The email subscribers are still only
receiving the posts manually, unfortunately, but at least I am able
to send the direct links out. In a drastic attempt to finally fix the
blockage, I will be removing all images from the time the blockage
started and attempt to send them out with text only....very sorry for
any inconvenience of duplicated reports, and no photos. I will post
some photos after to try to catch them up also.
Cetacean Sightings are up everywhere,
but of some noticeable absence are the number of Humpback Whales off
the Powell River to Savary area. Both Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
and Resident Orca have been showing up almost in the same areas,
while the Pacific White Sided Dolphins appear to be back in residence
in Nodales Channel.
There has been a delay in preparing
this report which I hoped to post on August 11th, but, due
to an injury to my right index finger, too many breaks are needed as
I type. A million thanks to all of our regular whale watching boat
community for helping out when I was in need – my specific thanks
are below the report.
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
Marie
O'Shaugnessy, Orca Magic
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
August 14:
5:31 pm summary; A30's were at
Blinkhorn just below Telegraph Cove, heading East with lots of
breaching, spy hopping and tail slapping. The A5's were off Lizard
Point, Malcom Island.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 13:
5:09 pm A30's and A8's just left
Weynton Pass heading East. A23's and A25's last seen at the East end
of the reserve, now unaccounted for, so will keep our eyes open on
the way home to Kelsey Bay.
Discovery Marine Safaris Boat
August 12:
9:15 am 5 Orca between Ripple Point and
Chatham Island Westbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 12:
1:50 pm The A8's are in the lead
rounding Ripple Point. A30's are at Ripple. They're all Westbound and
foraging.
2:32 pm They're all half mile East of
Humpback Bay still Westing.
4:30 pm The A30's are at Camp Point
rubbing while the A8's are Westing ahead.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 12:
10 am Found 4 Orca just above Chatham
Point Eastbound. There's more like 10 to 15!! They're angling towards
Nodales Channel.
Elvis,
Eagle Eye Adventures
August 12:
10:15 am The Chatham Point Orca were
the A30's plus others. (I lost track of who gave the Identification –
SM) But A23's and A25's are at the top of Johnstone Strait.
Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island Whale
Watching
August 12:
11:56 am Some Orca, possibly the A30's
Westbound by Howe Island.
12:54 pm A30's foraging between Chatham
Point and Howe Island and the entrance to Nodales Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 12:
4:24 pm A8's and A30's slowly Westbound
against the flood tide at Camp Point.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 11:
10:44 am 8 Orca are Eastbound by Kelsey
Bay.
11:29 am The A8's are Easting at Camp
Point, below Kelsey Bay.
3:15 pm the A25's (7 Orca) are
Westbound at Hickey Point above Kelsey Bay.
5:30 pm A8's foraging near Davis Point
in Nodales Channel.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 11:
11:49 am The A30's and A36 boys are up
the top of Johnstone Strait.
Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island Whale
Watching
August 11:
1:21 pm Just picked up Orca by Tyee
Point, bottom of Race Passage.
1:34 pm A60 plus 2 others escorted by 2
or 3 PWS Dolphins Westbound now at Camp Point heading into Race
Passage.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 11:
2:25 pm Found the NRKW's by the river
at Kelsey Bay. They're still Westing.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 11:
2:49 pm 4 Orca Southbound right by
Ripple Point from boater (whose name I couldn't quite make out,
but think it was Dog Days – SM)
August 11:
3:15 pm Found the Orca still at Ripple
Point slowly Southbound. Stayed with them till Rock Bay just above
Chatham Point so other could find them.
Elvis,
Eagle Eye Adventures
August 11:
5 pm The A8's crossed from Rock Bay to
Nodales Channel.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 10:
10:40 am A30's went into Weynton Pass,
Blackfish Sound and A36's went into Robson Bight.
Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island Whale
Watching
August 10:
10:40 am A36's heading into reserve
(Robson Bight) while the A8's, 25's and 23's all up around the
Telegraph Cove area heading East.
12:10 pm A36's are still in the reserve
while the A8's were at Kaikash Eastbound towards the reserve.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 9:
8:09 am Orca reported by fisherman at
Sonora Point, Nodales Channel – A36's
Jack Springer & Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 9:
11:53 am The A8's are Eastbound into
Nodales by Howe Island while the A36's are still in upper Nodales.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 9:
6 pm The A8's are Westbound heading up
Johnstone Strait by Turn Island, while the A36's are heading East
towards Hall Point in Nodales Channel.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
7 am The A23's and A25's are Eastbound
down Johnstone Strait at Naka Creek.
11:32 am The A23's and A25's are still
Eastbound down by Hickey Point.
11:57 am Correction in identification:
it's the A8's and the A36 brothers. At one point it was pretty neat
to see that the two A36 brothers, A37 and A46 were running side by
side with the big male A66 of the A8's as if they were the three
brothers from a few years ago.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
12:50 pm A8's and A36's are between
Kelsey Bay and Earl's Ledge. The 36's headed towards Earl's Ledge
while the A8's continued down the Vancouver Island shore towards Race
Passage.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 8:
12:51 pm I managed to get to see the
A8's and A36's as they continued past Helmken Island down through
Race Passage and past Camp Point.
1:58 pm They were moving quickly with
the tide. All past Camp Point with purpose making it to Bear Point by
2:46 pm.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 8:
3:41 The Orca are now still Easting
past Ripple Point.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
4:39 pm The A36 boys are in the lead by
Howe Island, Nodales with the A8's 1 mile behind.
6:50 pm Left the A8's Westbound by
Harding Island, just below Thurston Bay Marine Park.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 8:
6:21 pm Leaving the A36's Eastbound
again at Sonora Point.
John, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 8:
6:45 pm A36 brothers are sleepily
Eastbound at Sonora Point with 6 PWS Dolphins pestering them.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 7:
12:30 pm Northern Resident Orca are
spread out from Donegal Head to Penfold Islets and down to
Whitecliffe Islets, just above Blackfish Sound.
Radio
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
August 14:
1:28 pm Transient Orca in Calm Channel
by Rendezvous Islands angling towards Hole in the Wall.
Harley, St. Eval
August 14:
2:13 pm Same groups as yesterday,
T101's and T90's just inside Bute Inlet by Fawn Bluffs. They just
took a Harbour Porpoise – flung it in the air.
Aaron Webber & Jen Furst,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 14:
4 pm The Transients took another
Harbour Porpoise just North of Fawn Bluff.
4:54 pm They're now at Amor Point
Northbound in Bute Inlet.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 14:
4:50 pm 8-ish Transients heading above
Amor Point towards Clipper Point farther into Bute Inlet.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 13:
10:23 am 4 to 5 Orca by Village Bay on
the Quadra Island east side from boater.
11:51 am 6 Orca Southbound in Hoskyns
Channel.
4:37 pm Left Transient Orca Northbound
by Conville Bay, Hoskyns Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 13:
12:58 pm T101A has reunited with the
rest of the T101's and T102! The rest of them look like the T090's
and T100B's. Nice gang, all tight together, going South along Rebecca
Spit.
3:54 pm The Orca are abeam Viner Point
heading back towards the Breton Islands.
4:10 pm Off village Bay heading up
Hoskyns again.
4:55 pm Passing Conville point now
still headed up Hoskyns; sleeping now.
7:35 pm Left Orca heading back down
Hoskyns Channel after trying to make it through Surge Narrows /
Beazley Pass.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 12:
12:21 pm At least 2 Orca Northbound off
Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.
Holly Roy, Powell River
August 12:
1:15 pm 4 Orca Southbound 2 of them
running tight to shore by Myrtle Rocks.
Jim Southern, Powell River
August 12:
3:04 pm 4 Orca 2 large fins and 2 small
fins off Mary Point, Cortez Island towards Twin Islands.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 11:
8:28 am Orca reported at Middle Point
just North of Campbell River from Sharkey.
12:25 pm T18's are between Mitlenatch
and Vancouver Island now Southbound.
2:25 pm The T02C's are Southbound at
the North end of Read Island. Looks like they're going to take Whale
Passage.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 11:
10:44 am 3 Orca just North of
Rendezvous Islands.
11:29 am Actually there are 4 of them
and they're headed towards Whiterock Passage.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 11:
2:36 pm Leaving the Transients
Southbound in Whale Passage. They're doing long dives on the Read
Island shore.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 11:
3:40 pm Transients T02C's are in Whale
Pass.
Radio
August 11:
5:55 pm Just saw a pod 5 to 6 orca west
of Sechelt between the Trail Islands and Sargent Bay. They were
headed north west towards Thormanby Island. I will review my photos
and send some to you when I can. From what I could tell there was one
very large adult with a tall straight dorsal fin, several medium
sized whales and one or two young ones. Sadly the whole experience
was saddened by the idiot in the powerboat who decided to chase them
for quite a long distance. I called the fisheries department on
him!
Blair Smith
Blair Smith
August 10:
8:02 am Orca reported Northbound by the
green can buoy at the South end of Quadra Island.
10:40 am I'm with the Transients
between Mitlenatch and Vancouver Island angling towards Baker Pass.
3:30 pm Transient Orca are at Grant's
Reef, off Savary Island, Southbound slowly. What a great Orca show!
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 10:
8:45 am Transients off the South end of
Quadra have just been found by the Oak Bay Hurricane between the red
and green can buoys heading towards the Vancouver Island shore. No
numbers yet.
4:39 pm We are leaving the T's at the
South-East corner of Grant's Reef aiming for Harwood Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 10:
12:19 pm At least 6 Transients with 3
big fins – 1 huge male Eastbound at the Sophia Islands, top of
Johnstone Strait.
1 pm Transients are T18's, T19's and
T2C's (ID'd by Jared Towers). They are currently in the Robson Bight
Ecological Reserve Eastbound.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 10:
12:44 pm Transients now off Manson Pass
between Savary and Hernando Islands.
Geord, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 10:
3:30 pm Transients at Grant's Reef, off
Savary Island, Southbound.
Lee,
Adventure Quest
August 9:
11:53 am 5 to 7 Transient Bigg's Orca
in Hoskyns Channel Northbound heading towards Beazley Pass.
Colin, Pacific Yellowfin
August 9:
12:55 pm Orca Northbound in Surge
Narrows.
John, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 9:
2:30 pm Left Transients Eastbound by
Cyrus Rock in Okisollo Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 8:
1 pm 3 Orca are between the red and
green can buoys at the South end of Quadra Island. There's 1 big
male. From water taxi.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 8:
4:30 pm 3 Transients are now Northbound
in Whale Passage heading towards Rendezvous.
Colin, Pacific Yellowfin
August 7:
10:30 am Orca not far off Refuge Cove
angling towards Waddington Channel.
Bill Richards, Summer Wages
August 7:
10:37 am Report of Transients in
Waddington Channel, right in Desolation Sound.
12:43 pm The T's were found at Shirley
Point in Waddington Channel. It's near the top of the channel just
below Doctor Bay. They are Southbound.
6:06 to 7:36 pm Killer Whales are just
off Cape Mudge. There's T101A, T090's and others about 3 miles South
of Cape Mudge, but Northbound.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 7:
12 pm Transients currently Southbound
by Pendrel Sound, Desolation Sound.
2 pm Transients reportedly off Roscoe
Bay, Desolation Sound.
Radio
August 7:
1 pm Transient Bigg's Orca spotted in
Tribune Channel, top end of Johnstone Strait.
Radio
August 7:
1:59 pm The Bigg's are just coming out
the South end of Waddington Channel, Desolation Sound.
Lee,
Adventure Quest
August 7:
3:16 pm Orca spotted at Martin Island
angling for Sara Point, just above the Copeland Islands. From my
friends at Refuge Cove.
6:04 pm Just got to the Orca off Cape
Mudge; T101A, T090's and others Northbound 3 miles South of Cape
Mudge. T101A is a big flirty boy, hanging with one specific female.
The photos left do doubt about what
they were eating....Harbour Porpoise. They're efficient hunters. I
watched T090 go out about 400 meters ahead and on her own, catch a
Porpoise and bring it back for the juveniles that were all bunched up
waiting.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 7:
3:25 pm Orca (unclear if these were the
same ones or another group - SM) are between the green can buoy off
Cape Mudge and Mitlenatch.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 7:
4:20 pm 6 Orca are between the red can
buoy and Cape Mudge heading North.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 7:
5 pm Transients are by Storey's Beach
South of Campbell River.
Radio
August 6: (rec'd 12th)
We sighted a pod or orca's just outside
of Bucaneer Bay on Thormanby Island off the Sunshine Coast on August
06, 2013. They appeared to be heading up the Coast but in turn went
around Thormanby Island where they were circling a group of seals on
a rock bed and blowing large bubbles under the water believed to be
feeding on hearing. There were 5 of them, 1 VERY large, 2 quit big
and 2 wee ones. Just amazing ...
Kelsey Dunn
Humpback
Whales
August 11:
7:30 am Humpback Whale Northbound off
Atrevida Reef, Powell River angling towards Lund.
Gordon Hayes, Powell River
August 10:
11:26 am Small Humpback Whale
Northbound by Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River area.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 10:
12:44 pm Humpback Whale at Seymour
Narrows getting pushed back by the tide.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
11:15 am Humpback Whale is Southbound
by Steep Island.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
11:32 am Humpback is now off the rocks
at RowRow; a local name of an old fishing spot just North of
Quathiaski Cove.
11:57 am Humpback is now off the cruise
ship dock by Campbell River.
Geord, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 7:
8:38 am There was a report of a
Humpback Whale by the Campbell River to Quadra Island ferry crossing
– went to look, but couldn't locate it.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 7:
?? am 2 Humpback Whales off Bates Beach, South of
Campbell River. Apparently they were breaching all over the place.
Second hand report.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 14:
8:57 pm Dolphins in Denham Bay
Southbound.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 14:
10:45 am Large group of Dolphins spread
from Gomer Island Frederick Arm to Hall Point.
12-1 pm Dolphins putting on a nice
show.
5 pm PWS Dolphins between Davis Point
and Harding Island, Nodales Channel.
Radio
August 14:
5:31 pm PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel
at Harding Island.
John, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 13:
4:37 pm 50 PWS Dolphins by Davis Point,
Nodales Ch. Eastbound.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 12:
8:15 am 30 PWS Dolphins Northbound
through the Yuculta Rapids in front of Sonora Lodge.
9:15 am Multiple reports of PWS
Dolphins spread out in Nodales and Gomer Island at the entrance to
Frederick Arm to Denham Bay towards the Yucultas.
12 pm PWS Dolphins in Eastern Nodales
Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 12:
4:24 pm 20 to 30 PWS Dolphins in
Frederick Arm. Rounding corner....make that 100+ Dolphins!
Benito
August 11:
1:34 pm 2 or 3 PWS Dolphins were
escorting A60 plus 2 other Orca Westbound at Camp Point heading into
Race Passage.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 11:
10:39 am 50-ish PWS Dolphins at Horn
Point just above the Yuculta's
5:30 pm 50 to 75 PWS Dolphins near
Shoal Bay towards Phillips Arm (just NW of Nodales Channel).
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 11:
12:30 pm Two groups of PWS Dolphins are
foraging at the entrance to Frederick Arm and Hall Point one group
has around 40 the other around 80 Dolphins.
5 pm 20+ PWS Dolphins in Okisollo
Channel by Hole in the Wall.
5:25 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins in
Phillips Arm.
Radio
August 11:
2 pm 12-15 PWS Dolphins chowing down by
Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 10:
7:45 am PWS Dolphins reported in Denham
Bay by a fisherman.
1:30 pm 75 PWS Dolphins Southbound in
Dent Rapids.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 9:
4:17 pm 50 PWS Dolphins at Denham Bay.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
9:14 am 100 or so PWS Dolphins by
Thurston Bay heading towards Davis Point; more by Sonora Point
Southbound, and yet more by Denham Bay.
Radio
August 8:
11:15 am 150 PWS Dolphins are in
Nodales Channel.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 8:
6:45 pm 6 PWS Dolphins pestering the
A36 Orca brothers who are sleepily Eastbound at Sonora Point.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 8:
9:15 am Dolphins at Thurston Bay
heading towards Davis Point, Nodales Ch.
12:20 pm 20 or so PWS Dolphins with the
Orca in Nodales.
Radio
August 8:
5:30 pm 200 PWS Dolphins were Eastbound
towards the Yuculta Rapids near Denham Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 7:
10:37 am 100 PWS Dolphins right by
Chatham Point spread across to Howe Isl.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
August 7:
12:30 pm 8-10 PWS Dolphins foraging by
Churchhouse, Stewart Island.
2:30 pm 24 PWS Dolphins by Dent Rapids
with a bunch more by Thurston Bay.
Radio
August 7:
4:20 pm 100 or so PWS Dolphins are
playing around in Dent Rapids.
5:28 pm They came out of Nodales and
headed to Green Sea Bay above Campbell River and all 100 or so were
back and forth to Chatham Point.
Kurt Staples,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 7:
7:39 pm 24 PWS Dolphins foraging at
Dent Rapids Northbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
August 14:
?? time Was out about two Kms in front
of Roberts Creek on a very calm evening.
Heard some puffing then 2-3 harbour porpoises cruised by me. Pretty shy guys.
Geordie Harrower
Heard some puffing then 2-3 harbour porpoises cruised by me. Pretty shy guys.
Geordie Harrower
August 14:
?? am There were about 6 Dall's
Porpoise near Horn Bay, across from Denham Island.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 14:
10:30 am around 12 Dall's Porpoise in
Denham Bay with a few Dolphins also.
Radio
August 14:
2:13 pm Same groups as yesterday,
T101's and T90's just inside Bute Inlet by Fawn Bluffs. They just
took a Harbour Porpoise – flung it in the air.
Aaron Webber & Jen Furst,
Campbell River Whale Watching
August 14:
2:26 pm Heard over the radio that after
they had tossed one Harbour Porpoise around there were another two
that just floated on the surface close to Elvis' boat;
probably very exhausted and catching their breath.
August 14:
4 pm The Transients took another
Harbour Porpoise (he was lunch) just North of Fawn Bluff.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 8:
10:20 am Small group of Harbour
Porpoise at Orange Point in Discovery Passage.
11 am Couple of Harbour Porpoise at the
entrance to Bute Inlet.
Radio
THANK YOU!
Enormous thanks to those who helped and
those who wanted to help when I injured my finger: Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
was instrumental in making things work right off the bat and truly
stands out; co-ordinating the effort to get me from Port Neville into
hospital and getting me back to Kelsey Bay, then keeping tabs on my
crossing back to Port Neville; getting the caretaker, Chet, to check
on me, and staying in close contact while I worked my way back down
to Campbell River with the boat. I could write more, but you get the
picture – huge help! Thank you Nick (and his bride to be Janeen).
I must also say thanks to everyone
else:
Nick: you are tops on the list!
Geord & Geoff: thanks for waiting
and helping out at Kelsey and driving me to Campbell River hospital;
thanks also for being willing to cross and get me if it came down to
it.
Garry: thanks for the texts
Jen: thanks for the calls
Jos: thanks for the dock space (&
the wine)
Aaron (Webber): thanks for the use of
your car – huge help
Everyone: thanks for the well wishes
and other offers of help and support, and:
Elvis: thanks for the fish :)
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776
or Email
your report.
Every sighting report
is valuable!
Whales
and Dolphins BC is officially the non-profit Wild Ocean
Whale Society (WOWs)