Have You Seen Any of These?

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cetacean Sightings: Killer Whales, Dolphins Everywhere and a few Other Species

Transient Bigg's Orca spent 4 hours in front of Powell River then did their usual disappearing act! Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in numbers up the inlets with a few Dall's Porpoise close by. There was also a possible Humpback or Grey Whale. A reminder to please call or submit your sightings reports. We'd rather hear twenty times about the same sighting than not at all.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales

Breaching Transient Bigg's Orca off Powell River
May 20, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

May 21:
11:56 am two pods of Orca by Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River northbound.
Jos Kryjnen, Eagle Eye Whale Watching
Note: This was a second or third hand report and the whales were never spotted again from shore or whale watching boats on the water throughout the day. Did YOU see them? Please report it! SM

May 21:
1:30 pm We had an encounter with 5 members of the T 124A's around 1330hrs. A tiny calf was present. We found this group on the Canadian side of Haro Strait, heading north.
Marie O'Shaughnessy, 'Orca-Magic'

May 20:
12:19 pm 3 at least Orca just south of Grief Point heading Northward. From a tugboat skipper talking to another boat.
Radio

May 20:
12:56 pm Just spotted 3+ Orca Northbound past Grief Point including 2 large males – also a big blow from either a Humpback or Grey Whale (see separate report below). By 1:20 pm they stalled on a kill half way between VanAnda and Blubber Bay, Texada. I watched till almost 2 pm while they breached and threw their tails high in the air. I saw a total of 5 breaches and a bunch of tail lobs. Unfortunately, again, I had no chance to get on the water.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

May 20:
1:50 pm Picked up the Orca just finishing up on a meal.
3:14 pm They're now at Rebecca Rocks, Powell River Northbound very slowly. I saw 6 Orca for sure including T02C's.
4:10 pm Left the Orca still slowly Northbound past Vivian Island looks like they're going to Grant's Reef. It was a great tour with an Eagle swooping in to pick up some of the scraps. It was the best performance of the season, so far!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

May 20:
Wasn't too far behind Garry. T02C's and T123's heading out towards Vivian Island now. Left them at 4:10 pm angling slightly towards Grant's Reef off Savary Island
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

Transient Bigg's Orca T123, T02C, T02C3, T123B
May 20, 2013 Texada / Powell River
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

May 23:
8:00 am Just seen a small group of dolphins, about five, close to shore off Pebble Beach near Myrtle Rocks. I believe they are feeding as they are not really going anywhere, just long dives and milling around. How do they stay down for so long? Amazing!
P.S. On our trip to Vancouver last Thursday, May 16, from the Saltery Bay 9:20 am ferry we were alerted by the captain that dolphins were coming up on the starboard bow. There were lots of them, maybe about fifty, but hard to count, as they were going by so fast. They were leaping right out of the water and putting on a fine show! Sorry for the late report.
Holly Roy, South Powell River

May 23:
10 am Large group of PWS Dolphins heading into Bute Inlet by Johnson Bluff.
Radio

May 23:
11:30 am A dozen PWS Dolphins just East of Aran Rapids, Bute Inlet.
12 pm Large number of PWS Dolphins heading up Bute Inlet spread out from Aran Rapids to Fawn Bluff.
Arron Nagler, Sonora Lodge

May 23:
3:46 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Aran Rapids in Bute foraging all over.
4:47 pm 25 more PWS Dolphins Northbound by Deepwater Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

May 21:
1:18 pm Half a dozen PWS Dolphins on the way up towards Bute Inlet.
3:30 pm 100 PWS Dolphins spread out in different groups between Henrietta Point and Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet. They're foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

May 20:
9:45 am 50 PWS Dolphins by McMullen Point, Discovery Passage Northbound.
Oak Bay boat on Radio

May 20:
10:55 am The Dolphins are now at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Radio

May 20:
12:44 pm About 25 PWS Dolphins scattered and moving quickly Northward. I expect the Orca (see above) aren't too far behind.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

May 20:
1:49 pm 10 PWS Dolphins by Deepwater Bay in Discovery Passage.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge

May 19:
5:30 pm PWS Dolphins near Brown's Bay. Elvis had them, not sure how many or direction.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

Pacific White Sided Dolphins
May 21, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

Dall's Porpoise

May 23:
4:10 pm 4 Dall's Porpoise Southbound by Hole in the Wall.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours

May 21:
3 pm 4 Dall's bow riding at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale Watching and Grizzly Bear Tours


Humpback or Grey Whale ?

May 20:
12:56 pm As the Orca headed towards Texada I spotted a large blow that came from either a smaller Humpback Whale or a Grey Whale.
The blows I saw headed South. Didn't see any flukes. Guess he/she just wanted to get out of the way of the Transient Bigg's KW's
May 21:
9:12 am Just saw a big blow Northbound past the Westview ferry terminal heading towards Atrevida Reef. I think it's a humpback, but again, the blow is shaped more like a Grey Whale. Possibly the whale figured it was finally safe to head North.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transient Bigg's Orca T124's
May 21, 2013
Marie O'Shaughnessy, 'Orca-Magic'

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report. Every sighting report is valuable!

The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)