Grey
Whales are not a common sight in Georgia Strait and even rarer near
the mainland side of the Strait, but we can confirm the brief
sighting. This means that they are actually returning through the
inside waters as well as the West Coast of Vancouver Island. There
have been a number of Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Killer Whales
throughout the area and a very well known Humpback known as 'KC' or
'Kelp Creature' was back in Discovery Passage. Pacific White Sided
Dolphins and some Porpoise have been seen in various locations also.
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
May 2, 2015
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
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May 23 & 24
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May 28 & 29
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River:
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Other locations and
times will be posted as soon as we confirm
And
on
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using our Donate button – see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S ORCA
May
4:
5:30
pm: 3-4 Orca northbound in Discovery Passage between the Tyee Fishing
Pier in Campbell River and Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island.
7:17
pm The 4 Transient Bigg's Orca are just coming up to Seymour Narrows,
Northbound. There's a Mom and calf together with two other, either
females or juvenile males. Very clean dorsal fins on all of them.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May
4:
5:40
pm: Four Orca, two calves, one is is small and still quite yellow and
the rest all have small dorsals. (referring
to sighting in report above.)
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
2:
10:55
am: At least 7 Transient Bigg's Orca at Seymour Narrows, southbound.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
2:
12:36
pm: Left Transient Orca at Whiskey Point on Quadra Island, southbound
doing 5 knots. So far have identified the Transient Bigg's T86A's and
T18.
Geoff
Dunstan,
Discovery
Marine Safaris.
May
2:
2:40
pm: Leaving the Transient Bigg's Orca between Mitlenatch and Sentry
Shoal angling towards Grant's Reef off Savary Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
May
1 & 2, 2015 – 4 photos
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May
2:
3:07
pm: Left the six Transient Bigg's Orca southbound 1.5 miles south of
Mitlenatch Island heading towards the Grant's Reef, Harwood Area.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
1:
7:45
am: Transient Bigg's Orca in front of Coast Marina, Campbell River,
southbound mid channel.
8:05
am: Another pod of Transients on the Quathiaski Cover (Quadra Island)
side of Discovery Passage. Will get count.
8:10
am: There are four Transient Bigg's Orca, three females and one young
adolescent. They are southbound now at Whiskey Point on the Quadra
Island side of the channel.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May
1:
9:00
am: Transient Bigg's Orca now off Gowland Island just north of April
Point on Quadra Island. Can't determine a direction.
11:40
am: Left the Transient Bigg's Orca off Cape Mudge lighthouse.
Geoff
Dunstan,
Discovery
Marine Safaris.
May
1:
9:45
am:Transient Bigg's Orca at April Point on Quadra Island southbound.
11:32
am: Leaving Transient Orca at Cape Mudge Quadra island mid channel,
southbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April
30:
Eight
Transient Bigg's Orca off Bamfield, Vancouver Island, heading east.
They killed a Harbour Porpoise.
Josh
McInnes, Victoria.
April
30:
10:28
am: Five Transient Bigg's Orca, all small fins, at Camp Point in Race
Passage off Vancouver Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Spyhopping
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale
May
4, 2015 – photos were still being sorted
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April
29:
6:00
am: Five Transient Bigg's Orca at Chatham Point. This information
from my buddy Lance, the crab fisherman.
11:59
am: Small group of Transient Orca heading south mid channel from
Chatham Point light station, at the junction of Johnstone Strait and
Discovery Passage. Thanks to Chatham Point Lightkeepers - (relayed)
12:10
pm: Garry Henkel has what looks like Transient Bigg's Orca T002cs and
T036s just below Chatham. They're mid channel, Southbound. (Relayed)
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April
29:
12:36
pm: One very orange calf in group of Transient Bigg's Orca by Chatham
Point. Garry has counted nine of them. They are still southbound and
almost to Granite Point, on Quadra Island. Looks like the same pod I
had at Read Island the other day. 3 calves including one quite orange
and 1 big male in the group.
1:46
pm They are just South of Kanish Bay, mid-channel Southbound at
between 6 and 8 kts. Leaving the scene.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April
29:
2:19
pm: Transient Bigg's Orca still southbound, now at Deepwater Bay,
Quadra Island. Departing scene.
6:55
pm After reviewing the photos, it was the T002C's and T36's.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April
28:
3:00
pm: About a dozen Transient Bigg's Orca eastbound off Hickey Point,
west of Kelsey Bay in Johnstone Strait.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April
27:
Just
got a report about some Transient Bigg's Orca seen earlier today.
T036's and T049B's heading south of Clover Point off Victoria.
Josh
McInnes, Victoria.
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales attack Sea Lion
Video
Clip – John Dove, Texada Island
April
25:
The
Texada Trekkers were hiking south of Favada Point when 6 or more Orca
started milling around not far out. I managed to get video of the
activity (see embedded video clip). I see you have already posted
some of the photos that Mich Macauley got at the same time. In my
video I can see that the Orca had attacked and injured a Seal or
small dark California Sea Lion and it was briefly swimming on the
surface until a large Orca grabbed it and dived. A few seconds later
the Orca did a 360 degree roll with just part of it's body out of the
water. The Orca pod eventually headed south towards Gillies Bay.
John
Dove, Gillies Bay.
UNIDENTIFIED
KILLER WHALES
these
are all presumed to be Transient Bigg's
May
2:
7:35
pm: Three Orca, including a male and calf northbound by Albion Point,
Powell River.
Nina
Falls, Powell River
May 1:
We saw a big pod of
Orca Whales swim past the Surf Pub on Gabriola Island tonight. There
were at least two big males a lot of smaller ones and at least 2
babies. As always a pleasure to watch. We managed to snap this one
picture from a distance. Hopefully it helps you identify them. The
fin looks scared so you will probably know who it is.
Angela
Privé, Gabriola Island
.jpg)
Orca
with fresh looking scars
(we
are hoping for higher resolution photos to take a better look – SM)
May
1, 2015
Angela Privé,
Gabriola Island
April
28:
5:50
pm: 4-5 Orca north Northwest off Powell River, Sunshine Coast. I'm
looking out from VanAnda.
Micheline
Macauley, Texada Island
April
28:
6:00
pm: I just picked them up (the 4-5 Orca just reported above) from my
deck. They are against the shore of Texada Island and angling towards
Rebecca Rocks.
6:10
pm: There may be six of them, just doing a count. There is one large
male and a smaller juvenile.
6:15
pm: I can see somewhere between five and seven Orca.
6:54
pm The 5-7 Orca have now passed Rebecca Rocks and are heading towards
Vancouver Island.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April
28:
6:23
pm: There is definitely one small calf and at least 3 Orca behind the
Texada Island ferry, turning into Blubber Bay.
Dave
Carbery, Texada Island
April
28:
11:50
am: 5 or 6 Orca heading north past Nine Foot Bay. Or Donkey Bay.
12:23
pm: Correction, only four Orca, leaving them now northbound
approaching Elk Bay, just north of Campbell River. Leaving the scene.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April
24:
8:30
am: We spotted 3 Orca off Grief Point, Powell River. They were close
to shore and heading south.
Kerry
Jones, Powell River.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
Humpback
known as 'KC'
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
April
29:
10:50
am: Breaching Humpback whale just above Race Point, in Discovery
Passage.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April
29:
11:20
am: Presumably a Humpback between Powell River and Harwood Island.
Saw a couple of windblown blows but no back or tail yet.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April
29:
11:38
am: Looks like two Humpback whales at Race Point, not just one. One
of them looks small.
11:56
am: Humpback whales at Seymour Narrows northbound. Leaving the scene.
2:19
pm: Humpback whale southbound by April Point on the Quadra Island
side of Discovery Passage, only saw one so far.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April
28:
3:35
pm: Humpback Whale resting between Race Point and the Walcan building
near Campbell River. ID confirmed as K.C.!
Roger
McDonnell, Stubbs Island Whale Watching
April
27:
1:14
pm: Large Humpback Whale sighted at the Maude Island light. No
direction given, sorry. From my brother in law on Tug. (
Thinking this could be K.C but not yet confirmed. S.M.)
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
GREY
WHALES
Grey
Whale off Tofino
Reported
in previous update
Paul
Hibbert, Sayward - 2 photos
May
1:
2:37
pm: Definitely one Grey whale in front of Powell River. Tough to
spot.
It
is seldom we see Grey Whales on the mainland side of Georgia Strait,
but they appear to be returning.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April
30:
10:00
am: I am seeing two distant blows. I believe them to be Grey Whales,
not Humpbacks as I thought before, close by Rebecca Rocks off Powell
River. They are moving slowly and I can't tell if they are doing
circles or angling out towards the Strait.
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May
4:
3:25
pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
3:
11:29
am: About 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Aran Rapids in Bute
Inlet.
(from
radio)
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
May,
2015 - 3 Photos
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May
3:
12:46
pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
2:23
pm: About a dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Big Bay, Stuart
Island.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
3:
2:17
pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April
28:
3:00
pm: 15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Granite Bay, Quadra
Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April
26:
I
saw a Dolphin just south of Wilson Creek off Browning Road on the
Sunshine Coast a few days ago. Yesterday morning my sister and our
neighbours saw what they thought to be a Dolphin in the same area.
When I saw it it was moving very slowly and I thought it may have
been ill. When my neighbours saw it it appeared to be struggling and
he thought he saw two fins. Both sightings were very close to shore.
We were wondering if perhaps this was a pregnant one and it was
giving birth in front of our place? Is this the time of year they
have babies?
Another
friend told me that there were a number of people at Davis Bay
ooohing over a Dolphin. Have you had any other reports? Keep up the
good work!
Georgena
Good, Sechelt.
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
April
28, 2015 - 1 Photo
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE/ DALL'S PORPOISE
May
4:
3:20
pm: One dozen Dall's Porpoise at Arran Point, Stuart Island.
Fabien
Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May
2:
One
Porpoise ( not sure of species) off Mitlenatch Island, in Georgia
Strait.
(from
radio)
LINKS
An
alarming increase in the number of whales becoming entangled in
fishing gear:
J-Pod's
Southern resident Killer Whale known as “Granny” is causing
problems for SeaWorld. Here's why:
Some
great shots of the new J Pod babies having fun around the San Juan
Islands:
Oregon and
Washington have temporarily suspended sea lion trapping operations at
Bonneville Dam:
2015
Summer Fundraising Raffle:
ALL
PRIZES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE EACH
Early
Bird Draw June 21, 2015:
1.
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours PLUS
Large Print of Award Winning Photo as seen on the cover of BC
Magazine Fall 2014
2.
Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour PLUS
return BC Ferries Pass including car
3.
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Tour
Final Draw July
26, 2015 at Powell River SeaFair:
1.
Pacific Coastal Return Flight to/from Vancouver - Comox or Powell
River PLUS
Vancouver Whale Watch Tour
2. Campbell River Whale
Watching Tour PLUS
2 Nights Accommodation 3. Discovery Marine Safaris Tour
4. Eagle Eye Adventure Tour
Full 2015 Summer Raffle
Details available at:
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Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
For
our DONATE
page click here