Many
Transient Bigg's Orca reports; T87 and T60's are staying in the
central part Georgia Strait appearing to circumnavigate a number of
islands. Southern Residents have been hanging around the San Juan
Islands, their favourite spots. A few Humpback Whales have been
transiting our areas with a few even going in the 'wrong' direction.
'KC' and 'Arial' who had been in our area for some time have now
continued NW while a couple of others have been spotted. Pacific
White Sided Dolphins appeared in large numbers, but have separated
into smaller groups. And bringing up the rear of our Cetacean
Sightings report are the Porpoise, both Dall's and Harbour. We seem
to get few reports on them, even though they are such an important
part of the chain. They may not be as visible as a huge black dorsal
of an Orca or the big blow or tail flukes of a Humpback Whale, but,
believe it or not, they are very important.
We
are happy to have some of our regular Summer reporters back in the
area to help keep eyes on the water. A reminder to please keep
yourselves, and the whales, safe on the water, and please report your
sightings.
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Fundraising
2014:
Our main web site is updated and tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are
available for sale on line. Please check out the details link:
http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/win-at-sea-fair-2014/
More
information is at the bottom of the report or click on the link
above.
Every
sighting report is valuable!
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Transient
Bigg's Orca off Powell River
June
5, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
A
reminder that photos tend to be cropped and we are drifting with
motor off when in the vicinity of any whales. We stop at quite a
distance off and do not position ourselves to force an encounter like
this. This whale just decided to come over to us from closer to
shore, and go under the boat.
June
11:
8:51
am: One male and two female Orcas with calves foraging on the East
side of Rebecca Spit about 200 feet offshore.
Dana
and Colin Perkins, Quadra Island.
June
11:
10:00
am: Report of Orca at Francisco Point, south end of Quadra Island,
close to the beach.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
11:
10:10
am: Orca off Francisco Point, going to investigate.
10:20
am: There are 4 Orca, 3 females, I male.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
11:
10:30
am: Report from the fishing vessel “Marinet.” Orca in the
shallows off Francisco Point. Jumping and splashing around, possibly
hunting.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June
11:
10:
40 am: They are T87 and T90's for sure.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
11:
11:29
am: The 4 Orca are at Quathiaski Cove northbound. Leaving the scene,
but Tenacious 3 is with them.
Fabian,
Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient
Bigg's Orca off Powell River
June
5, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
June
11:
12:39
pm The 4 Orca
are southbound half a mile off Cape Mudge Lighthouse. Leaving the
area now.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June
11:
2:26
pm: Leaving Orca just south of Salmon Point (just below Campbell
River) southbound two miles off Vancouver Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
10:
1-1:30
pm 4 Orca including a mom and calf were foraging between Mary Point
and Cortez Bay, Cortez Island. We watched to see if we could see
them, but they just disappeared. Since we were headed to Cortez Bay,
they may have popped up around the other side of Mary Point.
Bill
Kennedy, Campbell River
June
10:
4:30
pm: We are now at Bliss Landing and spotted 3 – 4 Orcas right off
Bliss at about 4:30 pm today. They were milling about for at least 15
minutes. Just coming up to breath then down again.
John
Bowles, Bliss Landing.
June
9:
5:00
pm: Guide Tommy Thompson reports 4 Orca leaving Toba Inlet.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
June
8:
9:09
am: Orca (x5) were eastbound through Arran Rapids, near Bute Inlet,
at around 21:00 yesterday, June 7th according to a guide
report.
I
was just told by our dock staff that 4 – 5 Killer Whales went south
past Sonora docks at 6:15.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
June
8:
1:10
pm: Orca at Baker Pass near Ragged (Copeland) Islands, closer to
Major Rock (off Lund). One big, one small is all he saw. This is from
my brother Clay on tug boat, he said they were headed North East
towards the Desolation Sound area.
5:53
pm: The 4 Orca, T087 and T090's are northbound at Grouse Island off
the Campbell River Marina.
6:00
pm: They are the T090's for sure. They have turned abruptly south to
buck the tide. Now they are at Grouse Island southbound.
7:19
pm: The Orca had a nice rest and took it easy for a while – kind of
sleepy. They are still southbound coming up to Cape Mudge Village. We
are bugging out soon.
Nick
and Janeen Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient
Bigg's Orca off Powell River
June
5, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
June
8:
3:54
pm: 4 Orca at the green can buoy off Cape Mudge heading toward Marina
Island now. Reported by a fisherman.
4:22
pm: The Orca have turned south of the red can buoy and are looking at
the Vancouver Island side.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
8:
4:51
pm: Transient Orca T87 and family are half a mile off the red can
buoy near Cape Mudge northbound, – 4 – 5 Orca.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
June
8:
9:20
pm: Orca right at the 50th
parallel marker in Campbell River tight to shore. Must've taken
something. Seagulls flying around. Seals are all in between the rocks
hiding. Orca, (4 of them) still slowly Southbound. Breaching and spy
hopping. Lots of people watching from shore.
Elvis,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
7:
9:00
am: Report of Orca between Hollyhock and Twin Islands, above Lund,
heading towards Cortez Bay.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June
7:
8:
24 pm: Report of Orcas just passing Sonora Resort, northbound. One
big fin, and at least 3 Orca.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
6:
11:50
am: Just heard a radio transmission, very broken up. Possible Orca by
Cape Cockburn, Nelson Island, just down from Stillwater/Saltery Bay.
Couldn't make out how many or direction, if any.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June
6:
8:15
pm: 4 Orcas swimming north up Stuart Channel. Moved past Round Island
on the east side and then disappeared toward Dodds Narrow, 8:15 pm –
8:35 pm. Lots of leaps and tail slapping. One large, three smaller.
Janette
Dyck (
via email)
June
5:
10:
30 am: Report of 4 – 5 Orca westing in Cordero Channel.
(Heard
on radio)
June
5:
1:00
pm: Orca heading into Loughborough Inlet.
(Heard
on Radio.)
June
5:
5:15
pm: I saw a big tail which sure looked like a Humpback Whale to me.
But all I see now are 3 – 4 Orca!
By
5:40 pm we were out of the harbour and came across some playful Orca
with breaching, tail lobs and clearly sharing some food. It was
good to see the caution used by a couple of other boaters in both the
way they approached and departed. They even shut down to drift while
watching at a safe distance. Their shutting off motors helped
with listening on the hydrophone (underwater listening device). The
whales were very chatty, even over the sounds of other boats and
ferries.
7:00
pm: Leaving Orca by Myrtle Rocks south bound angling towards Texada,
There were a total of around 10 of them. Noticed only one big male
towards Myrtle Rocks and at one point, Judy Brant, one of our Wild
Ocean Whale (WOWs) Directors, who had hopped on board with me, felt
pretty sure she saw a Humpback fluke in the distance, probably to get
away from the Transient Bigg's Orca.
9:30
pm: Spotted 3+ Orca sized blows Southbound between Atrevida Reef,
just North of Powell River, and Mystery Reef on Savary Island.
There's been some splashing, but can't tell for sure how many.
10:00
pm: 4 Blows maybe 5 or more Orca are definitely Southbound towards
Powell River. Guess they're following the others. Getting almost too
dark to really see them clearly.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
Transient
Bigg's Orca off Powell River
June
5, 2014
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
June
5:
5:15
pm: At least 2 or 3 Orca off Westview, Powell River heading South.
Peter
Harvey, Powell River.
June
5:
5:39
pm: 3 – 4 more Orca south of Powell River, off Myrtle Rocks
southbound.
Jim
Southern, Powell River.
6:08
pm: About 4 or more Orca are playing out in front of our place right
now...I see you on the water now with them.
Shirley
Randall, Powell River.
June
5:
6:40
pm: We are just sitting on our deck and watching some Orca. They're
coming out of the water and breaching!
Liz
Douglas, Powell River.
June
5:
Today
was a beautiful afternoon out west with perfect conditions. We found
Orca in the Sooke area, where the Ocean Magic was able to spend time
with members of L Pod that were travelling west really fast, and very
spread out. This pic is of L 41, “Mega”. Other members seen were
L 25, “Ocean Sun” the Matriarch of L Pod, along with the L 12's,
and the L 22's. Awesome to see a few members of L Pod even if they
had decided not to stay with J Pod who had come into the Salish sea 4
days ago.
Marie
O'Shaugnessy, “Ocean Magic.” (via email.)
June
4:
8:50
am: Just saw some Orca between Harwood and Texada Islands. I'm on the
ferry.
Glynis,
Powell River
June
4:
9:40
am: Finally spotted the blows. There's 8 – 10 orca heading up
Georgia Strait. Lost them from view around Vivian island.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June
4:
12:22
pm: Orca heading towards Cape Mudge – 2 so far, northbound.
12:
40 pm: 6+ Orca by Cape Mudge Village.
Sharkey.
June
4:
12:35
pm: Report from Water Taxi of Orca in Deer Passage one hour ago,
heading east.
Also
a report of 5 Orca at 8:00 am in Plunger Passage, heading south.
1:40
pm: 4 Orca so far, one male, possible sprouter,(juvenile) a mom and
a calf in front of the Campbell River Marina.
3:35
pm: Just left the four Orca still northbound on the Vancouver Island
side above Brown's Bay.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
4:
12:50
pm:Around 5 Orca mid channel running not too fast – up by fishing
pier now.
Elvis,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
4:
2:51
pm: 4 Transient Bigg's heading for Seymour Narrows. One just killed a
Seal.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June
4:
4:
30 pm: 4 – 5 Orca by Bartlett Island close to Church house.
4:40
pm:Definitely more like 7 – 8 Orca noses pointed towards Bute
Inlet. This is a different group.
4:53
pm: Leaving the scene, they are still headed into Bute Inlet.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
SOUTHERN
RESIDENT ORCA
Southern
Resident Orca L 41,' Mega '
June
5, 2014
Marie
O'Shaughnessy ' Orca-Magic '
June
5:
Today
was a beautiful afternoon out west with perfect conditions. We found
Orca in the Sooke area, where the Ocean Magic was able to spend time
with members of L Pod that were traveling west really fast, and very
spread out. This pic is of L 41,' Mega '. Other members seen were L
25,' Ocean Sun ' the matriarch of L Pod along with the L 12s , and
the L 22s. Awesome to see a few members of L Pod even if they had
decided not to stay with J Pod who had come in to the Salish Sea 4
days ago.
Marie
O'Shaughnessy ' Orca-Magic '
HUMPBACK
WHALES
Humpback
Whale Tail Flukes (possibly BCX1192)
June
10, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
10:
8:30
am: Two Humpbacks at April Point (near Campbell River) moving slowly
southbound.
Brad,
Painter's Lodge.
June
10:
9:10
am: Two Humpbacks at Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River, southbound.
9:40
am: The 2 Humpbacks are now at We Wai Kai Village, slowly moving
southbound. This is from my Father in Law.
1:00
pm: Humpbacks 2.2 nautical miles off the south end of Mittlenatch,
southbound. Long dives. One looks like K.C., white on tail, but
didn't look right for dorsal – didn't notice damage. Will check
photos later.
1:30
pm: Humpbacks .6 nautical miles off west side of Sentry Shoals.
2:40
pm: Leaving Humpbacks 2.5 miles south of Sentry Shoals.
(After
looking at Garry's photos: Humpback
looks like BCX1192. Don't have a local name. Marks on flukes match up
and dorsal looks right but couldn't zoom in enough on low res dorsals
to tell who the second might be. - SM)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
10:
11:09
am: 2 Humpback Whales off “the hump.” From Fishing Guides. (The
hump is a fishing spot just off Cape Mudge, Quadra Island - SM)
Geord,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
June
10:
11:55
am: Humpbacks 3 nautical miles NW of Mittlenatch heading SE. Thanks
to Brad.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June
6:
1:09
pm: The two Humpbacks known as 'K.C' and 'Arial' are up in Blackney
Pass area (top of Johnstone Strait). Bummer!
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Humpback
Whale dorsals (possibly BCX1192 and ?)
June
10, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
5:
5:10
pm: Humpback whale at Powell River now.
5:15
pm: I saw a big tail. But all I see now are 3 – 4 Orca! (see
Orca report above)
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
June
11:
2:05
pm: 10 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphin around Kanish Bay, just
above Campbell River.
(from
Radio)
June
11:
2:15
pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins going north mid channel
approaching Eagle's Cove, above Campbell River.
Leif
Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
11:
3:29
pm 100- 150 PWS Dolphins southbound in Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
10:
9:01
am: Just sitting on the ferry with an elder who lives at Wai Wai Kai
village who said he saw a huge group of dolphins southbound past the
village on Saturday afternoon. (That would be June 7th.)
He estimated 1000. I know Nick got a report that day too of 500
Dolphins south of Big Rock, but he never found them.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
10:
5:52
pm: 50-ish PWS Dolphins at the west end of Okisollo Channel.
Fabian,
Eagle Eye Adventures
June
9:
7:06
pm: About a dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins around the Brown's
Bay/ Seymour Narrows area.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June
8:
9:
45 am: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Granite Point, at the
entrance to Kanish Bay.
Brad,
Painters Lodge relayed through Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June
7:
5:58
pm: 20 or more PWS Dolphins sighted at Maud island, south end of
Seymour Narrows.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
7:
6:58
pm 1 Pacific White Sided Dolphin at Brown's Bay.
7:17
pm 10 – 12 PWS Dolphins foraging near North Bluff. Now where are
those pesky Killer Whales!
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Leaping June 11, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
DALL'S
PORPOISE, HARBOUR
PORPOISE
June
8:
9:30
am: One porpoise off the red can buoy at Cape Mudge, Quadra Island.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June
6:
Day:
4 Harbour Porpoise sighted foraging by Aran Rapids, near Bute Inlet.
Jen
Furst, Campbell RiverWhale
Watching.
June
5:
12:21
pm: 4 Harbour Porpoise foraging off Mary Point, Cortes Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
BRANDED
SEA LIONS
June
10:
At
Sentry Shoal Buoy: Sea Lion branded with number B22Y which could be
822Y, was on the buoy itself with a number of others. (I have not
had a chance prior to posting, to look up the number and where this
particular animal is from - SM)
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
LINKS
Massive
killer whale parade off San Juan Island
Fundraising
2014:
Our main web site is updated and tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are
available for sale on line. Please check out the details link:
http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/win-at-sea-fair-2014/
The
Spot Prawn Festival at Powell River's Westview Harbour was on
Saturday, June 7 and we met a number of our local reporters and some
new ones. We sold a few tickets while providing information about the
whales and dolphins in our front yard....a success. We will be
selling tickets at the Powell River Town Centre Mall and a couple of
places on Vancouver Island, dates/times/locations will be posted.
2
GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE
#1:
- Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours – Whale Watching for Two
- Discovery Marine Safaris – Whale Watching for Two
- Stubbs Island Whale Watching – Whale Watching for Two
RAFFLE
#2:
- Adventure Quest Tours (Kayak Tour for Two)
- Eagle Eye Adventures (Whale Watching for Two)
- Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions (Whale Watching for Two)
Tickets
are 5 for $10 – Please make sure you specify what Raffle you'd like
in the notes.
Both
raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea
Fair
Thank
you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
From
all of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Gaming
Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your
limit, play within it.