Have You Seen Any of These?

Friday, April 5, 2013

Dolphins, Killer Whales and Harbour Porpoise

Dolphins all over, some Orca pop up while the others disappear, and a rare, since last year, Harbour Porpoise sighting. A few links in the news below also.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Killer Whales

April 5:
An Anonymous 'comment' posted to the Sightings report that this Orca was seen near Gambier Island – no other details I'm afraid, but the report and photo were
sent in today at 2:20 pm - SM.
Anonymous

Orca near Gambier Island
sent in April 5, 2013
By Anonymous

April 2:
I think there are 4 whale in front of hauls. Hook fin. (no other details I'm afraid – I believe it may have been the Hulks, the old war ship breakwater off the Powell River mill, rather than 'hauls'.- SM)
Marion Blank

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Wake riding Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 4:
1:15 pm 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the mouth of Bute Inlet by Johnson Bluffs – 1:30 pm Actually there's 2 different groups of 25 each about 300 metres apart. They're headed out of Bute now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

April 3:
11:20 am Approx. 12 PWS Dolphins off Harwood Island out in front of Powell River. They're heading towards Vivian Rocks and out into the Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 1:
9:50 am While kayaking today in Jervis Inlet crossing between Egmont Point and Goliath Bay, we were mesmerized by a Line dance of ~100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins working their way across the channel, from West to East, with South most individuals off Captain Island in a line stretching North up to Saumarez Bluff. They worked their way to the Eastern shore and then proceeded North, finally appearing to close up into a large ring off in the distance. Quite the show.
Eric Schwartz

March 31: (rec'd April 2)
Sorry for the late posting; Early Saturday (Mar 31) morning, we were treated to a sight we don't often see in Sechelt Inlet. At the entrance to Narrow Inlet, we were surrounded by a large pod of pacific white sided dolphins. They were spread across the width of the inlet and travelling towards Skookumchuck Narrows. They're hard to count, but we estimate a group close to 100. It's a beautiful sight to see 4 dolphins jumping simultaneously. Beats hopping Easter bunnies any day!
Here is our attempt at trying to capture extremely fast moving targets.
Joan Bech, Roberts Creek

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Sechelt Inlet
Joan Bech

Harbour Porpoise

April 3:
11:27 am 2 or 3 Harbour Porpoise just out from the Powell River Viewpoint angling towards Willingdon Beach. Nice to finally see a couple around again.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Links in the News

The necropsy of the dead Humpback Whale found in a fish farm net by Tofino has been started:
While the bones have been retrieved for the Royal BC Museum in Victoria:

Levi, the Harbour Porpoise rescued off Victoria is very slowly improving at the Vancouver Aquarium's Rescue Center. April 4th update video:

Tourists have a whale of a time after 30-tonne mother and her curious calf pop up to say hello (and get a kiss for their troubles):

The Whales and Dolphins BC toll free sighting report number:
1-877-323-9776
Please bear with the quirks and need to streamline the message. It sometimes goes to voicemail sooner than anticipated, before there's a chance to pick up, so please leave a message with your sightings information. The voicemail will be changed, but currently still answers as Susan MacKay.
Every Sightings report is important – keep looking – they are out there!