In the latter part of April, I had a
sense that something was brewing – see my last two reports. Various
pods of Transient, Bigg's, Orca seemed to be gathering. They
culminated in what we can only call a 'Superpod' of these meat eating
Killer Whales. Today was a confirmation of the gathering. There were over 25 Orca in one area! The reports
are grouped by person submitting during the day. In the previous
report I had managed to photograph a number of the whales. Of these I
could identify T02C's, T60's and there are a few others. All this activity is just a reminder to all to
please contact us so this information can be logged. Every sighting
report is valuable, even if it's late, if you don't have a chance at
the time, or aren't even sure; all reports are all important.
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
Transient Bigg's Killer
Whales
May 2, 2013
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
May 2: (this is the last report
of the day)
6:45 pm 3-4 Orca including one large
male are heading South by Armour – Stark Road (Albion Point area
South of Powell River)
Nina Falls, Powell River
May 2:
Taken (photo below) this evening (May
2/13) at approximately 6:30 pm south of Powell River at the end of
Whalen Road. They danced around in a circle for about 1/2 hr then
headed south. We have noticed several big flocks of birds the past
couple of days out on the water so there must be some good feed out
there.
Myrna, Powell River
May 2:
9:18 am 3 Orca were spotted Southbound
between April point and the Quadra ferry terminal. There was one big
male. From the April Point Connector.
6:20 pm Some of the Orca are now half
way between the fishing hump off Cape Mudge and Miracle Beach on
Vancouver Island.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale
Watching
May 2:
9:27 am Just got the binos on them and
looks like 4 to 5 Orca.
11:18 am Just received a report from my
buddy Sam of 2 groups of KW's headed south in Discovery Pass off
Granite Point. Sounds like quite a few animals. Maybe Southern
Residents?
1:11 Yup, just spoke to Garry
(Aboriginal Journeys)– sounds like they stalled up there in the
rapids.
5:55 pm There are some off Cape Mudge,
some in Discovery Pass by April Point, and some still up by Maud
Island, Seymour Narrows.
7:11 pm Finally out there with them and
still Southbound at 5.5 knots between Salmon Point and the Red can
buoy off Cape Mudge.
7:35 pm It's awesome! I just saw 8
Harbour Porpoise in a tight group slide quietly behind the KW's and
away...was pretty funny.
8 pm Left the scene. They were all
lined up between Mitlenatch Island and Salmon Point; still
Southbound.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
Transient Bigg's Killer
Whales
May 2, 2013
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
May 2:
11:48 am Around 40+ Orca were putting
on a great show just off Brown's Bay (north of Campbell River).
They're headed South.
Nanaimo Flyer,
vessel
May 2:
12:07 pm Just based on numbers, it
looks like these Orca might be Southern Residents...it's a big group
by No Name Creek (Brown's Bay). First count is at least 12-14
animals....a bit later, 16 – 18 animals. By 2 pm they were by
Seymour Narrows bucking the large ebb tide; looks like at least 25
different animals. I left them still stalled against the ebb around
3:45 pm up by Maud Island in Discovery Pass. I'm sure I saw T02C's.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
May 2:
After hearing descriptions, I asked if
the big male with unique cuts in his dorsal was T063 – Jos, Eagle
Eye Adventures had his ID book with him and confirmed the ID. See
also Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursion's photo.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
May 1:
11-11:30 am 4 Orca (assumed T's – SM)
were spotted Southbound. From neighbour. Just got back and started to
photograph the submarine and helicopter manoeuvres out in front of
Powell River.
Steve Grover, Powell River
April 28:
11:30 am Orca Southbound by Hernando
shore towards Keifer Rock / Dog Bay.
Anonymous - email
April 28:
9:36 am 4 Orca are Southbound just past
the old barge terminal in Powell River.
Pam Iwasiuk, Powell River
April 28:
Late in the day, we saw 3-4 Orca
Southbound off Albion Point.
Nina Falls, Powell River
April 27:
7:55 pm Just spotted 6 Orca, including
some smaller ones heading south off Myrtle Rocks in the Malaspina
Strait. Left a message for you on
the hotline.
Holly Roy, Powell River
Transient Bigg's Killer
Whales
May 2, 2013
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback
Whale
April 27:
4:26 pm 2 Humpback Whales by Greensea
Bay / Kanish Bay above Campbell River heading north towards Chatham
Point.
Radio – unknown who
April 23:
About 8pm. The strangest thing, but I
saw a whale about 100 ft off shore at Grief Point. On my deck and it
quickly surfaced, breathed and dove again out of site. It was big and
after viewing several sites I believe it was a humpback because of
the dorsal fin. My neighbour saw it as well so I wasn't mistaking it
for a sea lion which it was way too large for. We saw about 30 ft of
its back. So is this possible?
(Yes, see other sightings posted in
the previous report – SM)
Jim Agius, Powell River
Harbour
Porpoise
May 2:
11 am Around 10 Harbour Porpoise about
1 mile off the can buoy at Cape Mudge. Haven't seen that many in one
place for a long time. I'm still looking for the first group of Orca.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
May
2: (repeat from Orca report above)
7:35 pm It's
awesome! I just saw 8 Harbour Porpoise in a tight group slide quietly
behind the KW's and away...was pretty funny.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale
and Bear Excursions
April 28:
4:30 pm Wanted to report a sighting of
probably 3-5 porpoises in the Straight of Georgia, between the
shoreline of Secret Beach, Gibsons and Hermit Island. They were
heading NE at a slow rate, far out from shore. Would surface and do
some repeated surfacing for about a 1 minute and then disappear for
20 min or more. Given their small group and slow progress, I think
they were harbour porpoises.
B. Towns
Transient Bigg's Killer
Whales
May 2, 2013
Myrna, Powell River
Unknown
Cetaceans
April 29:
9:30 am About 20 animals (this is
assumed dolphins rather than Dall's or Harbour Porpoise – SM)
Radio
April 26:
2:45 pm Just received an anonymous
email that someone thought they saw a whale breach between Twin and
Cortez Islands.
Anonymous
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 (WOW)