Report delayed due to being in and out
of internet range. Apologies for the delay.
This report covers 7 species: Northern
Resident Orca, Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, Humpback Whales,
Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall's Porpoise, a few Harbour Porpoise
and a Minke Whale. There's also a brief Rescue story and photo below.
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
Humpback Whale Lunge
Feeding
August 31, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
September 3:
10 am – 12 pm A8's and A30's are at
the Eastern end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve heading East
down Johnstone Strait.
Wayne Garton, Stubbs Island Whale
Watching
September 3:
12:11 pm 10 – 20 NRKWs just North of
Adam River (Kelsey Bay) Eastbound along the Vancouver Island
shoreline.
2:11 pm Same group of Orca are around
Windy Point by the boat wreck on the Vancouver Island shore. They're
Eastbound.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi
September 3:
2:49 pm 10-20 Orca off Stimpson's Reef,
Johnstone Strait. (assumed to be NRKW – SM)
3 pm 5-6 Orca spotted through the fog
Westbound off Kaikash Creek. (assumed to be NRKW - SM)
Radio
September 3:
4:45 pm A8's just entered the West end
of the Reserve Eastbound.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
September 3:
4:45 pm A30's Westbound on Mainland
side of Strait by Eve River.
Discovery Marine Safaris
September 2:
12 pm NRKW's off Telegraph Cove;
possibly A8's.
4 pm Some Orca were just off the
Stephanson Islets in Weynton Pass then headed back to Beaver Cove and
later down Johnstone Strait.
Radio
September 1:
Around 12 pm Went to Cracroft Point,
top of Johnstone Strait after stopping to watch the Humpbacks (Denali
and another) by Whitebeach Pass in Blackfish Sound to find yet
another Humpback resting in the tide rip and the A30's foraging while
the I15's were across Johnstone Strait Eastbound by Kaikash and
Sophia Islands. A few Dall's Porpoise and Pacific White Sided
Dolphins came in to harass the Orca.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 31:
5:17 pm I15's and A30's are Westbound
in Blackney Pass.
Discovery Marine Safaris
August 30:
9 am I15's are Eastbound by Izumi Rock
heading towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The A8's and
A30's are missing and may have gone East down Johnstone Strait.
Radio
August 29:
8 am A30's are Eastbound by Hanson
Island.
9 am I15's just East of Robson Bight
Ecological Reserve Eastbound.
10:30 am I15's Eastbound by Port
Neville.
Radio
August 29:
10:48 am Orca Eastbound by Millie
Island, Port Neville,
1:36 pm The I15's are still Eastbound
now by Peterson light, just below Kelsey Bay.
3:30 pm Orca are still only by Camp
Point, below Helmken Island.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
August 28:
9 am Some NRKW's are Westbound by
Robson Bight while some others are Eastbound by Lizard Point, Malcolm
Island.
10 am A8's and A30's are off of
Cracroft Point, Blackney Pass.
A36 brothers were with the I15's off
Bold Head, top of Blackfish Sound.
4:18 pm NRKWs spread out between
Blinkhorn, close to Telegraph Cove to Hanson Island.
Radio
August 27:
7:15 am Orca at Rock Bay Westbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 27:
7:30 am Some Orca South of Cracroft
Point, top of Johnstone Strait Eastbound.
9 am A66, A60 and A61 + (possibly all
A34's) have gone into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
Radio
August 27:
8:26 am Orca Eastbound into Nodales
Channel.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
August 27:
8:57 am Sounds very much like the A30's
– 10-12 Killer Whales with a couple of big dorsals travelling ahead
of the main bunch.
3:17 pm we just left the A30's
Westbound in Nodales Channel coming up to Davis Point. We were on
scene at 12:30 pm as they were slowly shuffling into Frederick's Arm.
A38 was 1 mile to West of main pod. A39 was in with the family. They
shuffled half mile into Frederick's then approximately 1:45 pm they
turned to the West and grouped up with some breaches, tail lobs and
pec slaps from the brothers.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 27:
10:10 am A30's in Nodales Channel. Left
them Eastbound by Harding Island.
4:14 pm Leaving Orca Westbound
approaching Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 27:
12:40 pm Orca in Nodales Channel at
Sonora Point still Eastbound – presumably the A30's. Relayed from
Jos.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 27:
3:20 pm The A23's, A25's and A8's are
all Westbound in Blackfish Sound.
Radio
August 26:
8:17 am Sounds like a big mob of Orca
around Rock Bay, Chatham Point area – no direction.
10:37 am Some of the Orca are at Camp
Point in Johnstone Strait while some are at Sonora Point in Nodales
Channel.
3:10 pm The A30's are Westbound by
Harding Island near the bottom of Nodales Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 26:
8:15 am Orca at Greensea Bay, Howe
Island / Chatham Point area. Unconfirmed report.
8:22 am 25 – 30 Orca between Rock Bay
and Greensea Bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 26:
8:20 am 25 Orca at Greensea Bay.
11:29 am 6 Orca Westbound by Kelsey Bay
– Just leaving them.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 26:
4 pm I15's Eastbound down Blackfish
Sound stopped to harass Humpback Whales that are in abundance. A8's,
A23'a and A25's may be the ones down East.
Radio
August 26:
4:34 pm 12 to 13 Killer Whales spread
out here from Howe Island to Chatham Point. It's the A30's plus
others and they are all still Westbound.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 26:
5:30 pm Left the same 12-ish Orca
(A30's plus) still Westbound slowly and foraging at Rock Bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 25:
7:45 pm Saw everyone pass Ripple Point.
All were around and spread between Ripple and Walkem Islands. A8's
were in the lead, followed by the A23's and A25's the the A30's and
others, possibly the I's, but no ID's, trailing. What an awesome
night...best one yet. They all went into Nodales Channel – like a
freight train. The A8's were doing 10 knots in the lead.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
NRKW A72 by Cracroft
Point
September 1, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
September 3:
8:45 am 6 Orca Northbound by Walcan,
Copper Bluff area, Campbell River heading for Seymour Narrows.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 3:
Approx. 9:30 am Had the T19 gang by
Deepwater Bay heading North-West. Only stayed with them for 15
minutes en-route to Grizzly tour.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
September 3:
12:11 pm Leaving the T19's at Rock Bay
Westbound on the Vancouver Island side.
Lee, Adventure Quest
September 3:
3:02 pm 2 Orca in Race Passage
Westbound. (assumed to be Bigg's - SM)
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi
September 3:
5:19 pm Transients at Kelsey Bay half
mile from the the milling 300 plus PWS Dolphins slowly Westbound.
Discovery Marine Safaris
September 2:
12 pm 5 Transient Bigg's Westbound in
Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
Radio
September 2:
5 pm 3 Killer Whales heading South very
slowly about 200 feet off the Powell River Seawall. My husband and I
were walking the sea wall and saw 2 large and one small dorsals.
Leigh Stewart, Powell River
September 2:
6:30 pm Hi Susan. Am THRILLED to report
my first sighting, lol! About 6:30 this evening (Monday,Sept.2nd)
just off Myrtle Rocks, heading south. Three Orca. 1 large and two
smaller.
Just swimming along, surfacing every
few minutes and blowing a couple of times. Water was pretty calm so
they were easy to see. Stood and watched for about 10-15 minutes, and
then they were gone. Made my night!
Ann, Powell River
September 2:
Orcas near Powell River late this
afternoon. Saw a young one (Baby)? with adults. Hard to tell how many
but not alot. They were heading south. Lost sight of them near the
Beach Gardens Hotel.
Jerry Murray, Powell River
September 2:
We spotted a pod of about five orca
today ... first from Craigdarroch Beach (north of Union Bay). They
were as far out as Tree Island and were heading towards the Comox
Harbour and Goose Spit area. There was one big, two medium and two
small (as far as I can tell). We then saw them again from Goose Spit;
they were headed back out towards the Georgia Strait; south and to
the outside of Denman/Hornby. What a wonderful sight! We have been
visiting this area for many years and have never seen orcas ... today
is a red letter day for sure!
Susan Munro, Vancouver Island
September 1:
11:12 am Orca off Whaletown, Cortez
Island – not sure what direction.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
September 1:
11:39 am Orca are heading from the red
can buoy through Uganda Pass, between Cortez and Marina Islands.
Apparently they came through Uganda Pass by Shark Spit and are
heading West along the Cortez Island shore towards Whaletown.
2:02 pm 5 Orca 1 nautical mile
South-West of the Breton Islands aiming for Heriot Bay, Quadra
Island.
3:05 pm 25 – 30 Transients just
showed up off Mitlenatch Island to Cape Mudge!
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
September 1:
1:07 pm Transients just South of Subtle
Islands in Sutil Channel.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
September 1:
6:43 pm Group of Killer Whales at Cape
Mudge right now – Jumping!
Fabien, Way West Water Taxi
August 30:
6:30 pm 5 – 6 Orca between Dinner
Rock and Atrevida Buoy right now. I'm watching them from my deck in
Westview and count 5 to 6 animals displaying the usually transient
feeding behavior, lunging, porpoising, tails lapping and separating
into 2 small groups. This sighting was called in by my friend Rhondda
Scheurers who is camping at Emmonds Beach. They have been watching
them for a couple hours in the same location. I saw at least one
large male and possibly two. It's quite far away and I'm only able to
see them with my spotting scope but we are enjoying the show
nonetheless. No direction really, they just were moving Westward from
the buoy for about 500 meters and then back towards the buoy about 30
minutes later. The next few times I looked ( about 20 & 30
minutes later) I couldn't find them. Damn trees in the way. Wish they
came closer but maybe tomorrow!
Steve Grover, Powell River
August 30:
7:30 am 4 – 5 Orca including 1 large
male at Francisco Point, bottom of Quadra Island – no direction.
Jack Springer, Campbell
River Whale Watching
August 29:
3-3:20 pm 5 Orca Westbound off Savary
Island's SW side close in to shore. It's windy and some rough seas so
tough to see sometimes, but there's 1 big male and 1 calf.
Bill & Dee Ingraham, Savary
Island
August 27:
6 pm Second hand report of Killer
Whales at Dinner Rock / Atrevida Reef area.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 26:
8 am 3 Orca heading Southbound past
April Point, across from Campbell River.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 26:
8:15 am 3 Transients are Southbound in
front of the Campbell River fishing pier.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 26:
9:46 am Left the T02's heading South by
Oyster River, south of Campbell River.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
Humpback
Whales
Humpback Whale
'Freckles' Tail Flukes
August 31, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Every Day: Humpbacks Galore! Some of
the ID's are: Freckles, Domino, Argonaut, Marge, Slash (aka
Humpless), Denali, Bubbles, and some I could not ID yet.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
September 3:
1:26 pm 2 Humpback Whales in Weynton
Pass feeding. Zero visibility in fog! Sounds like there are a couple
of others by Bold Head, top of Blackfish Sound in the fog there too.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
September 2:
8:30 am Humpback Whale by Greensea Bay.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
September 2:
10 am Humpback Whale Southbound passing
Okisollo Channel now in Discovery Pass.
Leif Nordman, Campbell
River Whale Watching
September 2:
12 pm Sitting drifting at the top of
Blackfish Sound close to Bold Head with 10 – 12 Humpback Whales
spread out lunge feeding singly or in two's. Heard there were others
farther over towards Whitecliffe Islets as well as down by Cracroft
Point.
4 pm At least 4 Humpback Whales
including Argonaut at the top of Weynton Pass. Another big breach and
some tail slapping from the calf.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
September 1:
10:47 am Humpback Whale Eastbound by
Kelsey Bay.
Aaron Webber, Campbell
River Whale Watching
September 1:
Around 12 pm Went to Cracroft Point,
top of Johnstone Strait after stopping to watch the Humpbacks (Denali
and another) by Whitebeach Pass in Blackfish Sound to find yet
another Humpback resting in the tide rip and the A30's foraging while
the I15's were across Johnstone Strait Eastbound by Kaikash and
Sophia Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 30:
9 am Humpback Whales in Weynton Pass.
Radio
August 29:
8:20 am 2 Humpback Whales in Weynton
Pass.
Radio
August 29:
10:30 am – 2:30 pm Out with 8 +
Humpback Whales lunge feeding off Weynton Island and into Weynton
Pass. One breach totally out of the water off Stubbs Island and
another breach a bit later off the North-East corner of Stubbs
Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 28:
9 am Humpback Whales popping up all
over the place from Hidden Cove, Vancouver Island to Bold Head, top
of Blackfish Sound.
Radio
August 27:
7 am Humpback Whale in Pearse Pass
feeding.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 26:
4 pm I15's Eastbound down Blackfish
Sound stopped to harass Humpback Whales that are in abundance
everywhere.
Radio
August 26:
4:25 pm Watched a Humpback pass West
close to North Pearse Islands heading towards Pearse Pass to feed.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Minke
Whale
August 28:
10 am Minke Whale out in front of Alert
Bay.
Radio
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
September 3:
1:02 pm 50+ PWS Dolphins by Denham
Island just above Yuculta Rapids.
Lee, Adventure Quest
September 3:
3:02 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins West
of Kelsey Bay Eastbound.
Fabien, Way West Water Taxi
September 3:
5:19 pm Transients at Kelsey Bay half
mile from the the milling 300 plus PWS Dolphins slowly Westbound.
Discovery Marine Safaris
September 2:
11:05 am Large group of PWS Dolphins in
Chancellor Channel at the mouth of Loughborough Inlet - Northbound.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 1:
9 am 300 PWS Dolphins Westbound from
Sonora Point to Thurston Bay Marine Park.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
September 1:
11 am 1000 or so PWS Dolphins by Port
Neville, just up from Kelsey Bay and across Sunderland Channel.
3:25 pm Dolphins still Eastbound by
Kelsey Bay.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 1:
Around 2:30 pm We left the Orca and
Humpbacks
August 31:
1:48 pm 100 PWS Dolphins in Frederick's
Arm foraging.
5:45 pm Same 100 PWS Dolphins now at
Hall Point Nodales Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
September 1:
Around 2:30 pm a few Pacific White
Sided Dolphins (maybe 6) travelled with around 15 or so Dall's
Porpoise after harassing Orca into Blackfish Sound foraging as they
went across to the Hanson shore.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 31:
4:30 pm Left PWS Dolphins in Frederick
Arm.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 31:
5:38 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Eastbound past
Boat Bay, top of Johnstone Strait.
Discovery Marine Safaris
August 30:
5:30 pm 75-ish PWS Dolphins at Hall
Point, Nodales Channel. Previously they spent the day in Frederick
Arm.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 29:
8:45 am 1 lone Dolphin in Kanish Bay.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 28:
11:53 am Hundreds of PWS Dolphins just
North of Hardwicke Island, Kelsey Bay area.
2:49 pm Dolphins are still in the same
area.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi
August 28:
4 pm There are at least 1500 PWS
Dolphins just East of Hickey Point, West of Kelsey Bay. I've never
seen so many at once!! Amazing!
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 26:
6:30 pm 500 or so PWS Dolphins close to
Kelsey Bay Westbound.
Radio
Dall's
and Harbour Porpoise
September 3:
10 am 3 Dall's Porpoise in Bute Inlet
milling.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
September 3:
1:50 pm 12 Dall's Porpoise zipping
around North end of Weynton Pass close to Stubbs Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
September 2:
Hi there,saw a family of four Sun, Sept
1/2013 at Sidney Island. Mom, Dad and two youngsters.
Dena Scriven, Victoria
September 1:
Around 2:30 pm a few Pacific White
Sided Dolphins (maybe 6) travelled with around 15 or so Dall's
Porpoise after harassing Orca into Blackfish Sound foraging as they
went across to the Hanson shore.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 31:
Afternoon: 3 Dall's Porpoise bow rode
briefly as we headed out and up Weynton Pass.
Late Evening: Couple of Harbour
Porpoise heading towards Swanson Pass from Knight Inlet.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 30:
3:15 pm 3 Dall's Porpoise at Clipper
Point, Bute Inlet.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 28:
5:16 pm 4 Harbour Porpoise by Fawn
Bluff, Bute Inlet.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Another
Rescue
August 31:
While watching Humpback Whales Lunge
feeding in Weynton Pass, we noticed something unusual moving in the
tide line. Getting closer, this poor Seagull was struggling to lift
it's head out of the water for a breath. It was soaked and drowning.
There is a chance that the bird got caught in one of the lunges and
released under water – it was soaked through and through. Getting
the skiff close I had Judy pick up the bird. It's beak was chattering
from the cold and body shivering horribly; suffering from
hypothermia. We wrapped it in a towel and placed it on the front seat
in the sunshine. Judy named it Clio as she put another towel on top
to try to help it. The poor thing sat there shivering for around two
hours and slowly came around as she/he dried. When we got back to
Salt Wash, and were discussing that we'd get another dry towel, it
decided to jump ship and paddled to shore, got up above the high tide
mark and started to preen itself. One lucky bird!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
One lucky to be alive
Seagull
August 31, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
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)