Transient
Bigg's and Northern Resident Orca passing each other in channels
helps create a bit of confusion in sorting some the reports when they
come in as 'Orca'. We hope we have organized them correctly from
piecing their travels together. There is also some excitement in the
posibility that our Powell River baby A103, 'Albion' is a girl! But we need to be sure before posting. We
have our 'Sea Fair' Humpback Whale spotted again, a small Grey Whale
in Nitnat Lake, Dolphins, Porpoise and a beached whale report update
for those of you who may have heard this on the radio.
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Transient
Bigg's Orca
Aug.
5, 2014
Bradden
Kiley
August
5:
5:10
pm: After leaving the Northern Resident pod hugging the Vancouver
Island side westing, we came across another group of Orca, (Transient
Bigg's) hugging the Thurlow Island side.
(This
is usual when the Resident and Transient Bigg's pass each other in
tighter quarters. They tend to stay as far apart as possible. - SM)
There's
One big male, one that looks like a sprouter (juvenile male sprouting
the large dorsal)
5:30
pm: Transients slid over to Vancouver Island side approaching
Humpback Bay, near Chatham Point.
6:22
pm There are 4 Transient Bigg's, not 5 as thought. We're at Ripple
Point now still Eastbound. Lots of zig zagging, hard to keep track of
them.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
4:
9:50
am: Transient Bigg's Orca heading north towards Powell River proper,
in Malaspina Strait near Black Point. There
were 6 or 7 of them, one big male, they were feeding.
Michael
Stewart, Powell
River
August
4:
10:10
am: There are 5 Orca in front of my place right now. They are between
Albion Point and Myrtle Rocks, (Powell River) northbound.
Bill
Taylor, Powell River.
August
4:
12:06
pm: Large group of Transient Bigg's Orca just below VanAnda by Raven
Bay (Texada Island) southbound now. It's a big group – at least 7
small fins and two small calves.
(from
talking to a number of the whale watching guides on radio - SM)
August
4:
12:55
pm: So we have the T090's and T046B's – still southbound along the
Texada shoreline.
1:52
pm: Now they are at Northeast Point, Texada Island, still
southbound...Vancouver, anyone?
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
August
4:
2:30
pm: The Orca are now past Northeast Point and still heading slowly
south.
2:35
pm: Leaving them now, they are still heading south and staying close
to the beach.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
3:
8:10
am: Reports of 6 – 7 Orca southbound at Separation Head, Quadra
Island, heading for Seymour Narrows.
9:46
am: ID's as follows: T018's and T019B, T046B's, T002C's. There is a
big gang at the Fishing Pier now.
11:07
am: Leaving the scene. Transient
Bigg's Orca spread out almost to Salmon Point, South of Cape
Mudge, many boats on scene.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
August
3, 2014
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
August
3:
9:04
am: 5 Transient Bigg's Orca
southbound by Painter's Lodge, also Oak Bay has 7 or so Orca by the
Mill. Actually, Oak Bay has 9 Transient
Bigg's Orca.
5:05
pm: Leaving the 8 transient Orca at Favada Point on Texada, they are
southbound at 4 knots very close to the shoreline. Have been very
active: breaching, tail flapping and so on.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
August
3:
9:43
pm 5 Orca at Willow Point, Campbell River, Southbound along the
shore.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
August
3:
12:06
pm: Orca between Mitlenatch Island and Sentry Shoals, southbound and
performing.
1:00
pm: We're with all the Transient
Bigg's Orca on the north west side of Savary Island,
southbound.
2:15
pm: Leaving Orca 4 miles off Vivian Island, between Grant's Reef and
Vivian Island, southbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
August
3:
12:30
pm: Orca two cables off the Sentry Shoal radio marker, southbound and
picking up speed when we left them.
3:15
pm: Orca 1 km. off Vivian Island, out from Powell River, heading
towards Vancouver Island.
4:08
pm: Orca are still southbound along the west side of Texada, below
Coho Point.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
August
2:
Afternoon:
5 Orca in Sechelt Rapids. They were headed into the inlet as we
passed.
Bob
and Joan Nichol (sp?), Powell River
August
2:
9:40
am: 5 Orca northbound by Hidden Harbour, Campbell River, mid strait.
3:18
pm: 2 Orca at Duncan Bay approaching Race Point northbound. Make that
3 Orca now.
3:35
pm 2 big male Orca now - I think possibly the T18/19s.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
August
2:
10:00am:
The 5 Transient Bigg's are the T46B's complete with calf.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
August
2:
9:18
am: There are apparently 5 Orca northbound heading for Cape Mudge.
This is from a fishing guide.
3:05
pm: 7 Phantom Orca appeared above Chatham Point westbound. Long dives
and bumpy seas.
4:17
pm: Transient Bigg's T18 and T19's northbound at Brown's Bay.
Guess that answers the Phantom Orca.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
August
2, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
August
2:
4:34
pm: They are past Brown's Bay already, split up with two on the
Vancouver Island side and two on the Quadra side of Johnstone Strait.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
31:
9:23
am: Possibly 6 Transient Bigg's
Orca southbound by Chatham Point. Fabien is on his way.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
31:
9:30
am: Orca at Chatham Point.
11:00
am: The Transient Bigg's KW's
are at Cinque Islands, southbound. A couple of Pacific white Sided
Dolphins went flying past us and the whales.
2:56
pm: The Transient Bigg's are
now off April Point, slowly moving southward.
Geord
Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
31:
11:30
am: Transient Bigg's T018's and T019B still southbound in Discovery
Passage, two nautical miles west of Brown's Bay. They are travelling
and resting – no hunting.
12:00
pm: T018's and T019B are fanned out over one nautical mile three
nautical miles off of Vancouver island shoreline, heading for the
Mittlenatch Island /Sentry Shoals area, 4 miles south of Cape Mudge.
4:45
pm:Orca
between Mittlenatch Island and Vancouver Island, still moving slowly
south.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
31:
1:20
pm Left the Transient Bigg's Orca by Maude Island, Southbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
31:
1:20
pm 2 Orca mid-strait off Race Point, Seymour Narrows, heading South
with another 2 at the mouth of Menzies Bay also Southbound.
1:56
pm: Leading Orca are now on Quadra side, opposite Race Point, heading
towards Copper Cliffs, leaving the scene now.
Mark
Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
31:
3:13
pm: The four of them (Orca) are across from Quathiaski Cove on Quadra
island, southbound at 5 knots.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
31:
5:38
pm: Transient Bigg's Orca approaching Mitlenatch Island after a
possible meal and a play session.
6:58
pm: Leaving Orca between Mitlenatch Island and Sentry, heading
towards Sentry.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
NORTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
August
5:
7:49
am: Lee (Leigh?) has Orca at Hall Point, Nodales Channel, east bound.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
5:
8:00
am: Leigh is up early, he has one male and 4-5 others in Nodales at
Hall Point. He is slowly easting with them, they are just basically
foraging.
3:35
pm: Coming up to Palmer Bay, we're still westing with NRKW
Orca.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
August
5:
8:00
am: With the A8's at Hall Point.
8:30
am: They're just foraging between Hall and Owen Point in Nodales, no
direction.
9:40
am: Orca now heading south out of Frederick Arm.
2:57
pm Leaving the A8's at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait, Westbound.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
August
5:
1:35
pm: The A8's are at Rock Bay.
2:50
pm: Leaving A8's at Ripple Point, westbound.
John
Lapp, Discovery Marine Safaris.
August
5:
5
pm Leaving the A8's still Westbound 1 mile past Palmer Bay along the
Vancouver Island shoreline making a line towards Camp Point,
Johnstone Strait.
5:10
pm: After leaving the A8's hugging the Vancouver Island side westing,
we came across another group hugging the Thurlow Island side.
(See
Transient Bigg's report for balance. This is usual when the Resident
and Transient Bigg's pass each other in tighter quarters. They tend
to stay as far apart as possible. - SM)
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
3:
3:47
pm: 6 Orca easting past Adam River – believe that A42's (two
brothers) are with them.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
August
2:
9:30
am: Orca (assumed NRKW's) by Turn Island.
(from
radio)
August
2:
11:20
am: One male Orca approaching Ripple point westbound.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
August
2:
11:50
am: The lone male at Ripple is A37 Plumper. He is westbound at 4
knots. Leaving him now.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
August
2:
11:30
am: The NRKWs A8's are at Camp Point, east bound.
11:40
am: they have just turned and now Westbound.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
NRKW A88
August
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August
2:
12:09
pm: Having a tickle at Camp Point now...sure hope they come back
east! Plumper, one of the A36 brothers) is sure way behind from radio
chatter. We didn't go up; will try to get a handle on the whereabouts
of the Transient Bigg's later and let you know.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
August
2:
3:58
pm: 6 NRKW Orca westing mid Johnstone strait off Little Bear Bay.
Tenacious 3 leaving the scene now.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
August
1:
10:55
am: I have Orca between Kelsey Bay and Camp Point, easting.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
August
1:
12:02
pm: With A42's and A46, at Camp Point.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
August
1:
12:05
pm: At Camp Point with A5's and the A36 matriline A46, no A37
'Plumper', still easting.
4:27
pm Both the A36 brothers were found. :)
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
1:
4:06
pm:Northern Resident Killer Whales easting at Walkem Islands group,
mid channel of Johnstone Strait.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
August
1:
4:27
pm: Northern Resident Killer Whales at the Light heading at 7 knots
into Nodales Channel.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
Humpback
Whale 'Cassiopeia'
August
2, 2014
Broderick
(Rick) Warren
(more photos below)
August
4:
11:56
am: Humpback whale reported off Sara Point, north of Lund.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
3:
6:30
am: Humpback whale off the Little River Ferry Terminal near Comox.
Mike,
working at Westview Harbour, Powell River
August
3:
12:30
pm: There is a Humpback at the north end of Marina Island... Leif is
on the scene.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
(I
spoke to Leif on the radio and the Humpback is BCX0380 I nicknamed
Zed, pending correction, if any, with the missing part of tail fluke
and the perfect “Z” marking on the other. This is one of the
Humpback Whales we had in front of Sea Fair in Powell River. See
archived reports for photos.)
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
August
3:
1:36
pm: Leaving the Humpback southbound half a mile off the Marina Island
Reef Marker.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
August
2:
10:00
am: Humpback whale sighted south of Mink Island in Desolation Sound
in approximately 380m of water.
Rick
Warren, visiting Powell River Harbour
August
1:
3:27
pm: Humpback reported at Island from the SV Island Odyssey.
John
Lapp, Discovery Marine Safaris.
GREY
WHALES
August
1, 2, 3:
Over
three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday there was a small Grey Whale
see having gone through the extremely treacherous Nitnat Narrows,
slightly North-East of Carmanah Point, into what's called Nitnat
Lake, a deep salt water lagoon. I observed it on the East side of the
lake, others had seen it on West side, and then it was seen on the
North side of the lake on Sunday. I didn't hear of anyone having seen
it on Monday, so hopefully it made it back out of the lake safely
into the open ocean.
Yvonne
Coors, West Coast Vancouver Island
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
August
3:
11:00
am: 7 Pacific White Sided Dolphins reported at Horn Point.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
August
1:
9:45
am: Huge – 1000? - group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Cordero
Lodge.
Radio
August
1:
4:27
pm: 6 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins at entrance to Frederick
Arm, top of Nodales Channel, earlier.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July
31:
8:29
am: One dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Plumper Bay,
northbound. From Brad at Painter's Lodge.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
31:
9:30
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at 45 Point. Possibly two groups
northbound.
11:00
am: A couple of Pacific
White Sided Dolphins have just gone flying by us at the Cinque
Islands where we are observing some Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
Southbound in Discovery Passage.
Geord
Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
31:
12:45
pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins splashing along the shoreline
towards Hall Point in Nodales channel.
1:50
pm: 15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
August
4:
9:00
am: 6 playful Dall's Porpoise between the Little Dent Island light
and Horn Point, also saw 6 Stellers Sea Lions on Jimmy Judd in
Yuculta Rapids this morning.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
August
4:
4:00
pm: 10 Dall's Porpoise at Garner island, very playful!
Fabian
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
August
1:
4:27
pm: Small group of Dall's Porpoise at entrance to Frederick Arm
earlier today.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
August
1:
4:30
pm: About 10 or so Dall's Porpoise at Owen Point.
(from
radio)
July
31:
1:50
pm Dall's Porpoise seem to be around every corner in Nodales Channel.
Smaller groups of them, but we've seen them through our trip so far.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
July
31:
6:00
pm: 20 Dall's at Owen Point, very playful.
Fabian
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
31:
7:00
pm: Group off small sized Orca in Sutil Channel northbound direction.
May be heading to Viner Island. Dall's Porpoise also in the vicinity.
Colin
Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
August
1:
3:45
pm: 5-6 Harbour Porpoise way at the back of Thurston Bay.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
31:
4:43
pm: 4 Harbour Porpoise at Cape Mudge.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Humpback
Whale 'Cassiopeia'
August
2, 2014
Broderick
(Rick) Warren
EXTRA
July
31:
11:45
am: Report of a beached whale at Flora Island, south end of Hornby
Island. Person later reported that someone had confirmed that it was
actually an Elephant Seal.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
LINKS
Health
concerns for Kiska, the only Killer Whale presently held in captivity
in Canada. Officials at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, deny
that there is anything amiss.
The
False Killer Whale Calf who was rescued near Tofino in July is
nursing and seems to be slowly gaining strength, giving staff at the
Vancouver Aquarium hope for a full recovery.
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society