Happy Canadian
Thanksgiving!
The weather is phenomenally good and
with the calm seas, it's easy to spot any cetaceans. They're just
being elusive. Other than the Pacific White Sided Dolphins who have
appeared in numbers all over the place, including finally by Powell
River, the Transient Orca have made stealthy moves, but were viewed
briefly, and a couple of Humpback Whales also did a disappearing act.
It's hard to image such a large animal can be evasive, but it is a
big ocean! A few Dall's Porpoise have finally reappeared, and there's
a report of Grey Whale spotted off Saltery Bay.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Transient Orca
October 5, 2012
Jen, Campbell River
Whale Watching
Transient
(Bigg's)Killer Whales
October 6:
5 pm 3 or 4 Orca were spotted at the
West end of Hole in the Wall. No direction given. Relayed message.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
And
when I got back to the dock (after the afternoon tour) I learned that
one of our boats encountered 3-4 transients including one male,
northbound at the west end of hole in the wall around 5pm.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 5:
2:40 pm 4 to 5 Transient Orca by Hidden
Basin, Campbell River headed towards Cape Mudge on the Quadra Island
shore.
Ritchie Rich, Campbell River
October 5:
2:45 pm At least 5 Transient Orca
Northbound now off Cape Mudge.
3:51 pm Looks like 2 groups of
Transients, 1 group is all small fins.
October 5:
4:30 pm I saw those Orca – all small
fins. Last seen just before the flood began by Race Point still
Northbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 5:
4:30 (or so) pm 5 Transient Orca, all
small fins...probably at Race point by now. Pretty Cool!!
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
October 5:
4:50 pm Left the 5 Transient Orca, all
small fins, just past the mill in Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Transient Orca
October 5, 2012
Jen, Campbell River
Whale Watching
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
October 6:
8:25 am 4 to 5 PWS Dolphins just off
Cape Mudge village.
10 am Had 60 PWS Dolphins Easting at
Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet, and the same group zig zagging at Clipper
Point, Bute Inlet at 3 pm
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
8:25 am Large group of PWS Dolphins in
Frederick Arm.
October 6:
11:28 am 65+ PWS Dolphins come up the
East side of Texada heading around Coho Point (the NW tip of Texada)
looking like they were going to continue down the West side of
Texada, but turned and ran at high speed past Rebecca Rocks (in front
of Powell River), past us fishing off the end of Harwood Island and
continued, still at high speed towards Savary Island. There was one
lone Dolphin at the back of the pack which seemed to have trouble
keeping up and even breathing....possibly being chased by Orca??
Steve Grover, Powell River
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
October 6, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
12:15 pm 500 – 1000 PWS Dolphins in
Frederick Arm. They were very playful. Some split off from the group
and headed to Hall point, Nodales Channel and angled towards Phillips
Arm.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
October 6:
1:09 pm I'm told there are between 500
to 1000 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. Garry also had 75 at Fawn
Bluff in Bute Inlet.
On the
following Eco trip we had about 200 PWS Dolphins surfing and
frolicking in the glassy smooth sunlit waters of Thurston bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 6:
1:40 pm Blows off Hernando towards Twin
islands – could be Orca, but most likely PWS Dolphins.
Cam M.
October 5:
12:06 pm 15 PWS Dolphins at Kanish Bay.
12:30 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins by
Thurston Bay Marine Park.
October 5:
1 pm Couple of hundred PWS Dolphins in
Nodales Channel.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
October 4:
9:25 am 100 PWS Dolphins at McMullen
Point.
Sharkey, Oak Bay Hurricane
October 4:
9:25 am 75 PWS Dolphins by Beazley
Pass, Surge Narrows just foraging.
4:57 pm 300 PWS Dolphins by Greensea
Bay, Chatham Point area, foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 4:
12:25 pm Several hundred PWS Dolphins
Easting by Harding Island, Nodales Channel.
(didn't catch who), Discovery Marine
Safaris
October 4:
around 3:25 - 4:30 pm Left the PWS
Dolphins at Howe Island heading into Discovery Passage. It was a
Georgeous Day!! Tons of sea lions feeding in Innes Passage really
amazing to watch!! We are so lucky here with the scenery and
wildlife...And all the wintering waterfowl are starting to show up
too!!
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
October 6, 2012
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback
Whales
October 6:
1 pm Couple of Humpback Whales by
Chatham Point Lightstation light. No direction.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
October 4:
3:30 pm A Humpback by Little Bear Bay
angling towards Chatham Point Eastbound.
Commercial Fishing Vessels
Grey
(or Gray) Whale
October 5:
3:15 pm At first we thought it was a
log in the water, then the ferry captain announced that it was a grey
whale. We were on the Earl's Cove – Saltery Bay Ferry and had just
rounded Captain's Island. The whale just stayed on the surface while
the ferry passed quite close. The whale didn't show a tail fluke, but
did a bit of splashing with it's head. It looked all one colour, but
the lighting was poor. (note: it's very unusual to see a Grey
Whale in this area, and it is possible that this was actually a
Humpback Whale lunge feeding based on verbal description of colour
and head splash – SM)
Tony and Margaret Dawkins, Sechelt
Dall's
Porpoise
October 6:
Day: I had 6 Dall's Porpoise at Arran
Point then a nice female grizzly
eating a chum at the Orford, Bute Inlet, followed by 6 more Dall's at
Orford bay on the way home.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge