing them.
4 pm Orca Easting in Nodales now –
probably since the Dolphins headed West.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 22:
1:15 pm Some of the Residents
were spotted by Scarlett Point Lightstation. No Direction, but
it's thought it was the A30's.
August 21:
9 am Resident Orca Westing by
Kaikash Creek just out of the Bight. They were very spread out
and were foraging back and forth a while up by Cracroft Point when a
sea otter popped up. There's been the odd sighting along the
coast this year – no photo this time, sorry.
Around noon, the the Residents
consisting of A23/25/30's and the I15's all worked their way
up Blackfish Sound into Queen Charlotte Strait foraging along
the way with at least one halibut munched on even while being
harassed by a couple of PWS Dolphins. Photo above.
By 3:15 pm The Orca had sped up to
12-15 knots headed NW towards Polkinghorne Island and Wells Pass.
Then they went ??
August 20:
8:30 am Report from Larry on the
Discovery Skiff that around 4 or 5 am some Orca passed
their kayak camp on the Sophia Islands heading West and
another report that some Orca were heard, not seen due to fog,
just East of Telegraph Cove.
8:45 am Some Orca, whose numbers
suggested the I15's were spread out by Port McNeill.
Once Bill on the Naiad got on scene, it was confirmed that it
was the I15's who were headed West.
By 11 am the 17 Orca had passed
Pultney Point Lightstation and decided to turn back for a bit
of a rub on the beach and socialize. There were spyhops, tail slaps
and just some general play as they very slowly worked their way back
to the East.
1:40 pm The I15's went right into
the Nimpkish estuary foraging for that elusive salmon.
3:21 pm I15's still Easting with
the lead 3 angling towards the Stephenson Islets while the rest were
still on the Vancouver Island side by Pearse Pass. I left them with
the lead headed to the Hanson Island shore and the rest over by
Telegraph Cove still headed East.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 20:
10:30 am Orca just East of Eve
River heading East – turned out to be the A30's and
A23's. The A30's and A23's had gone East foraging, then turned
East around noon.
3:21 pm The A's have just
entered the the East end of the Reserve. They didn't stay long; 4:25
pm they were at the Sophia Islands.
5:20 pm the I15's just passed
Kaikash Creek Eastbound.
Jim Borrowman, Orcella Adventures
August 20:
12:18 pm A group of Residents
are Westing by Stimpsons Reef.
1:56 pm I'm on Cracroft Island side now
by Escape Reef.
2:16 pm Left the A30's Westing
by Forward Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 20:
12:32 pm A23's and A25's Westing
at Stimpson's Reef.
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
6:30 pm A23's were by Cracroft
Point when 4 Transient Orca came around the corner from Baronett
Passage. The A23's met them head to head, just over 100 feet
apart, then submerged – guess they parted at that point. In the
excitement and chance to hear any vocal exchange they might have,
Lukwa dropped the hydrophone without securing it first –
Oops! The Transients headed East and were again close to some of the
Resident Orca that were still in the Bight.
8 pm A23/25/30's and I15's all in
the Bight.
Transient
(Bigg's) Killer Whales
T02C's by Mitlenatch
Island
August 10, 2012
Ted Douglas' Son took
Photo
August 22:
11:17 am 4 Transients Chatham Point
Southbound. 2 Females 2 juveniles all clean fins.
12:30 pm Left the Orca Southbound
at Deepwater Bay, Campbell River.
3:27 pm Transients at Duncan Bay
now, north of Campbell River. I'm hoping to find them on the way
home.
5:10 pm I left the Orca Southbound
by red can buoy off Cape Mudge. They swam right past 4 Harbour
Porpoise and a seal!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 22:
2 pm A small group of Transients
were seen Inbound just above Port Hardy. No further
information available.
August 21:
6:54 am 10 to 12 Transient Orca
Northbound by Cape Mudge Light.
Richard and Laurel via Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 21:
9:30 am T101/102 gangs plus others
Northbound in front of Campbell River.
11:02 am T90's T100's and T101/102's
turned and bucking the ebb tide Southbound at Brown's Bay.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 21:
9:30 am A report came in that some
Transients were on a Sea Lion by Donagal Head. These whales
were very elusive and quiet. Usually, they become quite vocal once on
a kill. They did, however, abandon the kill to die a slow death.
These were two females and two juveniles, so the assumption is
that it was training excercise for the juveniles. They did pass by
numerous Dall's Porpoise and Harbour Seals. Their being quiet was
probably due to hearing all the Resident Orca chatter headed in their
direction, and their head to head on Aug. 20th.
The Transients stealthily left the area
and were spotted around 12:45 pm heading by Pearse Islands,
but again gave the slip only to pop up again by Telegraph Cove
working their way to the East, down Johnstone Strait.
3:54 pm These Transients were
still Eastbound by Kaikash Creek and headed into the Bight. No
idea if they had chased any of the PWS Dolphins in the Strait.
They were Identified as the T046's.
August 21:
8:23 am 5 or 6 Orca in front of
We Wai Kai Village (Cape Mudge) now. No direction. From a
sport fisherman.
8:52 am They're heading North past our
marina (Campbell River) now. Ebb Tide.
2:55 pm 12 Orca Southbound Race
Passage including T102's and T100's.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 21:
10:30 am Orca coming out of
Sunderland Channel.
August 21:
Two sighting today near Browns Bay
but the same group. There were so far away I could not make anything
out except the dorsal and their blows. There was one large male and
two younger calves. But this group was a bit larger group with maybe
6 or so. But there were the two calfs, and probably a couple males,
one very large boy ;~)), and assorted others probably females. The
first group was around 10:15. Then I heard on the radio that they had
doubled back from Seymour Narrows. They are closer to Plumper Bay for
the second sighting, Got to see one breach. 11:15 or so. One
last report...the whales never left but meandered up toward the Bay
and hung out. (about 10-12) they have been in the Bay area for over
an hour...The guys in the Whale boats were saying they exhibited
sleepy kind of behavior...just hanging out..not hunting. He indicated
they were T100's and I am sure he will give you a good report. Their
behavior really gave some great photo ops...Looking forward to what
he sends you.
Jacquie
Nevinger
August 20:
6:30 pm The Resident Orca, A23's
were by Cracroft Point when 4 Transient Orca came around the corner
from Baronett Passage. The A23's met them head to head, just over
100 feet apart, then submerged – guess they parted at that point.
In the excitement and chance to hear any vocal exchange they might
have, Lukwa dropped the hydrophone without securing it first –
Oops! The Transients headed East and were again close to some of
the Resident Orca that were still in the Bight.
August 20:
7 pm T02's Easting in Cordero
Channel.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
Humpback
Whales
Humpback Whales 'KC'
and Friend
August 19, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
August 23:
Humpback Report for the day is
incomplete, so no total for the day. But at 8 am there were at least
5 Humpbacks between Bold Head and the Whitecliffe Islets and
another couple that were spotted by Weynton Pass.
August 22:
Throughout the day, the Humpbacks were
in their 'usual' spots where feed tends to accumulate. Total count
for the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 10 including
'Humpless' whose dorsal was virtually taken off due to probable prop
damage.
August 21:
7:47 am 2 Humpback Whales just above
Deepwater Bay, Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 21:
Throughout the day: Total count for
the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 8 – 10 including
'Freckles' down by the Sophias.
August 20:
7:40 am 2 Humpbacks Southbound
off Point 45 (sorry, I don't know where that is)
AJ
August 20:
8:50 am 2 Humpback Whales at Chatham
Point Northbound.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 20:
8:54 am Humpbacks everywhere this
morning! 2 Humpbacks, possibly Mom and calf, just South of the
hump (fishing spot by Cape Mudge) from Rowdy.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 20:
Throughout the day: Total count for
the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 6 – 8 including
'Chunky' and her calf in Weynton Pass.
August 20:
Late Report: 2 (maybe 3?)
Humpbacks that came through Naka on Saturday. We did see the pod of
orcas that came through yesterday afternoon- but they were very close
to the Cracroft shoreline, so no pics to go along... but there were
approx 6, with one male, possible the same pod we saw on Saturday
morning. They slowly travelled West along the Cracroft shoreline from
about 1pm-3pm. Also, just as we were leaving camp (about 4:30pm), a
Humpback made an appearance!! Heading East fairly quick (no pics)
with a couple tail slaps to wave goodbye :)
Tara Bladon, Campbell
River
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 23:
9 am 200 to 300 PWS Dolphins were
foraging and harassing the Orca around the Robson Bight. A few
followed, or led as they like to bow ride the Orca's noses, some of
the A's and I's over to the Sophias.
The rest must have gone up the
Vancouver Island shore since they seemed to pop up around Blinkhorn
then out at the top of Weynton Pass by the Plumper Isands.
August 23:
2:25 pm Apart from the Dolphins
that met up with the Orca, there's 100 or so PWS Dolphins
in Nodales Channel.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 23:
1:04 pm A25's
at Ripple Point Easting with 6 to 7 PWS Dolphins
harassing them.
3 pm 100 PWS Dolphins heading West
in Nodales.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 22:
8 am Large group, around 300 PWS
Dolphins were Eastbound by Blinkhorn. Soon after, they
were Westbound and spent most of the day foraging in and around
Weynton Pass to Beaver Cove. The last report, still from that
area was around 3 pm still just off Blinkhorn.
August 22:
2:30 pm 40 PWS Dolphins in Frederick
Arm milling.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 21:
8:30 am Around 100 PWS Dolphins were
in front of Telegraph Cove foraging.
9 am 500 – 600 PWS Dolphins
were spread right across Johnstone Strait in front of Boat Bay,
across from Robson Bight.
3 pm The Transients, T46's were headed
down the Strait, so must have passed by, or chased the approx. 400
PWS Dolphins who were now just below Blinkhorn.
3:15 pm Another, perhaps splintered
off, group of around 150 PWS Dolphins were Eastbound by Escape
Reef just above Port Harvey.
6:30 pm A few PWS Dolphins were in
Robson Bight at the same time as the Transient Orca.
August 20:
8:45 am 100-ish PWS Dolphins heading
into Frederick Arm.
Scotty, Painter's Lodge
August 20:
3 pm 300 PWS Dolphins by Yorke
Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
August 20 – 22:
Dall's Porpoise have popped up
in various places in groups ranging from 4 - 20, most commonly in
Weynton Passage, and top and bottom of Blackfish Sound. They
occasionally bow ride for a while then continue their foraging, or
disappear when they realize the Transient Orca are around.
August 22:
3:30 pm One little Harbour Porpoise
came into Growler Cove foraging for a short time.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 22:
5 pm 4 Harbour Porpoise at Cape
Mudge. The Transients swam right past them.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
August 20:
Late Report: Also, forgot to tell you,
we saw 3 Harbour Porpoises just East of Naka, heading East at
about 2pm. We were out on the kayaks when they appeared, which was
nice :)
Tara Bladon, Campbell River